Xbox Music ditches free desktop streaming on December 1st

<b>If you're hooked on Xbox Music's free desktop-based listening, you're going to have make some backup plans very shortly. </b><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32w3PSbna-1ne003kREVkxVt2m69wgqfY5zcALureBjgZxN_PtM1CVK5r9F_yzGwO8RlW73HYXCU2gpSQiFTLBrnUCKt-pe2x9eRVBAcXEf4gMljG6hCV0gPWZaIIPjcLNuhkNVeMNuHN/s1600/Xbox-Music-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32w3PSbna-1ne003kREVkxVt2m69wgqfY5zcALureBjgZxN_PtM1CVK5r9F_yzGwO8RlW73HYXCU2gpSQiFTLBrnUCKt-pe2x9eRVBAcXEf4gMljG6hCV0gPWZaIIPjcLNuhkNVeMNuHN/s1600/Xbox-Music-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Xbox Music ditches free desktop streaming on December 1st" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xbox Music ditches free desktop streaming on December 1st</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> <div> Microsoft has announced that it's dropping the no-cost web and Windows streaming option as of December 1st; after that, you'll have to pay for a Music Pass if you want all-you-can-eat tunes beyond the 30-day trial period. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The company claims that it's refocusing Xbox Music to make it the "ultimate music purchase and subscription service," although it's not elaborating on what that entails. Suffice it to say that Microsoft has a lot of competition in the free music space. Its main rival, Spotify, has over 30 million free users worldwide on a wider range of platforms -- it wouldn't be easy for Microsoft to challenge that lead using the free tier you know today.</div> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div>

Xbox Music ditches free desktop streaming on December 1st

If you're hooked on Xbox Music's free desktop-based listening, you're going to have make some backup plans very shortly.  Xbo...

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<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Moto G review: still the best budget smartphone</span></h2> <b>Last year's Moto G took us all by surprise. Sure, we knew Motorola wanted to reinvent the cheap smartphone experience, but the very first device in the company's cost crusade was even better than we expected.</b><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4aXHJDQILbEK2UL6HaHG9EdDxhng-ocLnLtg1KewY3l9SPHPCiqEkhPDPqYCq5cA19TvmDi0hl_7MPH8IQSksH8t5Fwx6LC2Gs6zbC3N1bybBtYgQZ1IT6u2LBVGELsCepjZVhMn399/s1600/Moto-G-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4aXHJDQILbEK2UL6HaHG9EdDxhng-ocLnLtg1KewY3l9SPHPCiqEkhPDPqYCq5cA19TvmDi0hl_7MPH8IQSksH8t5Fwx6LC2Gs6zbC3N1bybBtYgQZ1IT6u2LBVGELsCepjZVhMn399/s1600/Moto-G-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Moto G review (2014): still the best budget smartphone" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moto G review (2014): still the best budget smartphone</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> <div> Let's be honest, though: The G's greatest asset was its small, small price tag. For $180 off-contract, it became awfully easy to forgive the thing for not being the quickest, the prettiest or the smartest. Still, it was one of those gadgets that wound up being more than just "good enough"; between the price and performance, the Moto G was one of the best cheap smartphones you could own, period.<br /> <br /> Here we are less than a year later, and we've got a sequel to play with (one with the same name, no less). If you took a quick peek at what it brings to the table, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Motorola wanted to play it safe the second time around -- the new Moto G isn't a game changer, and it doesn't have to be. Does this year's model clear the "good enough" bar once again? And just how far will $180 take you this year?<br /> <br /> <b>PROS</b><br /> <br /> • Camera is much better than the original's<br /> <br /> • Near-stock Android 4.4.4 is a treat<br /> <br /> • Feels snappy despite aging internals<br /> <br /> • Inexpensive<br /> <br /> <b>CONS</b><br /> <br /> • No LTE<br /> <br /> • Screen isn't as crisp as last year's model<br /> <br /> <b>SUMMARY</b><br /> <br /> Motorola's wallet-friendly formula hasn't changed much since last year's Moto G, but that's OK -- the company changed just enough to make the 2014 version one of the best budget smartphones out there. </div> </div>

Moto G review: still the best budget smartphone Last year's Moto G took us all by surprise. Sure, we knew Motorola wanted to reinvent ...

