Software : Microsoft will bake ad blocking into its Edge browser

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Microsoft will bake ad blocking into its Edge browser Posted: Microsoft is planning to build ad blocking directly into its Edge browser on Windows 10, and that integration will be coming soon. This fact was revealed at the company's Build conference in a session concerning what's coming next for Edge, where a slide was shown detailing incoming improvements ranked in terms of their importance – with number one on the list being extensions, unsurprisingly. Extensions will be going live in the next version of Edge, which will arrive in the next major Windows 10 Anniversary Update (although they're live in preview already, in a limited form anyway) that lands later in the summer. Integrated ad blocking is number four on the list – so a pretty high priority – and is also targeted for that same version of Microsoft's browser coming in the summer. That could render extensions like Adblock Plus unnecessary before they've even had a chance to emerge on Edge – depending on the quality of Redmond's effort, of course. Block around the clock Microsoft already has some anti-advert measures in Internet Explorer in the form of Tracking Protection Lists which block some ads, with Firefox offering similar measures, and of course recently we've seen other major browsers plump for integrated ad blocking. That includes Apple's Safari on mobile, and Opera has recently baked in ad blocking on its desktop browser with the facility also planned for its mobile browser – and what's more, Opera has gone for a proactive blocker which will intervene and ask the user if they'd like to 'block ads and surf the web faster'. All of which leaves Google's web browser looking rather out in the cold with a definite dilemma. Advertising is Google's lifeblood in terms of revenue, of course, so integrated ad blocking isn't something the company wants to go near with a barge pole – yet if these developments are ignored, Chrome runs the risk of looking outdated compared to the competition, offering slower surfing, and it could effectively become seen as the 'new IE' of the current browsing era. Those are risks Google will somehow need to balance, but it will be a tricky juggling act to pull off to say the least. Via: ZDNet 10 ways Microsoft can improve its Edge browser

Opinion: Microsoft's Bots could be its biggest contribution to computing since Windows Posted: On stage at its annual Build conference keynote, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella painted a picture of our lives being made easier with bots, intelligent agents that live within apps and services. But, would that life be much better, or less connected than it already is – or both? Nadella and team's vision for conversational computing comes just a week after their first public experiment in the field, Tay, came crashing down in a spectacular display of human depravity. Not exactly the best argument for a world run by bots. The newly-appointed executive addressed the Twitter chat bot experiment head on during the March 30 Build 2016 keynote with a three-fold plan for bots that he believes are the new apps. To Nadella, so long as bots and the digital assistants that use them are built with the intention to augment human ability and experience, with trustworthiness (privacy, transparency, security) and with inclusion and respectfulness in mind, we'll be OK. Or, at the very least, we'll avoid another Tay scenario. And, on paper, that generally checks out. Of course, the bots that Microsoft envisions aren't necessarily accessible by the masses all at once, but individuals through specific communication programs or through assistants, like Cortana. Still, Tay was demonstrative of the sheer power that such intelligent, semi-autonomous software can possess. But I'm worried about another facet of these bots' power. Do we need another crutch to connect? That's my simple question to everyone: are the lay people of the world ready for such power, just as we're learning empathy on the internet? But, I'll follow that up with another one. What will that power do to a society that's more connected than ever yet whose people struggle to meaningfully connect with one another more than ever? Take Microsoft's demonstration of Cortana using bots to facilitate uniting with an old friend in Dublin, Ireland on an upcoming trip. Looking at it one way: Cortana and its squad of bots just helped someone connect with her old friend. But, try and look at it this way: wouldn't that person have remembered that old friend without Cortana's help? Americans don't visit Ireland every day, after all. Or, would she not have, for the effects of "connected" tech have already created a crutch for her to lean on to facilitate human interaction? I like to call this "The Facebook Effect." How many of your friends and family members' birthdays do you actually remember now that Facebook reminds you? (I won't even bother counting myself.) What happens when we apply similar use cases to far more powerful pieces of technology? My guess is that it won't be long before we rely on bots to remind us to connect with one another much less order a pizza. At that point, I don't know how much bots are helping so much as hindering our ability to meaningfully or earnestly connect with one another. In the above Dublin scenario, the woman didn't even reach out to her friend on her own – Cortana did it for her. Bots for tedium, brains for relationships Now, don't mistake: I couldn't be more excited for for bots to intelligently update my calendar and remind me that I'm on deadline for that laptop review. But, I'd rather handle communicating with other humans on my own, thanks. Technology by its very definition makes life easier, we'd be nothing without it, but just how much do we want to lean on technology to foster human relationships? As we enter this new phase of automation, we could do with asking ourselves that question more often. Windows 10 is about to get quite interesting

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Software : VR Week: Best VR web browser: how to browse the internet in virtual reality

