Windscribe VPN: Get a lifetime of ad-free, private browsing for 91 per cent off
You’ve undoubtedly seen a range of VPNs on the market, but you’ve never seen one like this. Windscribe VPN is a desktop app and browser extension that guarantees you the safest online experience you could possibly want.
Get top security and unlocked premium access with a Windscribe VPN: Lifetime Subscription, now an impressive £27.41 ($39) on Pocket-lint Deals.
Just turn on Windscribe on your desktop once, and it will forever work behind the scenes to protect your sensitive data from malicious hackers and prying eyes. It will also block most ads and annoying interferences when browsing. A firewall protects you indefinitely, and avoids logging your activity while you browse.
The 2-in-1 privacy solution provides you with a shared IP you can use to download, Skype or surf to your heart’s desire without fear of observation. You can enjoy torrenting and file sharing without a care in the world, secure in the knowledge that your ISP is unable to pinpoint your system.
Meanwhile, an ad blocker will provide security from annoying ads at virtually every turn, offering you peace of mind without the annoyances of ever-invasive marketing.
Never miss out on another new episode of “Game of Thrones” or “Last Week Tonight” when traveling, as Windscribe allows you to bypass geo-locked content from anywhere in the world. Enjoy unlocked content, private browsing and ad-free convenience – get started today at 91 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals!
The future of sound: KOAR Bone Conduction Bluetooth headset delivers audio to your inner ear
Have you ever listened to music through bone conduction? It sounds like science fiction, but the legendary Beethoven (who was deaf) was known to use this method of listening by biting down on his composer’s wand, which was touching the piano as he played.
An updated version of this technology is available in the KOAR Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headset, a high-end set of headphones delivering crystal-clear sound directly to your inner ears. For a limited time, you can grab a set of your own at 48 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals.
KOAR’s patented transducers bypass your ear canal to deliver sound straight to your inner ear. The sound is transmitted through vibrations via the bones of your face, sidestepping the outer and middle ear (where the eardrum is located) and directly stimulating the inner ear.
Durability is essential for any headset, and KOAR’s LiquiPel technology repels water and sweat to keep your headphones like new. Stay comfortable with lightweight titanium memory metal, so you can avoid any clunky hassle when you’re jogging, working out, or just going about your day.
Additionally, a rechargeable 1000mAh Li-ion battery delivers more than 6 hours of activity on a single charge, keeping your focus on the task at hand.
Take 48 per cent off your own KOAR Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headset today, with free shipping to the continental US for a total of £58.75 ($76.99) from Pocket-lint Deals.
HTC Vive owners can finally face the void in ‘Adr1ft’
It may be a few months late, but the day is finally here: Adr1ft, Adam Orth’s VR orbital survival simulator, is now available for the HTC Vive. The Oculus Rift launch exclusive was originally planned to launch on SteamVR back in May, but was delayed to build an experience unique to the HTC Vive and its motion controllers. The wait may have been worth it — the game’s creator says Vive’s motion controls have changed the game in dramatic and unexpected ways.
Orth says the general control scheme, such as player movement and menu navigation, hasn’t changed much — but thanks to the Vive’s motion controls, object interaction is an all new experience. “Reaching out for oxygen canisters, audio logs, terminals, collectibles, debris etc. with your arms while simultaneously micro-tuning your movement on the Wand pads and managing your oxygen adds an incredible new layer to the game that changes it fundamentally,” Orth said on the ThreeOneZero blog, “For many of us on the team, it’s our favorite way to play.”
The game didn’t get the full roomscale VR treatment, though — Adr1ft on HTC Vive supports sitting and standing experience only. That actually makes a lot of sense, considering the zero-gravity gameplay. The developer also left in the original gamepad control scheme, for players that prefer a more casual experience. Don’t want VR, but still want to get lost in space? You’re covered too: the game is also available on PlayStation 4, and launch on Xbox One later this summer.
Source: ThreeOneZero, Steam
Google announces add-ons for Docs and Sheets’ mobile apps
Ever wish you could do even more work on your phone? Then today’s your day. Google just announced third-party add-on support for its Docs and Sheets Android app, allowing the mobile version of its office suite to seamlessly integrate with other productivity tools. Starting today, users will be able to sign documents, import CRM data or create apps from spreadsheets — so long as they download the appropriate add-on, that is.
