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Windows 10 April 2018 Update: the 10 best new features
Siri's Definition of 'Mother' Is Just a Tad Inappropriate
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback First Drive Review: Techier than ever before

Windows 10 April 2018 Update: the 10 best new features

Posted: 30 Apr 2018 05:00 AM PDT

Microsoft's latest Windows 10 update is arriving for PCs and tablets today. Like the previous Fall Creators Update, it's full of small features that improve Windows 10 without dramatically changing the platform. Microsoft is only adding one major feature with this update, and it's the Timeline feature that lets you resume where you left off across multiple Windows 10 machines.

Elsewhere there's easy sharing, quick Bluetooth pairing, a dictation feature, and the ability to mute tabs in Microsoft Edge. Microsoft is also continuing to tweak and improve the Fluent Design system it introduced with the Fall Creators Update. You'll notice more hover effects when you're using your mouse in the Start menu or notification center, and there's a new blur effect on the taskbar. I've been testing the Windows 10 April 2018 Update for months now, and these are my favorite new additions.

Timeline is the major new feature here, and it replaces the familiar Task View button that shows what apps are currently running on a system. Timeline lets you see what apps are running, but also what apps and activities you've used on your Windows 10 PC in the past 30 days. These activities and apps sync across multiple machines, so if you've been using a laptop for a document you can easily pick up the same activity on a desktop PC that you're also signed into.

You can also combine Timeline with Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android, and access the smartphone browser history on your PC. Microsoft is updating its mobile Edge apps to support this, and it's one of the main reasons you might use Timeline. If you're concerned over the privacy aspects of having documents, apps, and activity history in your Task View, Microsoft disables the device sync by default and you can disable activity history.

Windows has had a variety of dictation tools over the years, but Microsoft is creating a quick way to access the built-in Windows 10 version with the April 2018 Update. You can launch it with the windows key + H keyboard shortcut, and it will let you dictate into any app. I even wrote this part of the article using the dictation tool, and if you've got a good mic it works really well.

Chrome added tab muting recently, and now Microsoft is bringing the same feature to Edge. You can mute loud and annoying websites with this feature, and spare any audio blasting out of your speakers. Microsoft has also tweaked the performance and design of Edge. Microsoft Edge certainly feels better to use as a default browser with this update, but it still needs work to truly compete with Chrome.

Microsoft is also adding support for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in this April 2018 update. PWAs are essentially web apps, but they have the full support of Google, Apple, and now Microsoft across mobile and desktop operating systems. This could improve the Windows 10 app situation, and we're expecting to hear a lot more about PWAs for Windows 10 at Microsoft's Build conference in May.

Scaling desktop apps has always been an issue in Windows, but this latest April 2018 Update is trying to make blurry apps a thing of the past. Windows 10 will now detect if an app is blurry because of a monitor change or if you docked a laptop, and it will attempt to scale it better to stop apps from scaling too small or becoming blurry.

Microsoft is adding in some great new audio features with this Windows 10 April 2018 Update. You can now set the input or output audio devices per application. You could have Spotify audio blasting out of your speakers, while your browser audio comes through a headset. The new audio settings let you customize both the input and output per application, so it's also useful if you use different microphones across a variety of apps.

Microsoft is adding a simple and quick way to pair Bluetooth accessories. Windows 10 will now produce a notification to quickly connect to a Bluetooth peripheral and pair it. Microsoft is supporting its Surface Precision Mouse for now, and the company is working with Logitech and others to ensure additional hardware will support this quick way to Bluetooth pair in the future.

Ever get annoyed with those Windows Defender notifications that tell you Microsoft's anti-virus just scanned your machine and it's fine? Yeah, who cares. With the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, you can now suppress these notifications so you're not told every single time there's a successful scan.

Nearby sharing lets you easily share websites, photos, or documents to nearby Windows 10 machines. It's not a feature you're probably going to use all that often, but it works over Bluetooth and is similar to Apple's AirDrop feature. You can share to devices that are colleagues or friends nearby, and it's a lot quicker than emailing over a file. Nearby sharing is disabled by default, and you can set it to only receive files from your own devices or everyone nearby. Hopefully Microsoft adds the option to customize this further in the future so you can only receive from contacts.

Microsoft is changing and updating its do-not-disturb mode for Windows 10 with this new update. Previously known as Quiet Hours, Focus Assist is a smarter way of stopping notifications popping up when you're busy. Focus Assist will now automatically mute notifications when you're playing a game or projecting your presentation to a screen. This stops annoying notifications during a gaming session, or equally important meetings when you don't want your emails, messages, and other notifications being displayed to the whole conference room.

