Microsoft is making its first significant change to the Outlook calendar view in years. A new Outlook calendar board view is coming soon to Outlook for the web, and it works a lot like Trello. It’s a new dynamic view that will let you organize meetings alongside tasks, notes, goals, links, files, and more.
It works much like Trello, where you can add new cards of information to help you organize your calendar and meetings. Files can sit alongside this view or even simple notes and goals to help with organization. It’s essentially an ever-expanding board that tries to centralize everything that goes into keeping your calendar clean and up to date.
The new Outlook calendar board looks a lot like Trello.Image: Microsoft
“On average, people use 6 tools to track all the things they need to get done,” says Gabriel Valdez, a product marketing manager for Microsoft’s Outlook team. “That is a lot of context switching, back and forth, and maybe even double tracking.” This new calendar board view is designed to help people cut down on having to switch between tools and apps to manage their time.
Microsoft is making this new board calendar view available in Outlook for the web first, and it will be available to commercial and education users soon, too. It’s not clear how this new view will appear in Outlook for Windows or the mobile versions of Outlook in the future, though.
Microsoft is also improving Outlook for iOS and Android for meeting scheduling. Later this month, suggested times for meetings will appear for all commercial and education users, making it easier to avoid conflicts when scheduling meetings with multiple participants.
The Android Google TV app could soon be getting a built-in remote control for Android TVs, XDA Developers reports. The unreleased feature was discovered in the code for version 4.25 of the Android app. Enabling the feature reveals an apparently unfinished interface built around a large D-pad, and the option to pair the app with an Android TV device using a 4-digit PIN.
The discovery of the new code coincides with a renewed push from Google to update and modernize its smart TV software. Last year it launched a Chromecast with a new Google TV interface for the operating system, and this software is also coming as a built-in operating system to smart TVs this year. As part of the launch, Google also rebranded its Play Movies & TV app to Google TV on Android (for now, on iOS it’s still appearing as Google Play Movies & TV).
Google is working on integrating the Android TV Remote Control app into the Google TV app. Here are some screenshots of the feature, which is not yet available in version 4.25. (Surprise, surprise…it’s exactly as you’d expect.) pic.twitter.com/73iqX6FRJd
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) March 2, 2021
Google technically already has an Android TV app on iOS and Android that offers this functionality, but neither versions have been updated in years. We wouldn’t be surprised if both ended up being discontinued if the feature gets rolled in the Google TV app.
Instagram wants more people to go live at once, so today, it’s launching Live Rooms. The feature, which will be available globally, allows four people to video chat in a live broadcast, compared to the previous limit of two. Instagram’s blog post today says it hopes the feature encourages people to start a “talk show or a podcast,” host a “jam session,” or collaborate with other creators.
Going live with more people means the rooms could attract larger audiences. The followers of everyone participating will see the live room and, depending on their notifications, be pinged about it. (Anyone blocked by the active participants won’t be able to join the live, though.)
The easy comparison to make here is to Clubhouse, the buzzy social audio app that lets people go live in rooms. More than 10 people can speak at once, and rooms can reach up to 8,000 people before they’re full. Facebook is reportedly building a direct competitor, but Instagram Live could capture some people who might be interested in Clubhouse but can’t access it currently — it’s invite-only and only available through iOS devices.
But unlike Clubhouse, Instagram Live requires people to be on-camera, which comes with the added pressure of looking good and being in a photogenic environment. Clubhouse is thriving because it only requires a phone and lowers the audio expectation. (People regularly chat when they’re in the car, out on a walk, or just in a loud place.) Still, Live Rooms will likely do well on the platform as people fall back on their already-established followers and bank on the high energy more people in a room can create.
(Pocket-lint) – After a pretty nasty ice-related incident over the winter, it became clear that to get back on the bike it was wisest to invest in an indoor trainer. Cue a moment of contemplating whether to go low-end or all-out in that investment – and after using a noisy, non-dynamic wheel-on roller for a short time, it became obvious that something far better was needed.
Enter the Tacx Neo 2T Smart. This direct drive turbo trainer is Tacx’s top-end trainer – i.e. to be used in conjunction with a bicycle; it’s not entirely standalone like the company’s Neo Bike Smart – and features a swathe of features to help with accurate measurements, enhanced comfort, lower noise, and even the ability to emulate a road-like feel.
