Update 2/28 06:51 PT

Its official, Microsoft are shuttering Skype. You've got until May 5 to migrate your chats and contacts over to Microsoft Teams.

Original Article:

Yesterday, a hidden string was discovered in the code for the latest Skype for Windows 11 preview that states "Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.", precluding the imminent retiring of 22 year-old messenger Skype — this information being discovered over at XDA Developers. Since Microsoft Teams is already built over the Skype infrastructure that Microsoft first bought back in 2011, this should be a seamless transition in the long run— but it still marks the death of a classic staple in online messaging platforms.

Skype has its origins back in August of 2003, and in the 22 years since its launch, it has seen a myriad of ports, official and unofficial, to countless devices and operating systems. Skype has appeared on Nokia's Symbian phones, Sony's PlayStation Portable and even HoloLens!

To the say the least, the final death of Skype marks a key turning point in the history of online messengers. The recent pandemic proved that services including Skype were essential during such a dark time. One could argue that the end of Skype is moot, as it continues to exist in a different form through Microsoft Teams.

Once upon a time, Skype was regarded as one of the best messaging apps out there— but its reputation began to sour when it received in-app advertisements in September 2011, after the Microsoft acquisition. While Microsoft would phase out its other communication apps to make Skype a focus, the unwanted addition of advertisements and waves of spam bot slowly but steadily pushed Skype out of the limelight.

As sad as it is to give a post mortem on Skype, we think it's fair to say that this application has long served its purpose in the grand scheme of things. Remote workers have Teams and other messaging applications to make the most of video conferencing and productivity-centered communications. Gamers now have the free-but-intensive Discord, alongside the always-reliable lightweight VoIP clients like Mumble and Teamspeak, to rely on instead of Skype.

Skype and its era of competing messengers including MSN Messenger finally seems to be over. As the industry moves past Skype in the coming months, it will become a footnote in the ongoing history of computing.

Bing Chat, the AI chatbot based on ChatGPT that took the world by storm just two weeks ago, is going mobile. While Bing Chat was previously only available on a laptop or desktop in the web browser, Microsoft announced that it is now on the Bing and Edge mobile apps on iOS and Android.

I had to update Bing on my iPhone to get the chat function, but since I have access to the Chat preview, it automatically worked. Bing did ask for access to my location for results targeted to my position, and it also needed to use my microphone. That's because you can now talk to Bing using your voice, and — on mobile — it will talk back to you.

At the moment, Bing's voice is a generic female voice that's lacking a bit in the emotion department. It's in the vein of Siri and Alexa's default settings, though those can be changed, and options include male voices and different accents. Hopefully Bing will eventually allow this type of customization. Voice is also available on desktop.

But Bing's jump to mobile isn't just in Edge and the Bing app: Microsoft is also putting the AI chatbot in Skype. In this case, you add Bing to conversations between you and your friends or in group chats. From there, you can tag @Bing to ask questions, and the Bing AI will answer. According to Microsoft's blog post, you'll be able to pick between getting answer in text, bullet points, or a "simplified response."

Bing can also act as translator in Skype — Microsoft says it is "fluent" in over 100 different languages. Outside of Skype, Microsoft says it also plans to bring Bing to other chat services, such as its Teams app, in the future.

People who already have access to the Bing chat preview will get Skype access later today, and the company is warning about a bug:

"In the first few days of testing these mobile experiences, you may occasionally find connectivity issues in low-bandwidth situations. We’re aware of the issue and are working on a fix."

Microsoft says that more than one million people have been brought into the Bing preview from over 169 countries. The company has made some changes to the chatbot, limiting its use and output after it went off the rails during long conversations (it would have been scary to hear it speaking some of what it said to me out loud!). Since then, the company has been slowly lifting the guardrails, allowing more, slightly longer conversations.

Have you ever been concerned that your monitor wasn’t fit for displaying your next Zoom call? Or were you ever shopping for a PC monitor and yearned for reassurance that it’d work properly with your precious Chromebook? Us neither. But if you want a new display and just don’t feel right pulling the trigger without some random software certifications to validate your purchase, HP’s latest displays may be the best computer monitors for you. 

Today, HP announced the HP E24mv G4 FHD Conferencing Monitor. Available in August (price not disclosed yet), it is, as the company put it, “the world’s first Zoom-certified monitor.” What does that mean? Obviously not much on its own, but according to HP, you can now officially “expect a superb conferencing experience with technologies designed to work seamlessly with Zoom.” 

Now, we know what you're thinking. Any display at all that can properly connect to your PC should handle your next Zoom meeting perfectly fine. But what the E24mv G4 brings to the (conference) table that most other monitors do not is a pop-up, integrated webcam with 5MP resolution. 

The webcam can tilt 25 degrees and has "improved sensors" for picking up color and light, plus an IR sensor for Windows Hello logins via facial recognition. This all leads HP to call the shooter the “world’s most advanced webcam in a conferencing monitor.”

The E24mv G4 also has two 2W speakers built-in and a pair of microphones for an admittedly complete conference experience--as long as that conference isn't noisy enough to drown out a pair of 2W speakers.

Of course, all of these features are totally applicable to any other videoconferencing app. And we’ve yet to see a Skype-certified monitor (enter diss about Zoom surpassing Skype here), for example, so there’s no big reason to tout Zoom certification over the integrated hardware. But at least someone’s excited about the Zoom stamp of approval. 

“We are excited to introduce the first Zoom Certified collaboration display for the personal workplace - the HP E24mv Conferencing Monitor,” Eric Yu, Head of Hardware Partnership, Zoom, said in a statement. “This is the first certification of its kind, involving extensive testing. Zoom is committed to providing video communications that empower people to accomplish more.”

Still, if “Zoom-certified” gets us a decent built-in webcam, microphones and speakers, consider our interest piqued...just don’t tell HP about Google Meet. 

Chromebook Certification Too

Just in case one certification wasn't enough, HP also announced the HP M27fd USB-C Monitor today, its first monitor to earn the Works With Chromebook badge. Google says the badge is awarded to “accessories that will work seamlessly with your Chromebook,” and that the products “are tested and proven to meet Chromebook compatibility standards.” But let’s be real. If you’re settling for a Chromebook, chances are you’re not very particular about your tech anyway. And let's not forget the fact that, if your Chromebook has an HDMI port, it will work with pretty much any monitor or TV made in the last 15 years or so, certification or not.

According to HP’s announcement, Google’s testing emphasizes “specific connectivity, input and power requirements so users have a seamless and compliant pairing experience.” You know what also has specific connectivity, input and power requirements? Literally every type of video connection you might use to plug a Chromebook into any other display.

Of course, HP’s announcement is quick to note that the monitor “also works with any USB-C capable laptop” up to 65W. This Chromebook-certified monitor is more open-minded than you might think. 

Finally, to top off the certification cake, the M27fd is also specced to run AMD FreeSync. You know, so you can put your Chromebook away at the end of the day and break out your gaming rig.

The M27fd is available now for $300. 

 Specs

In an attempt to get more developers to build software for Windows 10 on Arm, Qualcomm is debuting a Snapdragon Developer Kit. The company announced the small desktop PC today ahead of Microsoft's Build developer conference.

The new system was built "in collaboration with Microsoft" and will run Windows 10. While Qualcomm refers to the system as "cost-effective," it hasn't listed a price for the system, which will run on the Snapdragon 7c platform. It will be available for purchase in the Microsoft Store sometime this summer, and is part of an effort to have developers port software to native ARM64.

Qualcomm told members of the press that developers won't need to return the system, an apparent dig at Apple's Developer Transition Kits for the M1 processor, which needed to go back to the company.

The Snapdragon developer kit resembles an Intel NUC or Apple's Mac Mini, in that it's a small, low-profile desktop. Thus far, every Windows on Arm device has been a laptop, as one of Arm's benefits is long battery life. Miguel Nunes, senior director of product management at Qualcomm said in a statement that the "developer kit provides an affordable alternative to other consumer and commercial devices. With the smaller desktop configuration, this kit gives developers more flexibility than notebook options, and at a lower price point."

Qualcomm's kit has a large power button on top and a sparse selection of ports, including USB Type-A and an SD card slot on the side.

In December, Microsoft started adding x64 emulation to Windows on Arm Insider Builds. But the developer kit is an attempt to kickstart more Arm-native apps. Today, Zoom is announcing an optimized version of its video conference app, which is coming this summer.

There are a number of existing native Arm apps for Windows 10, including VLC, Twitter, Firefox, Edge, Microsoft Office, Netflix, Twitter, Skype and Windows 10. But the number that will be able to be emulated when x64 hits mainstream Windows will increase significantly. Still, native apps will perform even faster.

Without information liek price and full specs, it's hard to even surmise what kind of effect this will have with the developer community. Qualcomm is teasing that more information will be shared at a Build session entitled “What’s new for Windows desktop application developers." 

Qualcomm also announced its Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 system on a chip today for entry-level Windows PCs and Chromebooks. The company was light on details, but promised laptops using it will start at $349 and offer multi-day battery life depending on use. 

Researchers have discovered that the XCSSET malware has started targeting M1-equipped Macs via Xcode, The Hacker News reported Monday and has been updated to compromise accounts on various cryptocurrency trading platforms.

Xcode is the integrated development environment (IDE) used to make apps for the iPhone, iPad, and other Apple hardware. Even if a cross-platform framework is used to develop a particular app, it must pass through Xcode to reach those platforms.

That means XCCSET is limiting itself to technically savvy people who, if we had to guess, would be more likely to own cryptocurrency than the average Mac owner. Targeted attacks like this are often more successful than broader ones.

Kaspersky warned that XCSSET had been updated for Apple's custom silicon in March. The malware wasn't focused on cryptocurrency at the time, the security company said. Instead, it featured a variety of modules that were designed to:

• Reading and dumping Safari cookies
• Injecting malicious JavaScript code into various websites
• Stealing user files and information from applications, such as Notes, WeChat, Skype, Telegram, etc.
• Encrypting user files

Trend Micro then warned on April 16 that XCSSET had been updated to bypass security features introduced with macOS Big Sur, change the icons it uses to match system icons, and attempt to gain access to victims' accounts on crypto platforms.

The company's advice was clear: "To protect systems from this type of threat, users should only download apps from official and legitimate marketplaces," it said. But that's hard to do when it comes to finding Xcode projects to work with or learn from.

XCSSET's expansion to cryptocurrency makes sense. The value of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even Dogecoin has continued to rise in recent months, and stealing coins from someone else is probably requires fewer resources than mining them would.

Adding support for Apple's custom silicon was also prudent. Devices featuring the M1 chip have been well-reviewed, and with Apple's plan to ditch Intel entirely by the end of 2022, it makes sense to start targeting its chips now.

Other malware creators appear to agree. We saw reports of the first malware targeting Apple silicon in February, and in March, the Silver Sparrow malware was discovered on approximately 30,000 macOS devices, some of which had M1 chips.

Though there are free alternatives available, for many, there’s nothing quite like the familiar, comfortable workings of Microsoft Office, from Word’s superior spell and grammar check to the ease and sense of security of storing files locally on your own PC and not online.

Before you can get Office for free, cheap or any price, you should know there are two main variants. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) gives you constant updates but requires a monthly or annual subscription fee. Office 2019 is a fixed package of software, but you only have to pay for it once. Microsoft really wants you to use the subscription-based Microsoft 365 service, of course.

The Office 2019 package is slightly different than Microsoft 365. On top of that, there are companies besides Microsoft selling Office for free (both Microsoft 365 subscriptions and Office 2019 keys) or cheaper than Microsoft. And you can even run Office apps for free online. So what’s the best and cheapest way to get your productivity on?

From Office for free to paying $150 or subscriptions, here’s a breakdown of the best and cheapest ways to get Office (we focus on personal versions, rather than business ones).

Office 2019 vs. Office Online vs. Microsoft 365

Download Office 2019 From Microsoft: $149.99

Despite shifting focus to Microsoft 365, which used to be called Office 365, Microsoft still sells Office Home & Student 2019 for a one-time charge of $149.99. This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote but lacks some solutions Microsoft 365 has. These missing solutions may or may not be relevant to you: Outlook, Publisher (PC only), Access (PC only) and the OneDrive and Skype cloud services.

You can buy some pieces of the Office suite individually, but considering Word 2019 is $139.99, if you plan on using even 1 more Office app, it’s a better deal to buy the whole platform.

No matter where you get Office 2019, it won't be updated monthly like Microsoft 365 is. That means you’ll never see new features added. What you buy is what you get. However, you will get security patch updates “as required,”  Daniel Vargas, Microsoft director of product marketing, told Tom’s Hardware.

It's very possible that you don’t care if your Office software is updated regularly. Heck, you may even be okay with an older version of Office, say Office 2016, which you can still find keys for from third-party sellers for cheaper than Office 2019. However, Office 2016 has reached end of life (EoL), meaning Microsoft no longer provides security updates for it. If you can settle for the 2016 version of Office, you can, as of this writing, get it from Kinguin for PCDestination for about $50. But customer service may be lacking (more on that later). 

Remember, to use Office 2019, you need to be running Windows 10. Luckily, we’ve already detailed how to get Windows 10 for free or cheap.

If Office 2019 is your preferred choice, you can get it for significantly cheaper than the $149.99 Microsoft charges by buying it from a third-party retailer.

Download Office 2019 Key From a Third-Party: ~$45

Microsoft charges $149.99 to download Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019, but you can save a lot of money if you’re willing to buy it from a different store.

Newegg sometimes sells the same download key for $123.99, so it's worth checking. If you can wait for a physical key, Walmart currently sells the key card for $124, Amazon occasionally has it for $125 and Kinguin has it for a shockingly low $36 (and even lower with a Kinguin discount code). 

But before you take out credit card, let's talk about the reasons you might want to avoid these retailers. 

The Downsides

Saving over $100 on Office 2019 sounds like a no-brainer. However, since you’re not buying from Microsoft, you’ll have to exert some caution. You’re probably comfortable shopping at a well-known retailer like Newegg or Amazon; however, you’ll want to check their return policy on software.

You may be more hesitant to buy from key reseller website like Kinguin. Many question their legitimacy or morality behind such deals. To learn more about its Office 2019, we spoke with Kinguin directly.

“Only the original developer or publisher of a digital product can generate keys, so all of the Office 2019 keys come from this source. From there, either a seller buys them directly from the publisher or from the wholesaler, who also got them directly from a publisher, and sells them on Kinguin for a fair market price,” Michał Puczyński, PR Manager at Kinguin, told Tom’s Hardware in September 2019.

Puczyński admitted there are “a few bad apples” in its marketplace but said this is inevitable since there are “tens of thousands of Office 2019 keys sold by thousands of sellers on Kinguin.” However, he claimed that only one out of 700 postings aren’t legitimate, and an even smaller percentage of shoppers actually get scammed.

“Our fraud prevention team manages to stop nearly 100% of these attempts before they take place. When a scammer is detected through our custom fraud technology, that person is banned for a lifetime from selling on Kinguin,” Puczyński explained.

Kinguin also offers a $5.69 “Buyer Protection, ”which guarantees you a refund if you get a bum key.” However, even if you don't buy this protection, Kinguin is willing to work with you for a potential refund if your key doesn’t work.

