Microsoft’s vision for connected PCs gives me hope for Windows

I wasn’t expecting a major news announcement from Microsoft’s Computex keynote this year — not on the heels of events in New York, Seattle and Shanghai. What else could there possibly be to unveil after the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro and new Windows versions and updates? Turns out, Microsoft was saving the best for Taiwan. It showed off plans for its vision of “Always Connected PCs”, teaming up with Qualcomm and Intel to make future devices work the same way whether you are at home or on the go. These computers will combine the best features of smartphones, like constant connectivity, all-day battery life and portable designs, to deliver a reliable, powerful and always-accessible Windows 10 experience.

“The PC is back in a big way,” Matt Barlow, vice president of Windows and devices at Microsoft, told Engadget in an interview. It may be too soon to tell if that statement is true, but with all the plans that came to light this past month, it’s clear the company has an aggressive strategy to slide into every aspect of our lives. In a matter of weeks, we learned about new Cortana skills for all kinds of assistant-enabled devices, along with Fluent Design for easier creation of apps across product categories and tools that know your habits and preferences thanks to the Microsoft Graph. And the most important piece of the puzzle is ensuring access to a full-featured Windows 10 wherever people are.

That brings us to the Always Connected PC — a grand vision that Microsoft doesn’t appear to have a very clear framework for just yet. It relied on its partners here at Computex to define the concept .

For Intel, contributing to this vision involves making its existing and future modems support e-SIM, which allows devices to connect to data networks without needing a physical phone card. This is an important part of a PC revival, although it would be nice to see e-SIM capability built into its processors, since Intel’s chips are so widely used. In fact, Intel powers so many types of devices that integrated e-SIM for all its chipsets could make for a diverse range of connected gadgets, including wearables, headsets and speakers. And the company already intends to make that happen with Microsoft, as we learned when the two brands teased their AR/VR collaboration called Project Evo. Though we didn’t hear much more about that this time, it wouldn’t be surprising if they shared more details soon.

On the other hand, Qualcomm’s news is more consequential and clearly defined. Not only did we get details on what Qualcomm-powered PCs would do, but this was also the first time we’ve seen a Snapdragon chipset run full Windows 10. And based on the demo we got in a controlled environment, the Snapdragon 835 holds up well, making it a capable stand-in for a typical laptop system. Since it supports gigabit LTE connectivity, the 835 also enables cellular speeds that are faster than fiber and keeps you online without the need to lug around a hotspot. Thanks to e-SIM capability, it also lets anyone buy data in bite-size portions through the Windows Store.

The chip’s smaller size and power efficiency allow for potentially all-day (and beyond) batteries, while manufacturers can experiment with different designs and ways to make slimmer, lighter devices that are easy to tote around. And Snapdragon 835’s processing muscle, typically reserved for powerful high-end phones, is also capable of managing desktop-level tasks like creating Pivot Tables and jumping across virtual desktops.

But what’s most impressive about Qualcomm’s news at the show is how focused and well-defined it is. The company makes clear the four main benefits of Snapdragon 835 for PCs, so we know what exactly to expect. Connected PCs are already available, but the new standard could make for smartphone-like endurance, portability and standby features. And we already know that ASUS, Lenovo and HP are onboard, having promised to make always-connected PCs.

The thing is, Windows on Snapdragon as news on its own is compelling. But when considered in tandem with all the other news Microsoft has shared recently, it is momentous. It’s clear that borrowing smartphone features is to help Windows devices do better, but the move toward constant connectivity could help PCs not only survive, but thrive.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Computex 2017!

New tech lets us ‘speak’ with Holocaust survivors, even after they’re gone

Why it matters to you

How would you like to have natural conversations with friends or relatives or icons who have passed away?

If you could hold a natural, face-to-face conversation with someone who has passed away, would you? Would you sit down with Albert Einstein? How about a parent? A best friend? If you answered yes, then we have good news: technology has arrived that may soon have you holding that internal debate. It’s called New Dimensions in Testimony and it was created by the USC Shoah Foundation, the institute started by Steven Spielberg to help combat hate and violence, primarily by capturing and telling stories of Holocaust survivors.

Right now, it’s a method for bringing Holocaust survivors virtually to classrooms. A big screen TV is rolled into the class, flipped on its side (as you would do with your phone), and students just ask the virtual survivor questions. The survivor, in turn, answers as if this was actually a giant Facetime call. This isn’t video conferencing, though. Survivors are being brought into a dome of lights and cameras and captured answering 1,000 questions over five days — about everything from their favorite color to what was it like as a child seeing their parents taken away from them for the last time.

