Latest Technology News

Microsoft releases Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.0.0 with fixes and experimental new features

Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.0.0 pre-release

Microsoft's love for Linux shows no signs of waning, with the company releasing an update-packed pre-release build of WSL 2.0.0.

There are many changes in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.0.0, and as this is a pre-release version it’s perhaps to be expected that many of the new additions are described as "experimental". One of the biggest new features is experimental.autoMemoryReclaim which shrinks the WSL VM in memory by reclaiming cached memory.

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Microsoft updates Paint in Windows 11 with support for layers and transparency, and is working on generative AI

Layers in Microsoft Paint

Far from abandoning Paint after nearly four decades, Microsoft is actively developing the app. Having already updated the longstanding image editor with a powerful background removal feature, the company is continuing to equip Paint lovers with new tools.

The latest additions to the beloved app are support for layers and transparency. This is yet another example of Microsoft elevating Paint above being a basic bitmap editor, and there is more on the way. There are also hints in the code of the app that generative AI is under development, meaning that Paint will be able to create images using the DALL-E-powered Cocreator.

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Save $500 by pre-ordering Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 (G95NC) 57-inch display

Last month, we told you about the droolworthy Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 (G95NC) monitor. Today, the company announces availability for pre-ordering that display. For those keeping tabs on the evolving monitor market, this 57-inch display is stepping into some new territory.

The Neo G9 claims to be the world's first monitor to support Dual 4K UHD (DUHD) resolution, coming in at a hefty 7,680 x 2,160 pixels. Essentially, it offers the real estate of two 32-inch 4K UHD monitors placed side-by-side, which might appeal to multitaskers or those looking for expansive screen space.

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Does the password still have a future? [Q&A]

Password on a sticky note

The death of the password has been predicted for a long time, yet despite increased adoption of biometrics, passkeys and other newer technologies, passwords still underpin much of our day-to-day security.

We spoke to Darren James, senior product manager at Specops Software, to discuss passwords, whether they still have a future and where authentication is heading.

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Enterprise networks are evolving; your security architecture needs to evolve, too

Networked computers

The cybersecurity landscape is no stranger to change. Security strategies must adapt to the onslaught of new threats and the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks. The emergence of 5G as a primary WAN technology creates new opportunities and corresponding security challenges for businesses. As 5G technology delivers faster and more flexible connectivity capabilities, enterprises can expand their networks and provide additional connectivity in more places and for a broader range of devices. With this comes a need for comprehensive, customizable security to handle this growth.   

A major area that 5G technology will affect is the expansion of IoT devices, as many will be added to 5G networks. Ericsson predicts the number of IoT-connected devices will reach 34.7 billion by 2028, up from 13.2 billion in 2022. As the number of IoT devices continues to grow, the attack surface also grows, increasing the risk of attack from bad actors. This is why we have seen a rise in cyber-attacks targeting IoT devices, with Techmonitor identifying a 98 percent spike in cyber-attacks on IoT devices within the last quarter of 2022.

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Sabrent Rocket 1TB NANO SSD: pocket-sized power on a limited-time deal

In the ever-evolving world of tech, it's not often we come across a deal that makes us genuinely excited. But folks, today is that day. Amazon is offering an impressive 24 percent discount on the blue variant of the Sabrent Rocket 1TB NANO SSD. If you've been on the hunt for a dependable, high-speed, external storage solution, your search might just be over.

The Sabrent Rocket is not just any SSD. It's a marriage of portability and performance. This USB-C 1TB pocket wonder works seamlessly with both Windows and Mac. The compatibility ensures a hassle-free experience when transferring data between different devices. And yes, even though support for it isn’t listed, the SSD should work fine on Linux too.

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The thirst for AI could push up GPU prices and leave consumers with less choice

AMD Radeon

Reports suggest that AMD is so focused on developing AI-related technology that the company is transferring time and resources away from gaming. The switch will not only mean that AMD will lose ground to NVIDIA, but also that there is likely to be an increase in GPU prices.

AMD is said to have scrapped plans to release high-end RDNA 4 generation of graphics cards -- so the Radeon RX 8800 and 8900 may well not see the light of day next year. The decision is believed to stem from AMD's desire to better compete with NVIDIA in the AI arena by refocusing its semiconductor resources.

