This week on the Windows Central Podcast: New Insider Preview changes, Paint dies, lots of ranting, and more!
This past week, Microsoft announced some new changes to the Windows Insider Program, new information about a CDMA version of the Elite x3 came to light, Paint almost died, and a whole lot more on this weeks episode of the Windows Central Podcast!
It's cheaper to get the phone with a freebie than without.
HP UK has been known for some whacky pricing on the Elite x3 but this latest one isn't obvious to see. The cashback offer has now ended, but that doesn't mean you can't get one for a lot less than you used to need to fork out.
How does £459 sound with the desk dock thrown in?
A new law in Russia bans VPNs in an effort to prevent citizens from accessing censored websites.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will soon be banned in Russia as part of a new bill signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
It's time to uncover your family's past.
Every family has their secrets, but the Finch clan has more than its fair share. Cursed by various tragedies, Edith was never given the full story.
For the first time in years she's returning to the family home, and it's time to find out everything that was being kept from her.
This is What Remains of Edith Finch, an acclaimed adventure game finally available on Xbox One.
Are you getting errors installing Linux distros on Windows 10? In this guide, we'll tell you exactly what you need to do to fix this issue.
Starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is making some Linux distros, including Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and OpenSUSE Leap 42 available in the Windows Store. Additionally, it's no longer a prerequisite to enable Developer mode, which makes the installation of Linux distros a lot easier.
However, a number of users a seeing an error code 0x8007007e as they try to install any of the distros, but it's not a bug in the software. Instead, users are seeing this error because the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the compatibility layer to run Linux binary executables on Windows 10 is missing.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to successfully install Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, and openSUSE Leap 42 on your device.
Look like a toned-down Power Ranger with the latest free update for Final Fantasy XV.
Square Enix has pushed out the July update for Final Fantasy XV on both Xbox One and PS4, adding in some new content for players to dive into.
Our friends at Thrifter post some great deals every day, and here are the best ones available right now!
From mobile phones to general tech, home goods and much more, the team at Thrifter is scouring the web every single day to find the best deals. Whether something hits a new all-time low, gets discounted for just a limited time, or has a new coupon code available for it, you won't want to miss out any of them. If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you'll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!
So, what are the best deals that you should be looking at right now? Well, let's take a look at them so you can see which ones are best for you!
Bluetooth speakers are great to have around the house, and waterproof ones are even better. Whether you want to sing your heart out in the shower or entertain some friends during a BBQ, a good Bluetooth speaker is essential. Right now you can pick up the AmazonBasics shockproof and waterproof speaker for just above $17. The speaker is both loud and rugged, so you won't have to worry about using it in all types of situations.
Lenovo packs a surprising amount of quality features into their $200 2-in-1.
From the start of the Miix 320's life, Lenovo has aimed it at a young generation that doesn't have much time to sit still, that's busy with multiple jobs, side jobs, and side-side jobs. It's priced right — starting at $200 — but is it really the multipurpose tool Lenovo makes it out to be?
Lenovo loaned Windows Central a review unit of the Miix 320. This specific configuration has an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage, and costs about $300.
Surface Laptop gets the spotlight in 3 new commercials released by Microsoft.
Microsoft has released 3 new Surface Laptop ads destined for your TV screen.
Windows developers will soon be able to manage and monitor their apps on Android.
Microsoft is currently working on a dedicated Windows Dev Center app for Android.
"Windows phone is dead" has been the popular quarterly headline and social media mantra for the past couple of years. But for many fans who don't care what the naysayers say, Windows phone is wanted - dead or alive.
Windows phone fans are a hardy bunch. We've endured broken promises, broken platforms, broken communities and if the harsh, inconsiderate and outright mean words of some had their desired effects, broken spirits would be part of that list.
But that's not the case. Despite the name-calling, Microsoft's lack of interest, the platform's shortcomings and its uncertain future, we use what we love. And we love Windows phone in all of its troubled glory.
The fluidity of the UI, the uniqueness of Live Tiles, the integration of Microsoft services and more are things we've chosen not to live without.
Sure rival platforms are more popular, better supported, tied into smart home hubs and intelligent automobiles and are solidly positioned for the foreseeable future. But we love using Windows phone, and it works for us. It's neither intellectually unsound nor delusional to use the platform one loves to use if it works for them. It's simply a choice.
We're not naïve to the platform's problems nor Microsoft's failures either. We're painfully aware of the roller coaster ride of promises and disappointments that has been the Windows-on-mobile journey. And even though the promise of Windows 10 Mobile has devolved into a platform in "sustain mode," we still love Windows phone as we anticipate what's next.
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a great deal on a discounted 15,000 mAh power bank!
If your family is mixed with iOS and Android users, this is the battery pack that you need. Right now you can grab iClever's 15000mAh portable battery for just $23.99 with coupon ICLEVER8 at Amazon. This is a discount of $11. So what makes this one stand out from the others?
Well, it features both a Micro USB and Lightning input for charging the battery pack, which is super convenient, and you can even use them both at the same time to charge it up even faster. It also has 2 USB outputs, so you can charge up two devices at the same time while on the go.
Minecraft is finally going fully cross-platform across Xbox One, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch, and other mobile platforms with the Bedrock update.
The Bedrock engine is an all-new extensible platform for Minecraft, allowing Mojang and Microsoft to update all versions simultaneously while keeping them cross-platform compatible.
Players on Xbox One, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android will be able to connect and play together via a Minecraft Realm, which is a subscription based service allowing players to maintain their very own dedicated server. There's no PlayStation version, because Sony hates its customers refused for some reason.