“We always put the customer first and work to find a solution for any problem the customer has encountered, which may include issuing a refund,” Puczyński said. “The Kinguin Buyer Protection is an optional feature designed to provide added protection while purchasing in our store, as well as additional services, but that doesn’t mean the customer will get inadequate treatment without it. Kinguin does reserve its right not to accept any returns of already delivered items or game keys to protect itself from scams.”

Regardless, we've heard of customer complaints regarding slow customer service or the company offering refunds rather than dealing with individual complaints. We haven't been able to get in touch with Kinguin for a response. 

Get Microsoft Office Free: Online and Mobile Apps and More

As its name implies, Microsoft Office Online doesn’t live on your PC. Instead, you can only access these services with an internet connection. You also have to have a Microsoft account. You can get to Office Online by signing in with your Microsoft account here. Once you do so, you have access to free Office tools. 

The service is a good alternative to G Suite, especially if you don't like some of that platform’s limitations. Your files will still be at the mercy of the web, but you’ll be able to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, Skype, Flow, Forms and Sway without paying any money. Plus, since everything is internet-based, you can access it from any computer connected to the web.

As of November, Microsoft consolidated Word, Excel and PowerPoint into a single mobile app on both Android and iOS smartphones. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Free Office Online may not be a good fit for your largest or most complex projects, since features are more limited than what's offered in Microsoft 365. It has less menu options. For example tabs like Draw and Design are missing from Word online. 

The free Office Online does come with 5GB of OneDrive storage, but that’s actually skimpy compared to the 15GB of free storage you get with Google Drive.

Similarly, there are free iOS (varies from iPhone to iPad) and Android (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, OneNote and SharePoint) versions of Office software that are also available for free but with fewer features.

Note that you may also end up getting Microsoft 365 for free through a sale. For example, from now until April 18, LG is offering a 12-month subscription of Microsoft 365 Personal for free if you buy a 2021 LG Gram laptop. 

Buy Microsoft 365 From Microsoft: $69.99 or $99.99/year

On April 21, Microsoft renamed Office 365 to Microsoft 365. In addition to a new name, Microsoft 365 brings new features, including artificial intelligence, new templates and content and "cloud-powered experiences," according to Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Modern Life, Search & Devices at Microsoft. 

Microsoft 365 Personal, which is for one person across multiple devices, is $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year. You can use Microsoft 365 Home for free through a one-month trial. Microsoft 365 Family, for up to six people, is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. 

Microsoft 365 is a great option if you don’t mind paying for your productivity suite on an annual or monthly basis. It won’t be long until you’ve paid more for Office 365 than you would have for Office 2019, but it does come with more apps than Office 2019. In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, Office 365 includes Outlook, Publisher, OneDrive and Skype. PC users also get Publisher and Access. 

Perhaps the best part is you can install Microsoft 365 on an unlimited number of devices and log into your subscription on up to 5 of those devices simultaneously. Additionally, Office 365 Personal subscribers get 1TB of OneDrive storage for up to 1 user, and Office 365 Home users can share their cloud storage with 6 users. You also get 60 minutes of Skype calls to real phone numbers for 1 or 6 users, depending if you get Office 365 Home or Personal. 

Another advantage Microsoft 365 has over traditional Office 2019 is its monthly updates, which vary but can include new features, functionally and security updates, “ and often it is all of those each month,” Microsoft’s Vargas told us in September 2019. 

“Most importantly, Microsoft 365 is connected to the cloud, so you can access your content from any device, co-author with anyone in real-time (regardless of whether or not they’ve purchased a copy of Office) and use the power of artificial intelligence to create more impactful content with less effort,” he added.

You can get a free trial for Office 365 Home (only), but it’ll last a mere month.

Buy Microsoft 365 From a Third-Party: $49.99 or $79.99/year

You can also buy or renew your Microsoft 365 subscription from a third-party retailer in one-year packages that are cheaper than what Microsoft charges for its one-year subscriptions.

At the time of writing, Newegg has a 15-month Microsoft 365 Personal subscription for $69.99 if bought with another product or $60 for a 12-month Office 365 subscription, (note that you won't get the features of the current Microsoft 365), which will have to be delivered. 

Amazon has Microsoft 365 Personal for $40 but is charging the same price as Microsoft for Microsoft 365 Family. It doesn't offer the older Office 365. 

Note that you still get free Microsoft technical support for the duration of your subscription, even if you buy your subscription outside of Microsoft. But Microsoft won’t handle subscription or billing issues, such as cancellations or refunds. This is because “Microsoft has limited access and visibility over subscription purchased through a third-party retailer,” according to Vargas.

Get Office Free: Microsoft 365 Education for Students, Teachers

If you’re a student or teacher, you can actually get an Microsoft 365 subscription for free, if your school qualifies. The subscription includes SharePoint, Sway, Forms, Stream, Flow, PowerApps, School Data Sync, Yammer, which aren't included in regular Office 365 subscriptions. However, you miss out on Outlook, Publisher and Access.

To see if you’re eligible for free Microsoft 365 Education, head to Microsoft’s website.

Bottom Line

Microsoft Office is a productivity staple. If you insist on the traditional procurement method of buying and owning the software for life and don’t need the software to be updated monthly, you should stick with Office 2019, just know that EoL will eventually come. You can also buy a legitimate key from a key reseller for as low as about $45, saving you around $105 from Microsoft’s pricing.

If you’re not doing big projects but instead just basic documents, spreadsheets, presentations etc., you may be able to get away with free Office Online or mobile apps. Just be sure you have an Internet connection.

But for heavy-duty productivity, the world is moving toward subscription-based software. Microsoft 365 comes with more offerings than Office 2019, monthly updates, the ability to share among multiple devices, plus a heaping 1TB of free cloud storage. You can get it for cheaper if you buy it outside of Microsoft, for as little as $50 for a year. But make sure it’s a retailer you trust, in case of billing or subscription questions. If you’re okay with making monthly or annual payments to continue creating and editing files, Microsoft 365 -- is tomorrow’s productivity suite.

In a surprising move, Corsair, a maker of PC components and PCs, this week announced that it had acquired Kinoni's EpocCam, a program that transforms Apple's iPhone and iPad into a feature-rich wireless webcam that can be used to chat, collaborate, stream, and record video. The program will be used to boost Corsair's portfolio of Elgato-branded products for content creators. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

At times, it is strange to see hardware companies buying software assets, but a closer look at what Corsair is today may shed some light on the acquisition rationale. Corsair was established in 1994 to build enthusiast-grade memory modules. Eventually, the company branched out into other computer components, including NAND flash-based products, computer cases, PSUs, coolers, keyboards, and mice. With a broad product portfolio, Corsair transformed into essentially a gaming hardware company and even changed its name from Corsair Components to Corsair Gaming somewhere along the line. 

To strengthen its gaming business, Corsair took over Origin PC, a boutique PC maker, SCUF Gaming, a maker of controllers for PCs and consoles, as well as Elgato, a producer of solutions for professional game streamers, in the last couple of years. But to properly address the gaming market at large, Corsair needs not only competitive hardware but complete solutions consisting of many pieces. 

Corsair's Elgato has different kinds of live streaming equipment starting from video/game capture cards all the way to stream decks (which control the presentation) and even lighting. Elgato still does not have cameras and webcams, though. Instead of building its own high-end camera and/or webcam (which costs quite a lot) for a rather niche market, Corsair decided that it is easier to buy a program that transforms iPads and iPhones into webcams for game streamers. After all, modern smartphones have far better cameras and optics than mainstream webcams do.

The EpocCam app will continue to be compatible with Zoom, Skype, OBS Studio, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams and will allow anyone with an Apple Mac or a Windows PC to chat, stream, or record. Meanwhile, the latest version of EpocCam has been integrated into the wider Elgato ecosystem of content creation tools to suit professional game streamers better.   

Corsair is on the rise these days, partly because people who stay at home are more inclined to spend on gaming in general and gaming hardware in particular. According to The Esports Observer, the company went public and raised $118.6 million in September. Corsair sold 7.5 million shares at $17 a share, which put its market capitalization at $1.56 billion. A little more than a month later, Corsair's share price jumped to $24.9, and its market capitalization is now at $2.277 billion.    

It’s not quite sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads, but researchers at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have come up with a new way to browse the internet: using lasers to Skype with Scuba divers.

Called Aqua-Fi, this new approach to connectivity is about more than just posting coral reef selfies to Twitter. Instead, scientists hope to use it to control diving robots, monitor pollution from underwater industries, and even introduce underwater GPS. For now, though, they’re testing it with simple video chats.

With Wi-Fi stretching from the ground to airplanes, we’re used to having coverage pretty much wherever we go. But for decades now, underwater communications have still relied on sonar and low frequency radio. That means slow connection speeds that can only support downloads of about 700 words per minute in text and virtually no uploads.

Aqua-Fi, however, works on a different principle. In experiments, researchers sent scuba divers underwater wearing Raspberry Pis that converted wireless internet signals from their waterproof phones into optical laser signals, which they then shot upwards to a receiver attached to a surface buoy.

The buoy then sent those signals to an orbiting satellite, which KAUST researchers used to hold bi-directional Skype calls with the divers.

This stems from research the research team started in 2017, where they used a blue laser to transmit a 1.2 gigabit file underwater. However, this marks their first breakthrough in real-time back and forth communication.

The team’s other goal was to keep the tech for Aqua-Fi cheap and accessible. That meant no custom made parts, according to Basem Shihada, an associate professor of computer science at KAUST and one of the researchers on the project. This is what led the team to using Raspberry Pis, though they did eventually have to install a custom circuit to enable conversion between wireless and optical signals.

This philosophy also influenced the type of optical beam the team used, as their first design used LEDs instead of lasers. Unfortunately, the LEDs couldn’t transmit beyond 7 meters and could only achieve data rates up to 100 kilobits per second, whereas the blue and green lasers they eventually upgraded to could go beyond 20 meters and could transmit data at rates up to 2.11 megabits per second.

“Aqua-Fi can go as deep as the laser can propagate in water,”  Shihada explained in an email interview with Tech Republic, though there is a caveat. “The range and data rates are related. With longer range, the data rate is reduced.”

However, he assured that the team is working on using relays to help improve signal integrity at lower depths.

While initial tests have focused mostly on fun applications like video chat (now that’s social distancing), the team at KAUST hopes to employ Aqua-Fi towards both industrial uses and towards helping us better understand the Earth. This extends from use cases like connecting underwater stations and autonomous vehicles to terrestrial networks to mapping out the ocean in more detail than we’ve ever seen before.

“Since Aqua-Fi is Wi-Fi-based, it can also transfer the GPS coordinates of the devices underwater,” Shihada said. “Without Aqua-Fi, GPS signals cannot propagate in sea water.”

He then explained that “More than 70% of Earth is covered with water and just 5% of Earth’s oceans have been explored and mapped. So clearly there is a great potential and need for underwater engineering in general.”

For example, in addition to helping us understand our planet, Shihada said that underwater GPS could help with search and rescue operations, maintaining underwater pipelines, and even recreation like snorkeling livestreams.

Because the Raspberry Pis the KAUST team uses have custom circuits, we’re going to have to rely on them for further news on Aqua-Fi for now. But it’s impressive that they were able to get this all up-and-running on off-the-shelf equipment. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to game in your family pool soon enough.
 

With coronavirus forcing “non-essential” workers to work from home, tools for building a home office are selling out almost as much as toilet paper. We recently covered the best webcams that are still available to buy and explained how to use a Raspberry Pi as a PC webcam, but there are other options out there. If you need to video conference now and you can’t wait for a delivery or don't have a Raspberry Pi with camera module, you can use your phone or DSLR as a webcam.

How to use a Phone as a Webcam

With built-in video meeting apps like Facetime, most modern smartphones already come with video conferencing in mind. This means that, at the very least, distressed work-from-homers can join video calls from straight from their phone. But what if you want to take calls at your desk, using your phone’s camera as a plug-in accessory?

For both iPhone and Android, there are apps to do just that.

On iPhone, the most popular webcam app is EpocCam, with an average 4.3 star rating across 15.5k user reviews. EpocCam is a free download with a paid upgrade option that allows either a Windows PC or a Mac to read an iPhone as a webcam, either over Wi-Fi or using a USB connection. You’ll have to install separate drivers to your target computer from EpocCam’s site, but after that, you’re good to go.

Out of the box, EpocCam lets you choose between streaming your front or back phone camera, and ets you take advantage of your phone’s flashlight and autofocus while using it as a webcam. It boasts full compatibility with video chat and streaming programs like Skype and OBS, where your phone’s input will just show up as “EpocCam” in your webcam options.

The free version of EpocCam does have a catch in that it only offers sub-HD 640 x 480 pixel resolutions, but the $8.00 EpocCam HD version does offer full 1080p support, as well as background replacement on devices with a TrueDepth camera, which includes most recent iPhones.

EpocCam is still available on Android, though user reviews aren’t as confident, averaging 3 stars for the free version and 2 stars for the paid version. Instead, most Android users seem to have shifted to IP Webcam, a free app that has an average of 4 stars across 90k reviews.

IP Webcam is a home security app that lets you stream your Android phone’s camera to any web browser over local Wi-Fi. However, it also includes drivers for emulating a webcam in video chat programs such as Skype, at the caveat of no audio support. Just download the app, press the “Start Server” button, and enter the IP address that shows up on your phone to begin streaming your phone’s video to your computer. From there, you’ll be able to download drivers for either Windows or Linux that will let you set a resolution and use your phone as a webcam in video chat.

IP Webcam also allows video recording, easy uploads to Dropbox, activation upon motion and sound detection, and bonus niceties like text overlays. There is a paid version available for $3.99, although the only additions are a customizable UI and Tasker integration (for automating your phone’s processes). For basic video conferencing, you shouldn’t need either. 

How to use a DSLR as a webcam

If you somehow have a DSLR on hand, but not a webcam, there’s a good chance you can actually use your DSLR to substitute one. 

1. Check to see if your camera is either Nikon or Canon branded. If not, you're out of luck.

2. Download the free SparkoCam software from the company’s main site, which also has a full list of supported webcams at the bottom of its home page. 

3. Plug your DSLR into your PC using the cable that came with it. This will usually be either a microUSB, miniUSB, or full USB cable, depending on the camera. If you’ve lost your original cable, you’ll most likely be able to use a third-party replacement, so long as it’s the right type.

4. Click on the device tab in Sparkocam, where it should auto-detect your camera. 

5. Open Skype or any other video chat app and select “SparkoCam” as your webcam. You’ll have to find your own microphone, but otherwise, you’ll be set.

SparkoCam also includes options to change your DSLR’s exposure, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance, as well as add overlay effects like glasses or hats. The free version does come with a watermark, so you will need to pay for a pro license to remove it. Licenses offering DSLR support start at $50.00.

Last year it was revealed that contractors around the world listened to recordings from Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri and Cortana to help train the voice assistants' speech recognition capabilities. Microsoft was sharing recordings from Skype, too, and now The Guardian has reported that the company sent those recordings to contractors in China with very few safeguards in place to keep them secure.

The Guardian's report was based on information provided by "a former contractor who says he reviewed thousands of potentially sensitive recordings on his personal laptop from his home in Beijing over the two years he worked for the company." That anonymous source revealed that Microsoft emailed a URL, username and password to contractors so they could  access the Cortana and Skype recordings.

There are of course worrying aspects of that arrangement. Microsoft allowed English recordings--the contractor specialized in British English--to be accessed from China, which could have exposed the recordings to the Chinese government. And Microsoft shared the credentials used to access these recordings via email, which could have been to intercepted or compromised.

