iOS 9 Beta 5 On iPhone 6: Nearing The Home Stretch

As September draws ever nearer, so does the expected release date of Apple’s new iPhones and long with them iOS 9. It’s a tried and tested pattern for Apple to follow, with new iPhones bringing with them a big new release of iOS and this time is no different. Up to the ninth iteration, iOS is now maturing with features being added and existing ones being tweaked. If you own an iPad or an iPhone, then iOS 9 is going to be of big interest to you.
As with all of Apple’s big software releases, iOS 9 is currently in the midst of a beta program, with developers and some of the general public getting the opportunity to test the software as it moves through the development process. I’ve been testing iOS 9 myself since its first beta release, and it’s fair to say that this iteration is Apple’s best. We’ve already covered the individual changes that have arrived in this fifth beta release, and I expect to see a few more before the final version is ready for prime time.

As with all beta programs, iOS 9 has seen its fair share of show stopping bugs, and with iOS 9 beta 5 these appear to have been ironed out. Performance seems to have improved significantly in this release compared to beta 4. Battery life is as stable as iOS 8 has been for me, and I’ve yet to experience any of the network connectivity dropouts that plagued earlier releases of the beta. My iPhone 6 hasn’t needed any restarts in general either, which is streets ahead of where iOS 9 beta 3 and beta 4 was. It’s more stable, it’s more responsive and as lofty as it may sound, it feels less…..beta. If it wasn’t for some apps crashing on launch – not Apple’s fault, not the app’s developer’s fault, just a fact of beta life – then you could almost be forgiven for thinking this is a shipping version of iOS.
Having used iOS 9 beta 5 for the weekend, it is clear that Apple is starting to lock things down before new iPhones and of course iOS 9 itself arrive in September. I’d expect to see at least two new beta releases before the final version is ready, but if the last few days are anything to go by then Apple is already starting to add some polish to the software that we will all be using come late-September time.

You may also like to check out:

• iOS 9 Beta 5: Here Are All The New Features And Changes
• Download iOS 9 Beta 5 And Install On iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5s, 5c, 5, 4S, iPad, iPod touch [Tutorial]

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Windows 10 Product Key And Activation: How To Find It And How It Works

Here’s everything you need to know about how to find your Windows 10 product key and how activation works on free upgraded versus new retail copies of Windows 10.
Whether you used Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer or got a new license off retail, MSDN and the likes, here’s what you need to know about Windows 10 product keys and activation process.

Windows 10 free upgrade product key and activation:
If you upgraded your PC to Windows 10 from a genuine copy of either Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 7, your license will be tied to the hardware you upgrade on, not your Microsoft account, and you won’t get any new product key either. You can verify this using any third-party product key fetching software like ProduKey or The Ultimate PID Checker. They will show you generic product keys like TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99 for Windows 10 Home and VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T for Windows 10 Pro edition.
So what if you want to clean install Windows 10 on the same machine? Yes you can do that by downloading an ISO file, turning it into a USB drive or DVD media and then running the setup for clean install. During install, when Windows setup asks you for product key, simply skip the step and let it complete the installation. Once Windows 10 clean install is complete, your copy of Windows will activate automatically as soon as you connect to Internet. This is because Microsoft knows you clean installed on the same hardware. You can always check your activation status from either Settings (WinKey+I) > Update & security > Activation:

or from Control Panel > System and Security > System:

Now if down the road you decide to change the hardware, you will need to call Microsoft support, inform them about the change to get your copy activated.

• How To Create Bootable Windows 10 USB Flash Drive [Guide]
• Download Windows 10 Pro ISO File Without Product Key From Microsoft
• How To Clean Install Windows 10 On Your PC The Right Way [Guide]

The TL;DR version of this is: If you used Windows 10 free upgrade option, you won’t get a unique product key. Your license will be tied to the hardware you upgraded Windows 10 on, not your Microsoft account. Clean installs will activate automatically as long as they are done on the same hardware.
Windows 10 retail product key and activation:
If you bought retail license of Windows 10, or got a product key either from MSDN, DreamSpark, TechNet and the likes, you obviously have a unique product key that you can enter in Windows setup during clean installations. In case you lose this number, you can use third-party softwares like ProduKey (download from here) to find it on an existing installation.

You may also like to check out:

• How To Download And Install Windows 10 Free Upgrade [Tutorial]
• Force Download Windows 10 Free Upgrade Right Now, Here’s How [Tutorial]

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Set Default Finder Window Size In Mac OS X, Here’s How

Finder is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used applications within Mac OS X. Finder affords you the ability to navigate through all of the files and folders that are stored on your machine. It’s the app that lets you browse installed apps, connected drives and folders in a way that best suits your needs and visual tastes. It’s also the app that lets you organize things how you want. While it’s extremely powerful, it can be equally annoying to work with, often displaying serious inconsistencies with launch behavior. We’re going to take a look at how to solve Finder’s launch size issues.
It’s generally not the end of the world when you open a Finder window and it decides to resize itself however it wants. Sometimes it’s huge and consumes the screen, and at time it’s so tiny that it requires user interaction to resize it and actually find the files and folders hidden within. Not the end of the world, but extremely annoying nevertheless when it happens every time. There’s a handy little tip that seems to trick OS X into launching Finder with a consistent size attached to it, so let’s jump right into the simple step-by-step.

