How to Stop Facebook Videos From Automatically Playing

Facebook recently enabled autoplaying videos on its website and apps and this feature is great if you watch a lot of videos and have a fast Internet connection with a generous data cap. However, many people are likely to find autoplaying videos annoying, especially because they start playing even when you're just scrolling down and don't pause at the video. It can waste data, and sometimes people will share videos that you would rather just not see, but avoiding them when they start playing in front of you without warning can be difficult.
It's actually possible to disable the autoplay quite easily, though the settings aren't very obvious at first glance. Don't worry though - whether you want to disable autoplaying videos on the Facebook website or Android or iOS apps, we've got you covered. Follow these steps to stop Facebook videos from automatically loading and playing.
If you are using Facebook on the Web (desktop browser):
1) Go to Facebook's video settings page when you are logged into your Facebook account.
2) Click the button to the right of Auto-play Videos and choose Off from the drop down menu.
If you are using the Facebook app for Android, use the following steps to stop Facebook videos from autoplaying:
1) Tap the three horizontal lines icon.
2) Scroll down and tap App Settings.
3) Tap Video Auto-play.
4) Tap Off to stop videos from automatically playing, or Wi-fi only if it's okay for videos to autoplay when you are on Wi-Fi.

If you are using the Facebook app for iPhone, use the following steps to disable video autoplay:
1) Tap the three horizontal lines icon labelled More near the bottom right corner.
2) Scroll down and tap Settings.
3) Tap Account Settings.
4) Tap Videos and Photos.
5) Tap Auto-play.
6) Tap Never Auto-play Videos to completely stop Facebook videos from automatically playing, or On WiFi Connections Only if you don't mind videos autoplaying when you are on Wi-Fi.

If you are using the Facebook app for iPad, use the following steps to stop videos from automatically playing:
1) Tap the three horizontal lines icon labelled More near the bottom right corner.
2) Scroll down and tap Account Settings.
3) Tap Videos and Photos.
4) Tap Auto-play.
5) Tap Never Auto-play Videos to completely stop Facebook videos from automatically playing, or On WiFi Connections Only if you don't mind videos autoplaying when you are on Wi-Fi.
You have one less annoying thing in your life now that Facebook videos autoplay is disabled

How Microsoft Reworked Its Activation Rules to Block Windows 10 Pirates

For more than a decade, Microsoft has lost money because of the way its activation program worked in Windows. 'Activation cracks' for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 have been readily available on the Internet, allowing anyone to bypass authenticity checks and essentially use Microsoft's desktop operating system for free. Microsoft has quietly updated this mechanism in Windows 10 in order to help prevent unauthorised usage or piracy of the desktop operating system.
There are several tools available online designed to let you retrieve the product key of your installed copy of Windows. However, if you try using any of them on Windows 10, you will be surprised to learn that the keys they return are generic. This is because of a fundamental change to the underlying activation mechanism in Windows 10, something Microsoft hasn't discussed publicly.
Prior to Windows 10, activation relied on a unique ID which was generated from hashes of your hardware and your product key. This allowed Microsoft to recognise your computer if you tried reinstalling the operating system using the same licence key, even with minor hardware changes.
As ZDNet reports, Microsoft has now gone to great lengths to change the product activation mechanism in Windows 10. If you have a legitimate copy of Windows, Microsoft will issue a certificate, which it calls a "digital entitlement". If you are upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, Microsoft will check your current activation status -- not the product key. If you have a genuine copy, Microsoft will generate the entitlement for Windows 10 based on your PC's hardware.
Thus, no product key is generated or distributed. The Software Licensing Manager utility on each Windows 10 system will be able to retrieve the digital entitlement specific to that PC automatically. This works even if you wipe your hard drive completely. You won't have to enter any key when reinstalling Windows 10. Small hardware updates such as changing a hard drive, graphics card or RAM should not cause any change to the status of an entitlement. However, significant changes such as an upgraded motherboard will most likely cause the activation check for previously activated systems to fail, and users will need to call Microsoft's activation helplines or possibly purchase a new license.
If you buy a Windows 10 USB stick from Microsoft and use it on a wiped hard drive or on a new computer, you will have to generate a new entitlement by entering the key that comes with it.
However, since Microsoft hasn't officially detailed exactly how the new activation works, there are still several potential scenarios in which it is not clear how an entitlement status will be determined. In a statement to PC World, Microsoft clarified that "your activation product key stays with your PC," but did not elaborate on if the product key is tantamount to a "digital entitlement".

