Windows Central: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Best adult apps in VR

Finding adult apps for VR is easy, finding awesome adult apps in VR can be more difficult.

Porn in VR is all over the place these days. In fact, all you have to do is a quick Google search and you'll find plenty of websites and apps that can give you what you're looking for. Not all adults apps are awesome though. So instead of slogging through the internet and hoping you find an awesome app, we've done the work for you. Below you'll find the best apps in VR for adult entertainment.

MateBook X review: Flash and splash (resistant)

The Huawei MateBook X unlocks with a fingerprint, pumps music with panache, and stands up to way more seltzer than I intended to spill on it (for real). But Huawei – despite being the world's third-largest smartphone vendor – is still new to notebooks, and still a veritable unknown in the U.S. market. With the MateBook X, Huawei is hoping to change all that.

I'm Michael Fisher (MrMobile if you're nasty), and I generally prefer my Windows machines not to look like my MacBooks. Despite the visual similarity and slightly steep price, though, there's a lot to like about the MateBook X. Hit up that video and see why you should be paying attention. And don't forget to check out Windows Central's MateBook X Review while you're here!

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Starcraft: Remastered lands August 14 for $15

Starcraft fans, it's nearly time to take a starry-eyed trip back to 1998.

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Microsoft said to be planning cloud-focused sales reorganization

Microsoft is reportedly planning a major reorganization focused on cloud sales.

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Best Xbox One Sea-Themed Games

The ocean holds equal amounts of beauty, fascination, and fear.

For years, stories about the creatures that lurk within the waters that surround the lands we live within have chilled us. Weird creatures have washed ashore that fueled the imagination and made us wonder just what does lurk in those uninhabitable depths? Then again, the surface of the water can be just as treacherous, with pirates sailing the seven seas in search of booty.

Here's a look at some of the best Xbox One games set in or on the ocean.

Subnautica
Narcosis
Assassins Creed: Black Flag
Song of the Deep
ARK: Survival Evolved

Subnautica

Climbing from your tiny life pod to survey your crash landing site, you're greeted with nothing but a wide blue glittering expanse of ocean. And a hulking great spaceship. The world you're about to survive in is alien in both flora and fauna, but also entirely underwater.

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How to customize Microsoft Excel's Quick Access Toolbar

Microsoft Excel 2016 gives you the tools to make meaningful reports, but how you use the app's Quick Access Toolbar is up to you.

While the Microsoft Excel Quick Access Toolbar is minimal compared to the main Ribbon, it gives you direct access to a variety of functions.

Do you know how to make the most of the toolbar? Did you even know it was there? Let's take a look at this customizable command center.

Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar
Import and Export Toolbars
Appearance customization
Keyboard shortcuts
Reset your customization

Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar

Without any previous customization, the Excel Quick Access Toolbar will only display options to save, undo and redo. Here's how to change that.

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Microsoft is shutting down Windows App Studio

Microsoft has announced that it is preparing to shut down Windows App Studio.

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India pushes for Windows 10 discount following recent ransomware attacks

In light of the recent WannaCry and Petya ransomware attacks, India is pushing Microsoft to provide a one-time discount on Windows 10 so that its more than 50 million Windows users can upgrade to a more secure version.

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Join us LIVE for the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30PM ET

Make sure you join us for the LIVE recording of the Windows Central Video Podcast, today at 2:30PM ET!

For those in different time zones, here's when we'll be live: Convert your time zone here.

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Should you buy an ergonomic keyboard?

Here are some buying tips and advice if you are considering swtiching to an ergonomic PC keyboard.

A few months back, I reviewed the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, which is an updated version of the Sculpt Ergonomic from years past. Ergonomic keyboards are very divisive because typing is such a personal experience. People adapt to something they use extensively, and it is hard to imagine something being any better.

The question is, should you try an ergonomic keyboard? Here are a few considerations if you're contemplating one.

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Microsoft must launch a Surface phone — and get it right the first time

Smartphones are the gateways to many tech companies' broader ecosystems. Sadly, history proves any attempt by Microsoft to fill that void in its ecosystem is a huge gamble.

Still, the absence of the most personal of computing devices from Microsoft's lineup is detrimental to its present and future relevance. Microsoft must launch a Surface phone.

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Petya ransomware had 'far less reach' than expected, Microsoft says

Following the launch of the Petya ransomware attack around the world earlier this week, Microsoft has taken to a post on TechNet to offer a look at its spread.

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Huawei MateBook X review: An impressively thin laptop with outstanding audio

Huawei's first attempt at a laptop is a MacBook-like Ultrabook for Windows 10 users. It's mostly well executed, too, but there are a few sacrifices.

Huawei is a relatively new name to the Windows 10 world, but the company made some waves last year with its positively received MateBook tablet 2-in-1. For 2017, that device has been rebranded as MateBook E, but it is the new MateBook X that is turning heads.

