Windows 10 Anniversary Update is ready to go and free for just a few more days

The final build of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is build 14393. The update, which provides a range of new features and improvements, represents Microsoft's last big push to get Windows 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10.

The update is available right now to those who have opted in to the Windows Insider program, and it will be pushed out to Windows 10 users on the current branch on August 2. The free upgrade offer from Windows 7 and 8.1 to Windows 10, however, ends on July 29, leaving Microsoft hoping that the promise of the new update will be enough to get people to make the switch.

For consumers, the big Anniversary Update improvements are in stylus support and Cortana. For as long as Microsoft has been pushing pen interfaces on Windows—the specs for Windows XP Tablet edition came out about 15 years ago—the company has done so as a mouse alternative, with the only major pen-specific feature being handwriting recognition. This never worked well. Finger-based touch interfaces dominated with the rise of the iPhone, but Windows has always retained its pen support, with devices like the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book shipping with pens.

Over the years, that pen support has always been rather unloved, undergoing little improvement since the Windows XP days. The Anniversary Update makes it more of a priority, offering quick access to pen apps, including a new Cortana-integrated sticky note app and a neat screenshot annotating app, and even including the ability to use some pen apps above the lock screen.

Cortana is also being pushed harder. Microsoft's digital assistant can also be used above the lock screen, so she can answer questions and take notes even without unlocking your PC. The Anniversary Update also offers smartphone syncing using the Cortana apps on iOS, Android, and Windows 10 Mobile. With this, notifications, status updates, and alerts from your phone can be transported to your PC. They can even be responded to from within the Windows 10 Action Center. This means that, for example, an SMS sent to the phone can be replied to from the notification on the PC.

The Edge browser has also received a great deal of attention: the big piece is extension support, with Microsoft's browser finally supporting the same HTML and JavaScript-based extensions that are already found on Chrome and Firefox.

Business customers are not, for the most part, eligible to receive the free upgrade, but Microsoft is still courting them, too. Windows 10 has already been adopted surprisingly quickly by the Department of Defense, with the government encouraged by Windows 10's security improvements. The Anniversary Update has more to offer here. The Windows Hello biometric authentication system has been extended, enabling password-free access to apps such as Dropbox. Biometric authentication will also be possible in the browser, using FIDO. Over time, we can expect banks and other online services to directly support biometric authentication from their websites.

Enterprise users will also need the Anniversary Update to use Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, which adds cloud management and big data heuristics to the Windows Defender anti-malware product.

The Anniversary Update is Microsoft's last chance to persuade Windows 7 and 8.1 hold-outs to make the switch, and they'll have to upgrade fast if they want to get it for free. The free upgrade scheme appears to have been very successful: Microsoft is sticking to its "more than 350 million users" number from about a month ago, but in comparison it took Windows 7 about 18 months to hit that same target. The Insider program, too, has been rather successful: for the Anniversary Update alone, some 25 PC builds and 16 Mobile builds were shipped to beta testers, resulting in 5,000 fixes and improvements to Windows 10.

We'll have a full review of the Anniversary Update next week—although the final build is "done" and at least one patch has been shipped since then, and there are rumors that there will be another to follow—but we continue to believe that Windows 10 is well worth the update, especially given its current price. Although that price is about to go up: once the free upgrade is gone, Windows 10 Home will be $119, Pro $199 (£99 and £190 respectively in the UK). Making the switch in a week will cost a lot more than it will today, and judging the value of such an upgrade will be much harder as a result.

There's still widespread belief that Microsoft will back down and extend the free upgrade after all, but in case the company doesn't—and it has consistently said that it won't—Windows users had better make the switch now, while they still can.

Resource: http://arstechnica.com/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/

Education Technology Latest News & Updates: How EdTech Revolutionizes Teaching And Learning Experiences Of Educators And Students

Many experts believed that education technology (EdTech) has the ability to transform the field of education. That's why, many tech companies have been recently investing more on EdTech platforms including Apple, Google and Amazon.

Despite the rise of education technology, RAND Corp. policy researcher Julia Kaufman revealed in an open letter published on EdWeek that there has been "little evidence" that online EdTech platforms have indeed improved or transformed teaching and learning experiences. However, Kaufman also acknowledged the fact that most if not all teachers are looking for instructional "classroom lesson materials" online.

Why Educators Should Seek Ways For Education Technology To Add Coherence To Teachers' World

In Kaufman's open letter, she also stressed the need for policymakers and educators to search for means for education technology "to add coherence to teachers' world." According to Kaufman, educators must have good instructional materials, which are structured into coherent units, in order to improve their teaching approach.

Kaufman also added the need for lessons to include materials that will help struggling and advanced students in their skill progression. But educators should also understand how those education technology materials match with state and district standards and assessments.

