05 February 2013

Acer Iconia tablet is UMPC-killer



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Acer's $1,000 Iconia tablet runs Windows 8, weighs only 2 pounds, and packs in 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and a 1.7Ghz Core i5 CPU. Christopher Null put it through its paces:


The bigger challenge, though, is the lack of a mouse. Yes, tablets are designed to be touched directly in lieu of an external pointer, but as noted above, this is tough given the W700′s resolution. At arm’s length, when it’s placed in the cradle, tapping the right button is nearly impossible. The bottom line: Budget for an external mouse and make it a Bluetooth one as well, unless you want to give up your only USB port.


Watch out, Samsung XE700T1A-A02US! Your reign may be over.



Windows Live Essentials For Windows 8 – What You Need To Know



windows live essentialsMicrosoft is in the process of phasing out Windows Essentials, formerly known as Windows Live Essentials. Microsoft has included Modern-style replacements for many of the Essentials applications in Windows 8 – email, calendaring, contacts, messaging, photo management, and cloud file storage are all built in. However, some Windows Live Essentials applications have no Modern equivalent, and you may want to the desktop versions of some applications.


Microsoft has come full-circle – after including many of the Windows Live Essentials apps in Windows Vista, they were removed in Windows 7 and available as a separate installer so that Windows 7 could be a more lightweight, minimal operating system. They’re now being integrated back into Windows 8 by default.


New Windows 8 Apps


Microsoft wants the pre-installed Windows 8 apps to take the place of the older, desktop-based Windows Live applications. You’ll find the following replacements pre-installed on Windows 8:



  • Mail: Microsoft’s Mail application connects to Outlook.com, Hotmail, Gmail, Exchange, and IMAP accounts. It takes the place of Windows Live Mail.

  • Calendar: Windows Live Mail included integrated calendar support, but calendaring is now available in a separate application. It can sync with the calendars linked to your Microsoft account, Google Calendar, and other calendar services.

  • People: Windows Live Mail’s address book is now the People application. In addition to being an address book, it can connect to services like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to bring together your contacts in one place.

  • Messaging: The messaging application works with Microsoft’s Messenger and Facebook. It takes the place of Windows Live Messenger.

  • Photos: The Photos application takes the place of the Windows Live Photo Gallery. It can view photos on your PC or SkyDrive, import photos from a camera, and access online photo services like Flickr or Facebook.

  • SkyDrive: SkyDrive takes the place of Windows Live Mesh as Microsoft’s new online file storage service. Windows 8 includes a Modern app for viewing and managing your SkyDrive files.


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  • Family Safety: The Family Safety application has been replaced by integrated parental controls in Windows 8, which are also called Family Safety. Access Family Safety from the control panel to set time limits, restrict access to websites, and get reports on your kids’ computer usage.


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You may also want to install Microsoft’s Skype application for Windows 8 from the Windows Store. Skype will soon replace Windows Live Messenger entirely.


However, if you want to edit movies, write blog posts, or sync files on the desktop, you’ll still need some of the classic Windows Live Essentials applications.


Windows Essentials For The Desktop


The Windows Essentials installer package is still available for Windows 8. It will download and install the familiar Windows Essentials desktop applications on your computer, although many applications – such as the Bing Bar, Outlook Connector, Messenger Companion, Windows Live Mesh (replaced by SkyDrive), and Family Safety (Windows 8 has integrated parental controls) have been removed.


Microsoft is de-emphasizing these applications, although several have no Modern equivalent yet. You may want to install:



  • SkyDrive (desktop): Windows 8 only comes with a Modern-style SkyDrive app that allows you to view your SkyDrive and upload files in the new, Modern UI. If you use SkyDrive and want to sync files to your computer and access them in a folder – just like Dropbox – you’ll need the SkyDrive desktop application. It’s available through the Windows Essentials installer, although you can also download the SkyDrive desktop app separately.

  • Windows Movie Maker: Microsoft’s easy-to-use movie editing application still has no Modern equivalent. The desktop application works fine on Windows 8 and is available from here, along with a photo gallery application that works on the desktop.

