Mobile Games: The Two Ends of the Spectrum

Smartphones and tablets have become the dominant gaming platform in 2016, and their market share on the global gaming scene will likely continue to grow. This might come as a surprise for some but consider this: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, one of the most popular online multiplayer shooters, has around 10 million active players worldwide, while Candy Crush, King.com’s popular casual game, had a user count exceeding 90 million (!) in 2014. Mobile games come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from surprisingly basic titles to elaborate fantasy worlds to explore. Their incredible variety and increased accessibility make mobile games so popular today, not to mention the fact that they are “free to play” most of the time, relying on ads or in-app purchases for revenue. Yet not all mobile games are created equal, especially when it comes to hardware requirements. Today, we’re going to take a look at both ends of the spectrum.

Mobile browser games

With Adobe Flash falling out of grace on many platforms, some have predicted the death of browser gaming. Yet browser-based games are not dead at all, they just moved off the PC and onto smartphones, especially in a specific area: real money gaming. Thousands of players go mobile with Vegas Palms online casino each month, seeing easy, convenient games to play on the go. The Vegas Palms offers them just that, and with a twist: each of its mobile games – over 130 titles in the Vegas Palms Mobile – only require an HTML5-capable browser to run. They are not even confined to smartphone browsers either – as long as they identify the right way, the web browsers running on smart TVs and gaming consoles can also run all games at the Vegas Palms’ smartphone version. The games there are among the most undemanding among mobile games, running on an incredible variety of devices, without regards to the operating system on them.

“Console-grade graphics”

When the iPhone 6 came out, complete with its larger screen, Apple promised its users “console-grade graphics” on the go. While the inherent limitations of mobile technology did have a (negative) impact on the handset’s gaming performance, its graphics capabilities were simply amazing. Besides, while it couldn’t outdo consoles like the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, Apple’s iPhone 6 did manage to provide its users with visuals that made them forget not only about desktop gaming but handheld consoles as well.

The improved gaming capabilities of the iPhone 6 were showcased through a game called Vainglory, which was a truly amazing experience. An iPhone exclusive at the time, the game used the last bit of processing power the iPhone 6’s SoC (System on a Chip) had in it to provide players with the most wonderful visuals ever seen on a smartphone. Since then, more games with demanding but amazing graphics have been released – titles like CSR Racing 2 use the smartphones’ GPUs to their maximum.

Smartphone gaming doesn’t get much better than that.

Ways to Protect your Network from Attacks

Networks are not only restricted to workplaces, but every home also has internet connections that have to be protected from the eyes of hackers. From simple specifics like managing secure passwords to using the best antivirus software, there are a series of points to ponder.

1. Start with the Wireless Router

Once you start using your wireless router, the first task should be, changing the name and the preset password. When there are guests, who can access the router, ensure there is a separate password to be used. Choose the security options of WPA or WPA2 protocol as compared with the WEP. Using a firewall can ensure that no one can lay hands on potential information without your permission.

2. Regularly take care of Network Security

Get the software updated regularly, and do not avoid this for a long time. Any security patches when left unnoticed for long can end up with major security mishaps. It makes your system reliable and also avoids viruses and hackers to get into your system.

3. Avoid using Public Hotspot

It doesn’t mean you should stay off from chatting with friends through social media when you are in the cafeteria, using the free Wi-Fi hotspot. This just means do not login your bank sites or do not trust the public hotspot for any info that can never be leaked to the hackers. Always ensure using your network connection for making payments in public places.

4. Use an Antivirus Software

This is an obvious solution to keep the network safe. Take it seriously to keep it updated after you install it. Do not stop using antivirus for your computers only, extend it to the mobile and other smart devices too. You need to go for a licensed software. Using licensed antivirus for home network is the only way to ensure your devices and network are secured. Currently, the malware that aims at the handheld devices are rare, but this will not be the scenario in the recent future.

5. Concentrate on the Operating System

Use the latest OS version to ensure your network is safe. You don’t need to put effort for this. Click yes, when your system says there is a recent version available, download and install the same.

6. Bid Adieu to Outdated Apps

Though you love the old apps, it is high time to ditch them once the publisher has stopped updating them. This is because once they are outdated, chances are high they can attract hackers.

