Wayne Williams

Vivaldi 7.5 browser update brings colored tab stacks and DNS over HTTPS

Vivaldi browser

Just one day after Opera received an update with new translation tools and general improvements, its spiritual successor Vivaldi has released version 7.5. The Chromium-based browser, created by a team led by Opera co-founder Jon S. von Tetzchner, is rolling out a new build focused on usability, privacy, and customization.

The headline additions to Vivaldi 7.5 are colored Tab Stacks, a cleaned-up tab context menu, and new privacy controls including DNS over HTTPS. The update also includes a number of smaller fixes and UI tweaks that improve day-to-day use.

Continue reading

Never mind Windows 11, Windows Classic Remastered is the nostalgic Microsoft operating system you didn't know you wanted

Windows Classic Remastered

With support for Windows 10 winding down, many users are weighing up their next move. Traditionally, upgrading to the newest version of Windows was a no-brainer, but Windows 11 has complicated that decision. Its strict hardware requirements, growing insistence on a Microsoft account, system bloat, unpredictable updates, and an expanding focus on AI have left many users looking for alternatives, or at least wondering what else is possible.

Enter Windows Classic Remastered (Windows CR for short), a retro-inspired OS that shows us a version of Windows from an alternate reality; one where simplicity, consistency, and user control rule, rather than complexity and bloat.

Continue reading

Opera browser update adds built-in translation, custom cursors, and multitasking tools

Opera browser built-in translation

Norwegian browser company Opera has launched a major update for its desktop browsers Opera One and Opera GX, adding a privacy-focused translation feature, improved multitasking tools, and a new level of personalization for GX users.

The update rolls out as Opera continues to try to compete with bigger players like Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Firefox by leaning into user-driven customization and features.

Continue reading

Xerox completes $1.5 billion Lexmark acquisition to boost print business

Xerox aquisition

Seven months after it was first announced, Xerox Holdings Corporation says it has finalized its acquisition of Lexmark International in a $1.5 billion deal. The transaction, which includes net debt and assumed liabilities, closed on July 2, 2025. This move is part of Xerox’s broader efforts to evolve its business in a bid to stay relevant as work environments continue to shift in a post-Covid world.

The deal brings together two print giants with long-standing reputations in the industry.

Continue reading

New AI platform knows when you're lying, tired, or overwhelmed

Emotional AI

Neurologyca has launched a new multi-modal AI platform called Kopernica that introduces emotional context to machine intelligence.

Described by the company as a “first-of-its-kind,” Kopernica uses real-time data from facial expressions, vocal tones, and behavioral signals to detect and interpret human emotions, cognitive states, and potential health risks, such as strokes. The platform is being positioned as a foundational layer for emotionally aware AI systems.

Continue reading

Windows 7 Reloaded solves Windows 11's biggest problem -- download it now

One of the first things people notice about Windows 11 is its redesigned interface, most obviously, the taskbar and Start menu, which are now centered. It’s a major departure from the classic layout of Windows 10 and earlier, and for long-time users, the change can take some getting used to.

If you’re someone who prefers the familiar feel of earlier versions, particularly Windows 7, there’s now a stylish way to bring that experience back.

Continue reading

Crapfixer 1.0 is here to fix Windows 11 and turn it into the operating system you deserve -- download it now!

Crapfixer 1.0 is here to fix Windows 11

There are a number of great tools you can use to improve Windows 10 and 11, including Winhance and BleachBit, both of which have been recently updated.

Crapfixer, which we’ve covered before, is another tool you can use to remove bloat, ads, creepy data collection, and more. It was originally created seven years ago but has been resurrected and completely rewritten for Windows 11. The modern incarnation appeared two weeks ago, and it has now reached the 1.0 milestone, meaning it’s considered stable and safe to use.

Continue reading

Move over Windows 11, Windows 12 is the Microsoft operating system we need

Windows 12 2025

Windows 10 is set to reach its end of life later this year, meaning Microsoft will stop providing free security updates and support for the popular operating system. While extended security updates will be available for a fee, most users will need to choose between upgrading to Windows 11 or waiting for the long-rumored Windows 12.

Despite its continuous widespread use, Windows 10’s retirement marks a significant shift, pushing users toward a newer, AI-enhanced Windows experience -- whether they’re ready for it or not.

