Microsoft promises that Windows 10 doesn’t violate your privacy
Microsoft famously accused Google of “Scroogling” users by selling their private data to advertisers. But when it launched Windows 10, Microsoft was itself roundly criticized for over-zealous personal data collection. Critics say it does things like send parents reports of their kids’ PC use, prevent users from opting out of certain types of data collection, and scan PCs for counterfeit software. The software giant has responded to those accusations in a Windows blog post, saying that it only collects data that makes its products work better and that it gives users control over information collected.
Microsoft started by addressing the “telemetry data” it collects when Windows or an app crashes. Company VP Terry Myerson explained that such info “help(s) us provide a secure and reliable experience,” and that it “doesn’t include any of your content or files, and we take several steps to avoid collecting any information that directly identifies you.” He added that the practice has already paid off, helping a Microsoft partner fix a faulty graphics driver within 24 hours.
As for personal data, Microsoft says that it only collects it to “deliver a delightful and personalized Windows experience,” to give you updates on scores for your favorite team, for instance. Additional data is collected for features like Cortana because of its nature as a personal assistant. However, Myerson pointed out that you can opt out of collection of speech, typing, location and other activities.
Finally, Redmond insists that “neither Windows 10 nor any other Microsoft software scans the contents of your email or other communications, or your files, in order to deliver targeted advertising.” In other words, Microsoft doesn’t use Outlook to create targeted advertising, unlike Google’s Gmail. As Ars Technica points out, however, the wording seems to indicate that Microsoft reserves the right to collect advertising data via other apps like Bing and Cortana.
So what to make of this? Many of the original accusations were false: MIcrosoft doesn’t send your personal files to its servers like torrent sites claim, for instance. Also, it’s not new that Microsoft sends parents reports on their kids’ surfing activities — that feature was also available in Windows 8. However, Microsoft promised that it’ll update its policies to take your children’s ages into account.
As for the collection of crash data, Microsoft didn’t address the actual complaint: Windows 10 users can’t opt out of telemetry, unlike with previous versions.
As for the collection of crash data, Microsoft didn’t address the actual complaint; namely that Windows 10 users can’t opt out of telemetry, unlike with previous versions (unless they’re a Windows 10 Enterprise licensee). You can, however, adjust the setting from full (the default) to basic, so that you transmit less data to Microsoft. And while the company collects unique user IDs after a crash, it only does so to determine how many users are experiencing an issue. Would it be good to be able to completely opt out of telemetry? Sure! Would you trade that for a potentially more unstable operating environment? Probably not!
Microsoft concluded by saying it’s listening to users’ privacy concerns, and will update its policies if need be. That’s a good start — they probably don’t bother most users, but it needs to better communicate the hows and whys of them. It would do well to keep the dialogue going, especially considering Google’s ongoing problems in privacy-mad Europe.
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft is working on its own version of Google Cardboard called the Microsoft VR Kit
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Virtual Reality is the next big frontier that tech companies are aiming at conquering, and it looks like Microsoft is really putting in the hard yards to make it happen. While Microsoft already has the HoloLens project going in the background, it looks like the tech giant is also working on something more for the average Joe – the Microsoft VR Kit. Still unannounced, the website for the Microsoft VR Kit has since been taken down, but appeared to depict a VR headset not unlike the Google Cardboard in terms of its low cost construction.
While it appears that the Microsoft VR Kit will initially be for Windows 10 devices, with Microsoft’s push into Android software, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Microsoft appropriate the VR Kit to eventually work with Android devices too. This would actually be amazing for the Android VR space as Microsoft would really give Google a run for its money and we’d all benefit from them trying to out do one another. Naturally, all we can do is wait and see whether this is how it all turns out, but we have our fingers crossed.
