Software : Industry voice: Don't let your app choke during development: use a RAD solution

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Industry voice: Don't let your app choke during development: use a RAD solution Posted: Every day we hear that IT teams are under growing pressure to deliver an ever increasing number of apps. Managers and executives want to see immediate results without understanding the amount of work that goes into coding an application by hand. Research shows that 48% of UK businesses have a backlog of 10-20 apps stacking up because they can't keep up with the current level of projects, let alone get on top of them. However, many of these delays come from simple chokepoints in the process that can be easily resolved. Initially, at least, the chokepoint in application delivery appears to be the development team. Months pass as the backlog grows, and the business demands to know why apps haven't seen the light of day. Half of those surveyed (50%) said the main challenge they faced was the time it was taking. Hand coding an application for one mobile platform can take weeks, even months – never mind coding it for multiple platforms. Why your business should simplify the app development process RAD solution Organisations try to solve this problem by automating manual coding processes with rapid application development (RAD) tools. And it helps – to a degree. RAD tools enable development teams to build applications faster so they can move on to the next project. But it doesn't solve the ultimate goal – getting applications to customers faster – because applications must still be tested and the infrastructure configured. None of this is fully automated. The plethora of tools available for trying to implement continuous integration and continuous delivery must be manually configured and integrated using scripts. So now operations becomes the chokepoint in application delivery. But the problem doesn't end there, either. In some ways, it only begins when the application goes into production. As soon as they begin using an application, users have the expectation that improvements will be many and often. This puts the onus back on development to improve the mobile experience, deliver new functionality, and fix bugs on existing mobile apps – in addition to developing new ones. The bottleneck has now come full circle. Looking beyond development The key to preventing these bottlenecks is to consider the application lifecycle as a whole. In addition to accelerating the development process using a no-code platform, IT organisations should automate the entire delivery process as well – from development, through test, and into production. A solution that combines all of these into one Rapid Application Delivery platform ensures that no single point in the application lifecycle becomes a chokepoint. A RAD platform that understands the dependencies between all apps and infrastructures can cleanly automate, verify and govern the delivery backlog with single-click speed and efficiency. Automating the entire application lifecycle also helps IT organisations transition to and embrace a DevOps culture. Because Development and Operations teams don't talk to one another, share the same goals, or use the same tools, DevOps can become particularly challenging when it comes to change management. A RAD platform addresses these challenges. One platform controls the entire change management process, making it simple for Development and Operations to have a role inside of the platform and limiting potential errors that result in a failure. In short, a RAD platform facilitates DevOps efforts without increasing risk. Increased adoption A RAD platform offers another interesting benefit. It can actually increase application adoption. There are often times when users will open an application, use it once or twice, and then decide whether to continue to use the app based on whether it is updated regularly. Users will stick with even a mediocre mobile app if they know that it is updated frequently and continually improving. To successfully deliver and implement a modern application, organisations must consider the app's entire lifecycle. Pushing an app out the door as quickly as possible with no thought to how and when it will be updated is simply creating another chokepoint. A RAD platform can help with this but only if it is used in the right way. Instead of automating development at the cost of operations, focus on the ultimate goal: creating an app the consumer wants to use. Combining a DevOps mind-set with a RAD platform that automates the entire lifecycle can do just that. Zahid Jiwa is VP of sales for UK and Ireland for OutSystems

Download of the Day: Noreplyall Posted: Ever made the mistake of replying all to an email in Microsoft Outlook? Banish the embarrassment of doing it again by downloading the nifty Noreplyall add-on. Why you need it One of the best things about regular letter mail beyond the personal touch was that there is never the chance to do anything automatic like reply all with a message that was only meant for one person. Microsoft Outlook users now have their own way to avoid that mishap thanks to the Noreplyall add-on. The little added extra, which was developed in house by Microsoft Research, is simple in that all it does is add an extra button onto the Outlook ribbon that has three different options to be checked depending on the circumstance. Checking the no reply all button means that the regular reply all button will be completely disabled for all actions inside Microsoft Outlook until the user decides to turn it on again. Clicking the no forward button to the on position will make sure that a message isn't forwarded to anyone, and lastly you can check the no reply button to ensures that no replies are sent to messages. Using a tool of this ilk in an office situation can be extremely useful as replying all to a message only meant for one person has seen people dismissed in the past and will keep your private correspondence the way it is supposed to be - private. That isn't all. As the add-on has been devised by Microsoft Research you can be sure that it is built to the best specification possible plus it is constantly being worked on to bring an improved experience to the end user. Outlook was already one of the best applications around for sending and receiving emails plus organising correspondence and calendars. With Noreplyall installed it becomes an even stronger application and something that you and your colleagues can truly trust to deliver a full-proof mail experience. Key features Works on: All versions of Microsoft Outlook Price: Free Avoid Embarrassment: Eliminating the chance that you could press reply all means no more embarrassing situations where you have to explain an email to your superiors. Created by Microsoft: Outlook is part of the Office productivity suite and this extension has been built by the firm behind it thus ensuring it is made to an extremely high standard. Noreply and Noforward included: It isn't just a tool to get rid of the reply all button and users can also choose to deactivate the reply or forward button

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Software : Download of the Day: Wise Folder Hider

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• Download of the Day: Wise Folder Hider
• Updated: Best free parental control software: 5 programs to keep your kids safe in 2015
• Google's Android Pay could be the next big Apple Pay competitor
• Galaxy S6 could come with just a handful of default Samsung apps
• Apple might hit reset on iTunes when it launches new streaming service

