The right to Privacy: Apple verses the FBI

10th March 2016

You may have heard, last year, that the United States FBI was suing Apple over access to the iPhone 5C of a shooter who (along with his wife) attacked and killed 14 people in a shooting spree last December, in San Bernardino, California. The Fed and tech’ giant had been embroiled in a severe legal battle, with Apple holding firm on their ground over concerns for privacy of the wider population should a precedent be set. US President Donald Trump even waged in encouraging citizens to boycott Apple at the height of the controversy.

However, after law enforcement gained access to the shooter’s device (suspected with the help of an Israeli firm), the legal case has been dropped. But concerns still exist over the ethical questions raised by the case, as technology firms and law authorities debate over the right to privacy verses data access.

A judge in the case had originally ordered Apple to help unlock the phone by providing ‘reasonable technical assistance’, to which Apple promptly declined with CEO Tim Cook calling the order “chilling”. He went on to explain that doing so would involve rewriting software so that the automatic wiping of the device after 10 incorrect password attempts is disabled, and was akin to creating ‘a master key’ which would be capable of opening ‘hundreds of millions of locks’; adding that if the FBI can unlock this one iPhone, then they already have the capability to unlock more.

The FBI claimed the request was a one-off and so the case went to court making history as one of the high profile court cases over privacy, data and encryption between a technology company and government authorities, arguing that such encryption technology makes it much harder for them to investigate and solve crimes. This is rebuffed of course by tech companies, collectively stating that encryption is essential to protect and preserve users personal data.

Once the shooter’s phone was seemingly broken into the case was dropped without any further comment or clarification from the US government but Apple did say in a statement that it “will continue to help law enforcement with their investigations… and will continue to increase the security of our products”.

Whilst this is probably not the end of the privacy/encryption saga, it seems clear that Apple at least is intent on protecting the data and privacy of its users, at any cost.

Apple Industry News iOS Security Smartphones 

Microsoft launches last version of their OS, Windows 10

25th July 2015

Today Microsoft releases the latest & final major release of their operating system, Windows 10.

In the past Microsoft have aimed to release a new version of the OS every 2-3 years with the gap being at it largest between XP and Vista (4 – 5 years) but all that is about to change as there will be no more major releases going forward. Microsoft instead opting for free revision and feature upgrades via the Windows Updates platform built into Windows 10, estimated at around twice a year.

A lot of people (including us) have been left a little confused as to why there never was and seemingly never will be any ’Windows 9’, with Microsoft going from Windows 7 to 8 then 8.1 and now straight to 10. There is no official statement or explanation as to why, but we can only assume they either wanted a fresh start after Windows 8 wasn’t well received or perhaps just wanted a nice round number for branding & marketing reasons. Who really knows?

If you’re running windows 7, 8 or 8.1— we have good news for you!

Microsoft will allow you to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, utilising your existing product key. This is said to only be a temporary offer as it could end up costing the firm a lot of revenue going forward, but it shows they have a lot of faith in their new system. Or at least, really want you to try it out.

Cortana – Windows 10 Digital Assistant

Included in Windows 10, is your new digital personal assistant, Cortana. Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Google’s Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, and will help with searches of the web or your Windows system through voice or text. It‘s exciting to find out what else Cortana will be able to do exactly and how intelligent the AI assistant actually is.

Web Browsing on Windows 10

Ok, so lets be real here for a moment, and say that Internet Explorer has not exactly been a fan favourite for a long while now. Giving the lag it appears to have when trying to use it, performance & security issues in addition to sta card adherence in rendering, even though the revamped hardware acceleration from Internet Explorer 9 onwards didn’t really go very far to improve the user experience or their affection towards it, Microsoft have decided to bundle windows 10 with a brand new web browser they’ve named, Microsoft Edge.

Edge still has a very ‘Internet Explorer‘ vibe and familiar feel to it, and still uses the blue ‘e’ iconography to open it up from your menu or desktop shortcut, though this is a slightly different browser. One thing is for sure though, for those apps that require Internet Explorer, there is still a copy of the ancient relic hidden within Windows 10 to ensure backwards compatibility with those applications.

Though we still recommend downloading something like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your primary browser if you’re looking for solid stability, security peace of mind and top class browser performance.

