Low prices to sway buyers Toshiba's new Windows tablets bet

By all accounts, Windows tablets have yet to catch on in the mainstream market in the way the iPad or smaller Android tablets have, despite efforts from numerous manufacturers including Microsoft itself. But that isn't stopping tablet makers from pressing on, and today Toshiba released the Encore 2, its latest Windows 8 tablet effort. The Encore 2 comes in two sizes — 8-inch and 10-inch — and runs the full version of Windows 8.1, complete with support for legacy desktop apps. Toshiba is taking the same strategy that made customers first take notice of Android tablets: it's pricing the Encore 2 at $199 to start, a drop of $130 from last year's model and lower than similar efforts from Lenovo and Dell.

Android tablets didn't get much traction with customers until the Nexus 7 came along in 2012 at a starting price of $199. The Nexus 7 offered a "good enough" tablet experience at a price far enough below the iPad that it was able to easily become the most popular alternative to Apple's tablet. Similarly, Toshiba's Encore 2 promises to be a fast and responsive tablet that doesn't break the bank.

The base Encore 2 comes with an 8-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel display, quad-core Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and support for microSD cards. Toshiba says that its battery should last 8 to 10 hours before needing to be recharged, which is right in line with an iPad or Nexus 7. For $70 more, the larger, 10-inch model comes with the same 1280 x 800 pixel resolution and internal components as the 8-inch model. Toshiba will also sell options with more RAM and internal storage for $50 to $80 more than the base prices. All of the tablets come with one year of Office 365 personal for free and support Toshiba's Wireless Display technology for mirroring the tablet's display to a larger screen.


With a relatively low resolution display and basic specifications, the Encore 2 likely won't ever be a powerhouse tablet. But that doesn't seem to be the point — its hardware is good enough to make Windows 8 and most of the apps available run smoothly and the price is low enough to not be an instant deterrent to tablet shoppers. (For those that still find $199 too much to spend on a tablet, Toshiba has also announced the Excite Go, a 7-inch Android tablet priced at $109.)

Whether or not Toshiba will be successful in replicating the success of Android tablets with its low-cost Windows tablet remains to be seen, but buyers will be able to make their decisions this July, when the Encore 2 is available in stores.

New Windows Phone 8.1 Handsets Preview

At Computex this past week, Microsoft showed off new Windows Phone 8.1 handset designs coming soon from some of the new partners that came onboard back in February. What's interesting is that none of these new handsets are heading toward emerging markets, and that each is in its own way quite interesting.

As noted in Microsoft Announces 9 New Windows Phone Hardware Partners, New OS Features back in February, Foxconn, Gionee, Lava (Xolo), Lenovo, LG, Longcheer, JSR, Karbonn and ZTE signed on to sell new Windows Phone handsets when Microsoft lowered licensing costs significantly. (Like to $0.)

At that time, I wrote that Lenovo and LG were arguably the two big names in the list from the perspective of the US and Western Europe. But oddly enough, the handsets Microsoft talked up at Computex—see Microsoft Touts New PCs, Windows Phones at Computex for an overview—are from some of the other, less well-known companies on that list.

We still don't have a ton of information about the new devices, but what we do know is promising, and it appears that each of these is unsubsidized. Here are the phones Microsoft showed off this week.

BLU 4-inch and 5-inch (Unnamed)

Markets: United States and Latin America
Timing: "Soon"

This was the vaguest of the announcements. According to Microsoft, BLU will launch two Windows Phone 8.1 handsets this year, one with a 4-inch screen and one with a 5-inch screen. The devices will be sold in a variety of vibrant colors, and the 5-inch version in particular looks very similar to the original HTC One, in my opinion.

4-inch:


5-inch:


Prestigio MultiPhone 8500 DUO and Prestigio MultiPhone 8400 DUO

Markets: Europe
Timing: July/August

Prestigio announced its first two Windows Phone 8.1 handsets at the show, the Prestigio MultiPhones 8400 DUO and 8500 DUO. Both devices feature quad core processors, 8 MP cameras, IPS displays, and dual SIMs.

The entry-level 8400 DUO has a 4-inch display running at 480 x 800, a 1.2 GHz processor, a .3 MP front-facing camera and will cost only $115 USD when it appears in August.


The mid-level 8500 DUO has a 5-inch display running at 720p (720 x 1280), a 1.2 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 2 MP front-facing camera. It will ship in July and will cost $235 USD.