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VR Week: Best VR web browser: how to browse the internet in virtual reality Posted: Introduction After years of trials, tribulations and terrible failures, VR is finally becoming a reality. Whether you are eying up an Oculus Rift or getting the vibes for HTC's Vive, it's not just the inevitable avalanche of VR games and video content that are suitable for virtual reality viewing - now you can browse the 2D web in 3D, too. For those after that total immersive experience, we've rounded up the best VR web browsing options currently available. Check out the rest of our VR Week coverage 1. Samsung Gear VR While Samsung may be marketing its Gear VR headset more towards Galaxy-packing gamers and movie-goers, the Oculus 'powered' headset also gives wearers the access to a virtual reality web browser called – wait for it – 'Samsung Internet for Gear VR'. As the blindingly obvious name would suggest, this app allows you to browse the web and enjoy almost any web content in virtual reality. It gives users the capability of streaming 3D and 360-degree videos (including those you'll find on YouTube and Facebook), or can simply provide a more immersive experience for normal 2D videos. Not only can you import your bookmarks and manage multiple tabs, but there is also voice recognition and "Gaze Mode" support, which allows you to select a menu simply by staring at it. Available for free from the Oculus Store. 2. MozVR If you're already rocking an Oculus Rift and want to start browsing web content in the virtual reality future you've been dreaming of, the MozVR project for Firefox or Chromium desktop browser has the potential to be a viable solution. Unfortunately at present, it's really more of a concept demo than a fully-fledged browser. Once you have installed the browser add-on and configured your Rift, you can enter Mozilla's content portal to view a specially selected array of content displayed in a 3D gallery. While the content is currently rather limited, it serves as a good showcase for the kind of web-based VR experiences that web developers are keen to push. Many of the virtual reality experiences in Mozilla's portal are also viewable using an Android or iPhone and a Cardboard VR headset. Visit MozVR.com. 3. JanusVR If you're looking for a totally immersive way of consuming web content, JanusVR pulls out all the stops to turn boring pages on the internet into something all the more involved. In the JanusVR world, links are portals and pages are rooms, all of which can be explored in a multiplayer experience alongside other avatars. Pictures embedded into the webpages you're viewing hang on the dynamically generated environments (that can be edited directly within JanusVR), while special 3D content can be called up if the site includes special HTML tags. It is currently nowhere near the promise of a stunning environment that's a visual pleasure to explore, but if nothing else it's a more exciting way of consuming internet content than most other alternatives have so far managed. Download from JanusVR. 4. FullDive VR If you like the idea of Samsung's Gear VR but don't have a compatible Samsung smartphone nor the budget to stretch to one of the pricey Gear VR headsets, then your next best bet is the FullDive VR 3D Browser. This standard version of this free app allows you to simply browse the web in a VR environment, inputting text via an onscreen keyboard or voice command. Download the full version, and you'll be given access to a wealth of other VR possibilities; it has to be said though, that none of these extras offer the most polished of experiences. Download from Google Play. 5. Oculus Web Browser If all you desire is simple VR browsing in a usable environment, the free Oculus Web Browser app for Windows is worth a go. You won't find any particularly ground-breaking features, as this particular VR web browser was created by an E-learning company that's exploring the possibilities of using similar interfaces in a VR classroom. Still, the webkit browser supports HTML5 and renders web pages sharply, though you will need to download and install a third-party codec to watch any embedded HTML videos such as YouTube. Grab it from the Oculus Store. 6. SteamVR Web Browser Whether you're about to get your paws on one of the hotly anticipated HTC Vive VR headsets, or have already plumped for the Oculus Rift, SteamVR offers a comprehensive 3D web browsing experience alongside the catalogue of VR-compatible games. If you have opted into the client beta participation, the VR mode can now be accessed directly from the 'View' menu in Steam alongside your library of compatible games. Once in Steam's Big Picture mode, you'll find there's a rather capable browser included that can play videos and display almost any web content around – including Adobe Flash. Like all VR experiences, there's still work to be done, but Steam's solution is certainly the easiest for switching between gaming and web browsing without swapping in and out of other applications. Visit the SteamVR community to find out more. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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Software : Why the evolution of enterprise messaging is a big problem for Microsoft

