Google confirms Home devices are facing widespread breakdown
What happens when a digital assistant decides it no longer wants to help you? In what is either a case of a sentient digital uprising, or just a software bug that Google is scrambling to fix, owners of a Google Home smart speaker may be waking up today to realize their daily dose of traffic conditions and weather updates are not being delivered to them on a cloud-based silver platter as usual.
First brought to attention by a user on the official Google Home Help Forum a few days ago, many users are discovering that every single "OK, Google" request they make to the digital speaker is being met with an automated error message.
Find suspect processes, files and settings with ESET SysInspector
ESET SysInspector (32-bit) is a powerful tool for examining the low-level details of a PC, and perhaps spotting malicious files, poorly configured settings and other issues that might be causing you problems.
The program has been around for a long time, but we’ve not looked at it for several years, and as ESET issued a rare update recently we decided to see what it could do on a test Windows 10 laptop.
Out of date systems still present a major enterprise risk
Businesses increasingly face threats from within, but traditional security models are based around protecting a network from outside attacks.
A new report by trusted access specialist Duo Security looks at the new threat landscape where companies need to be able to verify the identity of users and the integrity of devices. It finds that while things are looking up, failure to keep systems up to date is still presenting a major risk for many organizations.
Tech companies retaliate against Theresa May's claim they offer a 'safe space' for extremists
Following the attacks on London over the weekend, prime minister Theresa May made calls for further regulation of the internet -- despite having already ushered in the snooper's charter, one of the most invasive pieces of online legislation in the world.
Speaking about the attacks, May said: "We cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed. Yet that is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that provide internet-based services provide." Google, Facebook and Twitter have all lashed out, saying they already do a great deal to combat terrorist and extremist content on their networks.
Leak reveals Microsoft planning three new power versions of Windows 10
Last week, Microsoft accidentally pushed out a buggy new Windows 10 build that caused problems for users. The software giant later apologized, and offered some tips for overcoming the issues, including suggesting time travel as a solution.
As it happens, the leaked build also revealed something interesting -- Microsoft is planning three new versions of Windows 10.
Is Apple about to release a file manager for iOS at WWDC?
It's Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) this week, and while we are very unlikely to hear anything about the iPhone 8, there's sure to be plenty of news to come. However, ahead of the start of the conference, it seems that Apple has accidentally let slip its iOS file manager.
A new, largely blank entry in the App Store was spotted by a developer. It shows a new app called, imaginatively enough, Files. The icon is Apple-y in style, would be appropriate for a file manager app, and the listing indicates that iOS 11 and up is needed.
Pinboard buys social bookmarking site del.icio.us and closes it down
The once-loved -- and much sold -- social bookmarking site del.icio.us (or just Delicious, if you prefer), has changed hands for one final time. Rival service Pinboard has snapped up the site for a mere $35,000, and plans to close it down.
Warning that no one should "attempt to compete with Pinboard," a post on the company blog adopts a Trump-like tone in announcing the acquisition. In less than two weeks, del.icio.us will be switched to read-only mode.
OpenELEC 8.0.4 Kodi-focused Linux distro now available for PC, Raspberry Pi, WeTek, and more
If you are looking for a dedicated media box for your living room or bedroom, the first thing you should consider is Kodi. This is a media center software package that delivers a very focused consumption experience. It can even be customized with "addons," although some of them can be used for piracy -- something we do not condone.
Unfortunately, Kodi is not its own operating system, meaning it has to be run on top of an OS. Sure, you could use Windows 10, but that is overkill if you only want to run Kodi. Instead, a lightweight Linux distribution that only serves to run the media center is preferable. One of the most popular such distros is OpenELEC. It can run on traditional PC hardware, but also Raspberry Pi, and, my favorite -- WeTek boxes. Today, version 8.0.4 achieves stable release. It is a fairly ho-hum update, focusing mostly on fixes and stability.
Police ask people not to share London Bridge and Borough Market attack footage on social media
Last night saw two attacks in London leading to the deaths of seven people and dozens of injuries. A van driven at pedestrians on London Bridge, and stabbings in Borough Market have been labelled as terrorist attacks, and Facebook Safety Check was activated for the incident.
