Apple TV 4K will have one of its most annoying issues fixed in a future patch

The new Apple TV 4K is generally a fantastic little device, but it's a little overzealous in its commitment to HDR. 

That zeal is great when you're watching actual high definition range (HDR) content, but the problem is that the Apple TV 4K converts everything to fit whatever base video format you have the device set to. This means you'll usually be getting HDR resolution and 60Hz refresh rates regardless of whether the content is made for it or not.

That may sound great on paper, but in practice it means that some standard definition range content ends up looking utterly awful. 

But fear not, as The Verge reports, a patch is on the way! Someday, anyway. Apple just seeded the 11.2 software update to developers, which comes with a new mode that will allow automatic shifts to native frame rates and dynamic ranges for video content.

In other words, the Apple TV will now start showing you your video content as it was meant to be seen.

Just a while longer

Apple's approach to solving the matter is a bit of a compromise, as you'll have to activate the feature yourself if you want to use it. Fortunately, that's not a big deal. Just head into the Visual and Audio Settings and click on the new "Match Content" button, and then you'll be allowed to automatically match dynamic ranges, frame rates or both.

The one small catch is that it may be a while coming. Apple just now released its 11.1 patch for iOS, so 11.2 will have to go through a beta testing period before it rolls out to consumer devices. With any luck, though, you'll only have to wait a month or so. 

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Xbox One X will support 4K streaming on Amazon Prime Video worldwide at launch

Planning on picking up an Xbox One X? You'll be happy to know that it will support 4K streaming through the Amazon Prime Video app when it launches on November 7. Nor will this feature be limited to US Xbox users. As of today, the Amazon Prime Video app is available globally on Xbox One.

In the words of Microsoft's announcement on Xbox Wire, this is true from "Australia to Canada and even Bhutan to Uzbekistan."

It's another big move in Amazon's continuing battle with Netflix, which has already managed to extend its availability to almost every country in the world. Amazon followed soon after in December of last year, bringing its young streaming service to more than 200 countries.

Up until now, you could only access that service on the Xbox in a few countries, but now Xbox users in countries like Canada, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and India can enjoy it as well. 

That's especially appealing now, as Amazon has managed to produce an impressive line of critically acclaimed shows such as The Man in the High Castle, Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, American Gods, The Tick and more.

You'll also be able to watch 4K video with the app if you own the Xbox One S, but unfortunately the original Xbox One won't be able to handle it. 

• Want to check out the competition? Here are the best shows on Netflix

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Creative-focused app PicsArt hits 100M MAUs, attracting brands tired of trolls

 You would think that social networks are more or less “done” now. What would be the point of another in a world filled with so many options? But in fact, there remains a niche which has been growing steadily in the creative corners of the Internet. PicsArt has been building growing since it was started in 2011. It’s now announced new growth figures which have hit 100… Read More http://ift.tt/2zUdmo0

Congress grills Facebook, Twitter, Google on shells hiding election meddlers

 How can Internet giants know that innocent-seeming US companies aren’t actually shell vehicles for malicious foreign actors to buy ads to interfere with elections? The short answer is they can’t, and that drew questioning from a congressional probe today into Facebook, Twitter, and Google being used to manipulate the 2016 presidential election.. One member of the committee… Read More

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EVE Valkyrie developer CCP Games goes cold on VR

 In another sign of scales majorly falling off of eyes where VR is concerned, games developer CCP Games — which made an big early bet on virtual reality gaming — is pulling the plug on two of its studios that had been working on VR titles.  Read More http://ift.tt/2z3HUV8

Microsoft launches a revamped version of Mixer into beta

 Microsoft today announced the launch of a new beta version of its mobile gameplay streaming app, Mixer, for both iOS and Android. The company says the new app features an entirely different codebase that will allow it to roll out updates more quickly, and includes a number of changes focused on improving the core user experience, content discoverability, app performance and personalization.… Read More http://ift.tt/2iPjnyI

Kodi pirate movie streams now face legal action even if they’re hosted remotely

The fight for the integrity of the Kodi media streaming platform continues at speed, with a new crackdown targeting those that facilitate access to pirated material, regardless of whether or not they’re directly hosting it. 

With streaming the new anti-piracy battleground, and Kodi’s third-party add-ons regularly offering access to pirated materials, where to lay blame has been a point of contention. 

While those who host pirate content have always been a target for IP protection groups, a new precedent has now been set, which sees those that aggregate access to remotely hosted pirated material potentially facing legal action too.

Stealing streaming

Those behind Dutch service Moviestreamer is one such group now under fire. It charged users for access to an interface which made it incredible easy to locate illegal streams hosted all over the web – but crucially didn’t host content itself. It even offered a ‘VIP’ tier for easy access to the best quality illegal streams. 

It came to the attention of Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN. Though it failed to bring legal action against Moviestreamer on the count of it selling an illegal product, it has been able to take the company to court for providing access to the streams, making it in breach of copyright law. 

With Moviestreamer charging for access to its unique interface, built with capabilities to serve illegal content, its position as a ‘middleman’ was no defence, especially as a dialogue with BREIN had already been opened. It now must cease operations immediately, and faces a €5,000 daily fine up to a maximum of €500,000 if it fails to do so, as well as legal costs.

It’s a similar situation that has previously hit torrent websites like the Pirate Bay, and sets a new, tough precedent for pirates: offering access to copyrighted materials, whether hosted locally or remotely, could land you in big trouble should the local authorities choose to pursue you.

