Microsoft Reduces OneDrive Storage for Office 365 and Free Users, Eliminates Unlimited Option
Microsoft tonight announced that it was making changes to its OneDrive cloud storage services, reducing the amount of storage both Office 365 and free users are granted and eliminating its unlimited option. The company says that the changes were needed to “ensure that we can continue to deliver a collaborative, connected and intelligent service.”
Since we started to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75 TB per user or 14,000 times the average. Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users.
Office 365 Home, Personal and University subscribers will no longer have access to unlimited storage. Instead, these users will be limited to 1 TB of storage. The 100 GB and 200 GB plans are being eliminated for new users and will be replaced with a 50 GB plan for $1.99 a month, which will launch in early 2016. Free OneDrive users will see their storage decreased from 15 GB to 5 GB, with the 15 GB camera roll storage bonus also being eliminated. These changes will also roll out in early 2016.
Microsoft says it wants to make the transition for its users as easy as possible, outlining the steps its taking to notify users of the change. Office 365 subscribers that have more than 1 TB of storage will be notified and will be allowed to keep their increased storage for 12 months. Office 365 customers who no longer desire the service because of the change will be given a pro-rated refund. Free users who have used more than 5 GB of storage will have access to all their files for 12 months after the changes go into effect in early 2016 and will receive a free one-year subscription to Office 365. Individual OneDrive subscribers to the 100 GB and 200 GB plans will not be affected.
In June 2014, Microsoft boosted its storage plans for OneDrive, bumping Office 365 subscribers from 20 GB to 1 TB before adding unlimited storage in October 2014. The company also increased storage of its free service from 7 GB to 15 GB while also decreasing prices for the 100 GB and 200 GB plans.
At its “Hey Siri” event this year, Apple announced price reductions for its own cloud storage service, iCloud Drive. 5 GB of iCloud storage is free while 50 GB is priced at 99 cents per month, 200 GB is $2.99 per month and 1 TB is $9.99 per month.
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Activision bought the ‘Candy Crush’ developer for $5.9 billion
Say what you will about the quality of Activision’s output, but the company makes incredibly smart business moves. Like the announcement that it purchased Candy Crush studio King Digital Entertainment for a cool $5.9 billion. For comparison’s sake, Amazon paid a paltry $970 million for Twitch while Facebook spent $2 billion on Oculus VR and $19 billion on messaging platform Whatsapp. Oh, and Minecraft only set Microsoft back $2.5 billion. Bobby Kotick and Co. definitely think this is a big deal, and considering just how many people play the mindless puzzler this is likely a smart investment.
Source: (2)
Microsoft shrinks OneDrive storage for Office 365 and free users
If you’re a OneDrive user, the changes Microsoft just announced for its cloud storage service are almost certainly cutting down the amount of space available to you. Last year it was flying high and announced unlimited OneDrive storage for Office 365 consumer users — an option that is now disappearing. Now, if you’re on Office 365 Home, Personal or University your space is capped at a (still sizable) the old limit of 1TB that matches its professional offering, but is a far cry from the 75TB Microsoft claims some were using its service to hold. Next year, both current and new free users will see their available space shrink too — from 15GB to 5GB — and the 15GB camera roll bonus go away. There were paid plans for 100GB or 200GB of storage, but they’re going away too, with only a $2 per month 50GB plan remaining.
Source: OneDrive Blog, OneDrive Changes FAQ
Amazon opens first physical bookstore in Seattle
It may feel odd associating Amazon with a brick-and-mortar store, but you’ll get used to it. The online marketplace will open its first physical outlet at University Village, an open-air shopping center in Seattle, on Tuesday. It won’t be selling everything under the sun like its website, though: it’s a true-blue bookstore — though it will carry Kindle e-readers — just like the thousands of bookstores that shuttered in the past due to the rise in e-book sales. One difference is that most goods inside Amazon Books will be displayed face-out instead of stacked with their spines in view. Also, the company will take advantage of the data it’s collected for the past two decades to stock books that have the potential to sell.
Via: Geekwire
Source: Amazon
The International Space Station celebrates its 15th birthday
The International Space Station’s assembly in low-Earth orbit began in 1998: the Russian modules arrived via autonomous rockets, whereas the American parts were delivered by a Space Shuttle. It wasn’t until November 2000, however, when the first batch of humanity’s representatives blasted off on a Soyuz spacecraft to live aboard the artificial satellite. Since then, it has served as both home and orbiting research facility to astronauts and cosmonauts from the space agencies that helped build it: NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan) and CSA (Canada). Each expedition typically lasts six months, and everyone onboard is expected to perform scientific experiments, such as growing vegetables, printing 3D objects and observing how animals fare in space. They also do maintenance work on the vehicle, which can be more exciting than it sounds, considering some instances require them to do spacewalks.