Step 1: Launch a Finder window and prepare to be amazed at the random size that it chooses. Using the normal methods, set the Finder window to your own preferred size.
Step 2: Close all open windows by holding down CMD+Option+W and clicking the Close button in the top-left corner.
Step 3: Now, hold down the Option key on the Mac keyboard and right-click on the Finder icon.
Step 4: Select the Relaunch option from the contextual menu that appears.

It seems a little bizarre that given that we are currently in the middle of a beta testing phase for Apple’s next major release of OS X, El Capitan 10.11, that relatively minor but hugely annoying bugs like this have been allowed to remain ever present on the platform. Still, the mysterious Finder sizing issue is always going to be one of those polarizing niggles that will frustrate and anger some people while other users won’t even notice that a problem exists. If you fall into the former category, then there’s now one less thing to be frustrated about.

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iTunes Won’t Install On Windows 10? Here’s How To Fix It

Windows 10 may have been publicly available since the end of July but it’s only now that we’re starting to see the full corporate might of Microsoft ramping into gear. The push to get as many users as possible installing and interacting with Windows 10 has begun with advertising campaigns appearing on television, print, and radio. Windows 10 is here, and Microsoft wants you using it; that much is clear. However, what’s also clear is that as time progresses, and as more individuals dig deeper into Windows 10, more problems are beginning to appear. The latest issue appears to be with those trying to install latest version of Apple’s iTunes on Windows 10.
A number of disgruntled users have been voicing their concerns, complaining of very similar installation issues when trying to get up and running with iTunes on Windows 10.

It seems that as part of the installation process the platform is regurgitating errors such as “An error occurred during the installation of assembly Microsoft… HRESULT: 0x80073715″. In addition to those intra-installation issues some users are also receiving alerts, informing them that “Apple application support was not found (Windows error 2)” and Apple Mobile Device Service failed to start when the app is launched.

Now even if you try and run the whole process in Administrator mode, with and without a firewall, disable running anti-virus software, it still likely won’t work. But fear not, as there is a way to resolve this issue. Turns out, Apple’s standard download page on apple.com/iTunes maybe providing you with wrong file installation file which is not suitable for your version of Windows 10. Rather than download it from iTunes page, get the installer directly off Apple’s servers tailored for your version of Windows 10.

• iTunes 12.2.1.16 for Windows (32-bit): iTunesSetup.exe
• iTunes 12.2.1,16 for Windows (64-bit): iTunes6464Setup.exe
• iTunes 12.2.1.16 for Windows (64-bit – for older video cards): itunes64setup.exe

If you have a 64-bit Windows 10 and are having issues installing iTunes, simply download iTunes 12.2.1.16 for Windows (64-bit – for older video cards) directly from the link given above. This particular version of iTunes should most definitely fix your problem.
In addition to solving the reported issue it also seems to resolve a number of issues that were being experienced down the line, such as QuickTime compatibility, playback and interaction with other third-party applications installed on the machine, and more. This version does not exactly offer the best user-experience, but at least it works.

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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iPhone 6s Vs iPhone 6: New Leak Compares Display Assembly On Video

With the iPhone 6s launch near imminent next month, we’re witnessing a surge in image and video leaks of Apple’s upcoming smartphone. The latest to be making rounds on the Internet is an extremely close-up look at the September-bound smartphone’s display assembly, being compared to the one on the iPhone 6, all caught on video.
We’ve seen quite a few leaks in the past few weeks regarding the iPhone 6s, including the display assembly, but never got to see the details this close. As can be seen in the video embedded below, both parts look the same in the first instance here but there are quite a few minor changes going around. Apparently, that tiny gray colored rectangular thing on the panel is part of the Force Touch technology. We can’t be sure, but that’s what MacManiack believes, who managed to get a hold of the new assembly.

The company is a reseller of Apple parts, and points out a few other intricacies within the iPhone 6s assembled display that differ from the current iPhone 6, but to general consumers these changes don’t matter much do they? What does matter however, is its thickness, and behold; if this indeed is the display assembly for the iPhone 6s, it is as thick as the one on the iPhone 6. This potentially debunks the entire speculation that Apple would opt for a thicker display owing to the Force Touch tech.

Since the dimensions of the two iPhone displays are identical, the iPhone 6s may just measure up to the existing iPhone 6, as had been speculated over and over again. The FaceTime camera and proximity sensor have not moved at all either, and we can safely assume that the mic and speaker will stay housed at their original location as well.
The ‘s’ moniker has always remained true to its history, with Apple usually churning out the year older iPhone design with a bumped up CPU and camera, but with Force Touch on the cards, it could very well be breaking that tradition. A recent report has suggested that the iPhone 6 may be announced on the 9th of September, with an all new A9 CPU, a 12MP rear-facing camera, Force Touch, and more.
For more details, here’s the video.

