February, 2016 - Softonic English

Twitter launches a new homepage: but will it encourage people to sign up?

Twitter has announced the launch of a new homepage.

Trials were recently ran in the U.S. and Japan, after they realized that the initial login page was not enticing enough to get users to sign up to the service. There was also speculation as to whether current users were also being motivated enough to contribute and interact to the online content.

As you can see above, the new page boasts real-time updates from news channels and celebrities, as well as trends and useful links (actually, it looks a lot like Pinterest). The homepage is clearly proving popular as the internet giant has now revealed its plans to launch it in a further 21 countries.

Where does the website Loser.com take you?

Yes, believe it or not, somebody, at some point, has spent money purchasing and maintaining the domain name Loser.com

But for what reason exactly?

Many might think it’s an online store for all things geeky, like Pokémon cards or video game paraphinalia, but it’s actually something a little less predictable.

The owners of the domain (still unknown), have purposefully redirected the site to Donald Trump’s Wikipedia page. This comes shortly following his defeat by Ted Cruz in the elections earlier this week. Check it out if you don’t believe us!

www.loser.com

(Please note that in order to do this, you will have to open a new window and type it for yourself)

The site has also previously featured the likes of Barack Obama, Kanye West and Al Gore.

We guess they just save it for whoever’s not too popular in the media at that time. Cool? Or do you think maybe someone has far too much time on their hands?

The new Instagram feature you’ve all been waiting for

You may not have noticed, but Instagram has recently implemented a new feature on the app that makes it much easier and faster to view photos.

The Facebook-owned app now has over 400 millon users, and if you’re one of them, you will have noticed that exploring photos isn’t the most efficient use of time.

Well, that all changed, but how?

Regular users will know that to view the full-sized photo on a profile you must click on it and wait for it to load the full version (on a separate page). To return to the rest of the photos, you must go back. It may not sound too much effort, but when your internet signal isn’t great, it’s a long and painful process.

Now everything has changed – see for yourself!

If you go to anyone’s profile (even your own), you’ll realize that if you click and hold your finger over one of the thumbnails, it becomes larger in a new window. Pretty cool huh?

You can also swipe your finger down if you want to view the likes and comments, or even play the file if it’s a video.

Thank you Instagram!

Source: Business Insider

Apple fans might want to save this date

A new leak (from a credible source) says that the next big Apple event will take place on March 15, where the company plans to address the Press (in their usual fashion) with the intention of unveiling their latest products.

Rumors suggest that the company plan to reveal their new 4-inch iPhone 5se, a third-generation iPad Air and the latest models of the Apple Watch.

So what can we expect from the latest releases?

The iPhone 5se is expected to have a much faster A9 processor and an M9 chip that allows it to allows be connected to Siri. The telephone is also rumored to boast an NFC sensor which will provide access to Apple Pay.

The iPad Air 3 will have a 4k screen, four speakers and will be compatible with the Apple Pencil stylus that is currently only available on the iPad Pro.

The same source that released the date assures us that the new Apple Watch will come with range of new-colored sport bands, as well as additional colors for the Hermes version, the new Milanese Loop and other various new straps.

Who’s excited?

Source: BGR

Microsoft finds a way to install Windows 10 whether you like it or not

A year ago, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be an “optional upgrade” on Windows Update for all Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 OS users. However, that all changed this week when the company chose to rename the update as “Recommended Update.”

This means that depending on how you have your Windows configured, it will end up installing Windows 10 automatically.

Before the update changes your operating system, you will be asked if you want continue or not, so pay attention! It’s worth remembering that even if you do accidently perform the update, you have up to 31 days to return to your previous version of Windows.

Source: Microsoft News

Google’s secret project to take over the sky (and bring us faster internet)

To get faster internet: that’s the ongoing search for many companies, and Google’s no different. The Guardian and Business Insider recently revealed Google’s new project to make our connections faster – they call the project the “SkyBender.”

The sources reveal that Google is planning to conduct a series of tests in the middle of the Spaceport America facility, involving several solar-powered drones with 5G mm wave wireless transmitters- a technology is capable of transmitting multiple GB of data per second.

A few days ago, Google explained to air regulators that they were planning to try out high-altitude wireless transmitters across the USA, and that their testing would in no way endanger the public. The Guardian has also confirmed that Google has already installed a special flight control center, and is also currently renting 15,000 square feet of hangar space of which was intially built for Virgin Galactic.

Google’s plan is basically to establish a network of drones that provide fast and reliable internet for us mere mortals below! We’ll be sure to keep you updated once we learn more about the internet giant’s plans!

In the meantime, how would you feel if the heavens were to be governed by drones for the sole purpose of providing us with faster internet?

Source: Business Insider

Windows 10 has a big challenge ahead: to conquer this giant

Windows 10 has been doing well, yet there’s still just one big challenge that lies ahead: to annihilate one big giant.

In the case that you may be reading this with somebody who isn’t a fan of Windows 10 (or maybe it’s yourself?), and gets slightly annoyed when they discover more of, then it’s probably best they don’t see the following data. The following pie chart indicates that the latest operating system from Microsoft has already been installed on more PCs than both Windows XP and 8.1 put together.

According to NetMarketShare, Windows 10 is currently operating on 11.85% of PCs. Not bad when you consider that Windows 10 was launched just six months ago.
Now all that Windows 10 has to do is conquer that big giant: Windows 7.

Do you think it can do it?

Source: Windows Central

What these three students did with Siri will blow your mind

How do you get Siri to beatbox for you? Well, the answer is, ask it a difficult math question. For example, “what is one trillion to the tenth power?”

That’s exactly what Carl Frenais, Puja Unni and Pavithra Uday from India recently did, and while Siri read out the answer to the seemingly never-ending number, the three began joining in with their own talents, creating that traditional Indian sound we all know and love.

Here it is! Enjoy!

If you can’t see the video, click here.

The song that united Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

We all have songs that make us think of someone. And now Bill Gates has shared the song that reminds him of Steve Jobs during an interview on BBC Radio 4´s Desert Island Discs – we recommend that you listen here.

Desert Island Discs began back in 1956 – that’s right its 60 years-old. But, if you don’t know the format, its quite simple: a single guest is asked what eight recording they would take with them if they were stranded on a desert island, and then interviewed about their choices. During Bill Gates’s 28 minutes on the show he began talking about Steve Jobs calling him an “incredible genius”.

In this video we did discover the song that unites them and why, according to Bill Gates.

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Can’t see the video? Click here.

While at first these two giants of computing were allied, we know that they later grew apart. Steve Jobs accused Microsoft of being a monopoly, of having no “taste”, and even copying others’ designs with no “original ideas” of their own. In the below video – which summarizes their relationship – there is even a moment when Jobs compares Microsoft to McDonald’s: pure gold.

Still want more of this rivalry? Then have a look at this video that shows the two facing off at the D5 Conference in 2017.

Follow me on Twitter: @AntoniNoguera

Take a look at the new Google Chrome

Google is planning to redesign its much-loved navigator Chrome, in order to adapt it to Android’s new “Material Design” style – at least that’s what The Next Web has confirmed. The site has also released images showcasing the latest designs, although Google are still to confirm if they will implement them.

Take a look at the redesigns below, which may indicate what we can expect from the latest version!