Which all sounds well and good, but is it the best of best if you want to get into Zwift and other indoor training programmes? Its obvious rival is Wahoo and its Kickr range. So where is your money best spent?
What’s needed to setup?
Cassette not included – you’ll need 8/10/11/12 speed and tools to assemble
Recommended: phone/tablet/laptop for interactive experiences
To use the Neo 2T you’ll need an existing fully functional bike setup. As a direct drive setup, you simply remove your bike’s rear wheel and mount it onto the turbo trainer.
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Well, hold up one second. First you’ll need to purchase, assemble and install a rear cassette onto the trainer. This allows you to select the corresponding speed to fit with your existing setup. You’ll also want the kit – cassette tightening tool, spanner, chain hold – to ensure this can be assembled properly (as such tools aren’t included). But once that’s done you needn’t worry about it again.
To mount your bike onto the turbo trainer it’s a case of lining the chain up and sitting the bike into place, before installing the included quick-release skewer, locking it into place, and ensuring everything is solid. With that done you’re good to go.
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The Neo 2T doesn’t actually require power to function – you could just hop on and ride, but you wouldn’t benefit from the dynamic controls or connectivity that make this such a top-end piece of tech. Such features are largely the point of this kind of product – to interact with software, such as Zwift, to simulate a real-world feel for indoor training.
As such you’ll want a phone/tablet/laptop and some kind of mount or table to have that nearby for any necessary interactivity. We’ve since purchased a sweat-catch that doubles up as a phone holder to use as our quick-glance and easy interaction second screen.
Let’s get Zwifting
Tacx Premium month subscription included
Zwift month subscription included
No calibration required
While Tacx does have its own software, it’s reasonably basic. It offers top-down GPS route rides as part of its free setup, plus training options. But if you want the visual real-world movies – which function realistically with the trainer – then you’ll need a Tacx Premium subscription. A month is included in the Neo 2T’s box to give you a taster – after which it’s €9.99 per month (€99.99 annually) or €13.99/€139.99 for the HD version.
But the big-success virtual training tool is Zwift (we know there are plenty of other options, but this is our personal go-to preference). This can be installed on your smart device (Apple iOS and Android supported), or setup on Windows/Mac. Or you can do both: we run the Windows version on a laptop, while an Android phone running the Zwift Companion app is able to talk to the Windows version in real-time.
Zwift
The world of Zwift – or Watopia as you may hear people talking about – is vast and pitched as a ‘game’. But there are plenty of training tools, goals and progress measurements to get to grips with, making it a veritable mountain (pun intended, there are actual ones) to climb. Whether you’re training for specifics, joining interactive rides, or just want to go for a solo spin, it’s all at your fingertips. A month’s subscription is included in the box, after which it’s £12.99/$14.99 per month – cancellable at any time.
It’s worth noting at this point that Tacx and Zwift is no spin class; it’s not like Peloton with a live instructor. It’s more flexible than that, with the ability to choose your own path to training. And when the weather’s good outside, pop your bike’s rear wheel back on, tighten the brakes, and get back out into the real world.
How realistic is the Neo 2T?
Emulates road feel (through vibrations) for different terrain
Frame allows a few degrees of movement left/right
Descent simulation (motorised power)
25% incline simulation possible
Let’s start by saying that riding on our original wheel-on roller was more like riding a plank of wood. It was just so rigid. And noisy. And undynamic.
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Compared to that the Tacx Neo 2T Smart is a revelation. Now we’re not saying you’ll climb on and think you’re out on the actual road, because as any rider knows you’ll put a lot more force and motion through the frame in an outdoor real-world situation.
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But the key thing for us about the Neo 2T is that there’s a few degrees of left/right movement available, so when, say, your left/right power is offset, or you stand, or sprint, you’ll get that bit of natural ‘wiggle’ – it’s not only is more authentic, but it adds to overall comfort too (i.e. it’ll help avoid chafe).
