HoloLens, Star Trek 3 and light particles: Best of the Web
IT Pro rounds up the best content from around the web this week


Microsoft's Windows 10 launch saw the announcement of various goodies this week, not limited to the VR HoloLens headset and Xbox streaming, but that didn't mean that others weren't also making their own announcements.
Here's our roundup of the best of the rest from around the web this week.
Science
- Scientists have slowed down the speed of light by sending light particles through a special mask, changing their shape and thus decreasing their speed slightly.
- Medical micromissiles have been tested on living mice, with tiny machines sent through the animal and into its stomach lining. This is a step forwards in the treatment of many medical conditions, and the first time it has been successful with a living animal.
Film
- Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game has made a lot of cash to go along with its multiple award nominations, cracking $100 million worldwide this week.
- Three new actors Alexandra Shipp, Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan have been added to upcoming sequel X-Men: Apocalypse, playing younger versions of Storm, Jean Grey and Cyclops, respectively.
- Simon Pegg will co-write Star Trek 3 alongside Doug Jung, following the departure of Roberto Orci from the director's chair (replaced by Justin Lin).
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
- Amazon will now buy and produce films to be release both online and in cinemas, aiming to release movies online a few weeks after they have hit cinemas.
TV & Streaming
- Sony's big headache of recent times, The Interview, will begin streaming on Netflix this weekend at no additional fee for existing US and Canadian subscribers.
- UK business secretary Vince Cable this week called for Netflix to offer UK content to people travelling around Europe as part of a "digital single market."
- Predictably, Netflix is doing quite well for itself at the moment, with its Q4 earnings smashing expectations with $83.4 million net income for the period.
- Sony Playstation's upcoming live-action comic book adaptation series, Powers, will be released on 10 March and available for free to Playstation Plus members.
Gaming
- A group of German researchers have developed an artificially intelligent version of Nintendo's Mario character, who now responds to his virtual surroundings and obeys spoken instructions, learning enough to make independent decisions.
- Virtual reality is coming to Windows 10, with the HoloLens headset announced by Microsoft alongside its new operating system this week.
- Also included in Microsoft's event were plans to introduce Xbox One streaming, allowing gamers to view and control games via any Windows 10 device e.g. Surface tablets.
Caroline has been writing about technology for more than a decade, switching between consumer smart home news and reviews and in-depth B2B industry coverage. In addition to her work for IT Pro and Cloud Pro, she has contributed to a number of titles including Expert Reviews, TechRadar, The Week and many more. She is currently the smart home editor across Future Publishing's homes titles.
You can get in touch with Caroline via email at caroline.preece@futurenet.com.
-
Rethinking your technology stack for seamless collaboration
Industry Insights Businesses gain speed and clarity when tools work together in one ecosystem
-
TP-Link Omada EAP723 review
Reviews The TP-Link Omada EAP723 is a low-cost dual-band Wi-Fi 7 AP that's easy to manage and offers a range of features that will appeal to small businesses
-
Windows 10 extended support costs could top $7 billion
News Enterprises sticking with Windows 10 after the October deadline face huge costs
-
A senior Microsoft exec says future Windows versions will offer more interactive, ‘multimodal’ experiences
News With speculation over a Windows 12 reveal mounting, a senior company figure claims the new operating system will mark a step change for users
-
Microsoft’s botched August updates wiped SSDs, now it’s breaking PC resets and recoveries on Windows
News An out-of-band patch has been issued by Microsoft to fix a flaw introduced by its August update
-
The NCSC just urged enterprises to ditch Windows 10 – here’s what you need to know
News The UK cyber agency says those that haven’t migrated to Windows 11 should do so immediately
-
Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 in popularity – but what’s driving this surge?
News It’s been a long time coming, but Windows 11 is finally Microsoft’s most popular operating system
-
Dragging your feet on Windows 11 migration? Rising infostealer threats might change that
News With the clock ticking down to the Windows 10 end of life deadline in October, organizations are dragging their feet on Windows 11 migration – and leaving their devices vulnerable as a result.
-
Recall arrives for Intel and AMD devices after months of controversy
News Microsoft's Recall feature is now available in preview for customers using AMD and Intel devices.
-
With one year to go until Windows 10 end of life, here’s what businesses should do to prepare
News IT teams need to migrate soon or risk a plethora of security and sustainability issues