What do you think about the Microsoft VR Kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Paul Thurott via Phone Arena
The post Microsoft is working on its own version of Google Cardboard called the Microsoft VR Kit appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Microsoft’s ‘Project Spark’ game creation tool will be completely free
Microsoft’s Project Spark game creation tool has embraced the free-to-play model for a while, but that has still meant paying a fair chunk of change to build the experience you really want. However, even that cost is going away soon. As of an October 5th update, Project Spark is switching to a completely free model where all downloadable content will be accessible. You’ll get refunds if you bought either content or a retail disc from July 28th onward. Microsoft is also handing over the keys, in a manner of speaking — rather than focus on adding content and features, it’ll spend more time on highlighting user-made material and opening things up.
It’s understandable if you’re worried about the shift in strategy. After all, it comes across as an attempt to wind down Project Spark without alienating its community. That isn’t helped by plans to cancel a Conker-related story as a result of the switch. However, the development team insists that this isn’t the end. There are over 200,000 active creators that it doesn’t want to abandon, and there are “new programs and activities” in the works to keep those numbers growing. That’s somewhat reassuring, but there’s no denying that Microsoft has one less incentive to support its oftentimes rewarding game production tool.
Source: Project Spark (1), (2)
Microsoft will deliver low-cost broadband to 500,000 rural Indian villages
A major partnership with Google putting free Wi-Fi in 400 train stations wasn’t the only major network news coming from India today. The Indian government also announced on Monday that it will pair with Microsoft to bring low-cost broadband connectivity to half a million villages throughout the subcontinent. That should help at least some of the estimated 4 million people that go without internet connectivity every year
“We believe that lost-cost [sic] broad band connectivity coupled with the scale of cloud computing intelligence that can be harnessed from data can help drive creativity, efficiency and productivity across governments and businesses of all sizes,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during a news conference. The plan will work the same way as Microsoft’s previous efforts in Africa, leveraging unutilized white-space spectrum to deliver a broadband connection. Further details on the plan’s implementation and rollout are expected to be announced in the coming days.
[Image Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Via: NeoWin
Source: Times of India
See an unreleased ‘South Park’ game running on the original Xbox
Legend has it that back in the early 2000s, Oregon studio Buzz Monkey was working on an officially licensed South Park game for the original Xbox. The game never shipped, but an incredibly early version appears to have made its way to an Xbox debug console — and it’s now on YouTube. The folks at HappyConsoleGamer unearthed the forgotten South Park game on an original Xbox and they’ve posted (extremely rough) gameplay, featuring a split-screen mode and Cartman walking around his house, driving a school bus and fighting a pack of dogs. Yep, this game has a combat system. Also included in the video is a taste of an unreleased Happy Feet game, which is appropriately adorable.
Via: Eurogamer
LG’s lightweight Gram laptops arrive in the US
LG’s laptops are a common sight around the world, but you wouldn’t know it in the US when the company hasn’t officially brought its portables to the country. Well, that’s about to change: the Korean tech giant has announced that it will sell 13- and 14-inch versions of its ultralight Gram laptops in the US through both Amazon and Microsoft Stores. They’re still running 5th-generation Core processors, but they’re otherwise no slouches — they earn their name through an extremely light 980g (2.16lbs) body that makes many smaller laptops seem portly by comparison. You’ll also get a respectable 1080p display and perks like HDMI video output and a microSD card slot.
The prices are certainly competitive, beginning at $899 for a 13-inch version with a Core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. Move to the 14-inch model and you’ll drop $999 on a base version with similar specs, or $1,399 for one with a Core i7 processor and a 256GB SSD. With that said, you may want to try one first-hand first, or check reviews from other regions — The Verge notes that the construction is “flimsy” next to a MacBook Air, and it doesn’t last nearly as long on battery. Still, it’s good to have a viable new choice in Ultrabooks in the States, especially when it’s from a familiar name.
Via: The Verge
‘Halo 5’ card system gives you a leg up in muliplayer mayhem
We’re going to need a lot more time to properly judge the main story campaign in Halo 5: Guardians, but — as with all Halo games — the story mode is far from the only reason to play. Halo 5 will come with co-op multiplayer in the main game and the classic “arena” four vs. four deathmatch, but there’s also a new mode this time around. The new Warzone is a vast 12-on-12 multiplayer matchup where your team fights not only other players but also computer-controlled AI as well.