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Leaked Render Shows iPad mini 4 Will Be As Thin As iPad Air 2 [Video]

Another day is upon us and we have yet another leaked set of 3D CAD files that purportedly show one of Apple’s upcoming hardware products. A number of reports over the last few weeks have suggested that the fourth-generation iPad mini will fall in line visually with the current iPad flagship model, the iPad Air 2. This change would involve in reduction in thickness from 7.5mm to 6.1mm. The latest 3D CAD files to make an appearance on the web seem to support that speculation by showing a device that measures in at just 6.13mm in thickness and looks a lot like its bigger brother.
A video of the CAD render has made its way online thanks to the @onleaks Twitter account that comes equipped with a fairly commendable record of predicting the future of Apple products. It’s also notable that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has an equally formidable prediction record, has recently gone on record as stating that his company also believes that Apple will bring the next-generation iPad mini more in line with the iPad Air 2. This progression would extend to the technical specification of the device as well as the overall aesthetics and form factor.

There’s no denying that an overhaul of the iPad mini exterior to match that of the slender iPad Air 2 would be welcomed by potential consumers. Speculation is also suggesting that Apple has plans to integrate the same forward-facing 8-megapixel camera that is found in its current flagship iPad, as well as improving the Retina display with an anti-glare coating for those who love to read and interact with content when out and about. Of course, this is all hypothetical and actually relies on the leaked CAD render being an official Apple creation.

Additional conjecture pertaining to Apple’s miniature 7.9-inch iPad suggests that we could welcome it into our lives during the month of October, based on the three previous generational releases. The device could potentially come equipped with Apple’s powerful A8 processor, as well as 2GB of RAM which should give it a significant performance increase over its predecessor. With a number of different sources all saying the same thing, it’s pretty much nailed on that the fourth-generation iPad mini will be one to keep an eye on.
Here’s the CAD render on video!

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iPhone 6s Will Put An End To Bendgate Once And For All, Here’s The Proof [Video]

The measure of any company exists in how it handles and grows from any mistakes that have been made in the past. Apple, who has found itself in the middle of multiple consumer controversies since launching the iPhone back in 2007, is said to have learned from last year’s “Bendgate” scandal with the hope of it never being repeated again, that’s according to Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy.
Hilsenteger has a vested interest in this year’s iPhone 6s launch. Especially when it comes to determining if the Cupertino based company has managed to learn and grow from the mistakes it made last year with the construction of the current iPhone 6. He was the individual who is famed with starting “Bendgate” after managing to bend an iPhone 6 Plus using nothing but his bare hands and human might.

After getting his hands on a rear backplate – part of construction of the upcoming iPhone 6s, Hilsenteger is keen to point out that Apple has made a number of key structural changes to the design of the device to prevent the same issues from occurring. A comparison between the leaked backplate of iPhone 6s, courtesy of Sonny Dickson, and the rear of the current iPhone 6 shows that Apple appears to have strengthened the internal walls of the case. A number of location changes for screws has also helped to make the iPhone 6s a much stronger, more resilient device that should be resistant to the type of damage that we’ve previously seen occur.

 iPhone 6

A number of previous reports have pretty much confirmed this finding by suggesting that Apple is extremely keen to introduce a new aluminum bond into the structural make-up of the iPhone 6s. The Apple Watch Sport version uses a 7000 series aluminum that Apple has been waxing lyrical about in the pursuit of proving its strength. It’s this same type of aluminum that is supposedly set to make an appearance come September when the iPhone 6s is expected to land on the store shelves. Apple is clearly keen to prevent anything like the “bendgate” scandal from happening again, although it could be argued that a lot more was actually made of the issue than should have been.

 iPhone 6s

It seems that Apple is leaving no stone unturned as it attempts to break the records with the number of 6s units shipped during the holiday season.
For more details, check out the video.

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Download Google Play Store 5.8.8 APK

Google Play APK 5.8.8 Update: You can now download the latest version 5.8.8 of Google Play Store APK which brings with it a bunch of changes and bug fixes that users have been facing for quite a while. This release also includes more Material Design, Details Page, updated look for What’s New, Wearable sensors/activity data, Enterprise apps support, among other things. The download link below has been updated with latest version.
The all new Google Play Store carries more elements of Material Design compared to initial releases of Android Lollipop. Apps like Google Play Newsstand, Gmail, Google+ are all now updated with additional Material Design elements.
You will also notice that the app icon for the new Play Store carrier the new, flatter look, keeping itself in line with Material Design’s aesthetics.

Apart from the design language, things have changed under the hood as well. Fire up the app and you will instantly recognize the subtle changes in animations for say, when accessing the slide-out drawer menu, along with changes in the iconography.
The What’s New section has been moved to the top and is now visibly highlighted in green, allowing for it to be prominently visible in each application listing.