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Why the evolution of enterprise messaging is a big problem for Microsoft Posted: Introduction and gap in the market Communication apps have been big business with consumers for a while. Facebook, with its Messenger app, now has over 800 million users and spent some $21 billion (around £15 billion, or AU$28 billion) on WhatsApp, which has over one billion users, while Snapchat is valued at around $15 billion (around £10.5 billion, or AU$20 billion) and has captured the younger millennial market – people under 24 – resoundingly. Big businesses, however, have remained stuck with email. As anyone with an interest in enterprise technology is aware, emailing someone to chat – or have a conversation at a fast pace – is virtually impossible and the technology has stuck around because there was little else to replace it. Until now. Microsoft provides the majority of big companies with technology, such as servers, and software, like Office, but has not been a prominent force in promoting other forms of communication beyond Outlook (email) and Yammer (instant messaging), the latter being the company it bought in 2012 and has done almost nothing with. This gap in the market – which is just starting to become apparent as more and more people sign onto social networks and wonder why, exactly, talking to colleagues needs to be so hard – is being filled by younger, nimbler companies. Picking up the Slack Slack, for example, is under five years old, but has a valuation of over $4 billion (around £2.8 billion, or AU$5.3 billion) and hundreds of thousands of users who check back multiple times a day. HipChat, developed by Altassan, an enterprise company that just went public with much success, also seeks to banish email and has seen a big uptake by developers and engineers. Facebook has also thrown its hat into the ring, launching Facebook at Work. The software, available for a per-user fee, looks just like Facebook but has increased chat and privacy controls as well as offering the ability to "follow," not "friend," people. The company isn't ready to talk about how successful the offering has been yet, but more and more companies are adopting the network. The Financial Times, a well-respected business newspaper, recently launched a pilot programme for Facebook's software. "We hope Facebook at Work will help further foster a culture of collaboration and a sense of community across our global workforce," said Darcy Keller, the company's senior vice president of communications and marketing, implying that email does not do that. "I think Facebook lets us communicate, discuss and solve problems that other solutions, such as email, simply can't," said Kevin Hanley, the head of design at RBS, in an interview. "We love the fact that Facebook at Work gives you the ability to opt-in to forums and groups you want to be part of rather than being on the receiving end of email distribution lists that you want to opt out of." Slack is following a similar path and has become a big hit with teams that need to communicate quickly and efficiently. It has become so popular, in fact, that families have started using it. "I sat with my parents, downloaded the mobile app for them, set up their account, and taught them how to use it so now they actually use it regularly," wrote Nicole Zhu, a software engineer describing her experience of using Slack with her family. Ban email at work: 6 of the best perpetual messaging platforms Disrupting Microsoft Email erosion Email is still the main driver of corporate communication in the world, but its lead may be eroding. Microsoft is selling more and more subscriptions to Office 365, which includes Outlook, but has recently been looking at beefing up Skype, according to reports. The company mulled an offer for Slack but Bill Gates, the company's founder who now works in an advisory capacity, was against the decision and pushed for the development of Microsoft's current products. The decision is understandable given the (abysmal) success of Microsoft's recent acquisitions – Nokia, for example – but it does expose the company getting blindsided by a smaller, quicker firm that focuses on one specific area. A recent brouhaha with Okta, another enterprise company that focuses on employee logins, shows how worried Microsoft is. Okta has, for the past few years, sponsored Microsoft's Ignite conference but was recently "dis-invited" from it, according to the CEO, Todd McKinnon. The company is tiny compared to Microsoft – a recent fundraising round valued it at $1.2 billion (around £850 million, AU$1.6 billion) – but appeared to represent a big enough threat to warrant removal from the event. (It has since been re-invited, by the way.) Scared of the small fry Microsoft is a company that is terrified of other, smaller companies unbundling its software – focusing on smaller parts, like logins, and doing it better – which could erode its position in the market as the go-to enterprise software company. This is driven by the adoption of the cloud over Windows, weakening Microsoft's position in enterprise as everything works with everything else. Email is still the dominant form of communication in 2016, but as that changes over the coming years, Microsoft's position becomes more precarious and Slack, HipChat, and others could move in. Office 365 becomes a far less attractive proposition without email, and that is likely a big worry for Microsoft's management. Other big enterprise companies like Amazon, which operates Amazon Web Services, have not entered the messaging space which could, in the future, prove to be a weakness. However, companies like Slack rely on AWS to operate so Amazon makes its money that way. Ben Thompson, an analyst who writes for Stratechery, has described Amazon's method as an "internet tax" that shields it from larger trends – even if the 'next big thing' isn't something Amazon already does, it will likely be based on AWS. Disrupting Redmond With regard to Slack and its potential to "disrupt" Microsoft, Thompson also had some thoughts. "It's hard to see anyone – including Microsoft – having a bigger opportunity than Slack" when it comes to enterprise, he wrote. "Whatever [users] want to do almost certainly involves communicating, which means Slack and its competitors are the best-placed to be the foundational platform of the cloud epoch." Of course, an "opportunity" is just that: it could happen, or it could not. But Slack, which has now grown to 2.3 million daily active users, is well placed to make things happen and could become the next big enterprise company. Facebook and HipChat represent a challenge to Slack, but each has its own benefits. Facebook, for example, is much more of a 'hub' with pictures, status updates, and chats, while HipChat is geared towards technical work. It's possible that a range of options will survive and thrive, but it's likely that Microsoft's will not be one of them. Send personal messages via a work account? Your boss can legally read them

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Apple : Apple is gunning for Windows users, but can the iPad Pro tempt them?

