Windows 10 cheat sheet with video

Windows 10 is the best operating system that's come along from Microsoft in a long time. It's a shape-shifter that changes its interface depending upon whether you're using a traditional computer or a touch-based one. It undoes the damage wrought by Windows 8, including eliminating the awkward Charms bar and bringing back the long-mourned Start menu. A lot more has changed as well, with a new default browser called Edge, the integration of the Cortana digital assistant and plenty more. 

Whether you've upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 8 or an earlier version of Windows, or if you've got it on a new PC, this cheat sheet will get you up to speed on it. I'll cover everything you need to know, and I've also provided quick-reference charts listing useful keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen gestures and touchpad gestures. 

Note: If you want to get the most out of Windows 10, you'll have to use a Microsoft ID as your user account. Without a Microsoft ID, you won't be able to use a number of Windows 10 apps or sync settings among multiple devices. So when you set up Windows 10 for the first time, sign in with an existing Microsoft ID or create a new one. (You can also switch to a Microsoft ID account later. I'll show you how.) 

Before we get started, a few words about some terminology you'll need to know. Microsoft has sowed enormous confusion with a set of lightweight apps that were originally designed for the Windows 8 touch-oriented Start screen interface. It first called them Metro apps, and then through the years changed their names to Modern apps, Windows Store apps, and then Universal Windows apps. Now it's settled simply on Windows apps, although at times the company also calls them Universal Windows apps, to get across the point that they will run on all versions of Windows 10, including for mobile phones. In this article, we'll refer to them as Windows apps. 

What about apps designed for the desktop? Microsoft now calls them Windows desktop applications. In this article we'll call them desktop applications, for simplicity's sake.

HTML5 Video for Netflix comes to Firefox for Windows

Yesterday we told you that Netflix for Windows 10 had received an update, but that's not all that's coming to Windows. Firefox also has plans to up the ante with HTML5 Video for Windows. This is the much-utilized format on the internet today. 
Netflix is announcing that Firefox now comes with the latest HTML5 premium video extensions, such as Media Source Extensions (MSE), which the streaming service utilizes in an effort to adapt its streaming to the bandwidth of each viewer, and Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), that allows for the viewing of encrypted content. 
The new video player will support Firefox users on Windows versions beginning with Vista and newer operating systems. Netflix says it worked with both Mozilla and Adobe in an effort to do this. "We were pleased to find through our joint field testing that Adobe Primetime's CDM, Mozilla’s tag, and our player all work together seamlessly to provide a high quality viewing experience in Firefox. With the new Premium Video Extensions, Firefox users will no longer need to take an extra step of installing a plug-in to watch Netflix", the streaming service claims. 
Mozilla promises that it will bring this technology to other platforms such as Apple in 2016. It's using its open source CDM sandbox, which it claims will provide better security. 
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Why the latest version of software isn’t always the best

Since Netflix’s inception, Firefox users have needed to install a plugin in order to watch Netflix. Starting this week, that’s no longer necessary, at least for some users. 

Yesterday Netflix announced that its HTML5 video player is now available in Firefox, making plugins a thing of the past. For now this is only available in the Windows version of the browser, though the post on the Netflix Tech Blog notes that OS X support is on the way, rolling out sometime next year. 



Though this means that users no longer need to download a plugin, it still involves proprietary software. Netflix playback uses DRM, and Mozilla worked closely with Adobe to bring its Primetime Content Decryption Module (CDM) to Firefox version 43. While OS X is the only additional platform mentioned so far, the Mozilla blog post about the new feature mentions that Mozilla and Adobe plan to bring the Primetime CDM to Firefox on other operating systems in 2016. 

Most users of the browser will be happy that they’re able to watch their favorite shows without the need for a plugin, but for some this may seem an ominous sign of things to come, as it means that Firefox now features a built-in DRM solution. On the other hand, Mozilla mentions that the Adobe Primetime CDM runs sandboxed, making it more secure than the previous plugin-based approach. 



The HTML5 player makes use of the HTML Premium Video Extensions, which help enable its DRM through the Encrypted Media Extensions, but also include the Media Source Extensions. These allow Netflix to adapt its streams to your available bandwidth, which should make for a better viewing experience. 