Download of the Day: Wise Folder Hider Posted: Keeping private information private when using a family PC can sometimes be a lot more tedious that protecting against online threats and Wise Folder Hider aims to make that situation a thing of the past. Why you need it Whether you've got a list of surprises for the other half's birthday or a secret bank account statement for that rainy day saved on your PC, there's every chance that you've needed to try and hide something once upon a time. Wise Folder Hider comes to the rescue of those in need with a simple solution that helps to hide files and folders, whatever the size or specification. Protecting your precious files or folders is the one thins you'd expect Wise Folder Hider to excel at and it doesn't disappoint. This becomes abundantly clear the first time the program is opened up when it immediately prompts you to enter a password to even gain access and gives an instant shot of confidence to anyone skeptical as to whether they should go forward with the program. When inside Wise Folder Hider there are few options but what it does offer is exactly what anyone looking to hide files is looking for. You have the chance to either protect files, folders or USB folders by simply hiding them in a place they cannot be accessed or by applying a second password to each individual file that adds a layer of protection that's unlikely to be penetrated. There's no limit to the different files that can be protected by Wise Folder Hider with everything from audio and video files to plain text or spreadsheets all coming under the remit of Wise Folder Hider's defensive capabilities. All of this is behind a user interface that is incredibly easy to use and suits beginners and advanced users alike. Give Wise Folder Hider a try today if you've got sensitive information you want hidden and realise why this is the best free tool of its type on the internet today. Key features: Works on: Windows PC Price: Free Hide any type of file or folder: There's no limit to the scope of what can be hidden by Wise Folder Hider and it won't baulk at any file. Double Password Protection: Files can each protected with an individual password unique to that file and that is in addition to the password protection every time it starts up. Edit Files Easily: Files and folder protected by Wise Folder Hider can easily be edited within the program and saved with the same protection when you are done.

Updated: Best free parental control software: 5 programs to keep your kids safe in 2015 Posted: Introduction, K9 Web Protection, Spyrix Keylogger Whilst web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox have made it simple to eliminate access to certain websites it's still easy to circumvent parental controls when a dedicated piece of software isn't used. Parental control software gives elders that extra bit of control over the family PC to make sure children aren't able to access adult content or get inside software that is only to be used by other members of the family. Many of the options available for Windows PC users are completely free of charge and we've picked out our five favourite free parental control software programs of 2015. K9 Web Protection A very small application that packs quite a punch, K9 Web Protection provides a layer of safety for your kids online and runs from right inside your browser. On the first startup you have to set up a new license to use it and from then on its simply a case of setting up the filters to the exact specification required. Blocking is primarily done by category with various levels of blocking open to the user ranging from monitor (allows all categories and just logs traffic) to high (protects all default categories as well as social interaction and unrated sites). Beyond the main category restrictions you can also set up time restrictions to place blocks on when web access is allowed with a custom option allowing you to impose an online curfew for anyone using the internet on the family PC. The customary web site exception setting permits you to always block or allow specific sites and there is even the chance to block various URL keywords that will automatically bar access to a site should it contain certain words. It goes even deeper than even that with safe search redirecting to K9's own Safe Search and, even though it may concern some that this is turned on as default, it's very easy to turn it off straight from the setup page. K9 Web Protection performed well in our testing where we were blocked from accessing various adult sites and gambling services, even when clicking on links from other sites to arrive at them. There was very little we could find wrong with K9 Web Protection and knowing that all of this is completely free meant it gains top marks. Spyrix Free Keylogger Plenty of different methods exist to keep an eye on a child's browsing habits and Spyrix Free Keylogger brings the art of keylogging to the table, but some will find the limited number of features infuriating. What Spyrix Free Keylogger does offer is perhaps the highest level of keylogging of any application around right now. Monitoring is categorised by each user on the computer and sorted according to the data collected that includes keyboard entries, screenshots, webcam snapshots, sound recording, webcam video, clipboard value, webpages visited, and search queries. Hiding the program is limited to closing it down and then having a password to get back in and other ways, including being able to hide it completely, are only accessibly by upgrading to a paid option. You will notice that site blocking and social network activity are also among the options available. Unfortunately both these are also behind the paywall and not being able to block sites means that most parents will want to combine this with another program, upgrade to the paid version or just abandon it altogether. Windows Live Family Safety, Kidlogger, Naomi Windows Live Family Safety Being that this a guide to the best way to protect your kids whilst using a Windows PC, Microsoft has an entry in the top five in the shape of the Windows Live Family Safety tool that is part of the remainder of the Windows Live interactivity suite. To kick things off, anyone that wants to use Windows Live Family Safety must have a Windows Live account and once signed in you can set up your account as a "parent" one that can then be used to monitor other members of the family using the PC. Windows Live Family Safety requires that every family member has a different user account on the PC and if that isn't already the case the setup process becomes a lot longer than some of the other alternatives on offer. All monitoring is handled through the family safety section of Microsoft's website with various options including the ability to place restrictions on Windows Store or games usage plus the usual web filtering, time restrictions and app limits also available. Although blocking sites worked flawlessly with Windows Live Family Safety, it did show the page for a split second before the tab was closed and the monitoring feature didn't seem to pick up any of the websites we looked at inside Mozilla Firefox even though it blocked sites with ease. For parents that want a blocker and not a monitor, Windows Live Family Safety is a good choice yet there are certain flaws that would advise you to look elsewhere on this list. Kidlogger Another of the monitoring fraternity, Kidlogger is there to keep an eye on what is happening on your PC and then report back the findings with trademark accuracy. Keylogger is a simple to use program that allows you to monitor everything from keystrokes and clipboard content to Skype chats, USB media insertions and website URLs, and everything can be password protected. Its monitoring capabilities don't end there with the chance to capture video calls, screenshots at periodic intervals and even sound from around the PC itself just so long as a mic is present. This is all collected in log files that are stored locally and can only be accessed by the password holder. One big drawback, like other keylogging programs, is that there is no facility to block access to certain websites and any parents that want to do that will need another application to supplement it. As a keylogger it does the job it sets out to do and in that sense Kidlogger will not disappoint. Naomi Web blockers are the holy grail for many parents and Naomi delivers on that promise with an extremely simple yet effective filtering service. Naomi runs in the system tray and filters out adult content automatically with a built-in list that cannot be edited thus leaving you at the mercy of what Naomi deems inappropriate. Luckily her list is an extensive one and we weren't able access a range of different sites when Naomi was turned on. The fact you can't choose to block certain sites is the only real thing that holds Naomi back from being higher up in the parental control chart.