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Apple is gunning for Windows users, but can the iPad Pro tempt them? Posted: Introduction and repositioning the iPad "This is an amazing statistic: there are over 600 million PCs that are over five years old in use today," said Phil Schiller, Apple's head of marketing, at the company's launch event on Monday. "This is really sad," he continued, to applause and laughter. Schiller, one of Apple's most visible executives, had just made the case that the iPad Pro, the company's larger and more powerful tablet, was looking to attract old Windows users to Apple's platform. "We all know that Windows was conceived before there was an internet, before there was social media," he said, hinting at the perceived benefits of iOS, which was conceived 22 years after Windows first launched, well into the 'Web 2.0' era. This rare mention of a competitor's product at an Apple event came with a purpose – the company is looking to reposition the iPad as a computer, with the features and upgrade cycle to match, that will eventually replace what many people consider to be a traditional PC today. But Apple has been moving round to taking this angle for a while now. In an interview given around the time of the original iPad Pro's launch, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, explicitly questioned why anyone would want a PC in 2016. "I think if you're looking at a PC," Cook said, referencing the iPad Pro, "Why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?" Repositioning the iPad The repositioning of the iPad from a device Steve Jobs used while sitting in an armchair on stage to a powerful, capable computer moved another step forward when Apple unveiled the 9.7-inch version of the iPad Pro. It's unclear what will happen to the Air branding, but it doesn't look good going forward. Apple will still sell the iPad Air 2, but at a reduced cost. "Many people will find the iPad is their ultimate PC replacement," continued Schiller, driving home a narrative that has been used by Microsoft with its Surface devices: tablets are the new PCs as internal components get thinner, lighter, and more powerful. In testing, the iPad Pro is about as powerful as a MacBook Pro from a few years ago and for most people that's enough. The positioning isn't bulletproof, however. Apple said that 200 million '9.7-inch iPads' – i.e. iPads since 2010 – have been sold, which seems like a big number except it spans six years. In almost every year since 2010, the same number of laptops have been shipped. Tablets are set to grow over the coming years, but desktop and laptop sales will remain relatively unchanged. The iPad has undoubtedly had an effect on the overall PC market, but its grip is far from firm. Apple has failed to drum up increased appetite for the iPad in recent years and sales have fallen as a result, peaking in 2013. Sales of 2-in-1 computers – a combination of a laptop and a tablet – have increased during the same period, however, but the company has been slow to react. Hybrid growth and PC trends Surface success Microsoft and Lenovo have both released successful hybrids and the iPad Pro was widely accepted to be a response to that. This, then, is likely why Apple is courting Windows users so hard – if it can start to poach the customer base from its rival, then obviously that's a big victory. After the almost unilateral failure of Windows 8, Microsoft has turned the ship around and created, in Windows 10, something consumers want. By combining the best bits of a desktop and tablet operating system, the company has created a compelling experience that works well on a hybrid, desktop, laptop, or tablet. iOS is a different story as the primary input is meant to be a touchscreen. This is fine for casual apps but is less than ideal for complex tasks and specific programs, many of which are built exclusively for Windows. Big businesses, for example, often rely on Windows-only software that wouldn't port well to Apple's operating system – and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. Apple has been building out the features in iOS to make it more PC-like. Split-screen multitasking made its way into iOS 9 and the company has been working on multi-user support, but has not yet released the feature to the general public. Deals with companies like IBM and Box also bring attractive enterprise applications to the platform. PC trends Really wowing Windows users is going to be an uphill struggle, but the overall trends in the PC industry may be working in Apple's favour as people become more accustomed to smartphones (and the associated touchscreens), apps, and a lighter experience. The majority of work done on PCs, especially by students, is text input and editing (as well as Facebook scrolling) and these are tasks that can be achieved on a tablet just as well as a 'proper' laptop. This has been true for a while, but the technology that allows the iPad Pro to exist – specifically Apple's very powerful, but very power efficient, A9X processor – has only just come about. Microsoft has actually helped this future along by providing the Office suite on iPad. The set of applications, which require a subscription to Office 365 to work fully, are used by more than 340 million people across iOS and Android devices, according to the company. Apple is betting on a new type of computing that is based on the assumption that people don't actually need the power, and associated size or weight, of a full-on laptop. The one million iPad apps in the App Store combined with a 9.7-inch or 12.9-inch display (and accessories) is enough for most people and soon, Apple hopes, they will migrate across from Windows. Could this be Apple's secret plan for the new iPad?

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Software : Microsoft is about to change Skype radically

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Microsoft is about to change Skype radically Posted: Microsoft has announced that it will soon release the preview version of the Skype Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app to Windows Insiders. Testers running Windows 10 PCs and tablets will be able to check out the new messaging app in the "coming weeks", Redmond says, so there's not long to wait now. The app won't immediately be usable on Windows 10 Mobile, but will follow for devices running that OS shortly. So what can you expect from the new Skype app? Microsoft says it has learned a lot of lessons from the feedback given following the release of the consumer preview of Skype Integration in Windows 10 last autumn – which has seen a number of complaints. One of the primary moans being the usability with larger screens on bigger tablets and hybrids, and desktop monitors, and of course that's a big part of what the Skype UWP app will tackle. Redmond promises a more streamlined interface all round, and a simplified look and feel for the app, with unnecessary menus and duplicated functions being stripped out. There has been a good deal of spring cleaning, basically, and the global menus are now in a new single settings menu, with contextual menus promised down the line. Initial features In the initial incarnation of this preview app, you'll be able to sign in with your Microsoft account, link a Skype ID, and then see your list of Skype contacts with the ability to initiate a chat, make one-to-one calls, send photos, and take part in existing group chats. Emoticons and emoji will be available, and users will also be able to see what the other person is typing in chats. So functionality will be fairly basic for this first release, although naturally enough, more features will arrive in subsequent versions. Microsoft says that the next couple of releases will introduce the ability to create groups and use group messaging, voice and video calling. You'll also be able to share your screen, as well as files and video messages. Another priority is making sure the app performs well and is responsive. As for the broader future of Skype, if you want to stick with the existing Skype app on Windows 10 you most certainly can for the foreseeable, but eventually everything will be integrated into the UWP app. But not before, Microsoft promises, the Skype UWP app becomes a high-quality and lightweight application with all features on-board. Skype Translator adds 5th most spoken language in the world

