Latest Technology News

Have you been wondering if your iPhone can run the upcoming iOS 18? Well, I have good news. Apple has revealed the devices that will be compatible with the operating system update.

The iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, will naturally be at the forefront of this update, benefiting from the latest features and enhancements that iOS 18 has to offer. However, the new Apple Intelligence functionality is limited to the 15 Pro models.

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Google has announced that AVIF, a rapidly growing image format, is now officially supported in Google Search, including Google Images and other areas where images are utilized. This means that AVIF files can now be indexed by Google without requiring any special configuration from webmasters.

AVIF, an open image file format derived from the AV1 video compression standard, has gained traction due to its efficient compression and high-quality output. Its compatibility spans across all major web browsers and is supported by various platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, and CloudFlare.

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HYPER has introduced its HyperJuice Qi2 lineup, designed for tech enthusiasts, Apple users, iPhone owners, and travelers. Notably, these chargers should prove to be perfect for the upcoming Apple iPhone 16 smartphones.

This new range features Qi2 technology, which allows users to charge their Qi2-enabled devices at twice the speed of the first-generation 7.5W Qi protocol. The efficiency of this charging solution is enhanced by magnetic alignment that ensures the charging coils are perfectly aligned, optimizing energy usage, reducing heat generation, and protecting battery life.

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As the United States nears the November elections, Google is introducing a series of new initiatives designed to ensure that voters have access to reliable information and that its platforms remain secure against potential threats. Laurie Richardson, Vice President of Trust & Safety at Google, has outlined the company's latest efforts in this regard.

Google is continuing its focus on helping users find trustworthy information related to the electoral process. As part of this, Google Search will provide users across the U.S. with aggregated resources from state election offices, sourced through Democracy Works. Additionally, YouTube will feature information panels about federal election candidates, offering details such as political party affiliation and links to official channels. Google Play has also introduced a new badge to help users identify apps that are from official government agencies, including those related to voting.

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Published vulnerabilities have increased by 43 percent compared to H1 2023, with 23,668 vulnerabilities reported in H1 2024 according to a new report from Forescout.

The average number of new CVEs per day is 111 or 3,381 per month, and 20 percent of exploited vulnerabilities affected VPN and network infrastructure.

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Six-hundred-ten 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.

Windows 10 users will see ads for Microsoft 365 in the Start menu soon as well. Microsoft launched an update that is integrating the feature.

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Third-party browser scripts are the code snippets that organizations put into their websites to run ads, analytics, chatbots, etc -- essentially anything that isn't coded by the organization itself.

Which sounds innocuous enough, but these scripts are increasingly being used as a vector for cyberattacks. We spoke to Simon Wijckmans, CEO of c/side, to understand how these attacks operate and what can be done to defend against them.

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The Recall feature of Windows 11 has not even launched yet, but it has proved endlessly controversial since it was first announced a few months back. Microsoft says that Recall will help users retrace their steps by taking snapshots of activity every few seconds, providing a way to step back in time and jump to an earlier activity.

Such was the uproar about the security and privacy implications of the feature, Microsoft has already made concessions. The company first pulled the feature from preview builds of Windows 11 to do further work on it, and then announced that it would be opt-in rather than enabled by default. Now it turns out that it will be possible to uninstall it completely.

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Meta’s Llama AI engine has seen substantial growth in the open source AI landscape, emerging as a leading force in the industry. With nearly 350 million downloads to date, Llama models have experienced a significant increase in adoption over the past year. In July alone, the models were downloaded over 20 million times, positioning Llama as a prominent open source model family.

Since the introduction of Llama 3.1, which expanded context length to 128K and added support for multiple languages, usage by token volume across major cloud service providers has more than doubled in three months. This growth reflects an increasing preference for Llama within the developer community, making it a notable competitor in the AI field.

