iOS 26 beta 4 includes warning-laden Apple Intelligence news summaries
Apple has released the latest beta versions of its operating systems to developers – iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26. Among the changes are the return of Apple Intelligence news summaries which was the subject of controversy several months ago.
With the first public (non-developer) beta versions expected to land in the next week or so, these developer previews give us a very good idea of what to expect. As such, the appearance of Apple Intelligence news summaries and tweaks to Liquid Glass are very much in line with what we’d expect at this stage.
Business users can soon get a Surface Laptop 5G from Microsoft
Microsoft’s range of Surface devices quickly developed a following of business users, with Surface Laptop proving popular. But there were complaints about the absence of a key connectivity option; now with the Surface Laptop 5G this is being addressed.
As the name suggests, this is a 5G version of the Surface Laptop, and Microsoft says that it is “built for business”. While users will see the addition of 5G connectivity as a way to eliminate phone tethering, Microsoft is instead billing it as a way to “stay continuously connected to Microsoft 365 Copilot and other cloud tools”.
Windows Resiliency Initiative hits Windows 11 in KB5062660 update
Microsoft has released the KB5062660 preview update for Windows 11 ahead of next month’s Patch Tuesday. Being a preview update, it is optional and does not include security fixes, but it is packed with new features including the Windows Resiliency Initiative.
This initiative is something Microsoft spoke about back at Ignite 2024 and it aims to boost security and reliability. The update delivers two components of this. It sees the arrival of Quick machine recovery as well as the new Black Screen of Death.
Free tool uncovers API vulnerabilities
According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, API-related breaches have increased nearly 40 percent year-on-year, with broken authorization cited as one of the most exploited flaws.
Now though Intruder, a leader in attack surface management, has launched Autoswagger -- a free, open-source tool that scans OpenAPI-documented APIs for broken authorization vulnerabilities.
Some employees feel so pressured to use AI, they're pretending they are
A new survey of more than 1,000 full-time professionals across the USA highlights widespread AI adoption at work and reveals the growing pressures that come with it. While most workers report benefits, others struggle to keep pace with the changes.
Artificial intelligence has become a fixture in white-collar jobs across the country. A new survey shows that 75 percent of full-time workers are expected -- officially or unofficially -- to use AI tools at work.
83 percent of IT and engineering professionals bypass security controls
A new survey of 1,000 IT, security, and engineering professionals across North America uncovers a fractured landscape of legacy VPNs, slow manual processes, and overlapping tools -- with 99 percent of respondents saying they'd like to redesign their company’s access and networking setup from the ground up.
The study from Tailscale also shows that 83 percent of IT and engineering professionals admit to bypassing security controls in order to get their work done. Also worrying is that 68 percent say they have retained access to internal systems after leaving a previous employer, revealing critical gaps in offboarding and identity lifecycle management.
New AI-driven features set to help security remediation efforts
Security teams today are overwhelmed by fragmented data, inconsistent tagging, and the manual burden of translating findings into fixes.
A new release of the Seemplicity platform introduces an AI Insights feature along with Detailed Remediation Steps, and Smart Tagging and Scoping, three new capabilities that use AI to solve some of the most painful and time-consuming cybersecurity tasks.
Mercury is in retrograde, so yes, your phone is probably acting weird
If your texts aren’t sending, your email’s gone missing, or your phone’s just feeling extra cursed lately, no, you’re not imagining it -- Mercury is officially in retrograde. From July 17 through August 11, the universe is (allegedly) hitting shuffle on communication and tech, and yes, we’re all invited.
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion that happens a few times a year when Mercury appears to move backward in the sky from our point of view on Earth. In astronomy, it’s just the result of how Mercury orbits the Sun faster than Earth does, but in astrology, it’s a whole different story.
AI moves from optional to essential in cybersecurity, according to new findings
A new report from Abnormal AI shows cybersecurity leaders and frontline analysts agree that artificial intelligence is now central to the future of the security operations center (SOC).
The report, titled Human-Centered AI: Redefining the Modern SOC, is based on a survey of nearly 500 professionals across the United States and United Kingdom and reveals that every respondent sees AI as the top business priority for the SOC.
Apple retail lands in Saudi Arabia -- online first, with physical stores coming later
Apple has officially launched its Apple Store online and Apple Store app in Saudi Arabia, marking the tech giant’s first direct retail presence in the Kingdom.
This expansion introduces personalized shopping, product support, and Arabic-language service for customers right across the country.
The Windows 11 transfer tool is not as impressive as Microsoft made out
So keen is Microsoft for everyone to embrace Windows 11 that it has gone as far as developing a dedicated tool to simplify the process of getting a new PC. The company has not said as much, but the data transfer tool is a clear acknowledgement of the fact that when Windows 10 support end later this year, a large proportion of users will not be able to upgrade their current system to Windows 11 because of not meeting hardware requirements.
Which means there are going to be a lot of new PCs sold from this point forward, and Microsoft has made much of being there to hold the hands of those who fear losing data as they migrate to a new computer. But it seems that the transfer tool is not as impressive as has been suggested thus far.
Saying no to Windows 11 just got easier -- Operese automatically transfers your Windows 10 files and settings to Linux
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, leaving over 200 million devices unable to upgrade to Windows 11.
While some users may be considering buying a new computer or paying for extended support, one student developer is offering another path: switching to Linux with the help of a free migration tool called Operese.
Microsoft tests unifying gaming libraries across devices
Microsoft has new options for gamers signed up to the Xbox Insider program looking for more from their gaming libraries. In addition to a cross-device play history that can be accessed from Windows and Xbox, there is also a significant update to the Xbox PC app.
Following an earlier library update, Microsoft says that it remains committed to making it “the go-to destination for your games” by adding cloud-playable console titles to the Xbox PC app.
Microsoft will use snooping telemetry to help speed up Windows 11
Windows 11 users have something of a strained relationship with telemetry, with many people viewing Microsoft’s collection of data as invasive. This has not stopped the company from gathering more and more information from users, and in the most recent Insider builds of the operating system, things are being taken up a notch.
This time around, telemetry is not only optional, but its collection is for a good cause, one that just about everyone can get onside with – improving performance. In short, Microsoft is looking to speed up Windows 11.
MSPs put aside dedicated funds for ransomware payments
According to a new report 45 percent of MSPs admit to having a dedicated pool of money set aside for ransomware payments. This is despite increasing pressure from insurers and global governments to avoid paying ransoms to stop fueling criminal enterprises and encourage proactive resilience.
The findings, from cyber risk specialist CyberSmart, also show that 36 percent opt to protect themselves with cyber insurance instead. Worryingly though, 11 percent of MSPs say they have no dedicated budget for ransomware payments or cyber insurance, in many cases leaving them without a contingency plan.
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