Yezz Billy 4.7 Windows Phone

Markets: Europe, Latin America, United States
Timing: August

The Yezz Billy 4.7 is named after Bill Gates—the firm's "Andy" phone is named after Android project lead Andy Rubin—and features a 4.7-inch IPS display, a 1.2 GHz processor, an 8 MP rear camera, and dual SIM capability. It will cost $250 and be available for purchase through Amazon.com, and will have interchangeable color covers in red, white, and blue.


A second, lower-end Yezz Windows Phone handset, the Billy 4.0, will ship later and feature a 4-inch OGS screen, an 8 MP rear camera, and a quad core processor. It will cost $140.

Note: There are obviously omissions in the specs. This is the information Microsoft and the partners have provided so far.

How to Turn Windows into Mac OS X Yosemite

Windows users have several options when it comes to modifying the visual appeal of their system. From installing standard themes that do not require any system changes whatsoever but only change some visuals such as the background wallpaper to full themes and total conversions that change it dramatically.

Apple just announced the new version of Mac OS X called Yosemite which features better integration with iOS8 and several interface modifications such as new icons.

It did not take long for someone to create a total conversion package for Windows. Using it you can change the theme of Windows that you are currently running to Mac OS X Yosemite.

Note: It is highly recommended to back up the system before you apply the theme as it will make modifications to the system. If things go wrong, you can restore the backup. We did not notice any issues installing the theme on a Windows 8.1 Update 1 system but that does not mean that you won't So, better safe than sorry. At the very least, create a system restore point.

Installation of the package is actually pretty easy

1. Download the right package for your system from the authors website. There is one universal version for Windows XP and newer, and one special edition that is only for Windows 7 and newer.
2. Rename the .zip_ extension to .zip and extract the contents of the 50 Megabyte file on your system.
3. Run the installer afterwards with elevated privileges. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
4. A configuration page is displayed. One thing that you may want to do here is to disable the "make WindowsxLive the homepage" option in the lower left corner.

You can configure various features on the page that will be applied during installation. Among them are the following options:

• Use the system font configuration or select three alternatives.
• Enable or disable the dock and auto-hide.
• Select which taskbar you want. You can select system default here if you want to use the Windows taskbar.
• Enable the Start Orb.
• Enable left side OS X caption button style.
• Enable OS  X Yosemite frame UI (not compatible with AERO).
• Enable Spaces (Ctrl-Alt-Arrow).
• Dasboard (F12 to display or scroll to bottom left corner).
• Enable Launchpad.
• Activate hot screen corners for dashboard and launchpad.

Once you have made your selection here -- and unchecked the homepage change -- you can hit install to apply the theme. The installation takes less than a minute to complete, a restart was not required on Windows 8. This is how it looks like if you install the Mac theme on Windows 8 using the default configuration.


We did not notice any issues using the theme. While some features lead to Windows programs instead of the ones mentioned by the theme -- a click on Safari for instance opens the default system browser instead -- it resembles the new Mac interface.

Verdict

If you like how Mac OS X Yosemite looks like and run Windows, you may want to give this a try. It may take a while to get accustomed to the new features though, especially if you have never worked on a Mac system before. (via Deskmodder)

10 Best Windows Phone Apps For June 2014

This week, we feature several new apps that focus on the basics. The list includes the platform's first file manager, a secure instant messenger, photo editing apps and much more.

Telegram

Apart from allowing you to add up to 200 members on a group chat, Telegram promises speed and powerful security features. The free app lets you share videos as large as 1GB and stores your media in the cloud for instant access.

CloudMesh

Need an app that will allow you to manage all your cloud storage services and local files? Try Cloud Mesh. Apart from letting you copy files between services, it also allows you to browse, copy, move, delete, share, pin, download, upload and search files.

Supported services include DropBox, Box, GoogleDrive, MeoCloud, Facebook, Phone Files, SD Card and OneDrive.

Cloud Mesh even allows you to have multiple accounts of the same cloud service and search between them all. There is an ad-supported free version and a paid Pro version as well.

Black

This is a B&W analog film simulator app for Windows Phone. The app offers users numerous black and white filter options. Users can use a simple swipe to apply the film effect that goes best with their pictures. Options include Kodak 400TX, Lomography Lady Grey and many others.

Files

Windows Phone finally has its first file manager and it is from Microsoft. The app happens to be a functional and straightforward solution for all your management needs, allowing you to perform all the basic tasks with relative ease and speed.

ToolKit

A package of 5 apps, Toolkit aims at helping users with most most basic everyday utilities like voice recording and unit conversions. It happens to be an essential download for most Windows Phone users.

