Budapest-based FinalWire Ltd has released a major new version of its Windows diagnostic and benchmarking tool with the release of AIDA64 Extreme Edition 7.00 and AIDA64 Business Edition 7.00.

The landmark release is marked with a revamped user interface offering configurable toolbar. Users can navigate the various parts of the program using the left-hand pane, with sections spanning hardware, software and OS.

Foxit Software has unveiled major new features in its flagship PDF products with the release of Foxit PDF Reader 2023.3.23028 and Foxit PDF Editor 2023.3.23028.

Both tools -- available for Windows and Mac -- sport enhanced integration with ChatGPT with additional new features including translation, Q&A and content explanations. They also unveil the Foxit AI Chatbot, designed to answer users' questions about using the program.

Berlin developer O&O Software has rolled out O&O DiskImage 19 Pro, a major new release of its Windows imaging and file backup tool. Version 19 builds on previous releases by refining its virtual machine capabilities as well as further improving its recovery tools.

O&O DiskImage 19 Pro, which offers a complete set of backup tools covering everything from backing up individual files to full system images, focuses on two specific areas in this new release.

The Blender Foundation has unveiled its next major release with the launch of Blender 4.0, its renowned open-source, cross-platform 3D creation suite.

Highlights include more realistic shading effects, the ability to control the effect of lighting sources on specific objects in images and support for running Geometry Nodes without having Python installed.

Many people choose to browse the internet using a VPN because it offers a number of benefits including privacy and safety, and this is true whatever operating system you use.

With the launch of an all new app for Linux, Proton VPN is offering users of the open source OS greater functionality and a more intuitive interface. The Proton VPN Linux app natively supports Proton VPN's core security and privacy features.

IObit has released a brand new version of its all-in-one PC maintenance and optimization tool. IObit Advanced SystemCare 17.0, available in both free and paid-for versions for Windows PCs,

The new version opens with the now almost-obligatory user interface refresh, with the promise of improved visual effects and, more usefully, a better user experience.

In the beginning, software ran mostly on a smart server dumb terminal networked or entirely on a local machine. If there was a defect, it was that the given program wouldn’t run. Once desktops, laptops, mobile phones and even physical devices such as refrigerators started interconnecting via the internet, a software defect could open the device to an attack or shut down a life-critical system. The very real need to stay on top of software updates has been escalating every day.

In the early 2000s, when computer malware began as a few innocent viruses before morphing into full-on malevolent worms, the software giants such as Microsoft (but by no means limited to Microsoft) denied responsibility. There was significant push back with vendors saying that compromise was only possible in only a limited number of scenarios -- almost as though the end user was responsible. Increasingly, though, it became clear that maybe the software itself could be responsible for some of the malicious activity on the early internet. And maybe the software industry needed to take that seriously.

Screen-capture specialist TechSmith has released Snagit 2024 for Windows and Mac, a major new version of its powerful screen-capture tool.

The 2024 build unveils the ability to add click animations and highlighted cursors, adds supports for combining video, and unveils a new starter theme alongside stamp collections.

Dutch developer NonStrict EU has released Bezel 1.0 for Macs running macOS 12.0 or later. The app is a tool to mirror USB-connected iPhone, iPad and iPhone touch displays on macOS screens in real time.

The app, which is slick and so responsive that changes on the mobile device are reflected instantly on the Mac’s display, is aimed at those who wish to view, share or record their iPhone’s screen for whatever reason.

Financial pressures have forced businesses to cut their software spend by between 10 and 30 percent, according to a new report from SaaS procurement and management platform CloudEagle.

The EagleEye SaaS Spend report analyzed $400M in transactions via the CloudEagle platform and shows that spending on software is now the third-biggest expense for organizations, right after employee and office costs.

Corel has unveiled WinZip 28, a major new release of its Windows compression tool. Two major features of note stand: a new malware scan tool for archives, and a redesigned home screen.

In addition, several existing tools -- including WinZip Courier and WinZip SafeShare -- gain new and improved features. The modern home screen -- available in all editions of WinZip -- serves several purposes, from one-click updates to accessing help and support. It’s also designed to make it easier to explore new productivity features and tools.

Global tech company Alludo has announced the release of Parallels Desktop 19.0 for Mac. Available in home, Pro and Business editions, the virtualization software makes it easy for Mac users to run Windows, macOS and Linux virtual machines on their desktop.

Version 19’s highlights include a major design update, new printing engine for Windows VMs, and support for logging on to Windows machines using the Mac’s own Touch ID security system.

Concerns around supply chain security, partly driven by President Biden's Executive Order on Improving the US' Cybersecurity, are leading to increased adoption of software bills of materials (SBOM).

Research from Sonatype surveyed over 200 IT directors in the US and UK at businesses with over $50 million revenue and finds 76 percent of enterprises have adopted SBOMs since the order's introduction.

Avril Lavigne didn't quite sing that line but she might well have done if she'd worked in IT. More than two-thirds of IT managers (68 percent) say their current privileged access management (PAM) product is too complex or has too many features they don't use.

A new report from Keeper Security also finds that 87 percent of respondents would prefer a pared down form of PAM that is easier to deploy and use.

The testing and measurement industry like any other is looking towards digital transformation projects, but it’s a sector that in the past has been slow to adapt.

Software-defined instrumentation looks set to change that and drive transformation efforts forward. We spoke to Daniel Shaddock, the co-founder and CEO of Liquid Instruments and a professor of physics at the Australian National University, to find out more.