Latest Technology News

The Recall feature of Windows 11 has not even launched yet, but it has proved endlessly controversial since it was first announced a few months back. Microsoft says that Recall will help users retrace their steps by taking snapshots of activity every few seconds, providing a way to step back in time and jump to an earlier activity.

Such was the uproar about the security and privacy implications of the feature, Microsoft has already made concessions. The company first pulled the feature from preview builds of Windows 11 to do further work on it, and then announced that it would be opt-in rather than enabled by default. Now it turns out that it will be possible to uninstall it completely.

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Meta’s Llama AI engine has seen substantial growth in the open source AI landscape, emerging as a leading force in the industry. With nearly 350 million downloads to date, Llama models have experienced a significant increase in adoption over the past year. In July alone, the models were downloaded over 20 million times, positioning Llama as a prominent open source model family.

Since the introduction of Llama 3.1, which expanded context length to 128K and added support for multiple languages, usage by token volume across major cloud service providers has more than doubled in three months. This growth reflects an increasing preference for Llama within the developer community, making it a notable competitor in the AI field.

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The 117B-USBC-MULTIPORT by StarTech.com offers a practical solution for those seeking to expand their laptop's connectivity options. This USB Type-C Multiport Adapter leverages DP 1.4 Alt Mode and Multi-Stream Transport (MST) from a host computer to support up to three external displays, making it a versatile choice for users who need to manage multiple screens. With 2x HDMI and 2x DisplayPort outputs, the adapter transforms a single USB-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 port into a useful hub.

The 117B-USBC-MULTIPORT enhances video connectivity by supporting up to three external monitors, with potential resolutions of 1x 4K (3840 x 2160p) at 60Hz and 2x 4K at 30Hz. Users with Intel 11th Gen processors or later, featuring DSC technology, can achieve optimal performance. The adapter utilizes the laptop's integrated or discrete GPU to ensure efficient handling of high-resolution displays, dependent on the capabilities of the host computer.

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Microsoft is delving into the depths of human brain function, trying to replicate its most complex processes in artificial intelligence. While this might sound like progress, it raises a chilling question: Are we on the brink of creating an AI that could outthink and overpower its creators?

In collaboration with top universities, Microsoft Research Asia is spearheading projects that mimic the brain's intricate neural networks. CircuitNet, one such project, isn't just another AI -- it’s a system designed to think like a human. By replicating the brain's connectivity patterns, CircuitNet could potentially surpass current AI capabilities, processing information with an efficiency and accuracy that traditional systems can’t match.

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The new NIS2 directive is designed to strengthen the cyber resilience of over 160,000 companies that operate in the EU -- either directly or indirectly. Coming into force by 17th October, NIS2 regulations will outline how these essential entities can combat increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyber attacks.

Notwithstanding delays in the implementation of local legislation, the NIS2 directive provides an indication of the compliance obligations affecting those organizations which fall within the scope of the new rules. Ultimately, NIS2 aims to reduce inconsistencies in cyber security resilience by being the “single source of truth” for regulatory bodies to oversee how organizations implement increasingly stringent cybersecurity frameworks. As we have seen in recent weeks, these are crucial, especially during large-scale cybersecurity incidents or crises.  

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As the open-source movement continues to gain traction, more users are considering switching from proprietary systems like Windows 11 to free and open alternatives. Released today (after a delay), Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS Noble Numbat (download here) is the perfect choice for those ready to embrace open-source software.

Whether you're a first-time Linux user, an experienced developer, an academic researcher, or an enterprise administrator, Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS offers unparalleled benefits just as the platform celebrates 20 years of existence. Is a point release that exciting? Yes! Many people wait for the first point release prior to upgrading.

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On paper, artificial intelligence makes for the perfect intern -- it’s keen to please, happy to do anything thrown its way, and gets on with tasks so efficiently. It’s also prone to making mistakes. And like a human intern, AI tools need training and monitoring rather than being catapulted straight into senior positions --  it is extremely well suited to the repetitive and predictable tasks that we often ask junior staff to handle.

