Microsoft on Thursday May 17th, introduced its new Xbox Adaptive Controller, designed specifically for gamers with disabilities. The new hardware can be used for game play with an Xbox One console or Windows 10 PC, and it offers Bluetooth plug-and-play compatibility.

It supports Xbox Wireless Controller features such as button remapping, and it connects to external buttons, switches, joysticks and mounts. Microsoft developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller to enable gamers with physical disabilities to customize their respective setups.

Microsoft partnered with several high-profile global organizations who are dedicated to providing accessibility to those with physical disabilities: The AbleGamers Charity, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Craig Hospital, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged. Microsoft developers also worked directly with gamers who have limited mobility.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be available later this year for about US$100 which is approximately 36,100 Naira.

What Inspired The Making Of XBox Adaptive Controller ?
The inspiration for the Xbox Adaptive Controller was a 2014 social media post featuring a photo of a custom gaming controller made by Warfighter Engaged, a nonprofit organization that develops gaming controllers for disabled veterans.

It caught the attention of a Microsoft engineer, which resulted in a hackathon at Microsoft’s 2015 Ability Summit, where the first prototype of a controller for people with disabilities was developed. Now, three years later, the final product is about ready for the market.

Unlike the standard unit that is held in two hands, the Xbox Adaptive Controller utilizes a flat yet compact design that allows it to rest on a table.

In the place of small joysticks that typically are controlled with a user’s thumb are two round light-touch-enabled pads that players can use by rolling their palms on them or pressing with their hands. These offer essentially the same level of precision as the thumb joysticks on a normal controller, but they have an added option of providing an audible cue for another layer of sensory input.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller also features a standard D-pad, an Xbox power button, and a profile button that allows users to shift among several mapping options.

Where the Xbox Adaptive Controller offers serious flexibility is in its ability to work with other existing accessibility tools, including those that offer air-power input methods or foot pedals. These can connect to one the 19 3.5mm ports on the back panel of the controller. Each of these devices can be mapped to the unit, and can be modified on the fly without even pausing the game.

As the Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed to allow for greater flexibility with other input devices, it also could be used for those who prefer something beyond the normal controllers. In some cases, it could lead to gamers trying to get a potentially unfair advantage.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/xbox-adaptive-controller-could-help-gamers-with-disabilities/

The official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S9 confirmed the leaked photos of the last few weeks: no major redesign for this year. Basically, the new Galaxy is almost identical with the Samsung Galaxy S8 launched last year. However, this doesn’t mean that the new Galaxy S9 lacks innovation. And the lack of progress in the design department is compensated within the hardware department. Where the new, ultra-fast chipset is set to raise the bar for new flagship phones’ performance.

The motto of the Galaxy 9th generation is “The camera Reimagined” in that the camera “adapts like the human eye”. A strong statement, but if we consider that this camera is one of the few cameras capable of taking pictures in the dark, Samsung can back up their strong statement.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a great device. Samsung’s new flagship phone comes with some great features. Some of which are introduced for the first time and by the looks of it, there will be a fixed feature for next Galaxy S-series smartphones. Unfortunately, flagship-level feature mean also flagship-level prices. And Samsung Galaxy S9 is one of the most expensive phones available today. This is why, there is a high chance that you will be able to get the Samsung Galaxy S9 for cheaper, on a 2-year contract.

It sounds great! However, a phone on a contract come with strings attached, and one of those so-called strings is that contract phones are locked on the network on which they are sold. Thus, they will not work with SIM cards from other networks. This can become an issue if you are already using a network and do not want to change to another one. Luckily, you won’t have to switch networks just because you found a locked Samsung Galaxy S9 at a better price. You can actually unlock your phone and use it on the network you are currently using.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/how-to-unlock-samsung-galaxy-s9/

Ransomware is a type of cyber attack which uses malware to affect the files on computers by holding them hostage so that the user has to pay a sum of amount in order to to release the affected files. Once the files falls into the trap of Ransomware attack it cannot be accessed through any means unless and until it is released by the group which has caused the attack.

Who is Affected by Ransomware?
All kinds of business which are done online are affected including small scale and large scale business. Sometimes cyber criminals even target home computers just so they can get some extra money as they have poor security. Even some of the organizations will be targeted as they have vast databases and needs to be protected all the time. These organizations pay to keep their networks safe from attacks by ransomware. But those who cant afford to get security will be easily targeted.