You can also let particular apps break through and still trigger notifications, which is useful if you have a messaging app that you still want to see notifications from while you're playing a game.

Microsoft is making some neat gaming-focused changes to Windows 10 with this update. You can now customize graphics performance per game, allowing you to set games to high performance or power saving. This is particularly useful if you're using a laptop that's capable of gaming, but you want certain games not to draw the best performance in order to save battery life. The new feature is available in "graphics settings" in the main settings app. Microsoft is also redesigning the Xbox game bar so it now has a white or black theme with this update.

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Siri's Definition of 'Mother' Is Just a Tad Inappropriate

Posted: 30 Apr 2018 06:55 AM PDT

With Mother's Day coming up on May 13, you may find yourself pondering what it actually means to be a mother. But if you ask Siri to define the word, you might be in for a shock.

As some Reddit users recently learned, asking Apple's voice-controlled personal assistant to define the word "mother" yields a shockingly inappropriate second response.

"As a noun, it means 'a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth' do you want to hear the next one?" Siri responds. If you say "yes" to hear the next definition of the word, things will get weird.

"As a noun, it means 'short for motherfucker,' want to hear one more?" Siri the potty mouth replies. If you have an iOS device, you can try it out for yourself; if not, check out the video below.

Apple did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. As Gizmodo points out, Siri appears to be getting the distasteful response from the Oxford Dictionary, which offers "short for motherfucker" as the second definition of the word.

Siri is known for its sometimes sassy answers. Ask Siri "what's zero divided by zero?" and you're in for an earful:

"Imagine that you have zero cookies and you split them evenly among zero friends," Siri says. "How many cookies does each person get? See? It doesn't make sense. And Cookie Monster is sad that there are no cookies. And you are sad that you have no friends."

Meanwhile, a viral prank last year encouraged people to say "Hey Siri, 108" into their iPhones. Turns out, 108 is India's equivalent to 9-1-1, so if you say that number to Siri, it will put you through to emergency services in your area. Law enforcement agencies urged users not to fall for the prank, warning it could tie up emergency services.

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2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback First Drive Review: Techier than ever before

Posted: 30 Apr 2018 04:10 AM PDT

The hatchback formerly known as the Scion iM was reborn as the Toyota Corolla iM when the Scion brand was "sunsetted" in 2016. Now, it has once again been born anew as the 2019 Corolla Hatchback.

This is no mere renaming. It's a ground-up redesign with a whole new chassis, new and more efficient powertrains and more safety tech than you'd expect from an entry-level compact car. As far as we're concerned, it's one of the best modern Corollas yet.

Toyota Dynamic Force engine

Under the hood you'll find Toyota's new Dynamic Force 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, powering the 2019 Corolla Hatchback to the tune of 168 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, increases of 31 horsepower and 25 pound-feet over the outgoing Corolla iM.

You might be surprised to learn that Toyota is offering the hatchback with a six-speed manual transmission. There's even a bit of software intelligence built in that enables rev-matching for downshifts, smoother upshift engagement, hill assist and stall suppression. To activate these features, the "iMT" mode must be toggled on. The shift assist software annoyingly defaults to off when the ignition is cycled, whereas I'd prefer that it just stay in whatever mode I'd left it in.

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback has a new look and loads of new tech

Most 2019 Corolla Hatchbacks will feature the new continuously variable transmission, but even this is no mere CVT. It features a fixed clutch-engaged first gear that improves off-the-line performance and feel. From a stop, there's none of the lagginess that makes most CVTs feel weird and rubbery. Above about 15 to 20 mph, that gear disengages and the transmission reverts to regular continuously variable operation with faux "virtual gears" that can be selected with paddle shifters.

Underpinning a body that is lower, wider and longer than before is Toyota's new TNGA platform. This new backbone means the hatchback is 60 percent stiffer than the outgoing iM, giving its multilink rear suspension and MacPherson fronts a more solid stage upon which to perform. Lighter components, such as the resin composite rear hatchback door, help keep the 2019 model's 3,060-pound curb weight in line with the previous generation despite it being larger with more equipment.

All of this conspires toward improved fuel economy relative to the outgoing model. However, Toyota has not announced specific numbers and my time with both the CVT (around 29 mpg) and manual (about 23 mpg) models was perhaps too short to be meaningful.