But it gets worse. The Guardian reported that Microsoft generated the usernames and passwords used to access this system. The usernames were said to follow "a simple schema," which suggests they would have been fairly easy to guess, and the password was "the same for every employee who joined in any given year." Contractors were allowed to work from home, too, without direct supervision.

That  kind of setup would have been relatively easy to abuse. Someone might have guessed a contractor's username-password combination. Contractors might have shared credentials with people outside the company, or recordings might have been played within earshot of people unaffiliated with Microsoft. It's almost surprising that there haven't been reports of unauthorized access to the recordings.

Microsoft offered The Guardian the following statement in response to its report:

"We review short snippets of de-identified voice data from a small percentage of customers to help improve voice-enabled features, and we sometimes engage partner companies in this work. Review snippets are typically fewer than ten seconds long and no one reviewing these snippets would have access to longer conversations. We’ve always disclosed this to customers and operate to the highest privacy standards set out in laws like Europe’s GDPR.

“This past summer we carefully reviewed both the process we use and the communications with customers. As a result we updated our privacy statement to be even more clear about this work, and since then we’ve moved these reviews to secure facilities in a small number of countries. We will continue to take steps to give customers greater transparency and control over how we manage their data."

Moving to "secure facilities in a small number of countries" is a start. But Microsoft and other companies could clearly do better about securing private conversations that many people don't realize will be shared with anyone but their voice assistant of choice. This Guardian report almost certainly won't be the last to reveal problems with the management of these kinds of recordings.

Updated, 8/9/19, 11:10am PT: Microsoft responded to our request for comment with the same statement it sent to Motherboard earlier this week. The company declined to answer further questions about not explicitly informing users their voice recordings might be shared with outside contractors, how it removes personally identifiable information from these recordings, or if it's planning to make any changes to these processes following the revelations from Motherboard's report. We'll continue to monitor the situation to see if Microsoft releases additional information or regulators expand their inquiries into how tech companies handle voice recordings to include Skype Translate and Cortana.

Original article, 8/7/19, 8:32am PT:

Microsoft became the latest tech company to face criticism for having people listen to ostensibly private conversations today, with Motherboard reporting that contractors help train AI using snippets of audio recorded via the Translate feature in Skype, as well as the Cortana voice assistant.

The report was based on information provided by an anonymous Microsoft contractor, who told Motherboard that "some stuff I've heard could clearly be described as phone sex." He also said workers have "heard people entering full addresses in Cortana commands, or asking Cortana to provide search returns on pornography queries." Motherboard also received internal documents, screenshots and audio recordings backing up these claims.

Microsoft is vague about the fact that contractors might listen to audio recordings in its marketing, support documents and privacy policies. The company discloses that it can "analyze" some audio to improve its AI but doesn't explicitly state what that analysis involves. Some people might assume that other AI is being used to double-check existing tools and may not have even considered the possibility of another person listening in.

We reached out to Microsoft for comment in response to Motherboard's report and will update if the company responds. In the meantime, here's the statement it sent Motherboard, which makes it seem like the company doesn't plan to change its handling of audio recordings any time soon:

"Microsoft collects voice data to provide and improve voice-enabled services like search, voice commands, dictation or translation services. We strive to be transparent about our collection and use of voice data to ensure customers can make informed choices about when and how their voice data is used. Microsoft gets customers’ permission before collecting and using their voice data. [...] We also put in place several procedures designed to prioritize users’ privacy before sharing this data with our vendors, including de-identifying data, requiring non-disclosure agreements with vendors and their employees, and requiring that vendors meet the high privacy standards set out in European law. We continue to review the way we handle voice data to ensure we make options as clear as possible to customers and provide strong privacy protections."

Not Again...

This practice isn't--or at least wasn't--limited to Microsoft. Bloomberg reported on Amazon contractors listening to recordings from Alexa in April, VRT NWS reported on similar practices at Google in July and The Guardian followed up a few weeks later, reporting that Apple contractors listened to Siri recordings. Many of the AI-powered services that have become increasingly popular over the last few years were backed up by human workers.

The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information announced on August 1 that it was investigating Google's use of these contractors to improve the AI in Google Assistant. The regulator told Google not to use real-world recordings in this way for at least three months. It mentioned Amazon and Apple in the announcement, too, which meant Google may not be the only company at risk of legal scrutiny.

Amazon and Apple quickly responded to backlash caused by these revelations. Amazon said on August 2 that it would give Alexa users the option to keep recorded audio snippets private, and that same day, Apple said it was temporarily suspending its program while it conducted a thorough review. The default for both services is still potentially invasive, but at least their users will have the option to keep their audio recordings private.

Sure, Microsoft makes Cortana, but it's also using providing a sort of white-label virtual assistant for technology partners thorough a program called the Virtual Assistant Solution Accelerator with templates and tools for other companies to develop their own agents. At the Build 2019 developer conference in Seattle, I had the chance to sit in a BMW using a prototype version of an assistant meant for a car.

The point of this is to allows these partners to make assistants that fit in with their technology needs. So when I met "Joy," the (not finally named) AI in the BMW I was sitting in, it responded with results that suggested it knew it was a car.

With the program, companies can customize the skills that are available for devices (like a smart assistant), services (like Skype), or, in this case, a vehicle. Want productivity stuff? Microsoft already made a bunch of it. Doesn't work for you? It's open source, so you can tweak it. And you don't need much hardware on your end, as all of this runs in Azure. 

The first question a representative asked Joy was how it liked Seattle.

"Seattle is a wonderful town," it responded. "I'm just glad I'm equipped with rain sensors." In this case, it referenced sensors on board. But in theory it could also know what kind of interior it has or other available features.

But the demo was also connected to Office, Outlook.com and Google's G Suite, so when I asked for my to-do list, I got results from Microsoft To-Do.

Then, the BMW rep brought up a calendar. He brought up the possibility of creating a scenario that allows you to call into a meeting and, because it knows you're in a car, rolls up the window to reduce noise.

There's no release date for an assistant like this in a BMW car, but a BMW representative said it will be built into the existing voice command system, which works offline. But for Azure services, you'll need a wireless connection.

Microsoft’s Bing search engine has been unexpectedly blocked in China without any official statement from the government.

Microsoft has confirmed that its search engine is currently inaccessible in China after reports by several media entities saying Bing could no longer be accessed at least in certain parts of the country. Greatfire.org, a group that tracks which websites are blocked in China, pointed out that when China blocks a services, it takes some time for the blockade to spread across the country.

Chinese officials have refused to comment on the issue, but this is not particularly out of the ordinary for the Chinese government, which rarely discusses how or why it censors particular information sources.

Playing by China’s Rules Failed

When Google quit China, Microsoft saw that as an opportunity to take its place. Ever since, the company has done everything the government has asked of it and more, including censoring all content the Chinese government didn’t want its citizens to see. The company has even misdirected Chinese users to government’s own accounts about certain events or people. For instance, in China, Bing would redirect users to the government’s own content about Dalai Lama, while outside of the country it would link to Dalai Lama’s Wikipedia page.

In order to appease the Chinese government Microsoft also allowed real-time interception of Skype messages within the country. The company agreed to sell a "government-approved" version of Windows that would better comply with the country's laws, including the cybersecurity law requiring back doors in tech products. To build the government-approved version of Windows 10, Microsoft had to partner with a state-run company that makes electronics for the Chinese military. Chinese Electronics Technology Corporation is also a major supplier of surveillance technology in Xinjiang.

Anti-Baidu Message

The news about Bing being blocked also comes days after a message about Baidu being “dead” as a search engine became viral in China. The message came from Fang Kecheng, a doctoral candidate at the Annenberg School for Communication at University of Pennsylvania. Fang accused Baidu, the dominant Chinese search engine in the country, of replacing many recommended web links and products with its own, thus becoming more of a marketing platform than a search engine.

“Bing compromised in order to have a Chinese version to get into the country. It would be pathetic if even this can’t exist. We have one less alternative," Fang said.

Google recently suffered a backlash and protests from its employees over the company’s covert attempt to get back into China. When caught, the company said that it would be better for the Chinese users if it offered a censored search engine rather than not being available there at all. However, it seems that this strategy may no longer work anyway under permanent president Xi Jinping.

For many, the worst part about setting up Windows 10 is dealing with all the default apps. There are obvious irritants, like Microsoft's insistence on pre-installing Minecraft and Candy Crush, but even the less intrusive programs can frustrate people who don't like dealing with cruft. Luckily, it seems Microsoft is aware of the issue, since the latest sneak peek at its next major Windows 10 update lets people delete more pre-installed apps.

Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18262 to Fast ring and Skip Ahead members of the Windows Insider Program on Wednesday. Besides the usual bug fixes, performance improvements and fixing known issues, this build expands the list of apps people can delete from the Start menu. Current versions of Windows 10, including the Windows 10 October 2018 Update that kinda, sorta debuted this month, can delete these apps:

• Microsoft Solitaire Collection
• My Office
• OneNote
• Print 3D
• Skype
• Tips
• Weather

Preview Build 18262 adds these apps to the list:

• 3D Viewer (previously called Mixed Reality Viewer)
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Groove Music
• Mail
• Movies & TV
• Paint 3D
• Snip & Sketch
• Sticky Notes
• Voice Recorder

The new build also adds a new feature to Task Manager that makes it easier to determine if a running program is compatible with DPI Awareness. A tag introduced with the Anniversary Update that lets developers "specify a fallback behavior for the process-wide default DPI awareness mode or context." This information will be available in the Details page in Task Manager under the DPI Awareness column.

Preview Build 18262 also introduces better troubleshooting utilities, improvements to Narrator and bug fixes for issues discovered in previous builds. It does have some problems of its own, though, including the Settings app crashing when certain actions are invoked and the ability to switch audio outputs via the Taskbar not working. None of the issues seem like obvious deal breakers, but remember that more are likely to be discovered.

Northeastern University research has confirmed what many already suspected: cellular internet service providers (ISPs) are throttling streaming video services. The full research has yet to be released--it's set to arrive sometime in 2019--but the university's news outlet published a report this week showing that "nearly every U.S. cell provider is doing throttling" on services like Netflix and YouTube with no immediately apparent reason.

The data was collected from millions of people across 161 countries who downloaded the Wehe app. That utility makes it easier to determine if a cellular network provider is limiting the amount of bandwidth available to specific apps while allowing others to use as much as they require. In many cases, services like Netflix, YouTube and Amazon were limited to speeds between 0.7 and 4Mbps even when networks appeared uncongested.

Each cell provider throttles various services differently. Verizon doesn't seem to care about limiting NBCSports or Skype, for example, but it does impose limits on more popular video services. Most of the studied providers limited YouTube and throttled Netflix, but slightly less, while roughly half targeted Amazon, and only a handful limited bandwidth for NBCSports and Skype. It seems like more popular services are targeted more often.

Don't think Northeastern's findings only affect mobile users. Many people in the U.S. rely on cellular data for internet access. This is especially true in rural areas where ADSL, fiber and cable broadband is unavailable. Just look at the FCC's map of broadband availability to see the number of available providers dwindle in less-populated areas, or note Pew's finding that 20 percent of Americans can only access the internet via their smartphone.

Satellite internet provider HughesNetworkSystems also appeared in Northeastern's findings. Of the services included in this report, the company only throttled Netflix, but it limited the service to 0.7Mbps. People in rural areas turn to (expensive) satellite providers when they get sick of dial-up internet or when cellular network providers aren't an option. HughesNetworkSystems' participation in this throttling shows cell networks aren't the only problem.

That means a significant portion of U.S. internet users must deal with the effects of these networks' throttling of streaming video services whenever they go online. Fears of similar things happening to wired broadband have also increased following the FCC's repeal of net neutrality protections. If these companies are willing to arbitrarily limit download speeds on their wireless networks, why wouldn't they do the same for those on wired ones?

Many people have reported that their ISPs are doing just that. It's reached the point where Netflix, Google and other service providers have started to offer easy-to-use tools that make it easier to prove ISPs aren't delivering their promised speeds for specific websites (more on that and what you can do about it can be found in this  article from our sister site, Tom's Guide). Northeastern's report is more evidence that net neutrality is fading fast.

Fall is almost here. That means that soon leaves are going to change color, apples will be picked and social media shall once again be dominated by people with very strong opinions about pumpkin spice lattes (which are delicious). It also means that Microsoft is preparing to roll out the next major update to Windows 10, which is why it released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18234 this week to Skip Ahead members of its Windows Insider Program.

The last few builds sent to Windows Insider Program members have primarily focused on performance improvements, bug fixes and other refinements. This indicates that Microsoft is largely content with the additions it has prepared for the fall update to Windows 10 and is worried more about stability than whiz-bang features. Preview Build 18234 is different, however, because it finally brings some new features along for the ride.

Several of the updates in Preview Build 18234 are basically quality-of-life improvements. Microsoft To-Do now offers Ink support, for example, to let you write down your tasks and complete them by drawing a line through them or putting a check mark in their adjacent circle. An updated version of Snip & Sketch also lets you decide to "Snip Now," "Snip in 3 seconds," or "Snip in 10 seconds" to make it easier to capture exactly what you want.

The biggest change arrives via the Sticky Notes 3.0 update. The utility will now sync your notes across devices, offer a new "home" for your notes so they don't clutter your desktop and let you use a new formatting bar and "Charcoal Note" background. Microsoft said it also improved Sticky Notes' performance, "applied so much polish that the app is starting to look like a shiny pony" and enabled more assistive technologies and input methods.

Skype and Outlook Updates Too

Microsoft hasn't only been working on getting new features to Windows Insider Program members. The company also recently updated Skype and Outlook with some big changes, and unlike Preview Build 18234, you don't have to futz around with a pre-release OS to see them yourself.

Skype's update finally introduces native call recording for both voice and video conversations for its mobile app. Now you won't have to use third-party software to record your calls; all you have to do is hit the "start recording" button. A banner will then let everyone in the call know it's being recorded. The recording is saved to the relevant chat when it's done, at which point everyone has 30 days to download it.

The addition of native call recording to Skype should make life much easier for podcasters, journalists and anyone else who needs to keep records of some of their conversations. Microsoft said it will roll out to the desktop version of Skype "in the coming weeks."

Outlook's update is far more comprehensive. Microsoft overhauled many aspects of the email tool, from its basic design to support for third-party utilities, and it's soon going to start rolling out to Targeted Release customers. Those who opt-in to using this update will notice improved search tools, a new file directory and other features that are supposed to make it much easier to get things done with Outlook.

Many of the changes appear to be motivated by a desire to better compete with Gmail. The new Outlook will use AI to suggest responses to an email, for example, which is something Google's service has done for a while now. It also makes it easier to add events to your calendar, manage groups and "find the best room for your meetings based on the attendees, time, availability and your preferences." Outlook's getting prettier and smarter.

All of these changes, from those arriving with Preview Build 18234 to those in Skype and Outlook, show that Microsoft has a lot planned for this fall. So if you use any of these services, you can add these refinements to your list of things to look forward to during the annual transition between summer and winter. Maybe that'll be enough to distract from the early arrival of Halloween decorations and the vitriol surrounding a coffee flavoring.

The ACLU announced this week that the NSA’s PRISM program, revealed by national security whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013, will be reviewed in court. The PRISM program allows the NSA, as well as other U.S. intelligence agencies, to access U.S. citizens’ international emails, internet calls and chats without a warrant.