• via Torrentfreak

• Want some legal streams? Check out our best Netflix movies list

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One Windows 10 free upgrade path will expire at the end of 2017

Microsoft has announced that the free upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 to Windows 10 for those who use assistive technologies will cease at the end of this year.

Microsoft has updated its assistive technologies upgrade web page to state: “Please take advantage of this offer before it expires on December 31, 2017.”

The software giant had previously said that the accessibility-based upgrade would not last forever, and that it would make a public announcement when the scheme was being brought to an end. And, obviously enough, this is that announcement.

Theoretically, you aren’t supposed to use the assistive tech upgrade if you don’t make use of Windows 10’s relevant accessibility features, but as no verification system is in place to check whether users do or not, anybody has effectively been able to use this as a morally dubious upgrade route. But, not for much longer.

However, another potential route to a freebie upgrade could still remain open.

Key capers

As for the other upgrade path which has existed since the Windows 10 free upgrade offer expired in July 2016, this is a completely unofficial route that Microsoft has never acknowledged or talked about at all. It involves using an existing Windows 7/8.1 product key to activate the installation of the new OS.

And, apparently it’s still a usable method of upgrading, as Thurrott.com observed at the end of last week.

However, Thurrott does note that you have to use a retail Windows 7/8.1 product key, and not an OEM key (i.e. an installation of Windows which came pre-installed on your PC when you bought it).

There also seems to now be some doubt as to whether the retail key in question has to be unused, but anecdotally, even keys which have already been used to install a copy of Windows have been known to work for some folks upgrading to Windows 10.

The question is: will this second route to a free upgrade also cease at the end of this year? We won’t know about that because, as we’ve mentioned, Microsoft has never officially commented on this particular avenue of upgrading. In official terms, it doesn’t exist.

But, if you do want to upgrade to Windows 10 via an existing retail product key, we’d probably do so before 2018 rolls around, just to be on the safe side.

• Some of the best laptops of 2017 run Windows 10

Via Slashgear

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Users concerned about IoT security

Governments aren’t doing enough to protect IoT devices. That’s the view of consumers and businesses alike, concerned about the security threats that could hit connected devices.

 According to a survey from Gemalto, 96% of worldwide organizations and 90% of consumers believe that governments should be doing more to regulate the growing IoT arena.

 The big, bad hacker is still top of their concerns: 67% of those surveyed said they were worried about cyber criminals taking control of their connected devices. This was ahead of the 60% of respondents who feared data being leaked and the 54% of respondents who were worried about hackers accessing personal information. There’s also a worrying education gap. Only 14% of respondents thought they were knowledgeable about IoT security.

UK users highly concerned

What’s particularly concerning for British users is the lax approach to security from vendors. According to Gemalto’s research, only 52% of data captured on IoT devices has been encrypted, while vendors invest just 9% of their IoT budgets on security, only one country of those surveyed, spent less.        

 The British government should pay attention of users’ demands said Gemalto’s   Director of Product Strategy, Jim Pindar. “With GDPR looming, it’s worrying that UK IoT vendors and internet service providers (ISPs) aren’t as serious about prioritising the security of IoT devices as their counterparts across the world. UK consumers are clearly concerned by their IoT data, and are demanding the government takes more action,” he added.

Companies should take action now to ensure that the IoT revolution brings business advantage and not leave users at risk, Pindar said. “In order to ensure the UK is reaping the benefits that the IoT ecosystem will bring, the companies producing and enabling these devices need to secure the IoT now, to guarantee consumer confidence in the future.”

• How to protect your IoT devices

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The best free PDF maker 2017

Berlin’s Ada Health raises $47M to become the Alexa of healthcare

 Ada Health, the AI-driven app which works a little like an ‘Alexa for health’, has raised a $47M (€40M) funding round led by Access Industries, Len Blavatnik’s global investment group. Joining the round in the Berlin-HQ’d startup was June Fund and Berlin-based Cumberland VC. Fascinatingly, William Tunstall-Pedoe, the AI entrepreneur who came up with the Siri-like… Read More http://ift.tt/2iOsqA0

House of Cards' upcoming sixth season will be its last

House of Cards is at last tumbling down. Today Netflix told The Hollywood Reporter that the popular political drama would end after its upcoming sixth season. No reason was given.

Officially, the decision "has been in the works since summer," but the news comes mere hours after BuzzFeed published a story alleging that House of Cards headliner and executive producer Kevin Spacey made a sexual advance on Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when Rapp was 14. 

Elsewhere, an anonymous source who spoke with CNN claimed the decision to end the show and the controversy surrounding Spacey were "two separate things." Nevertheless, rightly or wrongly, the internet has been busy supplying its own interpretations of the timing.

House of Cards kicked off Netflix's current focus on original content back in 2011, when the popular streaming service managed to outbid HBO for the rights. The first season went live in 2013. It's been a particularly interesting series to watch in light of the current political climate in the US, as we noted last year when we said that Season 4 was "more timely than ever."

Netflix responds

Yet other statements suggest a more complex story than Netflix's cancellation announcement. Earlier this afternoon The Hollywood Reporter also published a joint statement from Netflix and House of Cards producer Media Rights Capital saying they were "deeply disturbed" by the allegations surrounding Spacey. The statement also reported that Spacey was currently not on the set, but apparently this was "previously scheduled."

"In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported," the statement said. 

Spacey posted a response to the allegations Sunday night on Twitter, in which he also publicly announced that he is gay. Spacey claimed he did not remember the incident with Rapp.

