Archive for August 5, 2014

Microsoft To World: No More Major Updates To Windows 8.1

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 5, 2014 by itnerd

You read that correctly. If you’re expecting further tweaks to Windows 8.1, you can forget about it. A blog post from Microsoft is saying that it isn’t going to happen:

In April, we released a bigger, more comprehensive package of improvements to Windows 8.1 called the Windows 8.1 Update. We did the same for Server too, with Windows Server 2012 R2 Update. As we said at the time, our goal is to continue to deliver improvements to Windows through regular updates in order to respond more quickly to customer and partner feedback. After all, we already have a regular monthly update process that includes security and non-security updates.

With the above in mind, rather than waiting for months and bundling together a bunch of improvements into a larger update as we did for the Windows 8.1 Update, customers can expect that we’ll use our already existing monthly update process to deliver more frequent improvements along with the security updates normally provided as part of “Update Tuesday.” So despite rumors and speculation, we are not planning to deliver a Windows 8.1 “Update 2.”

But they did say this as well that these were coming via an update on the August “Patch Tuesday” (next week):

  • Precision touchpad improvements – three new end-user settings have been added: Leave touch pad on when a mouse is connected; allow right-clicks on the touchpad; double-tap and drag.
  • Miracast Receive – exposes a set of Wi-Fi direct APIs for Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) drivers or OEM drivers to develop Windows 32-bit applications that run on all supported x86-based or x64-based versions of Windows 8.1, enabling the computer as a Miracast receiver.
  • Minimizing login prompts for SharePoint Online – reduces the number of prompts with federated use in accessing SharePoint Online sites. If you select the “Keep me signed in” check box when you log on for the first time, you will not see prompts for successive access to that SharePoint Online site.

Does that mean that Windows 9 is closer than we think?

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#Fail: Hotel Charges Guests $500 For Bad Online Reviews

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 5, 2014 by itnerd

From the “dumb things to do when using social media for your business” file comes this story that centres around the Union Street Guest House, a hotel about 2 hours outside of New York City. They in their infinite wisdom instituted a policy to charge groups such as wedding parties $500 for each bad review posted online. The policy then disappeared off it’s website. But as you all know by now, nothing disappears from the Internet. One trip to the wayback machine will show you the policy in question. Interestingly, when the hotel was asked to comment by Page Six, this is what they had to say:

Oddly, the hotel didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Look, if you have a product or a service, you’re going to get bad reviews. It’s how you deal with them that shows what kind of company you are. Threats like this usually result in all the bad press that money can’t buy and with you wishing that you took another path. Just like the Union Street Guest House is likely wishing right now.

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Apple Announces Media Event On Sept. 9th….. iPhone 6 Perhaps?

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 5, 2014 by itnerd

Re/code along with The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg are all reporting that Apple is going to hold a media event on September 9th. What’s important about this date is that past iPhone announcements have been in September. Thus it seems logical to conclude that the iPhone 6 or whatever they’re going to call it will be announced on that day. Another thing to consider. Re/code, composed of the former AllThingsD team, has a perfect track record when it comes to launch date reports. Thus this should not be ignored and I am actually paying enough attention to publish what would otherwise be considered a rumour.

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How Long Does CSEC Keep The Private Data Of Canadians?

Posted in Commentary with tags , on August 5, 2014 by itnerd

That’s a question being asked today as The Globe And Mail is reporting that CSEC or the Communications Security Establishment which is the Canadian version of the NSA won’t say how long it keeps the private data of Canadians:

The federal government’s secretive electronic intelligence agency is not disclosing how long it can hold onto Canadians’ communications – even though its leaders have said that “firm” time limits are in place to protect privacy.

The strictures surrounding Communications Security Establishment Canada’s data-retention periods – including those affecting recognized “private communications” and also “metadata” – are blacked out from an operational document obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The redactions of this document are so extensive that little is revealed, beyond the latest indication that CSEC is drawing from unspecified sources within Canada.

“The retention schedules outlined in these procedures deal with SIGINT [signals intelligence] data acquired from Canadian [word redacted] sources,” it says.

Basically, CSEC is saying “trust us.” The problem is that without out complete (or as complete as you’re going to get in the spy game) disclosure of what they do with this data, it’s hard to trust them. Even the NSA has limits for this sort of thing:

No specific time periods were mentioned. And the Canadian agency’s closest ally is less secretive on such matters. “Inadvertently acquired communications of or concerning a United States person may be retained no longer than five years,” reads a declassified National Security Agency document.

So, one has to wonder why CSEC hasn’t got something similar. It’s too bad that someone can’t ask them and expect a fulsome response.

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Navdy Head-Up Display Pre-Orders Announced

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 5, 2014 by itnerd

Navdy announced the start of its pre-order campaign their Head-Up Display (HUD) that allows drivers to access their smartphone’s apps while keeping their eyes on the road. Navdy combines a high quality projection display with voice and gesture controls to create a safer, highly intuitive driving experience.

Navdy is the world’s first in-car platform that offers:

  • Advanced display technology:  Projects a transparent image directly within your field of view that appears to float six feet in front of your windshield so you can maintain your focus on the road while viewing navigation instructions, incoming calls, speed, etc.  It’s the same technology used by airline pilots to keep their eyes on the runway while landing an airplane.
  • Works in any car: The device can be mounted on any car dashboard, and is powered by plugging in to the onboard computer (OBD II port), available in all cars produced since 1996.
  • Intuitive touch-less gesture and voice controls: You never need to look away from the road while using Navdy. Glance-able apps are controlled with intuitive touch-less hand gestures, while voice recognition lets you ask for directions. Navdy’s noise cancellation technology and wide angle gesture sensors are specifically designed to create an optimal driving experience.
  • All the apps you need:  Navdy works with navigation apps such as Google Maps for turn by turn directions, and music apps such as Spotify, Pandora, iTunes Music and Google Play Music. Navdy can read aloud or display notifications from text messages or social media apps, subject to Parental Control settings.  Navdy is compatible with iPhone (iOS 7+) and Android (4.3+) smartphones.
  • Integrated with your car:  Navdy links to your car and is able to display information such as your speed, RPM, miles-to-empty, fuel economy stats, tire-pressure warning or battery-voltage warning from the car’s computer, all presented on your windshield within your field of view.
  • Tuned for the driver: Critical information like turn by turn directions and your speed do not disappear when a phone call comes in the way your navigation app disappears to the background on a smartphone when a call comes in.  The information you need, when you need it is always present and clearly within your field of view.

Here’s a video of it in action:

Navdy is running a 30 day pre-order campaign at http://navdy.com/preorder.  Navdy is planning to raise $60,000 through its pre-sales campaign to get backers on board and support initial production efforts. Backers will be able to pre-order Navdy at the introductory price of $299, a 40% discount from its projected retail price of $499. Backers will also be rewarded for spreading the word to their friends and family; every time someone buys Navdy from your referral you’ll earn a $30 discount, which means after 10 referrals your Navdy is free. Backers will also vote on which smartphone apps and features they’d like Navdy to support when it ships in early 2015.

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