Microsoft’s future updates could be 35 percent smaller than the usual

Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Following the release of Microsoft’s Creators Update later this spring, the sizes of the operating system’s updates will be significantly smaller. Microsoft’s Unified Update Platform is set to shrink sizes of future updates to save you the trouble of downloading an entire build of your system every time. The feature they’re using is called differential download packages, which basically means it just “downloads what you need.” It’ll look at what files are on your system and use these to rebuild the new OS version from there.

It seems simple but it needed a lot of work in the background given the decades of legacy code and patches. Of course, the major release like Creators Update will need the download of the full build. But after that, the next smaller updates will be about 35 percent smaller, according to Microsoft’s Director of Program Management Bill Karagounis.

Source: Engadget

LG G6 gains pundit's praise as best smartphone of MWC 2017

As expected, the unchallenged LG G6 flagship made like a bandit in Barcelona, earning all the major best of show accolades from various technology publications. The new 5.7-inch flagship, which I had a chance to briefly check out last week, brings a new screen ratio, a sleek glass and aluminium design as well as one-handed ease of use.

LG G6 also has a lot of photography tricks up its sleeve thanks to dual cameras. Hit jump for the list of awards this smartphone, which is expected to come to Canada in April, hit jump to see the hardware LG earned at MWC 2017.

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Google is releasing a new Pixel phone this year, will still be a premium device

Google will release new Pixel and Pixel XL devices in 2017. While the original models were rushed to market (reportedly because Huawei dropped out of the project and HTC stepped at the last minute), the upcoming versions are expected to bring more Pure Android goodness plus add some user requested features like water resistance and possibly wireless charging.

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There are now 50 million Spotify subscribers

Spotify has hit another milestone in less than half a year. The music streaming service adds 10 million new paying subscribers in around five months, pushing them up to having 50 million users. To put it in perspective, Spotify spent less than half a year adding around half an Apple Music. Apple’s own streaming service hit 20 million in December, adding three million subscribers in three months.

This boost in subscribers for music streaming services underscores the changing consumer habits when it comes to music. More and more people it seems would be willing to pay a fee for all-you-can-access music instead of buying per song or per album. It would seem Spotify has the advantage at the moment, if these figures are anything to go by.

Source: CNET + Spotify