Even the Widget Suggestion icons for the home screen have changed, maintaining the flat, paper like design, as was expected. Google went to the extent of changing the notification icon for the status bar as well, after all, it is this attention to detail that ultimately counts.
Version 5.8.8 of Play Store should start rolling out to users over the course of the next few days, but, we can’t be entirely sure, and it may take longer. Regardless, if you do not want to wait for that update to hit your device, you can download the APK of this new version of Google Play Store from the link at the foot of this post, side-load it, and give it a run.

Please note that this APK is not quite ready for Android M Developer Preview or ROM ports based on the Preview images. If you did not pay heed to this warning, and your Play Store is crashing, you will need to revert to an older version to get things up and running again.
If you happen to have tried the new Play Store and are running it on your device, do share your thoughts and opinions on the changes and any other improvements that we may have missed.
Download Google Play Store APK version 5.8.8 from here.

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Change Windows 10 Login Screen Background, Here’s How

Here’s how you can change login screen background image of Windows 10 on your PC the easy way using this one-click utility named Windows 10 Login Background Changer.
An independent developer over at GitHub has created a nifty little portable utility that allows you to change Windows 10’s login screen background. Aptly called Windows 10 Login Background Changer (yeah, we know it’s a mouthful), this app doesn’t require any installation whatsoever, and can get the task done in a few easy steps.

Following the instructions below on how to change the login screen background in Windows 10.
Note: Before trying out this program, we highly recommend creating a System Restore point which you can always go back to in case anything goes wrong when using this utility.
Step 1: Download the program from the source link below, and unzip it to a convenient location on your computer.
Step 2: Run the program via the provided .EXE file, and accept the warning that tells you to proceed at your own risk.
Step 3: The window that you’re presented with at launch is a preview of your Windows 10 login screen, along with a number of options in a rather-crude interface. You can either change the background to an image of your liking by selecting one from your local storage, or choose a solid color (including the currently-selected Windows accent color). The options are pretty self-explanatory, so you shouldn’t have problems playing around with them.

Step 4: Once you’ve made your selected changes, apply them, and you’re good to go.
Step 5 (optional): Additionally, the program also allows you to change things like user information or networking/power icons in the bottom-right corner, although that’s ill-advised, as the developer warns it might break certain functionality on your system. And quite frankly, there doesn’t seem to be any need to venture there anyway.
Windows 10 Login Background Changer is a free app that can be obtained through the GitHub link below.
Tried the program? Let us know how it went for you in the comments section below.
UPDATE x1: If you run into login issues after using this program, try the following fix to get your computer back in working state without having to reinstall everything:

(Download: Windows 10 Login Background Changer on GitHub)
You may also like to check out:

• Play DVD Movies In Windows 10 For Free, Here’s How
• Enable Dark Theme Mode In Windows 10, Here’s How
• How To Enable GodMode In Windows 10

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Google Is Now A Subsidiary Of A New Company Called Alphabet, Here Are The Details

A new chapter in Google’s history unfolded earlier today, when co-founder Larry Page announced that the company and all its ventures will henceforth be operating under a new parent company called Alphabet Inc., spearheaded by Page himself as CEO and co-founder Sergey Brin as President.
Google has always been an exploratory company, never afraid to experiment with and invest in new ideas in a multitude of fields, no matter how crazy they may seem. This move, as Page explains in his post on the official Google blog and abc.xyz website, is to streamline these efforts while providing greater transparency and flexibility to each. Google Inc. itself will be “slimmed down” as part of this change with Sundar Pichai taking over the reigns as CEO. With Google becoming a subsidiary of Alphabet, it will be replaced by Alphabet Inc. as the publicly-traded entity while the ticker symbols for its shares (GOOGL, GOOG) remain the same.

The name ‘Alphabet’ is homage to the letters that make up a language or as Page sees it, “one of humanity’s most important innovations”, and Alpha – the measure of an investment’s performance against a benchmark index.
While this doesn’t mean much to the average Google consumer – apart from the fact that it is simply easier to understand – it isn’t one to be dismissed as daily noise. With a separate CEO running each arm with complete independence, such a restructuring should help drive more focus at Google as well as other ventures that don’t share much in products or services with the Internet giant, such as Capital, Nest, Ventures, Calico, the ISP Fiber, and X Labs, the research subsidiary that now works on Glass – all these will now be separate entities along with Google under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc. This means faster improvements for the Internet products we all use on a daily basis, more amazing ideas being explored, and possibly, relentless acquisitions. It should certainly have competitors rethinking their strategies.

It is clear that Google is looking to move even faster in its quest for new, game-changing ideas. While this might have competitors of each Alphabet subsidiary rethinking their strategies, it spells exciting times ahead for us consumers as well as aspiring entrepreneurs looking for the support of a stable collective.
The official Alphabet website is up at abc.xyz.

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Download Stagefright Fix For Android Nexus 6, 5 And Other Devices

Google has finally posted a fix for critical Android vulnerability called Stagefright that came into limelight late last month. The official fix is available now both as an OTA update and as factory images that you can flash directly on your device.
Supported Nexus devices for the fix include: Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, and Nexus 10. Apparently, Nexus 7 (2012) users have been left out as the device is now out of three-year window for receiving security updates support from Google.