Plug the Neo 2T in, however, and this is where it steps up a gear. Zwift will identify the trainer via Bluetooth and this will mean it can measure your power (Watts), cadence (rpm), speed and total distance (in miles or kilometres). Use it in conjunction with other kit – say a bike computer, heart-rate monitor, and so forth – and you can use ANT+ FE-C to get everything communicating in real time (although you’ll need a USB ANT+ dongle for any non-Bluetooth device to register on Zwift, for example, which is the issue we have with our heart-rate monitor).
But with power flowing into the trainer it can simulate climb and descent – the former by magnetically braking the flywheel, the latter by powering the flywheel as relevant – to give you real-time real world feel on your rides, as relative to the route that you’re riding. We’ve taken on some 12% inclines and that -10% on the way back down is sweet release for the legs. The trainer can cater for +25%, which is, well, insane.
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There’s also no calibration needed, ever. So whether you have the Neo 2T setup semi-permanently, or fold it away after each use – which would be no surprise, as it’s pretty large – you needn’t fiddle around between rides. So long as your gears are smoothly setup. If they’re not it’ll add some extra noise from your drivetrain (a problem from which our setup suffers, sad face), as the actual trainer emits a low hum that’s whisper-quiet.
One quirky feature is the trainer’s ability to simulate road feel, using vibrations. Whether that’s rough, wooden boards, a cattle grid, and so forth, it’s quite an entertaining feature – but not especially needed, plus it only adds to the audible vibration/sound output.
Measurements & accuracy
Dimensions: 575 × 750mm (footprint) x 550 mm (height) / Weight: 21.5kgs
Measures: Power, cadence, speed, distance
Colour LED reacts to power input
Bluetooth, ANT+ FE-C control
2000W maximum power
Near silent operation
Because the Neo 2T Smart can measure so much it’s a great way to train. Whether you want to increase your FTP (functional threshold power), get fitter, ride further or faster, or whatever goal you have – all the data is there to see in real-time.
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It appears to be accurate too. We compared the trainer’s power measurement against our Garmin Vector 3 power pedals and there was just one Watt difference in the average over the course of an hour’s ride.
As all this is built-in, too, you don’t need to mess around adding any sensors onto the bike itself. Normal pedals will do, giving you power and cadence measures – and, as a calculation of that input, your relative speed and overall distance too.
The Neo 2T can handle an absurd 2000W maximum, too, not that anyone will be looking to push it to that extreme (unless you’re the Hulk). What this does is provide extra headroom so that if you do shift from, say, a 150W output to a sudden 30 second sprint at 450W – good luck with that, legs – then it’s not going to slip as you engage.
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Your relative effort is represented by a colour LED light output which spills onto the floor, glowing from blue through to red the harder you’re at it.
We’ve been able to treat this turbo trainer with great confidence too, throwing in full standing sprints and never feeling as though it’s unstable. This is a heavy unit with a sensible footprint span, so while it takes up a lot of space even weightier riders can push power through it no problems.
What’s missing?
Currently no ascent simulation accessory in Tacx catalogue
No official rocker plate accessory for enhanced comfort
More accessories in the box would be nice
So what can the Tacx Neo 2T Smart not do? There’s less expandability here compared to its Wahoo rival. While there’s climb and descent simulation, you don’t get the physical movement that some dedicated bikes can offer – or the Wahoo Kickr Climb can add (but only for Wahoo trainers, it’s not compatible with Tacx).
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While the Tacx is far more comfortable than other trainers we’ve ridden, there’s a limit to just how much flexibility is on offer. Many swear by a rocker plate for those longer rides, giving even more motion to help emulate that real-world feel. But Tacx makes no such product. Wahoo has explored similar motion-adding products in the past, but the current line-up lacks any such kit (discontinued, but who can say why – quality control?).
Another minor criticism is the software-to-hardware communication. This isn’t really an issue with the Neo 2T, per se, more how it receives information and very quickly actions upon it. So if you suddenly hit a +3% climb off the back of a descent, say, there’s no consideration for momentum – the trainer quickly responds, so you’ll need steely legs to respond, which takes away some of that real-world feel.
Furthermore, you can adjust various trainer settings, but not in real-time. In Zwift, for example, you can sat the Neo 2T’s resistance from ‘Off’ to ‘Max’, which is a bit like turning up the resistance on an exercise bike. Put it to max and a +1% climb feels like a +15%. But put it to that level by accident and you’re then stuck with it – until restarting the software anyway. This should be more dynamic, permitting tweaks to the level setting in order to obtain that sweet-spot of response – because, as mentioned above, you’ll want a set point that doesn’t cause too much clattering on your legs as you shift between descents and climbs.