Microsoft writes down Nokia acquisition, loses $3.2 billion in Q4

Microsoft has released their financial results for the fourth quarter of their 2015 fiscal year, and thanks to a hefty $7.5 billion write down of the Nokia acquisition, the company lost several billion dollars in the quarter.
In Q4, Microsoft recorded $22.2 billion in revenue for an operating loss of $2.1 billion, which extends to a net loss of $3.2 billion when taxes are factored in, resulting in a $0.40 loss per share. Without factoring in charges related to the Nokia write down, Microsoft's operating income was $6.39 billion.
Aside from the losses as a result of the Nokia write down, Microsoft didn't exactly have a great quarter. Revenue is down five percent compared to the same quarter last year, and income (minus the Nokia charges) was down three percent.
The company also recorded a significant decrease in revenue in several key business units. Windows OEM revenue declined by 22% due to the weak PC market, while the Devices and Consumer unit's revenue as a whole declined by 13%. Windows Phone also isn't doing well, seeing a 68% decline in revenue despite a 10% growth in Lumia sales, mostly because most Windows Phones sold were low-end devices.
There is some good news for Microsoft, though. The Surface division saw revenue grow by 117% on the back of strong Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3 sales. Xbox revenue is also up by 27%, and the company managed to add three million Office 365 subscribers in the one quarter. On the commercial side, cloud service revenue saw strong growth.
With Windows 10 set to launch next week, there is hope that Microsoft will see better financial results in the next quarter as people begin to upgrade to systems running the new operating system.

Microsoft Today Doesn't Have Good Flagship Smartphones, Admits Nadella

 

Microsoft reported its biggest ever quarterly net loss of worth $3.2 billion (roughly Rs. 20,357 crores), citing the write-down of recently-acquired Nokia unit, and falling demand for its Windows operating system. Microsoft's mobile business lately has also been going through a major transition as the company announced it will cut 7,800 jobs alongside confirming plans to reorganise the Windows Phone unit.Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, during an earnings call (via Neowin) discussed plans to offer premium or high-end Windows Phone to consumers soon. Talking about flagship smartphone, Nadella admitted that Microsoft still don't have good devices. He said, speaking in context of the flagship segment, "In which we don't today have good devices." Nadella however was confident that with restructured plans for mobile business, the company can turn its fortunes.
Further, he again stressed that Microsoft will launch one or at most two models each year in three different categories catering to affordable segment, business customers, and premium end or the flagship segment.
Last week, Nadella in an interview talked about the company's plans for Windows Phones in depth. He stressed that despite recent announcements the company was still focused on its mobile-first strategy, and in fact, the Windows 10 free upgrade offer was meant to boost the Windows Phone platform.
Soon after announcing restructuring plans for its phone business, Microsoft had confirmed that it would announce "premium Lumias designed for Windows 10" soon. Preliminary leaks have suggested that Microsoft is working on two high-end Lumia handsets codenamed 'Cityman' and 'Talkman', and both the smartphones are said to be targeted at the premium segment.
Looking at Microsoft's phone launches this year, the Redmond giant has largely focused on budget to mid-range segment announcing the Lumia 430 Dual SIM, Lumia 435, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 540, Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL.
Recently, Microsoft India was reportedly rolling out an OTA (over-the-air) update for select Lumia handsets that enabled 4G connectivity option on these devices.

Using Windows 10 isn't enough, Microsoft plans to "Upgrade the World" too

When Microsoft introduces Windows 10 on July 29, it isn't settling for a press conference or a single event launch. Instead, Microsoft will begin their campaign to “Upgrade the World” through global advertising, a marketing campaign, and charity work.
On July 29, there will be a slew of Microsoft hosted fan celebrations in 13 cities around the world, including Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, Sao Paolo, London, Berlin, Madrid, Singapore, Johannesburg, Nairobi, New Delhi, Dubai and New York City. What can you expect to find at these events? There will be hands-on activities, demos, entertainment and interaction with the Windows team.
If you’re not close to one of the fan celebrations, Microsoft will also celebrate the Windows 10 launch in more than 110 Microsoft stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. These events also happen on the 29th, with in-store stations designed to help customers upgrade to Windows 10.
Microsoft has also arranged extra help for consumers looking to upgrade through retail partners such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Partners will provide data migration services and experience stations where people can try out Windows 10.
From the beginning, Windows 10 has been unique... Our approach to launch is also unique - focused on a more aspirational goal, inspired by Windows 10," said Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Windows and Devices Group, in a blog post detailing the launch plans.
Prepare for a new onslaught of TV and digital ads, part of a multi-million-dollar global campaign from Microsoft, highlighting Windows 10 features, such as Windows Hello security technology and Microsoft Edge browser.
“Upgrade Your World” isn’t just a slogan. It is Microsoft’s year-long initiative to work with 10 global and 100 local nonprofits "to help them upgrade the world." The company will invest $10 million in cash to the participating partners, which include CARE, Code.org, Keep a Child Alive, The Global Poverty Project, The Malala Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Pencils of Promise, Save the Children and Special Olympics.