Windows 10 to get biometric sensor support with 'Windows Hello'

©Image: ExtremeTech

Microsoft is trying to move beyond the present password system with its upcoming O.S Windows 10 by introducing a new feature called Windows Hello. That's the general term this technical giant is using to describe a set of biometric identification technologies, including facial recognition, iris scanning and fingerprint readers. These features will also be extended into the online world with Microsoft Passport thus trying to remove the need of typing a password ever again.

When it launches later this year, Windows 10 will include software support for Windows Hello, but it sounds like you’re going to need some specific hardware to take full advantage of it. Fingerprint readers are well-established, so any computer mobile device that has the necessary hardware will be able to use the built-in Windows Hello security features. The face and iris scanning, on the other hand, are probably going to require a new computer or add-on.


The facial recognition engine is based on technology used in the Kinect Xbox camera. It relies on IR illumination to capture more points of reference on the face and operate in a wider range of lighting conditions. It can even see past a beard or makeup that might confuse other systems. Microsoft says the system is very good at only unlocking for you, but what about a photograph of you? The IR camera should also be able to tell the difference between a real face and the photo. By comparison, the Trusted Face system on newer Android phones can still be fooled by a picture of the owner.

Microsoft is also working to make Hello an important part of the Microsoft Passport single sign-in service. So, let’s say you’ve got a Windows 10 PC with a front-facing IR camera and facial recognition set up. After the machine verifies that you are indeed who you claim to be, it will automatically authenticate with Passport. Any site, app, or service that integrates Passport should then allow you immediate access from that device without typing a password.

Passport doesn’t have to transmit your face or fingerprint anywhere to log you into websites, though. All the recognition happens locally first — then Passport cryptographically authenticates you with compatible services. If an Internet ne’er-do-well were to gain access to the information stored on a Passport-enabled website’s server, all they would get is your public encryption key, which isn’t of any use.

Microsoft is working with OEMs to make sure there are Hello-compatible systems available when Windows 10 launches. There will also be some advanced webcams like the Intel RealSense F200 that can be plugged into existing computers to allow face and iris scanning.

Apple releases 10.10.3 Yosemite Beta 5 for testing.

Apple has released the fifth beta version of OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 to those participating in the OS X Public Beta program or have registered in the Mac Developer program. The new build arrives as build number 14D113c and continues to include a focus on the new Photos app for OS X, along with other bug fixes and feature improvements.

The new beta version is available to download now from the software update mechanism of the Mac App Store, refreshing the Updates tab should reveal the download if it’s not seen immediately.

OS X 10.10.3 beta 5

An update to the Yosemite Recovery drive is also available with the OS X 10.10.3 beta 5 download.

There is no known timeline for OS X 10.10.3 to debut, though Apple has stated that the Photos app will be available sometime in “early 2015″. With that said, the beta release schedule is clearing picking up steam, and it’s quite likely that we’ll see a public release of OS X 10.10.3 sooner than later. Apple typically goes through multiple beta versions before unveiling a final build to the public.

The new OS X Photos app will replace iPhoto for Mac, the app looks and feels quite similar to the Photos app experience in iOS that many users have become accustomed to.

Apple releases iOS 8.3 public preview for iPhones & iPads

(Image: CNET/CBS Interactive)

Soon after the first beta of iOS 8.3, the Cupertino - California based giant Apple has opened a second pre-release beta program for its mobile software to the public.

Apple said that it hopes the released iOS 8.3 public previews of both its desktop and mobile software will help "shape" its future products. Although it is not clear what are the improvements which have been added to this update, it is expected that some goodies will be added to the 8.3 first version.

Some of the expected goodies include:

• Speedier operation on older sets like iPhone 4s and iPhone 5, by which the complaints of slow functioning on these sets will get reduced noticeably.
• Siri will get even more smarter and can speak languages including: Russian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish and English for India. The update also will now allow the voice assistant to speak New Zealand English for the first time.
• New emoji sets will include diversified emoticons including more diverse family units such as same-sex parents and those with multiple children. With some of these, you can change the skin color. The new offerings show up when you tap and hold the emoji. 
• There are also new international flags and an emoji for the Apple Watch.

Microsoft Sway enables you to embeds Web content and document.

