Design has been focused on the surfaces of computing, rendering pixels on screens. But now data is becoming an articulate medium of design, in its own right. The post The Next Era of Designers Will Use Data as Their Medium appeared first on WIRED.
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The Next Era of Designers Will Use Data as Their Medium
Most users don’t need charts, they just need to know if a new pair of shoes is going to blow the weekly budget. The post A Stylish App That Helps You Stick to a Budget appeared first on WIRED.
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A Stylish App That Helps You Stick to a Budget
Wild turkeys were “everywhere” on Cape Cod, despite having once been extinct in Massachusetts. The birds were also booming again in Ohio, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and New Jersey, where turkey numbers had increased a thousand-fold since 1977, when 22 wild turkeys were brought in from New York and Vermont to restock what was then a virtually turkey-less state. A New Jersey biologist now assured the public: “I think that they are here to stay,” and a local Op-Ed writer attributed the turkey’s success, in part, to polygamy. The post The Weirdest Incidents Involving Wild Turkeys This Week appeared first on WIRED.
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The Weirdest Incidents Involving Wild Turkeys This Week
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and hey, since being kind of contrary is the American way, why not celebrate this most delicious of holidays by watching some of the best TV from the country so many of those early settlers were fleeing? Yes, everybody knows about Sherlock and The Office, but there’s a whole cornucopia of excellent and lesser-known British series ripe for the streaming on Netflix. Here’s what you should be watching on Turkey Day. The post 10 British Shows You Need to Stream on Netflix This Thanksgiving appeared first on WIRED.
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10 British Shows You Need to Stream on Netflix This Thanksgiving
Neuroscientists scanned the brains of teenagers while they listened to criticism from their Moms. Areas of the teens’ brains involved emotional regulation and taking other people’s perspective appeared to shut down while they listened to the criticism. The post The Teen Brain “Shuts Down” When It Hears Mom’s Criticism appeared first on WIRED.
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The Teen Brain “Shuts Down” When It Hears Mom’s Criticism
New eruptions at Japan’s Aso have become intense enough to cause some flight cancellations in and out of Kumamoto. The Asosan caldera is one of the Japan’s more active volcanic cluster and since 2003, the Nakadake crater in Aso have been producing small explosive eruptions. However, the tenor of the activity has increased since the […] The post Eruptions from Japan’s Aso Becoming More Intense appeared first on WIRED.
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Eruptions from Japan’s Aso Becoming More Intense
Apple isn’t giving up on sapphire screens for future iPhones, iPads or watches following the bankruptcy of supplier GT Technologies. Instead, Cupertino appears to have enlisted the services of Foxconn, which is reported to be building a new factory in China soley for the production of sapphire displays that are tipped to be heading for the iPhone 6S.A report appearing in the China Economic Weekly states the $2.6bn factory will be set up on a 133-hectare plot of land next to Foxconn’s iPhone assembly plant. The company has already signed an agreement with the Zengzhou city government in China’s Henan Province.Before the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, both devices were heavily tipped to boast sapphire screens. Production difficulties and the collapse of GT Technologies meant this never happened, but it appears the next generation of the iPhone could yet offer a scratch-proof sapphire screen. Apple also plans to use a sapphire screen in the premium version of the Apple Watch.
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Apple may put a sapphire display on the iPhone 6S
Earlier this year the EU made a ruling that Google must give its citizens the ‘right to be forgotten’, by removing search results for things that are "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes for which [it was] processed" if requested to by the affected individual.Google begrudgingly complied, but now the EU wants it to go further. Currently search results are only removed when searching from localised versions of Google, such as Google.co.uk or Google.de, but according to The Wall Street Journal, EU privacy regulators now want it to apply to Google.com as well.This is somewhat understandable, as while fewer than 5% of European searches are made through Google.com due to the search engine defaulting to a local version of its site, it’s still easy to switch to the international one if desired.Knowing vs forgettingThis is a change which Google will surely fight, as it essentially makes its search engine less useful, with executive chairman Eric Schmidt commenting on the original ruling that "You have a collision between a ‘right to be forgotten’ and a right to know." "From Google’s perspective, that’s a balance. Google believes, looking at the decision, which is binding, that the balance struck was wrong."Whether Google will once again be forced to comply remains to be seen, but you can bet the search giant already has an army of lawyers on standby.The ‘right to be forgotten’ may be unworkable.
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EU wants Google’s ‘right to be forgotten’ to work for global searches too
LG is looking to bolster its flagging tablet sales by launching a device with similar characteristics to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, according to a new report.According to anonymous LG sources who spoke to CNET, the South Korean tech giant has a convertible Windows 8.1 tablet in the works that doubles up as a laptop when used with its detachable keyboard, which may or may not come with a clickpad for navigation.It will house Intel’s fourth generation Haswell processor, rather than its new Broadwell chip, which may not be such a bad thing going by the Yoga 3 Pro’s CPU-related teething problems.LG is apparently unhappy with mediocre sales of its current tablet line-up, which includes the Tab-Book and the 11-inch Tab-Book 2 that launched at CES earlier this year. That was followed by the introduction of the Tab Book 11, a beefed-up Android tablet with integrated Intel HD graphics and an Intel Core-i5 Haswell CPU, in July.Should you buy the Surface Pro 3?
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LG lining up a Haswell-powered Surface Pro 3 competitor
A new law passed by President Obama is set to banish the ugly FCC markings that are stamped on the back of our smartphones.Not that it’s exactly a huge problem, but a lot of us would like our smartphones to be unspoilt by the range of FCC markings stamped on the back. These markings will be no more thanks to the E-Label Act, which has just been signed into law.This new law will mean that device manufacturers can now display those markings in software, rather than branding their gadgets. Not only will this make devices look cleaner, but it could also lead to (slightly) cheaper handsets, as manufacturers will save money by not having to engrave the stamps on their devices.Unfortunately if you live in Europe you’ll still have to put ip with the CE markings for now, but it’s highly possible that the EU will follow suit.Read about why we love the iPhone 6 enough to not want it spoiled by ugly symbols
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New law will clean up the back of your smartphone
IntroductionWearable technologies are in the gold rush phase of their evolution. All of the leading technology developers have (or are actively developing) watches and other wearable devices that extend and expand the capabilities of the smartphone and tablet. Google Glass was first to ignite this new category of technology, but all eyes have been on Apple and how they view wearable devices. Following the unveiling of the Apple Watch in September, small business owners gained a somewhat clearer view of this sector. The question facing small business owners now is how they can leverage these platforms to support their enterprise’s products and services.Opportunity knocksAdam Spearing, VP Platform EMEA, salesforce.com, says: "We’ve always believed that small businesses are in the best position to adopt new technologies and ways of working, especially compared to larger rivals – and this remains true in the case of wearable technology. The wearable revolution gives small businesses the opportunity to differentiate themselves against their competitors through tremendous innovation and high quality of service."For businesses wearable technology could have a profound impact. The use of hands-free, heads-up displays is a powerful paradigm that every business could potentially exploit. Like the smartphone and tablet that have delivered new channels for all businesses to leverage, wearables offer a level of personal connectivity that has not existed before. And when this technology is coupled with the Internet of Things (IoT), the possibilities become endless. In addition, there is a clear financial driver here with Gartner predicting the global market for wearables will reach $5 billion (around £3.2 billion, AU$5.9 billion) by 2016 – and IHS has predicted that by 2018, there will be 180 million wearable devices sold. This is a massive market your small business can support today.Cultural shift"One of the interesting things that came from this research – perhaps that we weren’t expecting – is that chatter about wearable tech is no longer confined to the water cooler in the engineering department," said Natalie Meehan, Marketing Insights Analyst, Brandwatch."Discussion about wearables has become far more commonplace in mainstream society, and we’re seeing more types of people talking about it, and in more kinds of places. Just like with smartphones or tablets almost a decade ago, we’re on the cusp of a cultural shift that reflects our changing attitudes towards how we live with technology."Research carried out by Brandwatch and Brilliant Noise concluded:Year-on-year the conversation around wearables has exploded – increasing a staggering 190% when you compare the first quarter of last year (973,300 mentions) to that of this year (2,816,814 mentions).Interestingly, the most negativity came not from those who were sceptical about the technology, but from those who actually owned it (51% of negative chat was from owners) – hinting that the reality might not be living up to the hype.Wearables still seem to be struggling to find real purchase outside of the US – the US market accounts for well over half (70%) of the conversation about the technology, followed by the UK (7%), Canada (3%), Australia (2%) and India (2%).A new brand battleground: Google Glass, Fitbit and Pebble emerged as the top three products mentioned by volume in the US, while in the UK the rankings saw Fitbit at the top, followed by Nike Fuelband and Google Glass.Perhaps unsurprisingly given the technology’s association with sports and technology, male authors led the conversation (65% versus 35%) – however female authors are 42% more positive than men when discussing ownership of wearables.Disruptive technologyIn its Tech Trends 2014 report Deloitte states: "The primary goal of wearables is to enable users to take real-world actions by providing relevant, contextual information precisely at the point of decision-making. Wearables shine in scenarios where using a laptop, phone, tablet, or other conventional device may not be appropriate as well as in making use of the data gathered by sensors."Already existing service providers such as Salesforce have wearables development packs that link the leading wearable technologies to its CRM platform. Expect to see more of this type of development, as wearables expand in the marketplace.What wearables mean to youAs a small business owner now is the time to consider how wearable technologies could be leveraged by your enterprise. Follow these steps to help you evaluate what wearables mean to your business:1. Evaluate your business’ products, services and business processesWearables are not just about developing new applications and services. Many businesses will also benefit by using wearables to increase the efficiency of their internal processes. Of course extending your enterprises services and so forth to wearables should also be considered. Would your customers want this kind of