What's good for economy, it turns out, has also been good for the Corolla Hatchback's performance. This is no hot hatch, but the handling feels more engaging and refined than the previous generation did. The then-Scion iM felt mushy and vague in corners and lacked steering feel. The new Corolla hatch still lacks feel and connection, but is much more planted, predictable and responsive around bends. I'd still rather be behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf or Mazda3 on a truly great road, but this is a pretty solid showing by Toyota and, frankly, good enough for a budget commuter.

Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0

The 2019 Corolla Hatchback steps the safety game up not just for the model, but for the entire brand. It will be the first Toyota model to boast the second generation of the automaker's Toyota Safety Sense driver aid technology, TSS 2.0, as standard equipment.

The upgrade includes improvements to the automatic emergency braking. The system can now totally stop the car at speeds below about 37 mph, preventing collisions below that speed. Cyclist detection has been added to its bag of tricks and low-light pedestrian detection has been dramatically improved, boosting safety at night.

When equipped with the CVT, the Corolla hatch also features standard full-speed adaptive cruise control that can bring the car to a complete stop if traffic ahead slows down. With the manual gearbox, you still get adaptive cruise, but it can only be activated above 25 mph and will disengage if speeds drop below 15 mph to prevent stalling.

CVT models also feature standard Lane Tracing Assist that uses cameras to detect lane makers or, if the markers can't be seen, the preceding vehicle to actively center the Corolla in its lane, rather than just bouncing between the boundaries like older lane keeping assist systems. This hands-on-the-wheel system works only on the highway when adaptive cruise control is engaged.

Off-highway, lane departure warnings (which work at speeds above about 35 mph) have also been improved with better road edge detection and a new driver alertness monitor that suggests taking a break if it detects too much swerving from the driver.

TSS 2.0 also includes a camera-based sign assist system that reads road signs (such as stop, yield, speed limit or do not enter) as they're passed and displays up to the three most recent signs in the instrument cluster.

Add the standard reversing camera to the mix and that's a lot of standard safety equipment for a budget hatchback. Drivers also have the option of adding blind-spot monitoring, but I'm told only on the CVT model.

Meet Entune 3.0

Cabin tech also gets an overhaul for the 2019 model year with the addition of standard Entune 3.0 infotainment in the dashboard. The software is mostly identical to the dashboard tech that we recently saw in the 2019 Toyota Avalon with the same strengths and weaknesses.

This generation of Entune also features new Verizon 4G LTE-connected technologies, including remote access and monitoring via Toyota's phone and smartwatch applications and Alexa Skill integrations.

I like the organizational improvements to the menu system, but think the visuals could use some brightening up. The 8-inch touchscreen is vibrant, crisp and really shines when used with the standard Apple CarPlay connectivity. Android Auto is not available for this generation -- a huge disappointment -- but Scout GPS Link app connectivity is standard, giving users an alternative low-cost navigation option.

Stepping up to the optional Entune 3.0 Premium system adds onboard navigation to the mix, as well as an 800-watt, eight-speaker JBL audio system that sounds heaps better than the standard six-speaker setup.

A solid compact competitor

The new 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback looks and feels sportier, but the biggest improvements to this budget compact are to its comfort and safety. That TSS 2.0 setup will be class leading stuff when the Hatchback hits the road in July 2018, making this a solid choice for parents looking for a safe first car for young drivers.

The new CVT powertrain will boast better standard safety equipment than the manual option and will likely also boast the best economy, making it the model to get. From there, potential owners will have to chose between SE and XSE trim levels, the latter feature more styling and comfort amenities. Pricing for the 2019 Corolla Hatch will be announced closer to launch.

If, like me, you're looking for a bit more heat in your hatch, consider the Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3, which should be priced competitively against the Corolla Hatchback, or save a bit more money for the Volkswagen GTI, Roadshow's favorite hot hatch. I'd also toss the promising next-generation Hyundai Veloster into that mix when it arrives later this year.

Editor's note: Roadshow accepts multiday vehicle loans from manufacturers in order to provide scored editorial reviews. All scored vehicle reviews are completed on our turf and on our terms. However, for this feature, the manufacturer covered travel costs. This is common in the auto industry, as it's far more economical to ship journalists to cars than to ship cars to journalists.

The judgments and opinions of Roadshow's editorial team are our own and we do not accept paid editorial content.

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