U.S. Government Taken To Court

Most of the post-Snowden-revelations lawsuits against the NSA have failed because the courts have said that the civil rights organizations, such as the ACLU, “don’t have standing” to sue the NSA. However, this time, the ACLU is helping an individual who claims to have been personally harmed by the NSA’s surveillance.

The U.S. government accused Agron Hasbajrami from Brooklyn of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization in Pakistan. After Hasbajrami pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him, the government admitted that it had been reading his emails illegally without a warrant.

Now, Hasbajrami is asking the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the tainted evidence. The ACLU has filed a brief in favor of Hasbajrami arguing that the government’s actions violated the Fourth Amendment when it exploited an American’s communications through the PRISM program.

PRISM’s Relationship With Tech Companies

Snowden revealed that a number of major technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, YouTube, AOL, Skype and Apple, were part of the PRISM program. He revealed that NSA was accessing emails, chats, video calls and other types of private content from these companies.

Back in 2013, PRISM was believed to be a program through which the NSA could gain direct access to those companies’ servers. However, all of the involved companies denied this at the time. The NSA supposedly uses secret FISA orders to request data that is normally encrypted from tech companies.

U.S. Government’s "Backdoor Searches"

The U.S. government has insisted that it uses PRISM and other similar programs, such as Upstream, to target foreigners’ communications. However, the government’s interpretation of that mission seems to be quite broad. Some Senators have criticized it in the past for being a “backdoor” into Americans’ private communications. The NSA has also admitted to including millions or tens of millions of people into such investigations, for instance, by intercepting all three-hop phone records.

This broad interpretation allows the NSA to capture and then access the internet data of virtually all Americans. A rule change by former U.S. President Barack Obama allowed the NSA to share this data with 16 other agencies, including the CIA, FBI, DEA and IRS.

The passing of the recent FISA extension codified the change into law and has given these agencies permission to read all Americans’ data that passes through the internet without a warrant. The law says that the government only needs to obtain a warrant after the fact and if it would like to use that data in court, long after the government could have used it to fish for crimes (something that, some could argue, is supposed to be banned by the Fourth Amendment).

Circumnavigating the Fourth Amendment?

The ACLU noted that FBI agents have already been running PRISM searches on captured data using only names and email addresses without first obtaining a warrant. The civil rights group believes allowing the government to have easy access to emails, chats and other personal communications without requiring an individualized warrant from a judge is an “end-run around the Fourth Amendment.”

On Monday, the ACLU plans to explain to a three-judge panel why the government should be required to seek a warrant before doing such searches in order to obey the Constitution.

People don't like change. That's why all hell breaks loose every time Coca-Cola tweaks its recipe, McDonald's removes a menu item, or Walmart decides not to stock a product. The same is true of software; major changes to a tool millions of people use is bound to inspire backlash. Just ask Microsoft, which received so many complaints about Skype 8 that it decided to let people use Skype 7 until all its features are in the new version.

Microsoft released Skype 8 on July 16. The company announced on the same day that Skype 7, which it dubbed Skype classic, would be discontinued on September 1. It makes sense from a development standpoint; continuing to support old software means the new version can't get all the attention it needs. For people who grew used to Skype classic over the years, however, being forced to use Skype 8 was upsetting.

And that might be putting it lightly. Skype users flooded the app with one-star reviews on various platforms after Skype 8's debut, with many complaining about the new interface, which made the app look more like a modern messaging app than ever before. The inclusion of cute emojis, neon colors and enough white space to paint a picture stood in stark contrast to the previous version's dated, but familiar, user interface.

Those complaints overshadowed the improvements made with Skype 8, including the ability to make free HD video calls or easily share files up to 300MB in size with a drag-and-drop system. Microsoft wanted to streamline the Skype experience, but it seems that many of the app's users would prefer it if the company just improved on Skype's existing features instead of introducing so many new features under the same name.

Apparently enough people complained for Microsoft to give Skype classic a stay of execution. The company said it would be extending support for Skype 7 "for some time" and that people could use that version of the app "until then." That isn't a particularly detailed announcement--technically Microsoft would be within its rights to kill Skype classic tomorrow--but it should at least temporarily appease Skype 7's supporters.

Microsoft is pulling its feature for tabbed applications, Sets, from its latest Windows 10 Insider Program build, 11704. Windows Insider head Dona Sarkar announced the move in a blog post revealing the new preview build.

"We continue to receive valuable feedback from you as we develop this feature helping to ensure we deliver the best possible experience once it’s ready for release," Sarkar wrote this week. "Starting with this build, we’re taking Sets offline to continue making it great. Based on your feedback, some of the things we’re focusing on include improvements to the visual design and continuing to better integrate Office and Microsoft Edge into Sets to enhance workflow. If you have been testing Sets, you will no longer see it as of today’s build, however, Sets will return in a future WIP flight. Thanks again for your feedback."

The tabbed apps had been available in test builds for some Windows Insiders previously, and Microsoft showed off the feature to developers at its Microsoft Build conference in Seattle earlier this year.

Sources told The Verge that Sets won't ship with the next big Windows 10 update, Redstone 5, later this year. At Build, Microsoft was careful not to drop a release date, simply saying instead that the feature will be available when it's ready.

Beyond the removal of Sets, build 17704 goes big on the Edge browser, adding some Fluent Design tweaks and controls for autoplaying media. There are also updates to Skype and a new "diagnostic data viewer" to see what information is available to Microsoft from your Windows device. You can read the full feature list on the Windows Blog. 

Someone get us a flock of carrier pigeons or start a signal fire. Skype's instant messaging service has been up and down all morning, and even though Microsoft has said that it's "actively looking into" the problem, we already feel like a lonely island lost in a sea of unsent messages.

Alright, maybe the situation isn't as dire as all that. But Skype is currently unstable--we've noticed this morning that messages will be "Waiting" to send, be marked as "Sent," and then either disappear into the void or go back to "Waiting." Microsoft's Skype app for Windows 10 doesn't warn about this failure--you have to look at the itty-bitty text in the bottom-right corner of each message to figure out if it was actually sent.

Here's the extent of the information Microsoft has shared about the issue so far on its support page:

ActiveWe have identified an incident affecting our services and are actively looking into it.Update time:April 26, 2018, 9:28 AM by LeonasStart time:April 26, 2018, 9:00 AMAffected services:Instant messagingDescriptionSome users might be experiencing problems with instant messages (chat). There might be delays with sending or syncing messages.

You can keep an eye on that support page for more information. We'll also be on the lookout for Microsoft's explanation. Surely there's something sinister afoot--it's not like online services ever experience unexplained disruptions, right? In the meantime, you can either pretend not to have read this piece and enjoy the silence, or start collecting all the kindling you need to communicate with your far-flung colleagues.

Updated, 3/29/2018, 2:25pm PT:

Microsoft clarified some of the issues for us and said that "Microsoft agents do not watch or listen to your Skype call." However, the company didn't clarify whether or not software or machine learning algorithms are used to monitor Skype calls or other services in real-time for Service Agreement violations.

The company did mention that it "responds to customer reports of inappropriate content" and then it asks for evidence of another user's conduct before investigating the claim. 

Microsoft didn't respond to questions about what it believes to constitute "offensive language," and how it determines when someone's account should be suspended or banned. The company also didn't reply to questions about what prompted these recent changes in its Service Agreement.

A Microsoft's spokesperson also gave us the following statement:

We are committed to providing our customers with safe and secure experiences while using our services. The recent changes to the Microsoft Service Agreement’s Code of Conduct provide transparency on how we respond to customer reports of inappropriate public content.

Original, 3/29/2018, 2:15pm, PT:

In an update to the Microsoft Services Agreement, which will go into effect on May 1, Microsoft prohibited “offensive language” and fraudulent activity, among other things. The company will suspend or ban users from participating in its Xbox Services, and if found violating its rules, the users will forfeit their account balances, any content licenses they may own, and their Xbox Gold Membership time if they run afoul of these new rules.

Banning Users For “Offensive Language”

Microsoft’s own summary of the changes in the Microsoft Services Agreement included the following section:

In the Code of Conduct section, we’ve clarified that use of offensive language and fraudulent activity is prohibited. We’ve also clarified that violation of the Code of Conduct through Xbox Services may result in suspensions or bans from participation in Xbox Services, including forfeiture of content licenses, Xbox Gold Membership time, and Microsoft account balances associated with the account.

In the full text of the agreement, Microsoft included the following paragraph, to which the above paragraph refers:

Don’t publicly display or use the Services to share inappropriate content or material (involving, for example, nudity, bestiality, pornography, offensive language, graphic violence, or criminal activity).

It’s not clear what the company means exactly by “offensive language” here, but presumably the company owns a list of arbitrary words it has chosen to reflect what it considers to be “offensive language.”

It’s also not clear how the company intends to monitor such violations, on Skype or any other of its services. Would the company use machine learning to monitor everyone’s conversations in real-time to identify that “offensive language”? Will it do the same for audio calls and video calls?

Alternatively, the company may simply wait for other users to flag such content before it takes any action. It's not clear--and that's the problem.

Who Does The New Terms Target?

The company’s primary target may be people who tend to say offensive things when playing Xbox Live games with others. Still, the new Service Agreement encompasses all of the company’s services, not just the Xbox services, so in theory Microsoft could use the same terms for more proactive banning on other services, too.

One of the issues with banning of accounts, especially if the violation isn’t too severe, is that such action could represent a major disruption to a user’s life.

For instance, Microsoft has been encouraging users to use Microsoft accounts to log-in to Windows instead of using local accounts. It has also encouraged users to encrypt their laptops using the same Microsoft accounts, where the keys are stored by default. Those keys can’t be recovered without the Microsoft account, so the user would no longer have access to the laptop’s data if the account was banned. The same user may also be using Outlook and Office 365 with their main Microsoft account, too.

This is one of the main downsides of being inside a single corporation’s “ecosystem”. If that particular company ever has any reason to ban your account, you could lose access to significant portions of your personal and work data. This applies not just to Microsoft, but also Google and Apple, all of which have been trying to lock users into their own ever-expanding ecosystems.

We’ve asked Microsoft to clarify what these new terms mean, how the company intends to monitor the potential violations, and how it will take enforcement action against those that break its rules. We’ll update the post as soon as the company responds to our questions.

This tutorial was written by Tom's Hardware Community member viveknayyar007. You can find a list of all their tutorials here.

Wi-Fi Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that saves you from the hassle of manually connecting your device to an open Wi-Fi hotspot and to those managed by your Facebook, Skype, and Outlook contacts. Wi-Fi Sense does this by sharing the secret passkeys that your contacts use to connect to the wireless networks, or by sharing your passkeys with your contacts to allow them to connect to your wireless network.

Although Wi-Fi Sense is enabled in Windows 10 by default in an effort to provide a hassle-free experience, using the feature could also be a security concern.

Here is how you can disable Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10:

• Sign-in to your Windows 10 computer.
• Click the Start button from the bottom-left corner.
• From the displayed Start menu, from the left pane, click Settings.

• On the opened SETTINGS window, click Network & Internet.

• From the left pane of the opened NETWORK & INTERNET window, make sure that the Wi-Fi category is selected.
• From the right pane, click the Manage Wi-Fi settings link.

• From the opened MANAGE WI-FI SETTINGS window, move the Connect to suggested open hotspots button to Off.

• Move the Connect to networks shared by my contacts button to Off.

• Close the MANAGE WI-FI SETTINGS window and restart the PC.
• Start using your secured Windows 10 PC normally.

New builds are ready for members of the Windows Insider Program's Fast ring: Preview Build 16184 for PC and Preview Build 15208 for mobile.

Preview Build 16184 features two main updates: My People, a taskbar app that's supposed to make it easier to communicate with the people in your life, and the expansion of some Windows 10 Mail and Calendar features to Gmail users. The former is all about introducing new features to Microsoft's communications tools, whereas the latter makes other features available to people who don't use Outlook and Office 365 to handle all of their email.

Here's what Microsoft said in its blog post about My People:

Technology is all about making it easier for you to connect with your most important people. Whether you want to share a photo, make plans for dinner, or get an answer from a friend or coworker – My People is here to take it to the next level and bring the people you care about most to the center of your experience.

My People is supposed to achieve that lofty goal by letting you pin up to three people in your taskbar, allowing you to view multiple communications services right next to each other, and remembering your app of choice for the next time you want to chat with that person. Enabling the feature requires you to install Preview Build 16184; make sure you have the latest versions of Skype, Mail, and People; and click the People icon in the taskbar.

This build also kicks off the expansion of some Mail and Calendar features to Gmail users. Microsoft said earlier this month that the apps will now let non-Outlook and Office 365 users to do things "such as easily tracking travel and shipping deliveries, making emails more actionable, helping you easily track your favorite sports events, faster search, and more." Windows Insiders will, naturally, be the first to use the expanded features.

Preview Build 16184 also brought some improvements to the Start menu, squashed a few bugs, and "fixed an issue resulting in Counter Strike Global Offensive hanging or freezing during game play." You can find a full list of bug fixes and known issues in Microsoft's blog post about the build.

The company also released Preview Build 15208 for mobile. It fixed two issues--one pertaining to the Bluetooth Settings page and the other creating a 20-second delay if you try to shut down a phone after switching from one network to another--and has its own batch of known problems. The most important of those bugs is a "small percentage of devices" that "may experience text message backup loss" and "random shutdowns on some devices."

These updates seem downright bursting with new features (moreso on PC than mobile) when compared to their predecessors. That's because most of the recent preview builds have focused on improving Windows 10's core instead of adding new features so close to the Creators Update's debut. Or, you know, revealing that the Creators Update for mobile devices would be restricted to just a handful of smartphones.

Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15031 to Fast ring members of its Windows Insiders program. Among the build's improvements are picture-in-picture support, more Game Bar compatible titles, and a bunch of bug fixes ahead of the Windows 10 Creators Update's broader release.

The picture-in-picture mode--or, as Microsoft calls it, the new Compact Overlay window--works like you'd expect. Apps will be able to occupy a corner of the display on top of every other window so you can watch videos or use communications services while using other software. Microsoft said that updates for the Movies & TV app and Skype Preview will take advantage of compact windows "in the near future" and that other software can follow suit. (At no point does the company make the obvious "We heard you like windows, so we updated Windows to let you see windows on your Windows windows" joke.)

This preview build also expands the list of titles with which the Windows Game Bar is compatible. That bar makes it easier to record gameplay or capture a screenshot within a game via keyboard shortcuts. Microsoft said 52 more titles, ranging from Need for Speed and Grand Theft Auto V to Mass Effect 3 and Planet Coaster now work with the Game Bar. The company also reiterated that gamers can adjust the feature's settings to improve performance.

Another marquee feature of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15031 is the new Dynamic Lock. This allows Windows 10 PCs to automatically lock themselves when a Bluetooth-paired smartphone leaves its immediate vicinity. (A 30-second grace period helps ensure Dynamic Lock won't frustrate people who leave their desks for a moment.) This could prove useful for people who often forget to lock their PCs in an office setting, for example, or who don't want family members to be able to digitally snoop on them. Microsoft does say, however, that this build has some Bluetooth pairing issues.