Google's Android Pay could be the next big Apple Pay competitor Posted: Wearables and self-driving cars might not be the only stars of Google I/O 2015, the May conference where the search company may launch a new mobile payment service called "Android Pay." With Google Wallet losing ground thanks to the rise of Apple Pay, Google will attempt to revive the platform by introducing Android Pay, reports Ars Technica. Smart TV in a stick, Chromecast is brilliant Unlike Apple Pay and Google Wallet, though, Android Pay won't be limited to a single official app, but an API that developers can use to add one-tap payment features to their own apps, the site's source said. It will reportedly let developers take advantage of mobile devices' NFC capabilities through Android's Host Card Emulation (HCE) feature, enabling users to make purchases online and in retail stores using third-party apps. Coexistence Google Wallet will continue to exist separately from Android Pay, but it will be easy for users to connect their Wallet accounts to apps that use Android Pay, the source said. However, the Google Wallet connection won't be required - that is, you won't need a Wallet account to use Android Pay apps. It's unclear how this is all connected with Google's acquisition of intellectual property and other tech from mobile payment coalition SoftCard, which was revealed just two days ago - but there can be little doubt that it is connected in some way. Whatever it is, it seems we'll know more by the end of May. Sony's PS4 keeps getting better

Galaxy S6 could come with just a handful of default Samsung apps Posted: Samsung's next flagship, the much-discussed Galaxy S6, will reportedly come pre-installed with just a handful of Samsung apps - a stark contrast to past Galaxy phones. These nonessential TouchWiz apps will include Samsung's S Voice and S Health, as well as some Galaxy apps according to SamMobile. The other apps will include Facebook, a WhatsApp download link, Microsoft's One Drive and One Note apps, Skype, and some other Google apps. Big improvement Rumors that Samsung would include fewer default apps on the Galaxy S6 first popped up at the beginning of February, but this is the first time we've seen a precise list. If these really are the only apps that will come pre-installed on the next Samsung flagship, then it's a massive improvement over past Samsung phones, which had pages and pages of mostly useless crapware right out of the box. Combined with the speed and performance enhancements built into Android 5.0 Lollipop, the Galaxy S6 could feature a much-improved experience when it debuts at MWC 2015. Is the Surface Pro 3 a laptop killer?

Apple might hit reset on iTunes when it launches new streaming service Posted: It's not uncommon for Apple to relaunch iTunes every now and then, but the next iTunes redesign could be a drastic shift with a new focus on streaming. This is tied to rumors about Apple's streaming music service, which will allegedly combine iTunes Radio and Beats Music into one Apple-run streaming platform. The iPad Pro is still a thing According to Business Insider's sources, that platform will materialize when Apple relaunches iTunes to focus on streaming music instead of music downloads, with the new service at its heart. The streaming path The new iTunes will reportedly also focus on playlists curated by musicians, while the project overall is being led by "mastermind" radio DJ Zane Lowe. Apple is apparently still in talks with musicians and ironing these details out, so expect it to be a while before the new streaming-focused iTunes materializes. But these rumors do seem credible; if iTunes is going to stay relevant at all in the future, this is the path it will need to take. Looking for a Chromebook? These are the best

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Software : You can get Microsoft Office 365 for free, but only if you're a student

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• You can get Microsoft Office 365 for free, but only if you're a student
• Industry voice: Make your app a money spinner: how to support multiple payment methods
• Start10 sheds Windows 10 Live Tiles for a retro look
• HTC One M9 features revealed in trio of leaked promo videos
• Download of the Day: KMPlayer

You can get Microsoft Office 365 for free, but only if you're a student Posted: Microsoft is making it ever easier for students across the world to sign up for a free version of Office to use for their ongoing studies. The roll out, which was originally announced solely for students in the United States, means that millions of students can sign up to get Office 365 and install a free copy of Office just so long as they're eligible. Students that want to find out whether they are able to gain access need to get a valid school email address and then visit office.com/getoffice365 before entering the address provided by the education institution. Teachers, meanwhile, are advised to visit office.com/teachers. Microsoft is providing the benefit to institutions that buy Office for faculty and staff, and as part of the package students get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access and Publisher on up to five PCs or Macs plus up to five mobile devices. In addition it includes 1TB of OneDrive storage and Office Online. Microsoft vs Google The decision comes after Google continued its aggressive push into the education sector through its Apps for Education that include a widespread productivity suite comparable to Office 365 and the increasing number of Chromebooks on the market geared towards schools. Via: Microsoft Microsoft Office 365 Review