7. Two-Factor Authentication

A PIN code or OTP sent to the mobile via SMS, or email can ensure your network is very much protected. This additional alert will let you know if unauthorized people are making use of your device, or apps.

8. Use Complex Passwords

Your spouse’s name, your birthday, pet’s name can be easier to remember. But, they are real troublemakers and can expose your confidential info to the strangers and hackers. Racking your minds a couple of seconds more is worth compared with sending all private info to the wrong people.

Conclusion

It is not your network or server that needs security, but it is also essential to ensure that all the physical devices are secured. You should remove the workstations that are not used or the USB drives that are not required. If your network can be handled by your servants at home, install the CCTVs to keep an eye on them.

Linksys focuses on optimal device balancing with its new tri-band EA8300 router

Why it matters to you

This new router should be ideal for homes and offices with a large number of users moving from room to room.

On Wednesday, Belkin-owned Linksys introduced a new Wireless AC router for homes and offices relying on multiple “roaming” mobile devices, the EA8300. It’s a tri-band solution in that it’s packed with one 2.4GHz access point and two 5GHz access points. It’s also backed by beamforming and MU-MIMO technology promising superior connectivity and speed performance.

For starters, the new EA8300 router includes the company’s band steering technology. This essentially pairs the two 5GHz bands together into one access point. That doesn’t mean users will see speeds of up to 1,733Mbps, but instead this feature is designed for mobile devices roaming throughout the home or office. As the device moves across physical space, the router will determine which of the two 5GHz bands has the best connection, and will bounce the device between the two accordingly. This is called load balancing.

Out of the box, band steering is toggled on by default. But users with static wireless devices, such as gaming consoles, Smart TVs, and so on may not need this “roaming” feature. Instead, by disabling band steering, users have complete control over both 5GHz bands. Thus, one 5GHz could be dedicated to console and PC gaming while the second 5GHz band could be set aside for the UHD/Netflix/Hulu streaming hogs in the house.

As previously stated, the router is backed by MU-MIMO technology, which is short for multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output. Imagine standing in Walmart and there’s only one checkout isle open and a long line of impatient shoppers. In a typical router scenario, it uses all available antennas to deal with one client device request at a time. With MU-MIMO, the router can assign more cashiers to handle multiple line of shoppers simultaneously.

More: You can now control some Linksys Wi-Fi devices using new Amazon Alexa skills

According to the specs, the router consists of two single-band antennas and two dual-band antennas. Other hardware specs include a quad-core processor clocked at 716MHz, 256MB of system memory, 256MB of internal storage (firmware only), five gigabit Ethernet ports (1x WAN, 4x LAN), and a USB 3.0 port for sharing files across the local network via a connected external storage device.

Other notable features of the new EA8300 router include Amazon Alexa support, automatic firmware updates (which will likely make hardcore network tweakers cringe), complete customization via a mobile app or web-based interface, and more. It even has an “airtime fairness” feature so that faster devices transmit at faster speeds.

Linksys says the EA8300 is an ideal companion for the RE7000 range extender. It’s linked into the company’s band steering technology, enabling wireless devices roaming outside the router’s range to stay connected to the network using the same access point. This prevents users from having to manually choose a new connection when approaching the wireless extender’s coverage bubble.

The Linksys AC2200 Tri-Band MU-MIMO Router (EA8300) is available now on the Linksys website, Amazon, and Best Buy’s online shop for $200. It will hit Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, Meijer, Micro Center, Office Depot, and Walmart in May.

Linksys EA8300 wireless router review

Research Center:
Linksys Max-Stream EA8300

Linksys has revealed its latest Wireless AC router for the home or office, the EA8300. Ideal for Ultra HD content streaming, it packs three wireless access points instead of two, and is based on MU-MIMO technology. That essentially means instead of using its four antennas to deal with one device at a time — think one cashier and one long line of customers — two antennas have one cashier each, and two antennas have two cashiers each, creating six simultaneous lanes.