As you speak into a microphone, speech recognition software recognizes what you’re saying and translates it to text. Everything the Holocaust survivor said has also been turned to text. Once it has your question, the system then uses artificial intelligence to pair that question with the most appropriate answer, which it then puts back out in video form.

The video is two-dimensional at this time, but in order to future proof the interviews, they’ve been captured with spherical array of camera. That way, when hologram technology has matured, you can sit right across from a full 3D image of survivors. Circling back to the question of who you might like to capture and speak with even after they’re gone, an offshoot of the Shoah Foundation called Storyfile has been created for exactly that purpose.

New tech lets us ‘speak’ with Holocaust survivors, even after they’re gone

Why it matters to you

How would you like to have natural conversations with friends or relatives or icons who have passed away?

If you could hold a natural, face-to-face conversation with someone who has passed away, would you? Would you sit down with Albert Einstein? How about a parent? A best friend? If you answered yes, then we have good news: technology has arrived that may soon have you holding that internal debate. It’s called New Dimensions in Testimony and it was created by the USC Shoah Foundation, the institute started by Steven Spielberg to help combat hate and violence, primarily by capturing and telling stories of Holocaust survivors.

Right now, it’s a method for bringing Holocaust survivors virtually to classrooms. A big screen TV is rolled into the class, flipped on its side (as you would do with your phone), and students just ask the virtual survivor questions. The survivor, in turn, answers as if this was actually a giant Facetime call. This isn’t video conferencing, though. Survivors are being brought into a dome of lights and cameras and captured answering 1,000 questions over five days — about everything from their favorite color to what was it like as a child seeing their parents taken away from them for the last time.

As you speak into a microphone, speech recognition software recognizes what you’re saying and translates it to text. Everything the Holocaust survivor said has also been turned to text. Once it has your question, the system then uses artificial intelligence to pair that question with the most appropriate answer, which it then puts back out in video form.

The video is two-dimensional at this time, but in order to future proof the interviews, they’ve been captured with spherical array of camera. That way, when hologram technology has matured, you can sit right across from a full 3D image of survivors. Circling back to the question of who you might like to capture and speak with even after they’re gone, an offshoot of the Shoah Foundation called Storyfile has been created for exactly that purpose.

Your next heat source could come from a server, if Nerdalize has its way

Why it matters to you

Your laptop generates plenty of excess heat as it sits on your lap, and now, this Dutch startup wants to take that excess energy and have it heat your home.

The notion of “waste not, want not” has never been quite this high tech.

In an effort to ensure that our future is sustainable, one Dutch company is looking to turn servers into heat sources. Because if you’re running laptop is enough to warm your lap on a cold winter’s day, then shouldn’t servers (which emit a lot more energy in the form of heat) be enough to heat your home? That’s certainly the bet that Nerdalize is making. The startup hopes to “create free heat for everyone and make cloud computing sustainable and affordable.”

Its method? Placing cloud servers in individual homes, and turning them into heating systems. Your house will serve as a data center for companies that depend on cloud computing (which is to say, all companies), and in return, those companies will effectively provide you with heat and hot water.

It’s the 21st-century definition of symbiosis.

Nerdalize estimates that by turning common homes into data centers, homeowners can save up to $340 a year, while companies can forego the cost of expensive server centers, saving about 50 percent of their own operational costs. “This innovative set-up drastically reduces the household’s energy consumption while slashing the energy originally needed for server cooling,” Nerdalize claims. “Adding up all those free hot showers and avoided cooling, we can save up to three tons of CO2 per household per year.”

The plan is to start installing these servers in Dutch homes in August. 42 households will serve as guinea pigs, and if all goes well, they’ll be able to turn corporate data into hot water. Indeed, the company says, demand appears to be quite high for this innovative technology, as more than 3,500 people have signed up and expressed interest in a server heater.

The company has already hit 130 percent of its 250,000-euro ($282,000) funding goal, so if you’re looking for an alternative heat source, you may just want to look toward a server.

Your next heat source could come from a server, if Nerdalize has its way

Why it matters to you

Your laptop generates plenty of excess heat as it sits on your lap, and now, this Dutch startup wants to take that excess energy and have it heat your home.

The notion of “waste not, want not” has never been quite this high tech.

In an effort to ensure that our future is sustainable, one Dutch company is looking to turn servers into heat sources. Because if you’re running laptop is enough to warm your lap on a cold winter’s day, then shouldn’t servers (which emit a lot more energy in the form of heat) be enough to heat your home? That’s certainly the bet that Nerdalize is making. The startup hopes to “create free heat for everyone and make cloud computing sustainable and affordable.”