Education Technology To Revolutionize Education

As education technology leaders prepare for the National Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) In January 2017, newly designed technological tools will be introduced during the event. With the cutting-edge tools from Amazon Education, Discovery Education, EON Reality, Facebook and Microsoft, these EdTech apps and devices aim to "accelerate learning and improve access in the digital age."

"As education continues to evolve, technology will play an increasingly crucial role in teaching and learning success while enabling the introduction of new strategies to improve education for students of all ages," FETC program chair Jennifer Womble said in a press release on Market Wired. "The goal of FETC is to present attendees with the newest ideas on pedagogies and technologies that can help them implement immediate and effective changes at their school districts to improve how students learn."

Education Technology To Address Academic Barriers

Aside from revolutionizing and improving the education sector, these education technology tools also aim to inspire the imagination and arouse creativity of students. With EdTech's potential to influence education, experts believed that the academic barriers faced by students and educators every day will be finally addressed.

"There is often an unfortunate disconnect between the requirements of the student population and the types of instruction available at schools," Michael Meechin said. "The education space needs a wake-up call to adopt new strategies that are fueled by technology."

In addition, education technology does not only enhance students' learning experiences but also prepare students with new skill-sets. EdTech also made education more accessible, especially in the remote rural areas of developing nations, Business Wire notes.

Do you believe in education technology's potential to revolutionize education? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.

Resource: http://www.parentherald.com/
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China-based Hi-tech Companies Reach Out to South American Market at ICEEB 2016

The second International Consumer Electronics Expo Brazil (ICEEB) kicked off on 13 July, 2016 at Expo Center Norte, Sao Paolo, Brazil and more than 150 China-based hi-tech companies, including Huawei, Shenzhen FLYPRO Aerospace Tech Co., Ltd. (FLYPRO) and KONKA, joined together as an exhibition group to attend this year's event. Their goal is to develop a strong presence in Brazilian and South American markets and offer a wide and diversified selection of trendy consumer electronics to local distributors and retailers.

FLYPRO's XEagle, a drone, has won the hearts of local consumers with its innovative features, including one-button smart watch control, auto follow and obstacle avoidance. As a result, many leading Brazilian media organizations, including Gazeta TV, Rit TV, CBN Radio, Eletroloja Magazine and Feira & Negocios, have interviewed FLYPRO and written articles about the drone.

In addition to the drones, a mobile phone with a built-in projector, which can stream high-definition TV and full-length movies, with no risk to the viewer's eyes, has also attracted the attention of Brazil's young generation at the event.

The principal exhibits at the event are hi-tech consumer electronics, including drones, 3D printing products, video/4K Ultra HD products, automobile technology, green technology, robotic products, electronic games, intelligent household appliances and wearable devices. ICEEB is the only full category consumer electronics exhibition in Brazil and key go-to event for the country's consumer electronics importers, distributors and consumers.

Resource: http://www.prnewswire.com
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/

B.C. technology leaders urge province to increase high-tech training

B.C. technology leaders are urging the provincial government to do more to foster the development of homegrown talent as the sector grapples with a labour shortage.

The CEOs, CFOs and owners of 18 B.C.-based high-tech companies, including Hootsuite, Electronic Arts and Vision Critical, published an open letter to Premier Christy Clark last week saying the only long-term solution to the industry’s chronic labour shortage is to ensure colleges and universities are educating more prospective employees.

“This year alone, B.C.’s tech companies will be seeking thousands of new employers. New computer-science and technology graduates from B.C.’s postsecondary institutions simply cannot meet the demand for these well-paying positions,” the letter said.

The leaders also outlined three recommendations on how to nurture the local technology talent pool: invest $100-million to expand technology-related programs at the college and university level; increase the number of co-op placements at postsecondary institutions and boost awareness about job opportunities in the tech sector.

Provincial Technology Minister Amrik Virk said in a written statement he agreed with the letter and that keeping talent in the province is “an immediate priority.”

Mr. Virk said that since 2002, the government has increased the number of undergraduate engineering-related degrees by 71 per cent, and co-op placements have increased by more than 45 per cent over the past seven years.

In January, the Premier unveiled plans to introduce computer coding to its school curriculum. A month earlier, the government created a $100-million venture fund to finance tech startups.

However, Andrew Reid, the founder of Vision Critical, one of Canada’s most successful emerging tech companies, said the government can still do more.

“Everyone recognizes the importance of postsecondary education, but we need to see more programs, more spots, more availability. You could double all these programs and you would still see 100-per-cent placements,” said Mr. Reid. “I commend the Premier for what she’s done with her tech initiative, but I think we have to do more.”