service or delivery mechanism?2. Test the wearables ecosystemIt is very early days for all the wearable technologies that have appeared on the market so far. Small businesses are in a superb position to evaluate each platform and relate these to their stated business goals. Also, wearables are modular systems making them ideal to build highly specific customer-orientated services and products.3. Start now!All of the leading developers of wearables have development platforms that any business can use now. Testing these systems will allow your business to see if they can offer any tangible benefits to your company or customers.4. Consumer behaviourThe wearable technologies that have appeared so far require a new way of communicating. The ‘glance’ means information must be delivered with new user interfaces. Small businesses have the agility to test new interfaces to find the right one for their products or services.5. BYOD extends to wearablesThe shift to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) has transformed smaller enterprises in particular. BYOW (Bring Your Own Wearable) is clearly how this phenomenon will develop. Your business needs to pay attention to this evolution to ensure it can be fully leveraged within a secure working environment.Major impactWhat is clear is that wearables have the potential to have a massive impact on not only how businesses deliver goods and services, but also how they operate. Small business owners need to consider all these aspects to ensure they don’t miss out on the opportunities that wearables offer.Nigel Beighton, UK CTO of Rackspace, said: "Many wearable technologies are focused on improving some aspect of an individual’s life – whether that’s health and fitness, focus and concentration, productivity or job satisfaction. The big step change for both individuals and businesses is being able to analyse the raw data and understand the wider context surrounding the data, such as the weather location, posture, even temperature and mood of the individual."By focusing on the data as well as the devices, wearable technologies can provide meaningful insights that can be used to improve performance and satisfaction. Essentially wearable tech and big data go hand-in-hand."Business applicationsTo gain an insight into how wearables could impact on small business, TechRadar Pro spoke with Neil Pickering, Director at Kronos. We began by asking whether there is a legitimate business case for wearables at the moment?"Wearable technology provides a simple – and effective – way to help businesses manage their workforce more effectively. Unlike the consumer world, wearable technology for businesses is not about fashion, but function. It’s about extracting information from employees, or devices, with minimal, or ideally, no impact on their working behaviour. Currently most organisations are just starting to learn about wearable technology or to think of it as a workplace tool, but its potential within the organisation is huge."Are there any opportunities with wearable technologies that small businesses can take advantage of?"Wearable technology can provide managers with a clear understanding of what their staff are doing at any time throughout the day, with minimal effort," Neil said. "As a result, SMBs can benefit from reduced costs, increased efficiencies and a more nimble, productive workforce of employees better able to deliver superior goods and services."For example, manufacturing employees could wear a smart wristband that communicates their location on the floor at all times. This could combine the location-tracking functionality with data associated with traditional manufacturing punches to provide managers with instant information about the employee’s work. For instance, what are they working on? Are there productivity issues? Are they falling behind? Armed with this information, supervisors can react in real-time to potential issues and optimise business outcomes."What advice would Neil give to a small business owner who was looking closely at what wearable technologies could offer them?"Getting employees to use wearable devices could be perceived as an attempt to monitor them or intrude on their privacy, so it’s important that privacy and security are included as part of the initial discussions around wearable tech. Businesses need to have an honest discussion with employees explaining what the data needs to be used for, and ensure barriers are built in to separate work and home lives."In these discussions it’s vital that organisations explain what the employee gets out of it. It’s easy to believe that people won’t like it – that such systems act as ‘big brother’. But in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Most workers are comfortable with the notion of being monitored, as long as the reasons for doing so, and the benefits to the business and employees, have been clearly discussed and explained."How does he see wearable technologies developing over the next few years? Will more small business opportunities emerge?"For the most part, wearable technology is still in the trial or concept phase," Neil concluded. "But as connectivity continues to improve, the technology is only going to get better and more prevalent in the months and years ahead. In order to take full advantage of what this new technology has to offer, SMBs should start putting in place plans now, or they’ll only find themselves behind those organisations that do."Time for wearablesThe time is now when it comes to wearables. "It is time to get started now to get in on the gold rush," said Ennio Carboni, Executive Vice President, Customer Solutions, Ipswitch. "The wearable market is in its infancy, but it will grow very rapidly. For example, market research conducted by Canalys has estimated that 17 million wearable bands will be shipped this year alone."Consumer applications such as wearable cameras, activity trackers, smart clothing, smart glasses and smartwatches are set to explode on to the market and consumers are hungry for them. Small businesses are missing a huge opportunity to innovate and get ahead. Already, powerful apps are being created that improve business operations and enhance customer experience."Dan Todaro, MD at Gekko, concluded: "We will laugh at this discussion sooner than you think as wearables become literally the fabric of our life within the decade. In ten years’ time we’ll start to look at tablets the way we look at desktop computers now. Clunky, archaic and heavy."The opportunities are already there for small businesses and can only grow. The important thing is to make sure small businesses aren’t waiting for someone to come along and tell them precisely how wearable tech can enhance their business. It’s up to businesses to be innovative."
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How your business can use wearable technology now
Audi has an all-electric car going into production, and according to technical development chief Ulrich Hackenberg, it’ll arrive sometime around 2017.Apparently Audi’s latest electric project will benefit from some typically efficient German engineering, allegedly doing 280 miles on a single charge. Speaking at the Los Angeles Motor Show, Hackenberg rumoured an electric saloon that will match up to Tesla’s Model S, with room for 5 people as well as plenty of luggage.High voltageSpeaking of Tesla, the latest Model S does around 300 miles on a single charge, putting it firmly in Audi’s crosshairs if a family saloon is the plan. Some will remember that Audi dabbled with the idea of an all-electric car back in 2012. Range concerns turned out to be the final nail in the coffin of the electric Audi R8, but with technology now overcoming that particular hurdle, it’s no surprise to see Audi back in the game.Aside from this of course, nothing has been properly confirmed as of yet, so watch this space.In six months, you’ll be able to drive across the UK for free in a Tesla Model S
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Audi’s upcoming electric car does 280 miles on a single charge
Update: We added new iPhone 6 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for US carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint via Best Buy, Walmart and others.The first iPhone 6 deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday start tomorrow, so if you’ve waited this long to buy Apple’s new phone, you might as well wait for all the sales.Black Friday starts at the stroke of midnight, right after Thanksgiving, but the smartphone is on sale at a number of US retailers hours before then. It’s never too early to start saving.Head here for more Black Friday deals!Best Buy, Walmart and Target are among the stores ready to discount the iPhone 6. Even Amazon third-party sellers are getting in on the action. The iPhone 6 Plus deals are going to be harder to find.That’s why we put together a comprehensive Black Friday and Cyber Monday list to give you a heads-up on the best iPhone 6 deals in the coming days.Cyber Monday deals – we’ve got them, too!iPhone 6 deals at Best BuyiPhone 6 is two months old and yet Best Buy sales are already halving the price … sort of. It’s going to be just $99 for the iPhone 6 16GB model if you turn in an old iPhone.This deal requires the standard two-year activation and only applies to carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. T-Mobile customers have to shop elsewhere given its no contract policy.It also mandates that you trade in a working iPhone, which will earn you a minimum of $100. You can, of course, get more for it. This is a good discount only if you have already planned to trade-up. The iPhone 6 without a contract is rather expensive at $699, so stick with the $99 discount if your cell phone plan allows you to upgrade by Black Friday and Cyber Monday.Best Buy opens its doors on Thursday at 5 p.m. and closes them at 1 a.m. Black Friday tickets will be handed out two hours before it re-opens at 8 a.m. to keep the crowded line orderly.iPhone 6 deals at WalmartiPhone 6 deals at Walmart are simply an excellent value for your dollar. The retailer is offering the entry-level 16GB model iPhone 6 for $179 with a $75 gift card, a nice stocking stuffer.That theoretically brings the total iPhone 6 price down to $104 on Black Friday right up until Cyber Monday starts. We’re willing to feel guilty shopping at Walmart with those prices.Walmart warns that its iPhone 6 deal is valid all weekend long, but only "while supplies last." It also requires a two-year activation, so it’s limited to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint again.Trade-ins of old iPhones at Walmart start at $200, though its Black Friday flyer has ultra-fine print and may require a newer Apple phone trying to make the exchange. Seller beware.Walmart’s Black Friday deals on iPhone 6 begin at 6 a.m the morning after Thanksgiving. That’s just enough time to digest your turkey before bargain hunting in person and online.iPhone 6 deals at TargetBlack Friday iPhone 6 deals at Target make the most sense if you want anything other than the space-deprived 16GB model. It’s offering discounts on all GB sizes.This includes Apple’s full lineup with 64GB and a whopping 128GB. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are simply advertising the base model.On sale, the iPhone 6 starts at $180 and comes with a $30 gift card. You’re essentially paying $150 for the iPhone 6. That discount travels all the way up to the bigger sizes.iPhone 6 deals at Sam’s ClubSam’s Club, surprisingly, has a meaningful iPhone 6 discount that halves the price as doesn’t require a trade-in credit to make it happen.The Walmart-owned US wholesaler is giving in-store shoppers a chance to buy the iPhone 6 for $99 for 16GB, $199 for 64GB and $299 for 128GB on Black Friday weekend.Of course, Sam’s Club isn’t for John Q. Public. You have to be a paid member of the retailer to make these tempting purchases.iPhone 6 deals at AmazonAmazon doesn’t sell Apple’s phone directly, but the online retailer is hosting a variety of deals from third-party sellers, all fighting to sell you an unlocked iPhone 6.Yes, this is one of the best places to score an iPhone 6 without a contract, though please read the fine print as the condition can vary from seller to seller.Also note that these prices technically aren’t limited to Black Friday or Cyber Monday. It’s just that, right now, the competition is the fiercest among iPhone merchants.iPhone 6 deals at other retailersThere are bound to be more retailers with the iPhone 6 on sale. Apple Stores typically update with deep discounts at midnight Black Friday.We’ll continue to watch over the prices to surface the best iPhone 6 deals all the way up to Cyber Monday on December 1.