Google has also supplied the fix to Android hardware partners. So those of you with non-Nexus Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy, HTC One M[x] and others will have to wait for the OEMs to start rolling out the fix, which hopefully should be soon.
For those who don’t know, Stagefright is a critical Android vulnerability which can enable hackers to take over any device by simply sending a malicious text message to the victim’s device. According to a research, it affects 95% of Android devices around the world. To learn more on how Stagefright works, check out our detailed post on it here.
To check if your Android smartphone or tablet is vulnerable to this bug, follow our guide here: Stagefright Bug: How To Check If Your Android Phone Is Vulnerable.
To get the OTA update for the fix, head to Settings > About phone > System updates on your Nexus device and tap on Check for Update button, from there, simply install the latest Android system update. The build number for this Android 5.1.1 system security update is LMY48I.
Alternatively, if you haven’t received the OTA yet, you can download the factory image directly from Google for your Nexus device and flash it. Direct download links for Android 5.1.1 LMY48I factory images are given below:

• Nexus 6
• Nexus 6 (LYZ28J – for T-Mobile only)
• Nexus 5 GSM/LTE
• Nexus 4
• Nexus 9 LTE
• Nexus 9 WiFi
• Nexus 7 2013 WiFi
• Nexus 10

We highly recommend updating your Android device to this new update as soon as possible.
You may also like to check out:

• How To Protect Android Phones And Tablets From Growing Malware Threat [Guide]

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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Force Touch On iPhone 6s Gets Detailed

The official unveiling of Apple’s next iPhone, dubbed the “iPhone 6s”, is fast approaching. Consistent rumor and speculation over the last few months has pretty much confirmed that Force Touch will be amongst the new features that will be introduced with the new iPhone, a feature that allows the operating system to split user interaction into varying groups depending on the force of the touch detected on the display. A new set of leaks, coming from individuals who claim to have hands-on experience with the iPhone 6s, outlines exactly how Apple will adopt the Force Touch technology within iOS 9.
One of the great potential benefits of Force Touch, is the window of opportunity that it brings to the introduction of a range of deeper gestures within the operating system. The Apple Watch and the latest Retina MacBook Pro already have Force Touch integrated, which undeniably adds a new dimension to the product allowing users to interact with the hardware in a number of different ways. The question has never been “is Force Touch coming to the iPhone?”, but more “how will Force Touch be integrated into iOS and compatible devices?”

An inside source has provided 9to5Mac with some insights into that integration. According to the source Force Touch will primarily be used on the latest iPhone to initiate shortcut actions. This will allow first and third-party apps to offer up quick access to specific functionality within an app when a touch of a certain pressure is detected on this display. An example given by the source pertains to the native Maps application whereby Force Touch would immediately invoke turn-by-turn navigational directions when triggered on a displayed point of interest. Apart from this, Force Touch gestures from Safari in OS X are also set to be part of iOS experience where users will be able to quickly ‘Look Up’ a word in dictionary by a touch of force on the particular word on the display.

On a more interesting note, it’s also speculated that Apple is internally testing a feature that would integrate Force Touch within app icons on the device home screen. As above, a deep press on an app icon on home screen would provide the user with a set of options pertaining to the particular app. This could be navigating directly to the Contacts tab within the Phone app from home screen, immediately invoking Bookmarks by Force Touching Safari app icon from the home screen, or opening a specific category within the App Store. Of course, this is a feature in testing and may not initially make it into iOS 9.
Apple’s iPhone 6s and new Apple TV media event is rumored to be happening on September 9, so we don’t have that long of a wait to see Force Touch in action.
You may also like to check out:

• New Video Shows How Force Touch Could Work On iPhone 6s

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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Bought MacKeeper? You Can Now Claim A Refund Under Terms Of Lawsuit Settlement

ZeoBIT, the development company behind the MacKeeper software, has recently been involved in a class action lawsuit that saw it being accused of deceptively tricking customers into purchasing its software with claims that it enhances a Mac’s “speed, performance, and security, by detecting and eliminating harmful errors and threats”. The outcome of that class action lawsuit has ruled against ZeoBIT, determining that customers within the United States or any of its territories who purchased a copy of MacKeeper, are entitled to a complete refund.
The lawsuit against the development company essentially claimed that the advertised features and capabilities of the MacKeeper software were not only false, but designed to trick potential consumers into purchasing the software in the hope of protecting and improving performance on their installed Apple Mac computer.

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against software developer ZeoBIT LLC. The class action lawsuit involves whether or not ZeoBIT’s MacKeeper software performed certain functions as advertised.

