Microsoft may have waved the proverbial flag of surrender when it announced its new direction for its web browsing development, but one of the last remaining Chromium-adoption holdouts, Mozilla, just got some help from staunch advocates of competition, when faced by offbeat pressure from Microsoft engineers to convert.
Kenneth Auchenberg, a program manager on the Code team at Microsoft responded via Twitter to a post that recently went up on the blog.mozilla.org site about the company’s decision to forego EdgeHTML development in favor of future Chromium development for its upcoming browser efforts.
Thought: It's time for @mozilla to get down from their philosophical ivory tower. The web is dominated by Chromium, if they really *cared* about the web they would be contributing instead of building a parallel universe that's used by less than 5%?https://t.co/0zi2NCtzb4
Auchenberg’s seemingly flippant response was counter by both the open web crowd as well as a Mozilla engineer himself, all advocating for the persistence demand in companies offering competition in the form of web standards.
Hey, Mozilla engineer and Chromium committer too here… Not having multiple implementations of the web means that the web stops being an open platform… People start relying on Chromium bugs, and standards / specs become useless, making innovating impossible.
Auchenberg addresses Emilio’s concerns with a solid argument that at this point, the market has spoken and development focus for companies should be on the contribution of open source code rather than pandering to the notion of a separate rendering engine. Theoretically, focus on a single open source code should expedite innovation rather than stifle it, as every participating party is bringing new implementations constantly.
2) This complexity it's incredibly expensive to implement a web runtime. Even for Google/Microsoft it's hard to justify such investment that would take thousands of engineers in multiple years.
The web has become too capable for multi engines, just like many frameworks.
The entire exchange between web advocates, Mozilla, and Microsoft engineers are punctuated with a single ominous tweet from former Mozilla CTO Andreas Gal who chimes in with “I’m afraid this will not end well,” as another Mozilla engineer levies the quitter card at Microsoft for its decision to adopt Chromium.
Gal now works Apple on undisclosed projects, but with Mozilla struggling to keep market share and as user behavior settles into a natural dichotomy of selection, the argument held by open web advocates and Mozilla engineers may become moot sooner rather than later by order of the ‘free market.’
One of the leading software solutions for video editing and presentation making is Camtasia Studio by TechSmith. You can always try it free for 30 days. However, after the trial period is over, chances are you would want to activate your copy of Camtasia.
That seemingly wasn’t possible for some users. They were met by the error as Camtasia Studio couldn’t connect to the activation server. We have two solutions for the issue at hand, so give them a try and tell us whether you’ve succeeded.
What to do if Camtasia Studio can’t connect to the activation server
The activation process requires a stable connection in order to work. Your PC needs to be connected to the internet so you can reach the activation server successfully. Now, most of the time, this is hardly the reason for the error at hand. Nonetheless, we still suggest double-checking your network before we can move to the second step.
If you’re certain that your network is working as it’s supposed to, move to the solution which should almost certainly address the issue.
Solution 2 – Activate Camtasia manually
The good folks at the TechSmith support are aware of this problem and they provided the solution. For some reason, the host files stored locally get modified and thus the software is unable to reach the activation server.
Luckily, there’s a workaround which, with some effort, will allow you to activate Camtasia Studio with the pre-acquired license key.
You’re going to need the administrative permission in order to perform the steps below.
Here’s what you need to do:
Navigate to C:WindowsSystem32driversetc.
Open the “etc” folder, right-click on the “hosts” file and open Properties.
Right-click on the CamtasiaUtl.exe file and run it as an administrator.
Wait for some time and start Camtasia Studio again.
Enter your license key and you’re good to go.
With that said, we can conclude this article. In case you have some questions or suggestions, post them below. In addition, if the issue persists, don’t forget to send your ticket to TechSmith Support.
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
OneDrive file sharing is now generally available in Skype
Skype is being more tightly integrated with OneDrive. Users can now share OneDrive files amongst themselves directly from within conversations, making it easier than ever to share files with those you communicate with regularly.
4 Xbox 360 Command and Conquer video games go Xbox One back compat
Google has been expanding Chrome support for native Windows features. The search engine giant added Windows 10 notification support to Chrome last year. Now Google has confirmed that it will enable Media Session API for Chrome.
A Chrome engineer confirmed in a Google forum post that the browser will support Media Session API. The engineer stated:
We are intending to enable Media Session API on desktop from M73 onwards. We are enabling it as we are building new features in Chromium that will use the API (e.g. hardware media keys). This was previously enabled on Chrome Android and the API has not changed.
Chrome supports Media Session API
Chrome’s support for the Media Session API means that users can utilize the keyboard media controls for media playback. Some keyboards include play, stop, and pause keys for media playback. Thus, Chrome’s support for the Media Session API will enable users to play, stop, and pause videos on YouTube, and other sites, with those keyboard keys.
Google has also confirmed Chrome Media Session API support on all platforms. Google Git now includes a repository that states:
Enable Media Session API on desktop for all platforms since we have features in M73 using this API. This was previously enable for CrOS and Windows only but we would like to enable it for consistency on all desktop platforms.
A few browser extensions already enable Google Chrome users to control web-based music players with media keys. Key Socket Media Keys and Streamkeys are two extensions for Chrome with which users can play, stop, and pause web-based media player playback via keyboard. Streamkeys users can also customize the hotkeys.
The Chrome 73 Canary browser already supports the Media Session API. Thus, Google Chrome 73, which is due for a March 12 release, will probably support Media Session API.
Windows OS is not yet dead on smartphones! Although Windows 10 Mobile is going to die by the end of 2019, it is interesting to see that Windows Phone enthusiasts are not yet ready to give up on their smartphones just yet. Their obsession is visible from the fact that they have already started looking for alternative ways to use different Windows 10 versions on smartphones.
We’re sure that multiple projects are still in the pipeline and they won’t allow the Windows Phone to die yet. Speaking of which, there’s a new video on YouTube showing Windows 10 ARM runnin on Lumia 950 XL. While this is not the first video of the kind, watching it is quite an interesting experience.
Can Windows 10 ARM Run Perfectly on Lumia 950 XL?
As you can see in the video below, the user was able to open different apps and games quite easily.
Lumia 950 XL has done a pretty good job at running a desktop operating system, despite being an old device. Well, minor glitches were indeed recorded but that was to be expected, wasn’t it?
You need to understand that the end of support is not going to jam your Nokia and Microsoft Lumia devices, rather you should expect them to be more unstable than ever before. It is worth mentioning that the tech giant is itself recommending its users to switch to iOS or Android phones.
Comment down below your plans regarding switching to iOS or Android phones soon after the death of Windows Phone.
Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 v19H1 will feature improved RAW image format support. This is a piece of great news for those who love taking pictures in RAW image formats and had always wanted the RAW files from their camera to be natively supported by Windows.
This new Build 18323 also comes with many bug fixes, and enhanced support for the RAW images is one of the major features. To make proper use of this improvement, Microsoft has created an updated store-delivered RAW codec package that can better improve native RAWfile format support in Windows.
Just as soon as the package (RAWImage Extension, Beta Version) is downloaded from the Microsoft Store, you will be able to view the image thumbnails, camera metadata, and previews of all recent unsupported RAW files in the File Explorer.
Also, all your RAW images can now be viewed in full resolution through any app that utilizes Window Imaging Component outline to decode raw images like Photos or Window app.
Keep in mind that some camera models and raw formats may not be supported. While the beta version of the Raw format supports most cameras, there are some exceptions, as Microsoft informs its users.
The current version of the extension supports a long list of cameras, however some Raw formats like .CR3, and .GPR are not currently supported at this time.
Raw Image Extension issues
There are some issues that are connected with this new feature. We’ll list them below:
In Photos app, opening some RAW images with the newly released store-delivered raw codec pack get stuck at a low-resolution thumbnail image
When view state is switched to “Details Pane” and the new raw codec package is activated, File Explorer hangs almost immediately.
For some raw imageformats, camera properties that are stored as EXIF/XMP metadata are not functioning. These are some of the issues connected with this new feature and so many others.
The Windows 10 Build 18323 has brought many useful general changes, lots of improvements, and fixes for PCs.
Speaking of fixes, we already wrote an article where we listed the main bug fixes and improvements packed in this build. Feel free to check it out.
Keeping your system up to date is important, but some users tend to disable this feature. However, the issue arises when the Windows Update service keeps turning back on.
This can be a problem, especially if you want to disable automatic updates on your PC for any reason.
In today’s guide, we will show you how to fix this issue and keep your updates disabled.
Why does the Windows Update service keep starting?
Windows Update Assistant software is running on your PC.
Services are configured to run Windows Update on your account.
There’s a scheduled event that keeps starting the service.
The registry is configured to run Windows Update.
How can I fix Windows Update service if it keeps turning back on?
1. Uninstall Windows Update Assistant
Simultaneously press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box (ensure you are logged in as an administrator).
Now, type appwiz.cpl in the provided Run dialog box then click OK.
Locate the Windows Update Assistant and select Uninstall.
Next, you should check whether your PC has a folder named Windows10Upgrade in the local disk C and delete it. For Windows 10 click This PC, then Local Disk(C 🙂
The Windows10Upgrade folder is found in the Windows folder, so go there and delete it- if present.