Can Ransomware be Prevented?
Ransomware can be prevented by following some of the simple procedures:

First of all the data should have a backup. So if there is an attack on your data by ransomware, you can easily get the data restored and don’t have to fall for the ransom demand.
Another way is to keep an up to date security suite. A good security suite will prevent from almost all kinds of attack on data.
It is wise to keep the software and Operating System updated as it will help in prevention of any kinds of new malware attacks.
It will also be better if the extension of the files present in the data to have visible file extensions. By doing that we can tell if any suspicious file extension activity is present in the data.
It will also be helpful to avoid visiting suspicious websites and clicking on anonymous links and webpages.
Do not open emails sent by anonymous persons who may be trying to harm you. By staying away from such links you can help yourself stay out of trouble.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/what-is-ransomware-and-how-to-stay-protected/

The hosts file is an interesting and useful feature of both Windows and Linux operating systems that provides many handy options in addressing network nodes. For instance, you can use the hosts file to block annoying ads, pop-ups, banners, porn sites, or even redirect one website to another.
In this post I will show you how to play around with the hosts file to accomplish some of the above mentioned jobs.

What is a hosts File?

The hosts file is just like any other computer file that is used by the operating system to map hostnames and domain names on to their corresponding IP addresses.

In other words, when you type “google.com” on your browser’s address bar, your computer will look for the hosts file to see if it contains the corresponding IP address for the domain name you typed (google.com). In case if no entry is present in the hosts file, the request is then passed on to the DNS (Domain Name System) server to obtain the IP address.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/how-to-block-or-redirect-unwanted-websites-using-hosts-file/

Every new version of Windows often introduces new features from Microsoft which aim to make you more productive and secure. In doing this, the company also reviews the operating system and decides whether or not to keep some of the older features.

For example, on Windows 7, you’re able to open the personalization preferences in a fast pace and change the system font for various elements in the operating system, including the font for icons, title bars, menus, message box, and more. Windows 10 will disappoint you in this, as this isn’t the case anymore, and you’re stuck with the default system font on your computer.

The font on Windows 10 is called Segoe UI, and if you don’t like it, you can use this guide, which will walk you through the steps to modify the registry to change the default system font on your computer.
Click to Read More: http://techshrewd.com.ng/how-to-change-default-system-font-on-windows-10/

This video instructs on video compression as it relates to the Android OS. Pay attention and you should be able to shrink any size of video on your Android phone and at the same time keep its video and audio quality.
We Used Video Compress in this video. You can find it on Google Play by just searching "Video Compress". Happy watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6YLt3ZRR50

You probably have tried to resume expired/failed downloads in UC browser but you get to that point of frustration as it does not seem to resume at all. Most people even get to 99% and see the “download failed” message – This is really annoying and can drive one nuts, trust me i know how that feels. The expired/failed download usually occurs when you pause a non resumable file in UC browser.

Today, i have a solution to get rid of the link expired and download failed errors in UC browser. By this trick, you can conveniently resume the link expired of unfinished tasks in UC browser without any hassle. Just follow the given steps below to solve the issue.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/how-to-resume-expired-failed-downloads-in-uc-browser/

Are you fed up of walking around with your phone charger and charging your phone anywhere you see electricity? I offer some simple tips and tricks on how to make your smartphone’s battery last longer.

Surprisingly in 2018, it’s tough to go much longer than 24 hours without charging your smartphone even with the huge mAh batteries now in vogue for latest smartphones. Unfortunately, you’re never going to get a week’s use out of a smartphone because of those AMOLED screens along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and 4G. However, by following MY advice and making a few changes to your phone’s settings (maybe even changing the way you use your phone) you should be able to extend and enhance its battery life by a large percentage.

The trend nowadays is the huge choice of portable USB power banks, which you can use to charge your phone on the go. Plus, if you have a popular handset, you may find there are specific cases which incorporate batteries to give you extra power at the expense of only a little more bulk and weight.

How to manage smartphone battery life

What i am not going to suggest here is to use your phone less. My aim is to show you how to reduce your handset’s power consumption without making it unusable.

So, here are 10 ways you can boost your smartphone’s battery life, plus the battery saving myths that won’t help at all.
http://techshrewd.com.ng/how-to-make-your-smartphones-battery-last-longer/

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the release date for the new God of War game on PlayStation 4.