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Google is bringing the Read Aloud feature of Microsoft Edge to Chrome

Woman reading book at computer

There is a great deal of copying of features and ideas in the browser world, so it can be hard to say which is "best". From Chrome and Firefox to Edge and Opera, there is so much inspiration and cross-contamination that it's difficult to find much that is unique.

The latest example of this is Google using the latest Canary build of Chrome to introduce its own version of a feature found in Microsoft Edge. Google's implementation of "Read Aloud" is near-identical to Microsoft's, but Chrome has a significantly larger user-base meaning that this handy tool will be enjoyed by more people.

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NETGEAR launches Nighthawk MK93S Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System

NETGEAR has launched yet another Nighthawk networking product. The MK93S Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6E System, composed of a primary router and two satellite nodes, promises a game-changing 50 percent performance boost over its predecessor. And if that's not impressive enough, it flaunts WiFi speeds that can touch a staggering 5.7Gbps. With a robust quad-core 1.7GHz processor coupled with the advanced WiFi 6E tri-band technology, expect a seamless online experience devoid of congestion and marked by ultra-low latency.

In an age where our homes are brimming with connected devices, the MK93S doesn’t disappoint. Its bandwidth capacity caters to up to 100 devices, ensuring your smart home devices, high-definition movie streaming, critical video calls, security monitors, and online gaming run simultaneously without a hiccup. Gone are the days of WiFi dead zones, thanks to its ergonomic design that promises unparalleled coverage of up to 7,500 square feet.

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Aligning DevOps and change management

DevOps

Companies are committing to DevOps; in fact, according to a recent survey, three-quarters of leaders have adopted DevOps into their operations. DevOps delivers speed and agility to the development process. By cross-training operations and engineering, development teams can move faster through better collaboration, making continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) a reality for organizations.

The challenge some companies face, however, is change management, the process used to control any change related to a product in production. The process is there to ensure things don’t move too fast, and that production isn’t rushed. Companies that can align DevOps with their change management process see the greatest gains in getting products to market.

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Leaked: Microsoft's upcoming Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Surface Laptop Go 3 specs and images

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

In a just a few days, Microsoft is holding a special event which -- although the company has offered nothing in the way of detail -- is widely expected to be a launch event for various Surface devices.

But while Microsoft has been tight-lipped about what the event is about, details of the hardware that will be making an appearance have leaked. Specifically, specifications, images and pricing for the Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the Surface Laptop Go 3 have been revealed.

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When ignorance isn't bliss: Accidental insider threats

web threats

Insider threats are far more commonplace than one would expect -- accounting for about 20 percent of all data breaches.

Though the term ‘insider threat’ conjures up images of disgruntled employees with malicious intentions or moles within an organization, the reality is that the majority of vulnerabilities of this nature are attributable to accidental, negligent insiders. As Okey Obudulu, CISO at Skillsoft, explains: "More often than not, insider threats are unintentional. Innocent acts -- such as sending an email to the wrong person or accidentally clicking on a phishing link -- can have devastating security consequences." Of course, what cybercriminals love more than anything is an unsuspecting and improperly trained employee to take advantage of…

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Best Windows apps this week

tiny11

Five-hundred-and-sixty in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

Classic Windows troubleshooting tools will be retired in the coming years. Microsoft plans to replace some of them with the Get Help tool, which acts as a go-to app for troubleshooting tasks on Windows.

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No more AI please, the infrastructure won't cope

Stop hand signal

While there's continuing buzz surrounding the use of AI, only 50 percent of IT leaders in a new survey say their company's current infrastructure is equipped to handle greater use of it.

The research from observability platform for hybrid IT infrastructures, LogicMonitor, shows that IT leaders do grasp the immense potential of AI technology, and even have a shortlist of desired outcomes it could help tackle.

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Google will provide Chromebook updates for 10 years -- if the hardware lasts a decade

10 years of Chromebook updates

Google has announced that it will deliver automatic updates to Chromebooks for 10 years. Up until now, devices have only been eligible for eight years of updates, and this was causing concern for educational institutes and home users.

A full decade of updates is Google's attempt to kept Chromebooks secure for longer, although it's not clear how many of the ChromeOS-powered laptops will last that long. Google points out that 10 years of regular automatic updates is "more than any other operating system commits to today".

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