Next, you need to disable Windows Update service. Follow these steps:
Simultaneously press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box (be logged in as an administrator).
Now type services.msc in the provided Run dialog box then click OK.
Look around for the service named Windows Update, then right-click it and select stop– if marked as running.
From there you right-click it again then choose Properties.
Now, under Startup type, click on the drop-down arrow and choose Disabled.
Proceed to the Recovery option (in the same Window). Locate the First failure tab and click on the dropdown arrow right against it.
Click Take no Action.
Press Apply and then OK.
This should help if Windows Update service keeps turning back on on your PC.
2. Tweak the user account credentials
Simultaneously press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box (be logged in as an administrator).
Now type services.msc in the provided Run dialog box then click OK.
Right-click on the Windows Update service then click on properties.
Click Stop to first discontinue the service.
Now Click on the Log On
Under the This account section: type .Guest leaving the password blank.
Click on OK. You will receive this notification.
Now the system will generate an error (to the effect that the account specified is different from the usual account for running the same process) each time your Windows attempts to restart the service and the trial to reenable is halted.
Simultaneously press the Windows key + R on the keyboard. This takes you to the Run dialog box.
Now type services.msc in the Run dialog box. Click OK.
As we have been seeing, search for the Windows Update service and stop it under its properties tab. Also, disable it (Under Startup type, pick Disabled).
Again press the Windows key +R.
Now type taskschd.msc in the dialog box.
Under Task Scheduler Library, find the Microsoft folder.
Then locate the Windows subfolder inside Microsoft. Now identify and first click the UpdateOrchestrator folder.
You will note its numerous triggers on the right pane. Right-click each of these and ensure they are set to disable.
Similarly, locate the WindowsUpdate folder and again disable all its triggers.
Exit the task scheduler window.
Please note that some users might need to additionally disable all the triggers under the Microsoft>Windows>rempl folder for this solution to succeed.
Google has revealed a Manifest V3 document that highlights the company’s plan to replace Chromium’s webRequest API. The changes outlined within Manifest V3 could have a profound impact on some Chrome extensions that utilize the webRequest API to filter traffic from ad sources. Some developers have even warned that the API changes could render ad-blocking extensions for Chrome obsolete.
A Google engineer provided a hyperlink for a draft Manifest V3 document in a post on The Chromium Projects website. That document outlines how Google intends to greatly restrict the webRequest API blocking. The company plans to introduce a new declarative NetRequest API that has more limited rules for ad filtering.
As Chromium is an open-source browser that underpins Chrome, such changes would almost certainly be implemented within Chrome. Google explains that these changes will speed up page loads for its browsers. The new declarativeNetRequest API will speed up page loading as it will enable Chrome to modify network requests. However, ad blockers also speed up browsing by removing ad content from pages.
Some extension developers expressed concerns about the proposed changes on the Chromium website. A uBlock Origin developer, Mr. Hill, stated that the proposed API changes would render some ad-blocking extensions obsolete. Mr. Hill stated in a forum thread:
If this (quite limited) declarativeNetRequest API ends up being the only way content blockers can accomplish their duty, this essentially means that two content blockers I have maintained for years, uBlock Origin (“uBO”) and uMatrix, can no longer exist. Beside causing uBO and uMatrix to no longer be able to exist, it’s really concerning that the proposed declarativeNetRequest API will make it impossible to come up with new and novel filtering engine designs, as the declarativeNetRequest API is no more than the implementation of one specific filtering engine, and a rather limited one (the 30,000 limit is not sufficient to enforce the famous EasyList alone).
As such, Manifest V3 has convinced some developers that Google is trying to kill off ad-blocking extensions with the API changes. Google probably won’t be bothered about the impact such API changes could have on ad-blocking extensions considering the significance of ads to the company. Restricting ad blockers might also boost the web’s economy.
BlueStacks is one of the best Android emulators currently available. The developers sometimes release updates to improve the software, but some users complain that the latest version of BlueStacks is already installed error while trying to apply them.
This can be frustrating, as it makes you miss out on the app’s latest features. Thankfully, this error can be easily eliminated, and we will show you how to go about it in this guide.
Below are some of the potential causes of the BlueStacks already installed error message on your PC:
Accumulation of leftover files: Sometimes, this problem can be due to the collection of corrupt leftover BlueStacks files. You need to clear these files manually or with the help of PC cleaner software.
Present versions not supporting updates: if you have the BlueStacks 5 Beta version, you might not be able to update it directly. You need to uninstall the app and download the latest version on your PC.
How can I fix BlueStacks already installed error?
1. Delete BlueStacks Registry Keys
Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click the OK button.
Navigate to the path below in the left pane: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
Now, right-click the BlueStacks key in the left pane and select Delete.
Next, click the Yes button to confirm.
Finally, delete the BlueStacksGP key too.
BlueStacks is already installed error messages can often be due to leftover registry entries. Users have confirmed that erasing leftover registry entries solves the problem.
2. Delete Leftover BlueStacks Folders
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following paths and delete their content: C:\Program Files (x86)\BlueStacksC:\ProgramData\BlueStacksC:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\Setup
Finally, restart your PC and try updating the app.
There might also be some leftover folders for BlueStacks in File Explorer, causing the latest version already installed error. As such, you must delete the BlueStacks folders in the paths above.
Alternatively, you can use a dedicated PC cleaner in CCleaner to remove the leftover files. This tool eliminates unwanted files in your PC registry and hard drive with just a few mouse clicks.
Also, it can work as an uninstaller software to remove any app on your PC. It is just the perfect tool to keep your PC clean and create valuable space.
3. Uninstall the app on your PC
Press the Windows key + R, type %Temp%, and click OK.
Press the Ctrl + A hotkey to select all the files in the opened folder and click the Delete icon at the top.
Click the Yes button when prompted to start the BlueStacks removal process.
Next, click OK after the process is complete to close the cleaner.
Finally, go to the official website to download and install the latest version of BlueStacks.
Sometimes, the BlueStacks is already installed error is caused by issues with the current version of the app on your PC. To fix this, you need to clear the content of the Temp folder and use the official BlueStacks uninstaller to remove the app.
Reinstalling the app can help you fix issues like error code 2004 on BlueStacks. To learn more about the error and what causes it, read this guide.
4. Open the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
Click Download troubleshooter on the troubleshooter’s Windows Support page to download it.
Now, double-click the downloaded file to run it.
Click the Advanced link.
Select the Apply repairs automatically option and click the Next button to initiate the troubleshooting.
Now, select the Installing option.
Choose BlueStacks as the program you’re trying to install if it’s listed. Select the Not Listed option if BlueStacks isn’t listed.
Finally, click Next to go through the troubleshooter’s resolutions.
If you still can’t fix the BlueStacks’ installation error, check out the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter for Windows 10. That troubleshooter repairs system errors that block software installation.
Those resolutions should fix the BlueStack’s already installed error. You should now be able to upgrade the app quickly, provided you follow the steps above carefully.
Editing videos isn’t an easy task, especially if you don’t have a proper tool to do that. There are many great video editing applications on the market, but few of them offer the combination of simplicity and power that Wondershare Filmora offers.
Today we have the latest entry from the Wondershare’s Filmora family, so let’s see what does this video editor have to offer to its users.
Wondershare Filmora9, simple but powerful video editing tool
Wondershare Filmora has been a member of Wondershare family since 2014, and it’s a video editor of choice for many users. In late 2018, this video editing software is re-branded as Filmora9. What makes this new tool stand out from the rest is its sleek, straightforward design and simplicity of use, so even the first-time users won’t have any issues using Filmora9.
Friendly and sleek design
The first thing that you’ll notice when you start Wondershare Filmora9 is its friendly and simple user interface. The interface has a sleek dark theme, and it’s incredibly simple to use, even if you’re a first-time user.
Most of the interface is occupied by a timeline on the bottom, and this is the element that you’ll be using the most. Here you can combine different video clips and add various effects simply by dragging and dropping. Each element on the timeline can be moved freely, and you can simply change the duration of any clip by resizing it.
On the right side there’s a real-time preview pane, and you’ll be using it to preview clips and visual effects. It’s worth mentioning that you can adjust the playback quality or the zoom level of the preview pane in order to ensure that your video is always previewing smoothly.
The left pane works as a library and you can use it to easily add clips or effects. You can organize your clips into folders, and thanks to the built-in search, you should be able to find any clip in a matter of moments. It’s worth mentioning that you can add various text, transitions, effects and elements right from this pane. Filmora9 comes with a wide array of effects, and you can always download more from the Effects Store.
Video editing and timeline
In order to start video editing, first you need to import videos from your PC. The Filmora9 video editor now supports truly 4k videos (both 3840*2160 and 4096*2160), and it also allows you to create proxy files for a smoother video editing experience. You can edit with proxy video files in Filmora9 and then export with the full-sized resolution.
Speaking of video importing, it’s worth mentioning that you can record your webcam video right from Filmora9 so you won’t have to rely on third-party applications. Bear in mind that you’re not limited just to your webcam, and you can also record your desktop. You can set Filmora9 to record an entire screen, a specific window or a segment of your screen.