The Sony Santa Monica-developed action game will launch for PS4 on April 20th. Featured above, you can view a new story trailer for the game here http://techshrewd.com.ng/god-of-war-4-release-date/

Once you've wisely determined that building a website is an essential part of your business, you need to make another important decision: What's your domain name going to be? You know, it's the [yoursitename].com Web address by which all your (hopefully) many customers will find you. Furthermore, how do you go about staking your claim for it? Purchasing a name is a relatively simple process (although finding one that isn't already taken can be a challenge), but there are many factors that you should consider. Since your domain name is, in effect, the name of your website, you want to make sure you get a good one. But what makes a good one? And since it's also the address of your website, you want to make sure you understand the contract between you and the domain name registrar. Is it starting to sound a little more complicated? Don't worry: This primer can help you get started http://techshrewd.com.ng/registering-your-domain-name/

f you’ve been contemplating whether to buy an iPhone X, you may have just been given an option.

On Friday, the king of Apple analysts, his majesty Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, predicted Apple will soon be discontinuing the iPhone X, according to a recent AppleInsider report.

That’s right: Apple is due to kill off its most expensive iPhone after the summer, right when the next generation of iPhones is due and less than a year after its debut (it didn’t go on sale until Nov. 3).

In his note, Kuo appeared to imply the move was a response to weak demand, particularly in China, where smartphone buyers are said to be more skeptical of the infamous “notch.” He later clarified in a follow-up note that the iPhone X was being put out to pasture early to prevent any potential “cannibalization” of the new iPhone line that’s planned for the fall, according to MacRumors.

Either way, the rumor comes as quite a surprise. Everyone knows Apple releases new iPhone models every year, but it would be unusual if it discontinued a newer model only a year after its launch. The company usually keeps making and selling older iPhones year after year, just at reduced cost. For example, you can buy a brand new iPhone 7 or even an iPhone 6S, directly from Apple today.
When Kuo’s initial prediction made headlines, it was mischaracterized in the blogosphere as

Apple “canceling” the iPhone X, as if it were cutting off production immediately and flipping an iPhone X sign on the door of the Apple Store to read “permanently out of stock.” That’s obviously not happening, but it still might make you wonder: Does the premature end of life (if Apple is indeed killing the iPhone X in Sept. — remember, this is technically a supply chain rumor) mean the company has lost confidence in its top-of-the-line iPhone?

A couple of months back Kuo made what is now considered the best prediction about exactly how the 2018 iPhone lines will shake out in the wake of the iPhone X. Instead of just one phone with an edge-to-edge screen, there would be three. Two “premium” models, a 5.8-inch and larger 6.5-inch design, starting at roughly the iPhone X’s current price point (starts at $999), and a 6.1-inch iPhone with a price closer to the current iPhone 8 Plus ($799).

You can already start to see the problem. If Apple keeps the iPhone X around by knocking $150 off the price, it starts to get a little too close to that new 6.1-inch model. In fact, it would probably put Apple in the awkward position of pricing last year’s phone higher than its newer (but non-premium) iPhones.
To Read More Visit http://techshrewd.com.ng/iphone-x-will-probably-never-witness-first-birthday/

FIFA has been on top of the football sim mountain for what seems like ages, but the gap between itself and the ever-improving PES has been rapidly shortening every year as Konami’s entry continues to double down on the pure, clinical fluidity of its on-field mechanics.

Modern FIFA still has plenty going for it. All those licences; the immersive, match day pomp of its presentation; the grand, moreish longevity of Ultimate Team. There have been notable improvements on the field too, but these elements have often felt disconnected from one another. Until now, that is.

Even after less than a week in its company, it’s just starting to hit me how cohesive the long-running series finally feels. Changes to animations on the field make the minutia of dribbling, tackling, passing and striking so much more responsive than FIFA 17 and every other entry that’s come before, offering a player agency that’s been lacking for years.

Ultimate Team (FUT) – the bread and butter mode of the FIFA brand – has been tweaked in subtle yet effective ways, such as adding in rolling challenges and rewards to make the time and money it requires you to invest feel more beneficial.

Even The Journey, the returning story mode that debuted last year, feels like a player finally finding their place in a top flight club. It’s not a perfect experience, but it’s one that’s by the most comprehensive football-adoring package EA Canada has ever produced.

To Read More, http://techshrewd.com.ng/fifa-18-playstation-4/Click Here

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