Microsoft Sway

Microsoft has been hard at work polishing its content creation tool Sway. The Web app now allows users to embed content from the Web, like videos, audio clips, maps and more.

The updated version of the app lets you paste the HTML embed code from online interactive media — think content from YouTube, Vine, Flickr and Giphy, OneDrive documents and Google Maps — and add it to your Sways.

In addition, Sway can now import content from PDF, Word and PowerPoint documents (including older .doc and .ppt file formats). You can do this by either uploading files or adding them from your OneDrive storage in the app, and Sway will add the text and images right into your creation.

Sway recently opened up its preview so you can sign up without an invite andwent worldwide earlier this month.

➤ Sway [Web/iPhone]

OnePlus all set to One on one with Google with it's own OS:OxygenOS

After OnePlus had trouble with Cyanogen turning its back on the company in India, it started working on its own Android release for its phones.

Today, it announced that the upcoming operating system will be called OxygenOS, following a competition the company ran asking for community members to suggest names.

OnePlus says that “we will be launching our own ROM in the near future” and will be “software that is open, customizable, and free of bloat and unnecessary features.”

More information on the company’s forthcoming software will be announced on February 12th.

➤ OnePlus ROM: Oxygen OS [OnePlus Forums]

Microsoft plans to take on Android(Google) by investing in Cyanogen.

Image: Digit.in

Microsoft is getting ready for a newer and unexpected battle with Google. This time, Microsoft plans to take on Android by investing in Cyanogen.

Cyanogen is a startup which makes and maintains its own version of Android. Cyanogen is currently being used in the OnePlus One, the flagship killer, a smartphone which has garnered rave reviews last year.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is investing $70 million in Cyanogen which is best known for its customized version of Android. Cyanogen has reportedly raised $100 million to date. This should be noted that Cyanogen recently refused an offer from Google and hopes to live its dream of being an open version of Android alive.

WSJ writes:

“Microsoft would be a minority investor in a roughly $70 million round of equity financing that values Cyanogen in the high hundreds of millions.”

What could be Microsoft’s intentions?

Image: WSJ

This is important and unusual because Microsoft is owner of its very own Windows Phone operating system and is gearing up for the upcoming launch of Windows 10 for mobile devices. This move of Microsoft can be attributed to its commitment to embrace open source and maybe some mischief.

Cyanogen claims to have a team of 9,000 volunteer software developers. Cyanogen’s Chief Executive Kirt McMaster told WSJ last week:

“We’re going to take Android away from Google.”

Image: Gizmag

Apart from different versions of Android for the smartphone makers, Google also releases the Android core under an open-source license. This version is free for everybody and anyone can use and modify or fork this core without linking the Google services. The best examples are Amazon’s products which run on forked Android. These independent versions are already very popular in China where Google has struggled to leave its mark.

These types of Android versions, which are not under Google’s control, are a problem for Google because not every forked version promotes and uses Google’s services and hence, Google makes no money. Due to this Microsoft’s investment in Cyanogen, it will be harder for Google to bring all version of Android under its control.

Microsoft and Cyanogen, both have declined to comment. By investing in Cyanogen, Microsoft can get more users and claim a bigger share of the mobile market. Under the new CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has shown such commitments to open source in the past.

Facebook with new automated place tips to compete with Yelp and Foursquare

Facebook is about to become a more serious competitor to Yelp and Foursquare. Now when you walk into a business, the suitably named “Place Tips” feature will pop up recommendations about the business.

When Facebook sees you’re at a business, you’ll receive a notification you can launch to view information cards about the place, including posts and photos from your friends. You’ll also get information on things such as the most popular menu items and upcoming events.

The information may also appear atop your news feed when you’re walking around near the establishment. The feature is turned on by default, so you’ll have to turn it off manually (under the “location” portion of your settings menu) if you find it annoying.  Facebook at least gives you some granular control over which places you’d like to remove from the feature.

Currently the feature is rolling out slowly to specifc areas of high activity, like Central Park or Times Square in New York City. Facebook uses information from your wireless carrier, Wi-Fi and GPS to pinpoint your location, but the social network is even testing out Bluetooth connectivity via beacons at businesses to provide more accurate location details.

While Yelp certainly has dominance over business recommendations (in the US, at least), turning on the feature by default will certainly make users pay more attention to Facebook’s offering. Whether users actually keep it on, however, remains to be seen.