Microsoft rethinks replacing Mail and Calendar apps with Outlook for Windows
The Mail and Calendar apps in Windows 11 have not been the recipients of much love -- either from users who find them limited and awkward, nor from Microsoft which has not updated the software for an age.
The company has already announced that the separate Mail and Calendar apps will be discontinued starting in September next year, with the new Outlook for Windows app being touted as the replacement. Despite the ill feeling towards the older apps, the announcement has been met with such a backlash that Microsoft has been forced to rethink its plans.
Microsoft updates Windows 11 system requirements and CPU support list
With little fanfare, Microsoft has released details of the updated listed of hardware supported by Windows 11. The new system requirements see the addition of support for a large number of CPUs from Intel, AMD and Qualcomm.
The update to the list of supported processors comes shortly after the release of Windows 11 Moment 3. As well as adding support for a large number of new CPUs, there have also been some removed from the list.
Solving the UK's digital identity dilemma
Earlier this year, a report was published in the UK with the aim of tackling the UK’s productivity and innovation crisis. Tony Blair and Lord William Hague are fronting the recommendations made, with a particular view to encourage the widespread adoption of digital ID cards. This has driven a discussion around the general public’s distrust towards government-controlled data schemes.
What’s interesting is that much of the UK population probably don’t realize just how many government IDs they already have; think tax returns, benefits, council payments and, of course, driving licenses. But even so, does this mean the UK is ready for a formal digital identity card? Many are more than happy to keep these various forms of ID in a disjointed manner, despite the inconvenience and inefficiency. Yet, the key issue here is trust, and the public needs to believe there is no overreach when they log in to a service.
Neobanks are on the rise: Can legacy banks keep pace?
Neobanks have shaken up the banking status quo since the introduction of PSD1 and PSD2, tempting customers in with user-friendly interfaces and streamlined processes. Legacy banks have struggled to keep up with the pace of innovation in the sector, and as a result, the industry is littered with rushed digital offerings that exacerbate the feeling that neobanks are pulling ahead in the digital transformation race.
In this day and age, having a low-quality digital banking platform is enough to turn customers away in favor of the digitally proficient neobanks. Customer loyalty doesn’t hold as fast as it once did, and customers are far more aware of the alternative services available to them at challenger digital banks. The traditional incumbents can’t continue to hope that their history and experience will win out as customers continue to experience low-quality customer service and deficient digital banking services.
ChatGPT can generate Windows product keys that allow free upgrades to Windows 11 Pro
It has been hard to ignore ChatGPT this year as the world goes crazy for the AI tool. While the artificial intelligence is still in its relative infancy, it is astonishing just what can be achieved with it; all that's needed is an idea and a cleverly worded prompt.
There are limitations to what it can do, some of which have been hard-coded into it. In theory, ChatGPT won't do anything illegal, or provide access to illegal content. In theory. Just as users found that while the AI wouldn't provide a list of torrent sites when asked, there was a way to bypass the block (by asking for a list of sites to dodge in order avoid encountering illegal content), and so a technique has been unearthed that can be exploited to get ChatGPT to spew out product keys for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
How object storage can contribute to cybersecurity analytics [Q&A]
Data volumes are growing exponentially year after year, this means huge amounts of log data that security teams are struggling to collect, analyze and act on in a timely manner.
As a result, security teams are inundated with data that is fragmented across locations and platforms. We spoke to CTO of MinIO Ugur Tigli to discuss how modern object storage can be used to build automated cybersecurity analytics pipelines to break down these barriers and enable security teams to quickly take action on the information stored in log files.
Logitech upgrades MK370 Combo for Business with Logi Bolt technology
Logitech has upgraded one of its popular keyboard and mouse combos. The MK370 wireless keyboard and silent mouse combo now comes equipped with Logi Bolt technology, providing enterprise-grade security for business users while delivering reliable connections -- even in congested Wi-Fi environments.
Recognizing the occasional spills that happen at workstations, Logitech has made the MK370 keyboard spill-proof. Its durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height add an extra layer of utility and comfort. The full-size keyboard boasts eight convenient shortcuts and a complete number pad, simplifying data entry and navigation tasks. Additionally, the long battery life ensures that the keyboard remains powered for up to an impressive 36 months.
