Google Play Music now offers free, ad supported service in Canada

Google Play Music offers Canadians access to 35 million songs now free but supported by ads

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Google Play Music just announced that they will now be offering a free, advertising supported option for their music streaming service starting today and will also discontinue Songza, a music service which Google acquired and will now be integrated into Google Play Music.

The music streaming industry is really becoming more competitive. RDIO filed for bankruptcy a week ago and its technology was bought by Pandora. Apple shut down Beats Music two days ago, maybe to ensure it doesn't cannibalize its Apple Music service. Google Play Music follows suit by making the service more accessible while ending Songza, which it bought last year for $15 million.

Click to read more ...

iOS 9 coming to iPhones and iPads tomorrow

iOS 9 is coming for free to iPhones and iPads tomorrow. Focusing on stability, user experience as well as bringing increased security features and improved multitasking and split-screen functionality for the iPad Air 2 (and upcoming iPad Pro). Updaters will welcome a number of new things about iOS 9. For one thing, it is a smaller download and should take up less time (and valuable storage space).

iOS 9 requires 1.3GB of free storage (instead of the 4.58GB of the previous version). iOS 9 is also supposed increase battery life on most devices (Apple promised 1 hour during WWDC). Having tested the public beta on an iPhone 5, iOS 9 does seem smoother and a tad bit faster. The new OS is expected to roll out tomorrow through the Software Update setting on their iOS devices.

Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade messaging is confusing

As we head into the July 29th launch date for Windows 10, the messaging on who is eligible for a free Windows 10 update seems to be getting more convoluted. Microsoft said a week ago that testers of the Windows 10 Preview, who are in essence helping  Redmond with the debugging and field testing of the new OS and antidote to the poorly received Windows 8 OS, would be 'getting the final release build which would remain activated.' Many read this as, 'Windows 10 Preview copies would be upgraded for free.' 

Microsoft has since backtracked and removed the "remain activated" part, while explaining that only owners of a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 copy would get the next version for free. You know your version is eligible because it should show a 'Get Windows 10' icon on your taskbar which will walk you through the process of 'reserving' the OS for when it finally ships on July 29.

This is still confusing and as we barrel towards the launch date, I'm hoping Microsoft will issue clear instructions and explain how to best prepare for the installation of this much anticipated update to Windows. Microsoft did announce some changes to the Insider program (which issues the previews), check out the full details at Thurott.com

Source: Microsoft, Thurott.com

Update on Monday, June 22, 2015 at 4:35PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

A recent entry in the Microsoft blog aims to clarify who gets what for free. 

Microsoft launches Windows 10, will be free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users

Microsoft really wants to make up for Windows 8 and it also wants holdouts move away from Windows 7 so it will be offering the latest, greatest Windows 10 OS for free as an upgrade for users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8. Microsoft wants everyone to get on Windows 10 so the offer will be good for one year.

Microsoft also demoed how Windows 10 and XBox One will be more integrated, allowing any connected Windows 10 PC to play XBox one games remotely. Hit jump for the full details on today's announcement.

Click to read more ...