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Lastly, we think Tacx could include a bit more in the Neo 2T Smart’s box. A year’s subscription to its software seems minimal, given the considerable price outlay up front. And, really, with no rollmat to help curtail vibrations – you can buy one, at cost, but of course (yes, we see the irony in having a bright red Elite one beneath ours) – or other branded goodies in the box, it’d be a nicety to at least add a little something more to make for a complete package.
Verdict
It’s easy to look at a product such as the Tacx Neo 2T Smart and think “but that’s the price of a bike”, baulking at just how much an indoor setup could cost. Yes, this turbo trainer is undeniably pricey – like we say, it’s at the top-end of the market – but it’s undeniably sophisticated in its delivery.
As a training tool it’s as comfortable as such kit gets, it effortlessly communicates with other gear – using it for Zwift use is a breeze – allowing for dynamic auto-controlled adjustment for descent/climb, and it’s more than stable enough to take a hammering whether seated in the saddle or standing legs pelting it out.
As with any turbo trainer, however, it’s never going to 100 per cent recreate the real feel of the road – much as it tries with vibration-based road feel feedback, which very quirky indeed – and the comfort levels after long rides are, somewhat inevitably, going to feel different (a bit more ‘numb’) than our in the real-world. And without any true climb/descent physical motion or accessory add-ons – Wahoo offers the Kickr Climb for its turbo trainers – we think there’s scope for future enhancement.
Overall, if you’re looking for a smart indoor turbo trainer – one that will work dynamically with your setup, measuring all the important factors (power, cadence) – without the need for adding extras, then Tacx has a winning product on its hands. It’s near-silent, it’s supremely stable, and it’s revolutionised our indoor training during winter cold spells – we certainly won’t miss our wheel-on roller of old one bit.
Also consider
Wahoo Kickr V5
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What we find appealing about Wahoo’s option is its expandability – pair with a Kickr Climb and Kickr Headwind and you can simulate more realistic physical climbs and descents. As an out-and-out trainer, however, we think the Tacx Neo 2T has the edge given its wider base rigidity. Spec wise the two are highly similar, though, both offering climb/descent simulation and 2000W max. And Wahoo’s isn’t quite as pricey (not that it’s cheap!).
The iPhone’s Notes app has a powerful document scanning feature built right into it, and today I learned that this scanner can be controlled directly from a paired Mac in a variety of apps. It’s an incredibly useful tip for Mac users as it cuts out the awkward middle steps of having to transfer it from phone to computer, or grabbing it from the Mac’s Notes app after it syncs. Shoutout to TikTok account @keyboardshortcuts for bringing it to my attention.
Besides Notes, the iPhone’s scanner can be accessed from a number of different Mac apps, including the Finder, Mail, Messages, and Pages 7.2 and later. To use it, control-click (or right-click) in the window you want to scan the document into, select “Import from iPhone or iPad,” and then click “Scan Documents.” The camera app will magically open on the linked mobile device, where a scan can be taken as usual — no wires required. Once done, the scanned document will end up in the Mac app with a minimum of hassle. I found it useful to scan a bunch of legdocuments directly into a new folder in Finder, for example.
According to a support page for the feature, the Mac will need to be running macOS Mojave or above, and the iPhone or iPad needs to be running iOS 12 and above. Both devices need to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled.
As well as scanning documents, the feature can also be used to take photos. Simply select “Take Photo” rather than “Scan Documents” from the menu and tap the shutter button on your mobile device to capture an image.
Camera Continuity isn’t a new feature, but its compatibility with the iPhone’s document scanner was news to me.
An AI-powered service called Deep Nostalgia that animates still photos has become the main character on Twitter this fine Sunday, as people try to create the creepiest fake “video” possible, apparently.
The Deep Nostalgia service, offered by online genealogy company MyHeritage, uses AI licensed from D-ID to create the effect that a still photo is moving. It’s kinda like the iOS Live Photos feature, which adds a few seconds of video to help smartphone photographers find the best shot.