As for video editing, you can easily cut, split or crop your audio and video clips right from the timeline. If needed, you can adjust the zoom level or change the speed of your clips or set them to play in reverse. You can also adjust the color of your clips, and choose one of many available presets.
If you want, you can fine-tune each color setting individually in order to achieve unique results. As for available color settings, you can change temperature, tint, exposure, brightness, contrast, vibrance, saturation, highlights, shadows and various other color settings. Once you’re satisfied with the results, you can save the current color adjustment as a preset.
As for editing, you’ll be pleased to know that you can easily rotate, scale or flip your videos. You can also choose between several blending modes and change the opacity of the videos in order to achieve some impressive results.
Video stabilization feature is available as well, and this feature can be incredibly useful if you’re recording videos without a tripod. Another feature that you might find useful is Lens Correction, and this feature will help you optimize videos recorded by GoPro or similar headsets.
If you’re using a green screen while creating videos, you’ll be pleased to know that Filmora9 can work with greenscreen videos thanks to the Chroma Key feature. The application also allows you to add shadows to your clips, and you can easily change their distance, blur, opacity or color. Lastly, you can add various motion effects to your clips in order to make some impressive transitions.
The timeline can be easily zoomed in or out, so you’ll be able to see the smallest details with ease. If you want, you can also add various markers to your timeline in order to focus on specific areas. It’s worth mentioning that Filmora9 supports up to 100 audio and video channels, which should be more than enough for most users.
Audio editing
Just like with video clips, you can add music and audio clips to your creations. Filmora9 comes with 50 different audio clips in the Audio Library, but you can add your own clips from your PC or you can download more from the Effects Store.
As for audio editing, you can easily adjust the volume from the timeline, and add fade in and fade out effects. If needed, you can also change the speed and duration of your audio clips in order to combine them with the video.
There’s a useful Denoise feature, so you can easily remove background noise from your audio clips, and thanks to the built-in equalizer, you should be able to fine-tune each audio clip. Filmora9 also has the ability to create audio voiceovers, so you won’t have to use a third-party application in order to record your audio.
Lastly, there’s an audio mixer available, so you’ll be able to adjust the volume level of each audio and video channel and ensure that your video sounds perfect.
Effects, elements, and transitions
In order to create some impressive creations, Filmora9 comes with a wide arrange of effects that you can add. The application allows you to add text to your videos, so you can easily create openers, credits or subtitles. There are over 130 text effects available, but more are available for download from the Effects Store.
It’s worth mentioning that text can be highly customized, and you can choose between many available presets. Of course, you can create your unique styles by changing the font, color, and text opacity.
You can also blur your text, add a border or shadow to it. If you want to create some unique effects, you can add shapes or even images from your PC and combine them with text. To top it off, the text supports various animations, and you can set the duration for each animation.
To combine two or more clips, Filmora9 has about 170 different transitions, and you can adjust the duration of any transition right from the timeline. There are also various filters and overlays available, and each of these filters can be fine-tuned in order to achieve the desired results.
Of course, you can always download more transitions and effects from the Effects Store. The application also has about 190 available animated graphics elements that you can add to your videos.
File export and supported formats
Once you’re done editing your videos, you’ll need to export them in order to share them. Filmora9 supports 12 different output formats including MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, F4V, MKV, TS, 3GP, MPEG-2, WEBM, GIF, and MP3.
Each output format can be customized and you can adjust settings such as encoder, resolution, frame rate, sample rate, and bit rate. If you don’t want to fine-tune your output settings, you can also choose between three available quality presets.
You can also optimize your video for various devices including iPad, Apple TV, Samsung Galaxy, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and several others. Another great feature is the ability to upload your videos directly to YouTube or Vimeo right from Filmora9.
All that you have to do is to sign in with your YouTube or Vimeo account, enter the required information such as title, description, tags, etc. After doing that, you just have to click the Export button and your video will be uploaded directly to the selected service. If you want, you can also burn your video directly to a DVD right from Filmora9.
Conclusion
Filmora9 offers a simple user interface that should allow even the most basic users to create impressive videos. However, due to the extensive customization options, this tool will be perfect for advanced users as well.
If you’re looking for a sleek and powerful video editing software, we strongly recommend to check out Filmora9.
Syncing calendars between multiple accounts and unifying them into a single thread is a way to go for most users. Some things won’t work as well, as a Document Library sync, but syncing SharePoint Online calendar with Outlook should be a simple task.
However, some users are, allegedly, unable to make it work. Namely, SharePoint Online calendar is not syncing with Outlook for an unknown reason.
How to fix syncing issues between SharePoint Online and Outlook calendars
Using multiple applications for calendars for reminders and meeting schedules might be a burden sometimes. Navigating between one to another app, configuring and meddling with options is something you could easily avoid, especially in this case.
Both SharePoint and Outlook are part of Microsoft ecosystem and, as you already know, you can sync SharePoint to Outlook and do everything from a single app.
This method is so successful that every change you’ve made in one or another application is 2-way sync, meaning that the changes will be unified. Whether you’re making them in SharePoint or Outlook — it doesn’t matter. In general, this is quite a simple task nowadays. Back in the days, users had to use an alternative approach to connect Outlook with SharePoint, but not anymore.
Just open SharePoint > Calendar and, under the Connect & Export section, click Connect to Outlook.
This, of course, relies on the fact that the calendar will successfully sync with Outlook. And it doesn’t for some. The first thing you should know is that this will work only with the Outlook for the desktop. The web-based Outlook doesn’t have this option. If the problems emerge, make sure that you’ve granted all necessary permissions to SharePoint to access your Outlook account.
The complete authorization is of the utmost importance. If the problem is persistent, consider deleting the calendar from Outlook (this won’t delete any events) and sync it again with the aforementioned procedure. In addition, try deleting a browser cache or, alternatively, switching browsers for the time being.
That’s it. If you are still bothered by the same error, feel free to tell us in the comments section below. We might be able to provide you with additional help or point you in the right direction.
Microsoft has released new driver updates for its Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Go LTE this week (via Neowin). The new bits should improve Surface Pen reliability on both devices, and several driver updates for the Surface Laptop 2 should also improve system stability.
Surface Pen Firmware Update – System devices – 3.0.10.1: Ensures reliability of Pen top button click on Surface Pen with no clip-on Windows 10 October 10 2018 Update, version 1809. Use the Surface Pen Checker Tool to verify that the Pen’s firmware was successfully updated.
Surface Pen Integration Device – Human Interface Devices: 1.0.9.0 Enables firmware update to Surface Pen with no clip.
Surface Integration Service Device: 4.18.139.0 Improves system stability.
Surface ME – Firmware: 11.8.56.3522 Improves system stability.
Surface System Aggregator: 145.106.139.0 Improves system stability.
Surface Touch – Firmware: 145.106.139.0 Improves system stability.
Surface UEFI – Firmware: 137.2439.769 Improves system stability.
If you own the Surface Go LTE, this variant is getting its first driver updates this month, which will also allow the installation of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. You can find all details below:
Surface Pen Firmware Update – System devices: 3.0.10.1 resolves intermittent Pen top button click failure on Surface Pen with no clip, post Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Use the Surface Pen Checker Tool to verify that the Pen’s firmware was successfully updated
Surface Pen Integration Device – Human Interface Devices: 1.0.9.0 enables firmware update to Surface Pen with no clip.
Generic IO & Memory Access – System: 1.5.4.0 improves compatibility issue and enables update to Windows 10 October 2018 Update.
Microsoft says that it’s not aware of any known issues with these latest driver updates, but as usual let us know in the comments if you encounter any problems after installing them on your devices.
Microsoft is now making it possible for Xbox Insiders to leave the program by closing their Xbox Insider account. While it was already possible to remove a console from the Xbox Insider program to stop getting preview builds, closing an Xbox Insider Account will delete all personal information and restore the console to the latest publicly available OS.
The new feature can be found in the Settings section of the Xbox Insider Hub app, and there’s also an option for exporting your personal data before closing your account. “Please note that the ‘Close account’ feature is permanent and deletes all Xbox Insider details, including flight enrollments, survey and poll responses, ratings, problem reports (including screenshots and game DVR clips), program level, and XP,” the Xbox team explained.
The Xbox Insider Program is mostly for people looking to get early access to new OS features, but you can actually join the program without installing any Xbox One preview builds. Indeed, the Xbox Insider Hub is also the place where you can install beta updates for Xbox apps and games you already own, or sign up for public betas for upcoming games. By closing your Xbox Insider account, be aware that you’ll also lose access to all of this.
OneDrive joins the growing list of Skype add-ins that already includes Microsoft To-Do, Spotify, and YouTube. You can access the add-in by clicking the “+” Add-ins button in a conversation, and after signing into your Microsoft account you’ll be able to share any file stored in OneDrive. This will send a OneDrive link to the recipient, which is more convenient than having to share large files (Skype currently has a 300 MB file size limit for shared files).
Curiously, this OneDrive add-in for Skype is available on all platforms except macOS and Linux, and Microsoft didn’t say if it will come to these platforms at a later date. For now, the workaround is to use the new Skype for Web preview, which currently only works on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Citus Data is an open source extension that will help bring scale to Postgre SQL databases and it seems Microsoft’s interest lay in the fact that customers will have no need to re-architect their existing applications because of its extension nature, versus other fork-like scaling solutions.