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Buying Guide: iPhone 6 deals: how to save big on the new iPhone this holiday season
Update: New iPad Air 2 deals bring more Black Friday and Cyber Monday cheer thanks to retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Target. Check them out below.Apple’s tablet sales are down, which is great news because that means the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 are already on sale one month after launch.The best deals begin at midnight tomorrow, which happens to be November 28 this year. But you don’t have to wait until Black Friday to find out how much you’ll save.More Black Friday deals!Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Target have already revealed their iPad discounts for the new models as well as older ones. You can even find some offers on Amazon.We’ll be continually updating this iPad deals list on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to give you the 411 on Apple’s 7.9-inch and 9.7-inch tablets, so keep checking back for more.Find the best Cyber Monday deals right here!iPad deals at Best BuyThe iPad Air 2 is going to be on sale at Best Buy starting on Black Friday, giving you a chance to nab the new tablet and save $100 in the process.It’ll cost $400 for the iPad Air 2 16GB model and the discount applies to the 64GB and 128GB models that are $500 and $600, respectively. That’s not bad for having just launched.The iPad mini 3 receives a similar price drop across all sizes and colors on Black Friday. It’ll be $75 and start with 16GB costing $325, according to Best Buy’s official flyer.Just be aware that the retailer’s in-store hours begin on Thursday, Thanksgiving day at 5 p.m. and its early Black Friday iPad deals are good while supplies lasts.iPad deals at WalmartAs per usual, Walmart "rolling back" its iPad sales by one generation. Its deep discounts this year apply to the older iPad Air, not the iPad Air 2.But the prices are fairly good if you’re in need of a pencil-thin tablet. The iPad Air with 16GB will cost $397 and with a $100 gift card to the store.No, you don’t get Touch ID, but at other retailers, the same last-generation Apple tablet costs $400 and comes with no gift card. This is an excellent deal for the original iPad Air.iPad deals at TargetTarget’s iPad prices haven’t budged, but the new models come with store gift cards that are hard to pass up, especially for the tempting iPad Air 2.Apple’s 9.7-inch flagship model costs the normal $500, yet it’ll feel more like it costs $360 at Target thanks to a $140 gift card. Put that towards the rest of your shopping.Target had the best iPad Air deals in stores and online last year, and its availability was plentiful right on through Black Friday. It may repeat that high discount and high inventory for iPad Air 2. All other iPad models get the gift card treatment to the tune of $100 for the iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2 and iPad Air. The first iPad mini without a Retina display still nets you $60.iPad deals at AmazonYou may have noticed that Amazon doesn’t sell iPad tablets. Instead, it fulfills the orders from third-party retailers.Monitoring Amazon for iPad deals isn’t such a bad idea over Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These non-official Apple sellers are going to be competing for your business.Plus, buying an iPad fulfilled by Amazon means that it’s eligible for that clutch two-day shipping, just in case you wait until the last second. No one will be the wiser.iPad deals at other retailersExpect more iPad deals to trickle out from additional retailers. This is just the beginning.The Apple Store, for example, updates its website with discounts when the clock strikes 12 a.m. and Thanksgiving officially turns into Black Friday. We’ll be updating this page with that information.Last year it was just gift cards, but we’ll see what’s on sale everywhere come Black Friday and Cyber Monday now through December 1.
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Buying Guide: iPad deals: how to save big on Apple’s tablets this holiday season
Small and medium businesses (SMB’s) are the backbone of the British economy. According to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills they make up 48.1 percent of all private sector turnover, at £1,600 billion. But the majority of these businesses are facing a major technology challenge as a number of the systems and servers they rely on for day-to-day business operations are rapidly approaching the end of their supported life.Windows Server 2003 dependence It is currently estimated that there are between 2.6 million and 11 million installations of Windows Server 2003 in the market globally, a product which will reach it’s end of support date in July 2015. According to a report from the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), 61 percent of firms in the UK are dependent on this platform. That translates to between a quarter and a half of a million SMB’s which still use Windows Server 2003 for core elements of their day-to-day IT operations. July 2015 may seem a long way off, but organisations need to start thinking about an infrastructure refresh now and decide how to use this opportunity to dramatically move their spend on IT away from ‘keeping the lights on’ to driving long term agility and efficiency in their business.FUD clear to seeThe fear, uncertainty and doubt surrounding inaction on this is clear for anyone to see. SMB’s who fail to, or choose not to migrate from Windows Server 2003 will be putting themselves, their customers and their partners at materially increased risk. Security and supportability are crucial aspects of IT operations in any business and, if they don’t migrate, these ‘laggards’ will be increasing their vulnerability as security patches cease from next July.For many SMB’s turning to the next iteration of a solution seems like a logical step, shifting from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012 for example, might seem to makes sense. However, this misses the point that it’s not just about an operating system (as good as WS 2012 is). What SMB’s really need is IT that not only works, but is kept current, patched, backed up and above all is affordable and that adapts with their business needs over time.Who wants to spend?Who wants big capital expenditure on servers in this day and age? Certainly not cash strapped SMB’s. Equally why perpetuate a model of delivering IT that arguably requires over 60 percent of the effort and budget devoted to just keeping the lights on.Unsurprisingly cloud computing has become one of the top choices for SMB’s grappling with this dilemma. By the end of 2013, CIF reported that 69% of SMB’s had adopted at least one cloud based service. The popularity of cloud based solutions has grown at an incredible rate and there’s no hiding from the huge impact it’s had on the way that businesses of all sizes buy, operate and manage their IT systems, to the extent that KMPG called it the ‘most disruptive force in business in the past 20 years’.Alongside the onset of cloud as a viable IT deployment model there has continued to be a realisation that the market for the foreseeable future is hybrid (part on-premise/part in-cloud).Hybrid challengesOf course hybrid has its own management challenges. Larger enterprises have invested in hybrid architectures and management systems to help them harness the benefits from the opportunity. Running applications where best suited and storing data where required, with the support to navigate the complexity.For the SMB such solutions have been more elusive and as such the traditional like-for-like ‘refresh’ risks becomes a never ending three-six year cycle of wasted costs and opportunity. SMB’s are demanding a solution that remains current, enables cloud adoption where desired and can adapt over time.On premise is not deadOn-premise technology is not dead in the age of cloud computing, but it has to be re-imagined to be the intelligent edge of the cloud, or the gateway or cloud hub if you prefer, governing access to cloud services whilst providing the local assurance desired for the storage of sensitive data. The custodian of user credentials from which single sign on can be initiated to any number of external solutionsMany industry analysts are already talking about hybrid cloud as the future of IT and much of the market is already starting to reflect this. For SMB’s it should also be argued that a hybrid environment creates an opportunity for IT as a whole to be delivered as a service, where a managed service provider uses cloud managed server appliances on premise alongside cloud hosted applications to deliver an efficient and effective solution that can evolve and scale to meet the customers’ needs.It is easy to be cynical about the end-of-life of technology, but the fact that Windows Server 2003 has lasted the time that it has is clear testament to its popularity and capability. As such when facing the choice of what to do next businesses need to look beyond just the operating system, right down to the deployment model and how they best embrace the cloud opportunity with the hybrid model.Nick East is co-founder and CEO of UK start-up Zynstra
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Industry voice: Fighting against the end-of-life
The nature of how we work has changed and is continuing to change. With the digital age upon us, we are finding ourselves getting morereliant on technology to get the job done. Be it using collaborative technology to work with cross country offices or simply picking up the phone to speak to someone, digital working now takes up two thirds of the working day .Digital working not only allows us to work more collaboratively, it provides employees with the flexibility to work on the move and provides access to company data allowing people to work from anywhere. The concept of a day sitting at a desk is no longer a reality.Digital take-overSo whilst it is agreed we have undergone a digital revolution in recent years, some employers and employees are worried that digital will eventually take over. With a recent report commissioned by Brother predicting the job title of "robot supervisor" could be commonplace in 30 years, as well as a 1:10 human-to-robot ratio, many are nervous about how close to the 100% digital workforce we may be.The concept of a total digital workplace has been discussed by businesses for years and, while some have already deployed various technologies to digitalise the way a business works, others are still holding on to traditional ways of working. A completely digital workforce puts the tradition of business at risk, and some fear it means a complete loss of human interaction and, in some cases, work altogether.From LogMeIn’s perspective, it is a stage in business we should never reach. As collaboration increases with businesses ‘chasing the sun’ (shifting work around time zones to speed up production and lead times) human interaction is still a vital element of the process – even if it is just to ensure that it is managed effectively. Getting the balance rightThe truth is we need both digital technology and human interaction to work at our highest level of productivity. The key really is about getting that balance right.Ultimately, digital should complement human interaction, not replace it. For instance, technology can enhance face-to-face communication. LogMeIn’s screen sharing tool join.me is the ideal example of this, as it assists in collaboration through technology where human contact is not possible.Transforming interactionsBy transforming the way people interact with others and the world around them, businesses can identify the best collaboration solutions for their staff, thus achieving the highest level of productivity possible. The digital age is something to embrace, not fear. It has the power to increase efficiency and give us flexibility in the way we work. By transforming the way people interact with others, businesses can identify the best collaboration solutions for their staff to achieve the highest level of productivityLou Orfanos is the Vice President of Products at LogMeIn
