First Look at Cortana Running on Windows 10

Well, it has been a month since the technical preview of Windows 10 is out; although, it doesn’t run Cortana as for now. Cortana is Microsoft’s obvious response to Apple’s Siri, and with Apple looking to integrate Siri into OS X, Microsoft desperately needs to do it right. Right now, Cortana doesn’t have much of a personality in Windows 10, but we expect that it will be there by the time the company rolls it out to the public.

 Anyway, it is pretty much clear and evident that Cortana be will coming to desktops once Windows 10 is available commercially. We are still waiting to see Cortana in action on desktops.

 In a recent video post, WinBeta got access to Cortana on Windows 10. The early version of the Microsoft’s virtual assistant isn’t pretty, however, we can expect Microsoft to tweak it before the roll out of public version.

 This early version, which the popular publication got hold off, got most of the basic stuff in place, such as calling Skype contacts, reading out your calendar and setting reminders just like on Windows Phone. The hard truth is, there are not many Windows Phone users out there and so, this might be the golden chance for the company to push out Cortana to a larger user base.

 Google Now has been available on Chrome and other platforms for some time now. These companies’ devotion towards virtual assistants shows how important they have become. The mere fact that all the big names have come up with their virtual assistants and are looking out to integrate them into desktops defines the future of personal computing.

Bluetooth 4.2 Core Arrives, the sky's the limit

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has officially announced version 4.2 of the Bluetooth core specification. The most significant update since last year’s 4.1 version, this one promises greater speed and privacy.

According to SIG, the new update will increase the transfer rate between two devices connected over Bluetooth by 2.5 times. The recent development in the area of Bluetooth Smart Data packets lets it hold ten times as much data as before, hence the increased speed.

Also, Bluetooth 4.2 will improve the features of Bluetooth Low Energy which allows low-power IP connectivity over Bluetooth, with a new profile which supports low power wireless personal area network. As a result, Bluetooth devices will be able to directly access the internet through a router or an edge device, rather than have to be bound to a smartphone or any other devices with IP connectivity first.

The SIG said the latest standard will compliment the market and let developers make devices that can easily connect with each other, making Bluetooth 4.2 “the foundation for the Internet of Things”. The update also brings some privacy features. Currently, Bluetooth Beacons can be utilized as a way to track people. However, for privacy conscious people, the new 4.2 will allow the MAC address of Bluetooth devices to be masked unless connecting to a trusted device.

Well, unlike 4.1 standard which was a software upgrade to 4.0 Bluetooth, 4.2 will require hardware improvements. Some features like privacy controls can still be added to older devices via software, but other capabilities including speed and IPv6 features will require hardware upgrades.

Nvidia: “the PC platform is far superior to any console"

 Nvidia’s consumer sales manager Matt Wright has stressed that PC is the gaming platform of choice, and that its functionality makes it “far superior” to consoles. He recognises that some staunch console players may need some extra convincing however.It follows the UK and European PS4 launch.

 Speaking with MCV, Wright said, “We are proposing small form-factor PCs to be a viable alternative to the next-gen consoles. Enthusiast players want the ultimate games system and that is the PC. The PC platform is far superior to any console when it comes to gaming, plus you get all the extra functionality that a computer brings.”

 He added that from the outside looking in, PC gaming may appear more complex and technical to the layman, but stressed, “We want to make PC gaming as simple as possible and we think that it already becoming much more relevant and appealing to casual gamers,”

Steam also helps. “Steam now has more users than Xbox Live,” Wright concluded. “There is a whole new generation who grew up playing on PC with titles like Minecraft or World of Tanks. There’s a huge community who love playing their games on PC.”

Sony’s First To Greatness Offers Players 64 Unique Challenges

Sony has launched a new PlayStation 4 community challenge website called First to Greatness, which allows PlayStation 4 owners to claim many different firsts on the new PlayStation 4 system.

The First to Greatness challenge presents the wider PS4 audience (over a million strong now and growing) with a series of 64 challenges that need completing across a list of games including Killzone: Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, NBA 2K14, and Knack.

