Facebook is ditching its recommendation algorithm with a huge Friends tab update
Life online, particularly on social media platforms, is driven by algorithms that make constant recommendations to users in an attempt to keep them engaged for longer. While algorithms have their place, there has been a massive backlash against their incessant use on the likes of Facebook, partly because they gobble up personal data, but also because the recommendations are often rubbish.
This is something that apparently even Facebook is aware of. The social media giant has just announced that it is going back to its roots with a massive update to the Friends tab. Here, users are promised that they will be shown only content from their friends and no recommended content at all.
Microsoft is introducing Startup Boost to speed up Office applications like Word and Excel
There is definitely some truth to the old adage that time is money, but it is probably more relatable to say that waiting for things to happen is annoying. And just like the time spent wanting for a bus or train to arrive feels never-ending, when you need to get some work done, slow app start times are frustrating beyond description.
So, Microsoft has decided to do something about it. The company is not looking to speed up all apps, just its own Office apps. In the next few weeks, users of Microsoft Office will be able to use a new Startup Boost task to improve “performance and load-time of experiences" within the office suite.
Would AI super agents mean goodbye to apps as we know them?
In the Western world, we now have an app for everything. Shopping, banking, gaming, and even controlling the temperature in your home - you name it, there’s an app for it. The iOS app store began in 2008 with 500 apps, yet, now there are over four million apps available across iOS and Android platforms. Each of these apps serve individual needs and consumers have learnt to ignore the digital clutter in favor of app loyalty.
Asia went the opposite way. Instead of narrow-purpose-built apps, they built the 'everything app' long before Elon started dreaming about it with platforms like Paytm, Grab and WeChat. But what would it take for the West to catch up? AI super agents might be the answer to that one.
Ubuntu 25.04 Beta brings Linux 6.14, GNOME 48, and more to the Plucky Puffin party -- download it now!
Here we go again, folks! Canonical has pushed out the beta release of Ubuntu 25.04, and if you’re someone who lives on the bleeding edge of Linux life, you will want to pay attention. This one goes by the name “Plucky Puffin” and -- despite the typical silly codename -- it’s loaded with big under-the-hood changes and a few surprises baked in.
This new release is based on Linux kernel 6.14, so you’re getting the usual hardware enablement and driver updates. But there’s a lot more going on here than just kernel bumps. Ubuntu 25.04 ships with systemd 257.4, and in a move that may ruffle some feathers, support for utmp is gone. Canonical is also killing off SysV init support in a future systemd release, and cgroup v1 is officially on the chopping block too. Out with the old, in with the whatever-works-now, I suppose.
Psst, wanna be a fraudster? Ordinary consumers are being lured into cybercrime
A new report from Sift reveals an alarming democratization of cybercrime, with 34 percent of consumers seeing offers to participate in payment fraud online, an 89 percent increase over 2024.
The report details how fraudsters openly advertise and sell stolen payment information and fraud services on social media platforms and deep web forums like Telegram, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for anyone to participate in fraudulent activities.
70 percent of organizations are developing AI apps
Over 70 percent of developers and quality assurance professionals responding to a new survey say their organization is currently developing AI applications and features, with 55 percent stating that chatbots and customer support tools are the main AI-powered solutions being built.
The research from Applause surveyed over 4,400 independent software developers, QA professionals and consumers explored common AI use cases, tools and challenges, as well as user experiences and preferences.
Here comes the sun -- along with the solar power vulnerabilities
We're always being encouraged to be greener in our energy usage these days and many people have turned to solar power as a means of doing their bit and reducing their bills.
But the inverter used to convert energy from solar panels to usable household electricity is usually an IoT device and could therefore be vulnerable. New research from Forescout analyzed equipment from six of the top 10 vendors of solar power systems worldwide: Huawei, Sungrow, Ginlong Solis, Growatt, GoodWe, and SMA. It has uncovered 46 new vulnerabilities across three of these inverter vendors, Sungrow, Growatt, and SMA.