With a limited number of technology-related programs in the province, plus the lure of Silicon Valley, Mr. Reid says it can be difficult to recruit top talent in B.C.

Igor Faletski, the chief executive officer at Mobify, says he has seen high-paying job postings go unfilled for months because talent in the area is scarce.

“Technology is going to continue to be more and more important and represent a larger portion of our economy,” Mr. Faletski said. “We want to raise awareness about this issue,”

Although Mr. Reid would like the province to double the number of co-op opportunities, he says he’ll be happy to see the issue of talent retention move up on the government’s list of priorities.

“People talk about us being the Silicon Valley of the north,” Mr. Reid said. “To really own that, we need to focus on more support, and a lot of that can be done at the postsecondary education level.”

Resource: http://www.theglobeandmail.com
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/

Female entrepreneurs disrupting tech industry in B.C.

Technology entrepreneur Tammy Meyers does a mental count every time she attends a business conference promoting the augmented reality company she co-founded. Almost always, she’s one of the only women in the room.

Ms. Meyers is chief operating officer of QuestUpon, a British Columbia tech firm that’s been garnering accolades for virtual tourism experiences, similar to the new Pokemon Go craze. She’s been watching the province’s tech industry advance rapidly, but hasn’t seen women prosper at the same rate. “There’s probably more of a hill to climb for women to prove themselves, when it’s a male-dominated space,” she said.

Ms. Meyers blames the imbalance on factors from subtle sexism to lack of women in prominent roles, a view shared by several other female entrepreneurs. They also share a vision for spurring progress equal to the tech boom that’s transforming the provincial economy and say their involvement is key to being globally competitive.

A gathering of 500 female business leaders and 500 young women will tackle their lagging entry into the exploding tech-driven business world. Organizers of the Vancouver forum “We for She: Championing the Next Generation,” have calculated it will take 100 years for women in Canada to achieve parity in the industry at the current rate of advance.

Women make up 54 per cent of British Columbia’s post-secondary graduates in science and technology, but hold less than 10 per cent of senior leadership, according to the BC Innovation Council. The forum, taking place in October, will highlight research about the snail’s pace of change, said co-chair Lois Nahirney. Participants will examine unconscious bias and systemic barriers holding women back from leadership positions.

“It’s exhausting, it’s like always having to dance backwards in heels,” said Ms. Nahirney, chief executive officer of dnaPower Inc. and chairwoman of the Premier’s Women’s Economic Council.

Creating a welcoming environment that doesn’t discriminate against hiring women and includes policies supporting life and family balance are vital to improving the dynamic, she said.

Angela Robert, a software engineer who co-founded Conquer Mobile, believes more women will enter the industry if companies allow part-time work, telecommuting and flexible maternity leave. She said tech hasn’t evolved to meet women’s needs, nor does it reflect their image. “Think of the key people who everyone looks up to, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. How is that appealing to a woman to be like those guys?”

Paris Gaudet is one of two women in B.C. running a technology organization, and she has encountered men “either threatened or challenged” by her. “It’s a slight word, or subtle body language, or it’s something like, ‘Paris, are you taking notes?’” said Ms. Gaudet, executive director of Nanaimo-based Innovation Island.

But she’s heartened that a new generation of women may gain ground thanks to workshops such as Ladies Learning Code and the addition of coding to B.C.’s school curriculum. Ms. Gaudet is urging women to band together to establish a tech incubator “for women, about women,” to help grow businesses. “If we want to kick this thing in the butt, and we want to spark and inspire and revolutionize the way women are leading the tech space, we need to colour outside of the lines,” she said.

Several women working at Vancouver tech accelerators, organizations that mentor startup companies, began supporting each other coincidentally and dubbed themselves the “startup sorority.”

Resource: http://www.theglobeandmail.com
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/

Education Technology Latest News & Updates: EdTech Disrupting Higher Education? Technology’s Ability To Revolutionize Learning Remains Debatable

Many experts believed that education technology (EdTech) has the potential to transform the education sector of a developing nation. Through personalized teaching, schools will be more prepared to integrate technology on traditional learning approaches.

Unfortunately, education technology has also been foreseen to disrupt the conventional methods of learning, particularly in higher education. In fact, some believed that EdTech may replace the art of traditional education.

Education Technology Vs. Higher Education

Several previous studies about education technology have provided some insights regarding EdTech's potential to revolutionize learning with the aid of new digital tools as educational resources. Education technology also has the power to transform the methods of teaching, noting the possibility that higher education and the workforce industry may be connected more easily.

Higher education, on the other hand, is currently one of the most controversial and most debated topics today. It is also highly criticized due to the issues that contribute to the burgeoning skills gap, including student debt, low completion rates, expensive tuitions and tuition fee increase, as well as the rise in underemployed graduates and unemployment rates.