"But if I did behave then as he describes," Spacey said, "I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years."

The timing of Spacey's announcement and its nature have both been severely criticized. 

"Coming-out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault," said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, a gay rights organization. "This isn't a coming out story about Spacey, but a story of survivorship by Anthony Rapp & those who speak out about unwanted sexual advances."

• Here are the best 4K TVs of 2017

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Russian-backed content may have reached 126 million on Facebook

 Facebook has reportedly upped its estimate of how much content was produced by Russian-backed actors during the election and how widely that content was seen. According to prepared remarks due to be presented tomorrow but acquired by the Wall Street Journal today, the company estimates 80,000 pieces of content may have been viewed by a total of 126 million people. Read More

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Top 10 best personal finance software and services

Gone are the days of waiting for a printed bank account statement to drop through your letterbox, or making a visit to your local branch to move some money between accounts. We now have more control of our money than ever before. But that convenience could, for some, mean disorganisation, reckless spending, borrowing and debt.

Applying poor money management techniques to your personal accounts is one thing, but doing the same to your small business funds could be disastrous. And while we can't help you to be sensible – that's on you – we have selected ten personal finance software solutions that can make a difference to the way you think and act with your capital.

Take your pick of these services and use them to stay on top of your money. A good overview will help you control your spending, grow your balance, and ensure you've always got enough in reserve to keep the taxman happy.

If you're looking to keep your business books with a bit more detail, check out our guide to the best accounts and invoicing software.

• Our picks of the best free software for small businesses

Price: $74.99 (around £57) per year

Available for Windows, MacOS

Probably the biggest name in personal accounting, Quicken's desktop tool is
well-aged and feature-packed and – whisper it – starting to feel a bit out of date. So much so that parent company Intuit recently sold the rights to the software to a private equity firm in order to concentrate on its more modern properties like Mint.com and TurboTax.

But for now it seems that Quicken is continuing to be updated every year, with the 2018 edition promising expanded custom reporting, 5GB of secure online backup and free Quicken Bill Pay. And all for a lower price than last year.

The Premier edition is perfect for managing personal finances, business accounts and investments in one place provided you're in the US – it's not so hot for UK users, being geared more towards American finance options.

It neatly links transactions between your accounts – so transferring from savings into a current account is one entry, with a 'from' and a 'to' rather than a pair – and provides various budgeting and prediction tools to help you stay on track.

Click to get Quicken Premier for Windows or Quicken Premier for Mac

Price: Free, fee-based

Available for on desktop and mobile

Personal Capital's primary function is to track your investments, assets and savings, rather than specifically looking after your current accounts. Are your assets working for you? Are you on course for a comfortable retirement? What can you do to be better off? Plug everything in and you'll be able to see the big picture of your finances.

Personal Capital offers specific advice and statistics based on your goals and your current standing, but access to human financial advisors is where the company makes its money. While anyone is welcome to use its website, it will only accept you as a customer if you have an account minimum of $100,000 (around £75,000), and there's an annual fee (a percentage between 0.89% and 0.49%) to pay if you want your assets managed – this is lower than most financial advice services.

UK customers will probably want to steer clear – Personal Capital is geared towards US investments like IRAs and the 401k – but for those State-side this could be the perfect way to grow your wealth.

Get started with Personal Capital personal finance software

Price: Free/$3.99/$4.99 (around £3/£3.80) per month

Available online

An online service that's not slathered in effects and colours, Buxfer does a good job of presenting your finances in a clean, professional manner. It cutely brags about the fact that it's currently helping its users manage almost two trillion dollars in funds, so it's got a solid user base behind it.

You don't have to give Buxfer your exact banking details if you're uncomfortable doing so – you can opt for offline manual syncing with your bank account instead – but if you do trust it, there's a layer of high-level encryption to protect your data and the company is regularly audited.

We like its budgeting tools best of all – the visual reporting is very strong, and the fact that it doesn't force you into predefined categories and instead allows you to tag expenditures however you see fit means Buxfer should fit nicely into most people's banking lives. The free version gets you five budgets, accounts and bill reminders, while the Plus version ($3.99 per month – that's around £3) makes that unlimited, and the Pro version ($4.99 per month – around £3.80) adds online payments, advanced forecasts and more besides.

Sign up for Buxfer

Price: $50 (around £38) per year

Available on desktop and mobile

Just in case you need to be told explicitly what to do, along comes YNAB - short for You Need A Budget. Because, hey, if you don't want to spend every single penny you have and more, you absolutely do need one. And perhaps you have more money than you thought?

YNAB's primary mission, as you might expect, is to help you curb overspending and avoid living from paycheck to paycheck. Stick to the program, temper your spending appropriately, and eventually YNAB will see you spending last month's money rather than that which you've just earned.

It's quick to install, supports the majority of transaction information downloadable from banks, and appropriately configures itself for personal or small business use by changing its monetary categories depending on your needs.

If you get off track, YNAB – which is reasonably forgiving and understanding for a bit of software – will tell you what you need to do to get back to where you need to be. You'll have to make sacrifices, but if it's guidance you need, this sets itself apart from the likes of Quicken.

Find out more about YNAB

Price: From $4 (around £3) per month

Available on desktop and mobile

There are various philosophies of budgeting. One time-honoured technique is the envelope budgeting system: splitting your funds, as they arrive, into various envelopes marked for specific purposes, never dipping into an envelope to spend cash on anything other than its designated use. You don't need savings to start budgeting this way, just willpower and, er, envelopes.

