Apple quietly trims down older iPad Smart Cover, Case line

　　If you want a colorful cover or case for your older iPad, you'll no longer get it through Apple.
　　Alongside the launch of its iPad Air tablet, the company quietly shelved all but one color for both its iPad Smart Cover and Smart Case accessories for second- through fourth-generation iPads.
　　Apple will continue to sell the polyurethane accessories, which run for $39 and $49 respectively, but only in a dark gray color.
　　Those who want one of the five other (now discontinued) colors will have to find it from another retailer, or go with another similar accessory, which Apple still sells on its online store.
　　The change was spotted earlier Wednesday by iLounge.
　　The older Smart Cover design was introduced alongside the iPad 2 in 2011, and continues with the iPad Air and iPad Mini. Apple later added to it with a Smart Case, which ditches the magnets and fits the entire tablet in a protected compartment.
　　Apple changed the design of the covers with the new iPad Air, which is narrower than previous models, adopting the same portrait-style design found in last year's iPad Mini. Nonetheless, Apple's still selling the iPad 2 alongside its newer tablets, leaving reason to keep this accessory around.

Microsoft may well stand a possibility

　　Subsequent week, on October 18, Microsoft will release Windows 8.1, a fairly huge update that Microsoft hopes will lastly give it relevance inside the tablet space, and in the same time make Windows eight significantly less abhorrent for desktop and laptop customers. Microsoft is deluding itself, even though: Windows eight.1 absolutely improves upon the horrid state of affairs that has persisted since the 1st public preview more than two years ago, but there’s no way that it is going to unseat iOS or Android in the mobile arena. At ideal, the adjustments made to Windows 8.1 will permit the OS to continue along the incredibly gradual incline treaded by Windows eight. Subsequent year, even though, when Windows 9 is released across each and every form issue and unifies the app ecosystem across smartphones, tablets, and desktops, then Microsoft basically stands a opportunity against Google and Apple.
　　Ever considering that Windows Telephone 7 limped out the gate in 2010, and then the lackluster launch of Windows 8 a year later, it has been clear that Microsoft has been moving to merge the touch, mobile, and desktop ecosystems. From an early date, Microsoft was talking up how Windows 8′s Metro apps were pretty much compatible with Windows Phone 7 - after which, a bit later, Microsoft created loads of noise about how Windows Phone eight would use the similar kernel along with other low-level libraries as Windows 8. Most lately, with Windows 8.1 and Windows Telephone 8.1, Microsoft will edge however closer to cross-platform compatibility having a shared app retailer.
　　Over the years, it appears nearly each and every Microsoft vice president has discussed how Windows and Windows Telephone apps are almost compatible - but, as evidenced by the slow development of Windows 8, Windows Phone, and their respective ecosystems, just about compatible just isn’t very good adequate. The point is, everybody knows how amazing complete cross-platform compatibility will be. Everybody knows that it will be the magic bullet that would quickly give Microsoft a chance at competing against Apple and Google. This is why Microsoft keeps teasing us, keeps spinning a yarn, to assure every person - consumers, developers, and tech pundits - that it knows how critical a unified ecosystem is.
　　With Windows 9, I bet that Bill Gates’ 1980s dream of Windows Everywhere will ultimately come to fruition. Barring a different civil war, I strongly count on that Windows 9 will run on smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and almost everything else in in between, and developers are going to be able to write a single Windows app and have it run across each form element.
　　Hopefully, Windows 9′s unified ecosystem will resemble iOS: You visit the new app shop (presumably being debuted in Windows 8.1), and after that you are only shown the apps that may work properly on the form element of your present device. Developers may have the choice of having the ability to write a single app that scales to different screen sizes/resolutions, or one particular app with multiple views/layouts which can be optimized for each screen size/resolution - but the most important thing is the fact that precisely the same code will operate on any Windows 9 device, because the underlying kernel/libraries/abstraction layers will be the exact same.
　　In one fell swoop, as an alternative to becoming coerced and cajoled by Microsoft into publishing apps for its distant-third platforms, the combined user bases and ecosystems will truly make Windows 9 a desirable platform that may compete with iOS and Android with regards to attain and money-making possible.
　　But what about game consoles? Properly, in terms of sheer numbers, consoles are nevertheless small fry; more than their complete seven-year span, Microsoft and Sony have only sold about 160 million Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles combined. By comparison, analysts estimate that 700 million smartphones and around 400 million PCs were shipped in 2012 alone. Nonetheless, even when the absolute numbers are fairly compact, Microsoft knows full nicely that the usefulness and desirability of a computer software ecosystem grows exponentially with all the addition of new type factors and use cases. Picture when you could purchase a single app on your Windows 9 smartphone, and after that have it automatically installed on your Windows 9 desktop and Windows 9 game console, or have your gameplay videos automatically sync from your console to your smartphone and Computer - that’d be quite great, proper?
　　The good news is the fact that the Xbox One already seems to be compatible with Windows 8 apps, by virtue of operating a cut-down version of Windows eight for apps, alongside the Xbox OS for games. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that you’ll be capable of run Windows eight apps directly on the Xbox One, but we’d be surprised if that wasn’t the case. In the pretty least, there will likely be an update towards the Xbox One particular - maybe about the exact same time because the unified Windows eight and WP8 app shop is launched - that brings Windows 8 apps for the Xbox 1. Then, by the time Windows 9 rolls around for smartphones/tablets/PCs, we must have apps that run across the entire gamut of devices, which includes consoles.
　　If Microsoft had unified its mobile device, Computer, and console operating systems final year, with the release of Windows 8, then I assume the customer computing landscape would be extremely, extremely diverse. Microsoft would in all probability be on top and calling the shots, in lieu of trailing behind the significant boys, squeaking tremulously for consideration and not obtaining it. As a result of prevarication, internal strife, gutless equivocation, and in all probability a slew of other causes that we’ll never ever get towards the bottom of, Microsoft has had three of its weakest OS releases in history: Windows Telephone 7 and 8, and Windows eight.
　　If Windows 9 is released subsequent year, Microsoft may well stand a possibility, specially if Windows 8.1 and also the acquisition of Nokia can bolster its mobile efforts within the meantime. Whether or not such a utopian unified platform can unseat iOS and Android, though, remains to become seen. Apple and Google are not standing nevertheless, and continue to solidify their market share despite Microsoft’s very best efforts to stay relevant. If Windows 9 does not come out in the next 12 months, or if Microsoft does not have some other super-secret program up its sleeve, the company’s future will creep ever closer towards comprehensive untenability.