Other updates are meant to squash a few bugs. Microsoft said it "fixed the issue causing popular games may experience crashes or black screens when trying to load due to a platform issue" and made sure Game Mode, which improves game performance, isn't enabled by default. The company also fixed a bunch of user interface problems, language-specific issues, and other frustrating obstacles to using the preview build. Many of these bugs were likely found as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update Bug Bash running until February 12, which tasks Insiders with finding as many bugs as they can.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is expected to debut some time this Spring. A full list of feature updates, bug fixes, and known issues can be found on Microsoft's website.

Security researchers from the University of California, Irvine; the Sapienza University of Rome; and the University of Padua were able to reconstruct the sound of keystrokes as text from Skype voice and video calls. Malicious eavesdroppers could use this method to intercept sensitive and personal information of Skype users.

Acoustic Eavesdropping

Over the past few years, there has been more research into how keystroke sounds could be converted into the text that the surveillance target wrote at the time of the recording. However, those previous demonstrated attacks were not especially practical in the real world, according to the researchers of the current study.

In the previous studies, the attackers would need to be in close proximity to the target. They also needed to have precise profiling of the victim’s typing style and keyboard, as well as a significant amount of the victim’s typed information and its corresponding sounds.

Skype & Type

The researchers developed a new type of practical keyboard acoustic eavesdropping attack, which they called “Skype & Type” (S&T). The idea behind this research was that many people do other activities, such as typing on their keyboards, while they do VoIP (Voice-over-IP) calls.

According to the researchers’ paper, VoIP software can acquire acoustic emanations of pressed keystrokes and then transmit them to others in the call. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue if you trust the person on the other side of the line, but calls can be intercepted, and the eavesdropper could be capturing the VoIP users’ keystrokes.

An attacker could capture keystrokes this way with an accuracy of 41.89% if there is absolutely no knowledge of the keyboard being used or of the target’s typing style. However, the accuracy goes up to 91.7% if there is some knowledge about the keyboard used and the user’s typing behavior. The researchers also noted that the “Skype & Type” attack is resilient against various bandwidth issues, confirming the feasibility of the attack.

Future Research

The researchers tested the attack only on a few laptops so far, which they thought would be a representative sample. Skype is also likely the most  often used VoIP application on the desktop, so it made sense to test that application first. However, in the future, the researchers plan to use more laptop models to verify whether this attack can work well enough across all laptops.

They also plan to test other applications such as Google’s Hangouts, and also create countermeasures to the attack they've already developed, so Microsoft, Google, and other companies can protect their users from this type of eavesdropping.

Microsoft released build 14342 of Windows 10 today, bringing new enhancements to the OS. Among the new features is the ability to install extensions for the Edge browser directly from the Windows Store.

The Edge Browser Extensions

Microsoft’s Edge browser has featured support for extensions for some time now, but installing and maintaining extensions has not been a pleasant experience. For each extension you wanted to add to the Edge browser, you had to download, extract and then load the files from a local folder. When an update for the extension was available, you then had to uninstall the original extension and repeat the installation process for the updated version.

Although this method of adding extensions to the browser works, it is far from convenient. It made what should be possible with the click of a single install button a multi-step process that eats up the user’s time. Build 14342 resolves this issue, as extensions can be installed from the Windows Store just by clicking “install.” The Windows Store will also keep extensions up-to-date without the need for user intervention.

To coincide with this improved extension installation service, Microsoft announced that several new extensions have been added to the Windows Store for the Edge browser, including AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, Pin It Button, Mouse Gestures, Reddit Enhancement Suite, Microsoft Translator, and OneNote Web Clipper.

Before you start installing new extensions, however, there are a few caveats to this new system that you should be aware of. First, any extensions you previously installed should be removed  and then installed using the Windows Store; otherwise, they will not update. Second, there is a bug in the new system that occurs if all extensions are turned off without being uninstalled. This disable menus or close the browser. To avoid this problem, it is best to keep at least one extension enabled at all times.

Other Improvements

Microsoft also added a few new features to Windows 10’s notification and navigation systems. The Edge browser now features support for web notifications from websites such as Skype for Web. This way, if you get a message and are busy, a notification will be sent to the Action Center in Windows 10. As for navigation, Microsoft enabled swipe gestures to allow you to navigate backwards or forwards to pages you have recently visited.

Several other improvements were made to the OS in various other areas, as well. Some of these are minor graphical changes, such as a new dark mode for the User Account Control dialog box, as well as improved animation for Cortana. Other changes addressed specific bugs such as one that rendered DRM-protected services unable to play and cause them to throw up an error code.

The list of bug fixes is rather long, so if you have been having trouble with a persistent Windows 10 glitch, you may want to check and see if it has been resolved in this latest build.

This new build is currently available only to users in Microsoft’s Windows Insider fast ring. After some testing, if there aren’t any serious problems with the build, it will be pushed out to everyone else.

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Microsoft announced that starting today Skype for Web, as well as the Outlook.com, Office Online and OneDrive services, will support plugin-free voice, video and group video calling in the Edge browser.

The company uses the technology called Object Real-Time Communications (ORTC), which is a simpler and more powerful part of the WebRTC protocol that Microsoft adopted in Edge last fall.

Skype for Web launched last year, but so far you could only chat to other people. If you wanted to do voice calls and video calls, you had to install a plugin as well. Now, thanks to the WebRTC and ORTC technologies, voice and video calls can be done directly in the browser. The downside is that for now, this only works in the Edge browser.

Other browsers haven’t implemented ORTC yet, or if they have, they don’t support the h.264 video codec, which Microsoft has chosen for Skype for Web video calls. Microsoft could’ve also supported the VP9 codec in its service, because it has already integrated support for it in Edge. This would’ve allowed Skype for Web to work fully in Chrome, as well. However, Microsoft seems to prefer h.264 over VP9 right now, even though it can use almost twice as much bandwidth as VP9.

This decision may have something to do with the fact that VP9 is not hardware-accelerated on most devices yet, which means it requires more processing power for the real-time videos to be decoded, which can also consume more battery life. The company said in a previous blog post that it will work on supporting VP8, Google’s previous generation codec, in the future.

Either way, Chrome should support h.264 for WebRTC video calls soon, and Firefox has supported it for a while. Safari has also started working on WebRTC support recently, so it may not be long until Skype for Web works there as well. Microsoft expects Skype for Web to work across the major browsers in the next few months.

In the meantime, Skype for Web will work without a plugin for the Edge browser in Windows 10 version 10.0.10586 and above.

Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware. You can follow him at @lucian_armasu. 

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AltspaceVR might well be the foundation for social interaction in VR. When we first heard about it last year, CEO Eric Romo described the platform as “Skype with presence,” but it’s evolved since then. A few days after the launch of the Oculus Rift consumer HMD (our full review here), AltspaceVR announced that its virtual platform would support the new device.

In some ways, the news was inevitable. Romo and his team used the DK2 during the development process, and other users had the same HMD during the first round of testing back in 2014.

However, that doesn’t mean that AltspaceVR isn’t exclusive to Oculus’ HMDs. It also works on the HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, Leap Motion and even the Kinect Xbox peripheral. On top of that, it also works cross-platform, so you can interact with friends even if they’re using different HMDs.   

For the uninitiated, AltspaceVR provides a way for you to hang out with your friends in virtual reality. By sharing a digital room, your group can hang out and watch videos or play a campaign of Dungeons and Dragons. In addition to the Rift support announcement, the company also mentioned that its latest platform will allow users to connect in the virtual space with a single click, so you can find out more about your friends without having to type long sentences or make multiple gestures.

However, it’s important to note that it's not alone in this niche area of VR experiences. Last month, Oculus added some new features to the Gear VR, one of which was the ability to create a room for you and your friends to hang out, watch videos and play games together (sound familiar?).

Regardless, it seems that AltspaceVR is aiming for a wider audience due to its availability on multiple platforms, along with the fact that it works across various HMDs (as well as traditional 2D screens, actually). If you have a Rift and want to try it out, you can get it for free through AltspaceVR’s website or by downloading it through Steam.

Update, 4/5/16, 10am PT: AltSpaceVR now fully supports the HTC Vive, too.

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Among the many announcements here at Microsoft’s Build developer conference in San Francisco, the company spent a significant amount of time with a concept it called “conversation as platform,” which it believes will introduce human language and machine intelligence as the next computing interface. Cortana lies at the heart of this expansive initiative, but it will require artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the use of bots that can appear in your everyday computing experiences, especially where your conversations happen.

To enable this, Microsoft is introducing a variety of tools, including the Microsoft Bot Framework and Skype Bot tools for developers, as well as Cognitive Services APIs. These are new additions to Microsoft's Cortana Intelligence Suite, which is a big data and machine learning initiative built on Microsoft's Azure cloud.

Partially, and in more tangible terms, Microsoft is enhancing Cortana and making the digital assistant available in more places, including in Skype (available starting today). Microsoft also announced Skype for HoloLens. All of this, including the developer tools and client apps, are available starting today as previews, Microsoft said, although the Skype clients for all platforms are available now.

There’s much to digest here, and most of it is futuristic and depends heavily on the ecosystem of developers here at Build. We’ll try to break down just a few of the key facets and some examples. Also, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who spoke frequently and at length about this concept, stressed the need for security and transparency in a world where personal digital assistants are interacting with bots and application processes (he speculated that bots would become the “new applications”) on your behalf. This context-aware assistance is based on deeper and deeper understanding of your behaviors and preferences, as well as context, both of the real world and of your specific conversations.

Nadella proclaimed that this didn’t have to be man versus machine, but rather instead man with machine.

Cortana Everywhere

First, Cortana. Microsoft wants to infuse the personal assistant into all devices (it runs not just on Windows of course) and be part of many applications. For example, Cortana will now be a part of Outlook, able to look at your email and calendar (with your permission) and understand situational context in messages. Talk about a meeting, and Cortana can potentially schedule it for you. Talk about a flight, and Cortana can put it on the calendar. Talk about a task you promised to accomplish, and Cortana can get involved, finding and sending documents on your behalf. Get a taxi receipt via email, and Cortana can put it in your Microsoft Expense app.

And so on, including accomplishing some of these tasks on, or in conjunction with, Android and iOS running Cortana. As other apps also get Cortana integration, Cortana can begin to broker the interactions. Microsoft showed a couple of examples, one of which was Just Eat, a food pick up/delivery app that populated as an option in conjunction with a calendar appointment at lunch time. (That is, Cortana can see that you're planning to lunch with a friend in a specific area and will offer up a suggestion for a restaurant to try.) These functions are called Proactive Actions, and developers are getting an invitation for a preview. 

The Conversation Canvas

Microsoft sees many of these digital assistant and bot entities finding their way into our normal communication tools, like Skype, SMS, WeChat, Slack and email. Because Skype belongs to Microsoft, most of its demonstrations focused here. For example, in one Skype interaction, Microsoft demonstrated a video message (with transcript of the video underneath it, created automatically using Skype Translate). As part of the dialog--a boss' congratulatory message--a bot kicked in from a local cupcake merchant asking for permission to extract the user's location and make a delivery. It even offered an estimated delivery time.

There were more impressive examples, including interacting with bots to book a hotel room at a Westin in Ireland, but the point is that Microsoft envisions Skype and similar tools as a “conversation canvas,” and it envisions developers working with the Skype Bot SDK to make it happen.

As part of the Bot Framework tools, Microsoft also demonstrated how developers can use a built in semantic dictionary to begin enabling natural language rules into their apps (er, bots). There will be a host of tools that allow developers to make their bots smarter through machine learning over time.

Cognitive Services

Microsoft also announced a series of APIs (22 of them) as part of its Cognitive Services. These APIs are built around more general intelligence services (vision, speech, search, contextual knowledge and so on) that developers can build into their applications. Microsoft demonstrated some incredible early applications of this, such as the ability to take a picture and have it recognize the objects in it, but also to build information about the image using what it called CaptionBot.

In one demonstration, Microsoft showed off what it called CRIS, or custom recognition intelligence service, and compared a speech-to-text translation of a child speaking. Naturally, its analysis showed a much higher precision of interpretation based on its knowledge of child speech patterns.

Microsoft said that Cortana is involved in a million conversations each day. It's hard to know how many Cortana iOS or Android installs there have been, or how people are using it, but its growth, along with services like Google Now and Apple's Siri, show some semblance of customer interest. Microsoft demonstrated today that it is trying to move beyond the neat parlor tricks of a voice-based search engine.

Fritz Nelson is the Editor-In-Chief of Tom's Hardware. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.

According to a report in Chinese magazine Caixin, Microsoft completed a special edition of Windows 10 for the Chinese government, called Windows 10 Zhuangongban, which includes additional "management and security controls." The company struck a deal last December to create a joint venture with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) to sell this special edition in the country.

The Chinese government has stricter rules for companies that want to do business in China, and in the past few months it has been pushing American companies to create joint ventures with local companies. This would give the local companies, as well as the Chinese government more control over American technology products.

For instance, it's no secret that China would want an easy way to unlock encrypted devices and communications, which it has tried to push through new counter-terrorism laws last year. However, after major pushback from the American companies and the U.S. government, China may have agreed to a compromise, which would allow American companies to save face by not forcing them to implement their own backdoors into their products. The Chinese government would instead ask them to allow Chinese companies to modify the U.S. companies' products in accordance with the local laws.

It wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened, either. Years ago, the old Skype company agreed to create a joint-venture with a local Chinese company, called TOM-Skype. This happened at a time when Skype was still using the hard-to-intercept peer-to-peer version of the app, so special software would need to be used to intercept or censor those messages.

However, once Microsoft killed the P2P architecture of Skype and all the messages would go through its own servers, such method of interception was no longer required. The Chinese government could request the messages in the same way the U.S. government could. This will remain true until Microsoft adopts end-to-end encryption for Skype, similar to what Signal or Whatsapp are using.

It's not clear whether the special Chinese version of Windows 10 was created for the purpose of allowing government surveillance and censorship because Microsoft doesn't seem to want to divulge too many details about the partnership. However, once Microsoft allows local Chinese companies to write native code for that special version of Windows 10, then what happens to that code may even be out of Microsoft's hands.

The partnership also comes a few years after the Snowden revelations, which prompted the Chinese government to ban Windows 8 from government offices for security reasons. Other American companies, including IBM, Qualcomm, Intel, Dell, Cisco, HP, Cloudflare, and Juniper Networks have seen similar treatment by the Chinese government, as well as some anti-trust investigations. According to Dell's president of enterprise solutions, these sort of joint-ventures may be the only way forward for American companies that want to do business in China.

Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware. You can follow him at @lucian_armasu. 

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A group of former Skype, Apple and Microsoft employees, backed by Skype’s co-founder Janus Friis, created a Skype alternative called “Wire” back in 2014, which wasn’t end-to-end encrypted at the time. The team announced that the latest version of the app brings open source end-to-end encryption from everything to chats to video calls, as well as multi-device end-to-end encryption.

State-Of-The-Art-Encryption

When Wire launched at the end of 2014, its main promised advantage over Skype and other messengers was the “crystal clear voice.” However, this doesn’t seem to have been enough for the app to pick up steam, which is why it has received a major encryption upgrade by adopting the open source Axolotl protocol.

The protocol was first created and adopted by the team behind the fully open source Signal app. It was quickly considered the state-of-the-art in encryption protocols for messengers, because it offered strong end-to-end encryption, the ability to send end-to-end encrypted messages to offline users, and end-to-end encrypted group chats.

Since then, the protocol has been adopted by Whatsapp (although the company never officially announced it, and it doesn’t allow users to verify each other cryptographically), Silent Phone, and ChatSecure (a popular privacy-focused app for iOS and Android).

