Microsoft's Project Spartan

Microsoft's new browser for Windows 10 ...
It looks like Windows 10 will come with two Internet browsers, Internet Explorer for legacy users and a new streamlined browser currently named Project Spartan.

Microsoft Announces Project Spartan, Its New Browser For Windows 10 | TechCrunch:

Autoruns download

Great software from Sysinternals now Microsoft ...
This a great piece of diagnostic software for working out why an ageing PC is running slower and slower.

Download of the day: Autoruns | Software News | TechRadar:

Windows 10 free 7 & 8.1

Big announcement about price of Windows 10 ...
We hoped, from the rumours, that a Windows 10 upgrade would be free for Windows 8.1 users. The surprise was that it would also be a free upgrade for Windows 7 users for the first 12 months. This creates a dilemma for many people who are very satisfied with Windows 7.

Windows 10 free for all Windows 8.1 and 7 users for first year after release [Updated] | Ars Technica:

Hard disk drive reliability

Interesting statistics on hard disk reliability ...
Continuous operation definitely increases failure rates but, allowing for that, these failure rates remain a worry!

Hard disk reliability examined once more: HGST rules, Seagate is alarming | Ars Technica:

Netflix ready for Aust, NZ

Netflix is coming to Australia in March ...
This is going to shake up the media scene in Australia!

Netflix ready for Aust, NZ market battle - Computerworld:

TeamViewer download

One of my favourite software applications ...
Would not be without it for occasional remote access from PC to PC and also from tablet / smartphone to PC. 

Download of the day: TeamViewer | Software News | TechRadar:

More on Project Ara

Another good article on Google's Project Ara ...
This is such a revolutionary smartphone development that you just can't have too much information!

Google's Project Ara customisable smartphone is on its way:

Google’s Project Ara closer

Google Project Ara gets closer to market ...
This amazing Smartphone DIY project might actually get to market later in 2015.

Want Google’s modular Android phone? Find a food truck in Puerto Rico | Ars Technica:

Chrome Account Switcher

Now you can set up two accounts in Chrome ...
This makes life easier for multiple users on the same PC and also for those single users who have multiple Gmail accounts.

Google Brings The Account Switcher To The Stable Version Of Chrome | TechCrunch:

Google Translate in real time

Google translate now offers real time translation ...
Google claims that 500 million people use Google Translate in some form each month, with more than one billion translations made per day! This development should increase these figures substantially!

Google Translate Now Does Real-Time Voice And Sign Translations On Mobile | TechCrunch:

Defraggler from Piriform

Another useful PC utility from Piriform ...
Defraggler is a more thorough defragmenter that the standard one that comes with Windows. Take care with older disk drives as this puts a lot of stress on the hard drive and may even be too much for it! Other useful utilities from Piriform include CCleaner, Speccy and Recuva.

Download of the day: Defraggler | Software News | TechRadar:

Top 11 tech trends of CES

Interesting summary of trends at CES 2015 ...
Overview of the key technical trends at this year's Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. 

The top 11 tech trends of the Consumer Electronics Show | VentureBeat | Gadgets | by Dean Takahashi:

Adults and Smartphones

80% of adults now own a smartphone ...
Some interesting statistics in this article. Internet access from smartphones is rapidly approaching Internet access from PCs and lots more than from tablets.

80% Of All Online Adults Now Own A Smartphone, Less Than 10% Use Wearables | TechCrunch:

Inside CryptoWall 2.0

Interesting description of Cryptowall 2.0 ...
This is THE malware you really don't want to see! An excellent article for the technically minded.

Inside CryptoWall 2.0: Ransomware, professional edition | Ars Technica:

Intel’s “Compute Stick”

Now here's an interesting HDMi dongle development ...
Complete PC with a USB port, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a micro SD expansion slot, and you'll be able to get them with both Windows 8.1 and Linux!

Intel’s “Compute Stick” is a full Windows or Linux PC in an HDMI dongle | Ars Technica:

Personal Backup

Cannot over stress importance of Backups ...
There are many free applications to help you automate your own personal backups and this is one of them!

Download of the day: Personal Backup | News | TechRadar:

Netflix coming to Australia

Netfix could shake up "Free to Air" ...
It is about time Foxtel and Free to Air had some serious competition.

Netflix coming to Australia in March - Gadget Guy Australia:

2015 is gets an extra second

Watch out for the extra second at end of June ...
As long as they don't jump an extra hour which could be confusing!

2015 is getting an extra second and that's a bit of a problem for the internet | The Verge:

Lenovo's new light laptop

Nice new light laptop from Lenovo ...
My favourite laptop manufacturer has come out with a new laptop lighter than a MacBook Air!

Lenovo's new laptop makes the MacBook Air feel heavy | The Verge:

Plex breaks into audio

Plex media manager gets new features ...
I would highly recommend Plex for Media Management!

Plex breaks into audio with new music video and smart playlist features | The Verge:

Windows 10 Pricing?

Windows 10 to be free for Windows 8.1 users?
The rumours about free Windows 10  for Windows 8.1 users are strengthening.

Windows 10 to be free for Windows 8.1 users? | News | TechRadar:

Intel’s 5th Gen Core CPUs

Next generation Intel is now here ...
For the technically minded! Now you will start seeing "5th Generation Intel" stickers!

Intel’s 5th Gen Core processors are finally, really here | The Verge:

Acer 15-inch Chromebook

Good looking 15" Chromebook from Acer ...
I would be interested to know the price of the model with Intel Core i3 and the 1920 x 1080 screen!

