Microsoft announces massive round of layoffs, including 12,500 Nokia employees

%name Microsoft announces massive round of layoffs, including 12,500 Nokia employees by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

As expected, Microsoft on Thursday announced a huge round of layoffs that will see roughly 18,000 employees lose their jobs. Of these layoffs, 12,500 will come from Microsoft’s Nokia devices division, representing yet another major blow to the one-time mobile phone giant. In his announcement of the layoffs, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that they were necessary as part of “starting to evolve our organization and culture.”

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Ultra-thin iPhone 6 design posing technical difficulties to component makers

%name Ultra thin iPhone 6 design posing technical difficulties to component makers by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Apple suppliers that will provide various iPhone 6 parts are apparently “facing technological difficulties maintaining or hiking yield rates” for various components, Digitimes reports, including panels, chassis and battery packs. Supply chain sources talking to the publication said that iPhone 6-related orders will contribute to revenues, but will not help increase gross margins because of the challenges they had or have to face.

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Netflix would rather the FCC do nothing than authorize ‘fast lanes’

%name Netflix would rather the FCC do nothing than authorize ‘fast lanes’ by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

It’s safe to say that Netflix is still really not a fan of the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to possibly allow for Internet “fast lanes” where ISPs can charge content companies more to get their traffic delivered more quickly than on the “standard” Internet. The Verge has spotted Netflix’s official filing with the FCC discussing its proposed new net neutrality rules and the company basically says that it would be better if the FCC just did nothing instead of making things worse with its current proposal.

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One chart shows the wild fluctuation in game console prices over the years

%name One chart shows the wild fluctuation in game console prices over the years by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

When we try to justify the price we pay for a game console, we rarely think back past the last generation. At just $400, the PlayStation 4 is a steal compared to its $600 predecessor, yet Microsoft has received plenty of flak for launching the Xbox One at $500. What’s interesting is that when we step back just a few generations further, prices suddenly plummet to $300 or less.

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Now they tell us: Microsoft says strong passwords are overrated

%name Now they tell us: Microsoft says strong passwords are overrated by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

You know all the time and trouble you put into making and memorizing unique strong passwords for every website you visit? Well, Microsoft says a lot of that was likely misspent energy. The Guardian informs us that new research from Microsoft (PDF) shows that we probably shouldn’t use strong passwords for all our websites and that having weak passwords will suffice in many circumstances.

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Congresswoman bravely stands up for ISPs’ rights to deliver inferior service with no competition

%name Congresswoman bravely stands up for ISPs’ rights to deliver inferior service with no competition by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Chattanooga, Tennessee’s municipal broadband network offers affordable broadband service that just happens to deliver the same 1Gbps peak speeds as Google Fiber. Given this apparent success story, you would think that state government officials would be happy to see other municipalities experiment with building their own fiber networks or to at least let Chattanooga expand its fiber service to more areas. But you’d be wrong.

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Google finally gives Google+ users the one feature they have been asking for

%name Google finally gives Google+ users the one feature they have been asking for by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley

Google’s social network is now much more troll-friendly than it was when it launched three years ago, as the company is finally ready to offer users the one feature they have been asking for: choosing whatever username they desire for Google+. The company announced in a post on Google+ that, henceforward, it will let users select their desired username, which doesn’t have to be their real name, as it was the case before.

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