Its method? Placing cloud servers in individual homes, and turning them into heating systems. Your house will serve as a data center for companies that depend on cloud computing (which is to say, all companies), and in return, those companies will effectively provide you with heat and hot water.

It’s the 21st-century definition of symbiosis.

Nerdalize estimates that by turning common homes into data centers, homeowners can save up to $340 a year, while companies can forego the cost of expensive server centers, saving about 50 percent of their own operational costs. “This innovative set-up drastically reduces the household’s energy consumption while slashing the energy originally needed for server cooling,” Nerdalize claims. “Adding up all those free hot showers and avoided cooling, we can save up to three tons of CO2 per household per year.”

The plan is to start installing these servers in Dutch homes in August. 42 households will serve as guinea pigs, and if all goes well, they’ll be able to turn corporate data into hot water. Indeed, the company says, demand appears to be quite high for this innovative technology, as more than 3,500 people have signed up and expressed interest in a server heater.

The company has already hit 130 percent of its 250,000-euro ($282,000) funding goal, so if you’re looking for an alternative heat source, you may just want to look toward a server.

Google Photos archiving rolls out with AI-powered suggestions

The new Archive feature recently spotted in Google Photos is now rolling out to all users, but it has an extra trick. While the Archive button lets you push more mundane photos (scans of receipts, screenshots of a random tweet, or maybe particularly personal photograph) out of the main Photos display without deleting it, there’s also a new suggestion in the Assistant tab that will use its machine learning skills to find likely candidates for you. Of course, you can manually archive photos any time you like (they’ll still show up in search or inside albums), but if you already have a significant Photos catalog this should make things easier. Whether you’re using Android, iOS or the website, the new option should be there.

New! See suggestions for photos to archive, so you can move photos you don’t want to see in your main library. See ya later, receipts 👋 pic.twitter.com/RpjBquGN5G

— Google Photos (@googlephotos) June 2, 2017

Source: Google Photos (G+)

Google Home will arrive in Canada on June 26th

Google is finally bringing its Home speaker to Canada. It took a while, but at least the tech titan didn’t wait two years like it did with Android Pay, which just recently made its way to the country. If you’re in Canada, you can now pre-order the smart speaker from the big G’s online store or Best Buy for $179 CAD. Best Buy will throw in a free Chromecast, too, and is slashing $50 off the price of a Philips Hue starter kit if you order it at the same time. The Home comes loaded with Google’s voice-activated Assistant, which will arrive in the region knowing both English and French. All you’ve got to do is start your sentences with “OK, Google” if you want to issue a voice command.

Assistant can use all of Google’s services to conjure up answers to any question you might ask, including ones about weather and traffic conditions or the latest current and sporting events. You can ask it to play music from Google Play Music or Spotify, arrange your schedule and even to control other smart devices in your home. The speaker will land in the True North, strong and free on June 26th. Even if you don’t pre-order, you’ll be able to get one from various retailers aside from Google Store and Best Buy, including Bell, Indigo, London Drugs, Rogers, Staples, The Source, Telus, Visions and Walmart.

Source: Google

Washing away the dusty trail: Tips and tricks for cleaning a backpack

After enough time on the trailhead — or a few simple commutes around town — a backpack naturally gathers plenty of muck. Like all your outdoor gear, your backpack also needs a thorough cleaning every now and again to keep it in tip-top shape and to extend the life of the pack. That said, a simple cleaning every few months ought to do the trick. Here are a few tips for cleaning your backpack.

While some individuals recommend machine washing your bag, we prefer a good old fashioned hand washing to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. You’ll also want to check the tag inside of your bag to determine the manufacturer’s washing instructions. For example, some materials cannot be washed at higher temperatures. If you’re unfamiliar with these strange symbols you can learn more about them here.

A basic spring cleaning

For this task, you’ll need a sponge, soap, and some water. Before you get started, make sure you empty all the pockets to prevent damaging any valuables you may have left inside. Next, unzip each of the pack’s compartments, turn it upside-down, and give it a few shakes to loosen up and expel any debris.

Wet the sponge in a soapy mixture and wipe out the interior pockets and compartments. Then, you’ll want to tackle the exterior of the bag. For denser materials, you may need to use a toothbrush rather than a sponge. Once finished, wring out the now grimy sponge and rinse the bag with a cool, wet sponge.