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Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October</span></h2> <b>With all the iPhone 6 hoopla, Google must be eager to get its newest Nexus devices and Android L out into the wild. If another rumor is to be believed (this time from Android Authority), we could see an HTC-built Nexus tablet by October 16 and Android L on November 1.</b><br /><br />The story behind the story: Google typically unveils its newest Nexus hardware to showcase a major Android update. Nexus phones and tablets run an unskinned version of Android, free of hardware and carrier bloat, and are free from carrier lock-ins. Google partnered with Asus on the first two generations of the Nexus 7 tablet, butall rumors indicate that this time it's HTC's turn.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPXvrOKTN5OEYNyM9NfvY6Sbqdqc8deaO1oCQOD9Ab4FJqpzX8H7FGQatpMNKyS2js_9-9bz_iFgK-B9kmF7XslB_7mU4G36ZrMeqt0GwJsVPlWgBJKcjJvgVWosjWsSxD9CIPr-xajDy/s1600/Android-L-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPXvrOKTN5OEYNyM9NfvY6Sbqdqc8deaO1oCQOD9Ab4FJqpzX8H7FGQatpMNKyS2js_9-9bz_iFgK-B9kmF7XslB_7mU4G36ZrMeqt0GwJsVPlWgBJKcjJvgVWosjWsSxD9CIPr-xajDy/s1600/Android-L-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nexus tablet</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> With HTC making the newest Nexus tablet, we may soon hear more about the follow-up to the Nexus 5. Google is reportedly partnering with Motorola on a whopper of a phone, a 5.9-inch phablet codenamed Shamu. <br /><br />Google could go with an enormous device, given there are plenty of non-supersized Android phones out there, but it's hard to see something close to the Galaxy Mega held up as the latest and greatest of Android. Some rumors put the newest Nexus phone at a more modest 5.2 inches.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUj-9LR2_FhO3vndwiLW3tnROeagTiPFfbkE4DFsuLnyu7rvwHVPgkv2yB_QJ0tBva974VcmQlvdTZ0BaLo0nMtCOFxq9mbjoqOXGeMQvurnpWR5CCgVjtsMvqft2XZQ4CbFcBeqM5ahW/s1600/Android-L-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUj-9LR2_FhO3vndwiLW3tnROeagTiPFfbkE4DFsuLnyu7rvwHVPgkv2yB_QJ0tBva974VcmQlvdTZ0BaLo0nMtCOFxq9mbjoqOXGeMQvurnpWR5CCgVjtsMvqft2XZQ4CbFcBeqM5ahW/s1600/Android-L-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Android L</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Regardless of the specifics, we are definitely getting close to seeing how Google is going to step up its game in the face of record-setting iPhone sales. Though iOS 8's troubles could leave an opening in the minds of many who had thought about abandoning their larger Android-powered devices for the not-so-bendproof iPhone 6 Plus.<br /></div>

Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October

Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October With all the iPhone 6 hoopla, Google must be eager to get its newest Nex...

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5 ways to access and control your PC remotely