But Deep Nostalgia can take photos from any camera and bring them to “life.” The program uses pre-recorded driver videos of facial movements and applies the one that works best for the still photo in question. Its intended purpose is to allow you to upload photos of deceased loved ones and see them in “action,” which seems like a lovely idea.
Users have to sign up for a free account on MyHeritage and then upload a photo. From there the process is automated; the site enhances the image before animating it and creating a gif. The site’s FAQ says it does not provide the photos to any third parties, and on its main page a message reads “photos uploaded without completing signup are automatically deleted to protect your privacy.”
Naturally, the program has become something of a meme-generator on Twitter, with users trying to push the AI to its limit. An archaeologist used photos of ancient statues, and yes they included some with the blank eyes. Sorry in advance for the nightmare fuel (but hiiii there Alexander the Great):
Deep Nostalgia can only handle single headshots and can only animate faces, so you’re not going to be able to reanimate mummies to make it look like they’re walking (hey I wondered, OK?). You can upload five photos for free to the MyHeritage website for Deep Nostalgia treatment, after that you have to register for a paid account.
I wonder if perhaps there are some photos best left un-animated? I’m wary of uploading photos to any site, and I think the usual privacy cautions still apply. But if you’re going to try Deep Nostalgia brace yourself for a surreal experience. The AI is scarily good.
Microsoft is finalizing its Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows PCs, which includes access to streaming games from the company’s xCloud service. We’ve managed to get access to the latest version of the Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows, an unannounced and unreleased app. Once released, the app will let Windows users stream games from their Xbox Series S / X consoles, and from xCloud.
Currently, you can’t stream games from the new Xbox consoles to Windows PCs, as this is unsupported in the existing Xbox Console Companion app. This new app will solve that, and also bring xCloud streaming to Windows PCs for the first time. We first got a look at this xCloud app for Windows last year, and it has improved a lot since then.
The Xbox remote play feature, for connecting to Xbox consoles, works similarly to how the existing Console Companion does. You can remotely wake an Xbox console, sign in, and play games wherever you are.
There is now full touch support, allowing Surface or other touchscreen devices to play Xbox games without a controller. Microsoft also appears to be readying some form of gyro support here, too. There’s an option to enable this, but it doesn’t appear to be fully functional yet. This is an internal beta application, so it’s still unfinished.
Microsoft’s unreleased Xbox Game Streaming app.
Microsoft also appears to be readying 1080p streams for xCloud, instead of the 720p that exists today. This would obviously improve the experience on Windows PCs, ahead of higher resolutions once Microsoft has upgraded its xCloud servers to include Xbox Series X hardware.
It’s still not clear exactly when this app will be made available more broadly. Microsoft is rumored to be planning a “what’s new for gaming” event for next month, so it’s possible we’ll hear a lot more about the company’s xCloud plans (for the web and iOS, too) very soon.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez returns to the ring this Saturday night to defend his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim in Miami. The big fight costs up to $50 in the US, but savvy sports streaming service DAZN has the rights to show the clash in 200 countries – and from only £1.99 in the UK! Read on as we preview the action from the Hard Rock Stadium and explain how to get a good price Canelo vs Yildirim live stream wherever you are in the world.
Canelo vs Yildirim live stream
Date: Saturday 27th February 2021
Ringwalks: 4.30am GMT / 11pm ET / 3pm AEDT
UK stream: DAZN (£1.99)
Canada stream: DAZN (30-day free trial)
Watch anywhere: Try ExpressVPN risk-free today
US stream: DAZN ($2.99)
AUS stream: DAZN (AU$2.99)
Canelo has only ever been defeated as a professional by the legendary Floyd Mayweather, a result that took place way back in 2013. No surprise, then, that the WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring super-middleweight champion is a huge favourite for this blockbuster fight.
The Mexican star out-punched Callum Smith in a stunning display last December to enter the champions’ enclosure at 168lbs. If he can defeat Turkey’s Avni Yildirim on Saturday, he could unify the division just two months after picking up his belts, and tee up a massive fight against against Billy Joe Saunders this summer.
Yildirim is a good fighter but he got knocked out by Chris Eubank Jr in three rounds. He’s a low level threat to a fighter of the calibre of Canelo and will do well to last all 12 rounds of this super-middleweight clash.