Continue reading

Our favorite free Windows customization tool just got updated -- download Winhance 5 now!

We wrote about Winhance 4 just a matter of days ago, telling you how it can debloat and optimize Windows 10 and 11, and keep it that way.

The tool was originally a PowerShell GUI application, but with version 4 it transformed into a standalone app that can be installed or uninstalled easily. It was also made available in portable form. The app has now been updated to version 5, and it fixes a number of problems and introduces new functionality.

Continue reading

The amazing (and free) Sucrose brings your Windows 10 or 11 desktop to life -- download it now!

Sucrose

Static Windows wallpapers can often feel a little, well, uninspiring -- especially if you don’t change them regularly. Sucrose is a free and fully open-source solution that brings a dynamic, customizable approach to desktop backgrounds.

This versatile wallpaper engine allows you to animate and personalize your desktops with interactive wallpapers, and it supports both light and dark themes. Sucrose works across multiple screens and supports a range of resolutions, making it compatible with various display configurations.

Continue reading

Someone tried to activate every version of Microsoft Windows using ChatGPT -- Here's what happened

You’ve possibly seen people online try to use ChatGPT to generate valid product keys for paid software, including different versions of Microsoft Windows.

YouTuber Gameboy Hub set out to test how successful ChatGPT is at generating, or sourcing, product keys to activate various versions of Microsoft Windows -- starting from Windows 95 and working up to Windows 7 (from where, in theory, it could be possible to upgrade to Windows 10 and Windows 11).

Continue reading

Say 'no thanks' Microsoft Windows 11 and 'yes please' to AnduinOS 1.3

AnduinOS 1.3

With Windows 10’s end of life looming, users are beginning to consider their next steps. In the past, upgrading to the latest Windows release might have been the obvious path, but Windows 11 -- with its tighter hardware requirements, bloat, problematic updates, insistence on a Microsoft account, and an increasing focus on unwanted AI features -- may no longer be the first choice for many.

Thankfully, Windows 11 isn’t the only game in town. Several Linux operating systems have been developed to appeal to Windows users looking to jump ship. AnduinOS is one such distribution, combining the familiarity of Windows 11 with the power of Ubuntu, and it's just been updated to version 1.3.0.

Continue reading

These are the cybersecurity firms Microsoft rates highest in 2025

Microsoft has announced the winners of its 2025 Security Excellence Awards. The event, held in San Francisco during the lead-up to the RSA Conference, is like the Oscars, but for infosec, and celebrates partner organizations and individuals for their contributions to cybersecurity.

The awards panel considered partner nominations across eight main categories, selecting five finalists in each based on technical execution and impact. Winners were picked through a combined voting process involving Microsoft and its Intelligent Security Association (MISA) members.

Continue reading

Winhance 4 transforms Microsoft Windows 11 (and Windows 10) into the bloat-free, faster operating system you need [Update]

Winhance 4 - Fix Windows 11 and Windows 10 and get the Microsoft OS you want

The lukewarm reception to Windows 11 is clear from the wave of third-party tools built to fix it. One of the most recent is Crapfixer Rebirth Version, a utility that’s been around for about seven years (although it looks older), which has now been given a full refresh.

Winhance is another tool you’ll definitely be interested in. It can debloat and optimize Windows -- and keep it that way. Although it’s been designed for Windows 11 it works just fine on Windows 10. Winhance was originally a PowerShell GUI application, but version 4 is a standalone app that can be installed or uninstalled easily, and it also comes in a portable version, so there's no reason not to get started with it today.

Continue reading

Never mind Windows 11, Commodore OS Vision 3.0 is the retro-inspired OS you didn't know you needed -- download it now!

Commodore OS Vision 3.0

We regularly suggest operating systems to consider if you’re feeling disillusioned by Windows 11, and judging by their popularity, Microsoft should be concerned by just how many people are looking to jump ship.

Commodore OS Vision has just been updated to version 3.0, and it’s a major overhaul. The Linux-based operating system offers the modern features you’d expect, but with a retro twist. It’s also packed with classic Commodore content that will appeal to anyone who owned one of those systems in the past.

Continue reading

© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.