Instead of simply racking up as many kills as possible, Warzone matches are based on which team scores the most points, which you can rack up by doing a variety of things. Kills count, but so do taking out the big AI bosses that attack your team. There’s also some capture the flag style elements in play here; each zone has several important landmarks you can take over and defend. With 24 players running wild, it can be quite the chaotic experience — but in a good way, for the most part.
And if you’re new to Halo, like I am, Warzone might be one of the best way to get into the game. That’s because there’s a new system that lets you get your hands on a wide variety of weapons, armor, vehicles and more to help even your odds for your team. It’s called the requisition system (hereafter referred to as the REQ system), and it promises to keep players on their toes. Slideshow-323090
By playing either Warzone or Halo 5‘s traditional Arena multiplayer, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for virtual packs of REQ cards. Depending on how many points you want to spend, you can get packs that’ll increase your chances of scoring more rare and powerful items. While some of the items you’ll get are cosmetic in nature, you’ll also get a variety of useful in-game tools that you can equip before you respawn. You can also visit REQ stations scattered around the Warzone areas to power yourself up.
Some cards will be permanently added to your collection, but most of them won’t affect in-game combat (the exception beings loadout weapons that you spawn with). The real game-changers are the single-use weapons, armor and vehicles you can get your hands on; during one of the Warzone matches I played, someone on the opposing team managed to unlock some sort of flying warplane that was an absolute game-changer.
Fortunately, even if you have a huge stockpile of powerful cards, 343 Industries has put in a cooldown system to keep you from being near-invincible every time you respawn. Each card has an associated “level” that your team will need to achieve before you can use it. And the higher the level card you use, the longer you’ll have to wait before you can use a similarly powerful tool.
If you’re worried about getting gouged with in-game purchases for the best gear, 343 Industries notes that “everything” can be earned through the game’s REQ points system. It seems that certain items won’t be restricted to those who want to use real-world dollars here, but spending your own cash could give you a big leg up on the competition.
The good news is that the REQ system is just one part of what was overall the most fun I had playing Halo 5: Guardians during the private press demo Microsoft hosted recently. The madness of a 12-on-12 match, the unpredictability that the REQ system brings to the game, the combo of AI and human adversaries and the variety of different goals beyond just “kill as much as possible” made Warzone a blast — even though I was clearly outclassed by a number of other players. If Halo 5‘s single-player campaign is better with friends, Warzone really made me want to find a whole squad of companions to team up with.
Microsoft kit helps you run Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi
Sure, it’s no secret that you can run Windows 10 on a tiny Raspberry Pi 2, but actually doing that could prove to be a challenge. What parts do you need? And what do you do with it when you’re ready? That’s where Microsoft and Adafruit think they can help. They’ve released a Windows IoT Core Starter Kit that gives you everything you need to get going, including an SD card preloaded with Windows 10 IoT Core and the tools you need (both hardware and software) to start on some projects. It’ll cost you $115 if you need a Raspberry Pi 2 at the same time, and $40 if you already have one sitting around. That’s a lot of money to spend on such a modest device, but it might pay off if you’d like to spend more time creating clever machines than searching forums for help.
Via: Microsoft-News, Engadget Chinese
Source: Adafruit, Blogging Windows
Google under antitrust investigation over Android Apps
The Federal Trade Commision(FTC) has begun a preliminary investigation into Google using Android to push its own apps like Search and Maps.
The search giant has been under investigation in Europe for antitrust violations for a while and the FTC has voted several times in the past not to pursue charges against Google. But there’s now an investigation brewing within the country’s antitrust watchdog.
Complaintants actually went to the Department of Justice(DoJ) first and the DoJ recently asked the FTC for clearance to begin their investigation by making contact with complaintants.
The DoJ and FTC have since worked out an agreement for the FTC, instead of the DoJ, to investigate the claims. The issue stem from the “home screen dominance” of Google’s Android App placement and Android app bundle requirements. The complaint is still in the fact finding stage, the FTC has still yet to contact Google, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that charges will move forward.