For voice and video calls, Wire uses the same DTLS and SRTP encryption standards found in the peer-to-peer WebRTC protocol. The protocol has its weaknesses, but it’s still a step up from the centralized video-call services implemented by Skype or Hangouts, which could more easily intercepted.

Protected By Strong Privacy Laws

Wire is headquartered in Switzerland and Germany, two of the most privacy-friendly countries in the world. The app benefits from the strong privacy laws of both nations, as well as the European Union’s Data Protection regulation.

As the the governments of U.S., UK, and even France become increasingly more aggressive towards encryption, more and more companies that actually care about their users’ privacy seem to be moving to either Germany or Switzerland, where the chance to be strong-armed into backdooring their services is much lower. If that were to happen, at least the companies would have those countries’ privacy-friendly Constitutions on their side, and could have a high chance of winning such battles in Court.

Comparison With Other Apps

All of Wire’s encryption is open source, but its user interface is closed source, which means vulnerabilities could still be introduced potentially without the user being able to find out about them. At some level you still have to trust the team behind it to not do nefarious things, but this can be more easily achieved when the company takes so many privacy-friendly measures, including being headquartered in privacy-friendly countries. This is more than most other messaging companies are willing to do.

Although it’s not fully open source the way Signal is, it’s a little more complete because it offers video calls, making it more of a true Skype alternative. This makes it the best overall private messenger for the masses at present.

For those who are really worried about their privacy or worried that they are targets of various governments, Signal would still be a better choice. However, it seems the more time passes, the more we see “mainstream” chat applications get closer to the ideal in security and privacy, which can only be good news for everyone.

Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware. You can follow him at @lucian_armasu. 

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After TextSecure was integrated into Signal on iOS, Open Whisper Systems promised that the unified version would also appear on Android at a later date. That "later date," it turns out, is today.

Signal is considered by many security experts, including NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, as the most secure app people can use for private communications. It uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that nobody except the sender and recipient can read the messages or listen to the calls.

This type of encryption is enabled by default, unlike in apps such as Telegram where you have to activate it for one-on-one private communications. It also works for group messages, which isn't something most private apps can claim, as it has been historically very difficult to enable end-to-end encryption for groups.

All of these features have been available since TextSecure 2.0, but now Signal has gained the ability to make end-to-end encrypted calls, too. This was previously possible through a separate Open Whisper Systems app called RedPhone.

Open Whisper Systems (OWS) has already gone a long way in creating a user-friendly app that anyone can use, as long as they already know how to use an app such as Whatsapp, which it resembles in functionality.

Moxie Marlinspike from OWS has said that Whatsapp has also adopted Signal's text encryption protocol. However, Whatsapp doesn't provide any way to authenticate the receiver of the messages, and it doesn't encrypt its voice calls end-to-end, either.

Another very similar app is Silent Circle's Silent Phone, which has recently adopted Axolotl for end-to-end encrypted chats. It's also using the same ZRTP protocol that RedPhone and Signal are using for end-to-end encrypted calls, but that's because it was actually Phil Zimmerman and John Callas, both Silent Circle co-founders, who invented ZRTP in 2006. Unlike Silent Phone, though, Signal doesn't require a monthly subscription, as it is completely open source and free.

What could be missing from making Signal a more "complete" communications application is desktop support, which the group has said is coming as a browser extension, and video-calling support. Both of these features could make Signal a more well-rounded end-to-end encrypted competitor to popular apps such as Hangouts, Skype, and iMessage/FaceTime.

TextSecure users should see their apps upgraded to Signal over the next few days, whereas RedPhone users will be prompted to install Signal and uninstall RedPhone.

______________________________________________________________________

Lucian Armasu joined Tom’s Hardware in early 2014. He writes news stories on mobile, chipsets, security, privacy, and anything else that might be of interest to him from the technology world. Outside of Tom’s Hardware, he dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.

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Microsoft is facing the music for its most recent blunder: a massive Skype service disruption that affected its entire network. The outage was definitely an inconvenience for many, but to its credit, Microsoft provided full disclosure for the incident, and even offered an apology.

Microsoft claimed that it released a "larger-than-usual" configuration change that some versions of Skype were unable to deploy correctly. This caused users to be disconnected from the network, and the heavy traffic triggered by so many clients attempting to reconnect produced network-wide service interruption of Skype's free services, including messaging, presence and contact list management.

Skype for Business customers were reportedly not affected.

Microsoft worked quickly to address the issue by re-balancing the traffic load, and by midnight GMT, the issue was resolved and free Skype users could once again place calls, send IMs and manipulate their contact lists.

If it weren't for the fact that Microsoft actually took the time to address this problem and issue an official apology, most of us would have likely forgotten about the inconvenience shortly. All too often, large software companies break something, fix it, and say little to nothing about it. However, owning up to the problem and going so far as to apologize for it is refreshingly humanizing for Microsoft, which at times can seem omnipotent, uncaring and unrepentant when it comes to other software-related issues from the company (cue the Windows 8 jokes).

The apology itself seemed over the top, which we read as indicative of legitimate sincerity.

"No matter how quickly we were able to resolve this issue, it would not have been quick enough," read the blog post. "We know many of you needed to use Skype during the outage, and finding that you couldn't would have been incredibly frustrating. We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience caused to our users, and appreciate your patience while we addressed the issue."

Skype appears to be fixed, and let it not be said Microsoft didn't take this outage to heart.

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You may have noticed some difficulty using Microsoft's popular communication software, Skype. Don't worry, you aren't the only one. Skype appears to be broken for the time being, with reports of strange malfunctioning and connectivity issues.

"We have detected an issue that is affecting Skype in a number of ways," stated an official post. "We're doing everything we can to fix this issue and hope to have another update for you soon." These issues seem to be dependent on whether or not you are already logged into Skype and include being unable to change your status and all of your contacts appearing as "offline." If you cannot see your contacts as online, you cannot place Skype calls to them.

Users who aren't already logged in may have difficulty logging in, and profile changes such as credit balance or profile details may take longer to display. In addition, a small number of group chat messages are not being delivered, although in most cases you can still instant message individual contacts. Web pages on the Skype Community may have trouble loading, as well.

Skype insists it is doing everything it can to resolve the problems, and it hopes to have another update on the subject soon. In the meantime, it appears the system is down, and it's currently unknown how long Skype users will have to deal with this inconvenient lapse in communication. We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Update, 9/22/15, 12:35pm PT: Skype's back. From the link above: "[UPDATE September 21 2015 23:53 GMT] Skype services have been fully restored."

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Dropbox acquired Clementine, a company providing secure voice and text messaging services for BYOD businesses. What exactly Dropbox plans to do with Clementine's technology is unclear, but it seems likely that the company will use this tech to develop its own BYOD services.

Although Dropbox is commonly used today by over 400 million users, more than 100,000 businesses also take advantage of the cloud storage service Dropbox provides. Businesses today, however, need to take advantage of a full range of software.

When a user brings his or her own device, however, security is paramount, and often difficult. These systems don't stay inside of a network that the company is able to secure, and when moved from one network to another, they become vulnerable to outside security threats that aren't present inside of the company. Clementine specialized in providing voice and text messaging services for companies with a BYOD policy, using more rigorous security features to protect the data on these devices.

The question now is what will Dropbox do with this newly acquired technology? The most likely answer is that Dropbox will expand its services to include these voice and text messaging services, and thus offer more services to businesses as a combined package. The company could even take steps to fully integrate these services into Dropbox and provide a single software solution capable of editing documents, sharing files, calling other users, and texting your colleagues.

Although the Dropbox service is relatively simple to use, a unified application capable of all of these functions would reduce the time moving between windows and could save time while collaborating on projects.

Because Dropbox has such a large number of non-business users, too, it wouldn't be surprising to see Dropbox provide this service to everyone, and ultimately become a competitor to programs like Skype, Tencent QQ, or Lync.

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Skype's Yasmin Khan said in a company blog that Skype Translator technology will begin to roll out to Skype for Windows desktop by the end of summer 2015. Currently, Skype Translator supports four spoken languages (English, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish) and 50 instant messaging languages.

Skype users on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 Technical Preview not wanting to wait for the desktop client rollout can download and install the standalone Skype Translator "preview" from Windows Store here. The company removed the sign-up requirement back in May, which according to Khan led to a 300 percent increase in Skype Translator usage.

"Skype Translator uses machine learning, so the more people use the technology, the better the experience for everyone!" Khan said. Skype Translator Preview was originally released back in December 2014.

To use Skype Translator, customers open the program, choose a friend, toggle on "Translator" and then select the friend's native language. For a better experience, customers are encouraged to use a headset with a built-in microphone, to speak clearly, and wait for the translation to finish before speaking or typing again.

Obviously, the end result should provide both translated speech (if supported) and translated text. However, if Translator doesn't hear the user correctly, he/she can correct the translation in the chat window. As Khan pointed out, the translation aspect will get better as the software learns how Skype users are talking to each other. Naturally, the more people use this feature, the better Translator will get.

News of Skype Translator arrives after the beta of Skype for Web was launched in North America and the UK on Friday. To take advantage of this client, users merely head to Skype.com, click on the link and sign in with their usual login credentials. This solution is ideal for Skype users who are accessing a computer that's located in a friend's home or in an internet café, or for those who simply don't want the Skype app installed on their computer or mobile device.

To see how Skype Translator works, head here.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Last month, Facebook introduced video calling from within the Messenger app. Users with an Apple or Android smartphone can call friends and family with Android or iOS phones with a simple tap. However, this feature wasn't available to all Facebook users, having launched in 18 countries across the globe including the United States, UK, France, Greece, Mexico and more.

Facebook's David Marcus now reports that Messenger VoIP video calling is available in all countries save for a few where the service is still being fine-tuned (Marcus didn't specify). Now users from around the world can simply tap the video icon located in the top-right corner within the text message window to make a video call.

"Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls to friends and loved ones around the world," Facebook's Stan Chudnovsky and Param Reddy said in April. "Video calling will expand Messenger's real-time communication features, enabling the more than 600 million people who use Messenger every month to reach others wherever they are, from anywhere. It's fast, reliable and high quality."

The Messenger app already pulls in more than 600 million people each month, and the new video chat feature will likely reel in even more. Facebook stressed that Android smartphone owners aren't forced to call other Android owners, but instead can contact friends and family who use Messenger on Apple's mobile devices. Given the nature of Messenger, an Internet connection is obviously required to make a video call.

For now, there seems to be no sign of any fees that may be associated with Facebook Messenger's VoIP calling feature. The biggest competitor, Microsoft's Skype, charges $2.99 per month for calls to landlines and Skype-free mobile devices in the United States and Canada. Unlimited North America costs $7.99 per month, and Unlimited World costs $13.99 per month. However, like Facebook's Messenger app and Google Hangouts, calling from one Skype account to another is free.

That all said, do we need another app offering free VoIP calling? Apparently so, and as previously indicated, there are a lot of Facebook members who use the Messenger app on a daily basis. VoIP calling from within the Messenger app means that the Facebook brand will be front and center in the minds of consumers each day. That's great advertisement for the world's #1 social network.

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Most of the VR demos we've seen over the past few months were all solo experiences. There might have been someone else in the room either explaining the demo or watching what we were seeing through another monitor, but there was no one else sharing the experience at the same time. However, that could change very soon. A company called AltspaceVR is currently in the beta stages of testing a new kind of VR experience that brings multiple users together in a shared virtual space.

We spoke to the company's CEO, Eric Romo, about what AltspaceVR could offer.

The best way to describe what Romo and his company are working on is "Skype with a presence." Imagine having a corporate meeting, or just simply chatting with friends, in a VR space and having the ability to share 2D content from the web such as a collection of GIFs, or watching a Netflix movie together. Or, thinking even bigger, you could convert that 2D content into 3D.

The way it works is that each person has their own avatar in the VR space. Users can set up private rooms to allow only certain people into the conversation. Most of the interaction is accomplished by selecting buttons, but Romo told us that the team is working on more non-verbal communication such as hand gestures or facial patterns with the help of Intel's RealSense camera, the Kinect and the Leap Motion sensor.

Another key development area is sound. Romo wants the experience to be as immersive as possible, so Altspace is also working on improving the sound quality -- specifically, directional and spatial audio. That way, when someone is talking to you in the VR space, it actually sounds like they're sitting right next to you.

There's still a lot of work to do, but the number of applications that are already possible with AltspaceVR is impressive. For example, a group of testers joined a room and played a small Dungeons and Dragons campaign. A quick look at the upcoming events page shows a movie night, where users can all gather in one room and collectively watch the movie Snowpiercer.

In terms of a head-mounted display, Romo said the team has been mostly using an Oculus DK2, but they're also looking at other options such as Razer's OSVR and the HTC Vive. There's even some work being done in the mobile space with the help of the Samsung Gear VR. Those who don't own an HMD can actually still participate in Altspace by using a 2D version of whatever session you decide to join.

For hardware requirements, AltspaceVR won't have particularly demanding specs. In fact, Romo told us that the development team is mostly using a MacBook Pro for their sessions. Everything brought into the virtual space is rendered locally on the user's end. Right now, AltspaceVR runs at 1080p, so the visual demand isn't too steep yet.

Bandwidth demands aren't particularly high, either. The only time where bandwidth might be an issue is with the amount of content brought into the virtual space. According to Romo, voice data only requires 10-30 kbps. But other applications, such as streaming video or simply the number of people in the room, might pose a challenge to your Internet connection. In the end, you don't need an especially powerful computer to use AltspaceVR. As long as you have Windows 7/8/8.1 or OS X Mavericks and you meet the requirements below, you can join a session.

AltspaceVR has gone through five different beta tests, each lasting 25 minutes. The current beta version is different than past iterations because it is an open beta. Users can sign up online through AltspaceVR's website and try it out for themselves. New features have been included, such as a Presenter Mode, additional events, larger room capacities, and new 3D images. The SDK used to create the images will also be available later this month.

The open beta is another chance for Romo and his company to test the limits of AltspaceVR. There's much work to be done between now and the end of the year, when Romo plans to release the final version of Altspace.

It's an ambitious project, doubly more so in the uncharted territory of VR, but considering what is already available in AltspaceVR and what should be coming in later development stages, it's something that we'll be keeping our eyes on as more and more VR technology emerges from the industry.

UPDATE, 5/19/2015, 11:25am PT: AltspaceVR clarified that the previous beta sessions lasted for a full weekend, not 25 minutes as we initially stated.

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BitTorrent officially launched its chat client called Bleep on Tuesday. The service first made an appearance as a public alpha back in September 2014, but it's now available on all major platforms, including Apple's iOS, Google's Android, and Windows and Mac desktops.

So what's the big deal with Bleep? Why is it different than Skype, AIM and other chat clients?

"We keep messages and the encryption keys for images stored on your local device, not the cloud," said BitTorrent's Farid Fadaie in a blog. "For messages and metadata, there is no server for hackers to target, and because you hold the keys, images can't be leaked to haunt you later. We've solved serverless peer-to-peer messaging, including the ability to get offline friends your messages when they come back online."

For the desktop client, users can create an account by supplying an email address or phone number, or they can simply go incognito. If users enter an email address, this address must be confirmed by way of an emailed PIN composed of letters and numbers. After that, users can find and invite friends by connecting an address book or entering another user's key.