Industry voice: Make your app a money spinner: how to support multiple payment methods Posted: How do I pay thee? Let me count the ways… Actually, would you rather I didn't? Last year saw the launch of so many different payment services that it's practically impossible to list the different ways that businesses can now process payments, consumers purchase goods, or people transfer money among their friends and family. Consumer trust Adoption of digital payment methods is ultimately good news for businesses that want to sell through apps: it shows that consumers are willing to trust their cash to the devices that are reshaping consumer behaviour and creating opportunity for digital leaders. For example, our recent research shows that 85% of smartphone owners in the UK report that phones or tablets have changed the way they shop, while three-quarters say they would be more likely to shop at a store offering key functions and services via an app. But while options for making purchasing easier and more intuitive are to be welcomed by enterprises, they do raise the question of how to support so many competing payments systems. This is a key question on which the further progress of the app economy hinges. The future may lie in converged payments, but for the time being businesses and consumers alike must learn to cope with a truly bewildering array of payment methods. That's less of a problem for the ordinary smartphone user, since many apps for transferring money among individuals are based on the user's phone number to link to their bank account. Multiple methods For businesses, the problem is not just how they can support the myriad methods of mobile payments that consumers now expect, but how to integrate them into their existing and future apps – especially given how quickly the mobile payments landscape is changing. So much effort goes into designing and building a successful app (and, before that, of building a winning application strategy), that apps are under enormous pressure to 'pay their way'. Clearly, integrating payment options that fully meet consumer needs within an individual app is the only way that businesses can provide the single-touch payment which consumers have come to expect from their mobile apps. Fortunately, there are payment technology specialists that help organisations to integrate a wide range of the most popular (and, indeed, the more esoteric) payments technologies into their business processes. Enterprises must understand, however, that these services are not 'bolt-on'. You can't simply design an app, and add new payment functions on an as-needed basis. Today, both apps and payments methods are complex beasts, with functions such as analytics being central to their design. The result is that an app must be tightly integrated with other elements of the ecosystem in which it functions, whether that's business databases or third-party payments services. This applies as much to payments as it does to any other aspect of an app – these need to be integrated during the design stage of the app. This is only possible by facilitating communications between app developers and third-parties such as payments providers; in particular, by providing access to crucial business data on which these apps are based. Turning to APIs It's no surprise, then, to see payments specialists such as First Data deploying application programming interfaces (APIs) which enable technology partners to open up their systems and data to application developers (and vice versa). As well as speeding up the development process, APIs enable developers to incorporate the different payment methods seamlessly into their existing apps – brands can control the design of the payments screen and ensure that users can complete transactions within the app itself. What's more, it gives businesses the ability to monitor transactions live and integrate the data into their own customer analytics programmes – including those tied to 'adaptive' apps that learn from each customer interaction to improve the service that they deliver to users. This is just one example of how businesses are realising the benefits of partnering with specialist technology providers to bring the best out of mobile apps. Apigee's research has shown that the most successful app deployments are by those companies that take an 'outside-in' approach to app development, working proactively and expansively with outside partners to develop and build their apps. In a survey of 800 IT decision makers in large enterprises across eight countries, those who described their approach as outside-in were much more likely to be exceeding expectations for delivering quality apps on time, on budget, and to the intended business effect. Four of a kind Just as payments technologies are not a bolt-on, businesses must also understand that APIs should not be seen as some kind of 'click-and-forget' software plug-in. Instead, organisations need to adopt an architecture that fully supports four types of API communication: app-to-client, app-to-backend, app-to-app and, finally, the exploded app built from micro-service APIs. This architecture not only enables apps to be built in an agile fashion, deployed at scale and compatible with future devices, it also means that apps can be easily connected to every other application inside and outside the enterprise – such as payments platforms. For many businesses, apps are the centrepiece of their digital transformation initiatives. Those that embrace the wider application ecosystem of app developers and specialist technology providers (such as payments platforms) will find that taking an outside-in approach to their application strategy will pay dividends. Bryan Kirschner is the director of the Apigee Institute

Start10 sheds Windows 10 Live Tiles for a retro look Posted: After listening to complaints from Windows 8 adopters, Microsoft is bringing back the coveted Start menu to Windows 10. Currently available as a Technical Preview, Windows 10's new Start menu merges the Live Tiles of Windows 8 along with the more classic look of Windows 7. However, if you find the new Start screen a little cluttered, Stardock's new Start10 will take you back to the simpler times of Windows 7. Available now as a beta, Start10 hides the Live Tiles from Microsoft's native Windows 10 Start menu. Start10 also incorporates a system-wide search feature that Microsoft is implementing on Windows 10 through Cortana's search feature. The comprehensive search feature allows users to quickly find apps, settings and files in the search field inside the Start10 menu. You can also skin the appearance of the start button to give you further desktop customization. Stardock Stardock made a name for itself when Windows 8 debuted. After users bemoaned the absence of the familiar Start menu, Stardock introduced Start8 as a way to bring back the Windows 7-styled Start menu. The company subsequently released a number of Windows tweaks for Microsoft's touch-centric OS, including the ability to run Modern UI apps inside resizeable windows through ModernMix. With Windows 10, ModernMix and Start8 may seem redundant as the basic functionality from Stardock's tweaks are native inside the OS. Start10 is a nice way for Stardock to differentiate its software tweaks from what Microsoft is supporting to give users more choice. Availability Stardock is offering Start10 to its Object Desktop users currently. Object Desktop is currently available for $49.99 or for $9.99 with a subscription cost of $3.00 per month thereafter. Check out our review of Microsoft's Office 365

HTC One M9 features revealed in trio of leaked promo videos Posted: We're not saying this is the definitive look at HTC's next flagship smartphone, but new videos and product renders out of China sure seem to be lightly salted with a hint of authenticity. @upleaks today published a trio of videos that appear to be marketing materials for the forthcoming HTC One M9, which the company is expected to make official on March 1, mere hours before MWC 2015 kicks off in Barcelona next week. Similar to M9 renders originating elsewhere, the YouTube videos appear to throw cold water on the idea of a centered front-facing camera as shown in earlier leaks. In fact, there's not an awful lot to separate this purported M9 from its predecessor, last year's flagship HTC One M8, aside from potentially ever-so slimmer front bezels and what appears to be a single rear-facing camera with dual-LED flash. Making an introduction The first video is a professionally shot and edited introduction showing what the M9 has to offer, including personalized themes, an HTC Sense Home widget for displaying apps based on your location, a built-in photo editor, three-finger HTC Connect swipe gesture for streaming video or music and meal time suggestions for BlinkFeed. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCAOpH7S5A On the hardware front, the M9 will apparently feature a "refined two-tone metal finish," better low-light selfies from the UltraPixel front-facing camera, a 20MP rear camera and BoomSound speakers with Dolby Audio surround. The other two product demo videos feature no sound, but show the M9 in action while using the camera and creating custom themes. If you're in the market for a new HTC flagship, based on these videos, we'd say this one might just be worth waiting for. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGvnyii8xlcYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIRlEwa2ckA Same as it ever was? Despite initial confusion over earlier leaked renders, the general consensus among HTC One M9 watchers is that the Taiwanese manufacturer appears to be spending more time on what's inside the smartphone, rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel externally. Speaking of inside being what counts, previous rumors have pointed to an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB RAM and a spacious 2900 mAh battery, not to mention 32GB of internal storage capable of being expanded via micro-SD card. The M9 is also said to come packing a five-inch, 1080p HD display, but if that's not big enough for you, the rumored HTC One M9 Plus is said to up the ante to 5.2 inches at 1440 x 5260 pixels, and toss a fingerprint scanner into the mix. Should the iPhone 6 be worried?