A more thorough wash

If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your backpack — or you’ve just finished an exceptionally messy trip — your bag may require a more rigorous cleaning session. This process starts the same way as the previous method. First, empty the pack and give it a few shakes to loosen and expel debris. This alone may not be enough to sift away embedded materials. We recommend leaning on a basic vacuum and handheld attachment to remove these items.

If your backpack allows you to detach the belt and shoulder straps, do so at this time. Cleaning these parts individually will allow for a better overall cleaning. If your bag has a metal frame, you’ll also need to remove this as well. Now, grab a bucket of lukewarm water (you can use a sink or a bathtub for this step as well) then, using non-detergent soap, submerge your bag and give it a few undulations to ensure the soap covers all surfaces and compartments. Use a sponge and/or brush to wash away stains or dried sediments. Remember to be gentle when scrubbing or brushing more delicate materials.

Now, discard the dirty water and refill the bucket (sink/tub) with clean, cool water and rinse the bag. It may take a few dips to adequately rinse away all of the soap from the previous step. Do not machine dry the bag at this point. Using clothespins or hangers, allow the pack to completely air-dry as stowing the bag prematurely may result in mildew growth and odors.

Everything you need to know about Google’s Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Update: Added new updates to the Google Home app, new available live TV streaming apps, and other timely information. 

Google’s first foray into the world of streaming devices, the Chromecast, was a complete knockout when it debuted in 2013. Since then, Google has continued to update its streaming device for the future, including a faster new version of its original dongle and an audio-only version, as well as the Chromecast Ultra for 4K Ultra HD support. Whichever version you use, the small device remains just as convenient as ever, providing you with a simple way to cast your favorite TV shows, music, and movies from a mobile device or computer to the big screen (or speaker) of your choice.

While Chromecast’s popularity has spread far and wide already, those who have yet to be initiated into its world may still have a lot of questions about how Chromecast works and what it can do. We cover all of that below, along with some very handy apps you’ll want in your arsenal, so follow along to get your Chromecast on.

What is Chromecast and how does it work?

Chromecast devices run a simplified version of Google’s Chrome OS, and have limited memory and hardware specs. However, they don’t need to have a ton of power because they aren’t much more than glorified gateways to streaming content. To use a Chromecast, you simply plug it into your TV’s HDMI port and connect to your home’s internet network following the simple instructions provided. The device then acts as a portal for your favorite streaming apps on your mobile device to be “cast” onto your TV.

Google Chromecast

Here’s how casting works: Using apps on your mobile device or computer, you essentially hand off — or cast — content to the Chromecast by tapping the Chromecast symbol (a square with wavy lines in the corner) from within the app. Using the information it receives about what you want to watch, the Chromecast finds the TV show or movie on the web and streams it directly from the service to the TV.

This way, your mobile device’s resources aren’t hogged up by streaming tasks, and battery life doesn’t take a huge hit. Think of your mobile device as a remote control for the Chromecast. One exception to this rule is when the Chromecast mirrors your Chrome browser on your computer. In this case, the Chromecast is depending entirely on your computer as the source for what it displays. The other exception is an app called AllCast, which we dig into a little bit further down.

Introducing the Chromecast family

If you haven’t yet entered the world of 4K Ultra HD TVs, the $35 version of the Chromecast is still your best bet. The device comes in three distinct colors — black, coral, and lemonade — and features three built-in antennas, a malleable HDMI cord, and support for 802.11ac and 5 GHz bands.

Chromecast Ultra

For those looking to step into the future of high-resolution content, the $69 Chromecast Ultra may be a better fit. The Chromecast Ultra brings more than just a higher pixel count to your streaming toolkit — along with 4K Ultra HD support, the device supports the two most popular versions of HDR (including HDR10 and Dolby Vision), to work with virtually any 4K HDR-ready TV. HDR content allows for deeper contrast, brighter highlights, and richer color shading. It is widely regarded as a key element to making 4K shows and movies look more realistic and engaging.

The Chromecast Ultra also adds Ethernet support for a stronger, more stable connection. Google claims the device is “1.8” times faster than its streaming sibling, which checked out in our review. The company has begun adding 4K Ultra HD movies to Google Play, a nice addition that will join Netflix and YouTube as top sources supporting 4K Ultra HD resolution, though Netflix will charge you a bit more to get access to its 4K library.

