Microsoft: Yeah, It's Really That Easy

Earlier we showed you a young girl's review of the Surface RT. Microsoft Portugal has released an advertisement showcasing just how simple Windows 8 really is.

The Windows 8 Apps You Have to Have

Now that Windows 8 and Windows RT have been out for about a month and a half, the Windows Store has started to get its fair share of nifty apps. I’ve included a few of my favourites down below. Which third-party apps do you find most useful and what apps are you still waiting for?

YouTube+
The YouTube+ app is truly fantastic. With all the key features of the core website in a clean and easy-to-use interface, the YouTube+ app is available in an ad-supported unlimited trial, or, alternatively, for $2.99 from the Windows Store. Playlist mode and a download feature (which I find particularly handy as a sort-of “offline” mode) are among my favourite features.

Nextgen Reader
I’ve been seeking a truly excellent Google Reader-compatible RSS feed reader since Windows 8 Developer Preview. I’ve gotten used to gReader on Android and truly loved its utility, but on my Windows devices I ultimately found myself sticking with a Chrome extension called Google Reader Notifier. I’d tried News Bento and several other RSS readers, but was ultimately unsatisfied. Nextgen Reader, on the other hand, has been nothing but a joy to use. It loads quickly and displays feed information well. There is an unlimited, ad-free trial, but you can also support the developer by purchasing the app for $2.99 on the Windows Store.

TuneIn
Though Pandora is popular and quite useful, I’ve recently found myself enjoying the large selection of music stations made available through TuneIn. In particular, Cinemix has been a now near-constant addition to my everyday music listening.


PuzzleTouch
Though the main interface for the app is ad-infested, the main app works impressively well. PuzzleTouch is exactly what it sounds like: a puzzle app. You can use built-in puzzles or craft your own by using images stored on your computer.

Google
Google is a nifty app for searching--and for quick links to all the various Google services.

Stuff I’m still waiting for:

Google Drive
While there is a handy link to the web version of Google Drive in the Google app, the friendliness and cleanliness of a dedicated app is something I currently am hopeful for.

Google+
I love Google+, and the Google+ app for Android is simply fantastic. Something similar for Windows 8 and RT would be a welcome addition.

VLC
VLC for Windows 8 (and Windows Phone 8) is currently in development and is even seeking funds via Kickstarter to give the project a boost. VLC is my primary media player for DVDs, and I’d love to see this in all its Modern UI glory.

The Fight to Go Paperless: Chicago Gives it a Go

There has been talk of moving toward a paperless society for years, but because of the inadequacies of technologies, the initial cost of switching, and generally laziness on the part of society, many attempts to move to such a society have failed. Rahm Emanuel has made it his goal to make Chicago a city as paper-free as possible by 2015. The Verge offers an in-depth look at the struggles he has faced and already faces in his endeavour.

Source: The Verge

Report: America Quickly Slipping Out of the Top 10 Worldwide

It's no secret that the United States education system is falling victim to all manner of regulations and policies that have damaged its abilities to perform and produce well-educated students. However, recent reports from the 2011 Trends in International Maths and Science Study show that the United States is slipping out of, and in some cases has already left, the top ten list of countries performing well in maths and science. Click the source article below for the full story.

Source: The Verge

The Verge: Apple iPad versus Windows 8 (Preview) Tablets

Joshua Topolsky of The Verge has created the nifty video above detailing some of the advantages and disadvantages of Apple's iPad compared to devices powered by Microsoft's newest Windows, Windows 8.

Note: The version of Windows used in this comparison video is a pre-release version and many, if not most, issues with the operating system have since been remedied.

Australia: Apple Maps Can Kill You

Sometimes technological updates are helpful and extremely welcome, but sometimes, like the latest version of Apple's Maps in iOS6, it's a very bad thing indeed. There has already been considerable backlash over the switch from the integrated Google Maps experience within iOS devices to Apple's Google-free Maps system. The new Maps in notoriously inaccurate, often creating places that don't exist or moving places entirely.

In Australia, however, Apple's Maps are so bad that the local police of Mildura have had to issue warning to travellers that using Apple's Maps could be a danger to their lives. An excerpt from the article at The Verge is included below--click the source link to read the full article.

[T]he police have had to rescue motorists that ended up in the wrong place — some stranded without food or water for 24 hours. Others were forced to walk "long distances through dangerous terrain" in order to get phone reception; since temperatures can reach up to 46° Celsius (115° Fahrenheit), the police have called it a "potentially life-threatening issue."

Source: The Verge

Marques Brownlee: Battery Myths and the State of the Technology

YouTuber Marques Brownlee has released a pair of videos sharing helpful insights regarding batteries: from battery myths to the state of battery technologies.