Month: October 2023

Microsoft launches new free virtual machines for Windows 11

Microsoft continues to work on one of its current major objectives: establishing Windows 11 as an appealing operating system at all levels, including for users who are reluctant to move on from Windows 10. That’s why new virtual machines have been introduced completely free of charge to the company’s most updated system.

Through Windows 11, thanks to the latest update, every user will have free access to new virtual machines that offer various system administration functions. This is something many developers have been waiting for, providing compelling reasons for those who hadn’t yet made the switch from Windows 10.

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Virtual machines for Windows 11

The Windows 11-based virtual machines will be freely accessible for any user who wishes to use them for free, although it won’t be forever. The service offers a free period of 3 months, after which it will become inactive if the definitive version is not purchased.

Therefore, the validity of the free period for these virtual machines will be up to 90 days. After that, users will need to make a purchase to continue enjoying this product developed by Microsoft.

The new virtual machines available in Windows 11 will be an incentive for users to switch to this system.

A system that is becoming increasingly established

Windows 11 was launched in the past year 2021 and has gradually gained more and more users, following an initial release that raised certain concerns within the community. However, as we approach the end of 2023, Windows 11 can be considered a fully established operating system, gradually overshadowing Windows 10. Moreover, constant improvements are being made to enhance the user experience.

They are also implementing new technologies that are increasingly integrated into the Windows ecosystem. An example of this is their Artificial Intelligence, Copilot, which is becoming a part of more and more Microsoft services such as Teams, Outlook, or Edge, among others. It remains to be seen which direction Microsoft takes with these systems, but there is no doubt that users can expect more qualitative leaps in the future.

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Matter 1.2 update adds 9 new smart home devices to the lineup with enhanced performance

The latest buzz in the tech world is Matter 1.2, a new update reshaping the future of smart homes. This fresh update brings a bagful of goodies, extending support to nine new types of smart home gadgets. Get ready for a whole new level of home automation by the end of 2023!

Matter 1.2 isn’t just a small tweak; it’s a big deal. This update broadens the scope of what your smart home can do. Now, it’s not just about lights and thermostats; it’s about so much more. Picture this: your dishwasher cycle ends, and instantly, your laundry cycle begins, all controlled from your favorite platform, be it Google Home, SmartThings, or HomeKit.

Matter first hit the scene in 2022, aiming to end the chaos in smart home gadgets. Since then, it’s been evolving. The 1.1 update in April 2023 was a step forward. And now, Matter 1.2 isn’t just about new devices; it’s about making everything work even better. There are cool new things like better modeling of appliances and easier ways to understand how your devices are running.

Ever since it began, Matter has been growing fast. Over 24,600 downloads of the rules, 1,214 companies certified, and a whopping 24% increase in companies joining the Matter fun. It’s a hit among popular smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. Now, controlling a brand-new robot vacuum with Siri or starting your dishwasher with Alexa is all part of the deal.

“With Matter 1.2 now available to device and app makers around the world, and nine new device types and important new features and improvements, the work on Matter continues. Teams of engineers and product leaders from hundreds of global technology brands are actively working on future device types, features, and use cases while solving challenging technical problems and enhancing the overall experience for consumers and developers,” the official announcement read.

New device types

  • Robot vacuums
  • Refrigerators
  • Dishwashers
  • Air quality sensors
  • Air purifiers
  • Laundry appliances
  • Fans
  • Room air conditioners
  • Alarms

What exactly is Matter?

Matter is the star of the smart home world. It’s like a common language that helps gadgets chat in your home without needing a cloud connection. Created by big names like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung, it’s all about being safe, easy, and working with many different devices.

This special software works on networks like Wi-Fi and a special type called Thread. It’s not just about lights and plugs; it covers over 20 devices, from fridges to security sensors, making your home smarter than ever.

Image credit: CSA

No, as of now, you cannot install third-party apps on the iPhone outside of the App Store

Right now, the apps on our iPhone must pass the security and quality controls of the App Store, although developers have access to test their own applications on their own devices.

Recently, there has been a small uproar around the topic of sideloading due to a change introduced by Apple in the iOS 17.2 beta. This change led to speculation that Apple would allow the installation of any app on iPhone or iPad, even from outside the App Store. However, the reality is that, as of now, you still cannot install third-party apps on the iPhone in the broader sense of the term.

Continue reading “No, as of now, you cannot install third-party apps on the iPhone outside of the App Store”

Google makes it easy for you to try on looks without leaving your home

Google is expanding its shopping features with augmented reality so you can try on hair dye shades with your phone’s camera.

