Latest Technology News

There are many frustrations to complain about in relation to messaging apps, but one of the biggest has to be the fact that the vast majority of platforms do not talk to each other. Facebook Messenger can only be used to talk to other Facebook Messenger users, WhatsApp can only be used to communicate with other WhatsApp users, and so on. But this is about to change.

At least it will change for people in Europe. In response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Meta is working towards making it possible for WhatsApp and Messenger users to enjoy cross-platform interoperability by enabling third-party chats. This has been in the pipeline for a while, but the changes are now imminent and more details of how it will all work have been revealed.

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The taskbar and Start menu continue to be features of Windows 11 that divide opinion. And, for better or worse, Microsoft is continually changing things up and making evolutionary developments.

A good example of this is when app pinning was updated so it was possible to drag and drop apps pinned to the Start menu onto the taskbar in order to pin them there as well. Now the company has introduced another significant improvement to taskbar/Start menu pinning that helps to make life much easier.

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Canonical has officially revealed the codename for Ubuntu 24.10, and it's drawing inspiration from myth and poetry. The upcoming release will be known as "Oracular Oriole," a name that combines the imagery of the vibrant oriole bird with a sense of prophecy and creativity. This continues Ubuntu's tradition of pairing animal-themed codenames with evocative adjectives, blending symbolism with the open-source community’s forward-looking spirit.

The name "Oracular Oriole" harkens back to the oriole’s presence in various cultures, where it has been seen as a symbol of prosperity and divine foresight. This theme is reflected in Ubuntu 24.10’s artistic direction, including its official wallpaper. Canonical's design team has crafted an intricate representation of the Oriole, incorporating celestial motifs like planets and concentric circles, alluding to Ubuntu's "circle of friends" logo. The design, described by Marcus Haslam, the project’s lead designer, brings together the bird’s mythical qualities with modern visual rhythm.

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The KDE Slimbook Plasma VI is a refreshed Linux laptop that improves both performance and design over its predecessor. This latest iteration of the KDE Slimbook lineup now comes equipped with the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, offering eight cores, 16 threads, and an NPU for local AI tasks. With up to 96GB of RAM, this laptop should easily handle intensive workloads, surpassing the previous version’s 64GB memory cap.

The Plasma VI also features a bigger 83wh battery for longer usage and a sound system powered by four speakers, including two tweeters. The redesigned "space blue" aluminum chassis gives it a sleek, modern look while enhancing the build quality, accompanied by a firmer, more tactile keyboard.

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The internet was a massive, revolutionary invention. A once-in-a-lifetime breakthrough. And yet, it was not an overnight sensation in terms of consumer adoption. This may surprise some people today. From the early web browsers in 1992 to the explosion of dot-coms in 1998, it took roughly six years for the general public to truly embrace the world wide web. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically shifted.

Consider the recent phenomenon of ChatGPT, the large language model chatbot launched by OpenAI in late 2022. Within a year, consumer adoption of this AI technology reached a fever pitch. For a while, it was all anyone in tech and business circles could talk about. In fact, they still are. This highlights a critical difference in our current technological era, which is that innovation is happening and being adopted at an unprecedented pace.

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Begin your programming journey with a comprehensive course designed to introduce you to the world of Java and algorithmic thinking.

The course starts by laying a solid foundation with an understanding of how computers work and an introduction to integrated development environments. As you advance, you'll delve into essential Java concepts, learning about variables, constants, and basic algorithmic concepts that are crucial for any aspiring programmer.

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Are you frustrated trying to use TeamViewer in a non-professional capacity? As its personal-use restrictions lock more and more people out, it’s easy to think that the Holy Grail of a single platform covering all your personal remote desktop and remote support needs is slipping from your grasp.

Thankfully, there’s an alternative riding into town. It’s still undergoing rapid development, but the good news is that RustDesk 1.3.0 is already living up to its self-titled billing as "the open-source alternative to TeamViewer".

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Perimeter solutions such as Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) have long been a cornerstone of email security, historically serving as the primary line of defence against malicious emails entering an organization. Utilizing legacy technology such as signature and reputation-based detection, SEGs have provided pre-delivery intervention by quarantining malicious attacks before they reach the end recipient.

Why, then, are 91 percent of cybersecurity leaders frustrated with their SEGs, and 87 percent considering a replacement?

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A new zero-trust stealth mode browser is being launched by SlashNext, designed to see through obfuscation techniques commonly used by threat actors, and deliver enhanced protection against phishing and malware.

In recent years, well-intentioned companies offering free services such as CAPTCHA solutions and content delivery networks have inadvertently aided threat actors. For example, Cloudflare's Turnstile Services and similar CAPTCHA solutions are commonly exploited as obfuscation techniques. CAPTCHAs are used to block the crawlers employed by security services from accessing and analyzing phishing sites.

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Satechi has announced the release of three upgraded slim multi-port adapters designed for Mac and PC users. These new models—the 4-in-1 Slim Multi-Port Adapter 4K, 6-in-1 USB-C Slim Multi-Port Adapter, and 7-in-1 USB-C Slim Multi-Port Adapter with Ethernet—offer improved connectivity, stronger power delivery, and faster data transfer speeds, while maintaining the same price points as previous versions.

The adapters feature Satechi's premium design standards, with sleek aluminum enclosures, tangle-free braided cables, and reinforced necks for durability. These adapters are suitable for various users, including content creators, photographers, remote workers, and business professionals, making them versatile additions to any tech setup.

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Satechi has introduced its latest product designed to make international travel smoother and more secure: the Vegan-Leather Passport Cover with Find My technology. This new accessory is tailored for the modern traveler who values both style and functionality, providing an all-in-one solution to keep essential documents safe and easily accessible.

The Vegan-Leather Passport Cover is packed with features to enhance your travel experience. It includes a passport holder, four card slots, and wireless charging capability that offers a battery life of up to five months. With Bluetooth 5.2 and RFID protection, this cover ensures that your sensitive information remains secure, and your passport and cards are always within reach.

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While the world of cybersecurity has always been fairly unpredictable, what’s certain is that data breaches are on the rise. But what’s driving this trend, how long will it continue, and what can organizations do about it?

According to the 2023 Annual Data Breach Report by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a non-profit organization, data compromises have leapt up in the past two years. From the previous record of 1,860 in 2021 they dropped slightly to 1,801 in 2022 but rebounded to reach a new high of 3,205 last year. That’s an increase of 72 percent over just two years.

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Despite the importance and timely arrival of the EU AI Act, there remain some major compliance concerns and the impact it will have on AI adoption and governance strategies. In fact, a recent survey found that having the proper AI governance in place is a top priority for 41 percent of business decision-makers. However, around one-quarter of UK firms have yet to make preparations for AI, and this is partly due to lingering confusion over their obligations. 

Yet, the requirements set out by the Act are specific, particularly for “businesses or public authorities that develop or use AI applications that constitute a high risk for the safety or fundamental rights of citizens.” This high-risk category can include anything from law enforcement and employment systems to those used by life sciences and critical infrastructure organizations. 

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Data Analytics & Visualization All-in-One For Dummies collects the essential information on mining, organizing, and communicating data, all in one place.

Clocking in at around 850 pages, this tome of a reference delivers eight books in one, so you can build a solid foundation of knowledge in data wrangling. Data analytics professionals are highly sought after these days, and this book will put you on the path to becoming one.

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Six-hundred-eleven 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.

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 on Steam as the most used operating system. It is still close though. On the Recall-front, Microsoft said that users won't b able to uninstall the controversial AI-feature Recall after all.

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