According to Sudhakar Sannakkayala, the general manager of Azure Data, Microsoft also saw benefit in Citus Data in particular because “customers can take advantage of all the innovations in community PostgreSQL with queries that are significantly faster compared to proprietary implementations of PostgreSQL.”
In the announcement of the Citus Data acquisition, Sannakkayala reaffirms the notion that Microsoft’s pivot to the cloud is expanding customer base beyond the walled-garden of Windows and that this approach speaks to the longevity of the company.
As open source relational databases grow on Azure, we continue to see accelerated adoption from customers across various industry verticals serving diverse, mission-critical application patterns ranging from complex analytical applications for digital marketing to machine learning based IoT applications. These applications demand low latency and high query processing throughput, and our investment in Citus Data is a powerful accelerant to deliver high performance and scalable distributed databases.
Aside from a potential future where Azure customers have access to high profile scaling solution that supports multi-tenant SaaS applications and accelerated real-time analytics, Microsoft seems to be betting on the rapid and diverse development of the open source community for its own future.
If you use the official Xbox One Media Remote to navigate your Xbox One and control your entertainment, a new feature coming in the 1904 system update will let you choose what happens when you press the dedicated OneGuide button. The latest Xbox One 1904 preview build, which is now available to download for Skip Ahead and Preview Alpha Xbox Insiders lets you assign your favorite app to this OneGuide button, and that includes popular entertainment apps like YouTube or Netflix.
For those unfamiliar, OneGuide is the built-in TV listings guide that brings together your favorite TV channels and entertainment apps on your Xbox One. OneGuide is one of the last remnants of Microsoft’s initial ambition to make its console an all-in-one entertainment system, but it hasn’t evolved much in recent years with the company shifting its focus on new gaming features.
The dedicated OneGuide button on the Xbox Media Remote is still really useful for those who use the feature a lot, but it looks like Microsoft has finally started thinking about everybody else. After installing this latest preview build, you can reprogram this OneGuide button on the Xbox Media Remote by going into Settings>Kinect & devices>Media remote.
This Media Remote programmable buttons feature is the second noteworthy addition we’ve seen in 1904 builds so far, following the the virtual mini keyboard that shipped to Insiders last week. The Xbox One 1904 system update is expected to ship in April, and it will be preceded by the 1902 system update which will bring under the hood changes but no new features.
Microsoft has just unveiled a very rare Xbox One X console that it’s giving away as part of a new Super Bowl-related competition.
The Xbox One X console is G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) themed with giant green letters on the top and on the side. Its controller also appears to be slightly customized as can be seen by the green triggers in the above image.
In addition to the custom console and controller, the solo winner of this new competition will also get an Xbox G.O.A.T ring that “features 10 carat premium gold (plated black) and weighs over 1.5 ounces, with 188 black diamonds and 46 green tsavorite stones,” a G.O.A.T merchandise pack, a football jersey autographed by Antonio Brown, and the Madden NFL 19 video game.
Unfortunately, this competition is only open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia but it can be entered without having to buy anything.
Here’s the two entry methods:
To enter by making a qualifying purchase, you must visit www.microsoft.com and make a qualifying purchase of a 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership (a “Qualifying Purchase”) during the Sweepstakes Period to earn one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes and one (1) Offer subject to terms and conditions and eligibility, as listed below. You must be logged into your existing Microsoft account information at the time of purchase to earn one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. If you do not have an existing Microsoft account, you must create a new, free account.
To enter by e-mail, without making a purchase, you must draft an e-mail with the subject line “Xbox Madden NFL 19 G.O.A.T. Prize Pack Sweepstakes” and include in the body of the e-mail your first name, last name, state, date of birth, e-mail address, and daytime phone number and send the e-mail to [email protected]. E-mail entries must be received during the Sweepstakes Period to be eligible.
Full details and rules for the competition can be read here.
Each game can now be purchased and downloaded digitally on the Xbox One and the original Xbox 360 disks are now also supported.
Here’s the official descriptions for each game.
Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
Control massive armies and wage war as one of as one of three rival factions in Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Embark on an adrenaline-fueled single-player campaign that features explosive 3D special effects, an unparalleled Hollywood cast, and over 90 minutes of live-action video. Then, head onto Xbox Live for devastating multiplayer battles with five exclusive modes and Xbox Live Vision support. You alone can decide the fate of the planet in the epic war over Tiberium. Welcome back, Commander.
Command and Conquer 3 Kane’s Wrath
Kane Lives! Download this map pack and wreck havoc on 4 new maps that can be used in both Skirmish or against other commanders in Xbox LIVE. Choose your army and conquer the world in Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, the follow up to 2007’s best selling real-time strategy game, C&C 3 Tiberium Wars. This standalone game features the new CommandStick interface, making RTS easier to pick up and play than ever before. Kane’s Wrath includes all the units, structures, and superpowers from Tiberium Wars, giving you over 100 units and structures to command and 9 unique armies, each with its own play style!
Command and Conquer Red Alert 3
After years of conflict, the Allies are finally on the brink of victory. Cowering behind the walls of the Kremlin, the Soviets decide to turn to one last act of desperation – the use of an experimental time travel device. The mission: to go back in time to eliminate Albert Einstein before he creates the technologies that will lead the Allies to ultimate victory. After a successful mission, the Soviets return to the present, discovering the Allied position has indeed been weakened. But before they can truly celebrate, they find out their actions have spawned a new threat and global superpower, the mysterious, technologically advanced Empire of the Rising Sun. Welcome to World War III.
Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge
Fight for world domination in the all-new Red Alert 3 Commander’s Challenge! Do you have what it takes to withstand the brutal onslaught and relentless taunting of the world’s toughest commanders, including Ric Flair as Commander Hill? Find out as you attempt to conquer the world in 50 challenges featuring explosive new units such as the Giga Fortress, Desolator, and Cryo Legionnaire!
Do you play any Xbox 360 backwards compatibility games on your Xbox One? Are you happy to see these Command and Conquer titles added? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.
Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to access the great development capabilities or the powerful command-line tools of Linux, without having to format your PC ?
Running Linux on your PC can be achieved by either installing the Full Linux OS beside your Windows installation, or by using a virtual machine in order to run it. In case you choose to install the full Linux OS, the speed at which it will operate will be greater than if you used a virtual machine software.
On the other hand, running Linux in a virtual machine software allows you to test any app or feature you want without worrying about your data’s safety or the possibility of data corruption.
There is a wide range of Linux based operating systems on the market, and they are known as distros. Here are some of the most popular Linux distro options include:
Linux Mint – based on Ubuntu, designed to be easy to use, and also come with an utility called mint4win which allows you to install Linux on your PC without affecting your base system in any way.
OpenSUSE (Novell) and Fedora (Red Hat) – free and user-friendly Linux distros
Xandros Home Edition – designed for beginners with the ability to run Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
Ubuntu (Desktop edition) – great option for beginner Linux users, with great support for hardware devices, a 6 months release cycle, and you can also choose to make Ubuntu ship your installation DVDs for free across the globe
In this article, we will focus on the Ubuntu distro and see how you can use them on Windows. Read on to find out more.
4 tools to run Linux on your Windows PC
KNOPPIX: Run Linux from a USB stick or CD
KNOPPIX is a great software that allows you to boot in Linux directly from a physical CD/DVD or USB flash drives.
This app contains a great set of GNU/Linux software options, can automatically detect your hardware capabilities, and offers support for a wide range of graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and also USB devices.
KNOPPIX can be used in order to run Linux on your desktop PC, and can also help you rescue your system in the case that Windows won’t start.
Using this software as a rescue tool allows you to extract all the data you need from your malfunctioning Windows PC, and store them in a secure environment, before reinstalling it.
WUBI is a great tool that allows you to easily install Linux as a software on your Windows PC. Using this technique allows for greater processing speeds and it can be uninstalled in the same way that you would uninstall a normal Windows application.
It’s incredibly easy to set up and start installing, all you need to do is choose the right options for your system, and then click install.
Another way to run a Linux based OS on your Windows PC is by using a virtual machine software. We’ll list some of the best tools below.
Virtual machines for running Linux on Windows PCs
Virtual Box
VirtualBox is a great software option that allows you to create virtual Linux machines and run them in a window from your Windows desktop. This app is based on a x86 architecture and supports AMD64/Intel64 virtualization.
This software can run on a variety of hosts – Linux, Mac, Windows, Solaris – and also has a large number of guest OS compatibility – all versions of Windows, Linux, etc.
VMware is another great virtualization software that allows you to create a virtual Linux OS on your PC with ease. This is a more simple alternative than having to install a full Linux OS, but offer a slower perfomance.
You can create multiple virtual machines with as many OS options as you want. There are no limits to the number of virtual machines that you can create, but this feature is limited only by your hardware’s capacity to deal with the request.
You can find a good guide explaining how to use VMware to run Linux on your PC. If you want to run your installation from a CD, click here. If you want to run the installation from an virtual image file (.bin, .iso), you can reffer to this page.
Developed by GitHub, Atom is regarded as one of the best visual text editors for cross-platform apps development.