Although virtual reality is the more well-known term, companies are increasingly interested in augmented reality (AR). This technology allows us to view reality with digital elements, whether through our mobile phone screen, using a headset, or with glasses.

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While Google already allows us to try out products using augmented reality before purchasing them on Google Shopping, they recently took a step further by expanding this feature to include beauty products. This functionality can now be used through the Google app or on our mobile browsers.

Firstly, the expansion of Google’s AR shopping features now allows us to see how different shades of L’Oréal hair dyes would look on us, either with the image of a model or our own, through the device’s camera. Soon, we will also be able to “try on” dyes from other brands, such as Revlon and Splat.

Another significant step by Google is that it will allow using this augmented reality feature outside of its app, simply by opening the browser on our mobile phones. Moreover, the company will soon expand the feature to allow us to try on other types of makeup, including eye and lip products.

Lastly, Google will enable cosmetic brands to use these AR tools to showcase their ads on Google Shopping, allowing users to select the shades worn by the models in the ads. However, it won’t allow us to see ourselves in the ads with those makeup shades.

While this technology has been around for several years, it is still in its early stages, and there is much ground to cover. In the coming years, we can expect more and more brands to advertise their products using augmented reality features, aiming to increase engagement with their target audience.

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Facebook and Instagram follow X’s path on ad-free subscription: All the details

Facebook and Instagram have rolled out a new subscription service in Europe, allowing users to bid farewell to those pesky ads interrupting their scrolling experience. This game-changing development comes from Meta, the parent company of these popular social platforms.

For those in the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland, this new subscription offering marks a significant shift. Imagine browsing through your favorite social feeds without constant ad interruptions. It’s an option that hasn’t been available before and promises a breath of fresh air for users who value an ad-free experience.

Facebook and Instagram’s paid ad-free subscription aims to give users more control and privacy in their online interactions, particularly in response to concerns raised by European Union regulators. Here’s a breakdown of the key details regarding these subscription plans:

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Key aspects of the Facebook and Instagram Ad-Free Subscription

Eligibility

The ad-free service is exclusively available to users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. It’s an optional subscription that empowers users to opt out of seeing ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Cost

Users accessing the service via the web will pay €9.99 per month, while those on iOS and Android will be charged €12.99 monthly.

What is covered?

Upon subscription, all associated Facebook and Instagram accounts under a user’s “Accounts Center” will become ad-free, offering a seamless ad-free experience across linked accounts.

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Additional account charges

Starting from March 1, 2024, users will incur additional fees for each extra account linked in their “Accounts Center.” These will amount to €6 per month per additional account on the web and €8 per month per additional account on iOS and Android.

User criteria

The subscription is accessible to users aged 18 and above within the specified European regions.

Privacy & user experience

One of the standout features of this ad-free subscription is the assurance that user data won’t be utilized for ad targeting while enjoying an ad-free experience. This ensures a more personalized, ad-free interaction without user activities being used for ad personalization.

Existing features & choices

For users opting to stick with the free, ad-supported versions of Facebook and Instagram, the existing tools and features for managing ad preferences will remain available. Users can still influence the ads they see and control the data used for ad targeting.

Meeting Regulations and User Preferences

This move by Meta reflects an effort to comply with evolving European regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). By introducing this ad-free subscription, Meta aims to meet regulatory demands while catering to user preferences and maintaining a beneficial business advertising landscape.

In summary, Facebook and Instagram’s paid ad-free subscription brings the choice to eliminate ads for a monthly fee to users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. The varying costs and additional fees for linked accounts starting in 2024 ensure enhanced privacy while catering to users who prefer the ad-supported experience. This step underlines Meta’s commitment to aligning user choice with evolving regulations while supporting a valuable business advertising ecosystem.

The rumors about Nvidia’s new graphics cards don’t make any sense

Kopite7kimi just shared some specifications that indicate that the RTX 4080 Super could have 10,240 CUDA cores and be based on the AD103 GPU.

This generation of Nvidia has been an emotional rollercoaster. From performance that left us all amazed to prices that left our wallets trembling. Now, according to rumors, it’s time for them to undergo an update in the form of the Super series.

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The refresh of Nvidia’s RTX Super series is one of the hottest topics in GPU rumors, and we’ve just witnessed another claim, this time regarding the alleged specifications of the trio of graphics cards that are theoretically about to arrive.

By the way, the only thing that is decreasing in price while everything else is rising: graphics cards. Here’s all the information.