Without a whole host of bank accounts you're not going to be able to apply this technique effectively to digital money, but using Mvelopes is a good way to at least put a representation of your sectioned-off income in front of you. Designate an envelope for working capital or savings and you can grow your personal wealth or business funds surprisingly quickly. Anything you don't spend in an envelope stays there, giving you more to play with in your next pay cycle.

There's no longer a free version of Mvelopes (although you can try it for free with a 30-day trial) but the basic plan for $4 a month should be adequate for most people, offering management of unlimited accounts and envelopes. It's intuitive to use, and there are mobile apps for Android and iOS, essential for taking a peek inside your envelopes when it comes time to pull any money out of them…

Sign up for Mveleopes

Price: £35 (roughly $46)

Available on web, desktop or to download for Windows

UK readers will be pleased to know that unlike most accounting software, this is produced by a British company – not that other apps are terrified of good old Pound Sterling or anything, but it's slightly easier to put your financial trust in home-grown software, and its support for data from UK banks is very strong.

Banktree is more than happy to support worldwide currencies, and in fact does a solid job if you're working simultaneously with more than one, offering balances in multiple currencies rather than rounding them off into a single total. It's also good for keeping track of everything, allowing you to scan receipts with its mobile app and import them later on.

It's not the prettiest software around, and it's slightly more awkward to use than many of its more refined cousins, although Banktree does produce very neat reports which you can break down by time, or by payee. It may be worth experimenting with the free trial before you choose to invest in this one.

Get Banktree personal finance software

Price: Free

Available for iOS and Android

This iOS/Android app doesn't try to reinvent the banking world or offer anything truly ground-breaking, but it is perhaps one of the most useful money management tools out there. Hook up every one of your UK bank and credit card accounts and you'll be able to see each of your balances in a single place with a single login. That in itself is enough for us to recommend it.

But there's more – Money Dashboard will track your spending, offering you an overall pie chart depicting your spending on loans, consumables, transport and the like. There's an at-a-glance overall balance, showing exactly how much money you have available across all of your accounts, and you can compare this to the previous month's figure to show how well you've been managing your funds. That's a great motivator.

It's super-safe, too: Money Dashboard locks down your login with an equivalent level of security to that of your bank, and it's completely read-only – your money isn't going anywhere.

Get Money Dashboard for iOS or Money Dashboard for Android

Price: $49.99 (roughly £38)

Available for MacOS, Windows and Linux

Made primarily for Mac users (but also out on Windows and Linux), Moneydance is a desktop money management package with a very neat single-window interface. Load it up and you'll get an instant view of your finances, upcoming bills, recent expenses and more. Click an item in the left hand sidebar and the main content changes to reflect it.

Its reporting features are quite strong if not spectacular to look at, and one of Moneydance's most useful sections is its account register. If you're old-school and once managed a cheque book, this operates on a very similar principle. There's also an iOS app for logging transactions on the go, which later syncs with the software on your desktop.

Unfortunately for UK users, Moneydance doesn't support the connection protocols used by UK banks, so you'll need to download your transaction history manually to keep on top of it and revert to your bank's own app to move money around. US users, however, are well covered.

Get Moneydance on all formats here

Price: Free

Available for iOS, Android

The stuffiness of money management can negatively affect some. We've certainly been in the position of not wanting to even look at a spreadsheet full of depressing numbers. Coinkeeper boils it all down to a series of circular pots – drag coins from your current account, and you can allocate them to all of your spending needs. We wouldn't exactly say it makes money management fun, but it's cute at least.

Coinkeeper is free to download and try, although you'll need to shell out for the $1.79 (roughly £1.40) per month subscription option to really make the most of it and budget effectively. It's brilliant for keeping track of your expenses, and don't be fooled by its frivolous looks – you'll be able to see at a glance where your money is going, and export your data in a CSV file to use in virtually any other finance app or spreadsheet.

Try Coinkeeper by clicking here

Price: Free

Available online

Provided by This Is Money – an offshoot of the Daily Mail – Power Portfolio is both a good way to keep track of the stocks and shares you own, and a great way to see if you'd make it as a market investor without risking any capital. Updated every few minutes, it contains info on all London-listed shares and UK-based funds, and even lets you track money put into alternative assets like wine and art.

When your individual investments are set up, be they real or virtual, you'll be able to see what top brokers are saying about the stocks you've picked, get an overview of exactly where your money is allocated, and track the performance of your stocks over time. Basically everything you'd need for a play portfolio.

If you're funnelling a lot of cash into shares though, you might be better off employing the services of a broker or investment manager and using this tool only for at-a-glance monitoring.

Track your investments with Power Portfolio

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People with chronic illnesses and disabilities get their own media channel with The Mighty

 There’s a corkboard in the office of The Mighty, the social network for people with chronic illnesses, mental health disorders and disabilities, which has pictures and letters from many of the site’s contributors and readers who have benefited from the stories the site shares. It’s there to remind staffers of the faces behind the work they do and the impact the site has. Read More

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The best free file recovery software 2017

Instagram injects 2X bigger Stories previews mid-feed

 Instagram Stories is doing so well, the app wants to ensure you don’t just scroll by its Snapchat clone. Instagram confirms to TechCrunch that it’s redesigned its mid-feed re-engagement box for Stories to show preview tiles of people’s slideshows that are twice as big as the Stories bar atop the feed. The box appears slotted between traditional permanent posts part way down… Read More

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20 of the best free Windows 7 apps

It might be eight years old, but almost half of the world's desktop devices are still running Windows 7 – and for good reason. It's an excellent operating system that's still supported by Microsoft and receives regular security updates (unlike Windows Vista), doesn't pester you with popups like Windows 10, is much more open than macOS, and is easier for beginners to master than Linux.

