Software

Psst Microsoft, Windows 8 Users are Barely Touching Metro Apps

Paul Lilly — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:48:16 +0000

Study reveals surprising stats about Windows 8 app usage.

When Microsoft "re-imagined" its Windows platform with a heavy focus on touch computing, its Metro interface was deemed a critical component to the user experience. Ideally, Windows 8 users would find themselves relying less and less on the traditional desktop and start taking advantage of the tiled UI, downloading apps from the Windows Store in the process. However, a new study by Soluto reveals that Windows 8 users rarely touch apps on their Windows 8-based desktops and tablet PCs.

Soluto analyzed 10,848 Windows 8 machines and examined more than 313,000 Metro app launches across 9,634 unique Metro apps. The result? On average, a Windows 8 user will launch a Metro app 1.52 times per day.

Predictably desktop users are the least active Metro app users with an average of 1.41 launches per day. Just as predictable, tablet users launch the most Metro apps at an average clip of 2.71 per day, besting touch laptop users (2.22 apps) and regular laptop users (1.51 apps).

"To put this number into context, we looked at the percent of people who launch a Metro app less than once a day (i.e. less than 7 Metro app launches per week). We found that among desktop and laptop users, 60 percent of users launch a Metro app less than once a day," Soluto said. "This number significantly improves with tablets, but still 44 percent of Windows 8 tablet users launch a Metro app less than once a day."

Interestingly, the most engaging app appears to be Yahoo Mail, which is loaded an average of 26.91 times per week by those who use it. Below that, several versions of solitaire rank in the top 10, which might be indicative of the Windows Store needing a bigger and better stockpile of apps.

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Nvidia Releases 320.18 WHQL Drivers with Support for GTX 780

Paul Lilly — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:56:32 +0000

This is the Game Ready driver for Metro: Last Light.

What would a new graphics card launch be without new drivers to help squeeze out the most performance possible? So it goes, Nvidia today not only introduced the world to its GeForce GTX 780 video card -- check out write-up with benchmarks -- the GPU maker also made available new GeForce R320 Series (320.18) drivers that are WHQL certified and primed for Metro: Last Light.

The new drivers promise up to a 10 percent boost in performance in Metro: Last Light, and if you use GeForce Experience, Nvidia will take care of detecting optimal game settings with PhysX effects and DirectX 11 tessellation.

The highlights for the R320 series are the same as they were for the 320.14 beta drivers, which we covered last week. To quickly recap, you can expect up to 20 percent faster performance in several PC games running on your GeForce 400/500/600 Series GPUs, Nvidia says. You'll also find a bunch of new and updated SLI profiles.

Nvidia Driver Downloads

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Futuremark Injects Battery Test Into Upcoming PCMark 8 Benchmark

Paul Lilly — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:01:49 +0000

Popular benchmarking tool receives a significant update.

Looking for something new to test your hardware with? Hang tight for about another month and you'll be able to stress your components using Futuremark's upcoming PCMark 8 software. Futuremark received help from members of its Benchmark Development Program, which include Acer, AMD, Condusiv Technologies, Dell, HGST, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate, and Western Digital.

"We believe that this open process of close cooperation with industry experts is the only way to create accurate and impartial benchmarks that measure performance fairly. Having high-level access to the industry's leaders also ensures that our benchmarks are not only relevant for today's hardware, but remain relevant year after year," Futuremark said.

Like previous versions of the popular benchmark, PCMark 8 focus on tests that mimic real-world usage scenarios, such as browsing the web, photo editing, video chat, writing, and gaming. New to this edition, however, are additional benchmarks based on productivity and creativity applications from Adobe and Microsoft.

Also new is a "Battery Life" mode that loops a test until the battery is almost empty. Testing battery life is the one trickiest things to do since everyone uses their PCs differently, so we're pretty interested to see how PCMark 8's test does with it.

PCMark 8 is in the final stages of development and expected to launch by the end of next month.

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Opera Browser for Android Out of Beta, Officially Launches

Paul Lilly — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:54:36 +0000

A meeting of the mobile minds.

Opera isn't uber popular on the desktop, though it's been able to spread its wings on mobile. The same can be said for Google's Android platform (which makes sense, considering Android is a mobile platform). If you want to mash these two together, feel free to do so starting today. Opera for Android is now officially launched for free from Google Play, Opera Software announced on Tuesday.

"Most people just see a fraction of what the web has to offer," says Rikard Gillemyr, EVP of Consumer Products at Opera Software. "We check out the same sites every day, and you can get through with the latest news after just a short bus ride. We wanted to give people a relaxed way of discovering interesting articles and checking them out without any extra effort."

One of the things Opera for Android introduces to mobile users is an "Off-Road" feature. Using data compression, the Off-Road algorithm reduces the amount of data traffic while browsing your Android phone so that you can surf a little more comfortably on crummy connections.

