Firefox 83 unveils improved page loading and responsiveness, HTTPS-only mode


Mozilla has released Firefox 83.0, the latest version of its open-source, cross-platform web browser. A mere 28 days after the last major release, and version 83 makes its bow.
Despite the short time between releases, version 83 manages to pack in more performance improvements, a new optional HTTPS-only mode, support for pinch zoom on touchscreens, and compatibility with new Apple Macs running the M1 chip.
Security: Animal Jam warns of hack affecting 46 million accounts


The popular game Animal Jam, enjoyed by millions of children around the world, has advised parents of a hack which has exposed the personal details of 46 million account records.
The company behind Animal Jam, WildWorks, has issued a warning that details revealed in the attack include 7 million email addresses used to create accounts, and 32 million player usernames. A proportion of the 46 million accounts affected have had full name and billing address details exposed.
IBM makes it easier for clients to use public cloud services


IBM is using this week's KubeCon to announce an initiative enabling clients to take better advantage of public cloud services in any environment they choose.
From today the company will open source Kubeflow Pipelines on Tekton to provide a standardized solution for creating and deploying machine learning models in production and to make machine learning models portable across hybrid cloud environments.
Businesses are relying more on data to make decisions


According to a new survey of IT decision makers, 73 percent rely on data more to make business decisions and 33 percent believe the value of data has permanently increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study from Druva surveyed 700 IT decision makers in the US and UK and underpins the importance of maximizing the value of data as businesses navigate an unprecedented global landscape.
Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G: Which Google phone should you buy when Christmas shopping?


Google's Pixel line of smartphones provides the purest Android experience, but for whatever reason, they aren't huge sellers. For many consumers, it is Samsung or nothing, and that is totally understandable -- that company does make good phones. If you prefer regular and timely Android updates, however, you pretty much have to go with a Pixel.
We are now halfway through November, and Christmas shopping is in full swing. Many people will be buying new smartphones for loved ones -- or themselves. And if you want a Pixel, you have a very hard decision -- do you opt for the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G? Both are 5G smartphones, yes, but they are not the same.
Microsoft is holding back on Windows 10 updates in December


Microsoft has announced that it will not be releasing any preview releases in December as the company winds down for the end of the year.
The Windows maker cites the "minimal operations during the holidays and the upcoming Western new year" as the reason for scaling things back. Microsoft adds that things will return to normal in January.
Failing KB4586781 update installations are causing 0x8007000d errors and more for Windows 10 users


The latest update for Windows 10 that is proving to be problematic for people is the recently released KB4586781. While not causing quite as many issues as other updates, it is still causing plenty of problems.
KB4586781 is a cumulative update for people running Windows 10 May 2020 Update and Windows 10 October 2020 Update. Among the issues being reported by users are error codes 0x8007000d and 0x800f0831.
How to disable transparent menus and dock in macOS Big Sur


For some people, transparent elements are a key component of any UI. Apple clearly thinks so, having introduced a new transparent menu bar in Big Sur.
But transparency is not to everyone's taste, and if you're not a fan of the new design language, you will be pleased to hear that there is a way to disable transparent menus in Big Sur.
Top 5 Linux Snaps of 2020: Arch, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, and Ubuntu


All Linux users are the same, right? No way, José! Linux users are a diverse bunch, with differing opinions, tastes, and personalities. In fact, that is probably a contributing factor to the fragmentation of the Linux community. Linux users have lots of options between distributions, desktop environments, and more -- they are not stuck in a box like Windows 10 users.
To highlight how different Linux users can be, Canonical has released some data about the installation of Snaps, categorized by distro. It chose six of the most popular Linux-based operating systems for its analysis -- Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, CentOS, Arch Linux, and Manjaro. It then shared the top five most popular snaps for each distribution in 2020.
MACH and what it means for development [Q&A]


Launched in June of this year, the MACH Alliance (MACH standing for Microservices based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS and Headless) is a non-profit group of tech leaders advocating for a new, open and best-of-breed enterprise technology ecosystem.
The Alliance aims to help enterprise organizations navigate the complex modern technology landscape with the belief that competitive advantage doesn't come from owning the stack, but rather from being free to select the best available resources for the moment.
Best Windows 10 apps this week

Yes, sir, Apple macOS 11 Big Sur is here


It is November 12 and macOS 11 Big Sur is officially released today -- yes, sir, indeed. Why does the date matter? Well, I suppose it doesn't in the grand scheme of things, but still, it is rather surprising that Apple didn't release it yesterday, when the date was 11/11. Boy, that was missed opportunity, eh? Oh well.
But yeah, if you are a Mac owner, you can finally install the latest version of the macOS operating system. This is most notable for being the first version of macOS that will run on Apple's new M1-powered Mac computers. And yes, Big Sur on these new Macs can run both iOS and iPadOS apps too.
Telematics offers hope in the nuclear (verdict) era


Fatal accidents are a tragic occurrence for all parties involved. The transportation industry -- including telematics providers -- should make preventing these tragedies its highest priority. With the use of telematics, the latest in video technology, and connected vehicles, many of these incidents can be prevented through consistent -- and proactive -- vehicle maintenance and continuous driver monitoring, coaching and evidence-based accountability, saving countless dollars across the industry and, more importantly, many lives.
For better or worse, the proliferation of civil cases with jury verdicts totaling more than $10 million, known as "nuclear verdicts," has significantly altered the business of fleet management. For instance, insurance premiums have doubled every several years while general inflation marches at a much smaller pace, according to The Wall Street Journal. When a nuclear verdict hits a mid-sized trucking company, it often triggers a ripple effect throughout the industry. While the company that faces the judgment could be bankrupted, others that have nothing to do with it could see their insurance premiums spike as well.
Advantages of remote onboarding


The world of work has changed, and remote work is no longer an option or perk. Teams worldwide have been forced to go fully- or mostly-remote, many with a weekend’s notice. As the months of working from home drag on, we’ve had to readjust our processes and systems -- one of which is employee onboarding.
The importance of a strong onboarding program can’t be overstated -- especially since only 12 percent of employees are happy with their organization’s onboarding programs, and 50 percent of new hires leave their organizations within their first 18 months. While remote work is associated with decreased retention, we can’t deny the outsized impact of an employee’s first few months on the rest of their tenure.
6 emerging technologies in 2021


Technology is always changing. Whether it’s delivery apps taking off because of a global pandemic or video games incorporating virtual reality (VR), technology holds an immense amount of power.
As 2020 comes to a close, many are wondering what the next year holds. The following six emerging innovations are fields that will develop further throughout 2021.
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