The Linksys Max-Stream EA8300 is an AC2200-class router providing three separate access points: one 2.4GHz connection providing up to 400 megabits per second, and two 5GHz connection promising up to 866Mbps each. Thus, you’ll see the packaging boast a combined speed of 2.2 gigabits per second, which is a bit misleading given that one single connected device won’t hit that combined speed.

The Linksys EA8300 is not a plug-and-play solution.

The EA8300 consists of four adjustable antennas: two single-band and two dual-band. In turn, wireless devices with a 2×2 internal antenna setup will in theory see max speeds of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Otherwise, devices with a 1×1 antenna setup will see up to half the theoretical speed. That of course is why you see “up to” when describing connection speeds, because there’s a good chance you’ll never hit the max.

As for other hardware features, the router is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 716MHz. There is also one dedicated gigabit Ethernet port for connecting the router directly to a modem, four more gigabit ports for connecting wired devices, and a USB 3.0 port. There’s even a small display on the router face/top sporting the Linksys logo and a warning indicator when there’s no internet connection.

The price for all this? $200 – which isn’t bad for a feature-stacked router. Let’s see if it’s worth the scratch.

The easy setup process doesn’t imply customization limitations

Once the router is wired to the modem, customers should forgo using a smartphone or tablet to establish the network, but instead use a wired or wireless PC. On the wireless front, users will see the Linksys03001 and Linksys03001_5GHz connections (we’ll get to the absence of the second 5GHz band a bit later). After choosing a connection and inserting the provided password, the connection automatically pulls up the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi web-based interface in a browser.

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

Setting up the router is rather straight-forward. Just agree to Linksys’ terms, update the firmware, rename the connections (SSID), set their passwords, create password hints, and log in or establish a Linksys account that can be accessed by any device anywhere. However, we need to stop here for a moment to express concern about the security of the web-based interface and using a cloud-based account.

In four separate browsers, we received an invalid certificate error, meaning the login credentials entered in the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi interface aren’t secure. On top of that, we saw an “unexpected error” pop-up window with an additional “nap/devicelist/GetDevices” error code.

When asked about the certificate issue, Linksys blamed the browsers, as they “now include more explicit warning messages to users” when accessing websites with a self-signed security certificate. The alert currently appears in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Vivaldi. Microsoft Edge specifically throws up the “DLG_FLAGS_INVALID_CA” error code, while Internet Explorer 11 doesn’t have a certificate issue at all, seemingly backing the Linksys claim.

That said, there’s no visual assurance indicating that hackers aren’t lurking in the shadows grabbing the administration info and remotely accessing the router. Even more, this web-based interface provides access to all of your Linksys networking devices, so at some point sensitive login information leaves the home network and travels to the Linksys cloud.

After all, that’s how users manage the router outside the network. This is where the Linksys mobile apps are handy, enabling customers to access all aspects of the router on an Android or iOS device. The apps offer the same customization level as the browser-based interface, such as changing channels, changing channel widths, setting port forwarding rules, and so on. Users can adjust the router no matter where they are located if the app and the router can access the internet.

The backend interface keeps all settings in perfect order

With that said, the EA8300 is obviously not a plug-and-play solution, as users have full control over the network settings. On the left, the Smart Wi-Fi Tools section serves up a map of devices connected to the network, for creating a “guest” network, managing parental controls, prioritizing devices, testing the speed of the modem’s connection to the internet, and setting up a storage device connected to the USB 3.0 port. This latter panel provides settings for sharing files, creating an FTP file server, and creating a media server.

However, it’s the Router Setting panel that provides the meat of customization. This is broken down into four sections: Connectivity, Troubleshooting, Wireless, and Security. Gamers may find the Security portion interesting in that it has a dedicated Apps and Gaming section for grabbing a DDNS from Dyn.com or NO-IP.com, setting up single port forwarding, setting up port range forwarding, and setting up port range triggering.

What users may find to be a great benefit is that the router doesn’t use a single connection name for all three bands. Thus, users will see separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections. We appreciate this because it allows us to test the 2.4GHz band speeds on any dual-band device. Many newer networking kits won’t let users connect directly to the 2.4GHz band due to the router’s auto-assignment feature.

