Continua is an AI assistant that joins your group chats and keeps plans on track
Continua has launched an AI assistant designed to work directly inside group chats, helping participants keep track of ideas, decisions, and plans in real time. The tool can join conversations on SMS, iMessage, or Discord, offering live web search, scheduling tools, and the automatic organization of group discussions.
The company describes the product as a “social AI” agent that listens in, remembers details, and can turn ongoing conversations into shareable documents, checklists, or calendar invites. It can also suggest restaurants, find meeting times that suit all members, and provide quick answers without breaking the flow of conversation.
Google Pay adds new ways to make web payments easier
Google Pay has announced three new features which it says will make online payments simpler and more flexible for shoppers. The update focuses on providing more choice, convenience and value, and covers both everyday purchases and larger transactions, as well as international money transfers.
For US buyers, Chrome’s autofill feature will now display reward details for over 100 credit cards, expanding from the smaller set previously supported. This addition makes it easier to see which card offers the best benefits for a specific purchase before checkout.
Linux Mint 22.2 'Zara' beta now ready to download -- here's what's new
Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” beta version has been released, giving testers and enthusiasts an early look at the next long term support release of the popular desktop Linux distribution. The final version will be supported until April 2029, but this preview is aimed at testing, so some issues are to be expected.
This update continues Mint’s focus on making small, but noteworthy changes. Sticky Notes now have rounded corners, Wayland support, and can sync with Android devices via the new StyncyNotes app. The login screen gains a blur effect, user avatars, and a cleaner layout.
Epson launches ReadyPrint subscription for unlimited color printing at a fixed monthly cost
Epson has launched ReadyPrint, a subscription-based printing service that aims to make color printing simple, predictable, and cost-effective for homes and businesses.
The plan combines an EcoTank wireless all-in-one Supertank printer with unlimited color printing, premium support, and automatic ink replacement for a fixed monthly fee.
Sync files quickly and securely between devices for free with Syncthing 2.0
Syncthing 2.0 has arrived, promising faster syncing, a new database system, and a number of major fixes and improvements. This open source program lets you sync files directly between computers in real time, keeping them private, encrypted, and fully under your control without the need for a central server.
Syncthing offers a simple promise: your files stay yours. You decide where they are stored, how they are transmitted between devices, and who gets access.
Kubuntu Focus launches Zr GEN 1 Linux laptop with Nvidia RTX 5090 option
Kubuntu Focus has introduced the Zr GEN 1, a high-performance Linux laptop aimed at users who want maximum mobile power. The 18.0-inch workstation replaces the previous 17.3-inch M2 GEN 5 and brings faster components, more storage capacity, and a brighter display, with shipping now available in the US and Canada.
The Zr GEN 1 runs Kubuntu 24.04 LTS and is built for developers, machine learning researchers, content creators, and others looking for fast hardware with Linux-first support.
High Court rejects Wikipedia challenge to UK online safety rules
A High Court ruling has ended Wikipedia’s attempt to overturn part of the UK’s divisive new Online Safety Act, but the legal fight over its application may not be quite over. Judges dismissed the Wikimedia Foundation’s challenge to rules that could place the encyclopaedia under the law’s strictest category of regulation.
The organization behind Wikipedia says the framework risks forcing it to verify the identities of its volunteer editors, undermining both their privacy and the way the site operates. It argues that the model, in which anyone can contribute without registering personal details, is central to the platform’s reliability and breadth of coverage.
Business is booming for AI assistants as they take on bigger roles
The AI assistant market is projected to grow from $3.35 billion this year to $21.11 billion by 2030, according to Indian research firm MarketsandMarkets.
This represents a compound annual growth rate of 44.5 percent, with North America forecast to have the largest share during that five year period.
Debian 13 'trixie' released with five years of support and new architecture options
Lucky for fans of the popular Linux operating system, Debian has released version 13, codenamed “trixie,” marking the project’s first stable release in over two years. Supported for the next five years by the Debian Security and Long Term Support teams, trixie delivers updated packages, improved hardware compatibility, and expanded architecture support, including official riscv64 support for the first time.
The release includes multiple desktop environments such as GNOME 48, KDE Plasma 6.3, LXDE 13, LXQt 2.1.0, and Xfce 4.20.
Ashampoo releases UnInstaller 16 with faster and more efficient software removal
Ashampoo has released UnInstaller 16 for Windows, allowing users to fully remove programs and apps with minimal effort. The latest version promises more thorough cleaning than the standard Windows tools, giving users greater control over installations while maintaining system performance. It also brings faster cleaning, expanded logging, and new resource management features.
Ashampoo UnInstaller 16 builds on the company’s existing removal tech, adding tools that track software installations in detail.
Cooler Master launches MasterFrame 500 Mesh open-frame ATX chassis
Cooler Master has introduced the MasterFrame 500 Mesh to North American builders, offering an open-frame ATX chassis designed with customization and airflow in mind.
Built on its FreeForm 2.0 design approach, the new case combines flexibility, access, and thermal performance in a format that supports a wide range of system sizes.
Deception is evolving, and security teams need to catch up
Attackers are finding new ways to get inside company systems, and deception is playing a bigger role than ever, according to the latest LevelBlue Threat Trends Report.
Threat actors are leaning on tactics like social engineering and AI tools to move quickly, stay hidden, and then extend their reach once inside. Even experienced users can be tricked into opening the door without realizing until it's too late.
Opera files antitrust complaint against Microsoft in Brazil, alleging unfair browser restrictions on Windows
Opera has submitted a formal complaint to Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) alleging that Microsoft’s practices unfairly restrict browser choice on Windows devices.
The Norwegian company argues that Microsoft’s dominance in the operating system market allows it to give an artificial edge to its Edge browser, at the expense of competitors, such as Opera (naturally), and Brazilian users.
Microsoft and KnowBe4 bring real-time security coaching to the browser
KnowBe4 has announced a new integration between its SecurityCoach platform and Microsoft Edge for Business, aiming to reduce risky user behavior online by offering in-the-moment security guidance.
The feature is available globally now and is designed to give organizations better control over human-centered security threats without disrupting productivity.
Photoshop brings low-res images back to life with Generative Upscale
Photoshop’s latest updates bring a fresh set of tools to the desktop, web, and mobile. From blending elements into scenes to cleaning up cluttered images and scaling up resolution, it probably won't come as any surprise to learn these tools use AI to handle a lot of the technical heavy lifting.
Creative ideas often hit a wall when time gets lost fixing shadows, matching lighting, or removing small distractions. The newest Photoshop features target exactly those problems, helping you get past the tedious parts faster.
Wayne's Bio
Wayne Williams has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for over 30 years now. He’s written for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a fair few of them in his time also. If you like what you read, you can Buy Me a Coffee!
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