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Apple : Versus: iPad Pro 9.7 vs Surface Pro 4

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Versus: iPad Pro 9.7 vs Surface Pro 4 Posted: iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 4 Apple just got done showing off the new, 9.7-inch iPad Pro. And, in doing so, the company made many jabs at Microsoft, namely inviting the 600 million people that are using 5-year-old PCs (most likely Windows) to get one. So, let's put the newfangled iPad Pro to task against Microsoft's own device aimed at upgrading its customers' computing experience, the Surface Pro 4. They're actually more evenly-matched than you might think. Design Save for the size reduction, almost nothing has changed about the new iPad Pro's design. The four-speaker audio is there, as are the chamfered edges and the Lightning port which doubles as the Apple Pencil charger. In fact, just about the only thing to change within the smaller iPad Pro is its screen technology. But, we'll get to that in a moment. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 4 (SP4) design didn't change much from its previous iteration, either. Save for getting the device a hair thinner and a few inches larger, the SP4 remained untouched from a design perspective. (OK, so the kickstand was improved, too.) Frankly, it will be impossible to mistake the iPad Pro for a Surface Pro 4 or vice versa. The two products are tackling the 2-in-1 device market from rather different angles. Both devices take the tablet-first approach to hybrid computing, but the iPad Pro is unabashedly so, being not much more different than your standard iPad. The SP4, however, employs its clever kickstand to better enable more use cases, like drawing, but also for its typing experience. Microsoft and Apple alike have developed keyboard covers for their respective productivity tablets. The former has created the Type Cover, one with a backlight, chiclet-style keys and a bending portion with a magnet that allows for a more angled keyboard while typing. Finally, you can buy an upgraded version complete with biometric fingerprint scanner for login. The latter has designed one with the kickstand incorporated within, allowing the iPad Pro – connected via Apple's new(ish) Smart Connector – to rest on it. Rather than a more standard keyboard design, Apple's Smart Keyboard keys are covered in the same cloth as the cover around them. It's weird, but a learning curve that isn't too tough to get over. The Type Cover from Microsoft was improved for stability but still is a little louder and flimsier than we'd like. However, Apple's Smart Keyboard simply cannot compare to a laptop-grade keyboard in the way that the SP4's comes even remotely close to. The winner? The iPad Pro's design isn't all that directly tailored to a play-meets-productivity experience in the way that the SP4 is, but perhaps that's because Apple feels it simply is already there. Conversely, the SP4 hardware seems carved out specifically for this kind of hybrid use. This one goes out to Surface Pro 4. Screen This is where the iPad Pro and SP4 seem to be neck-and-neck in competition. The iPad Pro comes with Apple's signature 9.7-inch Retina display, but with a neat new trick: True Tone. This employs new four-channel sensors within the device's optical stack to dynamically adjust the white balance of the screen to match the light around it, thus creating more natural viewing experiences. The SP4 display, on the other hand, has no such technology. Though, you will find Microsoft's PixelSense technology within its 12.3-inch panel. This tech has been borrowed from its old Surface tablet computer, which enables much of the SP4's super accurate and realistic touch and stylus control. As for pixels per inch (ppi) – the only truly fair way to compare these two displays' resolutions given their disparate size – the SP4 is still barely the winner with 267 ppi (2,736 x 1,824). The smaller iPad Pro retains the same ppi as its larger predecessor: 264 ppi (2,048 x 1,536). This is such a narrow difference in sharpness that it's practically meaningless: both of these displays put forth a simply gorgeous viewing experience. (And are proof that Apple is no longer the outright king of displays.) The winner? What this comparison boils down to, then, is unique features. And, in that regard, the iPad Pro's True Tone technology looks to level the playing field once more with Apple firmly at the top. So, this one goes to the iPad Pro. Specs and performance This is likely the most difficult comparison for the two, as the hardware inside each machine is directly tailored to that device, one being mobile chip-based and the other based in laptop-grade components. So, take the following apples-to-oranges face-off with an extra grain of salt. That said, the iPad Pro uses Apple's latest A9X chip found within the 12.9-inch original model, so that makes performance comparisons slightly easier, as we have at least one benchmark to judge both on: Geekbench, one the leading processor tests. The iPad Pro displayed a multi-core Geekbench result of 5,472, while the Intel Core i5-toting SP4 scored 6,649 points in the same test. That's a difference of nearly 1,100 points. Does that mean that the SP4 is unequivocally more powerful than the iPad Pro? Not at all, as this test doesn't even account for clock speed, exact core count and other factors. Here's the thing, though: for most work scenarios, you're going to want that full-fat, Core i5 processor more than that mobile chip, especially for apps like AutoCAD and complex spreadsheet functions. So, where does that leave us? The best of the rest. Both devices employ integrated CPU graphics, an Imagination Series 7XT graphics unit and an Intel HD 515 GPU (Intel Core m3, to start) for the iPad Pro and SP4, respectively. When