New emoji coming this fall when Unicode 17.0 launches
Emoji are unavoidable these days, regardless of whether you hate them, tolerate them, love them, or write using nothing else. The launch of new emoji is an event that is greeted by excitement, shrugs and shaken fists, and the Unicode Consortium has just unveiled some of the latest additions.
In all, eight new emoji have been revealed. They are scheduled to arrive in Unicode 17.0 later this year, but it is likely that they will be joined by other new images as well.
Apple battles Wordle with new Emoji Game
Newspapers have long been associated with all manner of games and puzzles, including crosswords, sudoku and so on. This is something that has endured the crossover from print to digital, with the likes of Wordle from the New York Times remaining incredibly popular.
Now Apple is looking to get in on the action, announcing a new puzzle called Emoji Game. The puzzler is just the latest addition to the Apple News+ collection, giving subscribers a new challenge every day.
Google Chrome address bar – are you a top or a bottom?
Across all platforms, Google Chrome remains one of the most popular – if not the most popular – web browser. But while the desktop version of the software is versatile, customizable and flexible, the same cannot be said of the mobile apps.
And this is why an announcement made by Google several weeks ago caused a flurry of excitement. On the face of things, the news that it would be possible to move the address bar from its familiar position at the top of the browser may not seem huge, but now that it is rolling out, it is becoming clear that it is actually pretty significant for Android users.
Microsoft announces Extended Security Update programs for Exchange and Skype for Business
Support has ended, or is coming to an end, for a lot of Microsoft products at the moment. Perhaps the most notable or well-publicized is Windows 10, but this is far from being the end of the story.
In a move designed to push people towards Teams, killing off Skype and Skype for Business made a lot of sense. The same is true of the aging Exchange 2016 and 2019 losing support. But while this makes sense for Microsoft, it is also incredibly disruptive and expensive for businesses that rely on these tools – hence two newly announced Extended Security Update programs.
Matanbuchus 3.0 is a serious malware threat spread via Microsoft Teams
The Matanbuchus malware loader is not new – it has been around for at least 4 years – but it has evolved into something incredibly dangerous.
Matanbuchus 3.0 has been found targeting victims as part of a ransomware attack. Described as being “highly targeted”, the cyberattack campaign uses Microsoft Teams as a delivery method for the latest version of the malware loader. The highly sophisticated attack employs a Microsoft Teams call impersonating an IT helpdesk.
Microsoft rolls out whole desktop sharing to Copilot on Windows 11
Microsoft’s development of Copilot continues apace, and the latest update is one that could prove to be divisive. Windows 11 users signed up to the Windows Insider program are being given a new option in Copilot Vision for Windows – namely the ability to share the entire desktop with the AI tool.
Sharing your desktop in this way means that Copilot Vision for Windows will be able to see everything that is on your screen asnduse it in your interactions. While there are many potential uses for this, the controversy caused by screenshotting desktops with the Recall feature of Windows that was so controversial that Microsoft had to withdraw and rebuild it.
WhatsApp is developing a way to use status updates to run surveys
WhatsApp is not only one of the most popular communication apps out there, but also one of the most dynamic and frequently updated. The beta releases for WhatsApp are exciting places to hang out and a great way to try, or at least glimpse, new features.
The latest update does not buck the trend. In the most recent beta release for Android, we see developers working a new way to make use of status updates. These are already highly versatile but soon will provide a way to pose questions.
OnePlus releases innovative 2-in-1 charger cable for watches and phones
Owning a smartphone is just about a given these days, and it is also becoming true for a smartwatch. If you have bought into the OnePlus ecosystem for your phone and watch, the company has just released an incredible 2-in-1 charger cable.
While not an entirely unique idea – there are various chargers out there that can charge two devices at the same time – the solution from OnePlus has at least a couple of features that make it stand out from the crowd.
Microsoft releases emergency fix for Azure Virtual Machines issue caused by Windows 11 update
When Microsoft released the KB5062553 update for Windows earlier this month, it addressed a number of issues in the operating system. However, it also caused problems with Azure Virtual Machines.
As such, Microsoft has been forced to publish another emergency patch to fix a problem caused by one of its own software updates. This time around, the out-of-band fix is the KB5064489 update, and it is available for both Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.
‘Side hustle’ is the most popular misleading personal finance trend on TikTok
A study into harmful personal finance trends on TikTok has found that the hashtag “side hustle” is the most common trending term. #sidehustle was found attached to millions of posts on a daily basis, with many providing misleading, incorrect or costly advice.
There has long been concern about the negative impact of social media influencers, and a key area of alarm is financial guidance. A particular worry is that Gen Z is increasingly turning to social media platforms such as TikTok for financial advice, or ideas about how to make money quickly.
Cloudflare is now blocking numerous pirate sites for UK web users
Piracy remains a serious problem for the music and movie industries as well as for software developers, authors, and more. In a radical new attempt to crack down on pirated material, Cloudflare has started to block access to pirate sites in the UK.
This is a significant expansion of anti-piracy measures. ISPs in the UK – as in many other countries – block access to known pirate sites, often because they are legally required to do so. But these blocks can be evaded in various ways, including through the use of VPNs. This is something Cloudflare’s new pirate blocks aim to stop.
Facebook introduces the biggest change to text posts in years
Facebook posts take many forms – images, videos, links, reels, and text. The company has tweaked and added to the posting options over the years and has now just announced a neat new option for text-based posts.
Just as is possible on other social media platforms, Facebook users are being given the chance to embellish their text posts with background music. Working in a similar way to adding background music toa video post, there is a limit library of tracks to choose from.
Microsoft to stop adding new features to Office apps for Windows 10 users
As we are being reminded on a near daily basis, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in mid-October. The company has made it clear that the end of support means the end of security updates, but this does not mean that all Windows 10 users will take notice and jump to Windows 11.
However much Microsoft might wish otherwise, Windows 10 will remain in popular usage for some years to come – so the company is tightening the thumbscrews. A quiet announcement reveals that anyone sticking with Windows 10 will no longer receive feature updates for their Microsoft 365 (Office) apps.
Freepik now offers unlimited AI image generation
There are plenty of genAI options to choose from, and the market for AI image generation is a growing one. With large number of free and paid-for tools vying for attention, standing out from the crowd is hard – and this is why Freepik has just announced unlimited generation of images and video.
This is a unique offering from Freepik, which is already one of the most popular AI image generators available. It marks a change from services that either allow users to generate a limited number of images for free, or force them to buy credits. So what is the catch?
Stanford University study finds AI-based therapy has ‘significant risks’
Access to psychotherapy remains something that many people cannot afford, so it is hardly surprising that increasing numbers of people are turning to AI therapists for help.
It is not just cost that attracts people to seek therapy from artificial intelligence. Demand for therapy is high and waiting lists can be long. There are also considerations such as the difficulties some clients face accessing the help they seek because of living in a remote location, or having an unreliable internet connection. The persistent stigma associated with seeking therapy can also serve as an obstacle that stands in the way of people reaching out to a qualified, human therapist.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. She is currently training to be an LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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