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Industry voice: The digital age take-over
Microsoft showed off Windows 10’s desktop and mouse features when it made the enterprise-focused technical preview available to download on October 1, and as expected, it offered very little in the way of new touch functionality.According to a new report, you might not have long to wait to see Windows 10’s tactile side and its consumer features. Microsoft insiders told The Verge that Redmond is planning to show them off at an event to be held in late January, which will be separate to Microsoft’s appearance at CES during the middle of the month.As the report notes, Microsoft previously said that it would unveil the new operating system’s consumer features in "early 2015", so a date of late January fits the bill.Windows 10 brings a number of new features, including a revamped Start Menu with Live Tiles, new options for snapping and arranging Windows and virtual desktops, a new desktop-friendly Charms bar and a new, shortcut-friendly command prompt.Why Windows 10 is a balancing act
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Microsoft to show off Windows 10’s consumer features at January event
iPad Air 2 release date, news and featuresApple’s latest flagship tablet, the iPad Air 2, is here and it’s sporting that familiar 9.7-inch display and an even slimmer body.Tim Cook took to the stage in Cupertino to give us the low down of its newest tablet, alongside the new iPad Mini 3.We’ve gathered together all the key information on Apple’s new tablet for you to digest in one place, so please read on.Updates: Now featuring up to date availability information.Read our in-depth iPad Air 2 reviewCut to the chaseWhat is it? Apple’s latest 9.7-inch flagship tabletWhen is it out? NowWhat will it cost? It starts at $499, £399, AU$619 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi only modeliPad Air 2 release dateThe iPad Air 2 has been out since late October, so you can grab it now.iPad Air 2 priceIn terms of price the iPad Air 2 starts at $499, £399, AU$619 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model, with 64GB of internal storage setting you back $599, £479, AU$739 and 128GB costing $699, £559, AU$859.If you fancy some 4G action on your iPad Air 2 you’ll have to part with $629, £499, AU$779 for 16GB, $729, £579, AU$899 for 64GB and $829, £659, AU$1019 for 128GB.iPad Air 2 displayThe iPad Air 2 has the same 9.7-inch, 1536 x 2048 264ppi display as its predecessor, but it’s not a carbon copy as Apple has developed a zero air gap screen.It claims that this anti-reflective coating reduces screen reflections by 56%, which should provide clearer, brighter images.iPad Air 2 designIt’s thinner! No seriously, Apple has shaved off 1.4mm from the original iPad Air to make the iPad Air 2 just 6.1mm thick – that’s the world’s thinnest tablet people.You’ll be able to pick the iPad Air 2 up in silver, space grey and the all new gold variant – how exciting.iPad Air 2 powerThe iPad Air 2 houses Apple’s new A8X chip created specifically for the tablet, providing 40% faster CPU performance for apps and it claims graphics are 2.5 times faster.Apple bigged up the graphic performance of its new chip, which means games should look pretty awesome on the Air 2, with the promise console quality graphics.The M8 motion co-processor also resides inside (just like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus), plus Apple has stuffed in a barometer as well, because it can.iPad Air 2 operating systemThere’s no surprise here, the iPad Air 2 comes running iOS 8.1 – Apple’s latest version of its mobile platform.iPad Air 2 cameraThe iPad Air 2 has Apple’s new 8MP iSight camera with a f/2.4 aperture plus 1080p video recording and 720p slo-mode video capabilities.Auto HDR from the iPhone makes the leap to the Air 2, panorama and burst mode are present and there’s a macro mode too.Time-lapse also makes it way onto iPad with the Air 2.The face time camera on the front is also new, with a f/2.2 aperture to let in more light and it has a HD resolution with HDR built in.iPad Air 2 Touch IDIt has it. Fact. Apple says its one of the most requested features from users, and with iPad Air 2 its answered those longing for the functionality.It allows you to unlock the tablet as well as paying for products including through Apple Pay.Battery and connectivityApple is promising up to 10 hours battery life, while new faster Wi-Fi and LTE are also hidden within the iPad Air 2.In fact the Air 2 supports 20 different LTE bands, more than any other tablet on the market, meaning it should be compatible with your network.There’s plenty to read about the new iPad Air, but seeing is believing. Check out our hands on video with the new tablet below then click through to the next page for all the rumors in the run-up to its announcement!YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4txbG4NAZg&list=UUAY_M9HyJb8oMKPV1utQQyAiPad Air 2 rumors: release date, power and cameraThe iPad Air 2, the obvious follow up to the iPad Air, is about to land – but how good will it actually be? Can Apple really make it that different to the previous model?Given the brand seems to have leaked it itself already, thanks to publishing a screengrab showing the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 on a tutorial in iBooks, we’re almost certain to be seeing the iPad Air 2, with TouchID in tow, at Apple’s launch event tonight.While called the iPad Air 2, this will actually be Apple’s sixth generation full size (9.7-inch) tablet, but Apple is going to have a tough job topping the iPad Air, after it gained a coveted 5 star TechRadar review and it currently sits proudly at number 1 in our "Best Tablets in the World" top 10.Read our in-depth iPad Air reviewRumors and speculation have been pouring in as is the norm with an Apple product and we’ve collected them all in one place. Think of this as your one-stop-shop for iPad Air 2 news and get ready, because the latest rumors suggest it’s almost here.Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The sequel to the iPad AirWhen is it out? Announcement set for October 16, but may not be out until NovemberWhat will it cost? It will probably start at £399 / $499 / AU$598iPad Air 2 release dateIt’s official, we’re going to be seeing the iPad Air 2 on October 16, or at least Apple has sent out invites for an event on that date and it’s incredibly unlikely that the iPad Air 2 won’t make an appearance.Even before the arrival of the invitations it looked like we were probably going to see it on October 16, which is now so close we can almost touch it.As for the actual release date that’s likely to be early to mid November. Why November? Well that’s when the iPad Air made an appearance last year, and Apple does like to stick to its annual product cycle – if you overlook the whole iPad 4 thing.It should be on track for November too, as according to Bloomberg’s sources the iPad Air 2 has already gone into production.iPad Air 2 priceWhile we haven’t seen any rumors surrounding the potential pricing for the iPad Air 2, Apple is usually pretty good when it comes to new products inheriting the pricing structure of the flagships they are replacing.A look at the iPad Air prices sees the entry-level 16GB, Wi-Fi slate costing £399 / $499 / AU$598, with storage increments gaining £80 / $100 / AU$100 each time for 32GB, 64GB and 128GB.Fancy getting some LTE connectivity inside your iPad Air 2? Then you’re probably looking at a starting price of £499 / $629 / AU$749 for the 16GB model, rising all the way to £739 / $929 / AU$1049 for the 128GB, with the £80 / $100 / AU$100 increments bridging the 32GB and 64GB gaps.iPad Air 2 powerThere were some early rumors buzzing around as KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the new iPad Air will come with an Apple A8 processor and sources speaking to ETNews believe the same. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both shipped with the A8.This might not be the case as recently leaked photos of the iPad Air 2’s logic board apple.club.tw show the iPad Air 2 sporting a brand new A8X processor.Including an A8X chip rather than the A8 chip found in the iPhone 6 would mark Apple’s return to creating specialised versions of its processors for its tablets. These processors would be more powerful than the iPhone versions, especially when it comes to graphics.As well as a new processor it could have 2GB of RAM, double the amount in the original iPad Air. That’s according to supply chain sources for Taiwan’s TechNews and more recently some RAM photos from Geekbar, though given that the iPhone 6 stuck with 1GB of RAM we’re not so sure.iPad Air 2 cameraAs well as predicting an A8 processor, Kuo also believes that the iPad Air 2 will sport an 8MP rear camera, up from 5MP on the iPad Air.Kuo’s theories are looking increasingly likely, as according to sources speaking to ETNews the iPad Air 2’s main camera will be boosted from 5MP to 8MP, while the front-facing snapper will be increased to 1.5MP.We’ve not heard much else about the camera yet, but a leaked iPad Air 2 case has a mysterious hole, which is positioned near the camera hole. What this could be for is anyone’s guess, perhaps a laser autofocus or an LED flash?iPad Air 2 operating systemThere are no prizes for guessing the answer to this one. The iPad Air 2, whenever it arrives, will come running Apple’s latest software – iOS 8.This is a step up from iOS 7 which arrived in 2013 and completely overhauled the design and theme of the platform.iPad Air 2 Touch IDTouchID seems nailed on since it was listed on Apple’s own tutorial – and to miss it out now would mean that Apple Pay wouldn’t be as useful. Paying for stuff online with your iPad using just a digit? Now that makes sense.Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPad Air 2 will get a dose of Touch ID. This is a theory which is given extra credence by the mention of iPads in the Biometric Kit for iOS 7.1.Apple has also applied to patent Touch ID for tablets and a mention of Touch ID on the iPad has even been found in iOS 8.1 beta code, alongside a suggestion that Apple Pay will be supported for making in-app purchases.Further evidence is found in the leaked images republished by apple.club.tw. These show a component inside the iPad Air 2 with space for a Touch ID home button, which makes its inclusion even more likely.iPad Air 2 rumors: design and displayWe’re just hours away from the launch and one of the clearest photos of the slate yet seen has just emerged. Posted to Weibo by "Mrlee" and spotted by BGR the photo appears to show the iPad Air 2 in all its glory, complete with a redesigned home button and Touch ID.Sources speaking to ETNews claim that the design is going to be similar to that of the original iPad Air and its screen will stick at a resolution of 2048 x 1536.That’s been echoed in more recent rumors, though these go on to say that the slate itself might be even thinner than last year’s model.However while the resolution might not change, according to sources speaking to Bloomberg that screen might have an "anti reflection coating" which would make it easier to read.We’ve also caught a glimpse of what might be the new iPad Air’s front panel and it appears that the display is integrated, allowing it to be slimmer than the iPad Air which has a separate display and panel.Recent rumors echo that, claiming that it’s allowed the iPad Air 2 to be as much as 0.5mm thinner than the iPad Air. That would make it just 7mm thick, still not quite the slimmest slate on the market (the Xperia Z2 Tablet is 6.4mm), but it would be the slimmest iPad yet.Vietnamese blog Tinhte.vn has now specifically said that it’s just 7mm thick, as well as confirming the inclusion of Touch ID and showing off some new photos, which are oddly lacking a mute button, though this is probably a non-final version we’re looking at, so the button may will make it onto the retail slate.A more comprehensive leak claiming to show off a prototype iPad Air 2 in pretty much all its glory has also hit the web, revealing subtle design changes rather than a total overhaul.Something worth noting in this series of images is the fact the Touch ID button from the iPhone 5S appears to be on the iPad Air 2, backing up Kuo’s claim that the biometric tech will land on the slate and matching other images that we’ve seen.Touch ID seems to be the feature of choice surrounding most of the next-gen iPad rumors, as another image claiming to show the iPhone 6, iPad Mini 3 and iPad Air 2 highlights the fingerprint scanner on all three devices.Another recent leak mentions that Touch ID will be included in the new iPad Air and that it’s going to be more durable than the current incarnation.We’ve also seen yet another photo of the iPad Air 2, this time alongside an iPhone 5S and with Touch ID just as much of a focus as it has been in previous images.It appears the iPad Air 2 just can’t stay away from cameras, as a series of shots appeared on ASCII Plus showing off the front, rear and sides of a tablet which looks very similar to the ones appearing in previous leaks.The report does state that the device next to the current iPad Air in the shots is a mock up of Apple’s tablet, so it has to be taken with a pinch of salt – but again it’s more of the same with no slider switch above the slightly redesigned volume keys.Further images have emerged, this time supposedly showing the rear cover and they largely line up with what we’ve seen so far. It’s evident from them that the volume controls have been recessed into the frame, while the speaker grille is now a single line of holes and there appears to be a microphone next to the rear camera.As for what colours the iPad Air 2 will be available in, sources speaking to Bloomberg claim that there will be a gold option, alongside the expected silver and grey shades.While we loved the iPad Air, there’s always room for improvement. Head over to page three to see what we’d love to see on the iPad Air 2.iPad Air 2 rumors: What we want to seeThe iPad Air is a great device but even brilliance can be built upon, so there’s room for improvement for Apple’s sixth generation slate – aka the iPad Air 2.Since the Air shares much of its design and many of its components with the latest iPad mini, some of this list overlaps with what we want to see for the iPad mini 3. But given the new iPad Air will be the flagship model, there are a few other things Apple could do.A bigger screenThere’s always a tradeoff between portability and screen size, but the success of some competing tablets shows that there is a market for devices larger than the iPad.And before you dismiss the idea, remember this is the company that said it wouldn’t build a smaller iPad and then went on to design the wildly successful iPad mini.Recent rumors have raised the spectre of a 12.9-inch iPad, significantly larger than the current 9.7-inch screen and running at 2K or even 4K resolution.While the current Retina display running at 2,048 x 1,536 pixels could arguably already be described as 2K or very close, having a physically larger screen would be good for movies and photo editing, and Apple likes to boast about statistics when it suits.Of course, this could actually be the much-vaunted iPad Pro, which would mean the iPad Air would stay the same – and if that’s the only way to maintain portability, we’re all for it.Current rumors are pointing to a more ‘pressure sensitive’ display, which would allow for better reception of prods from your digits and even that much-fabled iStylus that could do everything but make the tea for you.Bluetooth mouse supportAs the iPad gets more powerful it becomes a more realistic proposition as a work machine, with current models inching closer to being dubbed true laptop replacements. The only problem is that touch input just isn’t as accurate as mouse input for some tasks.Adding support for mice or graphics pen-style devices over Bluetooth could make the iPad a more usable device for more complex tasks, especially when it comes to graphics apps.This would be quite a step for Apple since it touts touch as easy and intuitive, but it would nonetheless be welcomed by some users.Facial recognitioniPads have had a front-facing camera for ages, and the Camera app is already able to detect faces when focusing.So it would be nice to have some means to unlock or authenticate your device by simply holding it up as you normally do and having the camera recognise you. However, there’s a big caveat here: Apple needs to do what it did with Touch ID and make the system work instantly, and be very hard to spoof.There are other possibilities instead, such as eye tracking, scrolling pages depending on your eye movements, or pausing movies when you look away. Again, we’ve seen these already, so we’d be looking to Apple to make the system flawless.Touch IDLike the Mini, the iPad Air still lacks the Touch ID sensor found in the new iPhone 5S. This seems a little odd for an expensive flagship device, and in future you can expect to see fingerprint sensing used for more than just unlocking a device, so putting it in the iPad would enable easier downloads, logins and even user switching.Its current omission may be a cost issue, in the sense that Apple wants to protect its profit margins, but over time all technology tends to become cheaper so it would be a welcome inclusion and based on the rumors we’re hearing it probably will be included.A card slotLook, we know that a lot of people reading this will laugh in our faces, but hear us out. We know there’s no way Apple will put a card slot in its sleek, machine-tooled surfaces of its iPad but there’s no doubt that a way to bring content more easily on and off the tablet is needed.With games and bigger music and video apps easily eating up 1GB or more, the base 16GB iPad can quickly fill up, especially if you’re going to be away from your computer and unable to re-sync new content easily.So if it’s not a card slot (which it won’t be, unless the moon suddenly turns into a banana and gravity inverts) then some other ability to sync content – be it a digital locker, a Lightning port connector with card slot that can do more than just photos, or some other idea.Come on Apple, we’re not doing all the work for you.A haptic screenTouch is pretty amazing though we all take it for granted now. An interesting way for Apple to go could be to use a pressure-sensitive haptic screen in its iPad lineup.As well as providing better interaction for painting and drawing apps, it could surely leverage the extra input information for other purposes like pressing hard on a link to open it in a new tab.A file browserThis is more of an iOS wish than specifically an iPad one, but iOS currently provides no real access to a file storage or manipulation area.Sure, third party apps do this, each in their own way but if Apple implemented it at a system level it could standardize the process of downloading files (not currently supported by Safari), saving documents and storing stuff so that all developers could provide a better overall experience – and would facilitate expandable storage in some form, as we mentioned earlier.Apple wants you to use iCloud to sync all this kind of stuff but that presumes that you always have a network connection and that users will happily pay to upgrade the measly 5GB of standard iCloud storage associated with each Apple ID.A quad core CPUIt’s true that Apple’s dual core A7 performs better than most quad core mobile CPUs in everyday use and this is down to the fact that by making the processor and the software and tightly controlling both, it can optimize everything very well.But just imagine that level of expertise being applied to a quad core CPU. Track counts and frame rates would go up, render and load times would go down – it’s going to happen at some point, and the boon in creativity, already one of Apple’s taglines to buying it tablets, would be immense.So a quad core iPad seems likely, though the timing is less clear. The physically larger battery available would mean the Air likely goes quad core before the iPad Mini ever could – but would Apple really want to switch out its strategy?.A better cameraThe iPad’s two cameras are good, but there’s no real limit on how good people would like them to be.It’s not just about screen sizes, since the Air already shoots in HD, but improving the quality of the image, the zoom and stills performance would all be welcome and seem likely contenders for inclusion in future versions of the iPad, since camera technology is constantly advancing.By the way, we don’t mean the rear camera. That can go down to 2MP if it would make the design better, as it might discourage the scourge of tablet photography. We mean the front camera, improving it for use as a video conferencing tool and taking self portraits for social networks.Live multitaskingBy live we mean the ability to have two apps on screen at the same time. Imagine streaming iPlayer while checking your email, and not having to switch out of one to see the other.There would have to be limits, like not allowing two apps to play sound at the same time, but it seems plausible enough on the larger screen of the Air plus its significant processing power.Again some other manufacturers have tried this with limited success, so it would be up to Apple to show them how to do it right – ideally it would be contextual or even Siri-driven, allowing you to be working on a spreadsheet or watching a movie and say ‘Siri, is my train delayed?’ and have what you were doing staying front and center with the information subtly popping up.We’re expecting a new iPad Mini 3 later this year too.