Say hello to band steering for “roaming” devices

The band steering option we briefly mentioned earlier resides in the Wireless section. Enabled by default, it will pair the two 5GHz bands together, thus you will see only one 5GHz connection. When a wireless device connects to the router, band steering will place it on one of the two 5GHz bands. When the device moves throughout the home or office, the router will move the device between the two 5GHz bands to provide the best throughput. This is called load balancing, and applies to all roaming devices connected to the 5GHz connection.

There’s no visual assurance that hackers aren’t grabbing the administration info and remotely accessing the router.

But keep in mind that pairing the two 5GHz bands doesn’t mean double the speed. Users will still see speeds of up to 866Mbps. The router’s band steering is essentially best suited for households with numerous mobile devices that are on the move. But if there are only three or four “mobile” gadgets, and the rest of the wireless devices remain stationary, disabling a band may be a better option.

That said, disabling band steering is as simple as a single click. Once that is done, the second 5GHz band becomes a stand-alone connection. More specifically, with band steering enabled, the two 5GHz bands cannot be altered outside the network name, security mode, password, and broadcast SSID options. But once the two bands are decoupled, users can customize their network modes, channels, and channel width. However, to see both 5GHz bands on a list of access points, they must have different network names, too.

And that’s the conundrum: band steering is seemingly meant for mobile devices, not stationary devices like Smart TVs, consoles, set-top boxes, desktops, and so on. Ultimately users will need to decide on the router’s ultimate purpose when choosing if band steering is on, or off.

Performance hits a bottleneck

With all the talk about 5GHz and band steering, we haven’t forgotten about the 2.4GHz option. Unfortunately, it appears to have a speed cap of 300Mbps. Given that the router has two single-band and two dual-band antennas, each 2.4GHz stream is only broadcasting at 150Mbps by default. A look into the 2.4GHz band settings shows that the router is defaulting to a mixed network mode, a 20MHz/40MHz channel width, and a channel selector set to “auto.” Switching from the popular 1, 6, and 11 channels made no difference in the 2.4GHz band’s max performance. Still, 300Mbps for Wireless N devices with a 2×2 antenna setup isn’t bad at all. That means older Wireless N devices with a 1×1 antenna setup should see up to 150Mbps.

Of course, throughput relies on where exactly the device resides in the house versus the location of the router. It also depends on how the client device communicates with the router, and here we saw some trouble on the 5GHz band. We connected the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to an older EA6500 router and tracked a 5GHz band speed of around 720Mbps. But when we connected the same phone to the new router’s 5GHz band, we only tracked around 433Mbps.

Linksys Max-Stream EA8300 Compared To

Zmodo Beam Alert

Netgear Orbi

Synology RT2600AC

Linksys WRT3200ACM

Starry Station

D-Link DIR-869 EXO AC1750

Portal Wi-Fi router

Ubiquiti Amplifi HD

HooToo TripMate Titan

TP-Link AC3150

Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400

Zyxel NBG6815 AC2200

Netgear Nighthawk X4S

Netgear Nighthawk X8

Google & TP-Link OnHub

That is frustrating because we can’t say bottlenecking is the result of the phone’s connection. Perhaps the issue is the band steering feature that automatically pushes devices from one 5GHz to the other. What if the Galaxy S7 Edge was connected to the wrong 5GHz band? That’s a little absurd given the phone was positioned three feet away from the router during our testing. But checking the 5GHz bands individually by turning off band steering seemed like the next logical step in investigating the bottleneck. Alas, that wasn’t the issue: the individual 5GHz bands each came in around 433Mbps.

To make matters worse, we’re fond of using Android apps that track signal strengths in real time, and scans the channels to show that perhaps the router isn’t using the best possible channel for the 5GHz band. To see what the router is using, band steering must be temporarily deactivated, so we can toy with the channels and channel widths. Getting the phone to break past that 433Mbps barrier became an annoying, unproductive crusade. And we saw similar issues with other devices.

An alarmingly low throughput on Android and Windows

Android is the go-to platform for benchmarking router throughput because the platform supports speed monitoring. Continue to tap on the connected Wi-Fi access point listing, and Android will refresh the information. Adding to that, Google Play is loaded with apps that will test the connection speed and signal strength. Thus, Android devices are ideal for checking speeds in and outside of buildings.