The Windows 10 User Experience

Using Windows 10 feels very much like using Windows 7 but a slightly more modernised version. Your much beloved start button & menu has returned, but is now a large spacious, multi-columned list with a live tile ‘metro’ area opposite; rather than a single column of list items as per Windows 95-7 style. The ‘metro’ UI or Live Tiles from Windows 8 are still present, although completely reworked, and now feature in addition to the traditional list view, adjacent and on the right, as opposed to taking over full-screen (aka Windows 8 style) and are now not in replacement of the Start menu. What’s more, is that these can now also be removed if you don’t like or use them! Congratulations to Microsoft, on a feature most welcomed!

Overall we like it. It feels like Windows 10 has a nice balance of familiarity but also a fresh modernised aesthetic that feels new and is nice to look at. Everything else is as you’d expect it under the hood in terms of OS structure, so hardcore tweakers or those who dabble in customisation shouldn’t feel alienated at all.

Windows 10 continues the pathway set out from Windows 8 and 8.1 in terms of being a multi-platform OS, designed to run on PC (desktop or laptop) but also tablet and / or smartphone and even could power games consoles in future (were looking at you XBOX), which will likely be running a version of Windows 10 in future releases, even if a heavily customised version, hidden and under the hood.

Windows 10 is available for free upgrading today (at the time of publication) online at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/locations/windows-10-upgrade
EDIT: The free upgrade program for Windows 10 appears to have ceased as of November 2017, but if you’re still interested or your organisation needs to upgrade, contact us so we can evaluate your options.

PLUG: We provide official Microsoft licensing and managed upgrade solutions for home users and businesses alike and offer a full upgrade service to manage the process, maintain your files, software and data. So whether you’re a home user on a single desktop or laptop, or have a business and network of multiple systems our team can discuss your upgrade options with you without obligation.

Microsoft Windows 

Apple Watch released!

24th April 2015

Apple releases its much anticipated Apple Watch today following the earlier launch event, held on the 9^th March – and it looks to be a very tidy piece of kit!

Aside from the fantastic, minimalist design, it has very capable hardware inside allowing it to perform and relay most tasks via your iPhone, almost like having your iPhone attached to your wrist. The Apple Watch features two input methods, those being touch via its touchscreen display or a roll of the dial, which Apple has dubbed, the Digital Crown.

The smartwatch also boasts a new style of haptic feedback which feels more like a subtle tap rather than a vibration – nice to see innovation taking place.

Why a smart watch? Well there is plenty of reasons for the smart watch, most importantly it will push notifications through from your phone negating the need to take it out from your pocket and unlock. You have control of which notifications you would like to receive on the watch (or not) configurable via the iPhone Watch app. Which is great because you could keep wrist-notifications limited to urgent information if desired, and your continue using your phone for accessing the bulk of other notifications. Or take them all through your watch only using the iPhone for more in-depth responses or when the larger screen would be more appropriate. Apple Watch also comes with and supports a range of additional apps you can install, as iOS apps in the App Store will also provide Apple Watch variations too moving forward.

Like iPhone, the Apple Watch also runs a version of iOS, allowing for a familiar feel with interface icons being the same as those you’re used to, however they are formatted in a ‘Honeycomb’ formation on your watch’s home screen, rather than the grid formation seen on iPhone and iPad.

The Apple Watch releases today in 2 sizes; 38mm and 42mm with prices starting at £259.99 for the 38mm and  £299.99 for the larger 42mm Sport models which come with an aluminium body. A stainless steel model is also available for tougher durability which starts from £479.99 for the 38mm version along with the much publicised 18ct gold Edition model which comes in at a cool £8000.00 for the smaller 38mm size.

The Apple Watch itself has interchangeable straps available in various styles and colour so that you can pick and choose your own strap to personalise your watches look or buy extra straps and bands to switch up your outfit more regularly. The strap options available at launch are: link bracelets, sports band, leather loop, classic buckle, modern buckle and milanese loop. The colour variety depends on the type of band you prefer, Link band and Milanese loops for instance, are only available in two colours. While the leather loop classic buckle and modern buckle are available in a variety of different colours, with the sports band having an even wider array of colour options at 22 different colours being available.

Regardless of the pricing, the first edition Apple Watch looks set to be a hit, particularly with the hype and promotion buzzing around leading up to its launch. Apple’s promotion machine is also set to overdrive, even going so far as to send out 18ct gold Apple Watches to some celebrities and fashion shows to be featured publicly.

Apple Smartphones 

Intel U Broadwell series laptop processors

5th January 2015

Previous to the release of their low powered Broadwell ‘M’ Processors last year, Intel today releases their mid-power ‘U’ range of laptop chips.

Intel have added no less than 17 new chips to their current 5^th generation Broadwell line-up (seventeen!) …ranging from Celeron and Pentium all the way up to the high end Core i5 and Core i7 CPU’s. With these newer chips we’re expecting to see another gain in low to mid-range laptop performance.

For the first time, Intel is dedicating 50-66% of the CPU power to graphical performance, meaning the low-mid range laptops can gain a decent sized boost in the graphics department.

An estimated gain of around 22% in 2D graphics and a 50% increase in media conversion is touted, while also lowering power consumption which could improving battery life by up to 1.5 hours over the previous generation of chips. The new U-range does seem to have a lot going for it!

As for those looking for an update on the Quad-core and Desktop 5^th generation Broadwell processors, these are slated for a mid-2015 release.

Intel 

Nokia is back! (…sort of) Introducing their new ‘N1′ Tablet

18th November 2014

Today “Nokia” have unveiled their new N1 Tablet; a product of Nokia Finland which could be considered strange since the sale of their mobile division to Microsoft was completed just earlier this year, and also because it’s a Foxconn device! Foxconn seem keen to try their luck with the 90′s technology giant particularly overseas, where the N1 will release first in China.

Other Nokia devices such as the Nokia Lumia range of smartphones and tablets are still on sale but those are manufactured by Microsoft, rather than Nokia/Foxconn. Confusing huh?

During the sale of their mobile division, Nokia signed a non-compete agreement with Microsoft, stating that they would not create competing mobile devices until the end of 2015 – this clause however, did not extend to or explicitly specify Tablet computing devices or licensing out their brand to other manufacturers, which should help us to understand some of the confusion around this sudden launch within a year of the mobile division sale to Microsoft.

Nokia N1 Specifications:

• Laminated 7.9”, 2,048 x 1,536 display LCD
• 2.4GHz 64bit quad-core Intel Atom CPU
• 2GB Memory
• 32GB Built-in Flash Storage
• USB Type C
• 8 MegaPixel Rear Camera
• 5 Megapixel Front Camera
• 6.9mm thin
• Weighing 318g
• Android 5.0 lollipop

Nokia promises that the new Android-powered tablet has nothing at all to do with Microsoft and is entirely of their own design. How well it manages to compete in the market place against its other Android counterparts and indeed Apple’s new iPad mini, remains to be seen.

Industry News Intel Microsoft Nokia Tablets 

Intel’s New Smaller, Faster ‘Core M’ Mobile Processors

5th September 2014

Intel launches new range of processors for thin & light computing devices

New  ‘Intel Core M’ processors come with a cutting edge 14 nanometer (that’s billionths of a meter) transistors allowing Intel to reduce physical  size and thermal rating of their next generation CPU’s. The chips are perfect for lower powered laptops and have been designed to be used in fan-less system environments, specifically with tablets in mind, while still offing signature Intel performance and reliability throughout.

The new chips are around 50% smaller and 30% thinner than Intel’s equivalent 22nm Haswell family of chips from its previous generation of processors. Intel Core M CPU’s offer a huge performance gain (speed bump) of up to 50% faster in terms of computing power and a hefty 40% increase in speed for graphical power over its predecessors. This step forward shows how far ahead Intel currently is in the desktop processor market and now making waves into ultra light and portable laptops, notebooks and tablet devices too.

Intel’s latest ‘Core M’ offering is part of the Broadwell family which will also be the same family as their up and coming 5th Gen. CPU’s (namely, Intel Core i3, i5 and i7). The more powerful Broadwell CPU’s for Desktop PC’s and higher-powered laptops are slated for release early next year.

Intel 

Free Wi-Fi to be rolled out across ‘smart city’ Newcastle and Gateshead

26th June 2014

San Francisco, New York, Paris and now Newcastle and Gateshead!

The North East is to receive free Wi-Fi for tourists, businesses and locals after local councils selected GOWEX to provide the service after a public tendering process.

GOWEX is based in Madrid but having implemented similar schemes in city’s around the world were seen as the ideal partner. The free Wi-Fi will come in in two flavours; a 1mbps service free of charge, and an 8mpbs service which will be charged at £8.00 per month.

You should be able to gain access to the free Wi-Fi starting this August (2014) as the scheme is rolled out, and plans to be complete by 2015.

“It will make us the first place in the UK to have freely accessible Wi-Fi in our city centres.

“It puts us on a par with places like San Francisco, Miami and New York in regard to public access and be a major attraction for visitors as well as providing residents with the ability to use social media on the move.”

Nick Forbes, Newcastle City Council

Interestingly the deal is not costing the council or tax payers anything at all either and in fact the city could stand to generate some money from the deal with revenues generates split between the council and GOWEX.

The access will be provided via various access points and antennas dotted around city buildings and installed on (…and presumably under) Newcastle’s “street furniture”.

It puts Newcastle and Gateshead right up there with the most connected cities in the world.

Spokesmen also added that subscribers to the 6mbps service will receive free access to the upper tier Wi-Fi available in the San Fancisco, New York and Paris deployments too!

Local News 

BT to launch UK ‘Buy to Keep’ Movie Service to rival iTunes

5th February 2014

British Telecom (BT) have announced that they will be launching a new ‘Buy to Keep’ movie service in the UK.

Films bought through the BT service will be streamed to customer’s YouView set-top boxes to be viewed on demand once purchased. None YouView owners can look forward to expanded access to include other TV set-top boxes in the months ahead.

BT’s director of TV (Alex Green) said:

“The new service gives you even more choice. You can buy the latest blockbusters and they’re yours to keep forever. And you can watch them as many times as you like.”

Customers will be given access to a selection of over 600 movies including those from some of the larger film studios such as, Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox. Movie pricing is set to start at £6.00 per film (or £9.00 if you prefer the HD version).

BT’s new buy-to-keep movie service will allow customers to stream purchased films to their youview set-top box

BT also boasts, hundreds of films will be available on BT before they reach Netflix, Lovefilm or Now TV. The new service sound familiar to users of Apple’s ‘Apple TV’ box, which already offers a ‘buy to keep’ style service, via iTunes.

BT iTunes 

Samsung Release World’s First 1 TeraByte (1TB) Solid State Drive

17th December 2013

As modern computing becomes increasingly mobile, thinner, lighter, laptops have become the number one choice for those looking to get serious work done on-the-go.

The new wave of ‘MacBook Air’ style laptops are lighter to carry than ever before – without compromising on the performance expected of a traditional desktop PC. However, in order for laptops to continue to become increasingly smaller, the technology inside these ultra-portables needs to follow suit. Samsung have taken that concept, of miniturizing components, further than any of their competitors and have produced some pretty impressive new technology, sure to keep ultra-portable notebook fans very happy indeed!

Introducing…
Samsung 840 EVO – The world’s first 1TB mSATA solid-state drive (SSD).

SATA based SSD’s generally are much smaller than mechanical SATA drives and mSATA technology pushes those advancements further, resulting in yet smaller drives, roughly 75% thinner than normal SATA drives (according to Samsung).

Samsung claims the 840 EVO has read/write speeds of upto 540 and 520 MB/s respectively, with a height & thickness of just 3.85mm and weighing in at only 0.02 pounds. The 840 EVO comes with 256-bit AES Encryption too, and is available now in 120GB, 240GB, 500GB and (the world first) 1TB flavours.

If you’re laptop is running out of storage and you fancy an upgrade – the new Samsung 840 EVO range could be for you.

Contact us for the latest pricing on these super-fast, high-capacity drives.

Samsung 

Microsoft rushes retailers to make the upgrade to Windows 8.1 in time for Christmas

2nd December 2013

With the release of Windows 8.1 last month, it seems not all retailers and Microsoft company partners have been prepared for the launch of the new Operating System.

Latest figures estimate that, about only 20% of new computers ready to go on sale over this Holiday season will have the new version of Windows (8.1) pre-installed. Microsoft has come up with a solution though!

They (Microsoft) have created a ‘Windows 8.1 Upgrade Kit’ which is delivered via a USB flash drive to retailers selling Windows based PC’s; allowing the retailers to easily upgrade their systems with the new Windows 8.1 OS.

Some of the big retail outlets including Curry’s & PC World have already received their upgrade kits. We are expecting to see many more systems with Windows 8.1 pre-installed hit the market soon.

For those of you who are currently running an earlier version of Windows (perhaps Windows 7, Vista or even Windows XP), Hedgehog IT can upgrade your operating system to Windows 8.1 for you, backing up & restoring all your files; music, videos, pictures, other folders and data from as little as £149.99, including a genuine Windows license.

Contact us to enquire about upgrading your version of Windows today.

Microsoft Windows