Microsoft joins the VR contenders with HoloLens

As Many of the worlds biggest tech giants join the VR market (excluding Apple) Microsoft made an announcement today that implies that they too would be joining the train.

In this vision of a future shared experience enabled by Windows Holographic, one user is wearing HoloLens within a room scanner/communicator (left), another joins via a VR headset (middle) and the third initiates the session from a HoloLens at a remote location (right).

At the Computex trade show in Taipei, Terry Myerson (Executive Vice President, Windows and Devices group) was joined by Nick Parker and Alex Kipman (HoloLens Architect) to announce that Microsoft would be widening the scope of their mixed reality headset by incorporating VR.

 

At the announcement, Terry Myerson stated :

"The market for virtual reality devices is expected to be 80 million devices per year by 2020. However, many of today’s devices and experiences do not work with each other, provide different user interfaces, interaction models, input methods, peripherals, and content. And most virtual reality experiences can’t mix real people, objects, and environments into the virtual world, making creation and collaboration difficult. This is because they lack the human, environmental and object understanding that is already built into Windows 10."

On the unveiling of HoloLens, Microsoft had also released Windows Holographic, which is a platform to allow Windows 10 developers design apps for the device.

 

Businesses scramble to upgrade computers as support for windows XP ends tomorrow

As the support for windows 12-year old platform, the windows XP ends on Tuesday, businesses are now scrambling to upgrade computers from obvious threats that windows´ decision could have on them.

Municipal infrastructure operated by local governments using Windows XP could be vulnerable to security threats after the date, but luckily, most ATMs that use XP software will continue to get security updates.

Computech, Watertown, has been swamped with business from companies seeking to upgrade Windows XP software over the past year, said owner Jordan R. Durant, who launched the small business two years ago. The majority of businesses and residents across the north country still operate under the Windows XP platform, he said, and many are still reacting to news of its demise. He said the business is upgrading about nine computers a week to run on the Windows 7 platform, for which Microsoft actively provides security updates and patches to safeguard its network from viruses and hackers.

“Any business that stores patient records or credit card information is in a mad dash to move to Windows 7 or 8,” said Mr. Durant, whose business provides information-technology support to some 50 businesses in Watertown, and about 150 in outlying communities in Jefferson County. “If affects hospitals, doctor’s offices, dentists and anyone who has patient records or information.”

After Tuesday, any health care business that stores patient records under the Windows XP will be in noncompliance with the Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act’s Security Rule, Mr. Durant, 30, said. In addition, any business that conducts credit card transactions using computers with Windows XP will be in noncompliance with payment card industry standards.

Some companies have made significant investments during the past year to upgrade computer systems, Mr. Durant said. Computech charges about $150 per computer to complete an installation and data transfer needed to upgrade Windows XP systems. Sometimes computer hardware needs to be fully replaced to complete those upgrades, which could cost anywhere from $690 to $750 per terminal for a processor with 4 gigabytes of RAM.

But businesses that use Windows XP for other tasks at the workplace don’t need to rush yet to replace the operating system, Mr. Durant said. Any third-party anti-virus software that receives real-time support could be used to provide security in Microsoft’s absence, he said.
“It’s like a game of cat and mouse, because now that Windows XP is no longer supported with security updates or patches, you’re going to see companies that offer virus protection support Windows XP,” he said.

by:Ezekiel .T. Ogidan
source: watertown daily times