Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.60.0 with great new Windows 11 features
Microsoft has released PowerToys v0.60.0, and while the company says that this is a release cycle that focuses on stability and improvements, this does not really convey how significant an update it is -- particularly for Windows 11 users.
Among some of the biggest changes and additions are a new zone identification technique for FancyZones, and rounded corner support for AlwaysOnTop. There are also new entries in the Windows 11 context menu for PowerRename and Image Resizer, making these utilities even easier to access. But things do not end there.
Microsoft makes massive improvements to Windows Subsystem for Android in Windows 11
Microsoft has fully embraced Linux with the release of Windows Subsystem for Linux, opening up exciting possibilities for fans of Linux-based distros. The company has also shown support for Android, with the Windows Subsystem for Android making it possible to run mobile apps and games in Windows 11.
Now the company has made a significant update to Windows Subsystem for Android, making huge improvements to its networking capabilities.
Microsoft releases Windows Terminal Preview 1.15 with new keyboard selection option, scroll marks, and other improvements
It's time for a new Windows Terminal release, and the latest update takes this essential developer tool up to version 1.15.
There is quite a lot to Windows Terminal Preview 1.15, but one of the highlights is the addition of the ability to use your keyboard to select any text in the text buffer with mark mode. There is now also experimental support for scroll marks, and more.
Microsoft releases new versions of free Windows 11 virtual machines
For anyone looking to try out Windows 11 without making a full commitment, opting for a virtualized version of the operating system is a great idea. Microsoft has just released updated versions of its Windows 11 virtual machine images which can be used completely free of charge.
It is Windows 11 Enterprise that Microsoft has made available, and there are various versions available to download. No matter whether you prefer VMWare, Hyper-V, VirtualBox or Parallels, there is a free Windows 11 virtual machine for you.
NFT sales drop to 12-month low amid cryptocurrency slump
The appeal of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) appears to have dropped off. After enjoying a period of near-meteoric popularity, the value of NFT sales has been decimated over the past six months.
NFT sales for June 2022 were a little over $1 billion, compared to a peak of $12.6 billion at the start of the year. The drop in interest takes NFTs to their lowest level in a year, and it comes as the cryptocurrency markets have suffered a period of extreme volatility and price drops.
Evervault is offering free encryption services to women's health apps
There have been several knock-on effects from the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade, but few people would have predicted a change in app use habits out of fear of criminal proceedings. But this is precisely what has happened as growing numbers of users are concerned about the potential for data stored in apps to be used against them
It's just one of the reasons there has been numerous instances of users either ditching period tracking apps altogether, or switching to options considered to be more secure. Now encryption firm Evervault has offered up another solution, announcing it will offer its encryption services free of charge to women's health apps.
Google will automatically delete abortion clinic visits and more from location history to protect users
Google has announced plans to help protect user privacy in relation to health data. While the company does not make explicit reference to the recent overturning of Roe v Wade, there has been concern in the wake of the historic ruling, including fears that data collected by apps and websites could be used against individuals.
With this in mind, Google says that it will start to automatically delete location data about visits to "particularly personal" facilities such as abortion clinics and domestic violence centers. The company has also announced update to both Google Fit and Fitbit that will give users greater control over their data.
Microsoft is giving the Open With dialog a great new design in Windows 11
Many of the changes introduced in Windows 11 have divided opinion, from the central Start button to the non-moveable taskbar. An upcoming change that is sure to go down well, however, is Microsoft decision to give the Open With dialog a much-needed overhaul.
As you know, when you double click a file in Windows, it opens in whatever the default app it is associated with is. The Open With dialog can be used to select an alternative app, and with the redesign, Microsoft is not only introducing a new look that is more in keeping with the Windows 11 aesthetic, is also making the dialog more useful.
NFT marketplace OpenSea confirms customer data leak
Popular NFT marketplace OpenSea has started issuing emails to its users warning them of a leak of customer data.
OpenSea says that an employee of its email delivery vendor, Customer.io, abused their position to access and share email addresses with an unauthorized third party. The company has not given an indication of the number of users affected by the data breach, but has warned of an increased risk of phishing attacks. With the number of active users of OpenSea reported to be around 2 million -- and this does not include people who have just signed up for a newsletter -- the potential impact is huge.
Microsoft releases preview of KB5014666 update which fixes Wi-Fi bug and adds printing features
Microsoft has released a preview of an update for Windows 10. It will receive a wider release next month, but it is available now for eager testers.
The KB5014666 update is a cumulative, non-security update. As well as fixing a number of bugs in Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1 and 21H2, the update also introduces a number of new printing features, as well as IP address auditing for incoming Windows Remote Management.
Microsoft performs Known Issue Rollback after Windows update breaks Edge
Microsoft issuing updates for Windows that result in unwanted side effects is far from unknown, and it has happened once again.
With the release of the KB5014019 update for Windows 11, the KB5014021 update for Windows 10, and the KB5014023 update for Windows Server, Microsoft managed to introduce a problem that caused its own Edge browser to stop responding. Rather than issuing a fix, the company has instead opted to use a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) after acknowledging the problems.
Entry-level 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro has significantly slower SSD than M1 models
If you opt for the base model of Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro with the company’s new M2 chip, you might end up being disappointed by the performance.
Tests have revealed that the entry-level 256GB model, priced at $1,299, have significantly slower SSDs than their M1-based counterparts. And the difference really is significant; benchmarks shows that that SSD read speeds are 50 percent slower in the latest models. Write speeds are also slower, although not quite so dramatically. So, is the M2 MacBook Pro worse than the M1 version?
Tech companies say they will help employees with travel expenses for abortions following the overturning of Roe v Wade
The US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, ruling that there is no constitutional right to abortion in the United States. With more than half of states either implementing an immediate ban on abortions or intending to do so as soon as possible, there are serious concerns about women's health care. Large-scale protests continue across the country, but particularly in Washington DC.
While unable to help the majority of those affected by the ruling, many of the major technology companies have detailed the support they offer employees seeking abortion services. Among those to offer helps such as the reimbursement of travel expenses are Microsoft, Meta and Apple.
Instagram to use video selfies as one method of age verification
Like most social media platforms, Instagram has a minimum age for users -- in this instance, it is 13 years old. But verifying ages online -- particularly for non-adults -- has long proved difficult. Now Instagram thinks it has come up with a solution.
As part of measure to enforce age limits more strongly, Instagram is preparing to use a variety of techniques to confirm that younger users are the age they claim to be. One of the options that will be available to such users is uploading a video selfie which will be shared with age-checking agencies.
Tips for securing Windows with PowerShell... courtesy of the NSA
The NSA might not be the first organization that you think of turning to for advice about how to secure your computer, but the agency has offered up various tips about how to use PowerShell to do just this.
In conjunction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre (NZ NCSC) and the United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-UK), the NSA has published a Cybersecurity Information Sheet. The document is entitled Keeping PowerShell: Security Measures to Use and Embrace, and it advises properly configuring and monitoring PowerShell, rather than removing or disabling it as is often recommended.
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. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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