Here’s how to get a Canelo vs Yildirim live stream, one of the most anticipated fights of the year, from anywhere in the world.
Canelo vs Yildirim live stream for £1.99
DAZN UK has the rights to broadcast Canelo vs Yildirim in the UK and – for a limited time – it’s available for only £1.99 a month.
Of course, the £1.99 a month offer is only available to boxing fans located in the UK or US. If you’re a UK citizen stuck abroad, you’ll want to use a VPN to unblock the boxing live streams as if you were back home in the UK.
ExpressVPN is a great option because you can try it 100 per cent risk-free thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee. Why not give it a go? You’ve nothing to lose.
DAZN introductory offer: £1.99 a month + cancel anytime Fast-growing streaming service DAZN features a ton of exclusive live and on-demand boxing, plus sports documentaries galore. If you’re a fan of pugilism this introductory offer is a no brainer. Cancel anytime – there’s no contract to worry about.
DAZN sports streaming is available on a variety of platforms including: iOS/Android app, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. Sky subscribers can find the DAZN app in Sky’s app store.
Watch a Canelo vs Yildirim live stream from abroad using a VPN
Even if you have subscribed to the relevant Canelo vs Yildirim rights holders, you won’t be able to access them when outside your own country. The service will know your location based on your IP address, and will automatically block your access.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps you get around this obstacle. VPNs are a doddle to use and create a private connection between your device and the internet. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. As a rule, we’d suggest a paid-for service such as ExpressVPN which offers a 100 per cent risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee with its VPN service. You can use it to watch on your mobile, tablet, laptop, TV, games console and more. There’s 24/7 customer support and three months free when you sign-up. Try it – you’ll be surprised how simple it is.
Canelo v Yildirim live stream in Australia and New Zealand
(Image credit: DAZN)
DAZN has the rights to show Canelo v Yildirim in Australia and New Zealand. A monthly subscription is available at the introductory offer price of just AU$2.99 a month – that’s significantly cheaper than the price in the United States, currently $19.99 a month!
The main card is due to start at 12pm AEDT / 2pm NZDT, with the ring walks to follow at around 3pm AEDT / 5pm NZDT.
Going to be away from Australia or New Zealand this weekend? Simply use a VPN to unblock the boxing live streams. Good to know, right? ExpressVPN is a great option because you can try 100 per cent risk-free thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Canelo v Yildirim live stream in the Canada
If you’re lucky enough to live in Canada you won’t have to pay $50, $20 or even $2.99. That’s because you can get a free trial of DAZN in Canada.
Going to be away from Canada this weekend? Simply use a VPN to unblock the boxing live streams. Good to know, right? ExpressVPN is a great option because you can try 100 per cent risk-free thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Full card for Canelo vs Yildirim
Canelo vs Yildirim (WBA Super, WBC, and The Ring super middleweight titles)
Julio Cesar Martinez vs McWilliams Arroyo (WBC Flyweight Title)
Zhang Zhilei vs Jerry Forrest (Heavyweight)
Diego Pacheco vs Rodolfo Gomez Jr. (Super Middleweight)
Alexis Espino vs Ashton Sykes (Super Middleweight)
Marc Castro vs Lester Brown (Junior Lightweight)
Aaron Aponte vs Harry Gigliotti (Junior Welterweight)
If you’re moving from LastPass (or another password manager you’re dissatisfied with), you may be tempted to simply go with the password manager that comes with your browser or operating system. It’s certainly an easy solution, and a reasonable one, depending on your point of view. Until recently, third-party password managers were known to be more secure, but Apple and Google have been working to make their built-in password managers more secure, while Microsoft is adding one to its authenticator app. So it could be a viable choice.
One way, however, that these built-in password managers don’t stand up to their independent competitors is how tricky it can be to get preexisting passwords into their systems.
If you tend to hang out in the Apple ecosystem, that means using Safari for your passwords and passing them to your other devices using Apple’s iCloud Keychain. Here’s how to move your password data into iCloud Keychain.
Make sure you have Keychain
iCloud Keychain is how Apple syncs your information across devices — not just passwords, but also credit card info, Wi-Fi passwords, etc. If you haven’t used it, you may want to check to make sure it’s been set up and turned on. (If you plan to use your passwords on your mobile iOS device as well, you might want to check it there, too.)