Set 1 contains Ruler, Compass, Protractor and Level, while Set 2 brings along Flashlight, Mirror, Magnifier, OneTap. Set 3 has Unit Converter and NFC Writer, while Set 4 contains Timer, Stop Watch, World Clock, System Info.

Urban Air

Interested in knowing the air-quality of the city that you are in or visiting? This app should help. Users can use it to monitor multiple locations in a city by using a digital map.

Anti Mosquito!

An app that repels mosquitoes by generating sounds at very high frequency, which "are designed to deter those nasty insects." The application lets users pick from different sound frequencies, including 13, 15, 17 or 19 kHz.

By setting the most effective frequency, they can keep mosquitoes away. And in case you are wondering, most people can't hear these sounds since they are in such high frequencies.

InstaSize

The app boasts about its ability to post entire photos on Instagram without cropping. Other features include filters, overlays and text on pictures, the ability to add backgrounds, the choice of a wide range of fonts.

Slowly

A new app that will let users edit video clips and slow motion effects in their favourite positions. Users can also add multiple slomo regions and change the slowness of every region of the clip. However, users won't be able to preview videos in-app in full quality and sound in the slowmo regions will be muted.

#wpdev

A new app from Microsoft that is targeted towards developers. Apart from providing them with official developer resources, the app also gives them access to the latest blog posts, training resources, and partner resources.

Developers will also be connected to tech advisors and specialists who develop on the Windows Phone platform.

Windows Phone game Commando Jack puts you in the middle of an alien fight

Commando Jack is a tower defense game for Windows Phone 8 that has you battling wave after wave of alien invaders. While game play isn't much different than other tower defense game, Commando Jack steps out slightly by letting you jump inside a defensive turret for a first person perspective on things.

The game has plenty of weapons upgrades, a wide range of enemies to defeat and several global venues to defend. Graphics are nicely drawn up and with plenty of gaming variations and difficulties, Commando Jack will keep you on your toes. Commando Jack has been well received over on iOS and should see similar success here on the Windows Phone platform.

Game Layout

When you first launch Commando Jack, the game sends you straight into game play where the first two levels serve as tutorial guide. These levels aren't very challenging, being designed to guide you through game play. The game isn't difficult to pick up but pay attention to the tutorial because asides from re-playing these levels, there isn't an independent help section available to refresh your memory with.

One quick side note on load times with Commando Jack is that they can take a while to complete (painfully so on low-memory devices such as the Lumia 520). Sometimes the delay is such that you will think the game has frozen up. Game play, on the other hand, ran smoothly and I did not experience the random crashes that have been noted in the Windows Phone Store reviews for Commando Jack.

Once you complete the tutorial levels, the game shifts to a global map where you get to battle the aliens from six regions of the World. All totaled, Commando Jack has forty-six levels of play that are progressively unlocked and re-playable. After completing the tutorials and reaching the map, a main menu will appear each time you launch Commando Jack, which will have options to start the game, view more games from the developer and view your coins/high score.

In the lower right corner of the map view is a button with an "up" arrow, which will pull up the game's settings cog. Tap the cog to view the game settings that includes aiming sensitivity, effects/music levels, access to your gaming stats, the about screen and a few turret control options.

In addition to the forty-six levels, you also have three gaming styles, four difficulty levels and two gaming modes. The gaming styles include original, mixed and elemental, which dictates the types of aliens you will face. The elemental aliens are harder to take out. The two gaming modes are campaign and endless. The campaign mode has you taking the aliens on one level at a time while the endless game continues until the aliens overtake your turret and suck your brains out.

Game Play

Again, game play is scattered about six regions of the globe that are progressively unlocked. You begin the game in London with six levels. Tap on the highlighted region, choose your difficulty, gaming mode, enemy style and then the level you would like to battle in.

Prior to the start of each level of play (after the tutorial levels that is), you will be presented with a set-up screen that has tabbed sections to show you the types of enemies you will face and upgrade opportunities for your turret, guns and ammo. The more tab that is present will provide you with the opportunity to make in-app purchases for coins.

Commando Jack has twenty-one weapons for purchase, thirty-eight upgrades and three elemental styles of weapons (useful in defeating the elemental aliens). You also have a wide range of ammo styles and bonus items that are available for IAP.

The game screen itself has your tower defense controls spread across the bottom of the screen, vital statistics in the upper left corner of the screen and a pause button in the upper right. Pausing the game will present you with a few settings options (aim sensitivity and effects/music volume levels).