it comes to gaming, the iPad Pro will always win as its games are designed to that very spec, whereas the SP4 can't get away with playing any game that wasn't designed with its graphics performance in mind. As for work applications, unless the app in question was designed specifically for iPad Pro, you're in a similar situation like I mentioned before (see: "AutoCAD"). It's been confirmed by third parties – but not Apple – that the iPad Pro rocks 4GB of RAM, whereas the SP4 starts at 4GB and can be expanded to up to 16GB of memory. As for storage, while the new iPad Pro starts at 32GB and can house a 256GB flash drive for $899, the SP4 starts at a 128GB solid-state drive and bumps up to 256GB in certain configurations. Now, another piece of this puzzle to consider is, what kind of connectivity does each device offer? Both offer the latest in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology (that means 802.11ac), which present plenty of options for accessories and the like. However, hard connections is where the two differ vastly. The iPad Pro has a single port, like every Apple mobile device, the Lightning Connector. It's extremely versatile, but it's still a lonely port. In this very special device, however, Apple's side-borne Smart Connector returns to support the Smart Keyboard. Apple sells all sorts of accessories, like a card reader-to-Lightning device, to expand its hardwired connectivity. But, the SP4 doesn't need (many of) those, as it already employs one USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort and a microSD card reader in addition to a proprietary charging port. Automatically, the SP4 has more hardwired connectivity than the iPad Pro, but may still need one of those USB expanders – or, you know, Microsoft's pricey Surface Dock. The winner? While this is by no means a 1-to-1 comparison, the SP4 is simply better suited at the onset to handle heavy productivity applications. Perhaps once developers created iOS versions of their apps to support the iPad Pro, that will level the playing field. But, until then, Surface Pro 4 wins. Interface To make the original iPad Pro work, Apple vastly updated iOS to support essential tasks, like same-window multitasking and expanded keyboard functions. That work has paid dividends, with creative types – writers, especially – lauding the device for what it's done for them. Plus, work like Swift will only continue to open up the operating system (OS) for apps to better work in tandem. That said, it still pales in comparison to the openness and versatility of Mac OS much less Windows 10, the OS of choice for SP4. There's no need to go into detail here how either interface works: you know iOS and you know Windows 10. However, it's important to note that, while Microsoft's OS is undebatably more conducive to work than iOS, the only thing keeping it that way is development. SP4 (spoiler!) may have the stronger interface for its primary purpose today, but give a team of Apple engineers a few months and some hearty motivation to cream those folks in Redmond, and we could be having a different discussion entirely this time next year. The winner? The Surface Pro 4 takes the cake here without much hassle. iOS might be incredibly intuitive, but it simply cannot compare to the almost-native multitasking and file management of Windows. Battery life The ultimate point of comparison: how long do these things last? While we haven't yet been able to test, Apple pegs its new iPad Pro for up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web usage. We've had the luxury (or sobering reality) of testing the SP4's battery, and it's not exactly stellar. The SP4 lasted for 4 hours and 15 minutes during the PCMark 8 battery life test, and 5 hours and 15 minutes in our own video rundown test. Microsoft claims that the SP4 lasts for up to 9 hours of video playback. Something's fishy here. The winner? This is where the iPad Pro will probably win every time. Apple has so well tuned its components to its software and screen resolution for battery life since the iPhone that Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do in this field. Price This might be a more difficult comparison than performance, as each device is priced to fit within their respective product portfolios and in relation to similar competing devices. That said, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro starts at $599 for the 32GB version, while the SP4 starts at $899 for the 128GB, Intel Core m3 version. Neither model comes with its essential keyboard accessory, so tack another $150 or $130 on top of whatever price you pay for the Smart Keyboard or Type Cover, respectively. So, at the basest level, you're looking at roughly $650 for the iPad Pro and $1,030 for the SP4. The winner? Neither, really. This entirely comes down to what you're looking for from your next productivity-meets-play device. Is a souped up iPad that can work worth over 600 bucks to you, or is a grand for a larger take on that concept a better deal? That's entirely up to you. Verdict A lot of this is going to boil down to which OS you're adhered to (or sick and tired of). That said, it's tough to refute that the Surface Pro 4 is better suited to productivity at the onset. If you're going with an SP4 to do work on the go, you're not going to have to relearn much – even if you're coming from Mac OS – if anything at all. But, with an iPad Pro, you might have to dedicate some time to figure out how to use that device to get work done faster. That might be worth the effort for an iOS fan or someone getting as far away from Windows as possible. But, for someone who doesn't care much for which OS she's working on so long as it gets done, the Surface Pro 4 maintains its figurative and literal lead against the iPad Pro. What about that new iPhone SE?