Using a macOS device:
Go to your System Preferences app by clicking on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner
If you have macOS Mojave or earlier, click iCloud. Otherwise, select Apple ID > iCloud.
Go down the list of apps, and make sure that Keychain is checked
Make sure you have iCloud Keychain.
Using an iOS device:
Go to Settings and tap on your name
Tap on iCloud and scroll down to Keychain
If Keychain is Off, tap on the entry and then toggle it on
Import your password data
In order to get your data into Keychain, you need to import it into Safari on your Mac. Simple, right? Well, not really.
Unfortunately, unlike most password managers, you can’t import passwords from a CSV file into Safari. You can, however, import passwords from either Firefox or Chrome. So if you’ve got a CSV file from another password manager and you don’t have either of those browsers on your machine, you’ll have to install one of them first and upload your passwords into it. (You can find instructions for importing passwords into Chrome here and Firefox here.)
Once your passwords have been imported into one of the other browsers:
Close the other browser
Open Safari, go to File > Import From, and choose Chrome or Firefox. You can import Bookmarks, History, Passwords, or any combination thereof by checking the appropriate boxes.
One note: I had a series of mishaps trying to import from Firefox into Safari. Safari would invariably crash, even after I made a series of tweaks to Firefox. I finally gave up and tried it with Chrome, and the import worked immediately. Your mileage may vary.
You can check to see if the import worked by going to Safari’s top menu and selecting Safari > Preferences > Passwords. (You’ll have to enter your user password to access the password list.) You should see your passwords listed there.
Once you’ve imported your passwords into Safari, they should be automatically picked up by iCloud Keychain and useable across all your approved devices. You can check by typing and clicking on “Keychain Access” using Spotlight Search. That should bring up your Keychain app; you can click on iCloud in the top-left column and “Passwords” in the bottom left to see your imported passwords.
You should find your passwords in Keychain Access. (For obvious reasons, some data has been grayed out.)
It’s been a busy week for Spotify. In addition to news of a forthcoming HiFi tier, and an appearance at a parliamentary inquiry, the streaming giant has also found time to release new features to help listeners curate their sprawling libraries of ‘Liked Songs’.
From today, Spotify is offering free and premium users, with at least 30 tracks in their ‘Liked Songs’ playlist, the option to filter their favourite tracks using up to 15 personalised mood and genre categories.
The new options can be accessed by heading to ‘Liked Songs’ in the ‘Your Library’ tab. The filters you see will be unique to your specific tastes, and Spotify reports they will update as your collection evolves.
For now, Spotify hints there will be a mix of styles already available from the ‘Browse’ page, such as dancehall, J-pop, bluegrass, along with more abstract subcategories like ‘pump up’, ‘moody’ and ‘soulful’.
We think this has the potential to be a useful function as the Spotify algorithm is already one of the most nuanced of the big streaming services. ‘Liked Songs’ playlists are a showcase of every user’s most diverse tastes, from old favourites to those impulsively added after one appearance on a daily mix. The option to listen to familiar music without running the full gamut of genres lurking beneath the ‘shuffle’ button could help set Spotify even further apart from other services in terms of content curation, if not yet in sound quality.
When we tried to access the new filters, we found the feature wasn’t live, but the rollout will be staggered over the coming weeks to listeners on Android and iOS devices in English speaking markets, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
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Final Fantasy VII Remake’s soundtrack will be available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and other music subscription services tomorrow, February 26th, Square Enix announced on Thursday. It will have an eye-popping (ear-popping?) 156 tracks, according to a press release.
The game’ssoundtrack was an excellent reimagining of the original game’s iconic music, and I frequently listen to it via random YouTube videos. The official arrival on streaming services should make listening to it much easier.
We know you’ve been waiting a little while for this…
From February 26th, the @FinalFantasy VII Remake Soundtrack will be available on online music subscription services such as Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited! pic.twitter.com/IKSSOEhAxW
— FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) February 25, 2021
The news arrives alongside a flood of other Final Fantasy VII-related announcements. Final Fantasy VII Remake will be getting a PS5 patch with big quality-of-life changes and a new episode focused on Yuffie Kisaragi, an optional party member from the original game. Square Enix also announced Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier, a new mobile battle royale game that’s set to hit Android and iOS later this year. It’s also developing Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, yet another mobile game that looks to be another remake of the original Final Fantasy VII and includes elements of spinoffs like Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Ever Crisis is scheduled to debut in 2022.