Gates, Zuck, Dorsey chip in to teach 10M students coding

　　While computer programming and coding are becoming more common K-12 class options, these subject matters are still a mystery to many students. A nonprofit called Code.org is trying to change that by enlisting a star-studded entourage of techies to help with its new "Hour of Code" campaign.
　　The goal of Hour of Code is to introduce computer programming to 10 million K-12 students in the US during Computer Science Education Week. The event happens December 9 to 15.
　　Joining the cause are several individuals, such as long-time philanthropist Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Companies are also supporting the initiative, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Yahoo, and others.
　　"Thanks to the amazing support of new partners and donors, the Hour of Code campaign will launch our long-term mission to give every student the opportunity to learn computer science," Code.org co-founder and CEO Hadi Partovi said in a statement. "This isn't just about the tremendous job opportunities in software -- every 21st century child can benefit from learning this foundational field."
　　The programming lessons will be provided to students via tutorials that can be taken online, on a smartphone, or in a classroom setting. Different educational groups have authored the tutorials.
　　Code.org is one of the groups that created a tutorial -- getting input from Microsoft, Google, Twitter, and Facebook engineers. This tutorial is basically a learning game that has the feel of Rovio's Angry Birds and PopCap Games' Plants vs. Zombies and also features guest lectures by Gates and Zuckerberg.
　　While participating in Hour of Code is optional for schools and teachers, those who do join have the chance of winning tech-focused prizes, such as 10GB of free Dropbox storage, a full class-set of computers, and a group video conference with either Gates, Dorsey, or Susan Wojcicki, Google's senior vice president of advertising and commerce.
　　Code.org launched earlier this year to promote computer programming education in schools and direct people to online coding tools. Founded by brothers and entrepreneurs Hadi Partovi and Ali Partovi, Code.org operates around the idea that every student should have the opportunity to code. The foundation has an all-star board of advisers that includes investors Marc Andreessen and Ron Conway, PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, and Dropbox founder and CEO Drew Houston.

