Following criticism, Facebook introduces changes to 'real names' policy
Unlike many other social networks, Facebook has long required its users to display their real names. Over the last couple of years there have been many vocal complaints from various types of user who feel victimized by this: drag queens, transgender and LGBT communities, and Native American users, for instance.
As well as users directly affected by the policy, privacy groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have campaigned for Facebook to have a rethink. And it seems that the social network has listened. Facebook's Alex Schultz has written an open letter which, while not announcing the end of the real names policy, introduces a couple of key changes that will please many people.
Best Windows apps this week (Halloween Edition)
One-hundred and fifty-two in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x/10 in the past seven days.
This week saw the release of several promising applications and only some games such as MapFactor GPS Navigation, a free GPS navigation application or the USA Today sports application.
UK police seek power to snoop on the web browsing history of the entire country
The Draft Communications Data Bill (or "snooper's charter") has proved very controversial in the UK, but is yet to be implemented. A key component of the proposed bill is a requirement for ISPs to retain records of every single users' browsing history for a full year. So far the bill has been kept at bay, but now the police are looking to place very much the same requirements on ISPs.
The police have lobbied the government, complaining that traditional methods of surveillance are insufficient to deal with the current levels of online crime. Proposals that the police should be able to access all and any records about someone's online activity without the need for a warrant are already viewed as an invasion of privacy, but police demands are all the more controversial since the snooper's charter was successfully blocked by the Liberal Democrats.
Microsoft is hiring Linux and open source professionals
There was a point in time where Microsoft was viewed as the giant closed source monster; the enemy of the Linux and open source communities. While that may have been true at one time (and some would argue still true), Microsoft has actually embraced open source lately, choosing to evolve rather than dissolve.
Now, Microsoft is showing its commitment to open source technologies -- particularly on Azure -- by seeking to hire Linux and open source professionals. Seriously, the company has hundreds of open positions just waiting to be filled. Will you apply?
2014 still leads the way for data breaches
There have been some significant data breaches in 2015, and with two months still to go there may yet be more to come, but so far the numbers of people and businesses affected haven't approached the scale of last year's attacks.
The Top Ten Reviews comparison service has been looking back at the major breaches that marked 2014.
Google is 'very committed' to Chrome OS, questioning Android merger rumors
Google is rumored to be planning a merger of Android and Chrome OS. An early build of the combined operating system is expected to see the light of day as early as next year, with an official release making its way in 2017. That's what a so-called "report" claims anyway.
Such a plan would certainly make sense, considering that Chrome OS has limited appeal while Android has matured nicely, becoming the most-popular mobile operating system. So, how does Google comment? Well, the search giant continues to stand by its less-popular operating system. What else do you expect?
YouTube Red: Trigger for cord cutting?
YouTube announced its first-ever subscription service last week, YouTube Red, with the usual set of (uninteresting) "premium" features -- ad-free videos and offline/background playback. The only interesting tidbit was that YouTube Red would also house "original" movies and TV shows starring well-known YouTube personalities. While it may seem mundane, this move has the potential to present a true disruption to the TV industry.
For years, industry observers have talked about the looming threat of cord-cutting -- consumers were expected to drop expensive cable subscriptions in favor of on-demand streaming services like Netflix. But while Netflix has seen exceptional growth, we are yet to see a tipping point in cord-cutting behavior.
Mobile threats are on the rise and more than 40 percent of devices are at risk
Mobile threat defense specialist Skycure has released its Mobile Threat Intelligence Report, which finds a frightening increase in threats to both enterprise and personal mobile devices.
Using analysis of worldwide mobile data from Skycure and outside sources, the report found 41 percent of mobile devices are at medium to high risk on the Skycure risk scale. Nearly two in every hundred are high risk devices that were already compromised or were under attack.
How your social media habits could be putting your security at risk
The biggest risk to your data or that of your company could stem from the way you use social media. Despite headline-hitting hacking attacks social media remains a favorite tool of cyber criminals.
Data protection specialist Digital Guardian has produced an infographic warning of the risks of over sharing on social media.
Businesses store a lot of irrelevant data in the cloud
Businesses are spending tons of money to keep their data in the cloud, but only a small portion of that data is actually business-critical. The rest is completely redundant, increasing their costs and putting their cyber-security at risk.
These are some of the conclusions seen in a new report by Veritas Technologies, backup and recovery solutions firm. The report, entitled Databerg report 2015, looked at how European organizations across the public and private sector manage their data.
Microsoft will push Windows 10 even harder in 2016 -- is the company being a bully?
Windows 10 is a wonderful operating system -- the best operating system that Microsoft has ever created. With that said, there are still many bugs in it. Plus, the privacy concerns are legit, despite what some fan-sites may have you believe. My biggest annoyance? Advertisement prompts telling me to try Office 365, and regular survey prompts asking me to rate Windows -- I am on the retail build, not pre-release, and that is totally inappropriate.
With all of that said, it is totally understandable that some Windows 7 and 8 users want to hold off on installing version 10. Sadly, Microsoft seems intent on pushing the new operating system on the world. First, the company was caught intentionally downloading Windows 10 setup files onto unsuspecting PCs. Of course, let us not forget that "accident" where Microsoft forcibly upgraded some computers to Windows 10. Now, according to Terry Myerson, Microsoft's Executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group, the company will start pushing Windows 10 even harder in 2016.
National Geographic Channel and GE announce an early online debut of Breakthrough
We're starting to see companies experiment with modern release methods for media. For instance we've seen movies debut on DVD the same day as they hit theaters and TV shows be available online before airing on networks. We can now add one more to the list.
National Geographic Channel and GE are teaming up to bring the "highly anticipated" new science show Breakthrough to viewers before it airs.
Two become one -- Google to 'merge' Android and Chrome OS
Just as Microsoft is trying to streamline its various operating systems with the approach it has taken with Windows 10, so Google appear to have similar plans. The Wall Street Journal reports that plans are well under way to merge Android and Chrome OS.
Work has been going on for two years, and an early build of the hybrid operating system is expected to see the light of day next year. A full release is planned for 2017. While described as a merger of OSes, the report suggests that Google is really looking to expand Android so that it can run on laptops. Chrome OS may well live on, but the same cannot be said of Chromebooks.
Windows 10 Build 10576 gives a better taste of Threshold 2 and introduces media casting
In a first for Microsoft, today sees the release of not just a new Windows 10 Mobile build, but also a new build of Windows 10 for the desktop. Windows 10 Build 10576 is now available to Insiders on the Fast Ring. This is the latest update to the Threshold 2 branch, the final build of which is due for release next month.
This is more than just a bug-fixing build -- although there are a number of bug fixes, you'll be pleased to hear -- there are also new tools and features to try out. Taking a leaf out of Google's book, Microsoft Edge gains media casting, PDF can be navigated with Cortana, and there's a new Xbox beta app. But it doesn't end there...
System76 Oryx Pro is a Skylake-powered Ubuntu laptop with NVIDIA GPU and G-SYNC
Buying a laptop can be a confusing affair. Of course you want something powerful, but looks matter too. In other words, the entire experience makes a difference; consumers want the entire package to be well-thought out in both design and execution.
System76 now has such a laptop; the all-new Ubuntu-powered Oryx Pro is absolutely gorgeous, featuring a black aluminum chassis. Inside, however, is is equally beautiful, with Skylake processors (Core i7 only), DDR4 memory and NVIDIA graphics by default. You can even opt for a cutting-edge G-SYNC display. Yes, keeping true to its Oryx name (a type of antelope) this laptop is a Linux beast!
© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.