The first round of beta tests for this new system is going live on Xbox One and Windows 10 very shortly. If you owned the previous Xbox One Edition of the game, know that your purchases and content are completely safe, and can be transferred to the new system. You'll also be able to upgrade for free.
Here's how you can gain access to the Bedrock test on Xbox One and Windows 10, and a list of everything new in this update.
Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely used programs in business. It helps companies take care of their books, pay employees, build plans, and much, much more. You can probably get the very basics of Excel, but if you're looking into a job where proficiency is a big asset and/or required, chances are you'll need a little more help.
Master Excel for $39 Learn more
There are many courses that teach you how to use Excel — you can likely take many at local schools and colleges — but these courses can be quite costly, and then there's the fact that you have to leave home and learn on someone else's time.
After quite a wait for fans of Team Red, AMD is nearly ready to take on NVIDIA in the GPU space.
AMD fans have been chomping at the bit for more information on when the firm's upcoming Radeon RX Vega graphics cards will be available, and now the wait is nearly over.
Could you do with a more exciting desk workspace? Why not consider this list of five awesome desk accessories to rejuvenate your workspace!
Is your desk looking a little bare? Could you do with a few new accessories to spice things up a little bit? I know I could. Here's a collection of 5 awesome desk accessories that can help rejuvenate your workspace!
Price: $16.99
Computer desks often aren't complete without the inclusion of some kind of desk lamp. There are many desk lamps out there, but why not get a desk lamp that has some extra to offer? Check out the Walkas Lamp, with Message Board. The Walkas Lamp is a great lamp, providing your desk with plenty of light in the evenings, but in addition to that, it also as a Message Board attached to the bottom of it, that you can use to jot down quick notes without wasting any paper. The Message Board has an LED light baked in too, so you can see your notes in the dark. And above all, this desk accessory looks really cool.
Price: $11.99
Mega is opening its beta doors to everyone on Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
The privacy-focused cloud storage service Mega has been testing a new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of its app for the past several months in closed beta, and now it's opening up to everyone.
At Windows Central, we've covered the rise and fall of Windows Phone and Windows Mobile closely over the years. Microsoft's mobile OS is clearly in a bad place these days, but the idea of full Windows 10 on ARM seems like something to be optimistic about. Is it though?
We write a lot about Windows phones and Windows Mobile today, despite the sorry state of the mobile OS. But perhaps the one ray of light that shines through the constant doom and gloom is Windows 10 on ARM. The basic concept is that Windows phones will be able to run a full version of Windows, which should drastically increase the features and value of the OS.
Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a sweet deal on a Logitech gaming mouse!
This Logitech G602 wireless optical gaming mouse from Newegg is only $25 refurbished. Other refurbs go for as much as $40 from third parties. The cheapest brand new version is $40 at Amazon.
The G602 is an outstanding gaming mouse for a wireless. Its 11 programmable buttons are rated for up to 20 million clicks, and it uses Delta Zero sensor technology for up to 2,500 dpi. The mouse can last as long as 1,440 hours on one pair of batteries in Endurance mode and up to 250 hours in Performance mode.
It's compatible with Windows 7 and higher and Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher. Newegg offers a 90-day warranty with a 30-day return policy for a refurbished product. Shipping is free.
If you're looking for an alternative to the stock music app on Windows 10, this might be it.
Groove Music on Windows 10 is both pretty great and very free. But it's also not for everyone, not least those who'd prefer the streaming service was detached from their own music. If you're not a subscriber, it's understandable, no matter how nice a music player it is.
One alternative you might be interested in is Light Media Player. Don't be fooled by the name; it's far from light.
Halo 5 offers the biggest and most expansive Forge mode to date in the series, but some feel overwhelmed by its power.
Here's five tips to help you successfully take advantage of the latest version of the classic map creation tool.
Hopping into Forge in Halo 5 can be a daunting experience at first. There are so many different controls, items, options, and everything between to learn and understand, and then on top of that, there's knowing how to build the map from the ground up itself.
It may seem like an incredibly complicated experience, but with these five strategies, your experience will be much smoother. So, without further ado, lets jump right in and learn the basics to becoming a Halo Forge map-maker!
Anthem is the next big franchise from renowned developer, BioWare – these are the five things you might not know, after its debut.
Last month at E3 2017, Electronic Arts revealed its next major franchise, "Anthem." Showcased alongside the Xbox One X, we've now experienced seven minutes in the game's jaw-dropping open world.
Coming from BioWare, the renowned developer behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, Anthem marks a new and ambitious direction for the studio. In the game's world, hostile monsters rule the wilderness, and humanity has taken refuge inside a walled city. "Freelancers," bounty hunters bearing "Javelin" exosuits, are among the few who can venture outside these walls, forming the basis for Anthem's gameplay. Diverging from the developer's heritage solidified in narrative-driven experiences, Anthem pursues an online shared-world, built with action-adventure mechanics in mind.
However, after its initial E3 debut, we're now left with more questions than answers. With little information outside of a small vertical slice, the details surrounding the game still remain somewhat vague. We've brought together five things you might not yet know about Anthem, after its E3 2017 showcase.
You may have heard a bit about Tidal. But is it worth subscribing to if you're a Windows user?
Music streaming services aren't exactly uncommon, and Tidal may at first look like just another name to throw in the pile.
However, the big deal about Tidal is its lossless, high-fidelity music. Competitors like Spotify or Microsoft's Groove compress the music to make files smaller and easier to stream.
Tidal has compressed music, but it's not why you should consider subscribing. Here's what you need to know.