Here, we've picked 20 of the best programs you can download free to give your Windows 7 PC a new lease of life.

Windows 7's version of Microsoft Paint is a big step up from the edition provided with Windows Vista, but it's still not much use for editing photos or creating your own graphics from scratch.

GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a brilliant open source photo editor that's amazingly powerful, and is available to download and use completely free. It's not quite as feature-packed as Adobe Photoshop, but it has everything hobbyist photographers need to make their shots look amazing before printing them or sharing them online.

You can even add more tools and filters by installing plugins – including ones designed for use with Photoshop.

• GIMP review
• Download GIMP

If you're still using Windows Media Center to play music in Windows 7, you're doing your tunes a disservice. MusicBee is designed to organize songs and podcasts in a logical way, add accurate metadata, and give you the best sound quality your PC can provide – whether you have a high-end soundcard or not.

MusicBee supports every music file format you can name without the need to download additional codecs, as well as streaming services and online radio.

• MusicBee review
• Download MusicBee

MusicBee is the best free music player for Windows 7, but for video you need VLC Media Player. Again, it supports a huge range of file formats (far more than Windows Media Center), and can be expanded with user-created plugins and skins.

VLC Media Player is also an excellent way to enjoy DVDs and Blu-rays on your PC (provided you have the necessary optical drive), and you can optimize playback to suit your system.

• VLC Media Player review
• Download VLC Media Player

If you poke around in the Accessories section of Windows 7's Start Menu, you'll find the Sound Recorder. 'Basic' hardly describes it - all it does is take input from a microphone and save it in WAV format.

If you want to make your own podcasts, record music, or edit existing sound files, you need something far more powerful. That something is Audacity.

This open source audio editor lets you record in stereo, remove noise, apply various effects, edit channels individually, cut and combine files, remove vocals from songs and much more. Like GIMP and VLC Media Player, Audacity also supports plugins so you can tailor it to suit your exact needs.

• Audacity review
• Download Audacity

Windows Movie Maker was a great video editor when it was first released, but its inelegant interface and cheesy effects now look very dated. After many long years of service, it's time for Windows 7 users to wave goodbye and upgrade to Shotcut instead.

Shotcut isn't the most powerful free video editor around (that would be Lightworks), but it strikes a perfect balance between features and usability. You don't need to study a manual to start making a great-looking video, and there's a huge set of tools and filters to experiment with.

• Shotcut review
• Download Shotcut

You might be happy sticking with Internet Explorer in Windows 7, but Microsoft has moved its attention to Edge – a new browser that's exclusive to Windows 10.

If you haven't experimented with many other browsers before, Google Chrome is a great place to start. It's hugely customizable via plugins, fast, and integrates with your Google account so you can sync bookmarks and preferences between different devices – including phones and tablets.

• Google Chrome review
• Download Google Chrome

If you don't like the idea of Google getting its roots into all your online activity, or you just want an alternative for occasions when privacy is particularly important, take a look at Tor Browser.

Tor (the Onion Router) works by encrypting your data and redirecting it through a series of remote servers around the world, making it all but impossible to trace.

Be careful if your Windows 7 PC is on a work or college network though – some organizations take a dim view of Tor because it's often used for nefarious purposes like pirating movies and music.

• Tor Browser review
• Download Tor Browser

Another way to protect your privacy online is to use a VPN (virtual private network) service, which disguises your identity and location using remote servers. Take care, though – there are lots of dodgy free VPNs around that are actually malware in disguise.

WindScribe is the real deal – a free VPN with a very generous data allowance of 10GB per month. That's not enough for streaming movies (for that, you'll need to upgrade to the premium version), but it's ideal for online shopping and banking.

• Windscribe review
• Download Windscribe

Windows 7 can open PDFs without any trouble, but it doesn't let you annotate them, make text changes, or perform security checks.

That's why you need Foxit Reader – a free PDF reader that's full of useful extra tools you didn't realise you needed, but can't live without. The scan-to-PDF tool is particularly handy if you have a paper worksheet or handout to convert, and the Microsoft Office Plugins are a brilliant touch.

• Foxit Reader review
• Download Foxit Reader

That said, Microsoft Office isn't your only option when you're using Windows 7 at work. LibreOffice is a totally free suite of programs that almost perfectly replicate all the features of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more.

Like many of the programs in this list, LibreOffice is open source, which means anyone with the skills and time is free to develop their own plugins for fellow users. It also has a huge team of dedicated volunteers who keep it updated with new features and squish bugs as soon as they're identified.

• LibreOffice review
• Download LibreOffice

LibreOffice is excellent, but if you just need to get your head down and do some serious writing, FocusWriter is the tool for you. It's far superior to Windows 7's Notepad tool, with a full-screen mode that completely blocks out all distractions, including the clock, Start menu and notification area.

You can set yourself writing goals and configure alerts for specific times to keep you on track. There's also an excellent Focus feature that highlights the paragraph or sentence you're currently working on, while everything else fades into the background. No more procrastinating.