Download of the Day: KMPlayer Posted: Media players on your PC can sometimes suffer from a lack of options or quality that leaves you downloading scores of different players to play all your videos when all you needed to do was get KMPlayer. Why you need it KMPlayer is the video player that covers it all. Whether its videos from your latest holiday to the Tropics, short films from class or streams from the latest season of the League of Legends World Championship, KMPlayer has it covered. You'll quickly find that the slick black and purple skin is by no means for show and this program has a huge amount to offer both beginners and experts. There is full support for a wide array of different video formats including VLC, MPEG, AVI and GOM meaning that no video is a match for KMPlayer and loading the video up is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the program's abilities. Its advanced options allow to play around with everything to do with the video that is playing including screen controls, pan & scan, playback, subtitles, basic and advanced video settings, and audio. Playing content from online streams is another part of KMPlayer's extensive arsenal and there is a built-in list of channels that can be accessed by clicking open from URL or alternatively you can find streams online. Further to this there are plenty of online channels and events that have begun to support KMPlayer's casting credentials and use it as the preferred service for live streaming events. Capturing or recording any content played through KMPlayer is incredibly simple with video, audio or frame capture options that can all be saved to a range of different formats for each individual requirement. Newer versions of KMPlayer also enable users to play 3D and ultra-HD videos and there is a higher level of mobile compatibility that includes Wi-Di control, which works similarly to Google Chromecast and allows you to stream videos from your PC to a mobile device that has the KMPlayer Connect app installed. KMPlayer has too many tools for us to fully outlines here and whilst it likely requires a manual to get the full experience, there's more than enough here for beginners to benefit from. Key features: Works on: Windows PC Versions: Free Extensive options: Scores of advanced options exist to change the display, how the video if played, the language of subtitles, audio and a whole lot more. Unparalleled video playback: The number of files extensions that KMPlayer can handle is quite astonishing and means you'll never need another video player again. Future-proof: 3D videos, Ultra-HD and streaming to mobile devices are already supported, plus new updates are released all the time with the latest technologies supported.

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Software : Android 5.1 should fix some of Lollipop's stickiest problems

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• Android 5.1 should fix some of Lollipop's stickiest problems
• Microsoft extends Office 365 email expiry date
• Google reveals its big plan to combat Apple Pay

Android 5.1 should fix some of Lollipop's stickiest problems Posted: Android One owners abroad have already gotten a taste of the next Android update on their entry-level devices, and as a result, details are leaking about how Google may address some of its little quirks. PhoneArena today reported that the upcoming Android 5.1 update to Android 5.0 Lollipop will apparently take aim at a number of nagging issues related to the look and feel of Google's mobile operating system. Rumors have pegged a release across the rest of the planet for next month, although it's unclear why Google is remaining so secretive about the point-one update, which includes making the factory images unavailable to developers and end users for now. Thanks to an early release on a handful of low-end handsets now available in the Philippines, we have a clearer idea of some of the visual flourishes and little improvements being planned for the next Lollipop update. Tap, hold, hide Google+ user @AnjoCerdeña posted an image of one such change that enables Android users to hide quick settings that have inadvertently become activated, specifically Invert Colors and Wi-Fi Hotspot. Android 5.0 Lollipop users have already discovered that the aforementioned quick settings can't be removed - at least not without trickery, such as changing the date and time on the afflicted handset. Google engineers apparently hope to address this unintuitive "feature" with the ability to hide such settings once they've been accidentally triggered, which can be done with a tap and hold on the option in question. Last week, an HTC executive appeared to confirm that Google plans to roll out Android 5.1 in March, an update also expected to restore silent mode, improve RAM management, solve notification issues, and a raft of other improvements.

Microsoft extends Office 365 email expiry date Posted: Microsoft has delivered an update to Office 365 for Exchange Online users that means emails will no longer be deleted automatically after 30 days. Up until now deleted items were moved into the folder of the same name before disappearing after 30 days and the new update allows the system administrator to set this period to indefinitely or another preferred duration. Office 365 administrators will see the default MRM policy change for everyone using Exchange Online and any administrators that want to opt out of the policy can do so by changing the policy name in Office 365 by going to Office 365 Admin settings. Long-term retention now a reality To do that, once in the settings you select Exchange admin center > compliance management > retention policies and from there select default MRM policy, edit and change the name to avoid the update. The advent of the cloud means that long-term data retention for items such as enterprise emails is more of a possibility going forwards and Microsoft will hope that offering this means that enterprise customers will remain on board with its email offering. Via: Microsoft Microsoft Office 365 review

Google reveals its big plan to combat Apple Pay Posted: Tired of feeling like second-class citizens next to Apple Pay, contactless mobile payment pioneers Google Wallet and Softcard have teamed up with three of the nation's largest wireless carriers. The Google Commerce Blog today announced plans to ramp up adoption of Google Wallet, the near-field communication (NFC) based mobile payment technology first introduced in 2011. Rather than attempt to compete with carrier-backed rival Softcard against the Apple Pay behemoth, Google has chosen to partner with the service formerly known as ISIS Mobile Wallet. A joint venture between US carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, Softcard will relinquish "some exciting technology and intellectual property" to Google Wallet, which will soon come preinstalled on Android 4.4 KitKat or higher smartphones sold by the three carriers. Strength in numbers Having Google Wallet already installed on new Android handsets could presumably go a long way toward fending off Apple Pay, which is baked right into iOS 8.1 on Touch ID-enabled iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, as well as the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. The move also gives Google Wallet a whiff of legitimacy, given the service has a somewhat checkered history with US carriers (we're looking at you, Verizon) who favored their own competing Softcard technology. The announcement specifically singles out the "tap and pay functionality" of Google Wallet will be a big part of the mix when AT&T, T-Mobile US and Verizon begin offering the app preinstalled on Android devices later this year. In the wake of Apple Pay's launch last fall, Google Wallet and Softcard also faced setbacks as major US retailers such as CVS and Rite Aid blocked all three tap-and-pay services from stores in favor of a fourth competitor known as CurrentC, which has yet to hit the market. Get the latest on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 right here!