Opera for Android also sports a redesigned interface with a lighter color scheme that the Norwegian browser maker claims is "super intuitive to use."

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Changing PC Landscape Puts the Pinch on BIOS Designers

Paul Lilly — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:10:35 +0000

Singing the BIOS blues.

It's the little guy that often gets overlooked in various circumstances, and when it comes to computers in general, BIOS makers fit that description, even though their chips and code play a big role in the operation of your PC. Like every other PC player, BIOS designers are feeling the hurt from weakening PC sales, leaving them to find alternative means to flip a profit amid a changing market place.

Insyde Software, Phoenix Technologies, and American Megatrends (AMI) have all started taking measures to deal with the impact of a slowed market, sources within the upstream supply chain tell Digitimes.

Each is going about it in a different way. Insyde Software, for example, is focusing on Android and server-related products to try and offset losses from the PC segment. Phoenix, meanwhile, reportedly "streamlined" its workforce to cut costs, while AMI is still looking for a solution.

BIOS makers are in a bit of a pickle. Some believe tablets are a passing fad that will no longer be around in five years, while Gartner predicts that tablet sales will top traditional PCs by 2017.

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Strange Saga Continues: John McAfee's Island Home Burns to the Ground

Paul Lilly — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:52:46 +0000

Antivirus founder's wild ride isn't over.

John McAfee, the British-American programmer who used to work for NASA before founding McAfee Associates (now owned by Intel), a computer antivirus company, no longer has a home in Belize. Apparently his island abode burned down last Thursday amid circumstances he deemed "suspicious," according to a FoxNews.com report.

"I believe that there are a select few with great power in Belize that will go to great lengths to harm me," McAfee told FoxNews.com. "This fire was not just a strange coincidence."

The keyword there is "strange," which appropriately describes McAfee's descent from a wealthy antivirus entrepreneur to a man who faked a heart attack after fleeing Belize, where he was wanted for questioning in a murder case involving his neighbor, and making his way to Guatemala. It was there that he played the "crazy card" to avoid being deported to Belize and was ultimately put on a plane headed for the U.S.

Two main structures belonging to McAfee burned to the ground, each one valued at around $250,000. It's being classified as a bush fire, though McAfee suspects foul play on the part of Belizean authorities, who he maintains are out to do him harm.

According to McAfee's official blog, an investment group was about to close a deal in the next few days to purchase his property.

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Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog Races Over to Android

Paul Lilly — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:55:19 +0000

Speedy blue hedgehog teams with a little green robot.

Sonic the Hedgehog is potentially gaining access to a whole new audience and generation of gamers who never got to experience the fast and fun ride on the Genesis. How so? Sega today pointed its iconic game character in the direction of Google Play and told him to keep running until he got there, which he did today. Available now on Google Play, the game costs $2.99 and gives fans a new look at Sonic's world on Android.

It's been optimized with widescreen support and exclusive features for mobile phones. The new update also allows gamers to unlock other familiar characters, including Tails and Knuckles, marking the first time they've been playable on mobile, Sega says.

Prefer iOS? Sega has you covered, as well. Although Sonic the Hedgehog was already available on iOS, the new content will be offered as a free update.

Sonic the Hedgehog on Google Play
Sonic the Hedgehog on iOS

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Road to Redemption? EA Eliminates Unpopular Online Pass Program

Paul Lilly — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:55:57 +0000

You can almost hear a golf clap erupting from GameStop stores.

It's no secret game publishers loathe the second-hand sales market, prompting many of them to have a love-hate relationship with GameStop, the world's most popular used games retailer. But is GameStop really the frenemy that some publishers view it as? Perhaps not. Electronic Arts (EA) has come to the conclusion that its Online Pass program isn't worth pissing off its customers and has decided to reverse course, a move that's perhaps indicative that EA wasn't losing as much money to used game sales as it thought it was.

Battlefield 3, Madden NFL, and a few other titles used the Online Pass system. The way it worked is that gamers would input a code included with new games to unlock online gameplay. The single-use code wouldn't transfer to a second owner, so if you bought a game used from GameStop or anywhere else and the code was already used, you'd have to purchase another one from EA.

Well, not anymore.

"Yes, we're discontinuing Online Pass," EA senior director of corporate communications, John Reseburg, told GamesBeat in an email. "None of our new EA titles will include that feature."

Reseburg went to say that "many players didn't respond to the format," which is the primary reason why EA decided to abandon the program. It was an unpopular program among gamers to begin with, but given EA's sometimes stubborn nature and willingness to put up with criticism, it seemed unlikely the publisher would reverse course.

It looks like Kevin Garnett was right, after all.

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AMD Levels Up Never Settle Reloaded Bundle

Paul Lilly — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

You asked, AMD listened.

