Latest Technology News

How the CrowdStrike outage can inform your customer service strategy

When a broken CrowdStrike update crashed Microsoft-run computers around the globe on July 19, affected leaders were faced with millions of blue screens, billions of dollars in losses and countless calls from unhappy customers. In addition to these tangible problems, leaders’ faith in the reliability of critical technological infrastructure was shaken. If a little bit of faulty code could result in a worldwide outage, was all this digital transformation worth it? Analog systems are rife with problems of their own. Still, those types of issues are typically from human error, not a catastrophic system failure. So is it time to accept digital defeat and course correct back to pen and paper basics? Quite the opposite.

The CrowdStrike incident affected almost every industry -- from airlines to banks to tiny tire stores attached to gas stations, business as usual was halted, and as a result, customer service requests skyrocketed across all affected sectors. But many organizations weren’t ready for an unexpected spike in customer service calls.

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AI's rapid development is a security disaster waiting to happen

Artificial Intelligence

No matter how you look at it, AI is currently booming. The AI market is on track to reach $407 billion by 2027 (compared to $86.9 billion in 2024). Last year, ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in history when it reached 100 million monthly active users just two months post launch. McKinsey declared 2023 as Generative AI’s breakout year, and a follow-up 2024 survey found that the percentage of organizations using Generative AI jumped from approximately 50 percent to 72 percent from 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, a culture shift within tech and business has accelerated AI adoption seemingly overnight.

Long before Generative AI entered the scene, tech C-suites were concerned about being left behind. AI’s disruptive potential has only exacerbated this. Companies with the bandwidth to do so are developing their own AI systems or converting existing ones over to AI. Such behavior is motivated primarily by reputation management. No major player wants to look like they were left behind as their competitors innovated to newer heights.

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Save $21! Get 'Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies, 3rd Edition' for FREE

Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies is the trusted way to learn the foundations of programming using the Python programming language.

Python is one of the top-ranked languages, and there’s no better way to get started in computer programming than this friendly guide. You’ll learn the basics of coding and the process of creating simple, fun programs right away.

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Kodi 21.1 'Omega' has arrived and you should download it now!

Five months ago, the stable version of Kodi 21 'Omega' was released, introducing a wealth of new features to the hugely popular home theater software. Additions include support for FFmpeg 6, DolbyVision on-the-fly profile conversion, and an in-game player viewer.

The Kodi Foundation is now hard at work on Kodi 22 'Piers', with an Alpha release expected soon. It hasn’t forgotten Kodi 21 users however, and a new build for that branch has just been released.

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Why it's worth returning to Black Hat

Security padlock

I may not care for Las Vegas in the heat of August, yet I would come back as everything I need to learn and everyone I need to see face to face is at Black Hat.

Concentrated in one week, I meet customers, learn from their feedback, understand how they view the market, the security industry, what we are doing right and what we should change. With so much to talk about and so much to learn, you often leave the conference feeling like you have only just touched the surface. That being said, this year's discussions provided insights into the most critical sectors for the cybersecurity industry to remain resilient and continue to be ever evolving. If there are three things that were talked about, these are the most important to take away and bring back to your boardroom.

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Samsung introduces gray color option for 2TB T9 Portable SSD

Samsung has introduced a new gray color option for its 2TB T9 Portable SSD. The new gray variant joins the existing black model, maintaining the same technical specifications and performance.

The 2TB T9 Portable SSD offers high read and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, catering to both professional and personal use. Its advanced thermal management system ensures it operates efficiently, maintaining optimal temperatures even under heavy usage.

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Marshall unveils updates to its portable speaker lineup with the Emberton III and Willen II

Marshall has updated its popular line of portable speakers with the launch of Emberton III and Willen II, enhancing the portable audio experience.

The Emberton III is designed for users who seek excellent sound quality without compromising on portability. It offers over 32 hours of battery life and is dust and waterproof with an IP67 rating, making it suitable for any outdoor environment. This speaker also features True Stereophonic, a unique form of multi-directional sound exclusive to Marshall, providing an immersive audio experience that envelops any space.