• FocusWriter review
• Download FocusWriter

If you cast your mind back (keep going... further... there), you might remember once tracking your finances using a program called Microsoft Money. It was discontinued a long time ago, but Money Manager Ex does essentially the same job, making it easy to monitor your accounts and credit cards, record spending, schedule payments, and make sure you're sticking to your budget.

It can't link directly to your online banking service, but this might be a good thing as far as security's concerned and entering the figures manually isn't too time-consuming.

• Money Manager Ex review
• Download Money Manager Ex

FileZilla is an FTP (file transfer protocol) client – a handy tool designed for moving files between PCs or remote servers. It's not as flashy as a cloud storage service like Dropbox or OneDrive, but it means you're in total control and aren't trusting your data to a third party.

FileZilla can store login data for up to 10 remote servers, letting you connect and start shifting your data with just a couple of clicks.

• FileZilla review
• Download FileZilla

Torrents have a bad reputation thanks to their popularity with copyright-infringing pirates, but they have lots of legitimate uses too. They're simply a way of sharing particularly large files, and many artists and producers are now choosing to release material this way. They're also handy for downloading copyright-free media, games and other content.

To use torrent files, you need a dedicated client software, and qBittorrent is the best for Windows 7. It's not cluttered with ads, has a clear interface, and is easy to get to grips with.

• qBittorrent review
• Download qBittorrent

If you're unlucky, you might know the horror of emptying your Windows 7 Recycle Bin, then realising too late that it contained a file you accidentally needed. Or you might have been unfortunate enough to lose data due to physical damage to a drive, or corruption.

There's no guarantee that free file recovery tool Recuva will be able to bring your documents and photos back, but it can be an absolute lifesaver in an emergency. Install it now and be prepared.

• Piriform Recuva review
• Download Piriform Recuva

Piriform – the delightfully-named developer of Recuva – also makes an excellent PC optimization tool called CCleaner. It performs much the same job as the various system-sweeping tools you'll find under Accessories in Windows 7's Start Menu, but is much faster and easier to use.

CCleaner can also clear our your web browser's cookies and stored passwords for added security. Just make sure you read the description of each item carefully before erasing it, so you don't accidentally purge anything useful.

• Piriform CCleaner review
• Download Piriform CCleaner

When it comes to gaming, Minesweeper and Solitaire just won't cut it. If you want something more entertaining than watching paint dry, you need Steam – Valve's huge PC gaming platform and store, where you can find almost every title you could wish for, often with deep discounts.

• Download Steam

If games aren't your thing, you might be more interested in Any Video Converter Free – a video downloading and converting tool that can grab clips from all the biggest sites and save them in any format you like. You can even rip the audio from videos and save it for listening later.

Just make sure you have permission from the copyright holder before you start downloading videos from YouTube and Vimeo.

• Any Video Converter Free review
• Download Any Video Converter Free

Continuing the theme of entertainment, let's move to ebooks.

We've tried lots of e-readers for Windows 7, but Amazon's official Kindle app is easily the best. It makes organizing your ebooks a breeze, with an excellent search tool, and reading is a thoroughly pleasant experience thanks to the carefully designed pages and customizable colors and fonts.

There are links to the Kindle store, naturally, but they're surprisingly unobtrusive and you won't be harassed by prompts to buy more books.

• Kindle for PC review
• Download Kindle for PC

Hopefully you now have a good idea of which programs you need to get the most from your Windows 7 PC, but there's just one more we recommend.

Windows 7 comes with a tool for extracting compressed file archives, but there are dozens, if not hundreds of different types around and it only supports a small handful. 7-Zip is far more capable, and integrates into Windows Explorer and the context menu so it's there whenever you need it.

• 7-Zip review
• Download 7-Zip

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YouTube TV: Everything you need to know about the TV streaming service

The race for the autonomous car is on, and hear FiveAI attack plan at Disrupt Berlin

 There’s no doubt that the competition to develop self-driving cars is hotting up. There are over 1 billion cars, trucks and buses on the planet, and that’s not even including off-road vehicles or heavy construction equipment, many of which could be turned into ‘ground drones’ in the future. This is a subject we’ll be turning to at Techcrunch Disrupt Berlin,… Read More http://ift.tt/2yhbY26

YouTube TV: Everything you need to know about the TV streaming service

The best free desktop apps for music-making 2017

Money is literally no object here. In fact, it has no place at all as we trawl the net for the best apps in the world today. This desktop software is perfect for creating that magnum opus or floor-filling banger, and won’t cost you a penny.

Before we dive in and give you our top five best free music-making apps for Mac and PC, we'd better lay down a few ground rules. 

Apps you won’t be seeing in this list are those bundled ‘lite’ editions purchased with such hardware as the humble audio interface. As great as they are, the initial outlay of buying the product means they aren't really free.

We’re also going to be sticking to just desktop software for macOS, Windows and in some places, Linux. There may be some crossover with the world of mobile music-making, but that’s a list for another day.

So, without further ado, read on for our shortlist of free digital audio workstations, softsynths and effects.

1. Apple GarageBand

Compatibility: macOS 10.11 or later

Apple’s long-standing digital audio workstation has come a long way since we first saw it in 2004, and although it still lacks a couple of key features (such as MIDI export and the ability to control external hardware via MIDI), GarageBand offers more than enough to get you going.

Apple has done a very good job at creating the perfect gateway drug into music production, and a clear path to Logic Pro X (Apple’s fully-functional professional DAW) is plain to see. 

