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Thurrott Daily: December 30

Thurrott Daily: December 30

Today: Windows 10 Game Mode, Samsung helps Windows 10 Mobile users switch to its phones,…

The Duolingo language-learning app picked up new social functionality this week with a new feature called Clubs. As you may know, I've used Duolingo daily for over two years, and recommend this app highly. (In fact, I'm about to crack a 600 day usage streak.) And it's improved steadily, including the recent addition of bots, which let you converse in a new language in new ways. This new feature presents a similar step forward, but instead of relying on machine learning and AI, Clubs are more about taking advantage of human nature: We tend to be more motivated when other people we know are involved. “Learning a language is an inherently social experience,” Duolingo CEO and co-founder Luis von Ahn says. "One of the hardest things about learning a language is staying motivated, and we believe this new feature will draw friends and family together around a common goal to help our users hit their goals more quickly." Available as a new top-level option in the Duolingo app for Android and iOS, Clubs works a bit like social networking services like Facebook, but is entirely private. You can create your own clubs and invite others, or join clubs that others have created. And then there is a feed that displays each person's achievements---"Paul practiced French!", "Paul did lessons in Abstract Objects 3," and so on---so you can comment on or react to them. I've created a little club with just my wife and I, though we discuss Duolingo, French, and language learning in general pretty frequently already. But I could see this being a nice incentive for people. Download Duolingo for Android Download Duolingo for iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Duolingo Makes Language Learning More Social

The Duolingo language-learning app picked up new social functionality this week with a new feature…

2016 Year in Review

2016 Year in Review

It wasn't the best of times or the worst of times. But 2016 was a…

Android Users Can Now Pre-Register for Super Mario Run

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Nintendo's smash mobile game, Super Mario Run, is coming to Android. And now users can…

Report: Microsoft Could Sell 30,000 Surface Studios

Report: Microsoft Could Sell 30,000 Surface Studios

A Digitimes report states that sales of Microsoft's stratospherically-priced Surface Studio PCs are better than…

Xamarin Dev Days Now Available for On Demand Streaming

Xamarin Dev Days Now Available for On Demand Streaming

Microsoft has posted all of the content from its Xamarin Dev Days live event, allowing…

Thurrott Daily: December 27

Thurrott Daily: December 27

Today: Amazon had a killer holiday selling period, how to determine the power rating of…

What If Android is a One-Hit Wonder? (Premium)
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What If Android is Just a One-Hit Wonder? (Premium)

One of the more overlooked ways in which Android is just like Windows is in…

Surface Pro 4 is On Sale For Up to $300 Off at the Microsoft Store

Surface Pro 4 is On Sale For Up to $300 Off at the Microsoft Store

From now through December 31, 2016, you can get up to $300 off of Surface…

Thurrott Daily: December 26

Thurrott Daily: December 26

A special "all quips" version of Thurrott Daily. Because the holidays.

RIP, Cyanogen

RIP, Cyanogen

Cyanogen announced over the holiday weekend that it is shutting down. The firm was once…

Resolving to Revisit the Fundamentals in 2017

Resolving to Revisit the Fundamentals in 2017

A typical tech screw-up this past weekend serves as a reminder that it's time to…

Microsoft's Surface Strategy, Explained (Premium)
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Microsoft’s Surface Strategy, Explained?

Looking at Microsoft's strategy of positioning its Surface lineup as premium, aspirational devices, I think…

First Impressions: Microsoft Surface Accessories (Late 2016)

First Impressions: Microsoft Surface Accessories (Late 2016)

After an interminable delay, I finally got my hands on the new Surface accessories that…

Throwback: Samsung "Taylor" Windows Phone Prototype

Throwback: Samsung “Taylor” Windows Phone Prototype

In mid-2010, I was one of the lucky few to get a prototype Windows phone,…

Raspberry Pi Brings Its PIXEL Desktop Environment to PC/Mac

Raspberry Pi Brings Its PIXEL Desktop Environment to PC/Mac

The Raspberry Pi Foundation announced today that it has brought its PIXEL desktop environment to…

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