To add a contact, simply click on the "+" sign and enter a phone number, email address or public key. Your key, which is supplied as a QR code or a very lengthy string of numbers and letters, is located under the "Be added by friends" section in "Settings." Your friend won't become a Bleep contact until he/she provides an approval.

The overall Bleep interface is divided into two sections: the contacts area and the chat area. The contacts portion includes the "Settings" menu, a search tool, pending invitations, a list of contacts that are online, and a list that's offline. The right side provides a large conversation window and the text entry box at the bottom.

In addition to the basic chat functions, this new version of Bleep includes an added feature called "Whisper." To enter this mode, mobile phone users simply hit "Go to Whisper," and these conversations and images will be deleted off the sender's and recipient's devices 25 seconds after they have been viewed. For desktop users, simply hit the "SHIFT" button (Windows) or "CTRL"  button (Mac) while sending a "whispered" message or image. Users can switch back and forth in a conversation when needed.

To assuage any fears that the other user is taking screenshots of the conversation during Whisper mode, Fadaie said that the screenshot in question won't show nicknames, so there's no way to see who said what. Tap the "eye" in the display, and the screenshot will show the nicknames but not the messages. The other user can only take screenshots of one or the other.

In addition to the chat features, there's a phone icon at the top that allows users to talk to friends for free over the Internet. Fadaie said that these calls connect directly and don't involve the cloud. Users can also rest assured that these calls feature end-to-end encryption; there's no eavesdropping by unsuspecting government agencies or hackers.

BitTorrent's Christian Averill explained to Tom's how Bleep actually works, saying that instead of supplying chat servers that store information, Bleep relies on the current BitTorrent ecosystem. When the Bleep client looks up contacts, it uses the DHT, which is "a web of peers" cooperating together. When the sender identifies a receiver, the message is sent directly to the receiver using end-to-end encryption. You can get a deeper explanation here.

Bleep's video support is there, but it's lacking. "Bleep core already supports video, but exposing it in the UI depends on what features (and how) users would like to see," he said. "There is definitely the possibility of exposing this feature but the timeline for it is TBD."

Bleep arrives in a time when Internet surfers are questioning the privacy of the tools they use to communicate on the Web. BitTorrent seems intent on fixing this issue with peer-to-peer software. Averill said that with cloud solutions, there's always a tradeoff between privacy and cool features. But that's not so with a peer-to-peer solution; you can have something that is fun and easy to use without compromising security.

When we asked if the company will eventually start charging for this service, Averill said, "Our current focus is to make the consumer app great, and we will continue doing that." But he added, "Having said that, Bleep is built to scale not only as a consumer app but also as a platform that can be offered to other companies to use (as an SDK, etc.). Other companies can easily integrate messaging functionalities into their own apps using Bleep engine without needing any servers (which is revolutionary in that it not only reduces the cost of operating servers but it also makes the conversation more private which opens the doors for new markets)."

"We will likely look into monetization potentials in those markets as we intend to keep the basic features of the consumer app free," Fadaie added.

So far the response to Bleep has been strong. Averill said that BitTorrent received a great deal of feedback from users during the alpha stages. Not only did these users help find bugs in the software; they also worked directly with the team.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

A Very Limited PC Experience

Intel recently announced the availability of its Windows-based Compute Stick. Available now through Intel authorized dealers, the Windows version of the Compute Stick is expected to retail at $150, while an upcoming Ubuntu Linux version, with slightly different specs, is expected to sell for $110.

Far from being a desktop replacement system, the Compute Stick is an add-on compute module that plugs into a TV or computer's video display via HDMI. The Compute Stick is designed to handle light workloads that include editing simple documents, watching videos, or just chatting with friends over Skype. Just under 4.5 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and .5 inches thick, the Intel Compute Stick is equipped with wireless networking, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, and provides video and sound to the display.

The Intel Compute Stick will eventually be available in two OS flavors, Windows 8.1 and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. The Windows version (STCK1A32WFC) will be available in late April, while the Ubuntu version (STCK1A8LFC) will see a worldwide release in June.

Technical Specifications

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First Impressions

Initially, we thought that the Intel Compute Stick would make a great travel buddy that can turn any HDMI-enabled television into a working computer, but that would mean that the traveler would have to carry around a keyboard and mouse. Instead, the Compute Stick finds its happy place in a home setting. The device can turn your large screen TV into a working computer, letting you browse the internet, Skype-chat with friends or send emails, all from a familiar Windows interface. The problem we see in this scenario is the Compute Stick running out of processing power and memory once you use multiple programs. We can easily see using up the 2 GB of RAM embedded within the hour. Running single applications will work well, and at least there's no worry about multi-tasking.

Though small in size, one of the big issues with the Compute Stick is its physical shape. Being 4.5 inches in length, you need to make sure you have space for it to stick out behind the screen. Some TV manufactures have HDMI ports along the sides of the TV display, but there are other mounted displays that sit too flush against the wall and wouldn't have the right amount of clearance to hold the Compute Stick. In the latter case, a female to male HDMI cable solves the problem.

The review unit we received from Intel included an 8 inch HDMI extension cable, however we used a 3 foot female to male HDMI extension so that the Intel Compute Stick could be mounted in front of the LCD, providing better access to the stick's single USB port and power button. For those that don't mind leaving the Compute Stick dangling out of sight, the device is light enough to leave hanging off the back of the display using the supplied 8 inch extension cable.

Speaking of USB ports, depending on the number of devices connected to the Intel Compute Stick, you'll need a USB hub, especially if you don't have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Intel confirmed that the space inside the Compute Stick is definitely the issue preventing additional USB ports from being added. Also, an HDMI-enabled TV is a must when using the Computer Stick. The company also confirmed that the Compute Stick will only work using a direct HDMI input.

External Features

When it comes to features, the Compute Stick's external design is as minimalist as they come. For expansion, you'll get one USB 2.0 port for additional devices, and a micro SD card slot for extra storage; for our purposes, we used a 32 GB micro SD card without any trouble. Bluetooth 4.0 is also available on the Compute Stick, so if you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you'll want to take advantage of the wireless feature and not waste the USB port.

Using Bluetooth with a keyboard worked well, for the most part. We used a Logitech Folio without any problems, but when switching to an inexpensive RockSoul Bluetooth keyboard, we noticed frequent disconnects and had to constantly re-pair the keyboard to the Compute Stick. In this case, we'll give the Compute Stick the benefit of the doubt since the Folio never had any trouble staying connected and the RockSoul brand keyboard was of questionable functionality.

The power button is awkwardly placed on the side of the Compute Stick, near the HDMI connector. Hopefully, later versions can fix its placement. Whenever we were unplugging or adjusting the device, we had to be careful not to accidentally press down on the power button when grabbing hold of it.

For power, the Compute Stick comes with a 3 foot power cable that plugs into the unit's power port on one end and a USB connector that plugs in the 5V plug on the other.

For physical security, the Compute Stick doesn't use a conventional Kensington security slot. Instead, it uses a couple of connecting notches on the upper corner of the case. To secure it, a thin metal cable would be inserted into one side of the Compute Stick and out the other. More of an industrial type of physical security, the cable could then be crimped down to lock the product.

Internal Features

Warning

The Compute Stick is not meant to be end-user serviceable. Open it at your own risk.

From Intel's Bay Trail family of SoCs, the Compute Stick sports Intel's quad-core Atom Z3735F processor. Launched in early 2014, this 64-bit SoC sports 2 MB L2 cache and runs at a base frequency of 1.33 GHz (1.83 GHz in burst). Memory-wise, the Compute Stick uses single channel DDR3L running at 1333 MHz, which is limited to 2 GB of RAM due to the constraints of the Atom processor.

For graphics, the Compute Stick is powered by Intel's HD Graphics, which is integrated in the Atom Z3735F processor. Using Intel HD Graphics Control Panel, consumers can adjust common display settings, manage power settings and create custom profiles that let you save video settings for different environments or lighting situations.

Storage is provided by Samsung's 32 GB MBG4GC eMMC flash. Designed for mobile devices, this small flash component uses high-density MLC NAND with an MMC controller. Out of the 32 GB of space labeled on the box, Windows Disk Management shows that 23.04 GB goes to the root file system, 5.86 GB goes to the Recovery Partition, and the remaining 100 MB is dedicated to the EFI System Partition.

Wireless networking for the Compute Stick is provided an Azurewave AW-NB177NF M.2 Wi-Fi module. It's a single-band, 802.11 b/g/n that runs in the 2.4 GHz range, while also providing Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Rated to run at 150 Mbps, the Wi-Fi performance is compatible to an N150 Wi-Fi adapter, which is significantly slower than the current AC class of Wi-Fi devices.

Usage

One of the first things we wanted to check out about the Compute Stick was how it handles web video. Surprisingly, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Hulu was a great experience and YouTube videos played with no delay. The streaming was smooth and the Compute Stick's built in sound, coming out of the TV, was clear. When video was playing using Netflix it did produce some lag as you moved the mouse across the screen, yet there was no effect on the streaming content as it played. This is usually a problem when the mouse is used further out than 10 feet, which is somewhat expected. However, we were only about eight feet away from our office's 54 inch LCD when this happened.

We also tried to use Remote Desktop on the Compute Stick and tried to connect to a computer over Wi-Fi. Initially, we ran into some delay as the Compute Stick connected and logged into the PC for the first time. We typically don't see such a lag when using Remote Desktop, but taking into account that the Compute Stick's Wi-Fi isn't 802.11ac, and that we're working with an SoC, running a Remote Desktop session may be more than the Compute Stick could initially handle. The load time did improve after the first session and we also saw similar response times using a 802.11ac USB NIC on the Compute Stick.

Box Contents

The sample kit that Tom's Hardware received for testing included the following:

• Intel Compute Stick pre-loaded with Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit;
• 5V, 2A wall mount USB AC-DC power adapter;
• 3 inch USB cable for the power adapter;
• 8 inch female to male HDMI cable;
• AC plug adapters for US, AU, EU and UK sockets.

According to Intel, the retail version of the Compute Stick will have the same accessories as listed above, adding a quick start guide, and safety/regulatory paperwork to the package.

Additional Accessories

As for accessorizing the Compute Stick, there are several accessories we'd recommend getting to complement your purchase.

Since you only get 32 GB of storage in the Windows version of the Compute Stick, taking advantage of the micro SD slot is a must. Up to 128 GB is supported, so consider getting a large micro SD card. Being realistic, the built-in flash storage won't last long, especially if you're saving files locally, and the additional storage won't hurt.

Other storage options include subscribing to a cloud-based service, and since the Compute Stick is running Windows 8.1, there are plenty of vendors that can help store your data in the cloud. For example Microsoft's OneDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive will provide free cloud storage, up to a certain capacity, but beyond that you'll have to pay additional fees.

Since you may want to keep the Compute Stick's single USB port available, using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is probably worthwhile. You get to take advantage of the Compute Stick's wireless tech as you can sit across the room and use the computer without having cables dangling across the floor. In the event that you can't use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, getting a wireless USB keyboard with a trackpad might come in handy, especially for couch surfing.

Another item for the Compute Stick wish-list is a powered USB hub to expand the device's usability, especially for items running over 500ma. Since the Compute Stick only uses USB 2.0, getting an equally fast hub would be inexpensive. The hub, though slower than USB 3.0, could be used for items like USB card readers, keyboard, mouse, or webcam. And if the built-in wireless network speeds don't work out for you, consider getting a wired USB NIC or a faster USB Wi-Fi adapter to speed things up.

For a list of Intel tested peripherals compatible with the Compute Stick, visit intel.com.

Testing Methodology

In benchmarking the Intel Compute Stick, we had to borrow several different methods from some of our recent tablet and network tests. We also had to keep in mind that we're not dealing with a high-end system here. We kept our expectations reasonable, especially since this isn't a gaming device or workstation. If anything, what we'll really find out about the Compute Stick is that, rather than being a performance-driven device, it's really just a convenient way to add on some computing power to an existing television.

Video-wise, we used a 24 inch Asus VS247 HDMI display with the Compute Stick and plugged it into the back of the monitor to run the CPU, graphics and storage testing.

Network testing was done using the same Asus display, however we used a mobile cart to help test throughput at different distances between our reference ASUS RT-AC66U Dual Band router and an Ethernet wired ASRock VisionX Mini-PC (Core i7-4712MQ, AMD HD8850M graphics, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD and 2 TB HDD).

For the Compute Stick's quad core Atom z3735F CPU, we used Primate Lab's Geekbench 3. Geekbench is a cross-platform benchmarking tool used to test CPU and memory performance. One of the grander advantages of using Geekbench is having access to the Primate Labs' large database of tested devices, including those running Windows, Apple and Android platforms. For Geekbench, we'll be looking at scores coming from its single- and multi-core tests using integer, floating point and memory workloads.

In order to test the Compute Stick's Samsung-based storage, we're using CrystalDiskMark to measure sequential and random read/write speeds.

We tested end-to-end Wi-Fi networking using PassMark's Advanced Networking module. Configured in a client/server configuration, the software is installed and started on each computer with one machine marked as a server and the second machine set up as the client. We used the default fixed block size of 16384 Bytes to send test TCP traffic from the Compute Stick to our test ASRock Mini-PC with the test results showing data received, data sent, average Kbits/sec and the CPU load. Since the Compute Stick only runs at 2.4 GHz, we restricted the other devices in the networking test to the same range.

Since the Intel Compute Stick is used primarily as a web browsing tool, we also ran BrowserMark, Peacekeeper and Octane to get an idea of how Internet Explorer and Google Chrome perform in comparison to other systems.

For comparison data, we used machines from the mobile realm, including:

• Dell Venue 11 Pro (Processing, Storage, Web Applications);
• Lenovo Thinkpad 10 20C1 (Processing, Storage, Web Applications);
• HP Elitepad 1000 G2 (Processing, Storage, Web Applications);
• Sony Vaio SVSS13112FXS with a Linksys AE3000 N900 USB Wi-Fi adapter (Networking);
• Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T (Networking).

As mentioned earlier, we're not expecting astronomical results from the Compute Stick. We chose the Dell, Lenovo and HP tablets because their components help us get to closer to an "apples to apples" type comparison. For networking, we used another Atom based tablet and a regular laptop with a Wi-Fi adapter, because they would have 802.11n Wi-Fi capability similiar to the Compute Stick's.

Processing

Overall, the Intel Compute Stick performed as expected. The Dell Venue, Lenovo Thinkpad and HP Elitepad G2 all have faster processors than the Compute Stick's 1.33 GHz Atom Z3735F. The Dell uses an Atom Z3775D (2.41 GHz), while the Lenovo and the HP both use the Atom 3795 (2.4 GHz and 1.6 GHz, respectively).

When comparing the memory test results, the Dell has 2 GB of RAM, similar to the Compute Stick, while the HP and Lenovo ran on 4 GB of RAM. It's interesting to see that the Compute Stick fared almost as well in the Single-Core test against the two tablets with twice the memory in them.

Storage

In the storage tests, we set CrystalDiskMark to run on each machine's local flash drive (Drive C:), writing files sized at 1000 MB for five test runs. The Compute Stick fared very well, even against the other three eMMC enabled devices. 