Now that this feature has come to Firefox, Netflix now supports HTML5 video in what it calls “all major browsers” — Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Chrome. Sorry, Opera fans.

Dark Souls 3 beta files released a bit too early for PS Plus users yesterday

Dark Souls 3 beta files released a bit too early for PS Plus users yesterday 

Saturday, 10 October 2015 14:14 GMT By Stephany Nunneley 
Late yesterday, the technical beta for Dark Souls 3 was made available for North American PlayStation Plus members to download. Hopefully, you grabbed it, because it’s been pulled. 


dark_souls_3_e3_trailer_sceen_7 
Apparently, the files needed for access to the upcoming network test were made available too soon. 

Those that lucked out and downloaded it before hand should pretty much be good to go come October 16 when the beta goes live. 

If you signed up for the beta, and weren’t one of the lucky PS Plus members to have nabbed the files, you will know if you have been chosen to participate come October 13. If chosen at random, you will be sent a key and can download the files needed. 

From Software is using the test to evaluate balance, the multiplayer portion and server load. 

Planned test sessions start on October 16 and will end on October 18 at 11.00pm CEST. You an look over the entire schedule through the official website. 

Dark Souls 3 will be released in April 2016. 

Thanks, Destructoid.

Star Ocean 2 coming to PlayStation 4 and PS Vita this month… in Japan

Following through on the plans it announced at Tokyo Game Show 2015, Square Enix has announced that it will be bringing an enhanced port of Star Ocean: Second Evolution to the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita this month… in Japan. 

The added features to this new version will include a brand new theme song sung by Rina Eri, trophy support, boosted visuals and musical quality, and DLC support. I have no idea how Square Enix plans to jam DLC into this beloved classic, so I am waiting to be impressed. Just as long as nothing is withheld, I’ll be fine with it simply existing. 

Of course, we need to wait for that all important English localization announcement before that even matters in the first place. Star Ocean: Second Evolution is the PSP port of the PSOne classic, Star Ocean: The Second Story. I am well versed in the original version, but I have never had the chance to play the PSP one. Square Enix has never made it made available digitally through PSN, and I’m not going to buy a UMD for my battery-fried PSP in 2015. 

Just not going to happen. 

Let’s all hope for the best. It’s a wonderful game that deserves a new and wider audience. The PlayStation 4 and PS Vita would make the perfect launch pad to do that with. And the more people who love it, the number of people who will become interested in Star Ocean: Integrity an Faithlessness should climb as well. 

Win win for everyone involved, right Square Enix? Save us the suspense, please and just tell us “yes” or “no.”

Vivitek Qumi Q5 LED Pocket Projector Audio / Video Review

This miniature pico DLP projector comes home for game night. 


Pico projectors are generally made for the office, that’s just the reality of a front projection DLP that’s meant to be carried in a laptop bag. Vivitek remains committed with the Qumi Q5 LED Pocket Projector which is one of their smallest entries in the lineup, while trying to add some entertainment value to sweeten the deal. 

Make no mistake, this is a 1.1lb miniature workplace projector that’s given a makeover for multimedia enjoyment — as if it’s trying to hide its true self with a brightly colored shell (available in red, yellow, blue, black, and white) made of slick glossy plastic. The overall styling is vibrant and relatively stylish with only a button sensor control panel for a clean appearance. It’s so low-profile that there’s actually more stuff going in the rear where all the connections are, with mobile from Roku-friendly HDMI/MHL, USB, 3.5mm audio out for headphones and speakers, A/V out (they include a RCA composite dongle for analog), and finally a universal I/O port for computer things. All of this comes in neatly measured in 1.3 x 6.3 x 4 inches (HWD) and can fit in a open palm. 

The Q5 also gets a credit card remote that’s more novelty than useful, a power adapter that’s ironically almost as big as the projector itself, and a cool little carrying pouch too. The only evidence of its past PowerPoint life; a single VGA to Universal I/O cable. 

