Google has slashed the size of Android apps

Carrot cut in half

To tie in with the launch of Android 9 Pie, Google has given a glimpse into the improvements it has made to the app store.

In a blog post aimed primarily at developers, the director of Google Play, Purnima Kochikar, said that improved discovery features had helped to boost visits to the store by 30 percent while new tools helped to dramatically reduce crash rates. Google also points to new techniques which have enabled it to reduce app size by up to 65 percent.

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Samsung unveils Galaxy Note9 with exclusive Fortnite access, plus Galaxy Watch

Samsung Galaxy Note9

Today -- after weeks of leaks -- Samsung finally revealed the eagerly anticipated Galaxy Note9. While we already knew just about everything about this smartphone, we now know that it has an astonishing price tag (between $1,000 and $1,250) and that it includes exclusive access to the beta version of Fortnite for Android.

At the same event, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Watch -- dropping the Gear branding once and for all. Available in 42mm and 46mm models, the watch features LTE connectivity and boasts impressive battery life. But has the launch of the two products lived up to expectations?

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Free tool checks for critical open source vulnerabilities

Close inspection

Every month details emerge of dozens of new security vulnerabilities, and open source software is not immune from these.

In order to help companies stay up to date and ensure vulnerabilities are patched quickly, open source security specialist WhiteSource is launching a free tool that provides companies with immediate, real-time alerts on the 50 most critical vulnerabilities published in the open source community.

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Chrome starts to use native notifications in Windows 10

Google Chrome logo

With the roll out of Chrome 68, Google is making an important change to its browser's notification system. Rather than issuing website notifications within the browser, Chrome will instead start to make use of the Windows 10 Action Center to display them.

While the change may not be viewed by everyone as a major one, it will help to provide a more consistent experience for people who choose to enable notifications from their favorite websites.

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Organizations struggle with 'cyber hygiene’ basics

cyber hygiene

Almost two-thirds of organizations are failing to use established benchmarks to set security baselines and are struggling to maintain visibility into their networks, according to a new report.

The study, carried out for security and compliance specialist Tripwire by Dimensional Research, looks at how organizations are implementing security controls that the Center for Internet Security (CIS) refers to as 'cyber hygiene.'

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Unpacked: Watch the Samsung Galaxy Note9 launch live stream here!

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2018

Just about everything you could possibly want to know about the Galaxy Note9 has already leaked out, but there's still the official launch event to look forward to later today in New York. The chances are you're not going to make it to the event itself, but you can watch it here, live.

Things kick off in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 11:00 EDT (that's 16:00 BST), and watching the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2018 live stream is the best way to get the lowdown on this flagship handset as soon as possible.

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The rise of the IoT and artificial intelligence in industry [Q&A]

Industrial IoT

While the consumer IoT has captured the imagination with smart appliances and devices, the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a rapidly growing market. According to Accenture, the IIoT market could add $14.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

IIoT is also breathing new life into industries that are in great need of digital transformation, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and more. As a result, artificial intelligence and machine learning are quickly becoming one of the biggest priorities for companies that want to make the most of their operational data to increase outputs using less energy and costs.

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How to access the new decentralized version of Archive.org

Archive.org is one of my favorite websites. It’s home to millions of free books, magazines, movies, software, music, games and websites, and you can spend hours there, discovering new (well, old), and amazing things.

Archive.org has been around for many years, but there remains the danger that its content could get removed, or the site get taken down as a result of copyright claims, censorship, DDoS attacks, and the like. For that reason, Archive.org has created a decentralized -- or distributed -- version of its site.

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How to watch free movies on the Roku Channel -- no Roku hardware ownership required

With more and more people cutting the cord, streaming media devices such as Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV are continually gaining in popularity. This is in addition to smart televisions, which can include some of the same apps and functionality.

Roku boxes are a popular option not only because they are affordable, but also, they have access to the Roku Channel -- a totally free offering of popular movies and other media. If you don't own a Roku box, you cannot watch that complimentary content, right? Actually, starting today, anyone can view the movies online -- no Roku hardware needed!

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 Redstone 5 Build 17733 with Dark Theme for File Explorer

We’re edging closer to the launch of the next big Windows 10 feature update, codenamed Redstone 5, and Microsoft is hard at work tidying things up, and rolling out new builds for Insiders to test.

The latest build to hit the Fast ring is Build 17733, which -- among other changes -- delivers the Dark Theme for File Explorer that was begun in Build 17666.

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Privacy: Apple denies listening in on iPhone conversations and sharing recorded audio with third parties

Backwards Apple logo

In response to questions from Congress, Apple has written a letter in which it denies recording iPhone users' phone calls. The letter stresses Apple's stance on privacy after the House Committee on Energy and Commerce asked both Tim Cook and Alphabet's Larry Page about their respective companies' attitude to the privacy of user data.

Apple says very firmly that its business model "does not depend on collecting vast amounts of personally identifiable information to enrich targeted profiles marketed to advertisers". The letter also adds that Apple "doesn't provide third-party app developers with access to Siri utterances".

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LibreOffice 6.1 is here with new Windows icon theme

An office suite is regarded as an essential part of your daily work toolkit, whether you’re a big business or a retired individual wanting to keep on top of daily tasks. So you want to make the right choice, without spending a huge amount of money.

Although it’s too easy to subscribe to Office 365 and use the suite across devices, we sometimes wonder if we really need the functionality? Do you use your word processor for more than a few essential documents or your spreadsheet to manage basic finances? If not, you might as well take a second look at the free LibreOffice.

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Most businesses struggle to get value from operational data

data overload

Organizations increasingly depend on data to drive improvements in all areas of the enterprise. But a new survey shows that data volumes are affecting productivity, with 68 percent of respondents saying their organization has so much data they struggle to make use of it all.

The study of 400 US and European business and IT professionals for Devo Technology, carried out by Vanson Bourne, shows that getting a unified view of information is challenging. 74 percent report their business is currently using different systems for real-time and historical data storage and analysis, and 95 percent say they face obstacles when trying to get a single view of data.

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Forget Surface Go -- System76 offers huge back-to-school savings on Linux laptops

Next month, students across America will be returning to school. Whether K-12 or college, technology has become increasingly important in the classroom. It is for this reason that a laptop can be an essential tool for a learner.

Microsoft recently launched the Surface Go, and while the underpowered tablet looks like a decent enough option for students on a budget, let's be honest -- it isn't a true laptop. Its floppy keyboard (which is sold separately) means it is not sturdy on a lap. Not to mention, it is more of a secondary computer -- not a main PC. If you would rather equip the student in your life with a true computer, why not turn to Linux? After all, open source is the future of computing. System76 has a new back-to-school sale that makes buying a computer running Ubuntu or Pop!_OS much more affordable.

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Manufacturing industry at greater risk of cyberattacks

Industrial internet of things

Manufacturing businesses are seeing higher-than-normal rates of cyberattack-related reconnaissance and lateral movement activity.

This is due to the convergence of IT with IoT devices and Industry 4.0 initiatives, according to a new report from AI-powered attack detection specialists Vectra.

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