Microsoft has come up with an ‘almost magic’ way to improve your smartphone’s keyboard
We’ve all had plenty of time to adjust to the virtual keyboards on our smartphones and tablets, but many of us still miss the tactile response of physical keys. Microsoft researcher Hong Tan knows that we are multisensory beings — we want more than just the illusion of touch, we want to actually feel the click of the keys when we press on our screens — which is why she is working to bring haptic feedback to our mobile devices.
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How to make sure you get the BlackBerry Passport before it sells out
The BlackBerry Passport, which BlackBerry says has consumers “clamoring,” is now available for pre-registration. This isn’t the same as being available for pre-order, mind you — it’s just a signup to make sure you get all of the latest information on the device, presumably including when you’ll actually be able to place your order for it.
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These are the ugliest things Apple has ever made, hands down
Apple is well known for its gorgeous hardware designs but that doesn’t mean the company is incapable of throwing up a hideous clunker every now and then. Business Insider has stumbled upon a clothing line that Apple started in 1986 that is terrible enough to make Mr. T’s rope belt look fashionable.
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Expect some major changes in Windows 9, and not just the new Start menu
Microsoft already confirmed that the Start menu will not be returning to Windows 8.1 via a special “Update 2,” thus suggesting that Windows 9 will actually bring back the Start menu – after all, Microsoft did confirm at Build that it listened to Windows users and committed to resurrecting the Start menu. However, Windows 9 will have several other major features and new user interface elements compared to Windows 8.1, various publications have learned.
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EEP: Dangerous Android malware can do anything it wants with over 500K infected devices
A new piece of dangerous malware has apparently been discovered, RT.com reports, and it’s running on more than half a million Android devices from the U.S., Europe and Russia. The malicious program, which has been discovered by Russian security firm Group-IB, gives attackers complete control of those devices once it’s installed.
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Google makes it even easier for people to return your lost Android device… unless it was stolen
Google has released a significant update to its Android Device Manager, the program that helps Android users secure their lost or stolen devices and try to recover them by allowing the person who finds the device to easily call the owner. Android Police has already looked at Android Device Manager v1.3.8, revealing that its only major new feature is the callback button.
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Here’s the secret trick to make Comcast give you good customer service
By now, we all know about Comcast’s customer service — it really is terrible and it’s a direct reflection of the fact that Comcast is much more interested in upselling you on pricier products than on actually fixing your problems. However, The Verge’s Adrianne Jeffries has just written a killer new report that reveals that there’s a secret way to get Comcast to give you the customer service you deserve.
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The best reason yet to celebrate the Sprint/T-Mobile merger’s failure
Plenty of people seem happy that Sprint has decided to nix its merger with T-Mobile and now we have yet another reason to celebrate the ill-fated deal’s demise: It could spark an even bigger mobile price war. Reuters, via CNBC, reports that Wall Street analysts are fretting that the collapsed merger is going to lead to more intense competition between the major wireless carriers, which will mean lower prices for consumers and lower profit margins for the wireless providers. Heaven forbid!
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This may be Apple’s best feature for the Mac ever
Apple’s digital voice-based assistant has already been available on iOS devices for a few years, but the company has yet to introduce the Siri for Mac as many OS X users have been hoping for. However, a new patent discovered by AppleInsider reveals that a complex Siri for Mac assistant is in the works and Apple has been imagining even more useful ways Siri could assist users on a more powerful machine.
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SO MUCH FUN: 5 awesome paid iPhone games you can download for FREE RIGHT NOW
This Thursday we’re taking a slightly different approach to our “paid apps gone free” series by focusing on iOS games. At this point, you’re probably already loaded down with productivity apps, so why not take a break from being productive for free and start playing games for free instead. You’ve earned it. Here’s nearly $16 worth of iOS games that you can download for free for a limited time.
Read more here: Boy Genius Report