Microsoft addresses battery issues with Surface Pro 3

For Surface Pro 3 users experiencing battery issues, Microsoft has issued a fix for those tablets that don’t seem to hold a full charge. Some owners of this model particular have been complaining that their machines couldn’t hold charge for more than an hour. Microsoft was able to determine that the issue with some units is they’ve been failing to correctly measure the full battery capacity of the tablet, which is preventing them from receiving a full charge. Microsoft likens the issue to a broken fuel gauge in a car: “If the fuel gauge isn’t working right, the car would also not be able to fill the tank—even though the tank is fine.”

Microsoft claims the batteries inside the units should be fine and should work properly after you install the update. But the changes might happen over a few charge and discharge cycles. Of course, with an older unit like the Surface Pro 3, the capacity of its battery might be less than the original at this point. But it should still be better than an hour’s use. For those who already replaced their battery thinking that was the issue. Microsoft is looking into the issue and trying to identify those who actually have a faulty battery or those who just ran the battery’s unit down. They intend to reach out to those affected by the bug and paid for a replacement within 30 days.

Source: The Verge

Facebook’s Trending Topics feature hits another snag over fake news story

After reducing the role of editors when it comes to curating Trending Topics, Facebook finds itself in another controversy over the feature. An erroneous story about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly “backing Hillary” (referring to US Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton) gets promoted in the section. Fox News calls the incident “an egregious mistake.”

The story it seems was able to pass through the review team even though Facebook has said its team is working “to ensure that the topics that appear in Trending remain high-quality.” There were enough stories written over it that it got approved. But it was later found there were problems with accuracy about the supposed story. If there’s one lesson here, it reminds us to not believe everything you see online. And Facebook still has a lot of work to do when it comes to verifying stories before these get promoted.

 Source: CNET

Apple to reportedly refresh Mac and iPad lineups

Added software support to the Apple Pencil, thinner MacBook Pros, and a standalone 5K monitor are supposedly in Apple’s future. Unnamed sources tell Bloomberg of the possible lineup Apple has in the coming months and year. One is new software and hardware updates for the iPad. Wider operating system support is supposedly in the future for the iPad and the Apple Pencil, which could come out next year. Apple’s stylus will reportedly be able to annotate objects in as many applications as possible across the OS, much like what Samsung has done with its Note devices. In terms of hardware, display technology will be boosted for the iPad for better zooming, panning, and scrolling. A 10.6-inch iPad Pro is supposedly on its way.

Meanwhile, for the Mac line we might see new products as early as October. These include everything from a new iMac with new AMD graphics chips, a new MacBook Air with USB Type-C support, and a thinner MackBook Pro. Aside from that, Apple is supposedly working with LG Electronics to develop a new standalone 5K monitor. Apple is set to unveil new iPhones, a new Apple Watch, and iOS 10 update at its September 7 event in San Francisco.

First Look at the 2017 GMC Acadia SUV

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Whistler, BC – Invited to experience what the 2017 GMC Acadia SUV had to offer by GM Canada, I disembarked my Air Canada plane to find myself in sun-soaked Vancouver airport. I was to find my way to the Fairmont hotel which was a 15-minute walk from the domestic area, check-in with GM representatives and be on my way to a secluded resort right at the foothills of Whistler.

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