Right after the Nokia acquisition is complete

　　The optimist would say that Windows Phone's prospects have never ever been brighter. The pessimist would disagree.
　　On the bright side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update three, which contains new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids maintain its spec lists searching fresh. In addition, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's biggest hardware ally totally in to the fold, all whilst BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this gives the computer software giant a likelihood to at least double Windows Phone growth by 2017.
　　On the other hand, Windows Telephone adoption has been slow, with the OS fighting for much less than 10 % of mobile's global market place share, even though Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
　　Furthermore, Microsoft includes a challenge with partners. At this time it really is trying to woo back HTC to after once again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails, Microsoft might be the only outfit creating Windows phones. That single-source tactic may well function for Apple, but even the iPhone is obtaining a really hard time standing as much as Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
　　Back in 2010, and once again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in having its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the newest update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones and the ability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by get in touch with.
　　This is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
　　Even so, Windows Telephone consumers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a private assistant, improved storage support for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. A lot of of these happen to be requested because the OS debuted and have extended existed on Android and iOS.
　　Then there is Skype, the other business that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.3 billion greater than Nokia), but the organization has but to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime and in some cases Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Phone 8 Skype users can place calls from the Persons hub, following first downloading the app. What I am speaking about is creating this an out-of-the-box function.
　　We do know, no less than, that Microsoft is difficult at function on a individual assistant of its own named Cortana, which understands organic language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input at present in use.
　　Microsoft's subsequent update ought to be a significant one that contains this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration at the quite least. Right after the Nokia acquisition is complete (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone should quickly incorporate Nokia-designed computer software tools, like its camera add-ons, in to the native OS expertise.
　　From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- should be to take the major risks that make a enterprise stand out as a player worth paying focus to. Right after the transition, the Windows Telephone team should not only use, but push Nokia's venerable design philosophy into edgier territory.
　　Microsoft need to waste no time funding projects that discover and apply new finishes and supplies (like continuing its work on graphene), publish a couple of wacky proofs of concept (like this 1 from 2011, also below), and probably generate a high-end luxury telephone of its personal.
　　Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime getting reactionary, trying to catch up to Apple and Google without really managing to maintain pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and features which might be just fantastic enough.
http://www.windows7prokeys.com/windows-7-home-premium-product-key-p-3526.html

Parallels Desktop is presently offered like a $50 upgrade

　　Enjoyment of managing Home windows or Linux apps on your own Mac? Which is correct in Parallels Desktop’s wheelhouse, and model nine, which debuted on Thursday, adds far more functions on the virtualization program. But although this system is now accessible being an enhance for current users of Parallels Desktop seven or 8, the complete version will not go on sale until finally following 7 days.
　　Among the the most important new options of Parallels Desktop nine is optimized guidance for cloud storage companies like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive windows 7 professional retail version, Microsoft’s SkyDrive, and much more. You can sync files involving your Mac and your Home windows digital machine without having obtaining the documents duplicated, as a result conserving you precious disk place. And talking of sharing attributes among your Mac and Home windows VM, there is now only one Security Middle for making use of a complimentary security program subscription for both your Mac and Windows VM.
　　Mac aficionados can now benefit from a quantity of Apple-like attributes of their Home windows digital equipment, also. For example, there is guidance for Mountain Lion’s Ability Nap feature on Retina MacBook Professionals and MacBook Airs, permitting you retain your Home windows virtual machine’s applications up-to-date regardless if your pc is sleeping. In addition, you may now utilize the three-finger-tap in Home windows apps to seem up words in OS X’s Dictionary, link storage volumes to your Home windows VM by way of Thunderbolt and FireWire, and print to a PDF in your Mac desktop suitable from any Windows software.
　　Also existing is improved aid for Windows 8 and 8.1, which includes the return in the genuine Start out menu, and the ability to operate present day UI apps in a very window, somewhat than just fullscreen. Enhancements on the Digital Equipment wizards simplify putting together a whole new VM, even when you don’t have a DVD drive on your Mac; there is also better aid for connecting to an exterior keep track of though jogging Parallels Desktop in fullscreen method, and editable keyboard shortcuts help it become simpler for people to tweak their Home windows setup.
　　Parallels Desktop is presently offered like a $50 upgrade for existing people of Parallels Desktop seven or 8; individuals who purchased Parallels Desktop eight on or following August fifteen can enhance without cost.
　　New consumers, even so, will likely have to attend until September 5, if they can decide the app up for $80. A university student version will run $40, whilst the Swap to Mac Edition, which include excess resources emigrate from a Pc to the new Mac, prices $100. Also provided with Parallels Desktop 9, for the constrained time only, is usually a no cost six-month demo subscription for the company’s just lately released Parallels Access, which helps you to access your Mac apps from the iPad.

Can Next Gen Phones Deliver Next Gen Security?