The lawsuit has determined that the MacKeeper “does not and cannot perform all of the actions advertised” and goes on to seek damages from the company for violation of Consumer Protection Law, fraud, and breach of contract.
Individuals who were duped into purchasing MacKeeper before July 8, 2015 are eligible for a full refund on that purchase thanks to the $2 million that has been set aside as part of the lawsuit settlement. Those who intend to make a claim against ZeoBIT and take advantage of this ruling must do so before November 30, 2015 by filling in the provided claim form. This can either be completed and filed online, or downloaded and mailed by visiting yenchasoftwaresettlement.com. Of course, those affected also have the right to exclude themselves from the class action suit and retain any individual right to pursue ZeoBIT separately for damages.

The result of this lawsuit will do little to enhance the reputation of the MacKeeper software. MacKeeper is now owned and maintained by Kromtech after being passed on a little over two years ago but still manages to hold onto the extremely negative reputation that it gained from years of aggressive advertising techniques, often showing up in obtrusive popups when browsing the web. If you feel you’ve been a victim of this then make sure you get your claim in before November 20, 2015

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Apple CEO Tim Cook Invests In Water-Efficient Shower Head Startup [Video]

A six-person startup based out of San Francisco can now count the CEO of the wealthiest company in the world as one of its early high-profile investors. Apple head honcho Tim Cook has clearly been able to see the potential in Nebia’s new water-efficient shower head technology that promises to bring with it an iconic design mixed together with a superior shower experience and projected water savings of up to 70-percent per shower taken. According to the product’s Kickstarter page we’ve all taken a shower, but none of us have experienced Nebia.
The system itself is a self-installed shower system that comes equipped with an adjustable bracket and a portable wand installation that “showers you like never before”. Regardless of the actual technology that powers this thing the terminology used in the marketing spiel is enough to get our backing. Speaking of the science behind it; Nebia is unique in the fact that it puts water through a process of atomization that helps cover ten times more surface area than what is dispensed by a regular shower system.

That increased surface area means more water makes contact with your body, therefore offering cleaner, more hydrated skin all with the added benefit of using significantly less water than a normal shower. Nebia’s calculations and provided information suggests that the self-installed system will utilize 70-percent less water per shower and when installed in an average U.S. home, will pay for itself in under two years. It’s not difficult to see why over 600 (at the time of writing) Kickstarter members, as well as Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and a host of other high-profile investors, have chosen to provide financial backing to Nebia.

Nebia’s shower system has certainly been put through its paces at some high-profile places of business prior to launching on Kickstarter. The system has been tested by a variety of individuals at huge companies like Google, Apple and Stanford University, as well as in a great testing ground at Equinox Gyms. Tim Cook’s investment into the future of the company appears to have come off his own back and has nothing to do with Apple. There’s obviously something about this particular product that appeals to Cook’s desire to conserve resources and save the planet in the process. The shower system is expected to start shipping somewhere in May next year.
For a closer look at the product, check out the video below.

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How To Download Goat Simulator On iOS For Free

Goat Simulator is easily one of the most popular gaming title in the iOS kingdom, and usually retails for $4.99 on the App Store. Well, it still does, but IGN has partnered up with the game’s developer, Coffee Stain, to offer the title for absolutely free as part of a IGN’s ‘Free Game of the Month’ initiative. We help you get the game up and running on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch without spending a dime, right here.
If you haven’t played Goat Simulator before, don’t let the ‘simulator’ bit confuse you; it is anything but that. You’ll simply be taking control of a clue-less goat and cause all kinds of destruction around the town. If you’re wondering why that’s the objective, it was either that, or walking your goat around a farm.

The promo is available in over 44 countries as of this writing, and will not require an IGN registration or account, so basically it’s free for all as long as you have a working U.S. based iTunes account. If you don’t have a U.S. iTunes account, you can follow our guide here to make one: How To Create US, UK Or Any App Store / iTunes Account Anywhere In The World. So without further ado, let’s get started with downloading Goat Simulator to your iOS device for free.
Step 1: To begin, launch Safari on your device and point the browser to IGNs Promo Page here: ign.com/prime/promo/goat-simulator-free.
Step 2: You should now see a red button, reading Get Free Game. Tap it.
Step 3: A pop-up window should open displaying the promo code, which will be used for redeeming Goat Simulator from the App Store. Tap the code, which should directly redeem your copy of the game, allowing you to download it straight away.
Alternatively, if Step 3 doesn’t work for you, head over to the App Store’s redeem section and enter the promo code there. Your download should begin shortly.

For those of you who do not reside in supported countries, a simple use a free VPN/proxy app could sort out the issue in no time. Simply connect to U.S., U.K or whichever you deem fit, visit the IGN Promo page and continue as per the instructions.
It’s not clear how long the promotion will last for, with IGN stating that “All copies of this goat simulation technology are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to visit grab your free copy ASAP” before it’s too late.
Check out the game trailer below.