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Software : Toyota taking detour around Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for now

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Toyota taking detour around Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for now Posted: Silicon Valley is quickly shifting gears to create software capable of powering the next generation of automobile dashboards, but at least one Japanese automaker plans to keep that work entirely in-house for the time being. As part of a larger piece documenting Google and Apple's efforts to power car dashboards, The New York Times reported Sunday that Toyota "currently has no plans" to adopt either tech titan's automotive platform in the United States. Toyota's National Manager of Environmental, Safety & Quality Communications John Hanson confirmed that neither Android Auto nor CarPlay were on the automaker's roadmap, despite frequent talks with both Google and Apple. "We may all eventually wind up there, but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions," Hanson said. Bumps in the road Toyota certainly isn't dismissing the concept of incorporating smartphones into automobile dashboards, which are being positioned as one of the next great battlegrounds between industry heavyweights like Google and Apple. Unlike Toyota, automakers like General Motors, Audi and Japanese rivals such as Honda and Hyundai were quick to jump on the Android Auto bandwagon, which is now backed by nearly two dozen manufacturers. Many of these brands intend to also throw their support behind Apple's CarPlay, a competing system exclusive to the iPhone, while Android Auto works with a variety of smartphones running Google's mobile operating system. Both of the voice-activated dashboard platforms have been slow to roll off the assembly lines, with Ford estimating all of its vehicles sold in the US will incorporate either Android Auto or CarPlay into the automaker's SYNC system by the end of 2016. Find out the latest Apple CarPlay news in our up-to-the-minute report!

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Software : The Best Free Monitoring Software 2015: Keep your children safe online

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The Best Free Monitoring Software 2015: Keep your children safe online Posted: Introduction, Revealer Keylogger, Keylogger Pro. Parents worried about what their kids are accessing online are constantly looking at ways to make the family PC a safer place and implementing parental controls goes some way towards safeguarding those most vulnerable when using a computer. Monitoring software goes even further than that and the wealth of programs available allow you to log everything from the web sites visited and screenshots to recording keystrokes and completely blocking certain sites. There are a number of excellent examples of free monitoring software available and what follows is a list of the top five free monitoring software programs of 2015 Revealer Keylogger Free Best suited to a PC where the user is likely to be less aware of a key logger in use, Revealer Keylogger Free is a limited monitoring program that comes into its own even before the premium features are unlocked for a fee. The free version allows you to click start every time you want to start logging the keystrokes online and will give you a run down of all sites visited, words typed and allow you to save these logs to access at a later date. It has one other feature that lets you apply password protection to the program itself so that it runs stealthily without any users noticing. Using it in stealth is as simple as closing the window down and then using the designated hotkey and password to open it back up to check up on the results of the monitoring. Obviously wanting you to upgrade to the premium version, Revealer Keylogger Free hides the password protection in the settings menu due to the fact it compares favourably with the full invisible mode that is part of the paid-for incarnation. Even with so many features such as desktop or active window screen capture, full invisible mode, and remote monitoring via email, ftp or local network behind a paywall, Revealer Keylogger Free remains a great monitoring program. Free Keylogger Pro Itemised reports and hiding itself are major parts of what makes Free Keylogger Pro a solution that will appeal to people that want a keylogger to keep an eye on what is going on. Free Keylogger Pro can be set up to launch on Windows startup and further to this it will start in hidden mode if you tell it to, which means the tray icon will not be visible. Free Keylogger Pro comes into its own through its itemised reports that class logs by date and separates them out by keystrokes, clipboard and visited sites. Unfortunately there's no way to group these together as one report and it's just one of the areas that Free Keylogger Pro falls back slightly. The others is that the only way to get the program back up is to use the default hotkey that is Shift + Ctrl + Alt + K and there's no way to change this to something a little more simple. Free Keylogger Pro also lacks any password protection thus meaning anyone that finds it on the PC and gains access can delete logs and alter the way it works. Those wanting increased protection of their monitoring should look elsewhere, but for a simplified solution Free Keylogger Pro doesn't do much wrong. Refog Keylogger, Web Blocker, Keylogger Free Refog Free Keylogger Developed by the company of the same name, Refog Free Keylogger brings an much more advanced set of tools to the table alongside the keylogging options that are the fabric of most monitoring programs. From the get-go PC owners or administrators can monitor keystrokes typed, websites visited and clipboards like all the other services mentioned so far. Although it also offers the ability to monitor chat activity, program activity, and computer activity, take screenshots and webcam shots, and also record calls and track files without an extra charge. All of the results are sorted into separate categories and can be viewed by clicking each one or alternatively as a list that includes every category so that you can easily keep tabs on what is being used on your computer. Screenshots are taken automatically by the software at random intervals, which can be defined by the user, to give you even more of an idea as to what is going on and the whole system is protected by a master password that must be set up when installing it. For users that want a more basic experience this has an advanced set of features that can feel like they are cluttering the screen and the free version only lets you look at tracking for the last three days, meaning you cannot even narrow it down to the current day. Even taking this into consideration it's arguably the most extensive free monitoring program around. The Web Blocker Blocking websites before they can be accessed is another way to control the activity on your PC, and The Web Blocker offers one of the best ways to do this with options to block individual websites or types of content. Branding itself as 'Internet Parental Control Made Easy', it focuses primarily on filtering content with social networking, adult material, and games, gambling and videos the three categories that it chooses to focus on. You can tick boxes next to as many as you'd like to select and turn filtering on or off depending on the user. There's also the chance to turn on proxy servers, which is recommended by the program itself. In addition to this you can add sites to block lists and thumb through the internet history of any users on your computer from either Internet Explorer or Firefox. The one thing we would say about blocking programs of this ilk is that they can unwittingly block websites that don't contain any offensive content and this is something to watch out for when using the software. Even though it doesn't offer some of the advanced capabilities that come bundled in other key logging programs, parents wanting to block certain sites will take a lot of comfort in the features offered by The Web Blocker. Keylogger Free Following in the footsteps of its peers, Keylogger Free is another program that records the keystrokes of those using the PCs and for beginners this the simplest to get your head around of the lot. There are no fancy screenshot recording modes to be seen and Keylogger Free simply records anything that happens on the system and saves it into a log file that is updated regularly by the program. It can be put into hidden mode much like every other key logger out there and a customisable hot key brings it back from spying mode. One thing that is sorely lacking from the program is the ability to protect it with a password and those requiring that extra layer of protection need to look beyond Keylogger Free.