Want to be able to sign documents on the go? You can download the Android DocuSign app and prepare documents for signatures from inside the Google Docs interface. Need to add complex annotations to a document while riding the train? Use EasyBib to streamline the process. Users can add ProsperWorks to import CRM data, AppSheet to generate mobile apps from data sheets, Scanbot to capture physical documents with your smartphone camera and more.
While these add-ons seem like a great way to be more productive on your phone, there’s not very many of them. Google’s Docs and Sheets add-on page on Google Play lists just nine compatible apps — a far cry from the massive library available to desktop users — but it’s a start. Check out Google’s announcement post for more details.
Source: Google for Work
Now Lenovo offers a MacBook Air-like laptop, the Air 13 Pro
Chinese companies are going after Apple hard. And not just in terms of smartphones.
One day after Xiaomi announced a MacBook Air-like laptop called Mi Notebook Air, Lenovo unveiled its own Air-style, Air-branded machine. The Air 13 Pro laptop has almost all the same specs as Xiaomi’s laptop, including the same price, but there is a difference in RAM.
It comes with 4GB of RAM, along with a 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX940MX GDDR5 GPU. Other specs include a 13.3-inch IPS full-HD display, Intel Skylake Core i5/i7 processor, and 256GB of SSD storage. There’s even fingerprint-recognition tech included. The laptop is 1.48cm thick and weighs 1.29kg. For comparison, the 12.8-inch MacBook Air is 1.7cm at its thickest point and weighs 1.35kg.
Also, as for the Mi Notebook Air, which is Xiaomi’s first laptop, it’s available in 13.3- and 12.5-inch screen sizes, with the the bigger version coming with a Nvidia GeForce 940MX dedicated GPU and 1GB GDDR5 RAM. It also has a 256GB PCIe SSD with an additional SSD slot.
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air and Lenovo Air 13 Pro laptop cost CNY 4,999 each. There’s no word yet if either device will make it outside of China, but if they do and stay the same price, you can expect them to cost $750/£570 each.
Microsoft is about to stop giving out free Windows 10 upgrades
One year ago, Microsoft released a major update to its Windows OS: Windows 10.
Windows 7 and Window 8.1 users were able to grab the upgrade at no cost, but all that’s about to change. Microsoft said it would only let users update – free of charge – for a year. In other words, when 29 July 2016 rolls around, the company will stop being so nice. You therefore only have one day (or mere hours) to get Windows 10 for free. Microsoft’s free offer will expire at 11:59 pm UTC-10.
After that, if you want the upgrade, it will cost you $119/£100. Now is the time to get out your old laptop, desktop, or tablet computer, and ensure it’s up to date. Honestly, we’d be surprised if you haven’t done that already, because Microsoft has been a little aggressive about upgrade requests. Users of Windows 7 and 8.1 should be familiar those insistent popups urging them to “Get Windows 10”.
In some cases, Microsoft even automatically scheduled a date and time for PCs to update to Windows 10. If you’ve managed to avoid all that, but now find yourself in a hurry to get your copy, Pocket-lint has a step-by-step guide that’ll help you. Keep in mind once you upgrade, your PC will be licensed for the new OS, so you could roll back to Windows 7/8.1 but then upgrade again for free.
Also, in order to take advantage of the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which release 2 August, you’ll of course need to be running Windows 10. The click is ticking, so act fast.
Click here to see what Windows 10 features.
Windows 10 free upgrade ends 29 July: Here’s how to get it now
Stop being on the fence about Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade.
The clock is ticking. Microsoft is about to stop offering the upgrade free of charge. If for whatever reason you don’t take this opportunity to get your PC up to date, you’ll have to eventually pay for Windows 10 (it isn’t cheap) when you do decide the time is right. Also, you can’t take advantage of the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update rolling out in August if you aren’t already running Windows 10.
Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer officially expires 29 July at 11:59 pm. There’s really no reason to get out your old Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 machine and upgrade now. However, if you are finally ready, then grab your laptop, desktop, or tablet computer, and let’s go. Pocket-lint has explained everything you need to know, including the system requirements for Windows 10.
Microsoft
What is Windows 10?
It’s the latest major version of Windows.
Here’s some extra reading to get you up to speed on the software:
- Windows 10: Release date, price, and everything you need to know
- Microsoft Windows 10: Here are the top features to get excited about
- 10 new features you’ll love in Windows 10
- Windows 10 review: The OS upgrade we’ve all been waiting for
- Windows 10 tips and tricks: Here’s what your PC or tablet can do now
What is Windows 10 Anniversary Update?