The MateBook X is Huawei's first attempt at a premium Ultrabook, and for the most part, the company succeeded. Not only the is MateBook X a well-rounded PC, it pushes boundaries to reach current design limits.

Does a fanless 2.3-pound (1.05 kg) laptop that is only 12.5mm thin bring anything new to the Windows 10 world? You bet. It's not for everyone, but this staggeringly small laptop has a target audience that will appreciate it.

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Grab this MATLAB mastery bundle for just $27!

As far as numerical computing environments and programming languages go, Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) is a favorite amongst engineering and science students. Learning to use MATLAB is no easy task, however, and there are multiple angles needed to be taken in order to become proficient.

Go from beginner to pro in MATLAB with this mastery bundle! Learn more

Instead of tracking down the courses required to become a MATLAB pro, Windows Central Digital Offers right now has a deal on a MATLAB mastery bundle. Instead of paying the regular price of $200, you'll instead pay just $27. That's 86% off the regular price.

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Everything we know so far about Fallout 4 VR

What do I need to know about Fallout 4 VR?

At E3 2017, Bethesda released a new trailer for the highly anticipated Fallout 4 VR. There are still quite a few questions that need answering, but we already have a good idea of what the game is going to look like. Here's everything we know so far.

Complete list of Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles in the Ultimate Game Sale

Here's a cohesive list of all Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles offered as a part of the Ultimate Game Sale.

Microsoft has kicked off the Ultimate Game Sale – its annual period of price cuts across a significant portion of the Xbox library. This time around, up to 70 percent is being slashed off digital Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, with up to 10 percent further discounts for those with an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

The full list of titles in the sale has been unveiled and can now be taken advantage of through the Xbox Store. Each of the below discounts will be valid from June 30 to July 10, before returning to regular pricing. Have any recommendations for the team or other readers? Make sure to let us know the games you're picking up in the comments section!

Note: Discount percentages on the left hand side represent standard price cuts, while the latter value shows the additional cut offered to Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

Xbox One deals

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Are you a fan of the Alcantara fabric on Microsoft's Surface PCs and Type Covers?

The soft, suede-like fabric on Microsoft's Surface Pro Type Covers and the new Surface Laptop has become a staple of the brand. But it's also somewhat polarizing.

Alcantara, the Italian-made fabric Microsoft uses on some Surface accessories and the Surface Laptop, is soft and luxurious. (If you're not familiar with Alcantara, read, "Everything you need to know about Alcantara".)

But people either seem to love it or, well … not love it. That's understandable, and it's not for everybody. There's a discussion going on in our forums right now on that very subject.

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Best 'New and Rising' Games for Windows 10

The Windows Store has plenty of collections to browse through, and if you are looking for the latest in gaming, the New and Rising collection is where you want to go.

This collection of Windows 10 games is filled with relatively new releases that have spiked in popularity. The collection often includes a broad range of titles that include city builders, puzzle games, fantasy adventure games, and more.

Keep in mind that we are focusing on the top five listings in the Store's New and Rising collection. This collection is subject to changing daily as popularity rises and lowers with these games. With that being said, let's take a look to see which titles made the cut as the best new and rising games for Windows 10.

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Forza Motorsport 7 FAQ: Release date, price and everything else we know so far

This is everything you need to know (so far) about Microsoft's next flagship Xbox racer.

There hasn't been a year of the Xbox One's life that didn't include a new Forza game, and after 2016's Forza Horizon 3, it's back to the track for 2017 with Forza Motorsport 7.

There's still much to learn about this year's Forza, but there's also already a lot to sink your teeth into. If you always want to know that the latest Forza 7 information is, stick this post in your bookmarks because we're keeping it updated with anything and everything new.

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Movies and music we're into this week

It's almost the weekend and almost time to relax! Here are the movies and music the Windows Central team is enjoying this week.

The weekend is just around the corner, and you're probably keen to put your feet up and enjoy some downtime. What better way to relax than with some great tunes or a great movie? If you're looking for some suggestions for either medium, we put together a collection of some of the best stuff out there right now.

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This is Microsoft's canceled Surface Mini (exclusive photos and details)

Up until now, the public has never actually seen Microsoft's canceled Surface Mini. That changes today.

In 2014, Microsoft planned to announce two new Surface devices. One was the Surface Pro 3, and the other was the now infamous "Surface Mini", which never saw the light of day. At Windows Central, we love finding details on, and seeing, Microsoft's canceled and never before seen products. So we're excited to be able to exclusively show you the never before seen Surface Mini. Let's dig in!

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Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer for Xbox One review: Is such a minor addition worth $15?

Diablo III just picked up a brand new DLC, breathing new life (or "unlife?") into the industry-leading action RPG.

Diablo III is an incredible action game from Blizzard Entertainment, available on Xbox One and PC. Not only does it fully support online and offline cooperative play, but it keeps seeing new features, content updates, and more, giving the game some serious longevity.

The previous DLC, Reaper of Souls, was a full-blown story expansion, complete with new characters, new cut-scenes, and an all-new hero class, the Crusader. The Necromancer DLC is nowhere near as beefy.