Download of the Day: pptPlex Posted: Get way beyond the limitations that Microsoft PowerPoint holds over you by creating presentations that aren't simply a long range of slides with pptPlex. Why you need it Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the best presentation creating programs out there yet the key cog of Office 365 has its flaws and among them is that when presenting you are limited to a long series of slides with nothing outside that. pptPlex blasts that limitation out of the water by giving you the chance to divide the presentations up into sections and zoom in/out of slides one at a time to make what you're presenting jump off the screen more than is already the case. The experimental add-on runs on every version of Office, even the 2016 incarnation, and works by using PowerPoint's ability to divide presentations up into sections to create a canvas covering all the slides that is an attractive alternative to the traditional slide show. Once you click on the pptPlex tab inside PowerPoint you can immediately get to work on creating a presentation that stands out from the crowd by picking a background style to fit your brief. Custom backgrounds are ideal for a number of situations including timelines across a year, setting goals for the coming months and a lot more. You can even leave the background white if you really want to! After picking a background insert your slides and see how pptPlex works by first overseeing the section before zooming in to each individual slide for more detail. There's even the chance to set it up so that it zooms in to individual words or charts on slides to give extra detail if there are intricate details that need to be shown to viewers from a distance. Going down even deeper you can customise the transitions between sections and slides as well as create your own custom canvases that can be personalised to your company or download any of he hundreds of canvases created by other pptPlex users. Downloading pptPlex will leave you wondering two things: 1) where has this been all your life, and 2) how is it free? Key features: Works on: All versions of Microsoft Office, including Office 2016 Versions: Free Hammer Home Points: Zoom in on the key points you want to make so they stick in the mind of the audience. Unsurpassed Customisation: Create your own custom canvases to give your business presentations a touch of customisation that cannot be achieved by PowerPoint on its own.

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Software : How to sync shared Google calendars with an iPhone

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• How to sync shared Google calendars with an iPhone
• Download of the Day: Microsoft Mathematics
• Outlook for iOS and Android delivers on update promise
• Microsoft's turning Onenote into a powerhouse with iPad handwriting update
• Google's Inbox cozies up to iPads, Safari and Firefox

How to sync shared Google calendars with an iPhone Posted: For businesses that have adopted Google Apps as part of their workflow, the ability to see and share your Google Calendar with colleagues is beneficial when scheduling meetings. Whether it's for personal use at home for making family appointments or work-related purposes to plan events and conference calls, having access to a shared calendar keeps everyone in the loop to avoid scheduling conflicts. Fortunately, for Android users, shared calendars on Google automatically synchronize with your device with little extra setup required. Once you enter your Google account information, you'll be given the option to synchronize your personal and shared calendars. For those on a non-Android phone, including those on an iPhone, iPad, or even Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, you'll need to complete a few additional steps before your shared calendars will start appearing in your native calendar app or on a third-party calendar program. Here's how to do it: 1. Enter Google account information First, you'll need to go into your phone's setting menus and enter your Google account credentials so your phone can synchronize with Google's cloud. You'll have the option to synchronize emails, contacts, calendars, and notes. On the iPhone, you'll go into settings, then tap on Mail/Contacts/Calendars, and then hit Add Account. On Windows Phone, you'll go into settings, tap on emails and accounts, and then you can add your Google account on the following screen. Once you've gone through the account setup process, make sure that the Calendar option is ticked for proper Google synchronization. If you're only synchronizing your personal calendars that you've created, you should be finished at this step. 2. Choose which calendars to sync For those who want to synchronize shared calendars, you'll want to visit the following website from either your desktop or phone browser: https://www.google.com/calendar/iphoneselect After logging into your Google account, you'll be presented with all your personal and shared calendars. Be sure to check off which calendars you'll want to synchronize across all your devices. By default, shared calendars aren't automatically selected for synchronizing, so you'll have to do this for each shared calendar you'll want to view on your iPhone, iPad, Windows, Windows Phone, or OS X calendar client. Conversely, if you have a calendar that you do not want synchronized, you can deselect it as well. Click save, and you're done. All you'll need to do at this point is wait for the calendars to synchronize in the background on your devices. 3. View your shared calendar in your calendar app On the iPhone, you'll want to open the default calendar app. On iOS 8, click the Calendars button at the bottom of the screen. This should pull up a menu listing all your personal and shared calendars across all the different accounts you have setup on your phone. You'll be given options to view your shared calendar. Check the calendars you'll want to view. For a detailed view, you'll want to make sure all your calendars are selected for viewing inside the app. If you want to just see your shared calendar, make sure every other calendar is unchecked except the shared calendar. On a Windows Phone, you'll want to launch the default calendar app, go into settings, and be sure you have the calendars to see selected. 4. Repeat when a new calendar is shared Unfortunately, shared calendars aren't automatically marked for synchronizing across your devices. Whenever a new calendar is shared with you, you'll have to repeat the aforementioned steps if you're not on an Android device. Check out our review of Google Apps for Business.

