Latest news with #WindowsPCs
The Star
25-05-2025
- The Star
Opinion: You can keep using Windows 10 after October, but security updates will cost you
I really like it when something I write starts more conversations. A while back I wrote about Windows PCs and antivirus software. In that piece, I included a line that read in part, 'If you're running Windows 11 (and you do need to be running Windows 11)…' I received more than a few emails from readers asking why I wrote that specific line about needing to be running Windows 11. Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025. This means they will no longer offer free security update and fixes. This news is understandably making people nervous, and probably a little mad. Nobody likes to be told what to do – especially when it costs money. There are a lot of users who have figured out their current computers are not compatible with Windows 11. Most of those people are perfectly happy with the computer they currently own, and don't like being told to buy a new one or risk the consequences. So, let's talk about those consequences. What happens if you continue using Windows 10 after October? I told one reader that I'd liken it to driving your car without seat belts or airbags. Those safety devices are there to protect you, but you really don't need them unless you are in an accident. (Please wear your seat belts. Obviously, this is just an analogy to give the upgrade some context.) Everyone must decide how much risk they are willing to undertake. Your Windows 10 computer will still work after October. You will have an increased risk of getting malware or a virus that could compromise your personal information. Someone asked if running a third-party antivirus app would protect them. Antivirus solutions can still protect against malware or viruses, but the operating system patching that Microsoft has provided will go away One thing I learned recently is that Microsoft is only ending free Windows 10 security updates. Business customers can buy up to three years of extended security updates, but those will cost more. Each machine will cost US$61 (RM260) for the first year, then the cost doubles each year in the second and third years. After three years, the ESU will cost business and enterprise customers a total of US$427 (1,820) per machine. As for consumers, if you are willing to pay US$30 (RM127), you can buy one more year of protection for your Windows 10 Home systems (through October 2026). This is called the Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 10. Microsoft has not mentioned ESU availability for home users after the first year, but stay tuned. – Tribune News Service
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything Qualcomm Announced at Its Computex 2025 Keynote in 19 Minutes
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Qualcomm may be best known for powering smartphones, but at the Computex trade show in Taiwan, the US chip vendor came to talk about Windows PCs and its play for a market that's long been dominated by Intel and AMD. 'We're going to be in the PC market forever,' said Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. In a keynote, Amon detailed the company's progress over the past year since it made a major push to sell Snapdragon X-powered Windows laptops. 'We've very happy with the traction so far,' he said. 'We have now over 85 plus [PC] designs that have launched or are in development." The goal is to release 100+ product models by next year, giving consumers more choice for their next laptop purchases. In a shot at Intel and AMD, Amon also said Qualcomm entered the Windows PC business after Microsoft came to the company with a 'desire to restore the performance and innovation leadership to the Windows ecosystem.' One of Amon's major announcements was that Qualcomm plans on expanding its Windows laptop focus to businesses and enterprises. He's also betting that artificial intelligence, including on-device AI, will become so important to users that the technology will act like an operating system, rather than merely as a software tool or application. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips were designed to outperform rival silicon from Intel, AMD, and even Apple in terms of both performance, on-device AI workloads, and battery life. Still, one key challenge facing Arm-based laptops is software compatibility since existing Windows programs were built for x86 chips from Intel and AMD, rather than Qualcomm processors. But in his keynote, Amon highlighted the surge in native Windows apps built for Arm-based chips. 'We have 1,400 games that are running and optimized on Snapdragon. And we're working with all the top global gaming studios,' he said, adding that Fortnite is on the way too. Amon also noted: '93% of the users' time using those devices are now on native experiences.' The remaining time is spent using an emulator to run x86 Windows apps. Qualcomm and its partners plan on showing off some of their upcoming Snapdragon Windows laptops at Computex. So stay tuned for our coverage.