Besides being free, Atom is especially adaptive and super easy to customize amongst a whole load of other benefits. But if there’s one bone to pick with Atom, it’s the difficult uninstallation process in Windows.
That’s because when you go to the uninstall/remove programs option in control panel/settings, the Atom uninstall option doesn’t work like other uninstallers and will tend to leave some program folders intact.
This means the application is only partially uninstalled. Yet you need to completely get rid of such folders to discard Atom.
Now, this article covers how to successfully uninstall Atom in windows including the said folders. So, without further ado, let’s see how to uninstall Atom Windows.
Steps to remove Atom Windows
In Windows 7
The first step is to remove Atom from the control panel .
3. Locate the programs tab and click uninstall a program.
4. Choose Atom then uninstall.
Atom will be silently removed from your PC.
ALSO READ: Skype’s real-time code editor lets you test your job candidates’ coding skills
The second stage involves deleting all the Atom-related folders to ensure that none of the App’s configurations remain.
Here are the concerned folders:
C:UsersUserName.atom
C:UsersUserNameAppDataLocalatom
C:UsersUserNameAppDataRoamingAtom
Steps:
Navigate to the path C:UsersUserName
Look for the folder .atom
Right click and press delete.
Now go to the location C:UsersUserNameAppDataLocal.
Again identify the folder atom then press delete.
6. Using the previous steps, find your way to C:UsersUserNameAppDataRoaming.
7. Once there, find the atom folder and erase it.
Please note that in some instances, the Appdata folder is not available in Windows 7 and you have to unhide first.
Here is how:
Click the start button.
Press control panel.
Type “folders” in the search button then click Folder options.
Click show hidden files and folders under folder options.
Then press OK.
In Windows 8/8.1
Go to the control panel by right-clicking on the PC’s Start button. (In Windows 8.1 you simultaneous-press the Windows key and X. Then press “programs and features” from the menu)
Select uninstall a program under programs (in the control panel).
A list of all the applications installed in your computer appears. Click on atom then press uninstall.
You still have to delete the .atom folder as discussed here below.
Search for the local disk by typing “C:” in Windows’ 8 start screen. The search results will have a link to C:
Open the link to the drive by clicking it.
Proceed to the users folder, then onwards into your user account.
Look for the .atom folder and delete it.
You also have to go to C:UsersUserNameAppDataRoaming as seen earlier and find then erase the atom folder
Is your Windows 7 PC often freezing all of a sudden? Malwarebytes recently rolled out an update for the machines that are not responding to keyboard or mouse input.
Keep in mind that only the PCs who had the Web Protection Feature enabled are affected by this problem.
The issue was reported earlier this month by the users who are running the Premium Malwarebytes versions.
The only workaround for them to get out of the frozen screen was to hold down the power button.
Malwarebytes efforts towards fixing the issue
The issue was first reported by Windows 7users in the middle of December 2018. As soon as users installed Malwarebytes version 1.0.508, they started experiencing frozen screen issues.
The bug affected only a small number of machines. Therefore, Malwarebytes did not come up with a quick workaround for the bug.
Instead, the company requested users to provide its engineers with logs and data from Windows 7‘s event reports to help them troubleshoot the issue.
Who needs to install the latest update?
Malwarebytes recommends Windows 7users to update to the latest version as soon as possible.
The latest release should be installed specifically by those users who were affected as a result of the Malwarebytes update in December last year.
You can install the latest update in the following ways:
Automatic Update
The update has already been automatically rolled out to all the users who have turned on the automatic update mechanism.
Manual Update
You can use the link on the Box storage service for installing the update manually.
The good news is that although Windows 7 reached the end of life, Malwarebytes still supports it. That’s why this malware removal tool is on our list with the best anti-malware software.
However, the link might disappear very soon, so you need to run a manual check and manually install the latest version using the Malwarebytes‘ interface.
You simply need to navigate to the Settings menu and then to Install Application Updates.
Ok well this has been fun… Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider build 18323 today, the first reports of it coming almost an hour ago (sorry I was stuck on the phone talking health insurance provider, go figure), but it’s taken that long to get the blog post announcing the build and the changes coming along with it, but the post is now up.
This build is not without its problems, at least in getting it out and getting the word out, and the blog post starts out with a word of caution:
Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Please note that due to a small outage in our build publishing system, this build will be rolling out to Windows Insiders over the next few hours so it may not be immediately available at the time of publish of this blog post.
As far as what’s new with 18323, as expected the new features list is becoming shorter as 19H1 gets closer to release. However this build does include improvements to RAW image format support:
Improved RAW image format support
Do you like taking pictures in Raw image formats and wish that the Raw files from your camera were natively supported by Windows?
Good news! Targeting 19H1, we’ve been working hard to release a new store-delivered Raw codec package that dramatically improves native raw file format support in Windows.
By downloading the new Raw Image Extension (Beta) package from the store, you can now view image thumbnails, previews, and camera metadata of previously unsupported raw files right in File Explorer. You can also view your raw images – at full resolution – in apps such as Photos or any other Windows app that uses Windows Imaging Component framework to decode raw images.
How to test
Please note – to install the package, 19H1 Build 18323 or later is required. Open the following link in Edge to install the current beta package: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9NCTDW2W1BH8. We have also created a 19H1 Bug Bash quest for directions. If you are running Build 18323 or later, click on this link to open the quest in Feedback Hub.
Known issues
Exposing camera properties stored as EXIF/XMP metadata is not currently working for some raw image formats.
File Explorer hangs when the view state is changed to “Details Pane” and a raw file that activates the new raw codec package is selected.
Opening some raw images in Photos app using the new store-delivered raw codec pack gets stuck at low resolution thumbnail image.
How to provide feedback
We would love to get your feedback. Please send your feedback through Feedback Hub under “Devices and Drivers > Video Playback” category.
This new build also gets more Light Theme love:
Improving Light Theme
We introduced the new Light Theme in Windows 10 with Build 18282 and today’s build has some improvements to Light Theme worth taking note of based on your feedback:
fixed an issue where the text in the battery flyout might become unreadable in light theme due to it being white.
We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in the network flyout wasn’t visible in light theme.
We fixed an issue where the autoplay icon in the systray wasn’t visible in light theme.
We fixed an issue where impacting the network and volume icons in the notification area where after switching to light theme they wouldn’t update from white to black until explorer restarted.
We fixed a similar issue where not all supported app icons in the taskbar would switch colors on the taskbar when switching between light and dark theme (particularly on the secondary monitor).
We’ve made some adjustments to address issues where when using light theme white icons in notifications weren’t readable.
We’re updating the Settings icon to now be dark grey in the taskbar when light theme is enabled rather than black.
Again, as is usual as we get close to release, the inbox apps, the ones that will ship with the release of 19H1, have been locked down, and you may notice that they’re missing some features from recent builds:
REMINDER: Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates
We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These simplified versions of some of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button.
As usual, too, there’s a long list of changes, fixes, and known issues:
General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC
REMINDER: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on.
We fixed an issue causing Update Orchestrator Service to stop working periodically. As a result of this issue, you might have seen an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. This issue also resulted in restart using Update and Restart to sometimes just restart you back into the base OS.
Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build.
We fixed an issue resulting in night light not working recently.
We fixed an issue where the quick actions section of Action Center would be missing sometimes recently.
We fixed an issue where closing an open Excel window from the taskbar might cause Excel to go non-responsive.
We fixed an issue an issue where the WIN + Ctrl + <number> hotkey wasn’t working.
When using your accent color on the taskbar has been enabled, the taskbar and start jump lists will now also be accent-themed.
For the time being we’re returning the Volume Mixer link in the volume button context menu to its October 2018 behavior while we look at improving the experience based on feedback.
We fixed an issue where themes and Microsoft Edge extensions downloaded from Microsoft Store wouldn’t appear in their respective locations after the download finished.
We fixed an issue impacting Action Center reliability in recent builds.
We fixed an issue where you might see multiple Focus Assist notifications in the Action Center at a particular time.
We’re adding Nearby Sharing to the list of default Focus Assist exceptions.
We fixed a recent issue where if you used the screen snip quick action in the Action Center then the resulting screenshot would have the Action Center in it.
We fixed a recent issue that could result in not being able to launch UWP apps from the Start menu sometimes.
We fixed a recent regression resulting in File Explorer sometimes hanging when interacting with MP4s and folders that had MP4s in them.
We fixed an issue where Cortana would close immediately if opened from the Start screen when using tablet mode.
We fixed an issue impacting Snipping Tool reliability.
We fixed an issue resulting in Ctrl + P not activating the Print command in Snip & Sketch in recent flights.
We fixed an issue resulting in Snip & Sketch potentially crashing when closing many Snip & Sketch windows in a row.
We fixed an issue where rebooting would set Nearby Sharing back to an off state if it had been turned on.
We fixed an issue where the lock screen preview in Lock Screen Settings wasn’t showing in recent builds.
We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in Settings was overlapping the text fields when manually configuring your IP address.
We fixed a rare issue that could result in the screen locking up when using the Surface Dial.
We fixed an issue where the tooltips in the Emoji Panel were truncated on the bottom.
We fixed an issue where the Windows feature update might fail but would still be listed as a successful update in Windows Update history page.