TEAMGROUP ULTRA microSDXC A2 V30 delivers blazing 200MBs speeds and huge 1TB capacity
Today, TEAMGROUP announces a new microSD card that’s definitely worth a look if you need fast performance and lots of space. It’s called the ULTRA microSDXC A2 V30, and while the name might not roll off the tongue, the specs speak for themselves.
This itty bitty card offers read speeds up to 200MB/s and write speeds as high as 170MB/s. That means less waiting when moving large files and no stuttering when recording 4K video. Whether you’re transferring photos, shooting footage, or playing mobile games, the speed here should keep things smooth.
Developers get more confident in security but are still spending too much time on it
New research shows increasing confidence among developers at large organizations with regards to knowledge gained from security training, but they are still spending a considerable amount of time on security-related tasks.
The study from Checkmarx looks at the current practices of development teams in large enterprises as they work toward more mature states of development, security and operations (DevSecOps).
Changing communication habits lead to workplace friction
Nuances in digital messaging in the workplace are driving miscommunication according to a new study by Adaptavist.
The survey of 1,000 UK knowledge workers finds 'misinterpreting tone or phrasing' comes out as the biggest communication challenge facing workers, cited by almost half (46 percent) of respondents. This is closely followed by different response time expectations (46 percent) and lack of context (31 percent).
Remote desktop problems? Guess what? It’s probably because of another flaky update for Windows
Microsoft is, once again, using a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to resolve a problem caused by yet another dodgy update for Windows. This time around, the issue sees Remote Desktop disconnecting and there is not yet a fix.
Just as with the recently fixed printer problems, the Remote Desktop issues are being caused by the January 2025 Windows preview update, but it is something that seems have been exacerbated by the March 2025 Windows security update.
If a Windows update made your printer act strangely, Microsoft has a fix for you
Recent updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 had the peculiar side effect of causing printers to spew out random printouts. The culprits were the updates released back in January, although it took Microsoft a while to concede that there was a problem.
Having acknowledged the issue, Microsoft has finally produced a fix some two months after the problems emerged.
Firefox users have easy access to a powerful and customizable VPN with the Mozilla VPN extension
Mozilla is pushing its new VPN extension for Firefox as a way of simplifying the often confusing world of VPNs. Whether users are turning to a VPN for security, privacy, or to access content that’s only available in other countries, the Mozilla VPN extension is touted as a hassle-free option.
At the moment, the extension is only available for users of Firefox on Windows, but there are plans to release versions for Linux and macOS as well. Product manager for Mozilla VPN, Santiago Andrigo, explains what makes this VPN tool stand out from the crowd.
Microsoft accounts now have a sleek new sign in experience with a dark mode option
The next time you sign into your Microsoft account you may well be greeted by a new look. Microsoft has started the roll out of what it is calling a “new sign in experience” as the company uses its Fluent 2 design language to revamp the UI and UX. For better or worse, this is an attempt to create an “unmistakably Microsoft” look and feel.
The changes affect users of Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and more, and Microsoft predicts that the majority of users will see the new look by the end of April. As part of the redesign, users are being given more choice; there is now a dark mode option.
Zorin OS 17.3 brings Brave browser and better app support as perfect Windows 10 replacement
It’s time to celebrate, fellow Linux fans. Zorin OS 17.3 is officially available, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in October, millions of perfectly good PCs are about to be left in the dust. If your computer doesn’t meet Windows 11’s ridiculous hardware requirements, don’t toss it in the trash just yet. Zorin OS 17.3 wants to give it a second chance.
This Linux-based operating system is built with simplicity, speed, and security in mind. It’s especially appealing to folks who are fed up with Microsoft but still want something familiar. With version 17.3, Zorin OS is doubling down on helping Windows users feel right at home, while also embracing the power and freedom of Linux.
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