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Windows 10 KB3081436 Update Released, Download It Now

Another Tuesday, and we see second major patch for Windows 10 being released today. The just-released KB3081436 is a combined cumulative update and security fix for Windows 10 based systems, with a very generic description that doesn’t really tell much of the story. Supplementing the major update is a new version for Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and fresh antivirus definitions for Windows Defender.
Whether the fact that this update has been released on a Tuesday has any significance with respect to the fabled “patch Tuesdays” or not, we don’t know, but this is the second major update that Windows 10 has seen since it’s not-so-long-ago release; the first one being the Windows 10 KB3081424 update. While we don’t have a clear changelog for this update, it appears to be fixing certain issues particularly the one that saw users scratching their heads when signing into Windows Store – an ailment shared by a number of Windows 10 users. Other fixes and security updated expected in this version include fixes for recently-discovered security loopholes in Microsoft Silverlight, and the semi-deceased Adobe Flash Player.

With Windows 10, Microsoft has sort of moved away from the paid operating system model and opted for Software-As-A-Service (SAAS) approach. The shift in direction also means that if Windows 10 is a service rather than a software, Microsoft needs to stay on its toes to fix issues and problems as they surface. They can’t go with delayed release cycles anymore. This gives us faith that we might actually be seeing another series of “patch Tuesdays,” where major and minor updates both stay on a weekly schedule, namely Tuesdays. Microsoft has done it in the past; there’s no saying they won’t do it again. In fact, we hope that they do, because that’s nothing but good news for users like us.

The latest cumulative update should become available for download and installation using the conventional Windows Update method.
To get the update, navigate to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update to grab the update.

In case you don’t see it available for your machine, simply force stop the Windows Update service (from Task Manager), navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete whatever is inside this folder. Check for updates again, and KB3081436 should show up.
You may also like to check out:

• Disable / Turn Off Automatic Updates In Windows 10, Here’s How
• Download Windows 10 Pro ISO File Without Product Key From Microsoft

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.

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New Lenovo ThinkPad Laptops Feature 4K Displays, Intel Skylake Chips, 64GB RAM

At a time where the world is going all gooey-eyed over the likes of Apple’s super-thin, super-light MacBook, Lenovo has reminded us all that thin and light isn’t always the best approach when it comes to mobile computers. Announcing its two new machines, the ThinkPad P50 and P70, Lenovo has brought to market two true powerhouses of computing that are far from svelte.
Coming in 15 and 17-inch guises respectively, the P50 and P70 both pack Intel’s Xeon processors, making them the first portable machines to do so. Not content with that, Lenovo decided to have them be the first to use Intel’s new Skylake chips, making the machines doubly interesting.

It’s not just the chips that give these new machines their oomph, though, with configurations available packing up to 64GB of RAM – again, the most available in a notebook according to Lenovo – and up to a 1TB SSD. That combination of fast CPU, huge amounts of RAM and a large SSD should make the P50 and P70 very fast indeed, so if pure power is your game, then Lenovo may have just come up with the ideal machine for you.
Once you have all that power at your disposal, you’re going to want to use it, and while high-end gaming may not be the machine’s best suit, it does still come with a new Nvidia Quadro GPU and an optional 4K UHD display, meaning those working with massive images and video will be right at home. The other options for the display are an FHD or FHD Touch display.

Connectivity is taken care of by four USB 3.0 ports (with one supporting always-on charging), one USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port on the P50 and two on the P70, a Mini DisplayPort and an HDMI port, so you shouldn’t be struggling for somewhere to plug your mouse – unlike the aforementioned MacBook!
Lenovo’s P50 and P70 go on sale later this year and will start at $1599 and $1999 respectively. You can even choose between Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Ubuntu should you buy one.
(Source: Lenovo)
You may also like to check out:

• How To Uninstall / Remove Lenovo Superfish Adware And Certificates From Your Computer
• Intel Launches Sixth-Generation Skylake CPUs With Unlocked Cores For Gamers

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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This Accessory Aims To Bring Wireless Dual-SIM Capabilities To iPhone [Video]

While it is indeed true that Apple has done some things that we would never have imagined it doing in the past, we still can’t quite see it launching an iPhone with dual-SIM capabilities, even though there are more than a few competing Android devices that offer just such a thing. If you use an iPhone for both work and personal use, then you already know how beneficial having two SIMs could be. Alas, Apple probably doesn’t really care all that much.
But all is not lost, because a Kickstarter project claims to have the answer on the way, and it’s called Piece. Costing the reasonable price of $70 and having already smashed its original $35,000 funding goal, Piece is a Bluetooth accessory that plays host to the second SIM card in your life. Connected wirelessly, the SIM can then be in your pocket, bag or wherever suits you best without having to worry about swapping it in and out repeatedly. The accessory comes with a bespoke iOS app that allows the management of the second SIM, and the hardware can even be used as a way of locating your iPhone should you manage to lose it within a distance of 30ft. All good stuff indeed.

If the benefit of having two SIM cards at your disposal is something that isn’t lost on you then this is probably the best solution for you given the complete lack of any real alternative. Swapping SIM cards is no fun for anyone, and there is always the risk of losing whichever card isn’t in use at the time. With that in mind Piece is well worth checking out, and it’s due to ship next month. Alongside the support for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, there’s an Android angle here too, because Piece is compatible with devices running Google’s mobile OS as well.
If waiting for Apple to bring dual-SIM cards to the iPhone isn’t an option – and it really isn’t – then this is something you’re going to want to check out.

