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Windows 10 is launching this summer, preview coming to Xiaomi phones

Mar18
by on March 18, 2015 at 2:48 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Windows-10_Product-Family
Microsoft announced today on its blog that Windows 10 is launching this summer in 190 countries and 111 languages. The company didn’t name an exact date, but at least we know it’s not far off. Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for 7, 8 and 8.1 users when it’s available. It also confirmed that some partners like Lenovo and Tencent will offer “upgrade services” at service centers to get users onto the latest OS. We’d expect more of these partners to come onboard as the date gets closer. Buried in the announcement was also a mention that a limited group of…

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Meet Words U, the messaging app that helps you learn new words and sound smart

Mar17
by on March 17, 2015 at 11:42 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider

newapp2
It’s true that there are plenty of messaging services out there already but this new app makes it easy to expand your lexicon and learn new words as you chat with your comrades. Words U, built by the same folks behind the emoji substitution app we authored earlier this year, changes your words after you dispatch them to your friends in order to succor you to expand your vocabulary. It’s fairly straightforward, but addictive in action: all you have to do is type your missive and hit send, then Words U picks words that can be substituted for something else and drops that in instead. It’s like having an auto-populating thesaurus…

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How can creative pros prosper in the new economy? Stay in touch with what resonates with you

Mar17
by on March 17, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Profiles and Interviews, SXSW

graphicdesign
Creative professionals — graphic designers, artists, photographers and others — are extremely sensitive to the changing winds of the economy. While creative work is critical to business success, clients often have an imperfect view about the process and value of creative labor. Thus, designers have to figure out how to navigate their own survival mechanisms in this new social media-dominated, mobile-oriented economy and learn to use the many existing tools and opportunities to their best advantage. An SXSW panel called The Rise of the Creative Economy focused not only on how creative pros survive and prosper in a competitive crowdfunded environment, but how they can use…

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Meet the startup that wants to create the first game to get FDA-approved to treat ADHD

Mar17
by on March 17, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Design & Dev, Insider

akili game
There are many reasons to love video games: They’re wonderful resources for fantasy, fun, social engagement (mostly) and an overall great way to let loose. But video games can do more than just provide hours of entertainment. Akili, a California-based startup, is hoping to create the first therapeutic video game to get approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. “Project EVO,” Akili’s cognitive video game, features a character riding through the rapids. The objective is for players steer through the course and avoid running into icebergs, all while doing their best to collect green objects along the ride. It all sounds…

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Facebook Messenger now lets you pay your friends

Mar17
by on March 17, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

facebook-messenger-payments
Facebook Messenger is about to take on Venmo: you can now send payments through the app. The app now features a small ‘$’ sign above the the keyboard which will lead you to a payments interface. Just enter the amount you want to send and tap pay to send money. You’ll be prompted to enter a debit card number (Mastercard or Visa) if you haven’t already, and on iOS devices you can use TouchID to secure your payments. Alternatively, you can just use a PIN. Money is briefly held through Facebook, according to Recode, after which it’s transferred to the respective…

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