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Apple : 12-inch Retina MacBook (2016) release date, news and rumors

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12-inch Retina MacBook (2016) release date, news and rumors Posted: Introduction Love it or loathe it, Apple's 12-inch MacBook certainly left an impression. Its single USB Type-C port and shallow-travel keyboard meant that many people found themselves in the latter camp, while fans of the 12-inch MacBook's unmatchable style and portability couldn't get enough of its unique charm. I didn't love the 12-inch MacBook like I did the MacBook Air when it first came out, but I liked it. A lot. In fact, I think it's a much more usable computer now than when it was it launched one year ago and argued 5 reasons why you should give it another go. It's been one year since the divisive laptop touched down at the Cupertino company's Spring Forward event, and speculation is mounting that its successor is on the way. Apple is staging an event on March 21 at its Cupertino campus that will apparently see the launch of the iPad Air 3, in addition to the iPhone SE and updates to the Apple Watch. The question is: will they be joined by a sleek new computer? Cut to the chase What is it? The second-generation 12-inch MacBook When is it out? Could be as soon as late March, early April What will it cost? Likely as much as the first-generation 12-inch MacBook, which started at $1,299/AUS$1,708 (£1,049) 12-inch MacBook 2016 release date You can bet your bottom dollar that we'll see a successor to the 12-inch MacBook this year, but it isn't clear when it will surface. Apple has sent out invites to an event on March 21, which starts at 10am PDT (5pm UK time). It's expected that the company will use it to show off new mobile devices including the iPhone SE and iPad Air 3. The ad on Apple's invite contains the phrase 'Let us loop you in', suggesting that new Apple Watch models and features will also be unveiled. There hasn't been so much as a hint that a new 12-inch MacBook is on the way, but with it being one year since the original raced out of the traps you wouldn't want to entirely bet against an updated model making an appearance on the Cupertino stage. Should a new 12-inch MacBook pop its head above the parapet, it could launch around April 10 — the date that the first generation model was released. 12-inch MacBook 2016 price The cost of the 12-inch MacBook was a bone of contention for many. Its Intel Core M processor, lack of ports and small size made many prospective buyers feel like they weren't being offered much computer for its not insubstantial price tag. At £1,049 ($1,299/AUS$1,708), it's much pricier than the MacBook Air's starting price of £749 ($1,078/AUS$1,418) and around $100 (£69, or AUS$130) more than the cheapest 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina. For better or worse, the 12-inch MacBook is certainly a unique computer and one that most rival manufacturers in the Windows camp have struggled to match when it comes to design. Dell's impressive XPS 13 matches its lust-worthiness without sacrificing ports or power, and second-tier devices such as the Asus Zenbook UX305 and Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 have successfully combined bag-friendly dimensions with high-resolution displays. Of course, none of the above run OS X, and there isn't much to prevent Apple from charging what it feels a successor to the 12-inch MacBook is worth. Once again, it's not likely to be small change. 12-inc MacBook 2016: What we want to see Another USB port No prizes for guessing this one. With just one USB-C port on the 12-inch MacBook, you were forced into a decision between hooking up a single peripheral — such as a keyboard, mouse or monitor — or using an adapter to connect several pieces of hardware at once. The right adapter allows you to work as you would on a laptop with more ports, and carrying around a small adapter isn't really a huge deal. However, even the most ardent MacBook fan would admit that it makes for an inelegant setup. Problems arise when you want to use several USB peripherals concurrently, or switch from a HDMI-equipped monitor to one that connects using DisplayPort (for example). The 12-inch MacBook isn't designed to flit between such scenarios, and if you want to use it like a desktop, things often get messy. Third-party docks have tried to alleviate the problem, at the cost of a few extra bucks. All I want is one more USB-C port on the 12-inch MacBook. It would be a little addition that would go a long way. A keyboard with deeper travel Everybody has different tastes when it comes to keyboards. You may prefer the shorter travel of laptop-style keyboards, while others enjoy the deeper travel afforded by mechanical ones. The 12-inch MacBook's keyboard is extremely shallow and depresses with the lightest of taps — a bit like tapping on a touchscreen. In the summer last year, Apple launched the Magic Keyboard which sports a similar feel, only with slightly deeper travel. It's much more comfortable to type on for extended periods, and would be a great fit for a new 12-inch MacBook. More power Apple managed to make the 12-inch MacBook incredibly thin while running whisper quiet by using Intel's Core M processor. One drawback of that decision is that the machine often struggles to multi-task under heavy load, even when running the smoother performing OSX 10.11. Don't expect to see a new 12-inch MacBook with an Intel Core i7-6700HQ inside any time soon. Instead, any new model is more likely to feature Intel's Core m3, m5 and m7 processors which have been used in Windows laptops and 2-in-1s including the aforementioned UX305, Dell's XPS 12 and the HP Spectre X2. A bigger display Yeah, yeah — the 12-inch MacBook's small stature is all part of its charm, but a bigger display would widen what you can comfortably do on it. It's highly likely that Apple is saving such a display for its refreshed 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina, but will that machine be as thin as the 12-inch MacBook? That would take some feat of engineering. The LG Gram 15 is one example of how to make, yet super-skinny laptop with a high-resolution display that doesn't weigh a ton. Could the 12-inch MacBook be joined by a larger, similarly-styled model that retains the first-generation model's charm? We can but dream. Longer battery life The 12-inch MacBook has good, but not great battery life. It reminds me of what could be squeezed out of Apple's Ivy Bridge-powered MacBook Air machines from 2012, which is around seven or eight hours with the display's brightness set to a level upwards of 75%. That's not for a lack of trying: Apple developed up a completely new battery for the 12-inch MacBook that features a terraced, contoured design allowing it to fit comfortably into the machine's slender chassis. I've been spoiled by battery runtimes afforded by the MacBook Air (and even the MacBook Pro) in recent years. They consistently stretch into double figures, and it would great if the 12-inch MacBook's successor could achieve such leggy battery life.