The way things works is like this: players need to head over here for a full list of challenges and select their desired task from among them. Then upon completing said task players will need to use the PS4?s Share button to record video proof of their deed and then upload said video to Facebook. Sony is planning to do a remake of their Perfect Day video which will include footage of the first person to complete each challenge and thus will your video game “immortality” be assured.

Sony explains : “But even if you’re not the first to complete a particular challenge, the site will serve as a handy archive of your greatest PS4 accomlishments. Once you’ve completed a challenge and uploaded the video to your Facebook account using DualShock 4’s Share button, submit it to FirstToGreatness.com by signing in with Facebook.

Sony’s First To Greatness Offers Players 64 Unique Challenges

Sony has launched a new PlayStation 4 community challenge website called First to Greatness, which allows PlayStation 4 owners to claim many different firsts on the new PlayStation 4 system.

The First to Greatness challenge presents the wider PS4 audience (over a million strong now and growing) with a series of 64 challenges that need completing across a list of games including Killzone: Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, NBA 2K14, and Knack.

The way things works is like this: players need to head over here for a full list of challenges and select their desired task from among them. Then upon completing said task players will need to use the PS4?s Share button to record video proof of their deed and then upload said video to Facebook. Sony is planning to do a remake of their Perfect Day video which will include footage of the first person to complete each challenge and thus will your video game “immortality” be assured.

Sony explains : “But even if you’re not the first to complete a particular challenge, the site will serve as a handy archive of your greatest PS4 accomlishments. Once you’ve completed a challenge and uploaded the video to your Facebook account using DualShock 4’s Share button, submit it to FirstToGreatness.com by signing in with Facebook.

Google introduces 'OK, Google' voice search on Chrome for desktop

Google search on Chrome for desktop can now be voice activated with the "OK, Google" command thanks to an official plug-in.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Do you hate typing? If you use Chrome for desktop, you can now activate Google voice search by saying "OK, Google", just like you can on the Nexus 5 smartphone, thanks to a new official plug-in.

"It's that time of year... the in-laws are coming for a tasty Turkey Day dinner," Google wrote on a rather US-centric Google+ blog post. "You're elbow deep in your turkey, ready to start the stuffing and you need to quickly calculate how many ounces of walnuts are in a cup. This year, rather than stopping midway through to wash your hands and type in a search, you can just speak to your laptop: 'OK, Google, how many ounces are in one cup?'"

At the moment, the service is in beta and targeted at the US market, but it can be downloaded outside the US (it worked fine for us in our Sydney office) and, if it's anything like Google Now for Android, doesn't take long to adapt to your accent and idiom. And of course, it can be used for almost everything you currently use Google Now for: performing searches and translations, setting reminders, creating calendar events and getting directions.

You need to be on the Google search page for it to work, and it won't read out all your answers — so its functionality is limited — but we're optimistic that, at some stage, the feature will be enabled from any web page in the Chrome browser.
You can download Google Voice Search Hotword for free from the Chrome Web Store.

[Via]
                    

Google Working On Prescription Lenses, New Designs For Google Glass

 

 Google has already talked about expanding its range of Glass products and if the rumours are true, the company is one step closer to making a prescription version of this wearable tech.

Word comes from the Wall Street Journal, which states Google is in talks with VSP Global about integrating Google Glass into prescription glasses. WSJ cites VSP CEO Robert Lynch as saying plans include training optometrists to fit patients for Google Glass, making more stylish frames, and developing lenses that work with Google Glass.

VSP, which provides a vision plan for Google employees, has 60 million enrolled members and counts 30,000 eye doctors in its networks – assets that could help bring Glass to a broader audience. 

Google’s Internet-connected eyewear lets users receive search results, read email, scan maps for directions and engage in video chats without reaching for their smartphones, but many fear its current design is a bit too nerd friendly.

According to The Verge, Rochester Optical is not working with Google to develop its lenses.

[Via]