How Technology Changes The Relationship Between Education And The Workforce Industry

According to University Ventures managing director and Tech Crunch contributor Ryan Craig, there are four "distinct ways" that technology may change the relationship between education and the workforce. As detailed in his Tech Crunch article, Craig outlined the significance of making competency data more available.

In addition, Craig also emphasized that if technology could eliminate the gap between higher education and the workforce industry, it will pave the way for the new human capital era. With the so-called "competency marketplaces," students will be able to understand the careers and jobs they wanted to pursue while employers will be able to find the candidates they need.

The Effects Of 'Competency Marketplaces' On Colleges And Universities

Craig also highlighted that failure to recognize the trend in the market for competencies may place some pressures on colleges and universities, particularly on enrollment. As employers opt to competency-based hiring, degrees may become irrelevant in many job descriptions.

How Technology Will Ultimately Disrupt Higher Education

As technological developments such as education technology and new language of competencies become more prevalent, the initial predictions of technological disruption on higher education may be true after all. In fact, as EdTech makes postsecondary education more readily accessible and increasingly affordable, completion rates and placement will improve and rise but will eventually disrupt higher education.

"As the new language of competencies disrupts higher education, we will need to be vigilant to protect the central role that our colleges and universities play in civil society and economic development," Craig wrote. "At the same time, colleges and universities must take no comfort in the fact that prior predictions of technological disruption have proven false. This time really is different."

How To Effectively Integrate Education Technology

As education technology becomes the latest trend of the 21st century, its effectiveness to revolutionize education remains debatable issue, noting the fact that it could also disrupt learning. Hence, University Herald shares some helpful tips to integrate education technology into students' lives effectively.

Amazon Launches Education Technology Platform For Teachers

In other education technology-related news, Amazon is making its presence known in the EdTech industry by launching an online marketplace called Amazon Inspire. According to The New York Times, the education technology site will provide thousands of free worksheets, lesson plans and other instructional resources for teachers.


Resource: http://www.parentherald.com/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/

Windows 10: Hidden file hints at SUBSCRIPTION PLANS for new operating system updates

MICROSOFT has included a mystery new file which hints at a Windows 10 Subscription tool in the latest preview build for the upcoming Anniversary Update, it has been revealed.

The latest preview build for the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update contains a small surprise.

Microsoft pundit Ed Bott found a file that is certain to raise a few eyebrows from those who have recently upgraded their operating systems.

Buried within the System32 folder of build 14376 is a file dubbed UpgradeSubscription.exe. Within this system file's properties, it is described as the Windows Upgrade to Subscription Tool.

At first, the addition of this tool would appear to confirm theories that Microsoft will introduce a number of paid subscription plans for PC owners who want to get the latest operating system updates.

Conspiracy theorists previously speculated that after the free upgrade offer had ended, Microsoft would introduce a subscription model.

However a spokesperson for Microsoft has denied the theory.

Speaking to ZDnet, they said: "The Windows Upgrade to Subscription tool, found in the latest Windows Insider builds, helps to manage certain volume licensing upgrades from Windows 10 Pro Anniversary Update to Windows 10 Enterprise. This binary file is not associated with the free consumer upgrade offering nor is it applicable to consumer Windows editions."

Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed how much Windows 10 is set to cost when its free upgrade promotion ends on July 29th 2016.

Since the launch of Windows 10 last year, Microsoft has offered customers running genuine copies of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 the chance to upgrade to the latest operating system for free.

At times, the US technology firm has been irritatingly forceful with its prompts to get people to upgrade their machines to Windows 10.

After July 29th, Microsoft will charge you $119 – or £99 – for a full version of Windows 10 Home.

Meanwhile, Windows 10 Pro will set you back $199 or £130. Microsoft's free upgrade offer has proved very popular with consumers, with some 350 million devices now running the new operating system.

But with Microsoft aiming for one billion devices on Windows 10 within the next two years, it could struggle to maintain the same level of growth – especially when some customers are being asked to cough-up £130.

Microsoft previously shifted its Office applications – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access – to a monthly subscription model with the introduction of Office 365.

The news comes as renown Microsoft author and pundit Paul Thurrott said the popularity and new capabilities built into iOS and Android could spell the end for Microsoft and Windows 10.

Thurrott said Microsoft was currently facing "a potential extinction moment."

Those who upgrade now will get the latest updates for free, including the upcoming Anniversary Update.

This blockbuster update is scheduled for release this summer and will include a redesigned Start Menu (with twice as many adverts as the previous version) and new handwriting recognition software.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be available to download or buy in the UK from August 2nd 2016.

Resource: http://www.express.co.uk
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/tech/