Google distributes Android for free to companies like Samsung and LG but if they want to have any Google Apps installed on their phones or tablets, they must take a bundle of a certain set of Android apps which includes money makers like Google Search and the Google Play store. Complaintants are unhappy with this because it gives Google a distinct advantage on the world’s most popular mobile operating system.
Google has offered no public comment comment regarding this matter and Justin Cole, an FTC spokesperson, was quoted as saying, “investigations are nonpublic, and we do not comment on an investigation or the existence of an investigation.”
Google has faced the harsh hand of the government before, but escaped charges. In 2013, Microsoft and Yelp brought complaints to the FTC that Google unfairly gave an advantage to its own products, but Google escaped scrutiny after the FTC voted unanimously not to bring charges.
Source: Bloomberg, via The New York Times
The post Google under antitrust investigation over Android Apps appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The best wireless mouse
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
We spent 100 hours researching nearly 200 mice, surveying more than 1,000 mouse users, testing 28 mice ourselves, and consulting with a panel of experts and laypeople to determine that the $35 Logitech Marathon M705 is the best wireless mouse for most people. Our panel of mouse users with varying hand sizes and mousing grips almost unanimously favored the size, shape, and glide of the Marathon over the competition, especially praising its button selection and placement.
How we tested
We had a panel of six mouse users test all 28 mice and tell us what they thought. We also put each mouse through a battery of sensor tests and tested each one on a desk, a hard mouse pad, a soft mouse pad, a wood floor, fabric, and a mirror to make sure none were tripped up by common mousing surfaces. Then we used each of the finalists for at least one day of work to explore bundled software, rule out any other long-term performance issues, and get comfortable with all the different designs.
Our pick
The Logitech Marathon Mouse M705 was our panel’s favorite, and it has the best overall balance of features: medium size, ergonomic shape, six customizable buttons, long battery life, a Unifying Receiver (which lets you use up to six Logitech keyboards and pointing devices on a single USB port), and a three-year limited warranty.
The Marathon’s shape is ergonomic and comfortable for most grip styles, and all of our testers loved it regardless of their hand size. In our tests, the Marathon worked flawlessly on every surface except glass and a mirror. It has nine buttons: left click; right click; a toggle to switch between ratchet and infinite scrolling; forward and back buttons; an application-switcher button on the grip; and down, left, and right on the scroll wheel. Eight of these buttons can be customized to your liking using Logitech’s software.
Logitech says the M705’s battery life lasts a maximum of three years. I’ve been using this mouse on and off for more than a year; the battery is still at 95 percent and Logitech’s software estimates it has 991 days of battery life remaining. I haven’t been using it every day, but that’s still very impressive. At this rate, it feels like it might never die.
A Bluetooth mouse with more features
The $100 Logitech MX Master costs more than most people should spend on a mouse, but it’s a great option for professionals and anyone who uses a mouse for long periods every day. The Master has 5 programmable buttons, a second (programmable) scroll wheel for your thumb, and a rechargeable battery, plus it can pair with up three Bluetooth devices at the same time. The MX Master is larger and heavier than the Marathon—though smaller than our pick for large hands—but our panel loved the Master’s contour, size, and features.
A cheap, portable pick (that’s also good for small hands)
If you need a travel-sized mouse and don’t mind a wireless dongle, we recommend the Microsoft Sculpt Mobile. It’s compact without sacrificing palm support and has a great scroll wheel. The Sculpt Mobile is a bit small for most people to use daily, and it doesn’t have as many programmable buttons as the Marathon, but it’s great for travel and those with smaller hands.
For large hands
The $60 Logitech Performance MX is our recommendation for people with big hands who don’t need all the features of the MX Master because it’s larger, less expensive, and has a longer warranty. Our largest-handed tester even preferred the size and shape of the Performance MX over the MX Master, but he liked the features of the MX Master better. The Performance is too large for most people’s everyday use, though.
Wrapping it up
The Logitech Marathon M705 is the best wireless mouse because its size and shape are comfortable to people of most hand sizes and all grips, and it has eight programmable buttons, ratcheted and smooth scrolling, and a Logitech Unifying Receiver. What’s more, it isn’t too expensive and comes with a three-year warranty if anything breaks.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
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