Shared features include Drummer, the seriously easy to use groove-maker, which includes multiple genres styles, easy controls and a ton of pattern and fill variations. You’re also treated to content from the Apple Loops sound library. And to further ease the transition, a familiar interface to Logic.

Although limited to 255 tracks per song, GarageBand is an immensely powerful and easy to use DAW that seems to be getting better with age.

• Download Apple Garageband

2. Tracktion T6

Compatibility: macOS/Windows/Linux (VST, AU and Linux VST)

The folks at Tracktion seem to have hit on a rather canny business model by releasing older versions of their DAW for free, with nothing taken out. 

The convention seems to be to make the version two iterations before the current one available to download without charge. You might not get all the latest features, but you'll receive an update each time the company updates its flagship DAW, which it does almost yearly.

Despite being two years old, Tracktion T6 is still a feature-packed and relevant DAW designed with simplicity in mind. It’s a workspace that gives you everything you need in the main window, without the need to jump to different screens.

Every section is scalable, so you can adjust to suit your workflow and the bottom panel changes to to display whichever parameters you've selected elsewhere on the screen. 

It has a different feel to the more established DAW workflow and certainly looks unique, but at its core Tracktion 6 does everything expected of it, including MIDI-out functionality (which GarageBand lacks).

Tracktion T6 features an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks, all depending on your hardware capabilities of course, and is able to host multiple plugin formats including VST and Audio Units.

• Download Tracktion T6

3. AmpliTube Custom Shop

Compatibility: macOS/Windows (64-bit only). Standalone app and plugin (AAX, VST and AU)

AmpliTube Custom Shop from IK Multimedia might be a cut-down version of AmpliTube 4, but it's still a fully functional guitar rig modelling application. This free version comes with 24 models including a digital chromatic tuner, nine stompboxes, four amps, five cabs, three mics and two rack effects.

There’s plenty to keep any guitarist happy when recording directly into their laptop – not least the fact IK Multimedia has secured official guitar amp models from such giants as Fender, Ampeg, Orange, Mesa Boogie and many more.

AmpliTube's tones are authentic and there's an impressive level of customization available (including choice of microphone and mic placement), but perhaps the biggest boon is the Custom Shop feature.

Okay, so at this point you're going to have to start shelling out some cash if you want to expand your collection of amp models, stompboxes and cab sims. However, the 'try before you buy' scheme is a welcome one.

• Download AmpliTube Custom Shop

4. Klevgrand SyndtSphere

Compatibility: macOS/Windows (VST and AU)

Klevgrand may not be a household name, but the Stockholm-based production company has certainly carved a name for itself with a slew of fine-sounding instruments featuring some rather esoteric interfaces.

SyndtSphere is no exception, and is one of the more accessible software synthesizers out there. Loaded with over 70 presets, the big fun here is the way you can morph between sounds using a nifty sphere-like object at the centre of the app.

More seasoned producers needn’t be be put off by the beginner-friendly feel; SyndtSphere has an impressive array of sounds lurking within. The unique morphing function allows for some rock-solid sound design, but you may find yourself playing around with it for ages before getting anything done.

• Download Klevgrand SyndtSphere

5. MDrummer Small

Compatibility: macOS/Windows (AAX, VST and AU)

Melda Production’s MDrummer Small is the smaller sibling of MDrummer Large (which retails for €249 – about £220, US$300, AU$380), and retains much of its big brother’s charm.

Inevitably a few features have been stripped out, but as far as free drum machines go, you're treated to a fair amount of bundled content. 

Over 500MB is on offer comprising of 30+ drumsets, 400+ drumset components, 200+ samples, 50+ multisamples, 60+ rhythms, 200+ base-rhythms and 2500+ loops. Which include acoustic drums, electronic drums and percussion.

Where MDrummer Small differs from the Large edition is that it doesn’t included the multiple sound generation engines, what it does include are the Rhythm Editor and Rhythm Generator sections. Both of which give you more than enough onboard pattern programming and editing.

MDrummer Small is multi-platform compatible as a plugin, however, there is a standalone version, but this is available on Windows only.

• Download MDrummer Small

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GameStop is launching a game rental subscription called PowerPass

 GameStop, the video game store that has fallen from grace in the era of digital downloads, will start offering a subscription rental program, according to Mashable. Over the past decade, it’s become incredibly easy to get your hands on a new video game without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Alongside Steam, both Sony and Microsoft offer digital download access to just about any… Read More http://ift.tt/2zTybzA

“Self-regulating” nanoparticles can burn cancer without harming healthy cells

 Researchers at the University of Surrey and Dalian University of Technology in China have created a form of nanoparticle that can heat up and kill cancerous cells and then self-regulate to avoid burning healthy cells. The particles can raise their temperature between 42°C to 45°C, hot enough to kill cancer cells. Once they reach a set temperature they back off, ensuring that healthy cells… Read More http://ift.tt/2yXiVm6

Skype’s big redesign publicly launches to desktop users

 Earlier this year, Skype introduced a revamped version of its application offering a heavier focus on media sharing and social expression tools, in an effort to better compete with more modern social communication services, like Slack and even Snapchat. Today, the company is publicly launching the new version of Skype to the desktop, including on Mac, Windows 10 (November 2016 update and… Read More

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More evidence surfaces that Microsoft will sell hardware in Windows 10’s store

A new piece of evidence has emerged to add weight to previous speculation that Microsoft is going to be selling hardware products (and not just apps) via the Microsoft Store (formerly known as the Windows Store).

