Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson

vertical_rainbow

Microsoft confirms color problem in Windows 11 -- but a fix is weeks away

Windows 11 has a color rendering issue which results in some image editors showing white as yellow or other hues.

Although Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the problem and says that a fix is on the way, details are a little sparse. The problem affects certain HDR displays when using particular image editors, but the company has not revealed what combinations of hardware and software are problematic, or how widespread the issue is.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
New Intel logo

Intel releases performance-enhancing graphics driver update to fix Desktop Windows Manager problem in Windows 10 and Windows 11

There is good news for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users who have noticed high resource usage by Desktop Windows Manager.

Intel has released updated graphics driver which addresses an issue that caused DMW.exe to use more CPU time and RAM than it should. The update means that Intel's DCH drivers have now reached version 30.0.101.1191.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
LG DualUp Monitor

Newly announced LG DualUp Monitor is amazing and weird

LG has announced details of some of its 2022 range of monitors, due to be properly unveiled at CES in January. By far the most interesting is the LG DualUp Monitor with the rather extraordinary aspect ratio of 16:18.

As you may have calculated, this is essentially two 16:9 monitors merged into one, eliminating the border that would ordinarily appear between two seperate screens. With a resolution of 2560 x 2880, the DualUp monitor is great for multi-taskers, and while the specs are not mind-blowing, it's a screen that's interesting enough to warrant a second look.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
DuckDuckGo for desktop

DuckDuckGo is bringing its privacy-focused web browser to the desktop in 2022

DuckDuckGo is a name associated with privacy, and it is best known for its tracking-free search engine. But the company has other strings to its bow, including a privacy-focused web browser for mobile devices.

Now there are plans to bring things to the desktop. With DuckDuckGo for desktop, the company is looking to give users a fast, simple and private alternative to the likes of Chrome. Interestingly, DuckDuckGo says that the desktop browser will not be based on Chromium, but that it will be built "around the OS-provided rendering engines".

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
YouTube on TV

YouTube TV slashes subscription price as dispute leads to the loss of numerous Disney channels

Subscribers to YouTube TV have lost access to a number of Disney-owned channels including ABC News, FX, ESPN, the Disney Channel and National Geographic. The channels have been dropped after contract negotiations between YouTube and Disney broke down.

But while subscribers will no doubt be mourning the loss of nearly 20 channels, there is a silver lining to the bad news. YouTube has cut the price of a YouTube TV subscription until such a time as the Disney channels are available once again.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Quantum pendant

Anti-5G 'Quantum Pendant' found to be radioactive

As with many misunderstood aspects of science and technology, lots of myths and skepticism have built up around 5G technology. In addition to the idea that 5G is somehow inherently dangerous, conspiracy theories linking the technology to coronavirus vaccines and infection -- and wider COVID-19 conspiracy theories -- abound.

So it is perhaps little wonder that there something of an industry has built up around anti-5G products and accessories. One such product is the "negative ion" Quantum pendant. This has been found to be not only ineffective at offering "protection" against 5G (indeed, entirely unnecessary), but also dangerous. The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) in the Netherlands has warned that the Quantum Pendant and numerous other negative ion products are radioactive, and people should stop using them immediately.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Instagram icon

Now you can embed your Instagram profile on websites

Instagram has been busy adding new options and features recently, with no fewer than three rolling out this week. Head of the visual social network, Adam Mosseri, shares details about Instagram Playback, Reels Visual Replies, and Profile Embed.

Instagram Playback is a perfect end-of-year feature, giving users the ability to share their favorite Stories from the year in a new post. The company has also made it possible to reply to commends with Reels, and -- assuming you live in the right part of the world -- to embed a miniature version of your Instagram profile in websites.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
TikTok LIVE Studio

Ditch Twitch? Download TikTok LIVE Studio to test out the new desktop streaming software for Windows

TikTok is currently testing a new desktop tool that will enable users to stream their own live footage to the platform. TikTok LIVE Studio is currently only available to download for Windows, and it would seem to be TikTok's answer to Twitch.

If you have a TikTok account, the beta software can be used to stream content from various sources. This could be games, as happens with Twitch, or it could be from an app or webcam capture -- or, as the introductory blurb puts it, "stream and share experiences directly to TikTok".