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The 117B-USBC-MULTIPORT by StarTech.com offers a practical solution for those seeking to expand their laptop's connectivity options. This USB Type-C Multiport Adapter leverages DP 1.4 Alt Mode and Multi-Stream Transport (MST) from a host computer to support up to three external displays, making it a versatile choice for users who need to manage multiple screens. With 2x HDMI and 2x DisplayPort outputs, the adapter transforms a single USB-C or Thunderbolt 3/4 port into a useful hub.

The 117B-USBC-MULTIPORT enhances video connectivity by supporting up to three external monitors, with potential resolutions of 1x 4K (3840 x 2160p) at 60Hz and 2x 4K at 30Hz. Users with Intel 11th Gen processors or later, featuring DSC technology, can achieve optimal performance. The adapter utilizes the laptop's integrated or discrete GPU to ensure efficient handling of high-resolution displays, dependent on the capabilities of the host computer.

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Microsoft is delving into the depths of human brain function, trying to replicate its most complex processes in artificial intelligence. While this might sound like progress, it raises a chilling question: Are we on the brink of creating an AI that could outthink and overpower its creators?

In collaboration with top universities, Microsoft Research Asia is spearheading projects that mimic the brain's intricate neural networks. CircuitNet, one such project, isn't just another AI -- it’s a system designed to think like a human. By replicating the brain's connectivity patterns, CircuitNet could potentially surpass current AI capabilities, processing information with an efficiency and accuracy that traditional systems can’t match.

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The new NIS2 directive is designed to strengthen the cyber resilience of over 160,000 companies that operate in the EU -- either directly or indirectly. Coming into force by 17th October, NIS2 regulations will outline how these essential entities can combat increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyber attacks.

Notwithstanding delays in the implementation of local legislation, the NIS2 directive provides an indication of the compliance obligations affecting those organizations which fall within the scope of the new rules. Ultimately, NIS2 aims to reduce inconsistencies in cyber security resilience by being the “single source of truth” for regulatory bodies to oversee how organizations implement increasingly stringent cybersecurity frameworks. As we have seen in recent weeks, these are crucial, especially during large-scale cybersecurity incidents or crises.  

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As the open-source movement continues to gain traction, more users are considering switching from proprietary systems like Windows 11 to free and open alternatives. Released today (after a delay), Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS Noble Numbat (download here) is the perfect choice for those ready to embrace open-source software.

Whether you're a first-time Linux user, an experienced developer, an academic researcher, or an enterprise administrator, Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS offers unparalleled benefits just as the platform celebrates 20 years of existence. Is a point release that exciting? Yes! Many people wait for the first point release prior to upgrading.

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On paper, artificial intelligence makes for the perfect intern -- it’s keen to please, happy to do anything thrown its way, and gets on with tasks so efficiently. It’s also prone to making mistakes. And like a human intern, AI tools need training and monitoring rather than being catapulted straight into senior positions --  it is extremely well suited to the repetitive and predictable tasks that we often ask junior staff to handle.

Unlike people, AI works 24/7, never stresses out -- it can complete a vast number of tasks in a short period of time. This makes it ideal for the mundane jobs that people tend to find boring and time-consuming. Take a function such as VAT ledger data analysis, which can contain millions of rows of data -- for a human to correctly analyze every row would not only take an age but would also be mind-numbingly boring. By contrast, AI can examine it in seconds -- think of it as an ‘infinite intern’.

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Apple Sports, the free app for iPhone and Apple Watch, is gearing up for the upcoming NFL and college football seasons with several new updates. The app, which enables fans to follow games, leagues, conferences, and teams, will soon offer real-time updates directly on iPhone and Apple Watch Lock Screens through Live Activities. This feature allows users to monitor their favorite teams without unlocking their devices.

The latest enhancements include improved play-by-play features that provide quick access to scoring drives, presented alongside every game play. The app also introduces a dynamic drive tracker that displays the ball's position on the field in real-time. Fans can now follow NFL teams, the top 25 college football teams, and their favorite college conferences more closely.

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