As you would suspect, the main goal with Commando Jack is to destroy all the aliens before they destroy your main turret. Your turret options are to the lower right of the screen and placing a turret will cost you a few coins. Tapping the turret icon will pull up a placement grid on the battle arena. A red square will be highlighted to indicate where the aliens will start from and the best strategy is to build a maze or gauntlet of turrets that the aliens must walk through to get to the main turret.

In the event aliens survive the gauntlet or you simply want to join in on the action, you can tap the eyeball icon in the far left, lower corner of the screen to jump behind the main turret. When you do, the left side of the screen controls the turrets movement and tapping the right fires your turret. The turret gun overheats easily so be careful with your bursts. If the turret gun overheats, it will take several seconds to cool down where you can resume slaying aliens.

When you're ready to step back and manage your automatic turrets, just tap the eye icon a second time.

As you upgrade and buy more turrets, they will become available in the form of additional icons that are spread across the lower right side of the screen. In the upper left corner you will see the enemy alien in play, your health meter and your current build point level. It costs money to build turrets and as you wipe out the aliens, you earn build points. The more powerful the turret, the more build points needed.

There are additional buttons on the gaming screen will give you a boost in power for your turret, boosts in building points and adding larger turrets to the mix. While the basic game play is simple to pick-up on, it would be helpful if the developer included a help section to cover some of these features.

When you have defeated each level of alien incursions, your gaming stats will appear and based on your performance (number of aliens killed, damage inflicted on you turret, etc.) you'll be award coins that can be spent upgrading and unlocking additional weapons.

Overall Impression

Commando Jack is yet another Windows Phone tower defense gaming title, it is a nice addition to the Store's library. Graphics aren't too shabby, game play challenging and it is a nice touch to be able to jump into a turret and join the action.

Commando Jack is a free, ad-supported game for Windows Phone 8. The ads consists of ad banners on the menu screens and a full-page ad that pops up in between levels. The game screen is ad-free and while I'm not a fan of the full-page ads, Commando Jack doesn't try to beat you up with them.

I do have a couple of nits with Commando Jack. For starters, the game has a lot of variables and while the tutorial does a nice job of walking you through basic game play, the game needs a help section.

Next up, there were times my finger got in the way of placing a turret, which resulted in a bad placement. I wouldn't mind a confirmation of placement to avoid screwing things up. You can zoom into the game screen and touch scroll around the battlefield but then you lose sight of the big picture.

Last up is the load times that are unusually long for Commando Jack. Load times for Asphalt 8: Airborne (which I consider graphically intense) were shorter. While Commando Jack is available for low-memory devices, the load times tend to make the game unplayable.

Still, while I have my concerns nothing was detrimental with Commando Jack when played on a Windows Phone with at least 1GB of RAM. It is one of the more enjoyable tower defense games available and if you have a little patience, well worth a try.

Microsoft Security Updates Out in June 2014 : Windows 8.1

Microsoft will finally roll out the first Windows 8.1 update next week on Patch Tuesday, June 10.

The update, which fixes 7 security issues on software such as Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010, and versions of Microsoft Lync 2010 and 2013, should be out at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Update 1.0 will fix two important bugs, identified by Microsoft as Bulletin 1 and Bulletin 2 in their advance notification list.

Bulletin 1 is a critical remote code execution Internet Explorer bug that affects all versions of Internet Explorer, including IE11 in Windows 8.1. All server versions of Windows are also affected, but at a lower level of severity because IE runs in Enhanced Security Configuration by default.

As Server Core versions of Windows Server do not include IE, they are thus not affected by Bulletin 1.

Bulletin 2 affects a broad selection of both Windows and Office products. It is a remote code execution vulnerability, and is rated critical on all versions of Windows, including Server Core. It is also critical on Microsoft Live Meeting 2007 Console and all versions of Microsoft Lync. Lync Server is unaffected by this bug.

Additionally, Bulletin 2 is rated Important for Office 2007 and Office 2010. Only Microsoft Office 2013 appears to be unaffected.

Bulletin 3 affects only Office 2007 and Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3.

Bulletins 4 and 5 provide information on disclosure bugs in Windows and Lync Server respectively.

Bulletin 6 is a denial of service bug present in all Windows versions, including Vista.

Bulletin 7 is an uncommon “tampering” bug that affects Windows 7, 8.x and Server 2012.

In order to receive the patches, users of Windows 8.1 devices have to first get the Windows 8.1 Update, an interim upgrade that was launched by Microsoft early on in April.

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