New York Times acquires five-letter word game Wordle for seven-figure sum
The days of the viral daily word-guessing game Wordle being free could well be numbered. The New York Times has bought the popular puzzle game for an undisclosed seven-figure sum, adding to its game portfolio.
While there are no immediate changes to the game planned, there are fears that the brainchild of software engineer Josh Wardle may not remain free. A carefully worded announcement about the acquisition gives a strong hint that Wordle gameplay may be tweaked and that charges could be on the horizon.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.55.0 with an incredible three new utilities
Making good on its recent promise to add a new mouse tool to PowerToys, Microsoft has released a new version of the utility collection complete with the addition of Mouse Pointer Crosshairs (previously previewed as Inclusive Mouse). But it doesn't end there -- there are two more new tools to explore as well!
The release of PowerToys v0.55.0 also sees the addition of two new add-ons for Explorer. For developers, there is now support for 150 file type previews, as well as a new tool for generating STL file format thumbnails.
Kick Microsoft Windows 11 to the curb and switch to Linux Lite 5.8 right now!
Windows 11 is a rather good operating system. In fact, I can confidently say it is the best desktop operating system Microsoft has ever created. Seriously, folks, it is a pleasure to use. If your computer is compatible with it, and you like Windows 10, you should enjoy Windows 11 even more.
With all of that said, Windows 11 can be a bit polarizing. It features radical changes to the user interface (such as a centered task bar) which I adore, but some users may dislike. Not to mention, the system requirements will leave many still-capable computers unable to upgrade without using unofficial hacks. Even worse, computers deemed incompatible could eventually stop getting updates! These unfortunate computer owners will have to decide whether to continue using Windows 10 or buy a new Windows 11-compatible PC.
Almost a third of developers turn to alternative cloud providers
Developers are increasingly relying on multiple cloud providers for their infrastructure needs. According to a new study though, 27 percent now use an alternative cloud provider like Linode, DigitalOcean, or OVHcloud.
The research, carried out by SlashData as part of its 21st Developer Nation survey, also shows that usage of alternative cloud providers has nearly doubled over the past four years, while usage of the three largest hyperscalers, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), has only grown by 18 percent.
Why learning and development are key to retaining tech workers [Q&A]
Skills shortages in the tech sector are nothing new but COVID and the Great Resignation have highlighted matters over the last year.
Retaining tech workers and keeping their skills up to date is more important than ever, so we spoke to CGS's senior director of learning strategies, Regina Nowlan, to find out why learning and development are an important factor in the equation.
Meta will warn you if someone screengrabs your encrypted Messenger chats
Meta is adding a new warning to encrypted chats in Messenger so that users will know if another participant has taken a screenshot of the conversation.
The company formerly known as Facebook has already implemented this same feature into messages sent when the app's Vanish Mode is activated. While Messenger has not been updated to prevent screenshots from being taken in in E2E encrypted chats or Vanish Mode conversations, the appearance of the warning should serve as a deterrent against secret screen grabbing.
4 strategies to avoid cybersecurity burnout
CSOs, CIOs and CISOs have never had it so tough. Alongside their traditional responsibilities, they must now face a cybersecurity threat environment that is growing exponentially, and a growing cyber skills gap. As a result, many of them are reporting burnout.
Today, ransomware has become one of the greatest network security threats organizations have to deal with. Increasingly sophisticated and distributed at a high speed via the internet and private networks using military-grade encryption, today’s ransomware attacks demand multimillion ransoms. Ransomware is expected to cost UK businesses around £15 billion this year and nearly £200 billion by 2031, and this is only one of the many threats organizations have to deal with.
Debian-based Nitrux 2.0.0 Linux distribution now available with KDE Plasma 5.23.5
If you live in the Northeastern United States like me, there's a very good chance you are snowed-in right now. For instance, my town on Long Island got nearly two feet of snow dumped on it, so I am stuck indoors. While I have been passing the time by watching movies and playing old-school video game ROMs, I am starting to get a bit bored.