Unlike people, AI works 24/7, never stresses out -- it can complete a vast number of tasks in a short period of time. This makes it ideal for the mundane jobs that people tend to find boring and time-consuming. Take a function such as VAT ledger data analysis, which can contain millions of rows of data -- for a human to correctly analyze every row would not only take an age but would also be mind-numbingly boring. By contrast, AI can examine it in seconds -- think of it as an ‘infinite intern’.

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Apple Sports, the free app for iPhone and Apple Watch, is gearing up for the upcoming NFL and college football seasons with several new updates. The app, which enables fans to follow games, leagues, conferences, and teams, will soon offer real-time updates directly on iPhone and Apple Watch Lock Screens through Live Activities. This feature allows users to monitor their favorite teams without unlocking their devices.

The latest enhancements include improved play-by-play features that provide quick access to scoring drives, presented alongside every game play. The app also introduces a dynamic drive tracker that displays the ball's position on the field in real-time. Fans can now follow NFL teams, the top 25 college football teams, and their favorite college conferences more closely.

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Admit it, you have at some time or other exaggerated your skills when applying for a job. But a new survey finds that this is becoming much more of a problem since the advent of AI.

The survey by Capterra of 3,000 job seekers around the world shows that 58 percent say they are using AI tools as part of their job search.

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While the standard versions of Windows 10 and 11 are designed to be all-encompassing, catering to a broad audience with varying needs, they can often be bogged down by features and services that not everyone needs, like Copilot in Windows 11 for example. Whether you're a professional needing a responsive system or a casual user looking for a smooth experience, the default versions of Windows 10 and 11 might not always offer the peak performance you desire.

Fortunately, there are customized versions of Windows that can help you unlock your PC’s full potential. These builds are designed to speed up your system by stripping away unnecessary features, optimizing resources, and delivering a leaner, faster operating system. Here’s a look at the five best custom Windows 10/11 builds that can help you achieve superior performance.

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The fallout from Elon Musk taking over at X continues as former Twitter-users flock to any of a growing list of alternatives on the fediverse. As well as options like Mastodon there is also Threads which comes from the same stables as Facebook -- Meta.

Much to the chagrin of Twitter exiles who flocked to Socialhome, Mastodon, Pixelfed et el, Threads has been gradually beavering its way into the fediverse. Now Meta has taken its next steps in this direction by making it possible for Threads users to see likes and replies from other networks.

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Google has introduced several new features for its Gemini platform, aimed at enhancing the user experience with customizable AI experts, known as Gems, and an advanced image generation model, Imagen 3. These features are now available to Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise users and are designed to improve both productivity and creativity across various applications.

Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise subscribers can now create and interact with Gems, which are customizable AI experts tailored to specific tasks or topics. Users can generate Gems by providing instructions, naming them, and then utilizing them for various tasks, including brainstorming ideas or assisting with writing. Gems are designed to offer support in areas such as simplifying complex topics, providing creative inspiration, offering career guidance, giving feedback on writing, and assisting with coding projects. These AI experts are accessible on both desktop and mobile devices in over 150 countries and support a wide range of languages.

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Despite Microsoft's ongoing efforts to improve Windows 11 by fixing bugs and introducing new features -- most notably AI integration with Copilot -- many users continue to experience issues and design inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience. No wonder so many people are choosing to stick with Windows 10.

However, there's good news: Rectify11, a third-party solution designed to address Windows 11's many problems, has just been updated to version 3.2, offering a more polished and consistent user experience.

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As we've already seen today AI systems are becoming increasingly popular targets for attack.

New research from Snyk and Lakera looks at the risks to AI agents and LLMs from prompt injection attacks.

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Microsoft 365 offers tools for content management, communication, process automation, and report creation. Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online Cookbook maximizes workplace collaboration and productivity using SharePoint Online, Teams, OneDrive, Delve, M365 Search, Copilot, Power Platform, Viva, Planner, and Microsoft Forms.

You will find thoroughly updated recipes for SharePoint Online, covering sites, lists, libraries, pages, web parts, and learn SharePoint Framework (SPFx) basics for building solutions.

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