Android Authority
15-05-2025
- Android Authority
Got a Samsung phone? Get these 5 Samsung apps because they're not installed by default
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority Usually, when we talk about Samsung's first-party apps, it's in a negative light, whether it's the conversation around bloatware or useless apps like Samsung's keyboard. Don't let those apps sour you from trying some of Samsung's other apps, though. Ironically, the companies' best are the ones that aren't included on your phone. There are many apps I wanted to include on this list, but I've focused on the ones that can make the biggest difference to how you use your phone, ranging from customisation to getting the most from your camera. Samsung Flow: Share files (and your screen) Samsung Flow is an underappreciated gem. It lets you easily share files between Galaxy devices and even Windows PCs. You can even remotely access certain devices. Galaxy tablets can remote access phones (as seen above), and a Windows PC can do this for both phones and tablets. On Windows, you'll even hear audio from the controlled device, except for phone calls. You even get Android's old navigation buttons at the bottom of the window, which is easier to use with a keyboard and mouse than gesture navigation. File transfers are easy, too. You can type or copy/paste text and send it as a message or attach files, photos, documents, contacts, and more. I'm always sending screenshots back and forth between my phone and PC, and this makes it easier. Home Up: Fine-tune your home screen Samsung's Home Up Good Lock module got a big update for One UI 7. It was already one of my favorite Good Lock modules, and the added features only made it better. The basics I'd play around with first are grid size and the overview screen. As phones have gotten taller, I've found that five or even six rows of apps isn't always enough, especially on an extra-tall device like my Galaxy Z Fold 4 when using the cover screen. Home Up lets you change the grid size easily and offers an option to 'view widgets larger' to stop them from getting cut off by the bigger grid size. Home Up also lets you address one of my biggest gripes with One UI. By default, the phone scrolls one app to the left each time you open the overview screen, with the app you were just in getting moved to the right. I detest this behavior and always change it with the 'center the currently running app' toggle. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can try some of the other overview styles. One Hand Operation Plus: Improve gesture navigation One Hand Operation + (yes, that's what it's called) is another Good Lock module I can't live without. I'm not kidding — I miss the features it provides whenever I have to use a non-Samsung phone, and my wife has even said losing it would prevent her from trying a different brand. One of the first things I do with it is change the area where side gestures can be used. A lot of apps still use slide-out menus, so I limit my navigation gestures to the bottom half of the screen. You can also assign different actions to swipes from the sides of your phone — straight out, diagonal up, and diagonal down. I find stretching my thumb down to the bottom edge of the phone to swipe home painful at times (thanks, arthritis), so I can do full navigation from the sides. Swiping right out goes back, diagonal up opens overview, and diagonal down goes home. You can also assign different actions to long swipes, and there are dozens of options here, from widget panels to one-handed mode. Expert RAW: Take your photography out of this world Expert RAW is a very in-depth app that's a great starting point for people who want to get more serious about photography. You can set long exposures for astro photography, mess with white balance, metering, focus, and more. It gives you more options than I have time to explain now, but we have a handy guide that goes into more detail here. One of the things I appreciate about this app is that it has less aggressive post-processing than the regular camera app. Despite the name, you can have the app save all photos as JPEGs if the more natural look is all you want. Of course, the main reason to use the app is for the editing you can do with the RAW files. If you use an app like Lightroom, you can dramatically change the look of a photo, and that's where another feature in Expert RAW comes in. If you have a Samsung tablet, you can have pictures captured with the app automatically sent to it. That's what I do, as I find editing in Lightroom easier on my Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. Sound Assistant: Control music with the screen off There are many things Sound Assistant can do, but I've narrowed it down to the three I use the most. The first is using the volume keys to control music when the screen is off. Sometimes, I sleep with earbuds in, and I turn off the touch gestures on the buds to prevent my pillow from activating them. This feature lets me change the track by holding a volume key without even opening my eyes. You can even change the orientation of the buttons to suit your needs. Next, we have Bluetooth Metronome, which lets you compensate for syncing issues when playing over Bluetooth. It isn't necessary to listen to music, but it can be a game-changer for watching videos where people are talking and where out-of-sync lip movements can be distracting. Finally, we have the favorite media app option, which lets you pick an app to begin playback when nothing is currently playing, rather than defaulting to whatever you used last. It has come in handy for me when going on walks, as I only need to tap an earbud to get some music rather than fishing out my phone, looking at my Galaxy Watch, or using Gemini. Of all Samsung's apps, these are some of the ones I use the most, but there are plenty of others out there, like Camera Assistant and the multitude of Good Lock modules I didn't list here. They're all worth looking through and can dramatically change how you use your phone. Is there a Samsung app you can't live without? Let me know about it in the comments.
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Business Standard
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Delta Force video game now live on PC, Android, and iOS: Check Details
Delta Force PC and mobile have got a seasonal update with the third season kicking off on both platforms. According to a report by SportsKeeda, the new update brings new additions but also includes important balance changes surrounding operator abilities and weapons. The third season of the Delta Force PC is now live across the globe. Players can download it on both PC and mobile devices. Delta Force then and now TiMi Studio Group has officially launched its new first-person tactical shooter, Delta Force, a modern revival of the classic FPS series once developed by NovaLogic. Initially introduced under the name Delta Force: Hawk Ops, the game has gone through a few name changes before ultimately returning to its original, simplified title — Delta Force. The game is now available as a free-to-play title on Windows PCs, Android, and iOS devices, with console versions reportedly on the way in the near future. This new instalment marks a fresh chapter in the long-dormant Delta Force franchise, which was once a staple of PC military shooters in the early 2000s. The official launch took place on April 21, 2025, across mobile platforms and PC, offering players a blend of modern military action and strategic gameplay. With cross-platform play and high-end visuals optimised for mobile hardware, Delta Force aims to reach a broad global audience. The console release, while not dated yet, is expected to further expand the game's reach and make it accessible to players across all major gaming systems. The decision to return to the franchise's roots by dropping the subtitle reflects the developer's intent to position the game as a true successor to the original series — one that respects its legacy while adapting to modern gaming expectations.