Via: The Washington Post
Google’s ‘Project Wing’ commercial drone service to launch in 2017
We’ve seen Project Wing, the air-delivery service from Google, tap NASA to help sidestep reams of bureaucratic red tape and get off the ground before, and it looks like the service could soon launch in earnest. The outfit’s laying the groundwork right now and says that its goal is having the commercial flights up and running in 2017, according to Reuters. The company is one of several working with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a registry for drones and eventually dedicated air traffic control system. The former would ideally be in place by this December 20th, making sure operators are aware of rules on where, when and how to fly their aircraft.
Source: Reuters
Nexus 5X now available in Europe, Chromecast included in some markets
There’s no denying Google tends to be a bit more generous with its home market (USA). There’s a lot of factors that may get in the way of a smooth launch, but it seems Google is learning and today European Nexus fans have something to celebrate.
The Nexus 5X has finally made it over the Atlantic, and into European markets. Buying one is only a matter of heading into the Google Play Store (from your country) and going through the purchase process. There is one downside our fellow European Nexus fans will have to deal with, though – the phone is actually more expensive there.
The Nexus 5X is priced at €479 (16 GB) and €529 (32 GB). In the USA you can score the same phone for only $379. That’s a huge difference considering €479 currently translates to about $528 USD. But this doesn’t mean the phone isn’t worth it. The Nexus 5X is still a great smartphone!
You can read our Nexus 5X review to learn all the pros and cons stapled to this handset. In a nutshell, this is a mid-end device with high-end aspirations. But the coolest part is that the price stays low! Specs include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 808 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal storage, a 12.3 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front shooter and a 2700 mAh battery.
Those who need a little more convincing will be glad to hear Google is throwing in a little freebie in certain European markets. Depending on your country, you might be getting a free Chromecast with the purchase of a Nexus 5X. The guys over at Android Police have been asking around and found out this deal is valid in Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
No verification on other countries has emerged, but if you see the deal live in your market, please hit the comments and let us know! By the way – don’t expect to get your order shipped right away. Nexus 5X units won’t be heading out the door until November 9th. Are any of you signing up?
New Apple TV Gains Charts for Top Paid, Free and Grossing Apps
The new Apple TV launched on Friday with an all-new App Store, but early adopters were quick to realize that app discovery was limited to a single featured section and a manual search option — unlike the App Stores on iPhone, iPad and Mac, which have several genre-based categories and top charts for apps.
Apple has partially addressed this issue today by adding top charts to the tvOS App Store, listing the top paid apps, top free apps and top grossing apps. Confirming our previous report, games make up the majority of the top spots so far, while apps from content providers such as HBO, FOX and CBS are also popular.
Top Free Apps
1. Rayman Adventures
2. Crossy Road – Endless Arcade Hopper
3. HBO NOW
4. The Nat Geo TV
5. FOX NOW
6. SHOWTIME
7. HISTORY
8. CBS
9. CNNgo
10. Asphalt 8: Airborne
Top Paid Apps
1. Beat Sports
2. Simple X – for Plex
3. Galaxy on Fire – Manticore RISING
4. Does not Commute TV
5. Lumino City
6. Alto’s Adventure
7. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved
8. Battle Supremacy: Evolution
9. CARROT Weather: Talking Forecast Robot
10. Oceanhorn
Top Grossing Apps
1. Beat Sports
2. Galaxy on Fire – Manticore RISING
3. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved
4. Oceanhorn
5. Simple X – for Plex
6. Lumino City
7. Battle Supremacy: Evolution
8. Does not Commute TV
9. Transistor
10. CARROT Weather: Talking Forecast Robot
Restarting your Apple TV or force closing the App Store may be required to view the new Top Charts section. The category may still be rolling out to all users at this time.
Eric Slivka contributed to this report.
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What’s on your HDTV: ‘That ’70s Show,’ ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Master of None’
This week is all about Call of Duty, as this year’s edition arrives on consoles Friday with all single player missions unlocked from the start — unless you’re on Xbox 360 or PS3. If you want Black Ops 3 first them you can of course try downloading it, but if you prefer a disc some Amazon is adding midnight delivery as an option next to the standard midnight release. Also this week, Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing the entire run of That ’70s Show on Blu-ray, which isn’t cropped or zoomed (like The Wire) since it was originally shot in widescreen on film (like Friends and Seinfeld). Better yet? It’s currently available via Best Buy and Amazon for $60. Netflix premieres Aziz Ansari’s series Master of None, while the first two season of Game of Thrones are being re-released on Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos surround sound — check after the break for a trailer explaining how important the new audio is. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).
Fire ants can act as an organic super-material by playing dead
Scientists at the George Institute of Technology have discovered a material so versatile that it can form solid objects, bend under pressure without breaking, easily float on water and even disperse into a liquid when something tries to pass through it. Unfortunately, this discovery is completely useless — because this amazing super-material is made up entirely of fire ants.
Source: Nature
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