Just eight months after Microsoft released Windows 10, it announced an “Anniversary Update” to the software that would rollout 2 August. Windows10 boasts over 300 millions users and has over 500 different device designs, and soon, it’ll get loads of new features, Microsoft said, thanks to the upcoming update, which was previously dubbed Redstone.
The software is set to bring new features that focus on Windows Ink and improving stylus-use. It’ll also bring extensions for Edge and upgrades for Hello and Cortona, among other things. Click here to see what else it features.
What are the system requirements for Windows 10?
You need to make sure your PC meets Microsoft’s Windows 10 minimum requirements, which it should, because they’re not too outrageous. You just need a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM (or 2GB for 64-bit), and 20GB of free disk space. You also must be running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. You can check your current operating system on Microsoft’s website.
To update Windows 7, go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update.
To update Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, go to Start > PC Settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update.
Should you back up your PC first?
Yes. You should always back up your PC first – no matter if you are updating to Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10. Microsoft’s support page details the several ways you can get this done. All set? Awesome. Now, moving on…
How to upgrade to Windows 10
Have you reserved your copy?
If you already reserved your Windows 10 upgrade, the upgrade files may already be downloaded to your PC. Simply look for the notification that says your upgrade is ready, and then run the installer. The process should take up to an hour.
Have you not reserved your copy?
Now worries. Go to the “Get Windows 10” icon in your system tray. You can then reserve an upgrade or schedule an install. A notification from Microsoft will appear letting you know you can run the installer.
Is there another way to get your copy?
Sure is – here you go:
Go to the Windows 10 download page.
You’ll see an Upgrade now button at the top of the page. Click it. This will download the Windows 10 download client.
Double-click the Windows 10 download client to run it.
A User Account Control (UAC) window will appear. It’ll ask if you want to allow the program to make changes to your computer. Click OK.
The client will then download Windows 10. Follow the on-screen prompts that’ll walk you through the setup process.
Prepare to wait up to an hour. Your device might restart several times while you’re setting up Windows 10.
And that’s it.
Control Nest thermostats with your Apple Watch
The whole idea behind Nest’s smart thermostats is ease of use. And now in case you’d rather not fish your iPhone out of your pocket (or go on a hunt through the couch cushions for it), the smart home gadgets are controllable with an Apple Watch. The update seems pretty straightforward, right? That’s because it is. Assuming your Watch hasn’t run out of battery or your Nest gizmo works at all, of course.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: iTunes
Google reports big profits as it continues to invest in mobile
It’s been nearly a year since Google underwent a major organization do-over, with a renaming of the overall parent company to Alphabet, while Google itself was now just a sub-firm within. But, as its latest earnings results suggest, a majority of Alphabet’s profits still come from regular ol’ Google. Of the $21.5 billion it made in revenue, $21.3 billion was from Google-related ventures like search and advertising. Also, that $21.5 billion number? That’s a whopping 21 percent increase from this time last year.
Its “Other Bets” segments — which include Nest, Google Fiber and Google X — made money too, but it lost more than it gained. Specifically, it made $185 million in total but lost $859 million in expenditure. Which isn’t too surprising considering the experimental nature of most of these businesses, plus the loss is a drop in the bucket when compared to the company’s overall revenue and profit.
One of the reasons for such growth is Google’s big push in mobile. As CEO Sundar Pichai said during the investor call, mobile is the “engine” that drives much of the business. That includes advertising, YouTube, its platforms such as Chrome and Android, the cloud and of course mobile search. Indeed, CFO Ruth Porat says that ad revenue from mobile search was a big reason for the increase in profits this past quarter.
Going forward, expect to see a lot more investment in AI. Already, the company has put quite a bit of money in the area, using AI to improve everything from search to core Google products. “It’s a pivotal and transformational moment” in machine learning, Pichai said on the call. Search is smarter and more useful, he said, while GBoard (its IOS keyboard) and Google Photos are just a couple of Google products that are enhanced with machine learning and natural language processing. “Advances like these make searches even more relevant,” he said.
Pichai also called out AMP, its internal effort to make the mobile web experience faster and its work with YouTube. He says YouTube is a “thriving home for creators” and that the big part of its focus in recent years has been on live video. Though YouTube is a little late to the game as far as mobile live video streaming, Pichai says that the company is definitely committed to pushing it forward. A recent livestream of the Champion’s League in the UK, for example, was the country’s biggest ever livestream event.
As to what to expect the rest of the year, Pichai gave us few hints. He did, however, mention Daydream, Google’s VR platform. He says Google has been working with partners to turn out several Daydream-ready phones, controllers and headsets that’ll be ready by fall.
Source: Alphabet
Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $80 on a Dell Inspiron 11 laptop
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot—some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
QNAP TS-451 NAS
Street price: $350; MSRP: $450; deal price: $330 with code QNAPSAVE99
We rarely see sales on this particular NAS, and this is the best price to date. You’ll have to use the code QNAPSAVE99 to drop $20 off of the $350 price, bringing it down to $330.
The QNAP Turbo NAS TS-451 is our more bays pick for the best NAS. Samara Lynn wrote, “A two-bay NAS is the best option for most people, but if you need more capacity or data protection, get the QNAP TS-451. It has the same CPU and RAM specs as the TS-251, but with two more drive bays.”
Writing about the two-bay model, she said, “The TS-251 has remote access that’s easy to configure, plus mobile apps for media streaming and the most third-party apps of any NAS we tested. You can use the TS-251 as a media streamer, a home backup device, a mail server, a website hosting device, a BitTorrent box, a video surveillance recorder, a Plex Media Server—nearly anything you can do with a Linux computer. It even has an HDMI port so you can connect it directly to your home theater setup.”
Imprint CumulusPro Standing Desk Mat
Street price: $80; MSRP: $100; deal price: $62
This is the best price we’ve seen on the CumulusPro and a great deal on a mat that makes a huge difference if you’ve got a standing desk. This sale beats the last previous low from May by a few extra bucks, but that sale expired within a few days, so it’s unlikely that this deal will stick around for long. This deal is only available in the color brown.
The Imprint CumulusPro Standing Desk Anti-Fatigue Mat is our top pick in the Best Standing Desk Mat guide. Nathan Edwards wrote, “If you plan to spend more than a few hours every day working at a standing desk, you should get the Imprint CumulusPro. It’s the firmest of the mats we’ve tested, but it provides the best support, won’t curl up at the edges, is easy to clean, doesn’t have a chemical-laden stink, is environmentally friendly, and has a 10-year warranty. Imprint says it’s 100 percent polyurethane with one-piece construction, so there’s no risk of it coming apart.”
On how the mat stands up over time, we added a long-term testing update: “The Imprint CumulusPro has held up well in the more than six months since I originally picked it as our winner. It hasn’t worn out or started curling up around the edges. I did go a month or so without standing at all at my desk, but I’ve been using the mat daily again recently and it’s treating me well.”
Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum Gaming Mouse
Street price: $75; MSRP: $80; deal price: $60
This matches a recent sale we saw on the G502, which at the time, was the first time we’d seen it drop this low. It’s rare to see more than a $5 drop under street price on this mouse, so it’s a great time to pick it up.
The Logitech G502 is our more buttons pick for the best gaming mouse. David Murphy said, “The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is a great alternative if you need a mouse with a lot of buttons. It has twice as many as the DeathAdder Chroma, and you can customize them to perform all sorts of actions using Logitech’s Gaming Software”
For some more detail about those extra buttons, “The extra buttons on this Logitech mouse are unobtrusive if you don’t use them and easy to access if you do. Two extra buttons sit to the left of the left-click button, two reside above the thumb, two buttons sit on top of the mouse (though one can only switch the click wheel from audible steps to silent free-spinning), and the click wheel allows nudging left or right to trigger actions. The mouse also offers a button in front of the thumb, which you can hold down to quickly toggle a specific sensitivity setting (or reassign).”
Dell Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop
Street price: $530; MSRP: $600; deal price: $450
This is a worthwhile deal on this hybrid tablet/laptop, and is pretty close to the best price we’ve seen. This laptop was on sale at the beginning of July for the same price, but the sale expired within a couple days, so if you missed it then, this is a great time to pick it up.
The Dell Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop is our versatility pick in the Best Laptops for Every Need guide. Wirecutter Staff wrote, “The Dell Inspiron 11 3000 has most of the right features for a small, $600 convertible laptop, including an Intel Core i3-6100U Skylake processor, an 11.6-inch screen (running at a resolution of 1366×768 pixels), and barely any bloatware. Though we wish it had more than 4 GB of RAM, the version we recommend comes with a 128GB solid-state drive that makes it feel fast and responsive.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
AIVAnet 