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Why AI isn't just hype -- but a pragmatic approach is required

After all the headlines we have read about how amazing Artificial Intelligence (AI) is and how businesses would literally stagnate if they didn't have it, it was interesting to read this article in Forbes, who suggest that AI stock is showing 'bubble-like' tendencies and may soon experience a sharp correction as businesses struggle to operationalize AI. So, should we write off AI? Maybe not.

Perhaps the better plan is to accept that AI is at the top of its hype cycle, and, like any new technology, there will be some limitations to ChatGPT-style AI, which in its raw state can be subject to issues like hallucinations. We knew this anyway, as the CEO of the company behind it explained: "ChatGPT is incredibly limited but good enough at some aspects to create a misleading impression of greatness. It's a mistake to be relying on it for anything important right now."

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Digital infrastructure: whose is it anyway?

A recent report was shared by McKinsey, 'the state of cloud computing in Europe', which highlighted not just low returns, but serious complications for businesses

implementing cloud as a basis for their digital transformation.

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LastPass now available on AWS Marketplace

LastPass logo on laptop

LastPass has joined the Amazon Web Services Partner Network (APN) and is now listed on AWS Marketplace. This addition aims to provide organizations with streamlined access to password management solutions that support security and ease of management amid increasing adoption of hybrid work models.

Organizations are facing heightened challenges in managing a growing number of SaaS applications and online accounts, particularly as remote and hybrid work arrangements become more common. LastPass's availability on AWS Marketplace is intended to address these challenges by offering secure, easily accessible password management options that maintain administrative control and user convenience.

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PowerA launches OVERPOWERED wireless controllers

PowerA has introduced its OVERPOWERED Series, featuring two new wireless controllers tailored for PC and cloud gaming: the OPS v1 Wireless Controller and the OPS v3 Pro Wireless Controller.

The OPS v3 Pro, targeting professional and enthusiast gamers, includes mechanical switches, Hall Effect sensors for precise control, and adjustable thumbstick heights via PowerA's Quick-Twist technology. It also features customizable Multi-zone RGB lighting, six programmable buttons, and multiple connectivity options, including a 1200mAh battery that supports up to 30 hours of gameplay. A charging stand is also provided to keep the controller ready for use.

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72 percent of executives targeted by cyberattacks

Senior executives are prime targets for cybercriminals, with 72 percent of surveyed cybersecurity professionals in the US reporting that this group has been targeted by attacks in the past 18 months.

The study from GetApp also highlights the rising use of AI-generated deepfakes, which have been involved in 27 percent of the attacks.

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Logitech G unveils ‘The Gauntlet’ with over $100,000 in prizes

Logitech G today announced ”The Gauntlet,” a collaborative effort with Aimlabs by State Space Labs, Inc. This competition is a highlight of the Global Logitech G PLAYDAYS initiative, featuring more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Aimed at gamers across PC and Xbox platforms, The Gauntlet integrates into the Aimlabs application, a renowned training game for sharpening shooting, movement, and auditory skills.

Participants will engage in Logitech G-branded tasks designed to test their prowess in gaming skills with leaderboards determining the victors who will walk away with coveted Logitech G gear. Prizes for PC gamers include the PRO X 60 Keyboard, PRO X 2 Headset, and PRO X Superlight 2 mouse. Console players have the chance to snag the ASTRO A30 and ASTRO A50 X Wireless Headsets.

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Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users greater control to balance performance and power usage

Windows 11 screen with reflection

With the recent release of the latest Canary build of Windows 11, Microsoft has introduced vastly improved options for in the Power & battery section of Settings. Primarily aimed at laptop users, the previously limited options here allowed for a very limited choice between Best Performance, Balanced and Best Power Efficiency which was applied when running on battery or when plugged in.

Now the compay is giving users the option to have different power modes in place for when charging and when unplugged. In this same build, the arbitrary FAT32 size limit has been raised from 32GB to 2TB.

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Raspberry Pi 5 now offers less memory and a lower price

The Raspberry Pi 5 was first released almost a year ago, today the Raspberry Pi Foundation is unveiling a new 2GB version of the popular one-board computer.

The lowest-cost Raspberry Pi 5 has so far been the 4GB variant, priced at $60. The new 2GB Pi comes in at only $50 and is built on a cost-optimised D0 stepping of the BCM2712 application processor.

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