Thurrott Daily: September 22

Tech tidbits from around the web.

9/22/2016 5:52:09 PM

Consumer group criticizes Windows 10 upgrade

A UK consumer rights group with the ridiculous name Which? says it has received over 1,000 complaints about Windows 10.

We’re calling on Microsoft to take action and honour the rights of consumers who have been adversely affected by the Windows 10 upgrade.

Considering it is used on over 90% of PCs worldwide, you’d have thought that Microsoft would take great care when updating Windows. But we’ve received a litany of complaints about Windows 10, including that it was forcefully installed without consent.

Way to wake up to this issue about 6 months late.

Call of Duty 3 is now available on Xbox One Backwards Compatibility

While this one doesn’t have the nostalgic resonance of Call of Duty 2 coming to Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility, it’s still great news: Call of Duty 3, the 2006 follow-up to that game, is now available on Xbox One as well. Via Xbox on Twitter:

Return to Normandy in @CallofDuty 3 [T], now on #XboxOne via #BackwardCompatibility.

Call of Duty 3 is probably the low point in the COD saga; it was a buggy, buggy game, and I’m curious if any of that has been fixed over time. Probably not.

Microsoft makes MIDI enhancements in Windows 10

I’m old-school enough that I read that as “MDI Enhancements in Windows 10” and got a little bit excited. Look it up. Anyway, Microsoft explains:

Windows has had built-in MIDI support going back to the 16-bit days. Since then, most MIDI interfaces have moved to USB and our in-box support has kept pace, with a class driver and APIs that support those new interfaces.

Eh. That’s enough of that.

Unlocked version of the Moto Z is now available

The unlocked version of the modular Moto Z is now available for preorder. But—yikes—is it expensive at $700.

Experience the freedom of unlocked

Moto Z is unlocked for AT&T, T-Mobile, and compatible GSM networks. (Sprint is not supported.) Easily switch carriers and keep your phone by simply swapping SIM cards. Plus, it comes without any preloaded carrier services so you have more room for your favorite apps. On Verizon? Check out Moto Z Droid.

Check out carrier compatibility.

Apple + McLaren? Nope

There were rumors yesterday that Apple was in talks to buy the luxury car maker McLaren. Yeah, that was fake.

“There’s no takeover, no strategic investment,” a McLaren spokesperson told Business Insider. “It’s completely untrue.”

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple hasn’t considered McLaren an acquisition target in the past and certainly doesn’t mean the Cupertino-based giant won’t approach the supercar maker in the future.

Introducing the NoPhone Air, the least advanced NoPhone ever

It’s funny because Apple. NoPhone Air:

Introducing the NoPhone Air, the first NoPhone that is no phone at all.

When you open the NoPhone Air packaging, it looks like there is nothing inside. With absolutely no features, the NoPhone Air feels nothing in your hand. It’s a completely distraction-free device in frustration-free packaging.

The NoPhone Air is the perfect gift for people who need no phone. Now everyone can put down their real phones, pick up the NoPhone Air and enjoy real life.

Those with patience can now pre-order a NoPhone Air on [Kickstarter](Introducing the NoPhone Air, the first NoPhone that is no phone at all.). The campaign has already seen tremendous interest, especially for being the first crowdfunding effort to finance the creation of an empty box.

Google Maps update adds “blue beam” navigation

Yes, Windows Maps already has this feature. No, no one uses Windows Maps. Google announces:

One of the basic features of the Google Maps app is the ability to open the app and find out which direction you’re facing in a matter of seconds. To make orienting yourself even easier in Google Maps for Android, we’ve replaced the direction arrow on your blue dot with a shining blue beam – think of it as a flashlight guiding your travels.

The beam also tells you how accurate your phone’s direction is at any given time. The narrower the beam, the more accurate the direction. The wider the beam, the more likely it is that your your phone’s compass is temporarily uncalibrated, which means that its sensors aren’t working as they should be. This can happen by doing something as simple as charging your phone or walking by a metal pole, which most of us do everyday. Thankfully, there’s a really easy fix. Any time you want to get back on track – not just when you see a prompt or notification – simply move your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times. This should immediately result in a more accurate direction.

Yes, Windows/HERE Maps has also had that feature for a while now too.

“Replacement Galaxy Note 7s arrive”

What man would want one now?