Google Chromecast Audio

Jeffrey Van Camp/Digital Trends

Finally, Google’s Chromecast Audio offers a simple way to turn virtually any powered speaker into an audio streaming device. Similar to its video-streaming family members, the Chromecast Audio “casts” audio from streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and many others. However, instead of an HDMI connection, the Chromecast Audio connects via 3.5mm audio jack, or via a digital Optical input (though you’ll need an additional mini-Toslink adapter or cable to do so). For this guide, we’ll be talking about the video-ready Chromecast devices, but you can find out more about Chromecast Audio here.

Which devices work with Chromecast?

Google’s Chromecast devices are supported by Android tablets and smartphones, iPads and iPhones, and Chrome for Windows and Mac OS X.

Google Chromecast is available at:

Best Buy B&H Walmart

Everything you need to know about Google’s Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Update: Added new updates to the Google Home app, new available live TV streaming apps, and other timely information. 

Google’s first foray into the world of streaming devices, the Chromecast, was a complete knockout when it debuted in 2013. Since then, Google has continued to update its streaming device for the future, including a faster new version of its original dongle and an audio-only version, as well as the Chromecast Ultra for 4K Ultra HD support. Whichever version you use, the small device remains just as convenient as ever, providing you with a simple way to cast your favorite TV shows, music, and movies from a mobile device or computer to the big screen (or speaker) of your choice.

While Chromecast’s popularity has spread far and wide already, those who have yet to be initiated into its world may still have a lot of questions about how Chromecast works and what it can do. We cover all of that below, along with some very handy apps you’ll want in your arsenal, so follow along to get your Chromecast on.

What is Chromecast and how does it work?

Chromecast devices run a simplified version of Google’s Chrome OS, and have limited memory and hardware specs. However, they don’t need to have a ton of power because they aren’t much more than glorified gateways to streaming content. To use a Chromecast, you simply plug it into your TV’s HDMI port and connect to your home’s internet network following the simple instructions provided. The device then acts as a portal for your favorite streaming apps on your mobile device to be “cast” onto your TV.

Google Chromecast

Here’s how casting works: Using apps on your mobile device or computer, you essentially hand off — or cast — content to the Chromecast by tapping the Chromecast symbol (a square with wavy lines in the corner) from within the app. Using the information it receives about what you want to watch, the Chromecast finds the TV show or movie on the web and streams it directly from the service to the TV.

This way, your mobile device’s resources aren’t hogged up by streaming tasks, and battery life doesn’t take a huge hit. Think of your mobile device as a remote control for the Chromecast. One exception to this rule is when the Chromecast mirrors your Chrome browser on your computer. In this case, the Chromecast is depending entirely on your computer as the source for what it displays. The other exception is an app called AllCast, which we dig into a little bit further down.

Introducing the Chromecast family

If you haven’t yet entered the world of 4K Ultra HD TVs, the $35 version of the Chromecast is still your best bet. The device comes in three distinct colors — black, coral, and lemonade — and features three built-in antennas, a malleable HDMI cord, and support for 802.11ac and 5 GHz bands.

Chromecast Ultra

For those looking to step into the future of high-resolution content, the $69 Chromecast Ultra may be a better fit. The Chromecast Ultra brings more than just a higher pixel count to your streaming toolkit — along with 4K Ultra HD support, the device supports the two most popular versions of HDR (including HDR10 and Dolby Vision), to work with virtually any 4K HDR-ready TV. HDR content allows for deeper contrast, brighter highlights, and richer color shading. It is widely regarded as a key element to making 4K shows and movies look more realistic and engaging.

The Chromecast Ultra also adds Ethernet support for a stronger, more stable connection. Google claims the device is “1.8” times faster than its streaming sibling, which checked out in our review. The company has begun adding 4K Ultra HD movies to Google Play, a nice addition that will join Netflix and YouTube as top sources supporting 4K Ultra HD resolution, though Netflix will charge you a bit more to get access to its 4K library.

Google Chromecast Audio

Jeffrey Van Camp/Digital Trends

Finally, Google’s Chromecast Audio offers a simple way to turn virtually any powered speaker into an audio streaming device. Similar to its video-streaming family members, the Chromecast Audio “casts” audio from streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and many others. However, instead of an HDMI connection, the Chromecast Audio connects via 3.5mm audio jack, or via a digital Optical input (though you’ll need an additional mini-Toslink adapter or cable to do so). For this guide, we’ll be talking about the video-ready Chromecast devices, but you can find out more about Chromecast Audio here.

Which devices work with Chromecast?

Google’s Chromecast devices are supported by Android tablets and smartphones, iPads and iPhones, and Chrome for Windows and Mac OS X.

Google Chromecast is available at:

Best Buy B&H Walmart