At this rate, there may soon be 156 Final Fantasy VII remakes.
Square Enix announced two mobile games set in the Final Fantasy VII universe today. One is a battle royale game aiming for a 2021 release, and the other is Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, a compilation of all the games and stories set in the Final Fantasy VII universe (Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus). The latter is slated to launch sometime in 2022 on Android and iOS.
According to a press release, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is a chapter-structured single-player experience that covers the entire timeline in one of the most popular installments in Square Enix’s RPG franchise. The compilation will feature all the events from each game, in addition to new story elements focusing on the “origins of SOLIDER.”
Watching the announcement trailer, Ever Crisis reminds me of Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition, a 2018 title that served as an abridged version of the fifteenth main installment in the Final Fantasy series.
The description for the trailer on YouTube notes it is “another possibility for a remake,” and the visuals look greatly improved from the original version of Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation, as pointed out by Twitter user Nibellion.
The announcement comes following news that Final Fantasy VII Remake is getting a PS5 patch on June 10th, which will include improvements that take advantage of the next-gen hardware as well as a new episode focusing on the character Yuffie.
The enhanced version of Final Fantasy VII Remake for the PS5 wasn’t the only Midgar-related news today. Square Enix also revealed an even bigger surprise: a battle royale for mobile devices that’s set three decades before the original game. It’s called Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, and it’s slated to come to both Android and iOS devices later this year.
We don’t know much more about the game just yet, but, as the title implies, it’s centered on Soldier, a group of enhanced fighters that plays an important role in FFVII’s story. A multiplayer battle royale seems like a strange way to tell a story like that, but the trailer at least shows some iconic FFVII locales and what looks like fast-paced combat involving both weapons and magic.
A second mobile spinoff, a story-driven game called Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, was also announced. It’s due to come to iOS and Android in 2022.
Amazon’s head of Fire TV, Kindle, and its new Luna cloud gaming service departed the company this month. Marc Whitten has joined Unity as an executive on the company’s Unity Create business. Unity is a cross-platform game engine that many developers use to get their games running across multiple devices.
Whitten’s departure, spotted by Matthew Ball on Twitter, comes less than six months after Amazon launched an early access version of Luna, the company’s new cloud gaming service. It also comes during the same month Google announced it’s shutting down its in-house game development studios for Stadia. That’s left the writing on the wall for Stadia, as it increasingly looks like Google will focus on licensing the underlying tech it has built out to industry partners.
Amazon’s Luna is currently available on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android as long as you’re invited to try the service. Amazon has also expanded Luna to Fire TV devices without an invite, but it’s still limited to just the US right now. It’s not clear when Amazon plans to make Luna available more broadly.
Whitten confirmed his Amazon departure on Twitter yesterday. “I’m just digging in at Unity of course, but it is so much fun seeing the amount of energy, passion, and creator/user love here,” he said.
Before Whitten arrived at Amazon, he spent 14 years at Microsoft helping launch three Xbox consoles. Whitten left Microsoft in 2014 to take up the role of chief product officer at wireless audio company Sonos. He has spent the last nearly five years overseeing the Fire TV, Amazon’s Kindle devices, and the launch of Luna.
Steam’s Remote Play Together feature, which lets you stream local multiplayer games with friends over the internet, will no longer require every player to have a Steam account. The new functionality, which is currently in beta, lets Steam users invite a friend to their game with a link, after which they’ll be prompted to install the Steam Link app if they don’t have it already.
There are limits to the new feature. Games will need to already support the Remote Play Together feature for it to work (there are filtering options to find these titles), and only one friend without a Steam account can join a multiplayer session. If you want to add more, they’ll need to have accounts.
To try the feature out, head to your friends list in the Steam overlay while playing a Remote Play Together-compatible title and click the “Copy Link” button. Steam says you’re able to send links to friends to play on Windows, Android, iOS, or even Raspberry Pi devices.
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