We fixed an issue where you might see a Windows Update icon in the notification area saying there was an update when no update was available.
We fixed an issue where you couldn’t type on the touch keyboard when “Turn on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse” since focus would move away from the text field and set to the keyboard itself.
We fixed an issue on certain devices that could sometimes result in the screen staying black on boot until CTRL + Alt + Del was pressed.
We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices experience increased battery drain on the last few flights when in Disconnected Standby Mode.
We fixed an issue for devices with multiple monitors resulting in Task View (WIN + Tab) sometimes showing UWP app thumbnails on the primary monitor rather than the monitor where the app was open.
We fixed an issue where some key labels were cut off in Armenian full touch keyboard layout.
We fixed an issue when using the full touch keyboard layout in Korean where pressing the FN key unexpectedly highlighted the IME ON/OFF key. We also fixed an issue for this language where tapping the tab key wouldn’t insert a tab.
Thanks everyone who shared feedback about the new Japanese Microsoft IME we’ve been working on. With today’s build the IME and settings pages are returning to the ones that we shipped with the October 2018 Update, while we take your feedback into consideration.
We fixed an issue where Narrator sometimes did not say anything when reopening Action Center after it was dismissed using the Esc key.
We fixed an issue where Narrator did not speak the volume level value when using the hardware volume button to change the volume setting.
We fixed an issue where Narrator command read from current location did not work when on a heading in Wikipedia.
We fixed an issue where Narrator announced read-only at the end for links.
We fixed an issue where Narrator continuous reading command read the last word of a sentence twice on a web page in Microsoft Edge.
We fixed an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they might not receive policies.
We fixed an issue where signing out from inside Windows Sandbox resulted in a blank white window.
We fixed an issue resulting in running c:\windows\syswow64\regedit.exe not launching regedit in recent builds.
Settings header rollout update: This is now available across most regions for Insiders in Fast using Home edition and Pro editions of Windows that are not domain joined.
Small app update: Thanks everyone who reached out about the grid alignment issue in the Calculator – this has been fixed with the 1812 version of the app.
Known issues
While with Build 18323 we fixed the recent spike in Update Orchestrator Service crashes, if you’re on a base OS that’s impacted by the crash, you will still see the symptoms described above until you’re on 18323.
The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes.
Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.
While night light functionality is back up and running, you may still find issues with other blue light reduction software not working.
When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
USB devices, including mice and keyboards, may no longer work after updating. Possible workarounds are to change which USB port it is plugged into or connect the device through a USB hub.
You may consistently see black screens when using Remote Desktop, DisplayLink, or Miracast if you are on an AMD or Nvidia driver. We’re working on a fix, but in the meantime, you can work around this issue by enabling the following registry key and rebooting: reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm /v EnableFrontBufferRenderChecks /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f.
The value in Narrator Settings “Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and control” might be empty. To work around this issue, use the Narrator command Narrator key + v to change the verbosity level, then close and reopen Settings app again.
After upgrade, there might be two Narrator voices talking at the same time. Reboot the machine once, this issue will go away.
Windows Sandbox may launch to a black screen for some users.
The Insider Program Settings pages currently have a bug preventing Narrator and Screen Reader programs from properly reading the page. A fix will be available in an upcoming build.
Taskbar icons may stop loading and appear blank.
Desktop Window Manager will crash if multiple Office and/or video playback applications are running on the same screen on devices that have Multiplane Overlay Support.
Have you already tried out the new Dark Mode on Google Chrome? Well yeah, after YouTube, Google also appeared in dark and it looks stunning! If you’re running Window 10, then Dark Canary Google Chrome is for you.
You might be curious to learn more about it, aren’t you? So, let’s learn how can you grab this new Chrome version and how it works.
Chrome Canary is the experimental version of Google’s web browser and it is an early release. It is mainly designed for early adopters and developers, and it can undergo breakdown sometimes.
Canary demonstrates the experimental features of the four versions of Chrome (stable, dev, beta and canary) as it’s built without thorough usage and testing by the engineers of Google.
What’s new in Google Canary?
Google offers you a new dark mode for:
Download pages
History
New Tab page
Keep in mind that these new features are available only for Window 10.
There is a feature of heavy page capping in the Chrome Canary. You never know how much data a web page uses before you click on it. With this feature, a notification will appear when the web page crosses a particular limit.
Most of the web pages, especially those with videos or images, are usually above the data limit or threshold that you set up. When you decide to block data from loading, images that have not loaded yet will not appear.
Demonstrated as “bleeding edge” version of Google Chrome, Chrome Canary consists of new tools and tweaks, and you can try them out before they are released officially – if they make it into the official version of the browser that is.
The good news is that you can keep the Stable and Canary versions of Chrome at the same time on your system.
How enable Dark Mode on Google Chrome Canary
Place your cursor on the Chrome Canary shortcut > right click on Shortcut.
Add the following string after “chrome.exe” in the Target field –enable-features=WebUIDarkMode –force-dark-mode
Note: Don’t delete the original string in the Target field otherwise the command won’t work.
Make sure that you are using Chrome Canary. Contradictory to Dev and Beta Chrome channels, Canary requires separate installation. The new version can be installed along with the regular version of Chrome, and it utilizes its Chrome profile.
As a result, the apps, accounts, sync profiles, and preferences remain unaltered. It is available for download for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, Android operating systems and Mac.
The first episode of Life is Strange 2 was released in the Xbox Game Pass library of free games earlier this month, and today the release dates for future episodes have been revealed. According to the official Xbox Twitter account, future episodes of the series are expected to be available free for Game Pass subscribers 90 days after their official releases on the Microsoft Store.
CLARIFICATION: We got a little excited… Future Life is Strange 2 episodes will be available on Xbox Game Pass 90 days following their original release.
That’s definitely good news because the second episode is launching today, so anyone who has been eager to see what it has in store can do so later today. Additionally, with 90 days until the game’s free availability in the Game Pass library, that puts its release date to those members on April 24.
If you want to go ahead and buy all of the episodes now, anyone with a Game Pass subscription can save 20% by bunding all of them together. Here’s the game’s description for those interested:
Two brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz, are forced to run away from home after a tragic incident in Seattle. In fear of the police, Sean & Daniel head to Mexico while attempting to conceal a sudden & mysterious supernatural power.
If you’re not sure you want to invest the money, the first episode is already free for subscribers, so you’ll have a chance to see for yourself if its worth the money now or if its better to wait until its free availability. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts down below.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Saints Row The Third are now both playable on Xbox One for free as part of Xbox Game Pass.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an absolutely massive game set within the same Middle-earth of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fame. It won a number of awards after its initial release on Xbox One back in late-2014 and was generally praised for its visuals and gameplay.
Saints Row The Third is a light-hearted, yet violent and provocative, open-world game that first came out on the Xbox 360 in 2011. Like Shadow of Mordor, it was also well-received by most players and critics with many mentioning its wacky adult-themed sandbox nature as being its highlight.
Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that gives Xbox One owners access to around 100 full video games. Last week, We Happy Few and The LEGO Movie Video Game were also added to the library.
After launching on the official iOS and Android Mixer apps just over a week ago, Embers are finally live on Xbox One consoles and the web version of the Mixer streaming service.
Embers are a new kind of digital currency that users on Mixer need to buy with real-world money. After purchasing Embers, users can use them to buy animated emotes or colorful text messages to use in chat rooms while watching streamers on the Mixer platform. Streamers earn money when Embers are used within their channel’s chat room.
Mixer streamers can also earn money on the platform through paid subscriptions (similar to Twitch) and by reaching Spark milestones. Sparks are another form of currency on Mixer but, unlike Embers, can be earned by streaming or watching someone else stream. Sparks are typically used to activate static emotes or gifs in chat rooms.
The Star Wars Prequel villain, Count Dooku, is now live and playable in Star Wars Battlefront II on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4.
The Count Dooku character, or Darth Tyranus as he’s also known, is completely free for all owners of the video game though must be unlocked with Credits, the in-game currency that can be earned by playing. He only costs 35,000 Credits, though, which can easily be earned within a week of casual gameplay.
Count Dooku’s default appearance is his Sith Lord skin, as seen in the above image (screenshot credit goes to Cinematic Captures). His secondary skin, Dark Ritual, has been delayed and is expected to arrive via a hotfix sometime over the coming days.
A special video showcasing Count Dooku has been released by EA. In it, viewers can see all of Dooku’s special moves and attacks in addition to being given a small audio preview of Anakin Skywalker, the next character coming to the game, towards the end. You can watch the video right here.
In addition to Count Dooku, the latest Star Wars Battlefront II update also added the planet Geonosis to the Heroes Versus Villains, Blast, and Custom Arcade game modes. The Coruscant Guard appearances, which were expected to arrive with this week’s update, have been pushed back to February to coincide with a small revamp of the skin system.
The next free update, which is planned for late-February, will add Anakin Skywalker, a variety of new character appearances, and a whole new mode which is said to be the bigger than any existing experience within Star Wars Battlefront II.
Very little has been announced concerning post-February plans for the game, however datamining has revealed references to Padme and Ahsoka which could mean that these two characters may be coming to the game sometime in 2019.