Acer goes big with 15-inch Chromebook and a new Broadwell CPU | PCWorld:

5 trends for 2015

Some technology trends to make a difference in 2015 ...
Could probably list about 20 such trends as technology moves faster and faster.

5 trends set to shape computing in 2015 | News | TechRadar:

Cloud Storage - Dropbox

Cloud storage price wars continue ...
With the dropping prices, the winner in all this is the consumer!

Best free software of 2014: Dropbox | News | TechRadar:

Microsoft’s New Browser

Microsoft's Internet Explorer's days are numbered ...
Looks like Windows 10 may come with two browsers. IE11 for backwards compatibility and a newly designed browser more like Chrome or Firefox for the future.

Report: Microsoft’s browser for Windows 10 won’t be Internet Explorer | Ars Technica:

Google Tracker for 2015

Excellent summary of Google's current activities ...
This Ron Amadeo article is a long read but well worth it for those who are following Google's current activities in detail.

Google Tracker 2015: Everything we know Google is working on for the new year | Ars Technica:

Apps to speed up your PC

Might be worth looking at for slow PC ...
Generally not a fan for any app that claims to "speed up your PC" but I have used all of these except PC Decrapifier. These are mainly tools rather "optimisers" that have little affect.

The five best apps for speeding up your PC | News | TechRadar:

aTube Catcher Software

For those who want to download YouTubes ...
This free software looks good - I must give it a try! I actually use DownloadHelper which is a free extension for the Mozilla Firefox browser.

Download of the day: aTube Catcher | News | TechRadar:

Piriform Recuva

Another useful tool from Piriform ...
I have never had much luck with file recovery software but this is the one I would try if faced with the problem. Key is to use it as soon as possible after the loss as eventually that part of the hard disk will be overwritten and you file lost for ever. Recuva comes from the same software house as CCleaner.

Download of the day: Recuva | News | TechRadar:

Google+ Now Improves Videos

Google+ can now automatically improve your videos ...
Google+ has been using Auto-Awesome to improve your uploaded photos for a while but now they are giving your videos the same treatment!

Google+ Can Now Automatically Make Your Videos Look Better | TechCrunch:

Google’s Self-Driving Car

Google's first official prototype self driving car ...
After a few mockups here is the first official prototype. You would expect that the legal barriers would seem insurmountable!

Here’s What Google’s First Custom-Built Self-Driving Car Looks Like Now | TechCrunch:

Wozniak moves to Australia

Wozniak (Apple fame) moves to Australia ...
So Sydney is to become the initial home for the Wozniak family!

Wozniak to be a permanent fixture:

10 tips to remove programs

Some useful tips and tools in this article ...
I have used IObit Uninstaller and another not shown here called Revo Uninstaller.

10 tips for removing a program that won't uninstall | News | TechRadar:

Telstra & NBN's New Deal

Update on NBN's new deal with Telstra ...
Probably the right way to go. Australia should make use of usable existing infrastructure rather than replace everything and just scrap what we had!

Federal Government strikes new deal with Telstra to deliver NBN - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):

Social Network Use Dip

Interesting statistics on Internet usage ...
Figures for Social Networks and other common Internet uses.
Social Network Website Use Dips In U.K. And U.S. — Study | TechCrunch:

NASA e-mailed a wrench

One way to get just the tool you need ...
3 D Printing is certainly finding lots of uses these days!

NASA just e-mailed a wrench to space | Ars Technica:

Disabled dog runs first time

Fantastic story and a very lucky dog ...
Take a look at the video and be amazed!

Disabled dog runs for the first time thanks to 3D-printed legs | The Verge:

Chromecast Guest Access

Chromecast now allows for Guest log in ...
This means that once Guest Access has been granted in Chromecast, guests to your how can cast content to your TV without you having to supply your Wi-Fi details.

Chromecast Now Lets Your Guests Take Over Your TV Without Needing Your WiFi Password | TechCrunch:

Google ‘My Maps’ Creation

Now create your own personal Google Maps in Drive ...
This is a great development and it works really well!

Google Brings ‘My Maps’ Custom Map Creation To Google Drive | TechCrunch:

Google-backed FIDO

New FIDO standard may end the need for passwords ...
This new security standard will allow for multiple ways of authenticating you when logging into to websites and apps. Still lots of work to be done but at least we are on the way to a better system than passwords.

Google-backed password-killer crosses major milestone | The Verge:

Torque takes on “OK Google”

Microsoft's answer to "OK Google" ...
Not sure what Microsoft is doing these days! They seem intent on developing and releasing apps for Android in preference to completing their own products for Windows.

Torque, Microsoft’s Alternative To “OK Google,” Now Works On Android Smartphones | TechCrunch:

Video history of Android

Interesting record of Android development ...
Potted history of Android development for the record!

A video history of Android | The Verge:

IrfanView Photo Editor

Excellent photo editor although a little techy ...
Great free photo editor that is particularly good if you want to convert or change a batch of photos in the same way. Very capable but user interface a little clunky!

Download of the day: IrfanView | News | TechRadar:

Google's new CAPTCHA

Frustrating CAPTCHAs on their way out ...
At last a better way of checking if you are a robot!

Google's new CAPTCHA test to see if you're a robot simply asks if you're a robot:

Audacity Audio Editor

Great audio editor - wouldn't be without it ...
Used by amateurs and professionals, Audacity has been around for years and is almost an institution!

Download of the day: Audacity | News | TechRadar: