Microsoft flirts with new anti-trust challenge with new Start Menu-based Edge ads - MSPoweruser

Microsoft originally implemented the “Suggested” section on the Windows 10 Start Menu as a way to advertise its official apps; but in the latest listing, Microsoft has gone beyond self-promotion.

Microsoft’s recent extensive advertising is becoming hard to ignore, which has prompted many users to disable the ads.  Those who haven’t done so may have noticed the most recent one takes a dig at a competitor browser.

The listing displays “Still using Firefox?  Microsoft Edge is here”, to all users of the former- even with the latter already installed.  The ad provides a link to download the chromium-based browser.

Undoubtedly, the suggestions won’t end here.  Microsoft is reportedly planning to sprawl similar ads out to Wordpad, to encourage users to download official Office apps.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to disable these ads.  You can either right-click the ad and select “Turn off all suggestions” option in the context menu; or you can also open Settings and navigate to Personalization > Start, and disable the following option: Occasionally show suggestions in Start.

It would be hard not to argue that Microsoft is using its privileged position as the OS vendor to promote their browser in a way that is anti-competitive towards 3rd party developers, the exact reason the company was nearly broken up for in the early 2000s.  While much has changed since then, and desktop operating systems are now much less important, there is also a renewed enthusiasm to go after tech companies for anti-competitive practices, an issue that Microsoft has been fortunate to mostly avoid till now.

These targeted Start Menu ads may, however, be exactly the thing which provokes prosecutors to go after Microsoft again, and we have to wonder what the company is thinking.

Source: Windowslatest

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vbXNwb3dlcnVzZXIuY29tL21pY3Jvc29mdC1mbGlydHMtd2l0aC1uZXctYW50aS10cnVzdC1jaGFsbGVuZ2Utd2l0aC1uZXctc3RhcnQtbWVudS1iYXNlZC1lZGdlLWFkcy_SAW5odHRwczovL21zcG93ZXJ1c2VyLmNvbS9taWNyb3NvZnQtZmxpcnRzLXdpdGgtbmV3LWFudGktdHJ1c3QtY2hhbGxlbmdlLXdpdGgtbmV3LXN0YXJ0LW1lbnUtYmFzZWQtZWRnZS1hZHMvYW1wLw?oc=5

2020-02-09 13:00:00Z
52780599197469

Rain may soon be an effective source of renewable energy - Engadget

Sponsored Links

Cesare Fel / EyeEm via Getty Images

There have been numerous attempt to generate electricity using rain, but this may be one of the more effective solutions yet. Researchers have developed a generator that uses a field-effect transistor-style structure to instantly produce a surprisingly high voltage from water drops -- a single drop can muster 140V, or enough power to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. Earlier generators without the structure produced "thousands" of times less instant power density, the scientists said.

The new design mates an aluminum electrode with an indium tin oxide electrode layered with PTFE, a material with a "quasi-permanent" electric charge. When a drop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit. That helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, too. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point.

There's still work to be done to translate this to a practical product. A brief burst of energy is easy -- accumulating enough of it for continuous power is another matter. Still, the potential uses are easy to see You could apply generators like this to the surface of anything where rain (or other water splashes) is likely to strike. Building rooftops could offset at least some of the electricity use from the people below, while electric boats could extend their range. It could even be used to power connected devices that regularly get wet, like umbrellas and water bottles.

Via: ScienceDaily

Source: City University of Hong Kong, Nature

In this article: city university of hong kong, electricity, energy, gadgetry, gadgets, gear, green, rain, raindrop, renewable energy, science

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiQ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA5L3JhaW5kcm9wLWVsZWN0cmljaXR5LWdlbmVyYXRvci_SAUdodHRwczovL3d3dy5lbmdhZGdldC5jb20vYW1wLzIwMjAvMDIvMDkvcmFpbmRyb3AtZWxlY3RyaWNpdHktZ2VuZXJhdG9yLw?oc=5

2020-02-09 11:34:31Z
CAIiEP_u7ngA792WN5FnK6wTi7gqGAgEKg8IACoHCAowwOjjAjDp3xswpuqvAw

Rain may soon be an effective source of renewable energy - Engadget

Sponsored Links

Cesare Fel / EyeEm via Getty Images

There have been numerous attempt to generate electricity using rain, but this may be one of the more effective solutions yet. Researchers have developed a generator that uses a field-effect transistor-style structure to instantly produce a surprisingly high voltage from water drops -- a single drop can muster 140V, or enough power to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. Earlier generators without the structure produced "thousands" of times less instant power density, the scientists said.