All of this is fine and even the native WXGA (1280 x 800) and 720p HD resolutions work in agreeable tandem with the advertised 500 lumen count, but I probably don’t have to tell you that this won’t be your main entertainment machine. Fortunately the pop-up screen size is pretty reasonable at a minimum 30-inch and upwards to 90-inches, not only that but the Q5 is also compliant in PC modes with a maximum of 1600 x 1200 (UXGA) at 60Hz. 

The setup couldn’t be any easier which is good, even better is the fact that there’s no lamp so boot and shut down times are miraculously quick at 3 seconds. You certainly don’t have to wait for the picture as HDMI is instantly recognized and looks great for a minuscule pico DLP, and should be more than enough for a small room. The image as a whole is decent with expected shortcomings in grayscale and middling black levels, it clearly isn’t about definitive reference quality but the color range is exuberantly vivid as a modest consolation. To compliment the video, Vivitek did throw in a single 2W mono speaker for sound, although we could live without it as the output is flat and distorted even at lower volumes. 

Extras such as 3D-readiness (HDMI 1.4) are appreciated but viewers will have to endure mild crosstalk, this was present during the Blu-ray of Mad Max: Fury Road where multiple images were constantly distracting compared to traditional projectors. The Qumi Q5 can also do media integration and can read USB drives and many file types for images (JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF), audio (MP3, WAV), videos (MPEG-4, H.264, WMV, Divx), and of course documents for office applications (Doc, XLS, PPT, PDF, txt) – there’s even 4GB of embedded storage for added convenience though we doubt anybody would bother with it, but it is there if you happen to need it. 

For anybody buying the Qumi Q5projector they’re probably not going to use this as a home entertainment replacement, but rather a good little projector that’s lightweight and basic. It’ll work in the conference room, classroom, bedroom, or anywhere else that a spontaneous viewing get-together may happen — I think the price might be a bit high for its size but you’ll have the potential to be a game night hero.

Sources: Wheeler attracting establishment support

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Some Portland establishment names are starting to show up as contributors to State Treasurer Ted Wheeler’s run against Mayor Charlie Hales.

They include Northwest Natural President Gregg Kantor ($1,000), Norrris, Beggs & Simpson board chair J. Clayton Hering ($250), Langley Investment CEO Scott Langley ($1,000), philanthropist Philip Bogue ($1,000), investor William Swindells ($1,000), and Calbag Metals President Warren Rosenfeld ($1,000).

Wheeler, who announced on Sept. 9, still lags behind Hales in total fundraising, however. Wheeler has raised only around $60,000 so far this year compared to more than $109,000 for Hales.

Hales hasn’t reported any new contributions since Sept. 21, but is required to list them only every 30 days under the current state campaign disclosure schedule.

Hales and Hillary,

Novick and Bernie

Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick agree on most things, but they’ve split over the 2016 presidential election. Both support Democrats, of course, but Hales has contributed $1,000 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign and Novick endorsed Bernie Sanders in a recent post on the BlueOregon blog.

“Why isn’t virtually everyone I know publicly for Bernie?” Novick asked, praising the Vermont U.S. senator for his stands against income inequality, war in the Middle East, the Patriot Act and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Novick is doing more than blogging in his spare time, however. After a slow start, he’s raised over $88,000 this year for his reelection campaign. Major contributors include developer Richard Michaelson ($1,000), Gallatin Public Affairs lobbyist Greg Peden ($500), businessman Roy Jay ($500), and Inspiration Softwar President Donald Helfgott ($1,000).

In the meantime, Novick’s only announced opponent, real estate broker Fred Stewart, reports raising only $850 so far.

Judging Cylvia’s email

Former Washington County Circuit Court Judge Gayle Nachtigal is now reviewing thousands of former Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes’ emails from a private account.

Her job is to determine whether any involve public business and should be released in response to The Oregonian’s public records request.

According to the Capital Insider, if Nachtigal determines some of the emails are public records, they could be released to The Oregonian on a rolling basis. Prior to any release, however, Nachtigal will send any disclosable emails to lawyers for Hayes and The Oregonian, and Hayes will have an opportunity to object and request a hearing on the decision. If Hayes does not object, The Oregonian’s lawyer can release the emails to his client.

The Capital Insider is a subscription newsletter published by the Pamplin Media Group and the EO (East Oregonian) Media Group.