The RTX Super cards could become a reality in the 4000 series

Kopite7kimi, a well-known leaker in the GPU community, has just shared specifications suggesting that the RTX 4080 Super could feature 10,240 CUDA cores and be based on the AD103 GPU.

In other words, it will use the same chip as the RTX 4080 but with all cores activated (remember that 5% are disabled in the regular RTX 4080).

Supposedly, the RTX 4070 Super will use the AD104 chip, with 7,168 CUDA cores, a reduction from the full configuration of that chip, which is 7,680 cores, as seen in the 4070 Ti.

Or it could use AD103, as the leaker claims, with the same number of cores. In any case, it would be positioned just below the RTX 4070 Ti.

Finally, there’s the intermediate model, the RTX 4070 Ti Super, which could use AD103 reduced to 8,448 CUDA cores, or even AD102, according to Kopite7kimi.

The latter is the GPU that powers the RTX 4090, so these would be chips significantly below the qualification for the flagship (due to defective cores, which would be disabled when repurposing the chip for a lower-tier graphics card).

The reason why AD102 would be repurposed for the RTX 4070 Ti Super instead of the 4080 Super doesn’t make much sense to us either, and we doubt that AD102 will be used in any of these alleged upgrades.

That being said, Kopite7kimi admits to “still doubting the specifications,” especially regarding the 4070 Ti Super, and that they do not fully agree with the sources, so nobody can be completely certain.

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Did you think ‘Kingdom Hearts’ was already over? A new game has just been announced for release

Square-Enix has finally announced that ‘Missing-Link’, the new installment of the saga for mobile phones, will finally be released in 2024 for iOS and Android.

With the release of ‘Kingdom Hearts III,’ many thought Square-Enix would let a saga filled with intricate plotlines, unfinished stories, and endless expansion rest. But to their dismay, the following year brought ‘Melody of Memory,’ a musical game summarizing the franchise’s last twenty years. It hinted at what was to come because, indeed, it’s not over yet.

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Four more years

It’s been four years without a ‘Kingdom Hearts’ game, the longest gap in the saga’s history. Many assumed the break would last longer before the series resurfaced in some way. However, Square-Enix has finally announced that ‘Missing-Link,’ the new installment in the series for mobile phones, will be released in 2024 for iOS and Android.

‘Missing-Link’ is actually a prequel that takes place between ‘Union X’ and ‘Dark Road’—a sort of coffee for the most dedicated fans. As the trailer announces, this is a new adventure from a previously unknown era for fans. Of course, it will be filled – at least in battles – with familiar Disney characters from the franchise, such as Winnie The Pooh, Pinocchio, Mickey, Aladdin, Woody, Tinker Bell, or Rapunzel.

In this case, the protagonist will explore “Stairway to Heaven,” a location that appeared in ‘Kingdom Hearts III’ and was supposedly once the seat of power for all Keyblade wielders. Little else is known about the game, apart from the fact that it is indeed a mobile exclusive, which might discourage some of the franchise’s more traditional fans.

On the (very, very distant) horizon, we have ‘Kingdom Hearts IV,’ which will mark the beginning of a new arc, the one involving the Lost Master. Hopefully, it will welcome new players. Despite our denial, the saga in recent years has become a treehouse for those who know everything about Sora, Keyblades, Xehanort, and company. A facelift wouldn’t hurt… even if it’s 14 years away, similar to the gap between the second and third installments. Donald can wait.

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After two decades, the moment has arrived: Facebook and Instagram have launched a paid subscription service

If you;re in Europe, you can pay a fee to not have ads on Meta products. The subscription responds to the EU’s concern…

For many years, Instagram and Facebook have been free, with no option to pay for ad-free usage. Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for.

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Meta will launch a paid subscription that will remove ads from Facebook and Instagram. The service will be available throughout the European Union and will be offered for around 9.99 euros per month on the web or 12.99 euros per month on iOS and Android to account for the additional fees of those platforms.

The subscription aims to address the concerns of the European Union regarding Meta’s advertising targeting practices and data collection. Here is the press release where they announced the measure.

The Data Protection Law is responsible for this historic change

By giving users the choice between paying for the service to eliminate ad targeting or using the service for free while consenting to their data collection practices, Meta believes it will have clearly and definitively met the privacy requirements set forth by a series of European data laws, including the Digital Markets Act and the GDPR.

“We respect the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations and are committed to complying with them,” Meta writes in a blog post announcing the new subscription.

Meta states that it will continue to offer free access to its products for those who do not wish to pay. The company claims that the user experience for non-paying users will not change, and their current ad preference tools will remain available.

