Latest Technology News

New rules in Europe means that WhatsApp will have to offer interoperability with other messaging apps and platforms. This is something that Meta has already been talking about, having published its preference for third parties to use the Signal Protocol as the foundation for these E2EE communications.

Use of the Signal Protocol will not be a requirement for interoperability, but whatever protocol is used by a third-party messaging app or platform, it will need to show they offer "the same security guarantees as Signal". To communicate security to users, WhatsApp is introducing a new "end-to-end encrypted" label that will be added to secure chats.

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In three short months, Microsoft is ending support for various editions of Windows 10 21H2. This means that not only will there be no more new features or bug fixes, there will also be no more security updates released for the operating system.

Running any version of Windows that is not in receipt of security updates is a bad idea, but as this latest announcement includes numerous Enterprise and Education versions of Windows 10, the impact could be huge.

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Baseus Technology has launched the Blade2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank. This device offers a sleek design, powerful battery capacity, and advanced charging capabilities. It stands out with its ultra-thin and lightweight design. Weighing just 323g and measuring approximately 10mm in thickness (7.3mm at its thinnest part), it is 13 percent thinner than the MacBook Air 13.

Despite its slim profile, the Blade2 packs a punch with a 12000mAh Polymer Lithium battery, utilizing EV-grade Silicon Carbon Anode battery technology. The power bank boasts a 65W fast charging output, capable of quickly powering up laptops and other devices. It supports PD60W self-charging input and features a custom digital display interface, powered by BDIP digital power technology, for real-time charging status visibility.

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March 6 was an important day in the European Union as it marked the date on which the Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force. The new legislation places numerous requirements on "gatekeepers" (defined as "large digital platforms providing so called core platform services"), and this has already seen Apple roll out a different version of iOS to the EU than to the rest of the world.

The DMA affects a lot of tech firms, including the likes of Google and Microsoft. With the new legislation having come into force, Microsoft has implemented compliance measures, and this includes rolling out DMA compliant versions of Windows 10 and 11 to users in the EU. The company has started this process and has explained what changes and differences this includes.

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The pandemic led to a dramatic shift in working patterns with many more people working from home or spending less time in the office.

Recently though we've been seeing more calls for staff to go back to the office. So, have working patterns changed for good and if so how can productivity levels be maintained with remote working? We talked to Mark Cresswell, co-founder and executive chairman of Scalable Software, to find out.

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In a recent announcement, Linus Torvalds revealed the release of Linux 6.8. The latest version of the kernel took a bit longer to finalize due to a higher-than-preferred commit count, primarily attributed to updates in various self-tests, particularly in networking. However, the past two weeks have seen a calming of activities, allowing for the release to proceed without further delay.

Linux 6.8 does not boast the same level of groundbreaking changes as its predecessor but maintains a consistent pace with an average release size, reminiscent of the past few years. The most notable addition in this version is the new Xe DRM driver, although the bulk of the changes are scattered updates and fixes across the board.

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Supplier data enables procurement leaders to understand their organization's performance more deeply, predict market opportunities and negotiate advantageous supplier contracts. When market conditions are favorable, these benefits provide a keen competitive advantage; during economic turbulence, they're a must-have for business continuity -- all in all, data is the bedrock of procurement decisions.

But the necessity of good supplier data isn’t breaking news. Rather, the advent of innovative technologies, including generative AI and large-language models (LLMs), has emphasized the importance of data hygiene across the enterprise. Case in point: In 2024, 43 percent of data leaders say their organization has adopted a “data and analytics culture” -- up from just 21 percent last year.

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TCL, a brand most known for its TVs, smartphones, and tablets, has expanded its offerings to include a range of home appliances. Among these, the TCL Dual Zone Wine and Beverage Cooler stands out as a cool option for your drinks. Don’t drink wine? No worries! It is perfect for keeping soda and energy drinks (aka gamer fuel) cold too. It even features customizable colored LED lighting!

The cooler offers independent dual temperature zones, providing the ultimate flexibility for your beverage storage needs. It can hold up to 20 wine bottles and 78 cans, ensuring that you're always ready to entertain guests or enjoy a relaxed evening at home. Whether you're hosting a dinner party, settling in for an at-home sports watch party, or hosting a video game marathon, this cooler has you covered.

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The Linux DevOps Handbook is a comprehensive resource that caters to both novice and experienced professionals, ensuring a strong foundation in Linux.

This book will help you understand how Linux serves as a cornerstone of DevOps, offering the flexibility, stability, and scalability essential for modern software development and operations. You’ll begin by covering Linux distributions, intermediate Linux concepts, and shell scripting to get to grips with automating tasks and streamlining workflows.

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Five-hundred-and-eighty-five 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.

Microsoft announced that it is retiring the Windows Subsystem for Android next year. The company did not reveal why it made the decision. Rumors suggest that it did not generate the revenue that Microsoft hoped it would to become sustainable.

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The report by Statista forecasts a significant 21 percent net increase in the United States' GDP by 2030, attributing this growth to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This projection underscores the immense impact AI is expected to have on economic expansion. However, amid this rapid advancement, tech innovator Elon Musk has expressed serious concerns about the need for AI regulation.

Speaking at the Paris VivaTech event, Musk highlighted the potential dangers of unregulated digital superintelligence. His warnings serve as a vital reminder for businesses to reevaluate their use and engagement with AI technologies, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to AI integration in the economic landscape.

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The nature of the modern world means that we all have lots of different accounts to manage various services.

Protecting all of these can be a challenge and you can end up with lots of different tools like password managers, VPNs, anti-virus tools and more. It also leads to people getting lazy and reusing passwords.

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Microsoft has released a new update for Windows 10 users in the form of KB5001716. While the company is promoting this as an update that refreshes the UI for Windows Update, there is rather more to it than that.

The release notes point out that after installing this update "you may see a notification informing you that your device is currently running a version of Windows that has reached the end of its support lifecycle ". In other words, expect Windows 11 upgrade nags. Oh, and if the slightly predictable underhand tactics were not enough, the installation of the KB5001716 update is proving problematic for some users, with numerous instances of 0x80070643 errors.

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StarTech.com has launched the Quad-Monitor 4K Thunderbolt 4 dock (132N-TB4USB4DOCK). This high-end docking station is designed for professionals who require top-tier performance, offering support for quad-monitors running at up to 4K 60Hz simultaneously.

In addition to its impressive video capabilities, the dock is Thunderbolt Certified, ensuring guaranteed performance with Thunderbolt 4 computers. It is fully compatible with a range of Intel Evo/Tiger Lake (11th gen and up) Thunderbolt 4 laptops, including popular models from Dell, HP, and Lenovo. The dock also supports up to quad 4K 60Hz with Intel 12th Gen CPU (or higher) supporting DP 1.4 with DSC, and offers compatibility with Apple computers equipped with M1, M2, or M3 Max/Pro processors, as well as iPad Pros with M1 or later processors.

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In the wake of the digital boom that echoed out from the pandemic era, schools have steadily been coming to grips with how to operate in a reality where devices are far more ubiquitous in classrooms than before, and classes are forced to make accommodations for a split between remote and in-person learning. Breakthroughs in classroom management and content filtering solutions have helped keep students away from outside threats, such as harmful online content. Still, one of the greatest threats to any school’s digital safety net comes from within -- the students themselves.

Even before the widespread proliferation of digital tools in classrooms, students have been rapidly becoming more tech-savvy and outpacing expectations and the capabilities of many less adept districts to stop them from getting into trouble. In a study run by Impero Software, 27 percent of students reported they had successfully circumnavigated their school’s internet filtering system.

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