CBC
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Teen voices Mi'kmaw character in new fantasy video game
15-year-old says she wants others to learn about Mi'kmaw language ⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ Kun'tewiktuk: A Mi'kmaw Adventure released on March 20. It's a Mi'kmaw-inspired fantasy video game that takes place in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Bresis Dennis, 15, recorded the voice of the main character. She said she wanted to help share the Mi'kmaw language and culture with the world. Keep reading to find out about the game and how to play. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Bresis Dennis, 15, knew it was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. When she heard that a video game developer with Green Robot Studios in Sydney, Nova Scotia, was looking for voice actors for a Mi'kmaw-inspired video game, she was nervous to audition. But she felt like she had a responsibility to share her culture and language with the world. And since very few people speak Mi'kmaw, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. 'I know the language, and maybe I could help bring it back a little,' Bresis told CBC Kids News. Now you can hear Bresis in Kun'tewiktuk: A Mi'kmaw Adventure. The fantasy game inspired by Mi'kmaw legends and lore officially dropped on March 20. It was released on Steam for Windows PCs. The story Bresis voices a character named Wasuek, who is a 13-year-old Mi'kmaw girl living in Unama'ki ('Land of the Fog'), which is known today as Cape Breton Island. The game begins after Wasuek realises her brother, U'n, has disappeared. She runs into the forest and meets peaceful, troll-like creatures who tell her that an evil creature took him. They say she must venture into the spirit realm to get him back. The game follows her as she embarks on this quest. Click play to hear Bresis speak Mi'kmaq in the game. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Preserving the culture Shawn Green is the creator of Kun'tewiktuk: A Mi'kmaw Adventure. He runs Green Robot Studios. Green has spent years working on educational games about the history of Nova Scotia. He said that as he learned more about Mi'kmaw culture, he was inspired to create a game about it. 'Once we did a deeper dive, the stories that we discovered about this wonderful culture were mind-blowing,' Green said. 'The stories are really limitless.' Because Green is not Indigenous, he wanted to ensure that the Mi'kmaw culture was portrayed accurately in the game. So he partnered with Kji-Wikuom Studios, an audio/video engineering studio based in Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia. The studio's creator, Tom Johnson, was focused on creating content that would preserve the Mi'kmaw language for future generations. With the studio's guidance, Green was able to find Mi'kmaw speakers to voice characters' roles in the game. Wasuek shoots a bow and arrow at one of the bosses in the game while fighting him off with help from the spirit world. (Image submitted by Green Robot Studios) Bresis, who is from Eskasoni First Nation, grew up speaking Mi'kmaw as her first language. 'I didn't learn how to speak English until I started going to school,' she said. She attended a Mi'kmaw immersion school in Eskasoni that focused on teaching and revitalizing the Mi'kmaw culture. She said it's unusual for people her age to speak the language. 'Some of the people I went to immersion with are still my best friends, but they don't even remember how to speak it,' she said. PROFILE — Award-winning Mi'kmaw singer-songwriter is only 16 When Bresis's sister saw the Facebook ad for an audition, she encouraged her to apply. Bresis was nervous, but after some convincing from her family, she realized how important it was for her to do this. She said as a kid, she didn't see her culture represented much, so when she heard about the game, she was excited. 'I was like, 'Oh my God, I've been thinking about this since I was younger,' so it was really cool to be a part of it,' she said. She hopes the game will teach kids 'little words to learn' and they will have fun playing it. 'I feel like this game could change some kids' perspective on being Native and stuff,' she said. Bresis Dennis records her lines into a microphone at Kji-Wikuom Studios in Eskissoqnik (Eskasoni), Unama'ki (Cape Breton). (Image submitted by Green Robot Studios) Creating the game Green wanted the voice actors to be as close to their character's age as possible. That's why Bresis was such a great find, he said. 'We heard her voice and it sounded perfect for the role,' Green said. WATCH — N.S. teen finds her voice singing Beatles song in Mi'kmaq Bresis recorded her character's lines in two sessions at Kji-Wikuom Studios, which was only a five-minute walk from her house. Bresis said that being close to home made the whole experience less nerve-wracking. 'I was really nervous and kind of having second thoughts. But when I got there, I realized it wasn't as scary as I thought,' she said. The game begins after the main character, Wasuek, realises her brother, U'n, has disappeared. This image from the game shows U'n in the spirit realm. (Image submitted by Green Robot Studios) She said overall, it was a fun experience and she appreciated that some elders were on site to help her with more complicated words. Bresis said she felt very supported by the elders in her community. And her friends? 'They were hyped,' she said.