Here is what we found with three different Android devices at specific locations throughout the house. First, the 5GHz band with band steering enabled:

Galaxy S7 Edge
LG G Pad X 10.1
Nexus 10
Dining Room:
433Mbps (-28 dBm)
433Mbps (-23 dBm)
24Mbps (-30 dBm)
Living Room:
433Mbps (-66 dBm)
433Mbps (-54 dBm)
24Mbps (-59 dBm)
Bedroom:
325Mbps (-51 dBm)
433Mbps (-58 dBm)
24Mbps (-60 dBm)
Bathroom:
292Mbps (-47 dBm)
433Mbps (-44 dBm)
24Mbps (-56 dBm)

And here are the 2.4Ghz numbers:

Galaxy S7 Edge
LG G Pad X 10.1
Nexus 10
Dining Room:
21Mbps (-22 dBm)
72 Mbps (-31 dBm)
24Mbps (-31 dBm)
Living Room:
21Mbps (-45 dBm)
72 Mbps (-44 dBm)
24Mbps (-55 dBm)
Bedroom:
21Mbps (-40 dBm)
72 Mbps (-37 dBm)
24Mbps (-47 dBm)
Bathroom:
21Mbps (-44 dBm)
72 Mbps (-42 dBm)
24Mbps (-51 dBm)

Notice that overall, even if the throughput is unusually slow, the speed is consistent no matter where we moved (save for a few performance drops with the Galaxy S7 Edge). Typically, we see various throughput speeds as the test device moves throughout the house, but surprisingly that wasn’t the case with the EA8300 despite signal strength. That may be due to beamforming technology, which in theory creates a dedicated lane for each connected device. The router may also have amplifiers we weren’t aware of during the testing process.

On the Windows front, there are two problems with determining throughput. First, Microsoft doesn’t provide components in Windows so that developers can insert throughput speed testing features in their apps. The second problem is that Windows only provides a static maximum theoretical throughput speed, and not the actual speed of the connection.

Thus, to determine the throughput, you need a server with a wired gigabit connection to the router, and a client machine for testing the wireless speed. In the case of the wireless test, we used a just-built Alienware 17 R4 laptop with a Killer Wireless 1535 adapter.

Here are the client TCP results for the 5GHz band:

Wireless (Mbps)
Wired (Mbps)
1 second:
101
906
2 seconds:
117
923
3 seconds:
101
923
4 seconds:
101
906
5 seconds:
117
923
6 seconds:
101
923
7 seconds:
117
906
8 seconds:
101
923
9 seconds:
101
923
10 seconds:
107
913

Now here are the 2.4 GHz band numbers (sans the wired info):

Wireless (Mbps)
1 second:
50.3
2 seconds:
50.3
3 seconds:
33.6
4 seconds:
33.6
5 seconds:
33.6
6 seconds:
16.8
7 seconds:
16.8
8 seconds:
16.8
9 seconds:
16.8
10 seconds:
32.2

Ouch. These numbers are seemingly worse than what we saw with the Android devices, especially the Galaxy S7 Edge phone. After talking with tech support at great length, one agent via phone seemingly had no hardware knowledge and simply used a general troubleshooter. An agent via online chat knew his stuff, and at the end he suggested a factory reset. We did that, and retested everything, with no improvement in wireless speed. We also informed Linksys’ press contacts, but so far have not received any information to resolve the issue.

Warranty

Of course, if connectivity issues are the result of hardware problems or bad firmware, Linksys provides a 12-month warranty for new units, and a 90-day warranty for refurbished models. The warranty appears straight-forward – don’t install third-party firmware, don’t remove the serial number, and don’t alter the device in any way. It must be serviced by a Linksys/Belkin authorized technician.

Our Take

Linksys seemingly addresses two specific crowds with the EA8300 router: the mainstream household and business with a multitude of “roaming” wireless devices, and the gaming/Ultra HD streaming crowd. That’s because the router seemingly “transforms” with a single click, due to its band steering component. At $200, the EA8300 is competitively priced, coming in at the top of what we’d call a mid-range router.