  • Windows Live Writer: Windows Live Writer is a much-loved blogging application. It still has no equivalent in the new Windows 8 interface. If you want Windows Live Writer, you’ll need to install it from here.


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You probably don’t want to install:



  • Windows Live Mail: Don’t expect Microsoft to focus much attention on this program going forward – Microsoft would rather you use the Mail application in the Modern interface, the full Microsoft Outlook on the desktop, or their Outlook.com web interface. If you still like Windows Live Mail, you can install it and continue to use it anyway.

  • Windows Live Messenger: There’s not much point in installing Messenger – Microsoft’s Messenger service will be shut down on March 15, 2013, after which this program will no longer be available. Existing accounts will be migrated to Skype, so you’ll want to install the Skype desktop app if you’d rather not use the Modern app.


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Want more information about Windows 8? Download Getting Started: Your Guide To Windows 8.


Do you still use Windows Live Essentials on Windows 8, or have you found better Windows 8-style app replacements to them? Leave a comment and let us know!


The post Windows Live Essentials For Windows 8 – What You Need To Know appeared first on MakeUseOf.



Knowledge is Free: Learn Something For Nothing With Coursera [Stuff to Watch]



A few weeks ago Stuff to Watch took a decidedly academic turn with the inclusion of YouTube’s rather fantastic Education section. This portion of the site brings together higher, middle and junior level learning materials which are offered as lectures, lessons and even whole courses for the casual learner.


Today we’ll be going all-out on the learning front with a few of the best video courses available on the web, courtesy of highly respectable educational institutions and Coursera. The service offers real courses that bring the online learning experience to life in a way that trumps just about every other service out there.


Coursera provides an opportunity to lean for free, wherever you like, in a productive learning environment.


How It Works


Unlike many online courses, which are simply a collection of videos that you can watch at your leisure, Coursera courses share more similarities with real university courses. Each course lasts for a pre-defined period of time usually measured in weeks, with most being “module” sized and spanning a month or two at most. In order to join, the courses require enrollment by a certain date.



This is because Coursera brings together the vast number of people interested in the same field as you, so everyone learns at the same time. It is also because much of the time you will be marking each other’s work. It is important to note that not every course will take the video route, but the overwhelming majority do – offering lectures and other video content to help you learn as if you were sitting in class.


In addition to this you’ll also get perks like a certificate and accreditation from Coursera itself once you’ve completed the course. This is not to be confused with a certificate for a full degree or similar qualification, but it’s definitely ammo for your CV, and possibly even a precursor to further study. Rarely do the courses offer academic credit for the chosen institution, but many will bolster your application if you decide to undertake further study in the field.



After registering for Coursera you can browse for courses and enrol using the Sign Up button by the required date. If the course is not taking place at the moment, you can often sign up for the next session which is usually a few months down the line – so don’t despair!


Example Courses


Here are a few example courses all produced by respectable institutions. You can find the full list here.


Astrobiology and the search for Extraterrestrial Life


A proper, academic course all about the possibility of other beings, from a scientific angle, run by the University of Edinburgh. The course lasts for 5 with a workload of 3-4 hours of work per week and is currently being run by the institution’s Professor of Astrobiology, Charles Cocknell.


The course tackles interesting questions like what is the definition of life and how did life on earth originate on earth to help shine some light on the bigger conundrums involving intelligent life and searching the stars. This is one very interesting course, even to those who don’t intend to pursue a career in astrobiology or astronomy.



Introduction to Music Production


Ever wanted to make your own music? You’ve undoubtedly heard all about how much easier it is these days to lay down your own tracks at home but maybe lack the expertise to get started. Modern computers, software and a little creativity provide the building blocks for a career in music, and this course is designed to cater to that curiosity.


At 6 weeks like with a workload of 6-8 hours per week, the course will guide you through many of the basic tools and techniques you’ll need to get up to speed with a digital audio workstation (DAW), MIDI instruments and mixing your final project. It’s not going to make you a superstar, but this Berklee College of Music course might just push you towards finding your rhythm, so to speak.