Why data mobility matters
While digital transformation strategies may have been accelerated by the pandemic, as workers return to offices, organizations around the world are beginning to contemplate moving applications back on-premises. And with financial pressures starting to bite, where and how data is stored is becoming even more important. It’s not purely a financial decision, however, as technical and security requirements need to be considered to maintain performance and protect against cyber threats like ransomware.
As a result, businesses are increasingly re-assessing their cloud strategies and weighing up moving workloads to the cloud, exploring different providers, repatriating back to their data centers, or a mix of all three based on their unique needs. But to be able to make the most of these different options, it's crucial that they pay close attention to their data mobility.
Kodi 21 'Omega' hits a huge development milestone and is available to download now [Updated]
Kodi 21 -- codename 'Omega' -- is the next version of the popular home theater software. The first alpha version of the program arrived two months ago, with the Kodi Foundation describing it as a "major release" with lots of new features.
Today, a brand new build arrives, which will be more appealing to users seeking greater stability.
Combating ransomware: Strategies for defense
In today's interconnected world, the threat of ransomware looms larger than ever before across industries. Malicious actors continue to exploit vulnerabilities, and the dark cloud of ransomware shows no signs of dissipating. Recent data from the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) shows that cost per ransomware incident doubled over the past two years and remains one of the top action types present in breaches.
In this article, we will explore how ransomware works and what steps organizations can take to protect employees and data from these attacks.
Why machine identities are crucial to zero trust strategies
The days when businesses operated within a defined perimeter that could be neatly protected by a firewall are long gone. Today’s enterprises are dynamic. In the era of cloud native, infrastructure is completely distributed -- from the traditional datacenter to multicloud instances, from physical servers and VMs to microservice-based applications and containerized workloads.
This change in how businesses operate necessitates a shift in how we defend. The old adage of "Trust but verify" has been replaced by, "authenticate everything all the time," otherwise known as "zero trust". Zero trust dictates that security teams must focus on each of the connection points on the network -- from the datacenter to the cloud to the endpoint, every connection must be verified and authenticated.
Best Windows apps this week
Five-hundred-and-forty-seven 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 released the last cumulative update for Windows 10 version 21H2. The operating system has reached end of servicing. Devices that have not been updated yet to either Windows 10 version 22H2 or Windows 11 may be updated to continue receiving support.
How do you know what's real and what's AI? [Q&A]
The world is increasingly buzzing with stories about AI generated content. Today when you contact a business you might equally well be talking to a bot as a human, but is it possible to spot AI generated content and should we be worried about it?
We spoke to Gaurav Kachhawa, chief product officer of conversational messaging platform Gupshup, to find out how to distinguish AI-generated content, as well as the ethics that surround its use.
Microsoft unveils Porsche 75th Anniversary Collection of Xbox Series X gaming consoles
Porsche is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and so the car-maker has partnered with Microsoft to create something truly special. Together, the companies have unveiled a limited collection of custom Xbox Series X consoles and Xbox Wireless Controllers inspired by six iconic Porsche motorsport cars. Sadly, these exclusive gaming systems won't be available for purchase. However, fans have the chance to win them through a sweepstakes.
The partnership between Porsche and Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios dates back to 2005, and it has brought co-branded elements to the popular Forza franchise. From the original Forza Motorsport to the latest release, Forza Horizon 5, Porsche vehicles have consistently been an integral part of the racing experience. This collaboration has allowed fans to enjoy the thrill of driving a Porsche in the virtual world -- without actually buying one of the expensive vehicles.
Download Debian 12 Bookworm-based Sparky 7.0 'Orion Belt' Linux distro now
If you are a fan of the Sparky Linux distribution, I have some exciting news-- version 7.0 is finally available for download. This release is based on -- and fully compatible with -- the Debian 12 "Bookworm" operating system. For users with ancient hardware, Sparky 7.0 still provides support for x86 (32-bit) machines. But seriously, folks, just buy a 64-bit PC already...
By leveraging the stability and reliability of Debian, Sparky 7.0 inherits a rock-solid base that ensures a smooth and secure user experience. This compatibility allows users to seamlessly access the extensive Debian software repositories, opening up a world of possibilities for software installations and updates.
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