Ring Video Doorbell 2 is here
It feels like everything is internet-connected nowadays -- lights, televisions, coffee-makers, and more. Heck, even doorbells are connected! One of the most popular such devices -- the Ring Video Doorbell -- allows the owner to not only see who is ringing the doorbell, but to communicate with them too. This can be done remotely with a smartphone, so even when you aren't home, you can give the illusion that you are. In theory, this could thwart burglars that are testing to see if a home is occupied.
Today, Ring Video Doorbell gets a generation 2 refresh. All of the features of the first-gen model are here, but it gets an improved design with 1080p video support and more.
Microsoft is killing off SMBv1 in Windows 10 to thwart the likes of WannaCry
From the fall, Microsoft is disabling SMBv1 in Windows 10. With the release of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (or Redstone 3 if you prefer), the protocol that was exploited by the WannaCry ransomware will be no more.
The file sharing protocol was developed by Microsoft over two decades ago, and the company recognizes that the time has come for it to be retired. Internal builds of Windows 10 being tested by Microsoft already have SMBv1 disabled, and similar builds will make their way to Windows Insiders and the wider public in due course.
Unencrypted USB drives putting UK businesses at risk
UK businesses are putting almost no effort into securing the data they keep on USB drives, which is not in line with what GDPR demands, potentially putting them at risk of being hit with huge fines.
That's according to data storage firm Kingston, which concluded after polling 480 employees from companies in various industries.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 S recovery images for Surface Laptop allowing downgrades from Windows 10 Pro
With the Surface Laptop, Microsoft is testing the water with Windows 10 S, its cut-down version of Windows 10. For those who find they can't live with the restrictions the operating system imposes on them, there is the possibility of upgrading to Windows 10 Pro -- but Microsoft warns that this is a one-way, irreversible process.
Except it's not, of course. While it's not possible to "uninstall" Windows 10 Pro and downgrade to Windows 10 S, there's nothing to stop you from restoring your computer to its factory state -- something that Microsoft has just made a great deal easier by releasing the recovery images for Windows 10 S version 1703.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies have millions of users
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are receiving more and more attention, but the fact of the matter is, the market is still in its infancy. To put things into perspective, its capitalization is currently about six times lower than Google -- and even less compared to Apple, which is the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world.
What we do not know exactly is how many people own cryptocurrency. It may be a small market in the grand scheme of things, but according to new report from Cambridge Judge Business School, between 2.9 and 5.8 million people in 38 countries use Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.
MyPC is a portable system information app
MyPC is a compact and portable system information tool for Windows. The program organizes its features across multiple tabs: "CPU", "BIOS", "Motherboard", "Network", "APM/ Sound" and more.
Browsing the panels reveals all the usual sysinfo basics: CPU, GPU, network adapter, BIOS, motherboard, sound card and so on.
Microsoft has made no attempt to make the Surface Laptop even slightly repairable
It has been a few weeks since Microsoft launched the new Surface Laptop, and the Windows 10 S machine has been very well received. If you do get one, though, you'd better hope that nothing goes wrong with it.
A teardown of the device reveals that the Surface Laptop is largely held together with glue, and if you were to attempt any sort of repair, you would likely damage it. It also shows that components such as CPU and memory are soldered in place so they can't be replaced or upgraded. Overall it was given a rating of 0 out of 10!
LG's new G6+ flagship takes it up a notch with more storage and two new features
Just a couple of months after releasing the G6, LG today announces a new version of its flagship smartphone. It's called the G6+, and, as its name suggests, it is a (slightly) beefed-up version of the device it is based on, which is one of the best smartphones introduced this year.
LG introduces the G6+ alongside an important software update for the G6, which adds improved security and usability, as well as new color options. But more on that later.
Get 'How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity Risk' ebook ($29 value) FREE for a limited time
How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity Risk exposes the shortcomings of current "risk management" practices, and offers a series of improvement techniques that help you fill in the holes and ramp up security.
This book, from Wiley, sheds light on these blatant risks, and provides alternate techniques that can help improve your current situation. You'll also learn which approaches are too risky to save, and are actually more damaging than a total lack of any security. Explore solutions where they exist and learn when to change tracks entirely.
OutWiker is a versatile personal wiki
OutWiker is a free personal wiki for organizing text notes into a tree structure. The program uses wiki-type notation and its own commands to set up lists, tables, headings and assorted formatting options, insert images and more.
There’s also support for including graphs, diagrams, equations and more. Pages can also have as many attached files as you need.
OnePlus 5 TV ad shows India the upcoming smartphone in full
It feels as though we've been waiting a long time for the arrival of the OnePlus 5, but the big day is finally upon us -- the smartphone launches tomorrow. There have been a huge number of leaks about the latest version of the flagship killer, teasing us with little glimpses of what to expect. But now a TV ad has aired in India that reveals everything.
Shown during the India vs Pakistan cricket final, the ad gave an unfettered view of the OnePlus 5 to millions of people. This is the first official render we've seen of the phone... and it’s looking good. As the ad was shown in India, it makes reference to June 22; the Indian launch date is two days later than other parts of the world.
Screen protector listing shows what the iPhone 8 will look like
The launch of the iPhone 8 is still some way off but -- as with just about every smartphone of note (we're looking at you, OnePlus 5) -- lots of details have slipped out ahead of any official announcement. The latest leak "confirms" what we've long expected: that there's a quite significant redesign coming up.
We have already heard rumors that the iPhone will be near-bezel-less, and we've seen supposed production-line images that show off the front and rear panels. The front panel images showed a weird cut-out at the top of the phone and a new listing on accessory website MobileFun for an "Olixar iPhone 8 Full Cover Tempered Glass Screen Protector" appears to back this up.
Google unveils plan to better fight terrorist videos on YouTube
Terrorism is a scourge on society. When people live in fear, they cannot truly be free. While some governments are constantly working to fight terror, it cannot be done alone. To truly keep people safe, the private sector must participate in anti-terrorism efforts too -- especially when fighting propaganda and recruitment.
A good example of this is Google with YouTube. The company's video-streaming site is ubiquitous for a reason -- it is easy to use and non-restrictive when it comes to content. In other words, Google has supported free speech on its platform, but with that said, it also takes down videos that violate the terms of its service. Unfortunately, disgusting content -- including terror-related videos -- have slipped through the cracks. While expecting perfection is unrealistic, Google still wants to do better. In fact, the search-giant is presenting a four-part plan to better fight terrorism on YouTube. In addition, the company is working with other tech giants, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft to bolster its efforts.
Debian 9 'Stretch' is finally here -- download the Linux-based operating system now
Debian is a very popular Linux-based operating system, but its development does not exactly move at a breakneck pace. In other words, it tends to focus on stability rather than bleeding edge. In fact, the development of Debian 9 "Stretch" has been going on for over two years!
Today, Debian 9 'Stretch' finally sees release. It is chock full of changes from the prior version. While GNOME 3.22 is the default desktop environment, you can opt for plenty of others, such as Xfce, KDE Plasma, and MATE. Users will appreciate LibreOffice 5.2, which is included. Also of significance, MariaDB replaces MySQL.
How to avoid Twitter's bubbly redesign
With its latest redesign, many people are complaining that Twitter has stepped back in time. If you are not a fan of the "circles and curves everywhere" look, you can -- with a little help -- avoid the redesign and stick with the way things were.
There's just one catch -- you have to be using Chrome. If this is already your web browser of choice, all you need to do is to install an extension built specifically to "remove Twitter's 'bubbly' redesign."
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