English Composition I: Achieving Expertise


This language course from Duke University is valid as both a self-help course for budding writers, as well as providing the foundations you might need to get into higher-education writing courses. The program focuses on composing expert English, critical reading and how to effectively argue a point all in the quest of an intrinsic understanding of the writing process.


English Composition I is split into four sections and spans a total of 12 weeks with a number of assignments to practice your prose. The skills learned are transferrable to a number of different writing styles, giving the course broad appeal.



Women and the Civil Rights Movement


Another course that’s as interesting as it is useful (to those thinking about studying history, anyway), this detailed look at the U.S. civil rights movement pays close attention to the plight of women and their part in the struggle. The course is provided by the University of Marland’s resident expert Dr. Elsa Barkley Brown and spans a 12 week period.


With 8-10 hours of work per week and a number of assignments, this is definitely one of the more time-consuming but ultimately rewarding courses offered. Studying a time-frame from the 1890s to the 1990s in a year would be difficult, so the relatively short-by-comparisson 12-week timeframe means you’ll have to be eager and ready to go at quite a pace once you begin.



TechniCity


If you’re eagerly awaiting the next Sim City game then you’ll undoubtedly find this program fascinating, but then the course would also apply to many other academic fields as well. With 11-15 hours of work per week the course examines the way our cities are changing thanks to technology – and how they can be further improved in the future.


Taking place over a time-frame of 4 weeks, this is one program that teches a lot in a little time. Sustainability, urban planning and even architecture students might all find this interesting – as well as anyone who works or lives in a city, of course.



Conclusion


There are now more than 200 courses at the time of writing, with 33 universities currently on-board. Coursera can help demonstrate your love of a subject, pique your interest in a field you’re unsure of or simply expand your mind with some quality free learning. If you’ve enrolled or have completed any courses we’d love to hear about them, so stick a note in the comments below.


The post Knowledge is Free: Learn Something For Nothing With Coursera [Stuff to Watch] appeared first on MakeUseOf.



A Google Play Malware Can Infect Your PC Through Your Mobile Device [Updates]



We all know about the threat of malware. We know our PC can get infected, we know our mobile device can get infected. Sometimes, it’s even possible for our PC to infect our mobile device, but did you know your mobile device can be used to infect your PC? A new threat discovered by Kaspersky Lab researchers disguises itself as a system cleaner for Android, and when it gets the chance, infects your PC and takes over your microphone.


The app in question is called “Superclean”, and also has an identical twin by the name of “DroidCleaner”. Both apps have been removed from Google Play by now, but they serve as a reminder to beware of unknown apps. Once downloaded, the app lists all running processes on the device and restarts them – apparently doing its job – but it also downloads three malicious files (autorun.inf, folder.ico, svchosts.exe) in the background, one of which is in fact Backdoor.MSIL.Ssucl.a.



Once connected to a PC running an older version of Windows, the autorun component is launched, and the malware is executed. The trojan takes control of your PC’s microphone, enables it, and uses it to record you and upload the results to the malware’s developers.


According to Kaspersky, the malware is aimed at users with lower-end Android devices who are looking for speed-up solutions, and those running older versions of Windows where the AutoRun still works. In addition to installing a trojan on your PC, the app also includes the following capabilities:



  • Sending SMS messages

  • Enabling Wi-Fi

  • Gathering information about the device

  • Opening arbitrary links in a browser

  • Uploading the SD card’s entire contents

  • Uploading an arbitrary file (or folder) to the master’s server

  • Uploading all SMS messages

  • Deleting all SMS messages

  • Uploading all the contacts/photos/coordinates from the device to the master


The lesson? Protect your mobile device, and try to stick to apps with many downloads and reviews. If you’re looking for legit ways to enhance Droid’s abilties, check out this guide on speeding up Android, or this one on freeing up Android storage space.


What do you think of this new infection? Will it make you more wary when installing apps?


Source: SecureList


Image credit: virus image via Shutterstock, USB image via Shutterstock


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