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">5 ways to access and control your PC remotely</span></h2> <b>Your PC isn't really stuck at home. You can access the desktop, your files, and even gaming horsepower on the go. You can turn on your PC from halfway around the world!</b><div> <b><br /></b>How, you ask? Let's start with catch-all remote desktop solutions before following up with more specific remote control and access tools for gaming, productivity, and more.<br /><br />01.Remote desktop<br /><br />Remote desktop software lets you access your computer and all its applications over the Internet using another device, essentially by streaming a feed of your desktop. This works from a tablet or phone, even over a cellular data network.<br /><br />To do this, you’ll need to set up a remote desktop server on the PC you want to connect to. We recommend TeamViewer for this: It’s easy to use, completely free for non-commercial use, runs on almost everything, and doesn’t require any port-forwarding or complex setup. (Be sure to set up TeamViewer for unattended access!)</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0yuYT0gB01ziKHHss3Dh9VxkwMJDtbhe4V5_FW9av8qJsqAatbvh48nNPGufmr4ZhO5FM4-X3ToPrDmAeTE-_87w1lRrjckHhhZzlk5K6-r_WnwG62SzbTvN9ezgSe7Ew3NEfKn5d7If/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0yuYT0gB01ziKHHss3Dh9VxkwMJDtbhe4V5_FW9av8qJsqAatbvh48nNPGufmr4ZhO5FM4-X3ToPrDmAeTE-_87w1lRrjckHhhZzlk5K6-r_WnwG62SzbTvN9ezgSe7Ew3NEfKn5d7If/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="alt" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up TeamViewer's "Unattended access" feature</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Parallels Access is another good, polished alternative. It really shines when accessing your desktop from a smartphone or tablet, providing a more touch-optimized interface. Unlike TeamViewer, however, Parallels Access requires a $20 yearly fee even for personal use.<br /><br />You could also skip the polished, all-in-one solutions entirely. For example, you could enable the Remote Desktop feature in professional editions of Windows and use any RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) client to connect to your PC remotely. Microsoft even offers Remote Desktop apps for Android, iPhone, and iPad. You could set up a VNC (Virtual Network Computing) server on your PC to access it in a similar way, even if you aren’t using a professional edition of Windows.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrI3nwZPrUUCNoIPUHc26dCesz380t5N61YXGpu5p5JLofxlh2nSVEgkDAZ3qqKs-LOTJKv0Vx0PTYg0zDXr92Yx6h_s_sygSivYwSJJnK3ffVC-8wbow643mqkQ_SC1OQf7i7k06Oehr/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-05-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrI3nwZPrUUCNoIPUHc26dCesz380t5N61YXGpu5p5JLofxlh2nSVEgkDAZ3qqKs-LOTJKv0Vx0PTYg0zDXr92Yx6h_s_sygSivYwSJJnK3ffVC-8wbow643mqkQ_SC1OQf7i7k06Oehr/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-05-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />These DIY services aren’t as easy to use, however. You’ll have to set up port-forwarding and dynamic DNS on your own to access them remotely. They’ll also be harder to secure, as any bot scanning your IP address from the Internet will see the services running on those ports and can attempt to break into them and compromise your PC. This isn’t a risk with services like TeamViewer or Parallels Access, which handle the authentication bits on their own central servers.<br /><br />You can access your PC’s files on the go, too. To avoid mucking through a remote desktop session, your best bet is an easy-to-use remote control solution with an integrated file-transfer option.<br /><br />In TeamViewer, just select "file transfer" while connecting to a remote computer with TeamViewer, and you’ll be able to access all the files on your PC’s hard drive or upload files to your remote PC from your current device. The Android, iPad, and iPhone apps also have file-transfer support, so you can download files from your PC to your smartphone or tablet. (Parallels Access doesn’t support direct file transfers.)<br /><br />02.IAN LAMONT<br /><br />Keep remote file access simple with Dropbox or another cloud storage service.<br /><br />The average PC user will probably want to stick with a cloud storage service instead of a remote file access solution. Place your files into a service like Dropbox, OneDrive, orGoogle Drive and they’ll sync online. You can then access them from anywhere via your web browser, the service’s mobile app, or its syncing client.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLHQXud-QcCqwt9GpMOxCAQZWmNuFUi5niNxMEsVw8EmbxK65ikLVnH397vwWGKjJHG2DwtgoPXV32cPa7V9LhzspEf3w1ULLQJvKRJPjsYBBOAE37a8acJ0JyIKi7RrpG9uimXD3LW1S/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLHQXud-QcCqwt9GpMOxCAQZWmNuFUi5niNxMEsVw8EmbxK65ikLVnH397vwWGKjJHG2DwtgoPXV32cPa7V9LhzspEf3w1ULLQJvKRJPjsYBBOAE37a8acJ0JyIKi7RrpG9uimXD3LW1S/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div> <br />The upside is that your remote PC doesn’t have to be powered on. The downside is that you're limited by the amount of storage the service provides. If you’re worried about storing sensitive files online, you can always encrypt files before storing them in the cloud.<br /><br />Microsoft Office users can save documents to Microsoft’s free OneDrive cloud storage service, then access the Office Online website in a web browser to view and even edit the documents from wherever you are. Office Online is completely free. OneDrive is integrated into Windows 8.1 and is available as a free download for previous versions of Windows.