This Week in the Universe rounds up some of the best and most interesting stories from around the web you may have missed this week. Enjoy.
To start with, everyone’s favourite new operating system: Windows 8 is being treated more and more like a tablet device.
A question posed by Casey Muratori on Microsoft Answers, asked whether developers could post apps on the web for easy downloading, or if everything had to go through the app store.
Will Windows 8 allow developers to post Metro apps on the web…
“The Store Apps (formally Metro) can only be distributed through the Windows Store. Any developers who builds these apps, must have a Developers License and each app must go through a certification process and be validated before being placed in the Windows Store.”
Everyone’s second-favourite company OS company, Apple, have responded to the poor reception of the iOS6 Maps app by amending the homepage.
iOS6 Maps fallout: Apple amends homepage, removes most “powerful mapping service ever” boast
“Apple referred to Maps as, ‘the most beautiful, powerful mapping service ever.’ We use the past tense when reporting that, however, as Apple has since updated its website to indicate that Maps is, in fact, not that. Don’t let it be said that Apple doesn’t care about the details (unless you’re referring to Maps itself, we suppose).”
The MakerBot Store opens in New York, first 3D printing retail store.
First Ever 3D Printing Retail Store Launched
“Unfortunately 3D Printing is still at ‘enthusiastic amateur’ stage. While there is a lot of information on the web about 3D Printing, there seems to be a lack a readily available content telling you how to fix problems with your printer or your prints. Of course there are many wikis and IRCs, but still, being able to go into a shop and talk directly to someone about your printer is a real plus to the industry.”
In tech-geek memory news, the specs for the new DDR4 RAM have been published.
New DDR4 specification sets the stage for new DRAM in computers
“Top DRAM makers like Samsung, Micron and Nanya have already started shipping test units of the memory. Integrated Device Technology two weeks ago announced it was shipping test units of DDR4 memory with error correction features, which typically go into servers.”
Now to end this (last) week on a high, or at least mildly amusing note. An EU group that were tasked with coming up with rules for a terrorist-free internet.
“As mentioned, it’s pretty amazingly bad. Like, infra-stupid, containing strains of stupidity so low and awful they can’t be perceived with unaided human apparatus.”
Aaand I can only apologies profusely for this. Due to the lateness of this article, I was a little rushed to find a video for the video of the week. So… Here’s a cute cat (note especially from 2:32):
Everyone likes cute cats