The ad-free subscription will only be available for users over 18 years old in the European Union. Initially, it will apply to all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts, but Meta will eventually charge an extra fee for linked accounts.

Starting from March 1, 2024, there will be an additional fee of 6 euros on the web or 8 euros on iOS and Android for each linked account. The company states that as long as a person remains subscribed, their data will not be used for ad targeting.

The tone of Meta’s announcement makes it clear that the company continues to prioritize the advertising business upon which its platforms are built.

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Paradox says that the low performance of Cities: Skylines II has nothing to do with the teeth

Cities: Skylines II has disastrous performance on computers, the community believes it may have to do with NPC teeth… and Paradox denies it

Cities: Skylines 2 is one of the most anticipated games for many people, but it’s also an evident technical disaster. Its performance issues are not just noticeable but absolutely horrendous, and so far, neither the developer nor the distributor has provided a solution. This has led to certain theories about why such dismal performance occurs in a game that seems relatively simple. While there are explanations that sound convincing, those involved in the game have come forward to debunk them.

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During this week, a post on the Cities: Skylines subreddit claimed that the performance issue was due to the game engine individually rendering the teeth of NPC characters. Each and every one of them. Without adjusting the level of detail. Even when we were viewing them from very far away. What does this mean? It means the processor has a significant constant load of unnecessary processing, causing the game’s performance to suffer. It contributes nothing due to an apparent lack of optimization.

However, in the game’s publisher, Paradox Interactive, they have wanted to deny these claims through a statement. Because even though Molargate sounds convincing, they say, it is not affecting the game’s performance. Or not exactly.

According to their statement, the “citizen lifepath” functionality is not tied to the geometry of the citizens and does not impact the characters’ performance. The problem, they state, lies in “missing level of detail adjustments affecting certain performance aspects.” This inconsistency in the statement leaves it lacking credibility, as they initially deny the connection and then admit the opposite. While it may not specifically be the teeth, it does seem that the issue revolves around the NPCs.

In any case, according to Paradox, this level of detail in the characters will be important for the future of the project, even if it doesn’t seem so right now. If you want to check it out, Cities: Skylines 2 is available for PC and has been delayed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S until next year.

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A writer from ‘Futurama: Bender’s Big Score’ regrets not including a scene that we will never be able to see

The first Futurama movie, which included time travel, could have had an extra scene of almost 10 minutes.

In 2007, Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone, Microsoft released the “successful” Windows Vista, and Futurama premiered its first movie, ‘Bender’s Big Score.’ The famous futuristic series created by Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, presented us with a 90-minute film that enamored fans (myself included).

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The plot of the movie was incredibly absurd: after visiting a nudist planet (yes, a planet), the members of Planet Express become victims of a scam that, among other disastrous consequences, infects Bender with a virus and puts him at the service of the scammers: a nudist alien trio.

As if all this wasn’t enough, everything goes haywire when it’s discovered that Fry has a tattoo of Bender’s face on his butt, of which he knows nothing, and to make matters more complicated, the tattoo includes a binary code that allows Bender to travel to the past. With Bender under their control and a code for time travel, the scammers start acquiring all kinds of relics and treasures until they are disgustingly rich.

Once they have all the Earth’s fortunes, the aliens decide to get rid of both the code and the person who has it, involving Fry in a pursuit through the past with Bender turning into a Terminator (complete with sunglasses). Although the movie includes several journeys by Bender, who tries to find (and kill) Fry, there was one that was eventually discarded.

According to Ken Keeler, one of the writers of the movie, and Dwayne Carey-Hill, its director, this 21st-century chase was going to feature a 10-minute scene in which Bender found himself in Italy with an aristocrat named Fillippe Frey, whom he threatened to kill because he couldn’t distinguish whether he was his old friend or just a random person.

“He found a bored Italian aristocrat playing roulette in Monte Carlo named Fillippe Frey, but he didn’t know if it was Philip Fry or not, obviously, and he got involved in a situation where the aristocrat just kept winning huge amounts of money and didn’t care. He didn’t care at all,” Keeler recounts. “And Bender finally threatens to kill him, and he says, ‘I don’t care! Go ahead, kill me, I don’t care!’ It was very funny to me, but unfortunately, it no longer exists.”

The scene, likely discarded to shorten the movie’s duration, which also had to be divided into four parts to be aired in series format, was never even created. But there’s still hope because, now that the series has returned, it’s possible that we might see the gags envisioned by its creators adapted into an episode or two of a future season.

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