<br /><br />The Office Mobile applications for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone also allow you to view and edit Office documents stored in your OneDrive account for free. Office for iPad provides a more powerful editing experience on the iPad, but note that all the mobile apps require an Office 365 subscription for editing (viewing is free).<br /><br />03.Office for iPad.<br /><br />Microsoft Office isn’t the only game in town. Google Docs is completely free, runs in a web browser on your PC, and allows you to edit your Google Docs or Microsoft Office documents from anywhere via a web browser or mobile apps.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBVqq0Cy0C0mSqDkz96wVqUwkXJPPx2_eF-THO0apnLbPL_BboTyIyQqcbKz8xUivrXSHGj9G2ldti9x6S_VtNmCLSajL6DFs2gR6OBC02aH7APGV_kDbcsp1uCgnaRVfipH7VNAej4Qc/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBVqq0Cy0C0mSqDkz96wVqUwkXJPPx2_eF-THO0apnLbPL_BboTyIyQqcbKz8xUivrXSHGj9G2ldti9x6S_VtNmCLSajL6DFs2gR6OBC02aH7APGV_kDbcsp1uCgnaRVfipH7VNAej4Qc/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-02-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />PCs have long supported a feature known as Wake-on-LAN. When Wake-on-LAN is enabled on a PC, the PC’s network interface listens for a specially formed packet, even while the computer is powered off, hibernating, or in sleep mode. When the computer receives the packet, it powers on.<br /><br />You could take advantage of Wake-on-LAN to turn on your PC over the Internet. This would allow you to leave your PC off except when you want to access its desktop or files remotely.<br /><br />This can be done in two separate ways. You could forward the appropriate ports from your home router to the computer running on your local network, and then use a specialized software program to send the “Wake-on-LAN” packet to your home IP address.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAMaC5Z9MehqSSiVlstUaWrI0v6MUB4GGqXFy181s9Lgja9Ve4e16c8W1I4aA-y8rQNEuv5r09bk4GgWwH5vd1P_Mg5BXj2emOK1WeOckXGcSOC9_nf-QVBgfjSct5AyLL-YoKhlCn-gn/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-05-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAMaC5Z9MehqSSiVlstUaWrI0v6MUB4GGqXFy181s9Lgja9Ve4e16c8W1I4aA-y8rQNEuv5r09bk4GgWwH5vd1P_Mg5BXj2emOK1WeOckXGcSOC9_nf-QVBgfjSct5AyLL-YoKhlCn-gn/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-05-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />Or, you could use a special software application that sits inside your local network. When it receives the signal, it sends the Wake-on-LAN packet to a computer on the same local network. TeamViewer (once again) offers this feature, allowing you to send Wake-on-LAN packets to other computers on your local network if one PC with TeamViewer enabled is powered on. TeamViewer has a complete guide to setting up Wake-on-LAN, from configuring the BIOS and network adapter to Windows and your home router. Much of the process is similar even if you’re not using TeamViewer, although you’ll need a mobile or desktop application that can send the Wake-on-LAN packets for you if you’re opting not to use TeamViewer. The latest version of Parallels Access offers this feature, too.<br /><br />When you’re done being productive, you can also use your computer’s graphics card’s power to play games when you’re away from it. Steam’s killer in-home streaming feature allows you to stream games running on your gaming PC to other Windows, Linux, or Mac computers on your home network. You could try to stream games when you're out of the house by connecting your PC to a VPN server running on your home network… but even if you tricked Steam into streaming over the Internet that way, performance wouldn’t be great.<br /><br />05.JARED NEWMAN<br /><br />Nvidia's GameStream feature lets you stream games from your PC and play them on your Shield handheld or tablet.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqkX_gKaQFpcQZlYu6lm21KlZTsKfRLhezNYqEP-W7tIieFghIOuNjwqBWa8orSTpce_T3Vchni1uNbBOhBR1kJyTLy7orZO5mhS4BV8eCkywT3Jl-Kh7hI_Y-GLonJPVohb4Ynarosrv/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-04-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqkX_gKaQFpcQZlYu6lm21KlZTsKfRLhezNYqEP-W7tIieFghIOuNjwqBWa8orSTpce_T3Vchni1uNbBOhBR1kJyTLy7orZO5mhS4BV8eCkywT3Jl-Kh7hI_Y-GLonJPVohb4Ynarosrv/s1600/5-ways-to-access-and-control-your-PC-04-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></div> <div> <br />Nvidia also offers its own GameStream feature, which only works with recent Nvidia graphics cards. Unlike Steam’s streaming feature, Nvidia does allow you to access your home PC and stream games from it over the Internet, although this feature is in beta. The problem here is that this feature can stream games only to an Nvidia Shield handheld console or the Shield tablet. You can connect your Shield to a television and stream to a larger screen, but you need the Shield hardware to act as a receiver.<br /><br />The mobile revolution may be marching on, but the PC is still important to many users' lives. Remote control is one area where the right tools let PCs, smartphones, and tablets be more powerful by working together.<br /></div>

5 ways to access and control your PC remotely

5 ways to access and control your PC remotely Your PC isn't really stuck at home. You can access the desktop, your files, and even gam...

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