Thankfully, there is a new Linux-based operating system version to play with! You see, version 2.0.0 of the Debian-based Nitrux distribution is finally available. The distro comes with KDE Plasma 5.23.5 as the desktop environment, MESA 21.3.5, and the XanMod-modified Linux kernel 5.16.3 by default.
5 critical errors to avoid when selecting your managed service provider
As customers demand personalized services, businesses are under increasing pressure to meet those demands. In turn, employees need support as projects grow more complex, and to meet the needs of both customer and workforce, juggling cloud management in-house can be a relentless headache.
In these situations, businesses seek the assistance of a managed IT service provider. These highly skilled technology partners specialize in simplifying the process and easing the headache. Ultimately, managed services free your staff from performing time-consuming tasks and allow them to focus on the core business operations instead.
How and why NHS Trusts must take a longer-term view over software procurement
Getting software right is no easy task -- especially in healthcare. It must be applicable to a near-endless list of users, applications, and contexts -- and these are constantly evolving. These inevitabilities, paired with the inherent difficulties of managing such a huge organization, unfortunately means that software is often not as effective as it can be -- and costs the UK's National Health Service (NHS) far more than it needs to.
The reasons for this are, of course, many, but the fix is remarkably simple; NHS Trusts must stop looking at the micro and the short-term, and instead think about how to procure software that is both flexible and delivers long-term value. Easier said than done, I know, but it is not impossible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing software.
The future of business analytics will look similar to your favorite app
Imagine a world where more than 300 million people use analytics to make data-driven decisions every day, decisions that require digging through databases, combining multiple sources of data, and even the most advanced analytics techniques. Don’t believe it? This world already exists. Most of us just don’t know it.
Spotify currently has 381 million users listening to music and podcasts. Netflix just reported that it has 221 million subscribers streaming movies and shows across the globe. It’s estimated that 100 million people use an Apple Watch, and many more millions use other wearable fitness devices as well. The list goes on. These companies help millions of people discover new artists, find a show to watch, and even live healthier lives. Their users are everyday consumers, not business analysts or data scientists, and yet they’re somehow making decisions using insights based on the largest and most complex of data sources. If you want to see the future of analytics in business, look to the leading consumer apps.
TPM is causing performance issues for Windows 11 on some AMD systems
The controversy surrounding the need for TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module version 2) to run Windows 11 may have largely died down, but it remains an issue for some people. Specifically, it is people with AMD systems for whom TPM (or fTPM as AMD labels it) is proving problematic.
Complaints are popping up online from Windows 11 users who report performance problems with their computers, including stuttering. The common thread linking them together seems to be AMD's fTPM firmware implementation.
Microsoft reveals how long computers need to be online to keep Windows properly updated
While Microsoft may have released more than its fair share of problematic updates, it's still a good idea to keep Windows fully updated to help minimize the risk of security issues. But there are plenty of systems out there which are not up to date. Why is this?
It could be that it is not a matter of user error, or even there being a problem with Windows Update itself. Rather the issue could stem from the simple fact that a computer needs to be connected to the internet for an unexpectedly lengthy period of time in order to guarantee reliable update installation. Microsoft has revealed the surprising data surrounding update delivery.
3 secrets to boost user adoption
Analytics is a transformative tool for business. According to Hanover Research, four of every five users consider analytics integral to their business role. Three of four data pros claim they’d adopt a new analytics platform embedded into their existing workstream. As employees are relied upon to make more data-informed decisions more often, it’s imperative that they fully understand the insights that analytics provide. Equally critical is that those analytics contextualize data and bolster data literacy among everyone along the chain of command.
The desire for user-friendly data analytics in easily accessible formats is strong, and supplying them makes data analysis less overwhelming, more precise and, ultimately, profitable. To accomplish this, implement three key priorities to ensure the chosen analytics suit their purpose, are fully adopted and are continuously utilized.
Artificial intelligence and business: What will the future look like?
As per a study, 91.5 percent of the firms are reported to have an interest in investing in artificial intelligence technology. Growth in the use of automation, 5G, databases, cloud computing, and much more are driving the demand for artificial intelligence.
Various industries are incorporating AI in their processes to improve customer experience and business operations. Small and medium enterprises are utilizing this technology to optimize performance and functions at minimum costs.
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