Have consumer privacy concerns trumped innovation?
The Internet of Things (IoT) grows larger by the day, with the number of connected devices feeding into it climbing exponentially. Currently sat at around 14 billion, the number of active connections is expected to almost double to 27 billion by 2025.
While remarkable, we must also acknowledge that increasing connectedness has fueled consumer concerns over the way their data is collected and used.
ecobee partners with San Diego Gas and Electric to alleviate California's power woes
While I am sure California is a nice place to live, it sure does seem like it has many problems. Not only does the state suffer from earthquakes, droughts, rampant homelessness, and wildfires, but increasingly, it is struggling to meet the electricity needs of its citizens. After all, as temperatures go up from global warming, more and more people will turn on air conditioners.
Thankfully, smart thermostats have the ability to alleviate some of these power consumption woes. You see, not only are these connected devices convenient, they can be controlled by the power companies during power usage spikes. With your permission, the power company can adjust your air conditioning slightly so that blackouts and brownouts can hopefully be prevented. Sometimes you will even be compensated for participating in such a thing.
Blender 3.3 unveils latest LTS release with multiple new and improved tools
The Blender Foundation has unveiled its first Long Term Support release of the Blender 3.x series with the release of Blender 3.3 LTS. LTS releases are supported for two years from release.
Also available as a portable Windows build, this is the third major point release in the 3.x series since it debuted in December 2021.
What are the most successful areas of tech in 2022?
Technology has evolved quickly in the past few decades and its growth has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Some trends come and go, but others stay as a way to solve catastrophic issues. These five areas of tech have been the most successful in 2022 and will be a mainstay for decades to come.
These are the three biggest goals for an IT organization
One of the biggest misconceptions about IT is that we are only called when something is broken and needs to be fixed.
But IT’s unique knowledge and skills place us in a central role for the organization. And we should use that position of influence to unlock potential and achieve three main goals: enablement, protection, and innovation.
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Therefore, it is important to train professionals in the latest defensive security skills and tools to secure them. Mastering Defensive Security provides you with in-depth knowledge of the latest cybersecurity threats along with the best tools and techniques needed to keep your infrastructure secure.
Best Windows apps this week
Five-hundred-and-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 plans to push smaller updates, called Moments, to Windows 11 installations after the release of Windows 11 version 22H2.
Queen Elizabeth II -- a life packed with technological change
As you've probably learned elsewhere already, Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday at the age of 96 after an extraordinarily long reign.
For anyone under the age of 70 she has been the constant center of life in the UK, a relic of an earlier era, perhaps, but she's also lived through an age of huge and rapid technological advances.
Protecting data during digital transformation [Q&A]
In recent years, many businesses have embraced digital transformation to boost productivity and streamline operations in an attempt to create competitive advantages. But in the process of migrating critical operations to the cloud, they have exposed themselves to new risks.
With cloud apps accessible from anywhere, it not only helps your users get their work done, it also provides attackers with new vectors to exploit.
Twitter is gaining a WhatsApp Share icon
Twitter is looking to make sharing content easier and wider-reaching by cross-pollinating with other social platforms. The micro-blogging site -- which may or may not end up being bought by Elon Musk -- is adding an option for sharing tweets via WhatsApp.
For now, the new sharing option is limited to certain markets, but it is hard to imagine that it will not spread globally in the near future. The question is, will it be welcomed by users or not?
Microsoft releases emergency fix for Windows 11 login issue caused by problematic update
Microsoft has acknowledged that the recently released KB5016691 update for Windows 11 led to serious issues for some users. The optional update preview introduced new admin features as well as fixing printing and Bluetooth problems, but it also prevented some users from being able to log into Windows 11.
The problem affects Windows 11 version 21H2, and it is serious enough to force Microsoft's hand into releasing an emergency fix. But just as problematic Windows updates have become increasingly common for Windows 11, so the approach taken to fix the issue is one that Microsoft is using more and more often -- and it is one that is seen by some as a proper substitute for a proper fix.
CORSAIR K100 AIR wireless mechanical keyboard is shockingly thin
Mechanical keyboards are rather wonderful, but they are typically very tall and chunky too. The keys are often quite high, leading to wrist and/or finger fatigue for some users. While I love the feedback and accuracy of some mechanical keyboards, I often appreciate slim offerings such as Apple's Magic Keyboard.
What if a keyboard could offer the best of both worlds, however? Could a keyboard use premium mechanical keyswitches while also being super slim? Apparently, yes. You see, the all-new CORSAIR K100 AIR is a mechanical keyboard that is shockingly thin.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25197, plus Calculator and Media Player app updates
Windows Insiders might have had to wait an extra day for a new Dev Channel flight of Windows 11, but Build 25197 is here at last.
This build reintroduces the tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray updates, and also fixes various problems. Microsoft has additionally released a couple of app updates for Insiders.
Lack of visibility is the biggest challenge for cybersecurity teams
New research from Sevco Security shows that more than 10 percent of enterprise IT assets are missing endpoint protection, and that roughly five percent are not covered by enterprise patch management solutions.
Nearly 20 percent of Windows servers lack endpoint protection, far more than Windows clients and MacOS assets, which are just over 10 percent.
SMBs turn to MSPs to improve cybersecurity
A new survey of over 500 IT decision makers at small and medium businesses, from threat detection and response specialist Vade, shows 69 percent say a serious breach had bypassed their current email security solution.
It's perhaps not surprising then that SMBs are increasingly likely to turn to managed service providers, with 96 percent of organizations either currently outsourcing at least some of their needs to MSPs or planning to do so in the future.
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