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How to Easily Shut Down Windows 8.1

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Win8_1StartScreen

In many ways Windows 8 is pretty awesome, but it has many flaws. One of these flaws is the lack of an intuitive UI. Many people have found that even performing the most common tasks, like shutting down the computer, are very difficult thanks to hidden menus and buttons.  Fortunately , Microsoft is looking to solve these problems with upcoming release of Windows 8.1, which is set to be available to the general public on October 17th.

We originally offered up a solution that allows you to quickly shut down your Windows 8 computer in one step but with the upcoming release of Windows 8.1, this process will no longer be necessary but you can still use it if you prefer. Instead, Microsoft offers it’s own solution, the Start Button.

With the new update, instead of opening the charms bar you can simply right-click the Start Button or press the Windows Key + X, which will open up a menu with the option to Shutdown or Sign Out.

How To Use Emoji Icons On a Mac

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Emoji icons are a popular set of ideograms that became available on the iPhone with iOS 5 and are commonly used to when sending messages. But did you know you can use them on the Mac as well?

Whether your writing yourself a note or using Messages to talk to a friend, you can easily add Emoji icons to your text by following these easy steps.

(*Please note that will will need to have OS X Lion or later to access Emoji Icons.)

  • First, open the application that you want to use an Emoji Icon with. (In this case we’re using Messages.)
  • Head to the menu bar at the top of the screen and click “Edit”.
  • Select “Special Characters” or press Option+Command+T on your keyboard.

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  • Select an Emoji from the list.

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  • Drag and drop the Emoji wherever your text is and your done!

GTA 5 Sales Hit $1Billion

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According to a Take-Two Interactive press release, it looks like company estimates have Grand Theft Auto 5 sales hitting $1 Billion in the first three days of it’s availability.

Grand Theft Auto 5 features an open world environment for players to freely roam as they live an alternate life in Southern California. Not only is there work to be done, like going on heists, but there’s plenty of leisurely activities for you to participate in as well, including everything from yoga to taking chances on the stock market. GTA V also features amazing updated graphics and a solid storyline.

The Grand Theft Auto franchise has forever solidified it’s place in the video game world as it continues to deliver a better experience with each release. The Original GTA was released in October 1997 and offered a top-down view of Liberty city as you pursued your criminal career.

Grand Theft Auto is a cultural phenomenon and Rockstar Games continues to redefine what can be achieved in interactive entertainment,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two. “We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary critical and commercial response to Grand Theft Auto V.”

Apple Sends Out Media Invitations, Colored iPhones Expected

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AAPLsep2013_eventinvite

Apple has sent out invitations to the media for a September 10th event where Apple is likely to unveil its latest version of the iPhone at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California at 10:00 AM Pacific time. We heard earlier this year that this could be the potential release date.

We are expecting to see two iPhone models launch at this event. The first model will likely be an upgrade to the current iPhone 5, perhaps an iPhone 5S with a rumored fingerprint scanner, wider aperture camera and dual LED flash.

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iPhone 5c phones on Production Line

The second iPhone is rumored to be a more “affordable” iPhone which is currently being dubbed the iPhone 5C. The name seems to be all but confirmed in these recently leaked photos (above) of a finished iPhone 5C package. The iPhone 5C will likely be made of plastic and come in a variety of colors to choose from, this seems to be somewhat confirmed in Apples choice of color in their invitations.

Apple is also likely to showcase a completed version of iOS 7 which will launch alongside the new iPhone.

Microsoft Buys a HUGE Part of Nokia

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NokiaMSFT

According to the latest press release from Redmond, Washington, Microsoft has purchased substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, license Nokia’s patents, licenses and Nokia’s mapping services at a cost of about $7.2 billion.

This is a major deal that most of us were wondering if it was ever going to happen. This will put both companies in a win-win situation to push forward innovation and build upon the success that the two companies have seen while working together.

Microsoft has been switching gears lately and taking a more “Apple-like” approach to how they do business by being more in control of hardware, software and services. This business model isn’t new to Microsoft as they have done it before with Surface but many question how this will impact other devices that use Microsoft mobile software, as it could steer users away from other Windows Phone options. Ultimately, it’s a smart move by Microsoft that should put them in a much better position to compete with the iOS and Android platforms more directly.

You can read the official press release for full details on the acquisition.