Networking

Between the three competitors in the networking test, as expected, the Sony Vaio performed best. The (theoretical) 150 Mbps traffic coming out of the Compute Stick was no match for the Linksys N900 USB Wi-Fi adapter attached to the Sony laptop. We opted to not go with the Sony's Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 networking module (rated at 300 Mbps) so we could get results at the higher 802.11n range. Even the Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T fared better than the Compute Stick, and that poor tablet was never really given a fair break. Bottom-line, consider using a wired or wireless USB network adapter with the Compute Stick.

Web Applications

For web application testing, we only covered IE 11 and Google Chrome 42. We excluded Firefox since the other two browsers have a stronger real world presence. These browser tests were interesting because they show the Compute Stick actually beating the Dell Venue in all three benchmarks. For such a small device to win over Dell in Peacekeeper's synthetic JavaScript scoring, Octane 2.0's 17 test barrage and BrowserMark's group testing, I had to go back and triple check our scores.

Conclusion

Although we're on the fence when it comes to the Compute Stick's pricing, it might come in handy if you're looking for a statically placed device in your living room. However, if you're a mobile type of person, you're probably better off with a tablet that won't cost much more than the Compute Stick.

When we first saw the Intel Compute Stick at CES 2015, we weren't too surprised by it. We've seen computing devices get smaller every year, but none of them really have the power to take on the core i3, i5 and i7 computers of the world. So we look at these SoC devices and try to fit their limited abilities into our lives.

This isn’t a dedicated streaming media device. Nor is it a PC. Nor is it a tablet. It’s none of those, and yet a little bit of all of those. It can stream, it can perform lightweight computing tasks, and you can take it wherever you go. For the PC hobbyist, it might be fun, and at $150, it’s not a bad price to pay.

But our expectations for stick computing are going to stay low for now, and probably in the near future. Stick computers and other SoCs may contribute services around the Smart Home, or run specific tasks, but to put too much hope that the Compute Stick will replace your PC is a pipe dream.

Julio Urquidi is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware, covering Networking and Systems. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.

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Corrections: Typos fixed regarding processing speed.

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Cyanogen's Cyanogen OS is a hit among Android users. The open source mobile operating system gives users a variety of features and functions that are otherwise unavailable on the Android operating system, such as adding slow motion video capabilities and making apps private by hiding them in a locked and protected folder. Today, the OS is getting new services thanks to a partnership with Microsoft.

The deal involves the addition of Microsoft apps and services into the Cyanogen OS, specifically Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, Microsoft Office and Bing. However, Microsoft doesn't just want these implemented on the system; the company is working on "native integrations" for the apps on Cyanogen OS, which will make them seem like native apps within the operating system.

Cyanogen hasn't provided an exact date for the integration; the statement only said that it's coming later this year. However, this partnership is crucial, especially for those who are using Cyanogen OS for business.

Many office workers already use the same Windows apps and services on their desktop computers. By having a native version of important Windows apps on Cyanogen OS, users can get that Windows experience in their pockets without having to switch to Windows Phone.

If anything, this development is bound to create competition in the mobile office space by giving users an alternative to both the Android operating system and Windows Phone.

Update (4/16, 12:20 PDT): The partnership with Microsoft only extends Cyanogen OS, the commercial operating system, and not CyanogenMod, the open source distribution. The story has been updated for clarification.

Update (4/16, 1:40pm PDT): We reached out to Cyanogen for comment on this story, and here is the reply (note that the Microsoft services are opt-in):

"Users are ultimately in control of what apps and services they want to opt-in to. Additionally, users can always delete apps and services they no longer want. Cyanogen is predicated on user choice as an operating system, and we want to offer best-in-class apps and services on our platform, and Microsoft services will be one of those great choices for consumers."

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Microsoft updated the official Office blog with news that the Skype for Business client is no longer in beta (aka Technical Preview) and will make its debut this month in the April update for Office 2013. For customers using Office 365, Microsoft has also green-lighted Skype for Business Online, which is rolling out now and is expected to be fully distributed by the end of next month.

So what is Skype for Business and how is it different from the consumer version? It's a "communications and collaboration platform" according to the company, providing services such as instant messaging, voice and video calls, and online meetings. However, it also includes "enterprise-grade security, compliance and control," the blog said.

"Skype for Business is based on the familiar Skype experience that more than 300 million people use every month to connect with friends and family," the blog said. "It is built right into Office, so features like presence, IM, voice and video calls, and online meetings are an integrated part of the Office experience."

Microsoft provided an FAQ in its report stating that Skype for Business will automatically replace Lync Online for Office 365 customers. For those still using the Lync client, Skype for Business will become the default client by the end of May. Microsoft's blog also said that administrators will have the ability to switch from the Lync user interface to the new Skype for Business interface should companies need more time to adjust to the new client.

Microsoft provided two plans for Skype for Business. Online Plan 1 costs $2.00 per user per month and includes presence and group instant messages, the ability to transfer files in an instant message, and audio and HD video calling. Office Plan 2 is $5.50 per month and adds to group HD video calling, the ability to join meetings from desktop and web browsers, desktop application and whiteboard sharing, and more.

Skype for Business is also included in Server 2015. This version contains everything Online Plan 2 provides except for interoperability with third-party dial-in conferencing partners. However, this version provides persistent chat, dial-in audio conferencing, enterprise voice functionality and interoperability with video teleconferencing systems.

Companies looking for the nearest Skype for Business partner can head here. These partners can get Skype for Business up and running on your network and can even help deploy and manage the service.

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For nearly two years, FreedomPop has offered budget-minded mobile consumers a compelling proposition: a bare-bones voice and data plan at absolutely no charge. The public reacted well to the idea of free, leading more than 500,000 customers to sign up for service with the LA-based virtual operator.

But FreedomPop believes that some of its customers are willing to pay good money for an optimized service. Starting today, the company is offering a premium voice service that it claims will deliver better audio quality and ensure customers can make and receive phone calls at times and in places where their voice service is normally spotty.

FreedomPop hasn't developed some new voice technology or network. Rather, it's falling back on 2G, the voice technology that powers the vast majority of mobile phone calls today. One of the major reasons FreedomPop has been able to offer free voice services is that it has bypassed mobile carriers' traditional voice networks and routed its phone calls as IP sessions over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi data networks.

The only problem with that approach is that mobile data connections aren't always the most reliable – as anyone who has tried to make a Skype call in crappy 4G coverage can attest to. That problem is particularly acute for FreedomPop. As a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), FreedomPop buys network access wholesale from Sprint, which trails all U.S. carriers in 4G speeds and coverage.

Customers getting a gratis 200-minute voice plan probably have little to complain about, but according to FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols, the virtual carrier is starting to attract a higher class of customers -- notably small business owners -- who want a higher class of service, and they're willing to pay for it.

So FreedomPop has started to buy voice minutes off of Sprint's CDMA network, and it has developed new software for its Android phones that will detect the quality of the data connection available. If network speeds fall below 400 kbps, FreedomPop will reroute calls over Sprint's 2G network.

The service will cost $2.99 a month, and it will apply to whatever plan a FreedomPop customer subscribes to. Thus, if you're on the free plan, your 200 voice minutes can be routed over either the 2G or VoIP network. If you buy additional voice minutes from FreedomPop (for instance, its $20 unlimited voice plan), all of those calls will be 2G eligible as well.

What's more, FreedomPop will give all of its customers a free month's access to the new 2G voice feature. "We want to give everyone a taste of it," Stokols said.

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Android Auto, Google's answer to Apple's CarPlay system, gives drivers the ability to use the mobile software as a GPS, answer calls, respond to messages, and even listen to music. Today, Google announced that users can install Android Auto in their vehicles, so long as their mobile device is running Android Lollipop 5.0.

However, there is a catch. Even if your car is one of the many brands that supports the feature, you will need to install a Pioneer screen unit to get it working. At the moment, only three models are available in the United States. The least expensive model will cost you $700, and the highest-end model is a staggering $1,400.

Those living in the UK also have three models available, while customers in Australia only have two. Pioneer will also bring devices for countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico and India in the future. Google also mentioned that Pioneer isn't an exclusive partner, and that it will announce more partners later this year.

Android Auto claims to be made with safety in mind so that users won't be distracted while driving. It works by attaching your mobile device to the car via USB, and activating your phone's Bluetooth and Notifications to answer calls and receive notifications for messages, songs, and directions.

Although the interface is touch-based, you can issue most of the commands through voice by pressing the microphone icon at the top right of the screen. You can then issue voice commands to find a route to a location, respond to someone's text message, make a phone call, and bring up your favorite songs. Additionally, the platform also includes a few apps such as Spotify, Skype, and NPR One.

Google seems to be on the right track with Android Auto, not just by making it work with the latest version of Android, but also by the number of car manufacturers that support the feature. These include Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan, just to name a few. We wouldn't mind seeing some of them throw in the cost of adding one of those Pioneer units for Android Auto, as the price is still a bit steep.

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Beam Labs recently jumped on Kickstarter to raise funds for a new project called Beam. The device is an Android-based projector that can turn any flat surface into a large screen. Although there are plenty of projectors on the market to choose from, this model is unique in that it can screw into any light socket, whether it's a lamp, a ceiling light or any other bulb-lit device or appliance.  

So what can you do with this bulb-shaped projector? The device is based on Android, which means that owners can watch their favorite movies and TV shows stored on Google Play. They can also play games, watch videos via the VLC app, check out their Facebook and Twitter feeds, conduct a video conversation via Skype and more. The device even supports Airplay and Miracast.

In addition to the Android media, Beam will also perform specific IF/THEN tasks to make the user's life a little easier. For instance, if the user comes home at a specific time, then Beam can load up his/her social updates and project them on a wall. Beam provides Bluetooth connectivity, so if the user turns on his/her Bluetooth speakers, then the device could automatically load up a Netflix movie or music stored on Google Play.

According to a list of hardware specifications, the Beam device features 12 LED lights, two 2W speakers, Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, 8 GB of internal storage, a dual-core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz, an LED Pico projector with an 854 x 480 resolution and a projection life of up to 20,000 hours. To control Beam, users must download a designated app from Google Play or Apple's App Store.

"We took great care to create a designed object that can earn its own space in every room, without being noticed on a first glance. Our team designed a product with a modern minimalistic look," the Kickstarter page stated. "It feels like a modern lamp, but when you look closer you notice there is more to this lamp than you thought."

The Kickstarter project has a few "stretch" goals. If the company sells 800,000 units, then the internal memory will be upgraded to 16 GB. After selling 900,000 units, the company will offer additional cable colors (the cable allows Beam to hang like a chandelier). One million units will see the addition of a new color for Beam, and the 2 million goal will add colored LEDs that the user can control.

So what's the cost? Those in the Founders Club will be required to shell out $349 for the device, while Early Bird contributors will pay $369 for the projector. There are also other pledge levels including "Whole Shebang" for $450 or more, "Double the Fun" for $750 or more, "Screw Five On It" for $1,950 or more, and so on. The retail cost will be $399 when the Beam projector launches in October 2015.

At press time, the Kickstarter project has lured in 188 backers pledging $66,207. The project has 33 days to go and is looking to reel in $200,000 before Tuesday, March 24.

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Guns

Wolfgang loves his guns. What appears to be somewhat reasonable in this first shot…

Arms Race

…turns out to be a private armory with an Internet connection.

Relax 0.9

This is Ikea’s new PC furniture prototype called the Knut-Oliver. Make yourself comfortable while the PC boots up!

Wallpaper

Looks like a marathon benchmark session for the new Lexmark printer at Jaden Jill Joel’s place.

Outsourcing

This is Jeff’s new open-air office.

It’s Nice To Be The Boss

This is the office of Jeff’s boss. If you can’t take it with you…

Solitaire

Playing Solitaire on a 15-inch laptop? That’s so 1990s. True pros go old school and use actual cards.

Staying Fit

Bob gives it his all. Go for the mileage reimbursement and stay fit at the same time – not bad!

Reception

Tony works in a really large department. It’s his birthday today, and every colleague gets a cup of his favorite blue soda. Extra credit question: how many colleagues does Tony have?

Where’s The Cake?

This is a Russian office prank that also asks the most important question: where’s the food? Hint: the answer can be found halfway through this slideshow.

Eyefinity 6.0

You want big? How about a six-monitor workspace with AMD’s FirePro W9100?

Cheap Knockoff

You can also just get a bunch of computers. Every blue bottle has the name of a Skype partner on it. A standing bottle means the contact is online. One lying down means they're done for the night.

Kindle Paperwhite

Why use monitors when you can get so much more use out of the office with electronic ink paper?

(F)Light Simulator

Brian is actually a tank-driving enthusiast. This is why even his flight simulator only features a slim observation slit.

Nobody’s Listening…

Here's an upgrade for everyone already wearing an aluminum-foil hat: Alumina 2.0 – the full-coverage aluminum room that keeps the NSA out.

They’re Coming For You!

Here’s a more detailed view of the spy-free room. It’ll certainly be the high point of any factory tour.

Christmas

Everybody knows by now that Santa Claus was invented by Coca-Cola. This is a picture of his office, which can easily be identified by the free sodas he gets from his corporate sponsor.

Round-Trip

Gamma overload. This round-trip is guaranteed to leave anyone watching it with a truly radiant smile.

iCloset 2.0

Not everyone wants to flaunt their Mac. This shows how to stay under the radar.

Airtight

Here's the union’s recommendation about what to do with colleagues who have digestive issues: the Anti-Smell Version 1.2. Its new PET film keeps the good and bad airflows separate, and the nose happy. Includes osmosis free of charge!

Archway

This IT pro knows how to make an archway, even though the architectural style was already outdated in the Middle Ages. The Romans invented and used it first, after all.

iDrive Was Yesterday

Just make sure to keep the lid firmly in place when driving quickly around corners.

Just Too Much…

Downloading too many pictures and videos at work might have some unintended consequences.

Retro Granny

Thomas found an old picture of his grandmother in the attic. The computer might still be acceptable, but what is she wearing? It’s like a cross between a 70s couch and a plastic trash bag.

Auntie Edie

That’s better, even though the body language could be a bit more elegant and there wasn’t enough money left in the budget for a chair. Computers were a lot more expensive back then…

So Sweet!

This PC scene is about as sweet as it gets. It also gives you the answer to the question in Picture 10.

Start Them As Early As Possible

Hidden object game: this is little Johnny on his first PC in the corner trying to find SpongeBob SquarePants?

Post It! A LOT!

We still don’t know who played this prank on Billy. Then again, at least he’ll never forget anything ever again.

Cables, Cables Everywhere

This is a hidden object game for network administrators. Where’s the white cable number 16,295?

Difficult Decision

This scene shows very clearly that owning an Apple PC doesn’t guarantee good taste, or even common sense.

Advanced Steampunk

This is really nice, but we’d rather not see the rest of the live-in crypt.

Call Anderson Cooper!

We’ll need some investigative reporting to find out how the mess came to be. Could it be the owner’s two large Dobermans?

Full Speed Ahead

These two winners are engaged in another head-to-head race for the title of “Salesperson of the Month.”

That’s Not Right

Originally, this innovative designer plate was designed for alphabet soup.

Electronic Sports

Members of the rather new eSports team Xtr3M3 completely misunderstood how their peripherals are used for a first-person shooter.

Opening The Disk Drive Is Easy…

…but only a true geek can use it to open a door too. :)

Real-Life Key Combinations

Great idea, but there’s still something missing. Maybe we’ll find it on the next page…

Ctrl-C

Samantha is taking her own shortcut to get a picture of her assets into the clipboard.

Seeing It All

That's it for today? Yep, we just ran out of space.