mine should be arriving soon!
mine should be arriving soon!
Windows Blue is Microsoft’s future low-cost OS with yearly updates
icrosoft is busy preparing its next-generation Windows client, shortly after shipping Windows 8 in October. The Verge has learned from several sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans that the company is planning to standardize on an approach, codenamed Blue, across Windows and Windows Phone in an effort to provide more regular updates to consumers.
Originally unveiled by ZDNet, the update on the Windows side, due in mid-2013, will include UI changes and alterations to the entire platform and pricing. We’re told that Microsoft is aiming to make Windows Blue the next OS that everyone installs. The approach is simple, Microsoft will price its next Windows release at a low cost or even free to ensure users upgrade. Once Windows Blue is released, the Windows SDK will be updated to support the new release and Microsoft will stop accepting apps that are built specifically for Windows 8, pushing developers to create apps for Blue. Windows 8 apps will continue to run on Blue despite the planned SDK changes.
YEARLY UPGRADES WILL BE THE NORM FOR WINDOWS SOON
We understand that you will need a genuine copy of Windows to upgrade to Windows Blue. Built-in apps and the Windows Store will cease functioning if a copy is upgraded that is pirated. Sources tell us that Microsoft will likely keep the Windows 8 name for the foreseeable future, despite the Windows Blue update. A big part of Windows Blue is the push towards yearly updates for Microsoft’s OS. Microsoft will kick off an annual upgrade cycle for Windows that is designed to make it more competitive against rival platforms from Apple and Google.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/28/3693368/windows-blue-update-low-cost
CEA sides with Dish, says 1984 Betamax ruling covers Hopper DVR
The Consumer Electronics Association has sided with Dish Network in its battles with television networks over the legality of the satellite operator’s commercial-skipping Auto Hop feature. The CEA (alongside the Computer and Communications Industry Association and the Internet Association) filed an amicus brief yesterday to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supporting Dish’s defense against Fox out of concerns that “the outcome of this case will affect the future of private non-commercial time-shifting of television programs.”
In the brief, it is argued that the time-shifting functionality of Auto Hop is protected by the original 1984 Betamax Supreme Court ruling in Sony Corp. of America v. University City Studios, Inc. It continues on to say that to “find use of the Hopper for these purposes to infringe Fox’s copyrights essentially would be to reverse Sony and hold that most if not all forms of private time-shifting are illegal.” Additionally, Fox’s concerns over losing “control over its copyrighted works” due to the Hopper is called out as “rank speculation” that mimics the same worries presented in the Sony case 28 years ago.
“[The Hopper is] a fair use right expressly recognized by the Supreme Court almost three decades ago.”
Last year, Fox was denied a preliminary injunction against Dish Network that would have blocked the use of Auto Hop — or halted sales of the Hopper altogether. Separate cases with CBS and ABC are ongoing, with the former claiming that Dish covered up its Auto Hop feature when working out its latest contract negotiations. Tensions in that case have risen after CBS-owned CNET was forced to re-vote after awarding the Hopper with Sling its “Best of CES” award earlier this month. In a statement, CEA CEO Gary Shapiro called the Hopper “an exciting new product that will make television viewing easier and likely encourage viewers to watch more TV,” and he suggested that “broadcasters should try innovating rather than litigating.”
http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/1/26/3918932/cea-sides-with-dish-network-says-hopper-is-legal
Hackers claim attack on Justice Department website
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Hackers sympathetic to the late computer prodigy Aaron Swartz claimed on Saturday to have infiltrated the website of the U.S. Justice Department’s Sentencing Commission, and said they planned to release government data. The Sentencing Commission site, www.ussc.gov , was shut down early Saturday. Identifying themselves as Anonymous, a loosely organized group of unknown provenance associated with a range of recent online actions, the hackers voiced outrage over Swartz’ suicide on January 11. …
Check The Battery Health On Your MacBook
Hey,
If you have a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro it will come with a battery. Battery life degrades over the life time of the battery. Although there isn’t much you can really do about it, other than trying not to cycle the battery too many times, you can keep an eye on it’s health. This allows you to buy a new one, or get it replaced at an Apple shop before there is so little charge left that always needs to be tethered to the wall. This post is going to show you a couple of methods to ensure you know how healthy your MacBook is running at.
Finding The Health
To find the health of your battery open up System Information in Applications > Utilities. Within the sidebar select Power from the Hardware section. This page will list all of the related bits of information regarding the power supply to your MacBook.
There are two pieces of information that are of use, the charge remaining and the condition. If you have a fully charged battery the charge remaining in milli ampere-hour should be similar to the full charged capacity from fresh which is about 6000 mAh. If your laptop battery is starting to degrade this value will slowly never reach the fully charged battery value.
The second piece of information worth looking at is the condition parameter. There are three settings, Normal, Replace Soon and Replace Now. If the latter two options are appearing it may be time to replace the battery in your laptop. Apple has a guide on how to replace the battery in your laptop.
Finding out the battery power of your MacBook.
Apps
There are other ways of getting the battery power of your Mac. One of the apps I recommend if iStat Menus. These have some of the most well designed menus which allows you to see a multitude of information. One of these is the battery life.
You can use iStat Menus to get your battery life.
If you want a free app, a popular app is Battery Health, this gives you the health of your battery in an easy to read format, plus it is free which is always good.
Conclusion
Battery life is important to your Mac. Keeping an eye on it isn’t that complicated, with a couple of free apps and a little bit of know how you can keep an eye on your battery life.