The new design mates an aluminum electrode with an indium tin oxide electrode layered with PTFE, a material with a "quasi-permanent" electric charge. When a drop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit. That helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, too. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point.

There's still work to be done to translate this to a practical product. A brief burst of energy is easy -- accumulating enough of it for continuous power is another matter. Still, the potential uses are easy to see You could apply generators like this to the surface of anything where rain (or other water splashes) is likely to strike. Building rooftops could offset at least some of the electricity use from the people below, while electric boats could extend their range. It could even be used to power connected devices that regularly get wet, like umbrellas and water bottles.

Via: ScienceDaily

Source: City University of Hong Kong, Nature

In this article: city university of hong kong, electricity, energy, gadgetry, gadgets, gear, green, rain, raindrop, renewable energy, science

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiQ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA5L3JhaW5kcm9wLWVsZWN0cmljaXR5LWdlbmVyYXRvci_SAUdodHRwczovL3d3dy5lbmdhZGdldC5jb20vYW1wLzIwMjAvMDIvMDkvcmFpbmRyb3AtZWxlY3RyaWNpdHktZ2VuZXJhdG9yLw?oc=5

2020-02-09 11:03:29Z
CAIiEP_u7ngA792WN5FnK6wTi7gqGAgEKg8IACoHCAowwOjjAjDp3xswpuqvAw

Moto Razr test gauges the phone's ability to survive 'pocket sand' - Engadget

Sponsored Links

JerryRigEverything, YouTube

Whether or not you believe the new Moto Razr's hinge is up to the job, there's another lingering question: how well does the phone's foldable screen survive in your pocket? You might have an early answer. JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) has conducted a durability test that hints at how the phone is likely to fare in a number of brutal conditions. Some are clearly edge cases (few phones will survive a lighter unscathed), but there's also a "pocket sand" test to see how it might survive years of the debris that always seems to find its way into your pants. The result is better than you'd think, but not perfect. While the screen is fully functional, one piece of debris formed a bump under the screen while others got into the hinge and made less-than-reassuring crunching sounds.

Other tests are more predictable. It's not hard to scratch the screen's plastic surface, and you can break the screen if you bend the hinge backward with a "considerable amount of force."

These are clearly extreme tests, and you won't necessarily run into similar trouble if you're cautious. Still, they serve as a reminder that foldable phones are still quite fragile at the start of 2020. There's a chance that upcoming phones like Samsung's reportedly glass-covered Galaxy Z Flip are better at surviving in the real world. Until then, though, you'll want to be gentle.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: JerryRigEverything (YouTube)

In this article: foldable phone, gear, lenovo, mobile, motorola, razr, smartphone, video

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

113 Shares

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L21vdG8tcmF6ci1wb2NrZXQtc2FuZC1kdXJhYmlsaXR5LXRlc3Qv0gFOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL2FtcC8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L21vdG8tcmF6ci1wb2NrZXQtc2FuZC1kdXJhYmlsaXR5LXRlc3Qv?oc=5

2020-02-09 05:36:09Z
52780592112991

Moto Razr test gauges the phone's ability to survive 'pocket sand' - Engadget

Sponsored Links

JerryRigEverything, YouTube

Whether or not you believe the new Moto Razr's hinge is up to the job, there's another lingering question: how well does the phone's foldable screen survive in your pocket? You might have an early answer. JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) has conducted a durability test that hints at how the phone is likely to fare in a number of brutal conditions. Some are clearly edge cases (few phones will survive a lighter unscathed), but there's also a "pocket sand" test to see how it might survive years of the debris that always seems to find its way into your pants. The result is better than you'd think, but not perfect. While the screen is fully functional, one piece of debris formed a bump under the screen while others got into the hinge and made less-than-reassuring crunching sounds.