Two questions AMD tells us it's always getting asked by customers in regards to its sweet Never Settle game bundles are, "Can you add more games?" and "Why do I have to choose between Crysis 3 or Tomb Raider?" Lucky for you, these questions haven't fallen on deaf ears, as AMD is adding bonus games to its Never Settle Reloaded program as part of a limited-time offer.

It's officially called "Level Up with Never Settle Reloaded," but who cares about the title. What you really want to know is what kind of gaming loot AMD is bundling with its graphics cards, and we have the skinny. Short and sweet, AMD's updated promotion adds Tomb Raider to the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, HD 7970, HD 7950, and HD 7790 graphics cards, and Crysis 3 to the Radeon HD 7870 graphics card.

Here's a tidy breakdown of the updated promotion (Level Up games bolded):

Radeon HD 7970 and 7950: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Radeon HD7870 GHz Edition: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Radeon HD 7790: Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

The Level Up promotion goes into effect immediately at participating retailers and is valid "while supplies last." In addition, AMD is still giving away games as part of its regular Never Settle bundle. They include:

Radeon HD 7990: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Hitman: Absolution, Sleeping Dogs, Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Radeon HD 7850: Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Radeon HD 7770: Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

So, who plans on upgrading?

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Flashback Fun: Type "Atari Breakout" Into Google Image Search

Paul Lilly — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:28:56 +0000

Google goes old school.

The wily programming nerds at Google are all about Easter eggs, and if you type "Atari Breakout" into Google's image search, you'll spy the latest one. This isn't just a random flashback to an old school arcade game, it's also a shout out to the 1976 title's 37th anniversary, though the timing is a little curious. Breakout (PDF) originally debuted in April, so if someone knows the significance of today's date specifically, feel free to enlighten us in comments section below.

Regardless, Google's Easter egg is a fun excursion into arcade gaming from nearly four decades ago. You may not have been alive back then or even heard of Breakout, which was developed by Atari and heavily influenced by Pong, which came out four years prior.

It's also a historically significant title, as it influenced Steve Wozniak's design for the Apple II computer. Here's what Wozniak was quoted as saying about the Apple II:

A lot of features of the Apple II went in because I had designed Breakout for Atari. I had designed it in hardware. I wanted to write it in software now. So that was the reason that color was added in first — so that games could be programmed. I sat down one night and tried to put it into BASIC. Fortunately, I had written the BASIC myself, so I just burned some new ROMs with line drawing commands, color changing commands, and various BASIC commands that would plot in color. I got this ball bouncing around, and I said, 'Well, it needs sound,' and I had to add a speaker to the Apple II. It wasn’t planned, it was just accidental… Obviously you need paddles, so I had to scratch my head and design a simple minimum-chip paddle circuit, and put on some paddles. So, a lot of these features that really made the Apple II stand out in its day came from a game, and the fun features that were built in were only to do one pet project, which was to program a BASIC version of Breakout and show it off at the club.

Pretty neat, eh? As the late Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story.

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Nvidia Release Game Ready Beta 320.14 Driver for Metro: Last Light

Paul Lilly — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:29:25 +0000

Enjoy a free and easy performance boost in Metro: Last Light.

It doesn't matter if you're sitting pretty with a single Nvidia-based graphics card or rocking multiple GeForce parts in SLI, you should see better framerates in Metro: Last Light (launches tomorrow) after applying Nvidia's latest beta driver, version 320.14. Also included in the newest driver release are all of the performance optimizations and SLI profiles found in the recent 320.00 beta release, which benefits games such as Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, GRID 2, Tomb Raider, and several others.

Nvidia put a lot of time and effort into optimizing its code base for Metro: Last Light, and it also put together an extensive graphics and performance guide related to the 4A Games' title. To provide a single example of the performance boost you can expect by installing the beta driver, Nvidia says Metro: Last Light will perform up to 10 percent better on a single GeForce GTX 660 graphics card and up to 9 percent running two GTX 660 parts in SLI.

You can also expect double-digit percentage performance gains in Dirt: Showdown and Tomb Raider regardless of whether you're running a single GPU or multiple graphics cards.

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Microsoft Pops Its Top on Comparing Windows 8 to a Can of Soda

Paul Lilly — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:56:54 +0000

Can of soda comparison is just hyperbole, Microsoft says.

Richard Carlson advises against sweating the small stuff, and if you're Microsoft, that means not getting your knickers in a knot over sensationalistic journalism, especially when it comes to Windows 8. That's not to say Windows 8 isn't without its fair share of legitimate criticisms and concerns, but is it fair to compare the touch-friendly operating system to Coca-Cola's failed New Coke formula from yesteryear?

Frank X. Shaw, Corporate Vice President of Corporate Communications at Microsoft, had a thing or three to say about the recent comparison.

