Android version 'N'

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The next version of Android is destined for the Tablet, Desktop and TV with multi resizable windows. Google calls these 'Freeform Windows' which will be Androids first serious move to the Desktop computer. A name has not yet been given to this version so it is simply known as 'N' which will eventually be the first letter of a confectionery item. The main advantage of resizing the windows is that 'Portrait' screens can be displayed on the monitor as shown in the accompanying picture.   

Android Desktop

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Android is now powering more than 1.5 Billion devices so the next step would be the Desktop. This has a problem that most applications are in Portrait mode and there is no Taskbar. Jide, is a Chinese software company that has overcome these restrictions. The developers have their origins at Google and are calling their new operating system 'Remix OS'. The Portrait apps use resizable windows so they are shown correctly when using a Landscape Monitor. More than one application can be shown at the same time as the accompanying image shows. Also a Taskbar has been added to the bottom of the screen. This OS is in beta and is a free download for use with most modern PC's, Desktop or Laptop, using a bootable 8Gb Flash drive. Google Playstore has to be added after the system is running.

Russia starts building its own PC's

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Tavolga is a Russian computer company that is manufacturing the new "All in one" PC's for general use. With sanctions in place they have chosen a Homegrown 1.2GHz Dual core 'MIPS' processor that is more likely found in a TV Set top box. Running Linux Debian 8, which is the same base Ubuntu uses, should give this computer enough power to run Libeoffice, Firefox, Chrome, VLC etc. The Screen is 21 inches and the unit has all the normal ports for general use. Price is not availabe yet.

Win 10's new Nag Screen

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Click on image to enlarge

Microsoft's new Nag screen for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users is designed to trick the unwary into installing Windows 10. "Upgrade now" or "Upgrade tonight" are the only options given. If the Red Cross in the top right hand corner is used to close the dialogue box then Windows 10 will not be installed. The fact that Microsoft is using these methods to force install Windows 10, should be a reminder that at some stage this new Operating System has to be paid for. Microsoft is not a "Non Profit organisation".

Five Dollar computer.

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The company that make the Raspberry Pi series of Educational computers have released another model "Raspberry Pi Zero" that costs a mere $5 dollars (NZ 7.60). This is basically a stripped down "Raspberry PI Ver 1" but with a 40% speed boost and double the RAM. There are no Internet connections so this unit is designed for Off line use. It is powerful enough to run a full version of Libreoffice or stream a HD Video. As it only has one USB port a USB Hub would be useful to give extra ports needed for keyboard, mouse, flash drives, bluetooth etc. Physical dimensions are 65 x 30 x 5 mm. General purpose Input / Output connections are available but require wires to be soldered in. All common programming languages are supported.

Date for final Win 7 licence's given

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Microsoft have announced that 'Original Equipment Manufacturers' will no longer be allowed to preinstall win 7 or win 8.1 on computers after October 31 2016. Win 7 is on over 50% of desktop computers and Microsoft clearly wants to change these to win 10 so that the Win 7 perpetual licence's are replaced with a service licence allowing a yearly service fee. This date may be the trigger for determining the definition of 'Life of the device' terminology that is used in the 'End user licence' agreement of Win 10. In short, when a fee is required to run the mandatory updates. 

China gets a new XP defacto Desktop computer.

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Q4OS

China's still uses XP for most of their computers and do not want to change. Their Government has tried to move away from Microsoft for several years due to the spyware that comes with Microsofts newer Operating systems, but this has been largely unsuccessful. In the last year they have hired Western specialists to build a reliable low resource Operating system on which they can then add on a XP look and feel Desktop. The new system has been named as Neokylin and is currently being installed on all Government computers. Unfortunately their is no English version available. Chinese retailers sell this Operating system preinstalled on Dell Laptops which have been reported to sell as fast as Dell Laptops in China with Windows. Germany, Austria and France combined developers to design something similar with English as an option. This is known as Q4OS and is completely free but not preinstalled anywhere. Using a very simple Desktop interface called 'Trinity' allows this to be run on computers with only 128Mb of RAM. The downloadable image comes complete with the latest Chrome browser, VLC media player and Libreoffice 5.