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Next-Gen iPhone 8,1 And 8,2 Show Up In Logs, Where’s The Speculated iPhone 6c?

Apple is widely expected to launch two new iPhones next month, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. But what about the speculated iPhone 6c that would appeal to the more cash conscious consumer? A number of reports have suggested that the Cupertino company will introduce a third device alongside its revamped iPhone 6 range. This rumor has yet to be officially put to bed by a representative of Apple, but a number of entries in a set of developer logs have given the clearest indication yet, that an iPhone 6c doesn’t exist.
Mobile marketing company Fiksu has reported that two new iPhones have shown up in its data logs, containing the iPhone 8,1 and iPhone 8,2 identifiers. Apple’s current iPhone 6 models carry the iPhone 7,2 and iPhone 7,1 identifiers so it’s natural for Fiksu and anyone reading the web traffic logs to assume that the two new identifiers represent the speculated iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus devices which have been slated for a September launch. What’s interesting is that there’s no sign whatsoever of a third new identifier, making us believe that the iPhone 6c is nothing more than fabrication.

The data contained within the the web logs also show the two new iPhones interacting with a slew of popular apps available via the App Store across a number categories; namely travel, gaming and lifestyle. It’s also interesting to note that the majority of the traffic is coming from the United States where it’s natural to assume Apple would be testing any new device. With that said, the iPhone 8,1 and iPhone 8,2 identifiers also show up as being used a fair bit in Germany and Brazil. It’s by no means concrete evidence of what Apple is planning this coming fall, but it does raise the excitement levels for what we could be about to receive.

A number of analysts and leak specialists with a high degree of accuracy still seem to be adamant that Apple will introduce a third device alongside the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The fact that a third identifier doesn’t show up in the logs doesn’t explicitly mean that a lower cost 6c device doesn’t exist, but it does seem strange that while both of the guaranteed devices are present and correct, the 6c is nowhere. With September 9th looming, we don’t have that long of a wait to see what Tim Cook and his team have in store for us.

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Fix iTunes On Windows 10 Not Detecting / Recognizing iPhone, Here’s How

Upgraded to Windows 10 and now iTunes is not detecting or recognizing your iPhone? Is short, it doesn’t see your iPhone or any other iOS device at all? You are not alone. After the upgrade, many people are complaining that iTunes is not recognizing their iOS device when connected to a PC running Windows 10.
If you have this issue, unfortunately there is no one single fix for this. You need to go through multiple checks and try them one by one to see if they fix your problem.

Reboot both your iPhone and the PC:
First and foremost, reboot both your iOS device and your computer and then connect to see if this solves the problem.
Try a different USB port on your computer:
If you haven’t already, try to connect your iOS device on a different USB port to see if this fixes the problem.
Install / Reinstall latest version of iTunes:
As of this writing, version 12.2.1.16 is the latest version. Make sure you have this latest version installed. If you’re having issues installing it, follow our guide here on how to install iTunes on Windows 10 the right way: iTunes Won’t Install On Windows 10? Here’s How To Fix It.
Install all Windows updates:
Navigate to Settings (WinKey+I) > Update & security > Windows Update and make sure your computer is up to date with all Windows updates installed.

Trust your computer prompt:
When you connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your computer and see ‘Trust This Computer?’ prompt on the device, make sure you tap on ‘Trust’ as shown in the screenshot below.

Apple Mobile Device Support, Service and USB Driver:
Check to see if Apple Mobile Device Support is installed from Control Panel > Uninstall a program. If it is not installed, you need to reinstall iTunes.

Restart Apple Mobile Device Service: Type services.msc in Run (WinKey+R) and hit enter. Locate Apple Mobile Device or Apple Mobile Device Service and then right click > Properties. Then click on Stop to stop the service. Click Start to run the service again. Reboot your computer.

Check Apple Mobile Device USB Driver: Type devmgmt.msc in Run (WinKey+R) and hit enter. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers entry and see if Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is listed.

If it is not listed, you need to reinstall iTunes and then connect your iOS device to your PC and wait for Windows to automatically install the driver. But if it is listed and has a “!” or “?” on it, you need to reinstall the driver. To do this:

• Connect your iOS device to your computer and wait for like a minute.
• Now right click on Apple Mobile Device USB Driver and click on Uninstall. If asked, select “Delete the driver software for this device”.

• Once uninstalled, In the Device Manager window, right click on Universal Serial Bus controllers and then click on Scan for hardware changes.

• Windows will now automatically find and install the driver for you.

If everything fails:
If none of the above solutions help fix your problem, then it’s likely that a third-party software or driver on your computer is conflicting with iTunes and Apple’s services. You may want to do a clean install of Windows 10 on your computer to fix the problem. To do this, you can follow our guide here: How To Clean Install Windows 10 On Your PC The Right Way [Guide].
You may also like to check out:

• Download Windows 10 Pro ISO File Without Product Key From Microsoft

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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