"In this world where everyone is a publisher, there is a trend to the extreme – where those who want to stand out opt for sensationalism and hyperbole over nuanced analysis," Shaw stated in a blog post. "In this world where page views are currency, heat is often more valued than light. Stark black-and-white caricatures are sometimes more valued than shades-of-gray reality."

Shaw was responding to comments in a recent Financial Times report, in which the author quoted an analyst comparing Windows 8 to New Coke, the difference being that Coca-Cola did a better job of listening to its customers and quickly reversed course.

Seeking sanity in what Shaw likely sees as an insane comparison, he reiterated that's Microsoft's sold 100 million copies of Windows 8 to date. He called that a "good thing," noting that it's also a good thing to listen to consumer feedback and act on it. But to compare Windows 8 to New Coke? He was having none of that.

"Windows 8 is a good product, and it’s getting better every day," Shaw added. "Unlike a can of soda, a computer operating system offers different experiences to different customers to meet different needs, while still moving the entire industry toward an exciting future of touch, mobility, and seamless, cross-device experiences."

Anyone else suddenly thirsty for a carbonated beverage?

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Symantec: Targeted Attacks on Small Businesses Increased Three-Fold in 2012

Paul Lilly — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:35:23 +0000

Small business owners are viewed as easy targets among cybercriminals.

Symantec on Monday published its 2013 Internet Security Threat Report, Volume 18, which provides an overview and analysis of the past year in global threat activity. One of the things Symantec noticed was that cybercriminals are paying more attention to small businesses with fewer than 250 employees. Targeted attacks against these organizations jumped 31 percent in 2012 compared to the year before.

"While small businesses may feel they are immune to targeted attacks, cybercriminals are enticed by these organizations' bank account information, customer data, intellectual property, and the knowledge that they often lack adequate security practices and infrastructures," Symantec says.

It's not just small business owners who need to be on top of their game. Symantec notes in its report that "threats to online security have grown and evolved considerably in 2012," adding that it's "seen constant innovation from malware authors." Overall Symantec noted a 42 percent increase in targeted attacks, 5,291 new vulnerabilities, and an average of 604,826 identities exposed per breach in 2012, to rattle off just a few of the stats.

For more on the topic, grab a PDF reader and comb through Symantec's more than 50 pages of a data contained in its report.

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Slacker Adds Six Million New Listeners Since Relaunch

Paul Lilly — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:44:29 +0000

No slacking at Slacker as it sees millions of new subscribers join in three months.

Have you given the recently overhauled Slacker service a whirl yet? Millions of others have. According to Slacker, more than six million new listeners have joined the streaming music service since its February relaunch, with 3.5 million listeners jumping on mobile. Not only is Slacker seeing an influx of new users, but they're listening longer than before and they're subscribing to the service, Slacker says.

Slacker went for a complete redesign three months ago, shedding its old digs for a fresh new look and feel. You can listen to Slacker's entire library of songs for free, or pony up $3.99/month for Slacker Plus (commercial free streaming with unlimited song skips) or $9.99/month for Slacker Premium (on-demand access to songs).

"We’re thrilled with the results of our relaunch; since mid-February millions of new people are tuning into Slacker, they’re spending more time listening, and our paid subscriber base is growing fast," said Jim Cady, CEO of Slacker. "And with our proven business model, Slacker is the only digital music service that is gross margin positive on every listener – whether they’re ad-supported or a paid subscriber."

I've been using Slacker Premium since the relaunch and have to admit I'm pretty impressed. I'd describe it as the best of Spotify and Pandora rolled into a single service, and with a catalog of more than 13 million songs, it's not too often I find myself jonesing for a melody that can't be found, except for Gangstagrass, unfortunately.

If you haven't checked it out yet, give it a listen and post your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Maxthon Adds LAN Transfer Option to Multi-Platform Cloud Browser

Paul Lilly — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:52:35 +0000

Transfer files easily between desktop and mobile devices.

Like underwear, changing your browser every once in awhile can give you a fresh feeling. If you're at that point where you're ready to try something different, Maxthon's Cloud Browser is an option worth investigating. We bring it up because Maxthon let us know it just added a LAN transfer feature that allows users to transfer files of any size from their browser directly to any device on their network.

"The addition of LAN transfer will make sizable improvements in users’ everyday web experience," said Karl Mattson, VP of International for Maxthon. "Customers with the newest and fastest home Internet services can now move a 1 GB file from one device to another more than five times faster than the alternative ‘up-over-and-down’ cloud services."

It's a pretty neat feature made more useful by the fact that Maxthon's Cloud Browser is available on multiple platforms, including Windows and Android (iOS and Mac coming soon).

If you want to kick the brower's tires, you can download it from Maxthon's website.

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