Etcher burns images to USB keys, SD cards, more
Etcher is an open-source cross-platform tool for burning images to SD cards, USB drives and other removable devices.
The program keeps operations to the bare minimum, all of them clearly displayed on a simple interface. Choose your image, then your drive, and finally click the "Flash!" button.
Search for animated GIFs from your desktop with AstroGif
AstroGif is an open-source menu bar app which allows you to search for animated GIFs and copy their URL, or the markdown equivalent, to the clipboard.
The program runs in the background on your PC. It can be launched by clicking its system tray icon, or pressing its (customizable) hotkey, Ctrl+Alt+Space.
HyperX Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse [Review]
HyperX is a respected gaming brand from famed company Kingston. The brand is most known for offering quality memory (RAM) -- as is its parent company -- but it has been branching out to other gaming product types too, such as headsets and mechanical keyboards. Now, the company is launching another such peripheral -- a mouse.
The HyperX Pulsefire FPS, as it is called, is the brand's first gaming mouse. Its design seems inspired by some Razer mice, which isn't a bad thing. The peripheral goes on sale today, but I have been testing it in the BetaNews lab. Since it is the first-ever pointing device by HyperX, you might be wondering if it is up to par with offerings from more experienced mouse manufacturers. Well, I can answer that for you.
Email unsubscription service Unroll.me sells user data; CEO is 'heartbroken' that people found out
Overwhelmed by the number of emails hitting our inboxes these days, it's little wonder that a "unsubscription service" like Unroll.me came into being. Designed to make it easier to clean up your inbox, it turned out that Unroll.me was selling user data to other companies -- including Uber, which is caught up in other controversies of its own.
After this came to light, CEO Jojo Hedaya has written a sorry-not-sorry-style apology. In it, he says that it was "heartbreaking" to find that users were upset to discover "how we monetize our free service." But while recognizing that people are unhappy, there are no plans to change the practice. If you're concerned, however, a data scientist has written a guide to deleting your account.
Google fixes YouTube's LGBTQ+ filtering problem
Around this time last month, Google was facing criticism for appearing to censor LGBTQ+ videos with the Restricted Mode feature. Now the company says that it has addressed the problem and will no longer be "incorrectly filtering videos."
Google says that this means hundreds of thousands of videos with LGBTQ+ content have been unlocked, and more than 12 million videos in total have been affected. The company has already issued an apology for the filtering, but now it is keen to be seen making amends.
System76 wants to build its own hardware for its Linux-based computers
System76 is building up quite a name for itself, being one of a very limited number of companies selling only computers running Linux-based operating systems. Now the aim is to branch out; System76 wants to design and build its own hardware, while representing the open source community as it does so.
At the moment, the hardware used in System76 systems is outsourced, but in the future this will change. The company says that it is moving into phase three of its development cycle, and this "moves product design and manufacturing in house." And you should set your expectations high: "We're about to build the Model S of computers. Something so brilliant and beautiful that reviewers will have to add an 11 to their scores."
WikiLeaks reveals CIA's Weeping Angel tool for hacking Samsung TVs
WikiLeaks continues to release documents that reveal various hacking tools used by the CIA. After the HIVE revelations just over a week ago, the group has followed up with details of operations that were mentioned in the very first batch of Vault 7 leaks -- hacking Samsung televisions to listen in on people.
The documents suggest that the CIA's work is based on a tool developed by MI5 in the UK called Extending. The CIA went on to transform this into its own utility by the name of "Weeping Angel." WikiLeaks has published the guide to using the tool in a file marked "SECRET STRAP 2 UK EYES ONLY," and it describes how an implant is configured on a Linux PC before installing it on a target Samsung F Series smart TV.
Leaked specs: Windows 10 Cloud is ready to take on Chromebook
Microsoft is due to hold an event in NYC on May 2, and it's widely expected that the company will unveil Windows 10 Cloud -- although it may not be until Build slightly later in the month. On paper, Windows 10 Cloud sounds very much like Microsoft's answer to Google's Chromebook, and leaks suggest this is precisely the market that Microsoft is targeting.
As the May event has an education focus, it's apparent that any low-cost Chromebook-like Windows devices will be aimed at the education sector -- but that's not to say that there won’t be interest from other people looking for cheap hardware. And thanks to the latest leak, we know the recommended minimum hardware spec to run Windows 10 Cloud.
Mastercard introduces card with built-in fingerprint scanner
Mastercard has unveiled a new card that comes with a fingerprint scanner, allowing consumers to make purchases without the card ever leaving their hands. It builds on fingerprint scanning technology currently available in smartphones, and can be used at EMV terminals worldwide, the company says.
The technology was tested in South Africa, in two separate trials. One was with Pick n Pay, while the other one was Absa Bank, a subsidiary of Barclays Africa.
Will Internet of Things ever be safe?
The Internet of Things (IoT) has undergone an amazing transformation, from a pipe dream to a marketing buzzword, and now an impending reality. Recent estimates expect the number of Internet-connected devices to reach 26 billion by 2020, with some studies suggesting an even higher output.
With an exponential increase in devices communicating with us, other devices, and with the internet at large, how can anyone keep private information safe?
Oracle products now available through Docker store
Oracle’s databases, middleware and developer tools are now available in the Docker Store marketplace, thanks to a new partnership between the two companies, announced yesterday.
Available via the Docker Certification Program, the tools allow developers to quickly build cloud-native applications using Docker Enterprise Edition as their container platform. The Certification Program is a framework, allowing partners to integrate and certify their technology to the Docker EE platform.
Microsoft improves Gmail experience for Windows 10 Insiders, but there are privacy concerns
Microsoft's mobile Outlook app for iOS and Android is a really great email experience. It serves as a centralized place to aggregate your email accounts and calendar entries. The problem? It is a privacy nightmare. It stores your emails on Microsoft's servers, even when the email provider isn't Microsoft, such as Gmail or Yahoo. In other words, users must trade their privacy for convenience -- a bad deal if you ask me.
Today, Microsoft announces a new Gmail experience for Windows 10. While only available for Windows Insiders as of today, it uses the same concept as the Outlook mobile app, but for the Mail & Calendar apps. Microsoft will provide you with an arguably improved experience as long as you are OK with storing all of your Gmail messages in Microsoft's cloud -- yikes. What types of features will the new experience offer? Things such as tracking packages, getting updated on your favorite sports teams, and a focused inbox.
5 GHz Wi-Fi is better, so why aren't we letting go of 2.4 GHz?
There is a bit of black magic -- or fuzziness -- to Wi-Fi technology. For example, few people know how fast their Wi-Fi connection is at any given moment. Wi-Fi operates at literally hundreds of different speeds (data rates), and these variations depend on dozens of factors. The speed can change with every single data packet that gets transmitted.
Over the last 19 years, Wi-Fi has made incredible strides to stabilize and perform at the high level we enjoy today. The variability of Wi-Fi, however, can still make things confusing.
Google Play Music becomes the default player on Samsung phones and tablets, plus doubles free storage
To coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Google has announced a new partnership with Samsung. The deal means that Google Play Music will be the default music player and music service on all phones and tablets from the Korean manufacturer around the world.
But the partnership has a few bonuses for Samsung users that go beyond just a change in music player. Kicking things off is a boost in free Google Play Music storage: Samsung users will be able to take advantage of double the usual quota.
Add shortcuts to Control Panel with My Computer Manager
Windows makes it easy to place shortcuts in any folder, except of course system folders like Control Panel or My Computer (aka This PC), where for some reason none of the usual rules apply.
My Computer Manager is a free portable tool which helps out by displaying details of your existing Control Panel applets and enables adding custom items of your own.
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