However, at the time of launch, we experienced connectivity issues that were not resolved. That makes it hard to recommend this router at any price.

Is there a better alternative?

The DT Accessory Pack

TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter Kit

$96.99

TP-Link 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Steel Desktop Switch

$24.99

Netgear AC1200 Wi-Fi USB Adapter High Gain Dual Band USB 3.0

$46.95

Some of the better routers we’ve reviewed as of late include the Synology RT2600AC, the Linksys WRT3200ACM, the Securifi Almond 3, and the D-Link DIR-869 EXO AC1750. We liked the Netgear Orbi kit too, which consists of a router and satellite unit. The Orbi system is unique in that the router and satellites share a high-speed 5GHz “backroad” dedicated specifically for Orbi-to-Orbi communication.

How long will it last?

The EA8300 takes advantage of tri-band connectivity by opening more throughput to devices connected to the 5GHz band, which is great, and should provide good connectivity. However, the poor test results we received indicate the EA8300 may not be satisfy users for as long as we’d hope.

Should you buy it?

No. Because of the performance bottlenecks we experienced with Android and Windows, suggesting this device as a Wireless AC connectivity option for your home or office just isn’t in the cards. The idea of having a second 5GHz connection backed by beamforming and MU-MIMO technology is great, but the limited connection speeds just doesn’t justify the financial plunge for now.

Google Play Music All Access finally goes live in India, starts at just ₹89 per month

Google Play Music All Access is the most affordable way to listen to music in India.

Google Play Music went live in India last year, offering customers the ability to buy and download millions of tracks starting at just ₹15 ($0.20). However, Google Play Music All Access — the company’s subscription service that costs $9.99 in the U.S. — wasn’t available at launch.

It took Google over six months, but All Access is now going live in the country. The best part about the service is that it costs just ₹89 per month ($1.4), an absolute steal when you consider the fact that you get unlimited access to Play Music’s vast catalog. Google is offering a 30-day trial, and there is no reason whatsoever to not try out the service right now.

At a first glance, Google doesn’t seem to be limiting its catalog in India. Music from the likes of Metallica to folk metal bands like Eluveitie and mainstream acts like Ed Sheeran is available for streaming, along with several Bollywood artists. The service has most music I listen to on Spotify, and costs a tenth of what I pay for a Spotify premium subscription.

With All Access now live in the country, Google is going after Apple and entrenched players like Saavn. Apple Music has been available in the country for well over a year now, and while it works fine on Android devices, it hasn’t picked up a lot of momentum. But with Android boasting a dominant 97% market share in the country, it will be significantly easier for Google to market All Access. The service works both on Android as well as the web, and you have the ability to download tracks for offline listening, a key requirement in India.

By pricing All Access as low as ₹89, Google is basically undercutting everyone. Music piracy is systemic in the country, and Google finally has a chance to make a difference. The ubiquity of Android combined with Google’s marketing muscle and All Access’ low pricing puts the company in a great position to entice customers to pay up for the streaming service.

Sign up for Google Play Music All Access

Thanks Sriganesh!

Canon’s latest point-and-shoot helps you take solid selfies

Canon has been relatively quiet since introducing its EOS M6 mirrorless in February, but the company is getting ready to launch yet another camera soon. Enter the PowerShot SX730 HS, a point-and-shoot with a 20.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, the latest Digic 6 processor, a 4.3-172mm 40x zoom lens (24-960mm equivalent) and a 3-inch tilting LCD that lets you take high-quality selfies. To help with this, Canon added new “skin” and “self-portrait” modes, which create images that can make you more attractive by giving your face a smoother look.

As is the case with most digital cameras nowadays, the follow-up to the SX720 HS also features Bluetooth, NFC and WiFi, in case you want to control it remotely or share pictures wirelessly. You’ll also find 1080p video at 60fps and a battery that can be charged via USB. If the PowerShot SX730 HS sounds like something you may want, you’ll be able to get one in June for $400.