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Updated: iPad Air 2 release date, news and features
The marketing industry has quickly responded to social media by using specialist online reputation management agencies to banish critical articles or customer comments to the back pages of the Google search results. However, technology businesses should take proactive, preventative steps themselves to achieve two key goals – protecting their reputation and reducing their exposure to risk.Engaging with customers through social media often means that user-generated content ("UGC") will appear on a business’ website or social media page and could take any number of forms including text, still or moving images or sound clips. User terms and conditionsThe main concern for businesses arises when this content infringes rights or when it harms or threatens to harm the business or another organisation. To counter this, businesses should ensure that their user terms and conditions:• Expressly prohibit illegal content• Disclaim liability for any offensive or defamatory UGC• Obtain appropriate licences or assignments for intellectual property (IP) rights• Obtain consent to use any private personal information• Obtain the appropriate warranties and indemnities from the users themselvesDefamationPerhaps even more important is how a business reacts when such infringements do arise. Clearly set out "notice and take down" procedures can help to ensure that if third parties notify the business of objectionable content, it can be swiftly taken down. Although businesses that inadvertently find themselves hosting defamatory material have some statutory protection (for example under the new Defamation (Operators of Websites) Regulations 2013), this may fall away if they do not take the appropriate steps once they receive a complaint.The problem is of course inverted when a business itself becomes the object of defamatory material hosted on third party sites. Alongside any pursuit of the individual who posted the material (where possible), one of the first steps taken should be to identify the social media or website operator hosting the content and attempt to use the site’s own notice and takedown mechanism. If this approach fails, legal proceedings can be pursued, though businesses can take comfort in the fact that operators are increasingly keen to avoid implication through their own inaction.Watch your employees Employee interaction with social media, both in a personal capacity and on behalf of the business, is another area where management should exercise vigilance. Whilst this platform can help create a positive image for the business and act as a productive knowledge sharing hub and networking tool, employee conduct is not necessarily private, and individuals are often less reserved when voicing their opinions online. Issues such as discrimination, loss of reputation, breach of confidence, invasion of privacy and infringement of third party rights are real concerns and can both directly and indirectly damage a business’s reputation. As such, it is advisable for employers to remind employees of these dangers and set in place a pragmatic and enforceable online and social media policy, which:• Sets out clear and realistic guidelines for social media use, both in and outside office hours• Puts in place appropriate restrictions on the use of the company’s IT resources, IP and confidential information• Requires prompt response by employees to issues raised• Makes clear the consequences of breaching the policyData Protection ActBusinesses should also be mindful of their obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 when publishing content on their website and social media pages. In particular, are they complying with the privacy policy of the social media platform operator, and does this fit with the business’ own privacy policy?Online reputation management is something that all businesses, especially those in the technology sector, need to be proactive about. Educating employees and putting in place internal and external-facing policies will install greater legal and practical awareness, minimise risk and reduce exposure to complaints and potential legal proceedings.Policies are only effective when properly implemented, so management should continually monitor the content of social media pages and the business’ website to ensure compliance. Elaine O’Hare is an Associate at Stevens & Bolton and advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property, including copyright, trade marks and database rights. She also advises on defamation and internet and domain name issues as well as non-contentious matters, such as IP licensing.Henry Milas is a trainee solicitor in intellectual property practice at Stevens & Bolton. He has experience in various contentious and non-contentious matters, as well as some defamation work.
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Industry voice: Managing your online reputation
Windows Phone 9 introductionWindows Phone 8 is well over a year old now, yet until recently we knew very little about Windows Phone 10.Originally it was expected to be with us by the end of 2013 as it was thought that Microsoft may adopt the annual software cycle made popular by Apple in an attempt to keep its mobile OS fresh and, more importantly, relevant.That didn’t happen, but from the information that we’ve been able to gather so far it looks like Windows Phone 10 could be a massive overhaul, in fact it might not be Windows Phone 10 at all, but instead just Windows 10, as Microsoft is seemingly looking to unify its operating systems, so it’s not surprising that it’s taken over a year.However we did recently get Windows Phone 8.1 to tide us over, while leaks highlight that Windows Phone 8.5 may also be on the cards.Updates: It’s rumored that Microsoft has sent an early build of Windows Phone 10 out into the wild, while we might have heard about one of the first phones which will arrive running the new OS- the Microsoft Lumia 940.Before we get our teeth in Windows Phone 10 we need to visit the rumors surrounding version 8.5. It’s been confused with the ninth iteration of the platform before, and it’s important to make a distinction between the two.Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The next major upgrade for Windows PhoneWhen is it out? Probably sometime in 2015What will it cost? Nothing, it’s a free downloadWindows Phone 8.5It looks like there might be such a thing as Windows Phone 8.5 in the works, but details are slim on the ground. All that’s really known so far is that there will seemingly be some potentially quite substantial changes to the Start screen interface in Windows Phone 8.5, but there’s no word yet on what form those changes may take.It’s also worth noting that while we list this as a Windows Phone 8.5 feature it’s entirely possible that it may end up in Windows Phone 10, especially as so little has been said about Windows Phone 8.5.Windows Phone 9 release date, news and rumoursNow we’ve got Windows Phone 8.5 out of the way we can get back on the Windows Phone 10 trail. We’re scouring the web everyday to bring you all the latest on Windows Phone 10 and we’ll be constantly updating the information below to give you the best picture of what’s to come.Windows Phone 10 release dateInitial rumors suggested that the Windows Phone 10 release date would be sometime in 2013, with reports claiming it would arrive just in time for Christmas, but as you might have noticed, Christmas has been and gone and we’re now in a Windows Phone 10-less 2014.Eldar Murtazin posted to Twitter that Windows Phone 9 (or 10 as it’s now known) would launch in the second half of the year. He correctly predicted Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia, so he could be worth listening to.Sadly the most recent rumors suggest we won’t be seeing Windows Phone 10 until sometime next year. A leaked document mentioned dates of between Q2 and Q3, which covers April-September 2015 and that’s just for a preview build, so the final release might be even later.That’s now looking almost certain as Windows 10 has been announced and it seems that this will be the basis for Windows Phone 10. With Windows 10 not out till next year Windows Phone 10 presumably therefore won’t be either.It looks like Microsoft is starting to prepare for a launch though, as according to WinBeta it’s been sending builds of Windows Phone 10 out to select partners, though apparently it’s an old version with little in the way of new features.We also may have heard about one of the first Windows Phone 10 handsets- the Microsoft Lumia 940.Windows Phone 10 or just Windows 10?For a while we’ve been seeing reports that suggest Microsoft may look to ditch the divide between its smartphone platform and the one it uses for tablets and PCs – rolling them all into one tidy bundle called Windows 10.It now seems that’s exactly what’s happening, as with its announcement of Windows 10 Microsoft claimed that the OS would work on screen sizes ranging from four to 80 inches. Not only that but the company specifically stated the Windows 10 would be the next version of Windows Phone.Whether that means it will just be called Windows 10 or whether it will still be called Windows Phone 10 isn’t clear, but either way it should be heavily based on the desktop operating system.Windows Phone 10 featuresMurtazin gave some early insight into the design of Windows Phone 10. Saying that apparently it will be a complete overhaul which will remove the tile based Metro interface that Windows Phone is currently known for. Murtazin went on to say that the interface would be more influenced by Android than iOS. That makes sense, especially the general overhaul, since we now know that it will apparently be based on Windows 10.Exactly how Windows Phone 10 will look and behave is still unclear, as it’s unlikely to be identical to the desktop version, but there’ll obviously be unity between platforms and a similar design language.However given that Live Tiles are still a part of Windows 10 it may not look a million miles from Windows Phone 8, especially as Microsoft will only need the touch focused element of its new OS on phones.But even so, as a version of the desktop operating system it could well be more powerful and versatile than Windows Phone 8, which could be where Murtazin was coming from in saying that it will be more like Android than iOS.A unified app storeWindows 10 is bringing Universal Windows apps with it. The idea with them is that there will be a single app store across all Windows 10 devices, whether servers, desktops or (presumably) smartphones. However the smartphone bit hasn’t been confirmed yet, so Windows Phone 10 may or may not share an app store with the rest of Windows 10.Windows Phone 10 devicesOne of the big issues with Windows Phone 8 was that you couldn’t get it on your Windows Phone 7 handset, instead you were lumped with Windows Phone 7.8.It’s thought that Windows Phone 10 won’t be so restrictive, with Windows Phone 8 users in line to get the upgrade which means you shouldn’t have to worry about picking up a Nokia Lumia 1520 or HTC 8X.