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Edge

Microsoft has blocked all default browser workarounds in Windows 10 and Windows 11

When Patch Tuesday rolls around, we can usually expect a series of Windows problems to be fixed (and perhaps to see some new ones introduced), as well as new features added. But Microsoft also uses such updates to take things away -- and this is precisely what has happened with the latest updates for Windows 10 and 11.

Microsoft, quite understandably, would like everyone to use its Edge browser, and has taken endless steps to ensure that it stays the default browser on as many computers as possible. With the latest operating system updates -- specifically the KB5008212 and KB5008215 updates -- the company has implemented a block on workarounds used by the likes of EdgeDeflector and Firefox to force links to open in a browser other than Edge.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 11

Microsoft continues to deliver death by a thousand cuts to the Control Panel in Windows 11

Microsoft has hardly made a secret of the fact that the beloved Control Panel is on its way out. Slowly but surely the company has been moving various options from the Control Panel into the Settings app.

There is, however, a strange sense of limbo to be drawn from the fact that both the Control Panel and Settings exist alongside each other, some options are duplicated in both places. On top of this, -- and despite Microsoft really want people to use Settings -- there are numerous occasions on which the Settings app will dump users unceremoniously back into the Control Panel. But with the latest build of Windows 11, Microsoft's assault on the Control Panel continues, with the death knell sounding ever louder.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Microsoft Teams end-to-end encryption

One-to-one Microsoft Teams calls finally have the security of end-to-end encryption

Microsoft is improving the security of one-on-one Teams chats by adding end-to-end encryption. After a couple of months of testing the feature as part of a public preview the company says that the optional security boost is now generally available.

In order for calls to be protected, both parties need to have end-to-end encryption enabled. And if you're wondering why you might want to have E2EE disabled in Microsoft Teams, it's because having the security feature enabled means that some other call features do not work.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 11 magnifying glass

Microsoft releases KB5008215 update for Windows 11 to fix SSD performance, installer problems and VPN issues

In what is the last scheduled update for Windows 11 this year, Microsoft released the KB5008215 update. The update takes the operating system up to build 22000.376 and includes numerous security fixes.

Among the changes introduced in this update are new emoji, as well as a fix for an issue that prevented the appearance of File Explorer and desktop shortcut menus. The fixes for SSD performance problems addressed by the previously released KB5007262 are also included.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows Terminal with rainbow background

Microsoft is making Windows Terminal the default command line in Windows 11

Microsoft has announced that Windows Terminal is set to become the "default command line experience" for Windows 11 users next year.

The company had already hinted at this possibility a couple of months ago with the release of a preview build of Terminal. In Windows Terminal Preview 1.12, the option was introduced to set the tool as the default terminal emulator, but now plans have extended so that all Windows 11 users will have Windows Terminal by default.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
macOS Monterey MacBook Pro

Apple releases macOS Monterey 12.1 with SharePlay and charging fix

Apple has released an update for macOS Monterey, taking the operating system up to version 12.1. This is the first major update for Monterey since its release earlier this year, and in addition to various bug fixes, it also sees the arrival of SharePlay.

For anyone who has experienced issues with charging their MacBook Pro, there is a fix for an issue that was preventing charging when the lid is shut. There are also updates for the TV and Photos apps, new security features and more, but it is SharePlay that is the real highlight here. Sadly, this release does not add Universal Control support.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
open digital lock

Security firm releases a free fix for serious Log4Shell vulnerability in Apache Log4j

If you are running a version of Apache Log4j between 2.0-beta9 to 2.14.1 (inclusive) the Log4Shell vulnerability is something you need to be aware off. Tracked as CVE-2021-44228, this is a serious and easily exploited RCE flaw in the open-source Java-based logging utility.

An attacker can exploit the security flaw to execute a remote attack by simply using a particular string as the browser user agent. Although the Apache Software Foundation has released a patched version of Log4j 2.15.0, not everyone is able to update straight away, and this is something that attackers are taking advantage of. Thankfully, security firm Cybereason has released a "vaccine" called Logout4Shell that protects against Log4Shell.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -

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