Other tests are more predictable. It's not hard to scratch the screen's plastic surface, and you can break the screen if you bend the hinge backward with a "considerable amount of force."

These are clearly extreme tests, and you won't necessarily run into similar trouble if you're cautious. Still, they serve as a reminder that foldable phones are still quite fragile at the start of 2020. There's a chance that upcoming phones like Samsung's reportedly glass-covered Galaxy Z Flip are better at surviving in the real world. Until then, though, you'll want to be gentle.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: JerryRigEverything (YouTube)

In this article: foldable phone, gear, lenovo, mobile, motorola, razr, smartphone, video

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L21vdG8tcmF6ci1wb2NrZXQtc2FuZC1kdXJhYmlsaXR5LXRlc3Qv0gFOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL2FtcC8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L21vdG8tcmF6ci1wb2NrZXQtc2FuZC1kdXJhYmlsaXR5LXRlc3Qv?oc=5

2020-02-09 05:30:46Z
52780592112991

Nintendo unboxes the 'Animal Crossing' Switch you can't buy yet - Engadget

Sponsored Links

Nintendo, YouTube

Nintendo's Animal Crossing Switch is still more than a month away, but that isn't stopping the gaming giant from teasing would-be buyers. It recently posted an unboxing video that shows you what to expect if you pick up the special edition console. There aren't too many surprises, although it helps point out little touches like the color-matching Joy-Con straps and the ever-so-slightly textured pattern on the back of the system. This probably won't convince you to buy the Switch if you weren't already inclined, but it could whet your appetite if you were just waiting for Tom Nook and crew to reach the hybrid system before jumping in.

There are some caveats attached. North American and European buyers shouldn't have to worry about the coronavirus outbreak affecting their orders, but March 13th is still relatively distant. And that's assuming that stores haven't run out of pre-orders by the time you read this. There's also some not-so-small print mentioning that this doesn't include the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. If you're going to show your devotion, you'll have to pay another $60 for the title itself on top of the $300 for the matching hardware.

Source: Nintendo (YouTube)

In this article: animal crossing, animal crossing new horizons, av, console, games, gaming, gear, nintendo, switch, unboxing, video, video games

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

84 Shares

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiTWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L25pbnRlbmRvLWFuaW1hbC1jcm9zc2luZy1zd2l0Y2gtdW5ib3hpbmcv0gFRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL2FtcC8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L25pbnRlbmRvLWFuaW1hbC1jcm9zc2luZy1zd2l0Y2gtdW5ib3hpbmcv?oc=5

2020-02-09 00:31:48Z
52780589465363

Nintendo unboxes the 'Animal Crossing' Switch you can't buy yet - Engadget

Sponsored Links

Nintendo, YouTube

Nintendo's Animal Crossing Switch is still more than a month away, but that isn't stopping the gaming giant from teasing would-be buyers. It recently posted an unboxing video that shows you what to expect if you pick up the special edition console. There aren't too many surprises, although it helps point out little touches like the color-matching Joy-Con straps and the ever-so-slightly textured pattern on the back of the system. This probably won't convince you to buy the Switch if you weren't already inclined, but it could whet your appetite if you were just waiting for Tom Nook and crew to reach the hybrid system before jumping in.

There are some caveats attached. North American and European buyers shouldn't have to worry about the coronavirus outbreak affecting their orders, but March 13th is still relatively distant. And that's assuming that stores haven't run out of pre-orders by the time you read this. There's also some not-so-small print mentioning that this doesn't include the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. If you're going to show your devotion, you'll have to pay another $60 for the title itself on top of the $300 for the matching hardware.

Source: Nintendo (YouTube)

In this article: animal crossing, animal crossing new horizons, av, console, games, gaming, gear, nintendo, switch, unboxing, video, video games

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

Share

Tweet

Share

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiTWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbS8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L25pbnRlbmRvLWFuaW1hbC1jcm9zc2luZy1zd2l0Y2gtdW5ib3hpbmcv0gFRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL2FtcC8yMDIwLzAyLzA4L25pbnRlbmRvLWFuaW1hbC1jcm9zc2luZy1zd2l0Y2gtdW5ib3hpbmcv?oc=5

2020-02-09 00:06:33Z
52780589465363