The latest rumor comes courtesy of prolific Microsoft leaker WalkingCat, who posted a screenshot of a ‘Shop Surface’ section within the Microsoft Store selling the firm’s Surface devices and related accessories.

While this is far from a cast-iron guarantee that hardware will be sold in Windows 10’s built-in store, the appearance of an actual designed-and-implemented section of the shop certainly makes it seem like this is Microsoft’s eventual plan.

Buying tonight

Particularly when you consider the earlier rumors we reported on last month, which include a tech site successfully making a hardware purchase within the store in a preview version of Windows (showing that the functionality is actually working at some underlying level, in testing).

While you can, of course, purchase Surface hybrids and other hardware online at Microsoft’s web store, being able to do so from directly within Windows 10 would add a new level of convenience, not to mention security (with integrated Windows Hello verification).

And obviously enough, for Microsoft, this is another potential avenue of sales, and a way to push its Surface line – which is picking up momentum according to the company’s latest fiscal report.

Via: Engadget

• One of Microsoft’s Surface devices is on our best laptops list

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Get a special Halloween edition of Ashampoo WinOptimizer 14 free

There are few things scarier than a sluggish, security-compromized PC, so Ashampoo is giving away a special Halloween version of WinOptimizer 14, exclusively for TechRadar readers.

With a single click. Ashampoo WinOptimizer scans your Windows system for issues including unecessary temporary files and other junk data. Not only that, it also checks for ways to optimize your PC’s performance, and identifies ways to protect your personal data in future.

Even more conveniently, Ashampoo WinOptimizer can tune up your system automatically, deleting temporary files when you close a program and optimizing processes on the fly. There’s even an optional Game Booster mode that terminates non-essential background services and applications to free up system resources for improved performance.

This special Halloween version of Ashampoo WinOptimizer 14 has a spooky look, but will keep your PC running smoothly long after the cobwebs have been cleared away.

How to get Ashampoo WinOptimizer 14 free

Download Ashampoo WinOptimizer 14, and when you’re prompted to enter a license number, click ‘Get free activation key’. Enter an email address (it won’t be shared with any third parties), then either complete your user profile (handy if you install other Ashampoo software in the future) or select ‘Not now’. You can then copy and paste the key provided into the installer.

As an added bonus, TechRadar readers can upgrade to Ashampoo WinOptimizer 15 for just US$9.99/£8.74/AU$17.79 compared to the regular upgrade price of US$39.99/£34.99/AU$69.99. Look out for the offer when you launch the software.

Download Ashampoo WinOptimizer 14

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Kodi users are being tricked into installing piracy monitoring software

Users of third-party Kodi skins have discovered that these optional extras have been partnered with monitoring software that checks whether the user's other add-ons are legitimate, effectively making them a form of spyware. 

The monitoring is being enabled by an add-on called KN Addon Caretaker, which checks a user's installed add-ons against an online database to ensure everything installed is legitimate. 

Recently, this software has been bundled with the skins Estuary MOD V2 and Embuary, meaning users have to install this monitoring software if they want to use the skins in question. 

Civil War

The reason for this bundling is that the developers of these skins have grown tired of their work being used alongside piracy-enabling add-ons. 

Kodi itself does not enable piracy, but through the use of these third-party add-ons, users can get access to pay TV streams without needing a subscription. This has lead to the software getting a reputation as being solely for piracy, which the Kodi team has been keen to distance themselves from. 

The online database of problematic add-ons has been criticised for bundling a couple of repositories whose developers argue aren't problematic in any way. 

This wouldn't be an issue if users were free to install it as they see fit, but the problem is that they're being forced to if they want to install the skins that they've been bundled with. 

It appears as though a civil war is beginning to erupt within the Kodi development community between those who want to preserve its open nature (despite the piracy that this openness allows), and those who want to discourage the use of piracy-enabling add-ons to preserve the legitimate reputation of the software. 

• Want to try out the software for yourself? These are the best Kodi boxes around 

• Via: TVAddons

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Why Snapchat Spectacles failed

 How come only 0.08% of Snapchat’s users bought its camera sunglasses? Hundreds of thousands of pairs of Spectacles sit rotting in warehouses after the company bungled the launch. Initial hype and lines for its roving, limited time only Snapbot vending machines led Snap to overestimate demand but underdeliver on quality and content. Massive piles of assembled and unassembled… Read More

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Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aimé on the evolution of Super Mario Odyssey

 From the outside, at least, Nintendo is a study in contradictions, at once devoted to the constant development of new gaming experiences, while remaining deferential and staunchly loyal to its past. Read More http://ift.tt/2hjkK5a

TechHub’s new NYC site brings London startups Revolut, Aire, Cronofy, Callsign

 Co-working and startup office leviathan WeWork continues to expand in London. It’s latest accounts show that it has £2 billion of lease commitments in the UK (25 offices in London and two in Manchester) over the next 25 years, indicating it is upbeat about the prospects of the city post-Brexit. However, Rival office space provider Regus is less bullish, issuing a property warning… Read More http://ift.tt/2hiRTOt

How I cured my tech fatigue by ditching feeds

 On paper, smartphones are amazing pieces of glass. They have magically cured boredom as we always have something to do — those endless feeds of content are a perpetual source of inspiration, information and amusement. And yet, feeds need to die because they distort our views and disconnect us from other human beings around us. Many people have deleted the Facebook app from their phone… Read More

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