Latest Technology News

If you’ve bought a computer or a keyboard recently, you may have spotted an extra key near the spacebar. The Copilot key is Microsoft’s attempt to push, prompt and encourage use of its AI-powered digital assistant, but not everyone is convinced.

Even if you are someone who sees the value in Copilot as a tool, you may well not feel the need to have a dedicated physical key to access it. Thankfully, Microsoft understands that the latest addition to keyboards is not something that everyone needs. As such, the company is testing the ability to remap the Copilot key.

Canonical has announced the availability of the Beta release for Ubuntu 24.10, codenamed "Oracular Oriole." This release includes Ubuntu Desktop, Server, and Cloud products, as well as various official flavors. The final version is expected to be released on October 10, 2024.

Ubuntu 24.10 Beta includes updated core packages, including the Linux 6.11 kernel. The Beta is considered stable enough for general testing, though users may encounter bugs, and feedback is encouraged to improve the final release.

Constellation has entered into a bold 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft to relaunch the infamous Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear reactor under a new name -- the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC). The announcement comes just five years after the plant was shut down, with concerns about the economic viability and safety of nuclear power hanging over the decision. Microsoft’s involvement, part of its effort to decarbonize the grid, raises questions about whether nuclear energy is truly the solution.

The decision to restart Unit 1 brings up long-standing fears about nuclear energy -- especially given that the reactor is located next to the infamous Unit 2, the site of the 1979 partial meltdown. While Unit 1 was not directly affected by the disaster, many are likely to question whether restarting a decades-old nuclear reactor is the right move in an age of increasing renewable energy options.

In Not With A Bug, But With A Sticker: Attacks on Machine Learning Systems and What To Do About Them, a team of distinguished adversarial machine learning researchers deliver a riveting account of the most significant risk to currently deployed artificial intelligence systems: cybersecurity threats. The authors take you on a sweeping tour -- from inside secretive government organizations to academic workshops at ski chalets to Google’s cafeteria -- recounting how major AI systems remain vulnerable to the exploits of bad actors of all stripes.

Based on hundreds of interviews of academic researchers, policy makers, business leaders and national security experts, the authors compile the complex science of attacking AI systems with color and flourish and provide a front row seat to those who championed this change. Grounded in real world examples of previous attacks, you will learn how adversaries can upend the reliability of otherwise robust AI systems with straightforward exploits.

Over half of C-suite and other executives (51.6 percent) expect an increase in the number and size of deepfake attacks targeting their organizations' financial and accounting data in the next year.

A new Deloitte poll shows that increase could impact more than one-quarter of executives in the year ahead, as those polled report that their organizations experienced at least one (15.1 percent) or multiple (10.8 percent) deepfake financial fraud incidents during the past year.

According to a new survey, 84 percent of organizations in the enterprise sector spotted a cyberattack within the last 12 months, compared to only 65 percent in 2023.

The study from Netwrix shows the most common security incidents are phishing, user or admin account compromise, and ransomware or other malware attack.

Six-hundred-thirteen 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 plans to end support for Windows 10 next year. If you do run Windows 10 devices, you may find Wayne's article on staying safe useful.

The latest tech trends report from Info-Tech Research Group suggests that that CIOs will need to increasingly adopt forward-thinking strategies to anticipate and simulate future business scenarios.

"At the intersection of digital transformation and exponential AI growth, IT leaders are
entering a new era where forecasting probable futures will be just as critical as reporting on the past," says Brian Jackson, principal research director and lead author of the report. "Our 2025 Tech Trends report provides a roadmap for organizations to harness AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity solutions to stay ahead of the curve."

The rate of change in both technology and economic conditions can make it hard for CIOs to both innovate and satisfy the needs of the business.

We spoke to Ioan Iacob, founder and CEO of financial application specialist FlowX, to discuss the challenges of developing apps in the enterprise and how they can be addressed.

After a lengthy period of testing, Microsoft has announced that the Windows App is now generally available for Windows, macOS and iOS. There is also a browser-based version as well as a preview version of the Android app.

What is Windows App? It provides a way to remotely connect to and control a range of Windows devices. It is, in many ways, a modernization and revamp of Remote Desktop clients, and users will be gradually migrated so they can take advantage of the latest improvements and features. So, what is new?

Microsoft’s insistence on levering ads into Windows 11 in a variety of ways has long been a source of frustration for users. While the company shows no signs of letting up in this department, there is a tiny bit of good news cresting the horizon.

In the latest beta and canary builds of Windows 11, there are new options in the Settings app that make it possible to take control of ads. This is clearly encouraging, but before you get too excited it is important to note that the level of control the new settings afford users is limited, and there remains no way to avoid ads altogether. Predictably, there is even more bad news.

SparkyLinux, a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian, has released its latest point update, Sparky 7.5, codenamed "Orion Belt." This is the fifth update to the Sparky 7 series and focuses on improving stability and performance. As with previous versions, Sparky 7.5 is built upon Debian 12 "Bookworm," maintaining full compatibility with its parent distro.

For this release, Sparky 7.5 has updated its core components and applications. Notably, it ships with the Linux kernel 6.1.106 LTS for PCs, with other kernel versions, such as 6.11.0 and 5.15.167-LTS, available in Sparky repositories. ARM devices running Sparky can utilize the 6.6.47 LTS kernel. LibreOffice remains a central part of the productivity suite, though users can find newer versions in the backports repo. Other software updates include KDE Plasma 5.27.5, LXQt 1.2.0, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.18, and Openbox 3.6.1.

Google has made a move toward a passwordless future by expanding its passkey support to desktop devices. Until now, passkeys could only be saved to Google Password Manager on Android devices, requiring users to scan a QR code from an Android phone to access them on other platforms. However, thanks to a new update, passkeys can now be saved and managed directly on desktop systems running Windows, macOS, and Linux. ChromeOS is also available for testing in the Beta channel.

Passkeys are designed to offer a more secure and user-friendly way of signing in to websites and apps by using biometric methods like fingerprints, facial recognition, or a screen lock instead of traditional passwords. This makes logging in as simple as unlocking your device.

Sony is gearing up for a massive celebration as the PlayStation brand approaches its 30th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the company is launching a special PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection, featuring exclusive, limited-edition products inspired by the original PlayStation console that debuted on December 3, 1994. These products bring a nostalgic design into the cutting-edge world of PS5 hardware.

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection will include various hardware bundles, such as the PlayStation 5 Pro Console -- 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, which comes packed with a 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, and a range of accessories like the DualSense wireless controller and a limited edition poster. Additionally, a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Bundle with a 1TB SSD will be available.

Zorin OS 17.2 has officially launched, bringing a host of enhancements aimed at improving both the desktop experience and under-the-hood performance. With a focus on customization, speed, and security, this new release positions itself as a strong alternative to Microsoft Windows 11.

One of the standout features in Zorin OS 17.2 is the revamped Zorin Appearance, which allows users to personalize their desktop environment more than ever. Users can now change their cursor theme easily, thanks to a new option in the “Themes” section. A new Third-Party Theme Installation Guide has also been introduced, making it easier to install additional themes and apply custom styles to native apps.