For $15, you get the all-new, fully-voiced Necromancer class, a series staple from Diablo II, and various cosmetic items. The DLC's launch also saw the addition of new areas for adventure mode and other new challenges for end-game players, all of which are free to existing players.

So, is the Necromancer DLC worth it? Read on, friends.

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How to reinstall Windows 10 S on your Surface Laptop

Having issues with your Surface Laptop or just want to go back to Windows 10 S after upgrading to Pro? Here's how to recover it and restore the factory settings.

Microsoft provides Surface customers with recovery images that allow you to reset your Surface as if it was just new out of the box. This requires a USB drive, some time, and an internet connection. If you're planning to sell your Surface Laptop, go back to Windows 10 S after an upgrade to Pro, or are having technical difficulties, recovering the Surface Laptop is recommended. Here's how to do it.

How to reinstall Windows 10 S on Surface Laptop

Download the recovery image

Before we get started, you have to acquire the files necessary for recovery. To do that, you're going to need your Surface Laptop serial number and some time to allow the download to complete. (You can find the 12-digit serial number on the bottom of your Surface Laptop.) The download is around 9GB, so it may take a while depending on your internet connection.

Navigate to this link.
Select Surface Laptop from the drop-down menu and insert your Surface Laptop serial number.

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Thursday, June 29, 2017

Aven Colony review: A sci-fi city builder for Xbox One where the bugs are scarier than the aliens

Aven Colony takes the city building genre into space. But does this game reach for the stars, or fall into a black hole?

After the success of Cities: Skylines on Xbox One, I've found myself enamored with the city-sim genre ever since. I've previously written about Surviving Mars, which is an in-development space city builder heading to Xbox One, from the same publisher as Cities: Skylines. I've also previously reviewed Planetbase, which is a modest take on what it might be like to attempt to build a colony on another planet, complete with all the hazards you might expect with space faring.

I found Planetbase to be an addictive title in short bursts but found the lack of creativity possible in the game to be a little frustrating. Thus, I had high hopes for Aven Colony to achieve where Planetbase didn't. Aven Colony is now available for Xbox One and PC, and while it's certainly deeper than Planetbase, crippling bugs prevent it from achieving its true potential.

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A mini view is in the works for Groove Music on Windows 10

Microsoft is apparently gearing up to launch a new "mini view" for Groove Music as part of an upcoming update.

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Everything we know so far about Destiny 2: Story, weapons, planets, beta, release dates and more

With a new approach to storytelling, loads of new content and some major changes here's everything we've learned so far about Destiny 2.

The latest iteration of Bungie's flagship shooter franchise, Destiny 2, is now just a few months away from hitting our consoles. Following its official unveiling back in March and more recently, an in-depth gameplay showcase, we now have an idea of how the universe has evolved throughout its transition to a sequel.

But does Destiny 2 bring enough changes to justify a whole new title? And what does a new game mean for players invested the original game? Here's everything we know so far about Destiny 2.

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The Token biometric ring can help you pay for lunch and unlock your Windows PC

There are already quite a few ways to interact with Windows Hello in Windows 10, but a new third-party accessory shown off by Microsoft is pretty unique.

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What's new with Microsoft Fluent Design System 'wave one' for Windows 10

Here are all the Fluent Design changes you'll be seeing starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

Windows 10 is getting a massive user interface facelift later this year with the release of the Microsoft Fluent Design System, known previously as Project NEON.

Fluent Design is a new system that moves from a traditional boring flat design to a modern design language that delivers more immersive and engaging experiences using new multi-dimensional design techniques. The majority of the changes include subtle additions, such as transparency and blur, three-dimensional perspective and motions, and a system that works across the full range of devices.

Unlike previous design system releases, not everything will be available at once. Instead, Microsoft is planning to push new features of Fluent Design gradually in different waves, with "wave one" arriving with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

In this Windows 10 guide, to make it clear what to expect, we'll highlight the Fluent Design features Microsoft will introduce in the first wave.

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Thrifter is giving away two pairs of hand-crafted Grado Labs headphones, and one could be yours

Team Thrifter is back again, this time with a chance for you to win one of two pairs of hand-crafted headphones!

Headphones come in all shapes, sizes, and prices these days, and it's much easier to spend $10 on a set than it is to drop a few hundred. Unfortunately, you won't get the same build or audio quality out of the cheaper ones, but sometimes that's all you want to spend at the time. Ever dream of owning a beautiful pair of handmade headphones? If so, we've got a giveaway you won't want to miss.

To celebrate the recent launch of Thrifter's new site and branding, they partnered up with Grado Labs to be able to give away two pairs of its awesome headphones. We have a pair of the SR325e (which retail for $325), as well as a pair of the RS2e (which retail for $495). Grado Labs is based out of Brooklyn, NY, and the company actually hand makes all the headphones and cartridges it sells.

We will give you a minute to drool over how nice these headphones are ...

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