Microsoft sees the future as passwordless; all new accounts will be password-free
It is a year since Microsoft embraced passkeys for user accounts, and now the company is taking things further. With passkeys having been conceived as a replacement for passwords, any newly created Microsoft account will be passwordless.
This is not just a change that is about improving security (passwords having been shown time and time again to be highly fallible), but also user experience. The passkey-by-default approach now being adopted is part of a streamlining of UX for sign-ins.
Apple Maps putting Long Island drivers at risk with false red light camera alerts
Sigh. It’s May 2025, folks, and believe it or not, Apple Maps still hasn’t caught up with a change that happened on Long Island way back in 2024. If you’re driving through Suffolk County, New York, chances are your iPhone is still screaming about red light cameras that no longer exist. You see, the county shut the whole program down in December of last year, but Apple hasn’t bothered to update its navigation data. The alerts keep coming like the cameras are still up and active -- but they actually aren’t.
For years, Suffolk’s red light camera program was a point of frustration. Sure, officials said it was about safety, but many residents saw it differently -- especially once it brought in nearly $290 million. Then came a court ruling that said the extra fees attached to the tickets weren’t legal. That basically brought the system to its knees. Suffolk shut it all down. But Apple? Still acting like nothing’s changed.
Grand Theft Auto VI delayed and some gamers seem genuinely distraught
More bad news for the gaming community. Following the unfortunate Xbox price increases, Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI will now launch on May 26, 2026. Yes, folks, that’s about a year later than many had hoped. The update came directly from the developer, which explained that the delay is necessary to ensure the game meets the quality standards fans expect. After more than a decade since GTA V, it’s a very tough pill to swallow.
Reactions online have been quite intense. Some gamers genuinely seem distraught, venting their disappointment across forums and social media platforms. It’s the kind of news that hits hard, especially when a title has been hyped for so long. One could almost imagine grown men screaming in agony from their moms’ basements -- figuratively, of course. At least I hope it’s figurative.
Someone tried to activate every version of Microsoft Windows using ChatGPT -- Here's what happened
You’ve possibly seen people online try to use ChatGPT to generate valid product keys for paid software, including different versions of Microsoft Windows.
YouTuber Gameboy Hub set out to test how successful ChatGPT is at generating, or sourcing, product keys to activate various versions of Microsoft Windows -- starting from Windows 95 and working up to Windows 7 (from where, in theory, it could be possible to upgrade to Windows 10 and Windows 11).
The new path to CTO: When every job is a tech job
I was recently asked what degree is needed to become a CTO, and I realized my answer highlighted a major shift in our work environment. The days of the CTO being solely defined by their technical prowess are over. Today’s CTOs bring expertise from across disciplines. They are big-picture partners, innovators, strategists, and pragmatists who know how to unlock and realize the power of tech for their organizations.
Pearson’s Skills Map US report projects 1.9 million new jobs in technology implementation and maintenance across all industries by 2028 -- and the need for tech fluency extends even further. Technology has become a core competency in nearly every profession, erasing the boundaries between traditional “tech jobs” and the rest of the workforce. Simply put, all jobs are becoming tech jobs.
Mid-market business and IT leaders disagree on AI opportunities
IT and business leaders from UK mid-market organizations have conflicting views on the role of AI in enabling growth and driving productivity, according to new research.
The report from Node4, based on responses from over 600 IT and business leaders across multiple sectors, shows IT leaders rank investment in AI in their top two strategies for improving productivity and efficiency, but it only just makes business leaders' top five.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-forty-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.
The optional update for Windows 11 brings the controversial Recall AI feature along with it, at least on Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft seems ready to launch it to all Copilot+ PCs next month as part of the cumulative security update.
Ransomware attacks against government agencies on the rise
New analysis by Comparitech shows that government entities remain a frequent target for ransomware gangs.
Of the 39 confirmed attacks -- where the organization publicly acknowledges what's happened -- in April, 21 were on businesses, nine on government entities, six on healthcare companies and three on educational institutions.
Combating misinformation with AI document management [Q&A]
Many organizations rush to implement AI chatbots without addressing their document management issues first, but when these systems deliver incorrect information it can create significant risks.
But while AI is part of the problem it can also be part of the solution. We spoke to Stéphan Donzé, CEO of AODocs, to find out more.
Ditch Microsoft Windows for ALT Workstation 11: A Russian Linux distro with a modern GNOME desktop
There’s no shortage of Linux distributions trying to take on Windows nowadays, but ALT Workstation 11 actually makes a strong case for doing just that. Developed in Russia and now based on the stable “Salvia” branch of Platform 11, this fresh release swaps out the MATE desktop in favor of a full GNOME experience.
If you’ve been frustrated with Windows 11’s confusing UI, forced Microsoft accounts, or bloated system updates, ALT Workstation 11 offers a refreshing change. The operating system doesn’t just give you a usable desktop -- it gives you control. On first boot, a welcome tool called “ALT Tour” lets you pick your interface style, from a clean GNOME layout to a more traditional “Panel Mode” that echoes the look of older desktops. You can also pick your theme, choose accent colors, and tweak window button placement without any hacks or extensions.
Say 'no thanks' Microsoft Windows 11 and 'yes please' to AnduinOS 1.3
With Windows 10’s end of life looming, users are beginning to consider their next steps. In the past, upgrading to the latest Windows release might have been the obvious path, but Windows 11 -- with its tighter hardware requirements, bloat, problematic updates, insistence on a Microsoft account, and an increasing focus on unwanted AI features -- may no longer be the first choice for many.
Thankfully, Windows 11 isn’t the only game in town. Several Linux operating systems have been developed to appeal to Windows users looking to jump ship. AnduinOS is one such distribution, combining the familiarity of Windows 11 with the power of Ubuntu, and it's just been updated to version 1.3.0.
Research confirms consumers are turning to passkeys to protect their accounts
As you'll already know, today is World Passkey Day and the FIDO Alliance has released an independent study of over 1,300 consumers across the US, UK, China, South Korea, and Japan to understand how passkey usage and consumer attitudes towards authentication have evolved.
The results are encouraging, they find 74 percent of consumers are aware of passkeys and 69 percent have enabled passkeys on at least one of their accounts.
Move over passwords -- every verification method has its day
The first day of May has numerous competitors for its patronage. It's May Day, of course, and it's International Labor Day, and apparently it's Global Love Day. Since 2013 it's also been World Password Day -- created by Intel to highlight concerns around digital security.
As of last year though there's been further competition from the upstart World Passkey Day. So are we finally seeing a serious challenge to the dominance of passwords as an authentication method?
Governance is top priority for agentic AI users
Nearly 80 percent of IT professionals responding to a new survey rank governance as 'extremely important,' underscoring the fact that while organizations are eager to innovate, they still want to do so responsibly
The study by API management firm Gravitee looks at the use of Agentic AI systems and Large Language Models (LLMs) by large and midsize companies and finds 72 percent of respondents report that their organizations are actively using agentic AI systems today.
openSUSE Leap 16 Beta is here with Wayland and a modern Linux foundation
Exciting news, folks -- the openSUSE developers have announced that Leap 16.0 Beta is now available for testing (download here). It’s based on SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 and SUSE Linux Framework One (previously known as ALP). This version keeps the familiar openSUSE structure while adopting a more modern foundation.
A release candidate is expected in July, and the final version is scheduled for October. This beta should offer a clear look at what the community can expect when Leap 16.0 officially launches later this year. Notably, the Agama installer is now the default, replacing the older YaST-based setup.
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