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Updated: Windows Phone 10 release date, news and features
Many businesses are currently thinking about moving business critical functionality to the Cloud. But when is the right time to migrate? And how can businesses drive this migration successfully?For smaller and medium sized businesses there is still a lot of confusion about when they should consider moving to cloud-based back office functionality. Why? It is partly driven by a reluctance from some IT suppliers to lose the opportunity to sell and maintain hardware. But legitimate concerns over issues like security and availability also muddy the waters.Increased varietyCloud adoption is being driven by the increased variety of services available, reductions in the cost of upfront capital investment and improvements in internet security. The Cloud is no longer only seen as a data storage option with many Software as a Service business applications. These used to be limited to email and general office processes but as the platform matures, these are embracing every office process – from HR to finance.A typical example would be that of the Accounts Payable function. Historically this was a labour intensive and largely manual process that relied on invoices being received by post, being matched to purchase orders, being processed for approval and ultimately being paid. The opportunities for lost invoices amongst huge piles of paperwork was significant, leading to bill chasing from suppliers. If anything, matters got worse at the dawn of the digital age. InvoicesNow invoices were arriving by fax, email and paper. The email invoices might be formatted as PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets or within the body of the email, with no consistency of format or approach. Managing this experience to the satisfaction of all parties required a lot of manual labour.Larger organisations could invest in document management and automation systems to automate much of this process but smaller businesses did not have this option. This issue was particularly intense for businesses that receive huge numbers of small invoices. The processing cost per invoice can be anything from £2 to £20.The evolution of the Cloud has transformed this kind of process and democratised access to the tools traditionally accessed only by larger businesses. Invoices can be scanned and uploaded to a remote server for storage – in itself a significant advantage over traditional paper storage.Real Magic The real magic takes place when invoices are automatically matched to purchase orders – removing the need for significant manual intervention and eradicating the manual intervention. Typically more than 90 percent of all invoices can be matched in this way, leaving accounts staff to deal with the exceptional.So at what point does it become viable for a business to move to a cloud-based service? At Readsoft we typically find that it is less about the size of business and more about volume of invoices. Any business that receives more than 1000 invoices per year can benefit from this back office automation. Businesses that receive 5000 or more invoices can see significant improvements in cash flow visibility, benefit from early payment discounts and see a significant return on investment.Not just about email and storageFurthermore once a business is signed up, all it requires is a networked scanner in order to get up and running. Usability is a key consideration, with the best cloud-based systems being simple to use and requiring little training.The Cloud is not only about email and storage. For businesses that wish to reduce capital costs and function more efficiently, numerous back office functions can be taken into the Cloud to drive business efficiency and drive down cost.Simon Shorthose is Managing Director of Readsoft UK. Readsoft is a leading provider of business automation services for back office processes
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Industry voice: How to get more value from the cloud
SharePod is a brilliantly simple solution if you’re having trouble syncing between your iPhone/iPod and your computer, or if you just don’t want to use iTunes.Why you need itA few weeks ago I bought a new computer, and iTunes was not happy at all. Because I’d synced my iPhone with my old laptop, iTunes refused to play ball with my new one – instead of syncing as normal, it tried to copy all my music across again, on top of the music that was already on my iPhone, which of course there wasn’t space for.What I desperately needed was SharePod. This handy program allows you to quickly and easily transfer files between your computer and your iPhone or iPod, bypassing iTunes and any syncing issues that come with it. You can transfer your music, videos and playlists, and it even backs up your database, so you can quickly right any wrongs that may occur during transfer.And if you need more, SharePod allows you to play music, edit tags and delete album art, playlists, music and videos. If it does throw up any errors during transfer, these won’t ruin the whole process; instead, SharePod quickly logs any problems encountered, before continuing. If iTunes and your computer are dancing to different tunes, SharePod will be music to your ears.Key featuresWorks on: PC, MacVersions: Trial, full ($20)Transfer music: Move your music, videos, playlists and podcasts from iTunes to your iPhone or iPod and vice versaCopy or share playlists: SharePod allows you to copy your playlists to your computer, allowing you to back them up or share them with othersRecover music: If your computer has crashed or you’ve started using a new one, SharePod can recover your music and rebuild your playlistsYou’ll also likeMP3GainAudacityCDexWinampMp3tag
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Every camera manufacturer has its own brand of image stabilisation system. Most use mechanisms inside the lens, where gyroscopic sensors detect any camera movement and drive motors that shift an internal lens element to correct it. The trouble is, according to Sony, that these only counteract certain types of movement, namely pitch and yaw. This is where you inadvertently twist the camera sideways or in an up-down direction as you take the picture. The movements may be so tiny you don’t notice, but they can be enough to blur the fine detail in your pictures. This is typical of shots taken with telephoto lenses – actually, it affects all lenses, but telephotos magnify the blur and make it more obvious.But these aren’t the only movements that can cause blur. High-magnification images, particularly macro shots, are often spoiled by lateral and vertical movements, or x/y shifts, during the exposure. Sony’s image stabiliser can correct these too.The fifth axis of correction is ‘roll’, which is an unintended circular movement that’s most obvious in video footage but can affect still images too, especially with slower handheld exposures at night, for example. You’ll see it when a horizon that should have been straight is actually slightly skewed.5-axis firstSony says this is the world’s first full frame camera with 5-axis image stabilisation. Olympus also has a 5-axis image-stabilisation system, first introduced with the OM-D E-M5, but this controls a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor, and although there are commercial connections between the companies, Sony says the stabilisation technology in the a7 II is completely unconnected with Olympus’s.Some Sony lenses already have stabilisation built in, but here’s where the system gets clever. The A7 II will use the axes of correction provided by the lens and supplement them with the extra axes available in the camera. You won’t get ‘double’ stabilisation, but you will get the best blend of both systems.The big advantage, of course, is that you can now get stabilised images with non-stabilised lenses, and that includes older Sony A-Mount lenses for its D-SLR and SLT cameras, which can be attached to the A7 II via an adaptor.Sony is claiming the equivalent of 4.5 stops of correction from the new system, and we look forward to putting this to the test.In the meantime, take a look at this Sony A7 II demo video.YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqEz3qpZsPM
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Sony A7 II 5-axis stabilisation: how it works
It’s Thanksgiving! A day to be thankful for all the great things we’ve been blessed with (or just another rainy Thursday in November if you’re not in the US, but stick with me here). So we here at TechRadar thought it would be the perfect opportunity to round up five free programs we’re truly thankful for.These are some of our favourite apps, the best free software we reckon is available today. They’ve enriched our lives, made work easier and saved us when we thought all hope was lost. So today, after you’ve gorged yourself on turkey and pumpkin pie, spare a minute or two to say thanks for these brilliant programs.Got a favourite that we haven’t mentioned? Tell us about it in the comments below.GIMPWho needs Photoshop? Seriously, when you start using GIMP you won’t need any other image editor. It may be free, but the guys and gals behind this superb piece of kit have spared no expenses in making it as powerful as possible. With layers, scripts, advanced manipulation tools, tons of brushes and a whole heap more, GIMP gives you more goodies than Santa on a particularly good day (hold on there, still a month to go…).The high king of free software, GIMP proves that you don’t need to spend big to get huge results. With enough firepower to put paid alternatives to shame, getting this much for free feels almost…wrong. But it’s so, so right – GIMP is open source and developed by volunteers dedicated to keeping it as free and as awesome as possible, and if that’s not something to praise, we don’t know what is.RecuvaIf there’s ever software to be thankful for, it’s recovery software, and Recuva is one of the best in its class. It’s an absolute life saver for anyone who has emptied the recycle bin, only to realise there was something important lurking in there. Similarly, it