We’re big fans of Nest, the Internet-connected smart thermostat, so we were happy to see today that the company will be releasing new software for the device just in time for summer. Nest software version 3.5 includes several new features such as “Sunblock,” which automatically senses when your home is in direct sunlight and adjusts HVAC settings accordingly, “Advanced Fan Control,” which lets users manually choose when to allow their HVAC system’s fan to run, and “Cool to Dry,” which
Samsung Takes Another Page from Apple to Tell GS4 ‘Design Story’
On the heels of launching its latest flagship smartphone, Samsung has released a video telling the “Design Story” of the Galaxy S4. Taking perhaps one too many cues from Apple, the video features the phone’s design team as they describe their motivations for what will likely soon become the best selling Android smartphone. Those in love with Samsung products may enjoy the tale of how the GS4 will become their next “life companion,” but most will view the clip with
Clipboard Manager Clipr Can Paste Text to Your Phone via SMS
Clipboard managers are nothing new, but a new app from developer Eric Mann introduces an interesting new feature: the ability to send your Mac’s clipboard contents to your phone via SMS. Clipr, available now on the Mac App Store, manages your Mac’s clipboard via a simple menu bar item. Using the app is fairly straightforward; once it’s installed and running, head into Clipr’s preferences and tell it how many items it should remember and how large the preview for each
Intel’s Haswell CPUs to Launch June 4 at Computex
After a minor delay, Intel’s next generation of Core series processors, codenamed “Haswell,” will arrive in early June, according to a humorous announcement from the company on Friday. Assuming that the countdown begins at the time of Intel’s post, Haswell should launch Monday, June 3, at 11:00 pm EDT (Tuesday, June 4 at 11:00 am CST), which just happens to coincide with the start of the important computer trade show Computex, held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. The public launch of
How to Disable User Account Control in Windows 8
User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows Vista and streamlined in Windows 7 and 8. It prevents the installation of certain applications and changes to system-wide settings unless authorized by a user with administrative privileges. Although not nearly as intrusive as it was in Vista, UAC can still be an annoyance to some users who need to frequently install software or modify system settings. If you’re willing to accept the risks, you can disable
GTA IV Mod Brings “Beyond Next Gen” Visuals to 5-Year Old Game
Hundreds of mods have allowed the classic Grand Theft Auto IV to evolve well beyond its original design. But with the game’s fifth anniversary arriving Monday, developer Keilany Hayssam is close to revolutionizing GTA’s graphics with the iCEnhancer 2.5 mod. The project has been in development since 2011 and is nearing a public release. It uses the Brigade Engine to perform path tracing capable of producing photorealistic images. New screenshots of the engine working in GTA IV were released Saturday
How to Turn Off & Manage Mac OS X’s Gatekeeper
In response to growing malware and virus concerns in Mac OS X, Apple introduced Gatekeeper, a new security feature, as part of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (and later ported it to OS X 10.7 Lion as of version 10.7.5). Gatekeeper prevents a user from launching applications that are not from the Mac App Store or registered developers. Depending on how you use your Mac and what apps you use, Gatekeeper can be both useful and annoying. Here’s how to
Windows 8 Tablets Capture 7.5% Market Share in Q1 2013
Despite earlier reports that painted a grim sales picture, Microsoft’s Windows 8-based tablets sold surprisingly well in the first quarter, according to data published this week by research firm Strategy Analytics. Microsoft’s ARM-based Surface RT, x86-powered Surface Pro, and a variety of third-party devices combined to capture 7.5 percent of global tablet shipments in the first three months of 2013, for a total of 3 million units. Global Branded Tablet OS Shipments (Millions) Source: Strategy Analytics Q1 2012 Q1 2013
After Lawsuit, Apple Adds In-App Purchase Explanation to App Store
After adding warnings about in-app purchases (IAPs) to its App Store in March, Apple on Friday added a new App Store section with a more detailed explanation of the controversial practice. In-app purchases are a way for developers to offer users additional content in their apps after the initial purchase or download has been completed. Paid apps have used the capability to unlock new features while free apps have seen great success in using in-app purchases to give users a
Deal: Rockstar Games Up to 75% Off This Weekend on Steam
Valve’s digital software distribution platform Steam is holding one of its frequent sales this weekend, this time featuring games from Grand Theft Auto maker Rockstar at up to 75 percent off. Highlights include L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition, which gives you the developer’s 1940s crime thriller and all DLC extras for $7.50 (75 percent off), the Grand Theft Auto Complete Pack, with every GTA PC title to date, for $24.99 (50 percent off), and the recently released gritty shooter Max
Smartphones Outsell Feature Phones for the First Time in Q1 2013
A major milestone for mobile computing occurred in the first quarter of 2013, as more smartphones were shipped worldwide than standard “feature phones” for the first time, according to new data from research firm IDC. A total of 216.2 million smartphones were shipped globally during the quarter, compared to 202.4 million feature phones. The market overall grew 4 percent over the same quarter last year. “Phone users want computers in their pockets. The days where phones are used primarily to
The Next Xbox: What to Expect
Following Microsoft’s confirmation that the next Xbox will be unveiled on May 21, Redmond-watcher Paul Thurrott revealed Thursday what users can expect from the next console, codenamed “Durango.” Windows 8 Core The next Xbox will be based on Windows 8, which is not surprising considering Microsoft’s desire to unify its platforms with a common operating system. Many are hopeful that sharing a common underlying OS means that developers will have an easy way to port their Metro-style apps to the