Adobe After Effects (AE) is one of the most advanced digital visual effects and motion graphics applications and has become an ever-present in most studios. Non-technical users love it even more because of its simple installation process and highly interactive user interface.
However, like most of the creative cloud apps, matters are not that straightforward if for some reason you want to uninstall the software.
Now, as we always do, we did a bit of digging on how to uninstall after effects seamlessly and grabbed a few working solutions. And we will be discussing them next. As usual, ensure you have administrative rights to the PC before attempting the uninstall.
How To Uninstall After Effects on Windows PCs
Here now is the step by step guide to help you get rid of the application:
Method 1: Uninstall After Effects From Creative Cloud
Go to your taskbar and click the Creative Cloud app icon.
The Creative Cloud center opens. Remember to sign in using your usual Adobe ID plus password. The system may also automatically sign you in depending on the settings, in which case you are spared the signing in step.
Click on the Apps A list of all the installed apps appears.
Head to the Installed Apps area and locate the After Effects software.
Now click on the arrow right next to the options Open or Update. A new list of choices pops up.
Click on Manage.
Then click Uninstall.
Now follow the sequence of the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
Method 2: Uninstall After Effects Via The Programs and Features Option
These steps show you how to remove the older Adobe After Effects CC software versions on Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 computers. The process is especially very beneficial for Users who have Adobe After Effects CC 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in their computers.
Select the Apps and features option on the left pane.
Select the Adobe After Effects CC
The Uninstall button appears. Click on it to proceed with the uninstallation.
Restart the PC.
On Windows 8/ 8.1 PCs:
Either Press the Windows Key to view the start button. Those with Windows 8.1 can directly click the Start button (it’s on the lower left-hand corner) to access the starting screen.
Select or search for Settings then click Control Panel.
Click Uninstall a program. You can also tab on the Programs and Features alternative under Control Panel.
Locate the After Effects application then right click on its icon. The software will be highlighted.
Press on the Uninstalltab
Confirm that you want to completely uninstall After Effects by clicking yes when and if prompted by the User Account Control
Wait for the uninstall to complete then restart your PC.
ALSO READ: The latest Adobe updates fix 47 major security vulnerabilities
How To Uninstall Adobe After Effects CS6 (And Other CS Editions)
The process of uninstalling adobe after effects CS6, CS7, and every other CS Version is almost identical to that of After Effects CC software versions.
Indeed, the only difference is that this time you will be looking for an app. labeled After Effects CS X (where X stands for the edition instead of After Effects CC 2017 or otherwise):
You should hence refer to the steps of uninstalling the After Effects CC software mentioned above and replace the CC with CS6, CS7, or your specific copy depending on your installed Windows.
What To Do If Adobe After Effects CS6 Uninstall Failed
Sometimes you receive an error that the After Effects uninstall failed or that the PC has encountered various uninstallation errors.
Other potential problems including the creative cloud refusing to launch and further complications when you attempt to uninstall AE from your computer’s control panel.
This means you will need to troubleshoot the system before retrying. Here are some actions to take in order to eliminate the emerging errors:
Troubleshooting Tip 1: Stop All Other Applications
Programs removal is sometimes affected by other running applications especially where the involved software share some background processes. The key here is to stop all presently running programs before starting to uninstall After Effects.
Troubleshooting Tip 2: Restart your computer
In most cases, common After Effects uninstallation issues are solved by simply restarting the computer. You may thus restart the PC then re-launch the uninstall process.
Troubleshooting Tip 3: Stop The Antivirus Temporarily
Uninstallations typically involve an Uninstaller software behind the scenes so your antivirus may block the launching of the concerned uninstaller by mistaking it for malware in some cases.
Luckily, most antivirus software including BitDefender allows you to pause their activities temporarily. You should, therefore, halt your antivirus even for a couple of minutes to allow you to complete the uninstall.
Troubleshooting Tip 4: Turn off The Firewall
A Firewall including two-way firewalls for Windows 10 can also interfere and may need to be turned off to successfully run through all the uninstallation steps.
There you go, we hope these quick solutions helped you to fix this issue.
Microsoft has numerous OS versions currently in use all over the world. These operating systems are updated periodically for the best possible user experience and system performance. At the same time, new features are added with every new major version.
Microsoft is working on a newer version of its operating system codenamed Windows Core OS that will turn the desktop operating system into a “modular” one.
This means that the OS can be mounted on any devices including dual screen mobile phones and computer systems. It can also be developed according to the structure and functionality of the end-devices.
Windows Core OS will feature open source code
Most importantly, it will also include open source code. Microsoft is already recruiting computer specialists who are up to the task. There is an active job offer on LinkedIn revealing more information about the job:
Confidential Program requiring Machine Learning/Data Science knowledge and Program Management skillset to ensure the Security of Windows Core OS from malicious actors and code. Improved the security posture of Windows Open Source Components through initiatives that investigate vulnerabilities found and establish a process for remediation.
The Windows Core Operating System is mainly developed for manufacturers and developers in order to build custom designed OS versions, apps and software. One can also made it proprietary software as it is developed according to developers’ needs.
Microsoft’s Windows Core OS is reportedly being designed with multiple editions in mind (Home, Pro and Enterprise edition which will be subscription based).
By launching the very first Windows open source operating system platform, perhaps there will come one day when devices running Windows Core OS will be more popular than Android.
Microsoft has just showed users a little more of what the 19H1 update has in store for Windows 10. Revamped storage is one of the notable new additions. This is a modified Reset this PC utility for users to try out.
Reset this PC is something users can restore Windows 10 to its default settings with. The utility reinstalls the OS and uninstalls most apps (except those that came pre-installed). Thus, Reset this PC can come in handy for troubleshooting Windows.
In addition, it provides a quick way for users to erase data when they abandon an antiquated desktop or laptop.
Microsoft has made a few modifications to Reset this PC. The utility has undergone some relatively slight UI changes. However, the utility is still a wizard. This is how Windows Insider users can reset Win 10 with the new Reset this PC feature. This feature will be available to all Windows 10 users later this year.
First, click the Type here to search Cortana button to open the app’s search box.
Then click Reset this PC to open the window shown directly below.
Click Get Started to open the Reset this PC window.
At first, Reset this PC seems much the same as before as users can select either Keep my files or Remove everything. Users who need to retain their files should select the Keep my files option.
However, Reset this PC isn’t entirely the same after users select one of the first two options. Now users can click Change settings to open additional options.
Thereafter, users can toggle Data erasure and Data drives settings on or off. Users can toggle Data erasure on to erase files and clean the drive.
Users can also select to remove data from just one drive or erase files from all their partitions. Toggle Data drives on to erase files from all drive partitions.
Press the Confirm button.
Click Next > Reset to reset Windows 10. Thereafter, Windows will reset, which can take quite a few hours.
So Reset this PC is now a little more flexible than it was before as users can toggle a couple of options on/off. The Data drives option is also a new setting that users can’t select in current Windows 10 versions.
That extra setting will come in handy for users who have partitioned their hard drives. The revamped Reset this PC utility will be included in Windows 10 version 1903 when the 19H1 update rolls out in spring 2019.
We live in an era of digital game distribution, and Steam is most likely the king of the hill. However, as the games become significantly larger, deleting some titles you rarely play is an obvious step.
This, of course, means you’ll need to download them again later through Steam, and if you have a data cap, this might be an issue.
If not and you’re indeed low on space because a darn game takes 70 GB, here’s how to safely uninstall Steam games.
How can I safely uninstall Steam games?
1. Use the Steam client
Open Steam client.
Open Library.
Right-click on the game you want to uninstall, and choose Uninstall from the contextual menu.
Confirm selection and you should be good to go.
Uninstalling games through the Steam client is as simple as the installation is. You’ll still get to keep your save games, but you might as well back them up.
Don’t worry about your games, as they’ll still be available to download in the library.
Once you’ve deleted all local content, and considering how large modern titles are, this will get you a lot of free storage space.
But, without further ado, you can follow the above steps to safely uninstall a Steam game via the Steam desktop client.
2. Try the manual approach
Close the game and Steam client.
Navigate to Program Files (stored in System partition, usually C:).
Open Steam, then steamapps and, finally, Common.
Delete the folder of the game you want to remove.
On the other hand, if you prefer avoiding Steam desktop clients, uninstalling games from the Windows Control Panel is not an option.
However, as they are still stored on your HDD, you can delete them like any other folder or file. The only thing worth knowing is the location where Steam is storing games locally.
And if you want to reinstall the game you’ve uninstalled before, follow these steps:
Open the Steam client for Windows.
Open Library.
Choose the game you want to install from your Library. All the purchased games are in the left-pane list.
Click on the game, and then click Install.
Wait until the client downloads and installs the game.
3. Use a professional uninstaller
Manually deleting a game is a time-consuming task, and sometimes it can be hard to remove the leftovers.
A professional third-party uninstalling tool can perform this process in a fast and efficient way.
This type of software has powerful capabilities, and it can delete all the unnecessary files left behind by the game with just a few clicks.
Hence, if you need to completely delete any games from your PC, perform it using efficient uninstaller software and complete the job efficiently.
Alternatively, you can just search for the game in the Store section and install it from there.
That’s it. The only remaining thing is to open Steam again and focus on something else worth acquiring. Hopefully, this was a helpful read and if that’s indeed the case, tell us in the comments section below.