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Software : Microsoft finally brings extensions to Edge browser on Windows 10

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Microsoft finally brings extensions to Edge browser on Windows 10 Posted: After what seems like an interminable wait, Microsoft has finally brought extensions to its Edge browser in Windows 10 – or at least the preview version of the OS. The latest Redstone build, version 14291, has now been pushed out to testers on the Fast Ring, although in this build the revamped browser doesn't have full support for extensions just yet. In fact, there are only three extensions available to try out at this point. They are: Reddit Enhancement Suite (a collection of enhancements for browsing Reddit more effectively), Mouse Gestures and Microsoft Translator. The latter automatically translates web pages in over 50 different languages, according to Redmond. The downside with these freshly revealed offerings is that they'll have to be side-loaded, so support for extensions is in a pretty basic state right now. Still, Insiders will be able to get their first glimpse of what Edge will be like with these extras. More polish will be applied soon enough, doubtless, and extensions will become available to install directly via the Windows Store. More on the way Microsoft also promised that more extensions are on the way, naturally enough. In a blog post, the company noted: "Later this year customers will find popular extensions from partners like AdBlock, Adblock Plus, Amazon, LastPass, Evernote and more." We'd also expect to see a Pinterest extension pop up before long, as in a leak last December, a Microsoft web page (that was swiftly pulled) contained spiel for a pair of extensions, namely Pinterest and the Reddit Enhancement Suite which we've seen emerge today. Support for extensions has been a major missing part of the puzzle for the Edge browser, so it's good to see this feature finally emerge, even if we're still some way off from the final implementation. Via: Slashgear 10 ways Microsoft can improve its Edge browser

Opinion: Wrestling with Twitter's decision to embrace algorithms, scale, and pander to Wall Street Posted: Twitter's algorithm and why it's changing Today marks a big day in the history of Twitter. It is, by every measure, fundamentally changing the way its core product operates. When Twitter was born, it was engineered to show tweets – blurbs of 140 characters of less – in reverse-chronological order. When you hopped onto Twitter.com, or TweetDeck, or one of Twitter's apps, the tweet at the top was the most recent tweet from your list of followers. As you scrolled, the tweets got older and older, but the only thing dictating the order of tweets shown was Father Time himself. But then, Wall Street happened. Scale for scale's sake You see, companies beholden to the wild, uncontrollable demands of public shareholders are oftentimes held to standards that don't make sense. Or, worse, ones that don't jibe with the ethos of the company's origins. In the case of TWTR, as it's known on the market, investors have long since demanded that the company grow its active user base at all costs. They see Facebook, with its billion or so users, and they want Twitter to meet (or beat) that. Never mind the fact that Twitter was never designed to amass as many users as Facebook, or look like Facebook, or smell like Facebook, or be Facebook. When you're Wall Street, you don't care about such trivial matters. You just want more. Trust us, we know what you like And so, here we are. Twitter has quietly rolled out a change that'll place tweets which an algorithm thinks you'd care most about at the top of your timeline. You can opt-out in order to keep seeing things in reverse-chronological order, which is no doubt a bid to keep its early power users – largely folks in the media, like myself – from spontaneously combusting. The change represents a move that brings Twitter more in line with Facebook in terms of what's shown first as soon as you jump into the product. If you believe the media, it's also a move that'll hopefully make Twitter easier to use for laypeople. Indeed, it's difficult to explain Twitter to someone that isn't ... shall we say, technologically savvy. Conversely, everyone's mother (and a fair amount of grandmothers) are on Facebook, and they seem to have no issues using it. Twitter, apparently, needs to let its users jump right in and start interacting. More importantly, it needs to be welcoming for users who may have stepped away from their Home stream for more than 18.4 seconds. Twitter is infinitely useful as a firehose of information for those who live and breathe the service. If you sit atop your Twitter feed all day, you're the most informed person on Earth. Unfortunately for Twitter, no one outside of a newsroom can actually accomplish that. And, if I'm honest, neither can I. It's painful, but it's progress For as much as I loathe Wall Street for putting pressure on Twitter to be more like Facebook, the reality is that my Twitter usage has dropped by around 90 percent in the past two years. It's an exhaustion thing, really. It's borderline unhealthy to just sit around monitoring Twitter for each moment of each day, and yet, the service is at its best when you do precisely that. To boot, a lot of negativity circles on Twitter. Even in my feed, which includes over 1,000 friends, peers, brands, and people that may or may not know my favorite color, the ratio of uplifting to depressing isn't tilted in the right direction. I got a lot healthier when I stopped using Twitter on a daily basis. Mentally, I was more focused on work and people that mattered, and over the past two years, I haven't (knowingly) suffered any negative repercussions by limiting my time on the service. Which brings me to this: I'm overjoyed that Twitter is embracing an algorithm to feed me the most important stuff first. Don't get me wrong – I'm really, really unhappy about investors getting their way – but I won't let that overshadow my happiness that we're here nonetheless. It makes Twitter far more approachable, and I'm looking forward to peeking it a lot more often. Now, I can count on a half-minute Twitter session having actual value. You can scan a lot of great intel while waiting for a latte, but only if Twitter puts the good stuff up top. It remains to be seen if the algorithm will get it right, but at least -- for now -- you can opt-out. Nostalgia never seemed so sweet, even if only in theory. For the uninitiated, here's how to use Twitter

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