can recover damaged, corrupted or even unsaved data, providing a lifeline just when you thought your precious files were gone for all eternity.And if that wasn’t enough to prompt tears of joy, it’s free! Yes, all the heartache of accidentally deleting your marriage photos banished forever, and not a penny spent to do it. No matter whether you deliberately deleted the files and then changed your mind, or if you were blighted by a catastrophic computer crash, Recuva should be your first port of call when it comes to bringing your files back from the dead.avast! Free AntivirusWhen it comes to something as important as keeping your computer safe and secure, you want to know you’re getting the best that money can buy. Except in this case, because with avast! Free Antivirus, you get all the essential protection you need without having to pay a penny. With a robust antivirus and anti-malware scan, home network checking and a useful browser cleanup tool, the free version has all you need to stay safe from online nasties.And if you do decide you upgrade, avast! offers you a ton of useful features to keep the worst the internet has to offer at bay. From blocking out spam and phishing sites to running a silent firewall and protecting your online banking, upgrading is perfect if you’re looking for all-round internet protection from one of the most trusted names in the biz.LibreOfficeNo roundup like this would be complete without mentioning LibreOffice, an office productivity suite that proves that the best things in life really are free. Borne of the OpenOffice project, LibreOffice contains a range of programs that anyone familiar with Microsoft Office will recognise; from word processors to spreadsheets to databases, they’re all in here, full of features and ready to solve your office woes.Everything is laid out in a similar way to its Microsoft cousin, so there’s no steep learning curve to negotiate, while LibreOffice can read Microsoft file types and save to them too, so there are no compatibility issues to fret over either. With extra apps like a database creator and a drawing suite, LibreOffice goes where office software fears to tread – and emerges unscathed and with its head held high.SkypeThere was a time when free calls were a hacker’s fantasy. Nowadays, they’re a solid reality, thanks in no small part to Skype. This fantastic program connects users to each other over the internet, allowing people to make free calls to anywhere in the world, provided the recipient is also using Skype. For those times when you need to call a landline, Skype also offers reasonable rates as part of a dedicated call package.Install it on your phone and call another Skype user and you won’t have to worry about eating into your contracted minutes either (though you will use up data). You can use it to make conference calls, stay in touch with long distance friends or use it as an instant messenger. It’s bringing people a little closer together for free, and surely that’s something to be thankful for.So that’s it, five great free programs to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Got one you want to share? Let us know in the comments.
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Five free programs to be thankful for this Thanksgiving
Introduction and designNAS appliances can be used to both share files and stream media to home entertainment systems, but the boxes involved can be both ugly and noisy. Some also require additional hardware, like an Xbox, to connect to the TV. Which is where QNAP’s HS-251 scores as it’s not only good looking but, with no fan, it’s very quiet too. It can also be attached directly to a TV via HDMI, but it’s far from cheap and something of a specialist purchase.Good looking and quietLittle bigger than your average DVD player, the HS-251 is designed to be seen rather than heard, housed in a reassuringly solid case with a brushed alloy top and glossy black mouldings all round. Access is via the front panel, held on with magnets and easily removed with two drive bays beneath to take either 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA disks of your own choosing.A dual-core Intel Celeron processor provides both the motive power and the dedicated set of instructions to deliver on-the-fly media transcoding with 1GB of DDR3 RAM to go with it. The interfaces are all round the back with two Gigabit ports for network attachment, plus two USB 3.0 and two more USB 2.0 ports which can be used to attach external disks, memory sticks and the like. The full-size HDMI port is also located here, but you will need to supply your own cable.Power comes from an external AC adapter which, when teamed with passive cooling through the alloy-topped case, means no need for a noisy cooling fan. As a result, however, the case can get hot and we wouldn’t advise putting anything on the top of the unit. And contrary to expectations it’s not exactly silent – listen hard and you can clearly hear the disks operating inside.Getting startedAs with other QNAP appliances the HS-251 is very easy to setup via a cloud-based routine run from a browser. This formats the disks then installs the QTS operating system and is both quick and very easy to follow, although with just two drive bays you’re limited to JBOD and RAID 0/1 arrays. We opted for RAID 1 mirroring giving us 100% redundancy across a pair of 4TB Western Digital Red disks, but that was at the cost of losing half the available capacity.The remaining setup work is done via a desktop-like web interface through which we configured our test network shares. The HS-251 delivers a reasonable level of performance when used as a conventional NAS, and using the ATTO Disk benchmark and a single Gigabit connection we saw a peak throughput of just over 115MB/sec reading data and 110MB/sec when writing.However, most buyers will be more interested in the media centre capabilities which require a little more setup work besides.HDMI to goWe were a little disappointed by the lack of help getting the multimedia side of the product up and running, but with a bit of trial and error we soon found out what was needed. In fact all you have to do is download and install a set of apps, somewhat confusingly referred to as the HybridDesk (HD) Station. This includes a copy of the popular XBMC open source multimedia player plus a Chrome browser, YouTube, Spotify, and other utilities ready-configured to work through the HDMI port.Once these were installed our only other issue was how to control them. An infrared remote would seem the best option and one is available, but only as an add-on so we initially plugged in a USB keyboard and mouse. Then we discovered Qremote, a smartphone app which enabled us to operate the appliance from the comfort of our armchair. Moreover, unlike a conventional remote, we didn’t have to be in line of sight of the appliance or even the same room.The Qremote app proved to be very responsive making it easy to view photos stored on the QNAP appliance, listen to music and watch movies in full 1080p on the attached TV. Quality was excellent and there were no buffering or other performance issues even when we drew on content from an external USB disk.VerdictOverall we liked what we got with the QNAP HS-251 but it does come with a hefty price tag. Without disks we found it selling for £380 (around $595, AU$690) and if you add in the cost of the two 4TB disks that rises to something around the £650 mark ($1,020 AU$1,185). That’s a lot to pay for a two-bay NAS even when you factor in the convenience of the HDMI interface and the XBMC-led multimedia capabilities.That said, there will be buyers willing to pay that much for this unique combination which, when added to the stylish design, is hard to match.We likedQNAP has clearly gone all out to create a stylish NAS box and has succeeded in producing a very smart but still unobtrusive product that would grace any living room. Moreover, the lack of fans means it’s very quiet which is important in a domestic environment. Yes, the disks do still make a noise, but opt for SSDs and you’ll hardly hear a murmur.The ability to plug the box directly into a TV is another key selling point and the decision to go for XBMC as the main media player is a good one. As a mature piece of software, XBMC can handle just about anything you want to throw at it and, courtesy of the dual-core Celeron processor, even transcode video to different devices on the fly.Smartphone users will love the remote control app and as well as multimedia options it’s worth remembering the HS-251 is also designed to be used as a conventional NAS box. With only two drive bays to play with the capacity is a bit limited but, in terms of functionality, it’s all there and more than a match for other storage appliances in this price bracket.We dislikedAlthough to be expected on a fanless appliance, we were a little concerned about how hot the HS-251 got when working hard. This is a problem likely to be exacerbated if the appliance is situated in a Hi-Fi rack or directly underneath the TV. Plus it’s not as silent as you might expect (it can hit up to 25dB) and fixing that with SSDs will seriously impact both its capacity and your wallet.The other big drawback is the price. On the plus side it’s a quality product and you can plug it straight into a TV, but you’re paying a premium compared to Synology’s DS-415play which has the same transcoding capabilities plus four drive bays.We would also have liked to see Wi-Fi and a bit more consumer-friendly help to get the box working. That said, the QNAP appliance is likely to appeal most to those with technical know-how anyway, so maybe that’s not such a big issue.Final verdictIf file sharing is all you crave then the HS-251 will come way down your shopping list behind cheaper, faster NAS rivals with greater capacity. As a multimedia server attached to a TV, however, it makes a lot more sense, especially with XBMC on board and built-in transcoding capabilities. It’s also a very neat, stylish and quiet bit of kit most likely to appeal to tech-savvy enthusiasts able to afford the high price tag.
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