　　We're deeply connected to our phones, and keeping them safe and secure is critical, which is why I'm glad to see companies starting to add advanced security options to new phones. From Motorola to Apple, built-in security features might be more common in future devices.
　　Biometrics In Your Hand
　　In the past, we've looked at some rather exotic efforts to bring multi-factor authentication and biometrics into the smartphone experience. The trick is that many of them often require secondary devices, or unusual user interaction.
　　Apple might change all that with an expected forthcoming refresh to the iPhone line. If you believe the rumors, then the next iteration of the iPhone might feature a fingerprint reader embedded into a sapphire-coated Home button.
　　If true, this could go a long way toward securing iPhone users. For one thing, using the Home button is an established iPhone user operation; people won't have to learn a new trick to make it work. For another, the most common way to secure an iPhone is with a four-digit PIN. You can opt to use a far more complex passphrase lock, but hardly anyone does. Fingerprint scanning could be a dead-simple way to stay secure.
　　Perhaps more importantly, an embedded fingerprint scanner could allow app developers to incorporate tighter security into their apps. Imagine, if you will, logging into your bank with a finger print (and then also a two-factor security code, just to be safe). With Apple putting passwords on the cloud with iOS 7, more security sounds good to me.
　　Skip a PIN
　　On the Android side of the house, Motorola announced a new accessoryfor their Moto X phone called the Skip. I've already got some issues with the Moto X, and the Skip seems like an interesting—if problematic—tool. It's basically an NFC clip that you wear on your clothes that takes the place of a PIN code. When you need to unlock your Moto X, just tap it against the Skip and voila! Your phone "skips" the PIN code and is unlocked.
　　In addition to the Skip clip, Motorola is providing Skip dots—or stickers that provide the same unlocking function of the Skip. The idea is that these create "zones" where you can interact with the phone, specifically the voice-activated Google Now features (which I still find kind of creepy).
　　It's unclear to me if the Skip is actually more secure than using only a PIN code. Setting aside any kind of bizarre near-field attacks, you can still unlock the phone with a PIN code as a backup so it's not a radically more complex method of securing the phone.
　　What it might do is encourage more users to use a PIN code in the first place, and keep their phones locked. In my discussions with security experts, I'm frequently told that the number of Android users that simply leave their phones unsecured is disconcertingly large. With Skip and Skip dots, PINs might be less of a hurdle for users.
　　Looking Ahead
　　We spend a lot of time on SecurityWatch considering how to handle worst-case scenarios, rather than preventing them. Personally, I've been pleased to see phone manufacturers start taking a more proactive security stance, particularly for the physical security of devices. Google launching the Android Device Manager last week, and rumored updates to the iPhone warm the cockles of my heart.
　　But it's still just a start. Biometrics haven't made significant inroads on any device, and forthcoming technologies like Google Glass still seem a long way from being secure. Hopefully, the brains behind the electronic toys will continue baking in device security.

The incredibly first month that Microsoft releases safety updates

　　Microsoft has reminded, cajoled, and pleaded with customers to move off of Windows XP prior to help for its old OS expires subsequent year. Now Microsoft warns users that they might be topic to “zero-day” threats for the rest of their lives if they don’t migrate.
　　“The incredibly first month that Microsoft releases safety updates for from windows7prokeys.com supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse engineer these updates, obtain the vulnerabilities, and test Windows XP to determine if it shares those vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “If it does, attackers will try to create exploit code that can make the most of these vulnerabilities on Windows XP. Because a security update will never turn into available for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP will primarily have a ‘zero-day’ vulnerability forever.”
　　Zero-day vulnerabilities refer for the way in which hackers can attack an operating system or other code prior to a patch is released, fixing the vulnerability. Due to the fact Microsoft will never ever patch Windows XP once more following April 2014, ultimately some vulneability that impacts XP is going to be found.
　　Among July 2012 and July 2013, Windows XP was an affected product in 45 Microsoft security bulletins. Thirty of these also affected Windows 7 and Windows eight, Rains wrote.
　　Rains acknowledges that some protections in XP will help mitigate attacks, and third-party antimalware computer software could give some protection.
　　“The challenge right here is the fact that you will under no circumstances know, with any confidence, if the trusted computing base in the system can actually be trusted mainly because attackers might be armed with public knowledge of zero day exploits in Windows XP that could allow them to compromise the technique and possibly run the code of their option,” Rains wrote.
　　That is precisely the same argument that some have not too long ago employed, claiming that hackers will “bank” their zero-day XP attacks until soon after subsequent April, then unleash them on the unprotected herds of XP machines. As Rains notes, the sophistication of malware has only enhanced, which means that your XP machine is even more vulnerable, not much less. PCWorld’s Answer Line columnist, Lincoln Spector, agrees.
　　The issue that some XP users have is the fact that they’re so in enjoy with the way that Windows XP does factors that they’re reluctant to migrate, specifically to Windows eight. Well, Windows 7 machines do exist, that provide functionality similar to XP: here’s how to find them.
　　The bottom line is this: even though Microsoft stands to obtain from arguing that consumers have to upgrade, the truth is: they do. So when you are nevertheless on Windows XP, begin contemplating a migration method.