Also, if you have more solutions or other questions on this topic, feel free to leave them in the comments.
You must be sick of advertising trackers that are constantly monitoring your each and every move over the internet. The latest security breaches have spooked most of the people to be concerned about their privacy more than ever before. If you are one of them, don’t worry DuckDuckGo is here to take care of your privacy.
What is DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that does not track its customers. The search engine assures its users that it is not going to follow them by using cookies. The search engine makes sure that it does not collect the personal information of its users. The privacy is further ensured due to the fact that user IP addresses are also hidden.
How it differentiates itself from Bing & Google?
You might not be aware of the fact that the users’ search terms are shared with the website that they are visiting. It is done as soon as users click on the links from Bing and Google. The HTTP referrer header is used for that purpose even if the user is clicking the links from Bing and Google in private mode. Your IP address is also automatically shared by your computer. The information is then used by the website for identifying each user.
The process is termed as “search leakage” by DuckDuckGo. It prevents sending the search terms to other websites through redirection in a particular way. DuckDuckGo restricts the websites from identifying users based on their personal information, neither do they have information about your search terms.
Moreover, an encrypted version of DuckDuckGo is available as well. The links from various websites (Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, and Wikipedia) are changed automatically to offer encrypted versions for each of them.
In case you want to be secure while surfing the internet, you will need to get a full-dedicated tool to secure your network. Install now Cyberghost VPN and secure yourself. It protects your PC from attacks while browsing, masks your IP address and blocks all unwanted access.
DuckDuckGo reaches 800 million monthly searches
DuckDuckGo has gained the trust of users in a short span of time. The privacy features of DuckDuckGo are compelling enough for the users to make a permanently ditch Google.
Its popularity can be understood by the fact that 800 million monthly direct views have been recorded during September last year.
Some of the users turned to Reddit to share their experiences about the search engine.
“I tried DDG for a few weeks since it seemed like a better option. The search results were different when I compared them to Google, but I wouldn’t say they were much better or worse.”
Most of the users prefer DuckDuckGo because unlike Google their advertisements are not personalized or customized by your search history. Instead, the search engine uses keywords that are entered by the users to display ads. One of the users expressed his views about the same on Reddit:
“Yes. When you look up, for example, office desk prices on DDG, you’ll be served with ads for office desk on that search and that search alone, as opposed to Google which will still try to sell you office desks for the rest of eternity.”
It is worth mentioning that some of the users are still concerned about the fact that tthe founder of DuckDuckGo has sold user’s data in the past. He is being criticized for not apologizing for his unethical actions to the general public. DuckDuckGo needs to take care of the situation otherwise it can be a serious problem for the emerging search engine.
While another user had to switch back to Google after using DuckDuckGo for almost 6 months. He was compelled to do so because the search results were not good in his native language. Even though he wanted to switch from Google due to privacy concerns, the search results made him stick to the world’s biggest search engine.
Verdict
Finally, we cay say that DuckDuckGo is such as privacy-focused search engine that is definitely going to be a tough competition for Google Search. The search engine is named after a popular game for the kids. DuckDuckGo should consider improving its existing features if it wants to stay in the search engine space. DuckDuckGo has still a long way to go!
Outlook is a vital part of the Microsoft workspace, used by millions of satisfied users. By unifying the e-mail client with calendar and tasks, Outlook revamp was welcomed as a positive change and a step forward for sure. When it works, it works great, both for home or professional users. On the other hand, when it fails, it fails miserably.
That seems to be the case with Outlook Meetings which, based on many user reports, are not updating in the Calendar. We made sure to shed some light and provide possible solutions for this below.
How to fix update issues with Outlook calendar meetings
Using Outlook to set meetings with your contacts is quite a usual and a rather useful feature. It’s an important piece of software for so many users who require organization and scheduling, including meetings with anyone from your contacts list.
To make it even better, Outlook is a multiplatform solution so it can sync on a plethora of devices, PCs and smartphones alike. There’s a lot of competition in this field, but it seems Microsoft has hit a soft spot with Outlook.
On the other hand, everything falls apart if Outlook won’t sync or update meetings in the calendar. This is, seemingly, a grave problem for a hefty number of users. The worst thing about it is that these occurrences are selective.
Scheduled meetings are updated on some devices and not on others. This gets peculiar when scheduled meetings successfully update changes on the web-based Outlook while the desktop app fails to do so.
There are no official solutions provided by Microsoft at the moment, but we can suggest a few steps based on the app version. For the desktop app, you can try running two commands. The first one should reset roaming preferences while the second will reset client processing.
Outlook for desktop
In order to run these two, follow the steps below:
Open Windows Search bar and copy-paste the following command:
Outlook.exe /cleanroamedprefs
Press Enter. If that fails, try copy-pasting this command and press Enter afterward:
With that said, we can conclude this article. Hopefully, these steps helped you address the problem at hand. If that’s the case, give us a shout-out in the comments section below.
So, this morning, I powered up my computer and grabbed a cup of coffee as I was getting ready for a new work day. I heavily rely on Skype for both work purposes and keeping in touch with family and friends but, boy, was I in for a big surprise!
Apparently, Microsoft decided that I can no longer use my current version of Skype and I need to update if I ever want to sign back in.
Just a few seconds after I launched Skype, the app closed down automatically with the following alert:
It looks like Skype hasn’t been update for some time.
What happens if I don’t update now?
The next time you sign in or restart your computer, you’ll need to update Skype before you can sign back in.
And here’s the visual proof of this:
Microsoft leaves users no choice but to update Skype
As you can see, starting from this day, if you want to use Skype, you need to install the latest app version. Personally, I really don’t like this pushy approach but I need Skype for work. As a result, I did hit the ‘Update Skype’ button.
At the same time, I’m also looking for a reliable Skype alternative. I believe users should have the right to choose whether to update Skype or not. If Microsoft doesn’t offer me this option, I’ll look elsewhere.
What’s your take on this? Were you met with this Skype alert as well? Let me know in the comments below.
Update: Three of my colleagues just got the same Skype alert.
Update 2: We contacted Skype Support asking for more information about this alert. We also asked them whether more users should expect to see this alert today or these are only isolated cases. We’ll update this post as soon as we have an answer.
Update 3: We just got a response from Skype. Microsoft is indeed retiring older Skype versions in batches, hence the alerts that me and my colleagues received recently.
Hi Madeleine! From time to time we retire older versions of Skype to introduce new features, improve existing ones and fix bugs. When this happens, you won’t be able to sign in until you upgrade to the latest version.
With Azure Cognitive Services, Microsoft is using AI and the power of the cloud to allow apps to process natural language, identify objets, and even persons. We’ve already seen the power of these technologies in apps like Bing Visual Search and Seeing AI, an iPhone app that can help the visually impaired to recognize text, people, and objects around them
DJI, the world’s biggest drone manufacturer has now teamed up with Microsoft to create drones that can recognize objects, including different types of fruits (via Tech in Asia). Both companies recently organized the AI x Drones Joint University Competition, where students had to build AI models so that DJI drones would be able to recognize fruits that had been scattered in a specific area.
In the image below, you can see how an AI model built by students was able to label different fruits, and add a number next to each of them to indicate if the results could be really trusted or not.
Image credit: Abacus.
According to Winnie Chu, Business Group Lead, Cloud and Enterprise at Microsoft Hong Kong, the intelligent edge (the ability to run AI closer to the physical word) really helps to make AI models more effective on these drones. “Once a drone detects something, it can send the message or the results back to the computer, and it will make the whole performance and user experience much better,” said Chu.
If it doesn’t seem very useful to have drones that can recognize fruits, there could be many more interesting use cases for this technology, such as checking stocks in massive warehouses or explore other areas inaccessible to frontline workers. “We see drones as empowering workers and becoming a new tool in the toolbox,” explained Kevin On, Global Marketing and Communications director of DJI.
YouTube TV is now available to 98% of people in the United States (via The Verge), and the majority of those users will be able to enjoy at least three of the big four local broadcast giants (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) depending on their area. Google promises the remaining area will get access soon, the wait primarily being due to negotiations with local broadcast stations, since local stations are a big part of the service.
YouTube TV has become my primary means of entertainment on the Xbox One, especially given I have access to all four of the local options. It’s probably the best option out there and the only one that gives up to six family members their own unlimited DVR storage (although recordings expire after 9 months) for just $40 a month. The only downside is the lack of Viacom and Discovery networks, so that means no Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, or Discovery channels.
YouTube TV screenshots on Xbox One
That said, there are other options out there for those who do need the extra channels or features. Sling TV allows users to build their own plan, and Hulu brings their entire on-demand library to subscribers of their live TV service. Then there’s also cable though OneGuide for those who need a lot of channels. However neither of those services offer the incredibly useful unlimited DVR storage that YouTube TV offers.
If you’re interested, you can download the app on the Microsoft Store for your Xbox One, and if you’re on Windows 10 its available on the Chrome and Firefox web browsers. Unfortunately that leaves out S Mode users, at least until Edge becomes powered by Chromium. Additionally, anyone on iOS and Android can download the app on their respective app stores to enjoy live TV, DVR, and on-demand content from anywhere they wish.
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