Thurrott Daily: December 30

Tech tidbits from around the web.

12/30/2016 6:00:04 PM

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Windows 10 Game Mode?

I’ve gotten several questions about a feature in the recently-leaked Windows 10 build called Game Mode. But there’s really nothing to say here: WalkingCat found this, as is often the case, and just supplies this note:

Looks like Windows will adjust its resource allocation logic (for CPU/Gfx etc.) to prioritize the “Game” when running in “Game Mode”

So nothing all that fascinating.

 

Samsung helps Windows 10 Mobile users switch to its phones

Because this is such a huge source of new customers, I assume. Neowin reports:

Samsung is now making it easier for Windows 10 Mobile users to switch to its Android devices. The company added support for Windows Phone 8.1 to its Smart Switch app in September, but has now updated the app with support for the newer version of the OS.

More info here.

 

Cortana for Android gets more colorful

Cortana is finally leaving the drab color scheme behind, Neowin says. Well, at least the Android version.

A new update is available for the Cortana app on Android, which adds a touch of customization to the digital assistant. If you weren’t happy with the color choice in the redesign that happened earlier this month, you’re in luck.

The options will allow you to customize various background and accent areas of the app. Unfortunately, you’ll only get four colors to choose from, one of which is the purple that came with the redesign. The other three are blue, green, and black.

 

Apple is reportedly cutting iPhone production

Looks like Apple’s core product is continuing to stumble. Reuters reports:

Apple will trim production of iPhones by about 10 percent in the January-March quarter of 2017, the Nikkei financial daily reported on Thursday, citing calculations based on data from suppliers.

The company had slashed output by 30 percent in January-March this year due to accumulated inventory, the paper said.

 

Now Capcom is doing “pre-registration” for its Mega Man mobile games

Maybe it’s just me, but the term pre-register seems made-up. You can register for something, or you can’t. Anyway, Android Authority has the story:

Earlier this month, Capcom announced it would release the first six games in its popular Mega Man 2D side-scroller series to Android and iOS devices. The Mega Man mobile games will be launched in early January, but you can get notified when they are available to download via a pre-registration site.

Capcom said that signing up at the site will give gamers some “special offers” although there’s no word on what kinds of offers it plans to give out. The company also released some quick summaries of each of the Mega Man mobile games.

 

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Conversation 9 comments

  • 1387

    30 December, 2016 - 9:28 pm

    <p>Pre-registering isn’t made up. It’s registering to register, before registration is possible.</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>…………….presumably</p>

    • 1490

      Premium Member
      31 December, 2016 - 2:33 pm

      <p>pre&middot;reg&middot;is&middot;tra&middot;tion<br />[ˌprēˌrejəˈstrāSH(ə)n]<br />NOUN<br />1. the action of registering or being registered in advance:</p>
      <p>It’s getting registered in advance of the event or release of the game. &nbsp;You can pre-register for a fall harvest wine festival (only thing I can think of I did in the past year like this) online months prior or register for your tickets and glasses at the festival&nbsp;on the day of. &nbsp;And it’s a registration, because they keep sending me shit ever since.<br /><br />Usually preregistering for these events has a lower fee for the hardcore, that they hope will go out and tell all their friends to go to the event as well &nbsp;:-P</p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 5240

    30 December, 2016 - 10:16 pm

    <p>Of course "pre-register" is made up, for exactly the reason Paul states. "Pre-order" is completely bogus, too. You’re just ordering something.</p>

    • 325

      31 December, 2016 - 7:35 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#32965">In reply to </a><a href="../../users/Michael Rivers">Michael Rivers</a><a href="#32965">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I think the difference with "pre-order" is that the "order" isn’t official until the actual release date, which is set by the manufacturer or seller. &nbsp;There are probably some agreements somewhere so that the seller doesn’t sell the product prior to the set date. &nbsp;By allowing "pre-orders", they can take the "orders" without them being officially "orders" until the date on which they’re allowed.</p>
      <p>But I completely agree regarding pre-boarding and pre-registering. &nbsp;</p>

  • 6358

    30 December, 2016 - 10:20 pm

    <p>Game mode is as of yet unconfirmed. All they found was a DLL whose function is unknown. It could meany anything, really. It would be nice not to actually try to pass off rumors as truth.</p>

  • 5240

    30 December, 2016 - 10:38 pm

    <p>I forgot another one: pre-board. You’re either boarding or you’re not. What they mean is boarding before everyone else.</p>

  • 9562

    31 December, 2016 - 12:41 am

    <p>Why in God’s name would anyone install Microsoft’s Cortana trojan on Android, especially when it’s inferior to the built in Google Now voice search? &nbsp;</p>
    <p>Another half baked solution in search of a problem. &nbsp;MS should’ve worked harder to make its own mobile OS more compelling rather than trying to jump bandwagons no one wants them on.&nbsp;</p>

  • 5553

    31 December, 2016 - 10:21 pm

    <p>Iphone dying off…Lol Apple the new IBM.</p>

  • 5553

    31 December, 2016 - 10:23 pm

    <p>Cortana and alexis should have a fight.</p>
    <p>Winner goes on all devices.</p>

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