Download of the Day: Microsoft Mathematics Posted: Mathematics and science students never need worry about splashing out on an expensive scientific or graphics calculator ever again thanks to the extensive set of features inside Microsoft Mathematics. Why you need it Advanced mathematics looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics to a lot of people yet there are plenty that use them to solve every day problems and Microsoft Mathematics was created to make this process a lot more straightforward for even beginners. The program is a completely free complex calculator that has everything you'd expect on a small screened scientific calculator or graphical calculator just in a larger and more manageable screen without the tedious button combinations that have plagued regular plastic calculators. It isn't just a tool to solve problems though. Whilst students are using the Microsoft Mathematics program they will learn the fundamental basics of scientific and graphical mathematics as well as become more enamoured to the more advanced aspects through step-by-step equation solving. Numbers and information can be put in using either a keyboard or the ink setting that enables you to write the information in manually and thus opens up possibilities for laptop owners with graphical tablets. The numerical input calculator interface to the left hand side has a range of different sections and which one you use largely depends on the work you're doing. Its sections cover calculus, statistics, trigonometry, linear algebra and standard symbols, in addition to the numbers that are situated at the foot of the calculator. Whether its a complex formula, equation or triangle that needs to be solved, Microsoft Mathematics copes well in all situations. The only question we found ourselves asking is how something so advanced and helpful can still be available completely free? Key features Works on: All versions of Windows Versions: Free Favourite Buttons: Right click on the buttons you use most often to add them to the favourite buttons group in order that they are easier to find in future. Export to Microsoft programs: Anything that you work on in Microsoft Mathematics can be exported to Word or other Microsoft programs and there us of course then the chance to print out the results of your calculations. Easy step-by-step instructions: Students of any age or ability can use Microsoft Mathematics thanks to the detailed instructions that it provides to anyone wanting to solve problems using the program.

Outlook for iOS and Android delivers on update promise Posted: Microsoft is making good on its promise to update Outlook for iOS and Android devices every few weeks with the first set of enhancements delivered for both enterprise customers and consumers. The apps, which will eventually completely replace the Outlook Web App (OWA), are slowly getting all the features that are included in the outdated client. IT administrators can now implement PIN locking on their enterprise email systems that means any mobile device connected will need a passcode in place to download emails, reply to appointments and access any other sensitive information inside the app. Any devices that don't have this ability won't be able to use Outlook for iOS or Android. Quicker remote wipe execution has also been added, which now happens within seconds and the app-level wipe resets the Outlook app with Outlook email, calendar, contact and files data all removed from the device and cloud. End users of the app also get a barrage of new features including the ability to sync email from email providers that support IMAP, turn off the conversations feature in iOS by switching off the organise mail by thread setting, customise swipe gestures to change the way emails are handled, and alter default folders for swiped emails. More coming soon In terms of what will be coming next, IT administrators will get Microsoft Intune mobile device management support and Outlook's cloud service will be transitioned from Amazon Web Services to Microsoft Azure. End users, meanwhile, be able to sync local contacts, the preview label will be removed from Outlook for Android and localisation for all the service's languages will be improved. Outlook for iOS and Android has only been out for a matter of weeks after Microsoft took its recent acquisition Accompli and rebadged it as the mobile apps that were recently released. Via: Microsoft Outlook.com review

Microsoft's turning Onenote into a powerhouse with iPad handwriting update Posted: Not wanting to be left out of the Microsoft's constant flurry of Office updates, OneNote users have a couple of new things to shout about. Firstly Microsoft has finally relented and added the popular handwriting feature to its OneNote for iPad app to allow users of the tablet to take advantage of something that has been a part of OneNote for Windows since 2003. The second announcement is that optical character recognition (OCR) has been enabled across all versions of OneNote that currently exists, which in layman's terms this means that OneNote users can search for text in all new images added to OneNote. OCR for older images Like all of its recent product updates, Microsoft also teased a couple of future updates that will see OneDrive for Business support added to OneNote plus the ability to use OCR on images that are attached to older notes. It was less than a week ago that Microsoft freed up five more features for the free edition of OneNote, and the handwriting and drawing features of OneNote are expected to become an integral part of the next Surface Pro. Via: Microsoft 8 essential Microsoft OneNote tips

Google's Inbox cozies up to iPads, Safari and Firefox Posted: Many folks are still scratching their heads wondering why Google felt the need to create an entirely separate Gmail client for mobile devices late last year, but few could argue the search giant is moving quickly to improve that product. The Official Gmail Blog today announced a couple of big enhancements for its fledging Inbox by Gmail app, which debuted back in late October on iPhone and Android smartphones. Billed as "a completely different type of inbox," Inbox by Gmail offers a completely different approach to managing email than Google's native Gmail client, using features such as Bundles, Highlights and Reminders to help prioritize busy inboxes. There was just one problem: Inbox by Gmail was limited to smartphones and Chrome web browsers, at least until now. Now in more places With a free update to the mobile app now available from Apple's App Store or Google Play, tablet owners can now see what all the hype is about, now that the Inbox by Gmail app works natively with the iPad and a wide range of Android-based slates. Perhaps more importantly, Google has lifted its self-imposed restriction that limited Inbox to its own Chrome web browser, and Safari and Firefox users also now get a taste of a whole new Gmail experience. One thing unfortunately hasn't changed: Google is still limiting Inbox by Gmail access to users with an invite, although the company has gone out of its way to make sure everyone who wants one can do so, offering extra invites to existing users that can be shared with friends. Those without already connected friends (or possibly lacking friends of any kind) can instead send an email the old-fashioned way to inbox@google.com and politely request to be added to the invite list.

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