Boost web privacy by installing DuckDuckGo Browser for Windows and Mac
Protecting your precious privacy when browsing gets harder by the year. With this thought in mind, privacy focused search engine DuckDuckGo has decided to dip its toes into the desktop web browser market with the recent launch of DuckDuckGo Browser for Windows Beta, which follows hot on the heels of an earlier Mac release.
This may be DuckDuckGo’s first Windows browser, but it’s an already established option on mobile (iOS and Android) in addition to the existing Mac build. Both desktop versions are built from their operating system’s browser systems, which means the Windows build -- unlike most browsers -- isn’t a simple Chromium port. Instead, it's been built from scratch using the same underlying elements as Microsoft’s Edge browser, namely Microsoft’s Windows WebView2 API on top of the Blink rendering engine.
Microsoft Edge now blocks spam notifications on the sites you visit
Notifications can be useful, but all too often they are used by websites to spam people. To help protect users against such irritations, Microsoft has announced new notification blocking for its Edge browser.
The company says it is aware that website notifications may not only be annoying, but can be misleading or even dangerous. The aim in block spammy notifications is to not only offer protection to users of Microsoft Edge, but also to help them to get the most out of notifications.
Blender 3.6 LTS adds real-time simulation to Geometry Nodes, numerous performance and UI improvements
The Blender Foundation has released Blender 3.6 LTS, the latest -- and final -- point release in the 3.x series. As is customary with all Blender point releases, version 3.6 of the popular and powerful open-source, cross-platform 3D creation suite contains several eye-catching new features along with "significant" performance improvements.
These include initial support for simulations in Geometry Nodes, which allows users to define simulations through the "Simulation Zone". This connects both Simulation Input and Output together through nodes. After the inputs are initially evaluated on the first frame, subsequent outputs simply outputs the results of the previous frame.
Leapwork and Microsoft partner to deliver AI-powered test automation
Microsoft and Leapwork are partnering to deliver test automation to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform users.
Leapwork's platform uses an AI-powered, visual, codeless system that makes it easy for non-technical, everyday business users to build and maintain test automation. This allows continuous, end-to-end testing across applications, minimizing the risk of disruptions during monthly software updates and supporting the delivery of quality software.
Rows gives you your own personal spreadsheet analyst
Earlier in the year, German spreadsheet company Rows launched its latest product with ChatGPT capabilities built in.
Its now introducing a new feature in the form of AI Analyst which summarizes the main takeaways from any dataset, runs in-depth analysis, and answers any questions you might have about your data.
File Explorer replacement Files 2.5 restores Acrylic semi-translucent background option
The Files Community has released Files 2.5, a major new release of its File Explorer replacement tool for Windows users. The open-source tool restores the Acrylic backdrop material, adds new swipe gestures and makes improvements to the Preview and Details pane as well as crushing numerous bugs.
Files 2.5 continues to build on recent major updates, the last of which -- released back in February -- introduced support for tagging files and folders. This time round, however, Files 2.5’s headline new feature isn’t brand new, but one that’s been reintroduced.
Around a third of enterprise software spend is wasted
Despite significant efforts to become more efficient with IT budgets, respondents to a new survey report underutilization or wasted IT spending of 36 percent for desktop software, 33 percent for data center software, 32 percent for SaaS and 32 percent for IaaS/PaaS.
The study into IT asset management (ITAM) from Flexera shows that software asset management (SAM) programs are saving enterprises tens of millions of dollars. 55 percent of respondents say they saved more than $1 million, and 16 percent claim SAM programs saved more than $10 million in the past year.
Download Debian 12 Bookworm Linux distro now and say goodbye to Windows 11 forever
Good news, fellow Linux nerds! After many months of development, the Debian project has finally released the latest stable release of its popular Linux-based operating system. Debian 12, codenamed "Bookworm," marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against proprietary operating systems, particularly Windows 11. Debian 12 offers a legitimate alternative that truly empowers users.
One of the standout features of Debian 12 is its commitment to long-term support. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Debian Security team and the Debian Long Term Support team, Bookworm will receive support for a generous five-year period. This ensures that users can rely on Debian 12 for their computing needs without the constant pressure to upgrade or migrate to newer versions.
The technologies driving developer productivity
Hot on the heels of this morning's story about wasted developer time comes a new survey from GitLab looking at the technologies being used to help DevSecOps teams be more productive.
The company surveyed more than 5,000 development, security, and operations professionals about everything from deployment frequency to the practices teams have adopted to learn what the most agile and efficient organizations have in common.
New tools suite aims to open up generative AI for the enterprise
It seems that generative AI is everywhere at the moment, but for businesses understanding how best to make use of the technology can be a bit of a puzzle.
Instabase is aiming to help with the launch of a new AI Hub, this is a repository of AI apps focused on content understanding and a set of generative AI-based tools.
Website X5 2023.2 adds MagicText AI content generator, spellchecker
Italian developer Incomedia has released Website X5 Evo 2023.2 and Website X5 Pro 2023.2, a feature point release of its wizard-driven, user-friendly website building product line for Windows.
Version 2023.2 unveils a spellchecker for the tool’s text editor, but the major highlight is a new Pro-only feature called MagicText, which promises to harness the power of AI to generate text.
How are enterprise customers using your software?
Getting a clear understanding of how customers use your products is vitally important for software suppliers. Product managers are best equipped to deliver valuable products if they have clear knowledge about this. Data-driven insights, available from entitlement management (EM) systems, are essential for optimizing product road mapping, packaging, provisioning, and pricing decisions, all with the aim of delivering the best customer experience possible. All of these contribute to achieving strategic goals, such as facilitating shifts in monetization and deployment models, streamlining the quote-to-cash (Q2C or QTC) process, and ultimately accelerating growth and increasing recurring revenue.
Key to these efforts: aligning price (the expense for the customer) and value (the perceived utility) of your product. But this proves to be tricky without understanding of who your users are. "Lack of insights into user personas and their priorities" and "disparate systems that make it difficult to achieve single customer view" are among the top hurdles, as reported in the Revenera Monetization Monitor: Software Monetization Models and Strategies 2022. A comprehensive approach to entitlement management can help provide the insights that contribute to improved operational efficiencies.
Redesigned O&O SafeErase 18 provides users with multiple ways to securely delete sensitive data
Berlin software powerhouse O&O Software GmbH has launched O&O SafeErase 18, a major new version of its data-shredding tool for Windows PCs. The major highlight of this latest build is a completely redesigned user interface, along with performance optimizations and added support for the latest web browsers.
The main highlight of this new release is the slick new user interface, which sits comfortably with modern Windows aesthetics. Big bold icons accompany the main section headers, which continue to offer users a choice of six data-shredding methods.
Microsoft PC Manager 3.0 adds toolbar widget, provides easy access to Windows' maintenance and optimization tools
Microsoft’s Chinese division has unveiled a major new update of its system optimization and maintenance tool with the release of Microsoft PC Manager 3.0 Beta. The app, which provides users with easy access to a wide -- and growing -- selection of built-in Windows tools, adds a new floating desktop toolbar option for even easier access to its offerings.
The new desktop toolbar is made accessible via Microsoft PC Manager’s Toolbox section, where users can both enable the feature and choose which tools to place on it for easy access.
Nitro PDF Pro 14 released, sports refreshed UI and new accessibility tools
Nitro Software has unveiled a major new -- and renamed -- version of its flagship PDF editing tool. Nitro PDF Pro 14.3 is available now as a free trial download for PCs running Windows.
Chief highlights in this new release include a refreshed user interface, accessibility improvements and improved localization experience thanks to various fixes involving formatted, missing words and redirects.
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