The social network was not just used by people to let loved ones know that they were safe following the attacks, but also to share footage of the shocking aftermath. While police are keen for witnesses to come forward with footage they may have shot on mobile phones, they are pleading with people not to share videos on social media.
Not just for photos -- now you can add just about anything to Facebook albums
Albums on Facebook have, logically, been a handy way to store and organize photographs. for a while now. But an update to the social network means that albums can now be used to group together posts, photos, check-ins and more.
In a fairly major overhaul of the system, Facebook is in the process of greatly expanding the capabilities of albums, making them far more versatile and useful. As well as increasing the range of content that can be added, Facebook is also surfacing collaborative albums, introducing featured albums, and more.
YouTube defines 'hate speech' and clarifies which videos can earn money through ads
It has been a few weeks since advertisers started to pull out of YouTube after concern about the placement of ads. Since then, the company has been scrambling to earn back trust and it says it has "held thousands of productive conversations with advertisers, and implemented additional controls to restore advertiser confidence."
Now YouTube has set out what it classifies as hate speech, and says that any content that falls into this category will not be eligible for monetization. It's a move that's designed to calm the fears of advertisers, but there is concern that the rules being put in place are now too strict and could affect the incomes of large numbers of YouTubers.
Google Photos starts using AI to suggest pictures for archiving
It's not really the time of year for spring cleaning, but Google is turbo-charging the Archive option in Google Photos with the added power of artificial intelligence. Archiving is only a recent addition to Google Photos, making it possible to clear out the clutter from your timeline, and now it has been boosted by AI.
The idea acknowledges the fact that while we might take a photo of something -- such as snapping a poster to save writing down dates and times of an upcoming event -- this isn’t something we necessarily need to see after it has served its purpose.
Facebook's solution to fake news: 'fight information with more information'
It may be Donald Trump who is obsessed with what he perceives as "fake news" (translation: anything which is not in line with his personal views), but there is a genuine problem with the dissemination of false information online, particularly on social media sites such as Facebook.
Just as it has voiced a commitment to tackling its well-known problems with trolling and abuse, Facebook has also made a great deal of noise about fighting fake news. Despite this, Facebook shareholders have rejected proposals that suggested the company should release a report into the impact of fake news. Mark Zuckerberg thinks he has a solution: "fight information with more information."
May the Moto Z Force Droid be with you [Review]
If you asked why the Moto Z Force Droid Edition appeals to me, I couldn't identify one thing, which arguably is odd considering this is a review. Benefits and features feel finely balanced, which is a hallmark of good product design. Oh, and that satisfaction is for the pure smartphone experience, which is premium by nearly every measure that matters; I didn't test Moto Mods that expand capabilities.
Lenovo/Motorola and Verizon released the smartphone in July 2016, so this exploration is belated—and then some. Apologies, the delay was necessary. In mid-December 2016, Verizon sent a holiday review package unexpectedly. At the time, my father-in-law's health rapidly declined—and he passed away about 30 days later. In the months following, as we settled his estate and finalized other matters, I occasionally recharged the battery and picked up the Droid but had no real time to test it. Still, something about how well the Moto Z Force feels and fits in the hand compelled me to handle it. Often. To caress the ridged bezel. To read blog posts and news stories on the beautiful display.
Ultimate Ears unveils limited-edition 'Second Street' BOOM 2 and MEGABOOM Bluetooth speakers
When you need a Bluetooth speaker, there is no shortage of options. With that said, many of those options sound terrible. Quite often, these wireless speakers are designed more for portability and convenience -- sound quality be damned. I've heard many a Bluetooth speaker with such muddy sound that it was preferable to just use a phone's integrated speaker.
Luckily, not all Bluetooth speakers are bad. In fact, some are damn good. One such brand that always delivers in this regard is Ultimate Ears. Regardless of price point, you can count on its products for an excellent music-listening experience. Two of the company's top Bluetooth speakers -- the BOOM 2 and MEGABOOM are getting limited-edition makeovers. There are eight new styles from which to choose, and Ultimate Ears calls this collection "Second Street." Best of all, pricing remains the same -- there is no limited-edition premium.
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