Emirates will hand out Surface tablets on flights from Dubai

In mid-March, the US hastily instituted an indefinite ban on electronic devices larger than a cellphone from being carried on to the flights of nine Middle Eastern airlines. Reportedly, it was to prevent terrorists from sneaking an explosive-laden fake iPad into the cabin, though few details on the specific threat have emerged in recent weeks. To compensate travellers for the hassle of spending hours on a flight without their trusty laptops, Emirates has begun offering complimentary Microsoft Surfaces for the durations of affected flights.

Specifically, all flights from Dubai to the US will offer this service. Since TSA regulations now insist that large electronic devices be stored in the cargo hold for the duration of the flight, travellers will be allowed to bring a USB stick with their personal files for use with the tablets. You’re probably not going to want to copy any files to the hard drive though, since the Surfaces will be collected as you deplane.

Emirates isn’t the only airline taking these sorts of measures. Earlier this week, Qatar Airways debuted a similar complimentary laptop service. It does raise the question, however: is it more a bigger security risk to put an unknown USB into your personal computer or put a USB with your personal info into an unknown computer?

Source: Emirates

Early adopters can grab the Windows 10 Creators Update now

We’ve already explained a lot of the new features coming in the Windows 10 Creators update, but maybe you don’t want to wait until April 11th. Starting today, the new Game Mode, Paint 3D and friendlier auto-update scheduling are easily obtainable before it’s released through Windows Update. Just download Microsoft’s Update Assistant located here, and it will begin the process of downloading and installing Windows 10’s newest major addition.

Consider it a healthy way to split the difference between waiting for the official release date or dealing with the Insider program’s frequently-updated test builds. Also, any developers out there can get the freshest version of the SDK by clicking here.

Source: Windows Developers Blog, Windows Blog

Canon’s industrial-strength drone carries a rumored $20k price tag

Canon is arguably the biggest name in photography, but the Japanese company has managed to stay out of the aerial photography game so far. That’s about to change with the extremely pricey (and very elegantly named) PD6E2000-AW-CJ1 six-rotor drone, designed to carry the company’s ultra high-end ME20F-SH camera into search and rescue situations.

The drone platform doesn’t look too different from existing pro-level equipment like DJI’s modular M600 system, but it does offer the incredibly high 4 million ISO that makes the ME20F-SH the perfect camera for extremely dark situations. The drone is weather proof and the two-axis gimbal can carry up to 10 kilograms, but other than that the main selling point seems to be the camera it carries. That kind of light sensitivity doesn’t come cheap though: according to Canon Rumors, the drone costs a whopping $20,000, which reportedly does not include the $20,000 price tag on the camera itself.

At that price, Canon’s drone is unlikely to appeal to anyone but the most well-funded emergency services or die-hard Canon filmmakers. DJI’s M600 hit a much more reasonable $4,599 price point last year and the company’s new, industrial-grade M200 platform is expected to debut sometime this quarter.

Via: Canon Rumors

Source: Canon Japan

Apple might make a new MacBook Pro adapter – one we actually want

Apple has come up with another adapter for 2016 MacBook Pro owners.

The new MacBook Pro is a little inconvenient in that it replaced most ports with USB-C, relegating owners to a life of adapters if they want to make their existing peripherals compatible with the new laptop. And although they probably don’t want to hear about another adapter they may have to soon buy, this one is an exception. Why? Because it makes their old MagSafe breakaway charging cables useful again.

A patent published a few days ago has revealed Apple mulled the idea of a MagSafe to USB-C adapter. The patent was actually filed last year, the same day Griffin began selling a similar, MagSafe-like breakaway USB-C adapter for $40. Of course, because this is a patent, it means Apple may never actually release the adapter, but there has been a lot of criticism over its USB-C-only laptops, so you never know.

• MacBook Pro (2016): A touch of brilliance or totally brainless?

Apple Stores in the near future could soon stock Apple’s latest invention. Yes, it’s another adapter, but it appears to be a tiny, little thing that will be easy to carry around. Plus, it’ll let you make use of your old MagSafe cables, while still providing a breakaway solution.

Keep in mind USB-C cables for the new MacBook Pro don’t breakaway, meaning your laptop will fall to the ground should you trip over the cable, but with this adapter, you can use old charging cables, plus trip over them, and spare your laptop from floor crashes.

USPTO