IObit Software Updater 8 makes app updates faster and safer -- download it now


IObit has launched Software Updater 8 to manage software updates and installations in a single place. The latest version of the popular tool aims to reduce security risks and save time by offering faster updates, a larger database of programs, and -- because it’s 2025 -- access to a wide range of AI-powered tools.
Keeping software updated can be a hassle, and skipping updates can leave systems exposed to security threats. IObit Software Updater 8 addresses this by scanning for outdated applications and applying the latest official versions with just one click.
Microsoft will start charging for Windows Server hotpatch updates in two months


The arrival of hotpatch updates for Windows Server 2025 heralded a new era of keeping systems up-to-date and secure while keeping downtime to an absolute minimum. By eliminating the need for restarts after certain updates, systems can be patched while they are being used.
Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 has been available in preview for a number of months now. It has been completely free of charge, but this is due to come to an end. Anyone who has fallen in love with the new approach will have to pay if they want to continue using it.
Some Windows 11 updates may soon install without reboots


A reboot is required after the installation of many updates for Windows. This is definitely the case for the monthly cumulative security updates, but also for other updates. Windows 11 displays popups to the user when a restart is required, which can be disruptive.
Sometimes, Windows may even restart the computer automatically, which can lead to data loss and other unwanted outcomes. At other times, it may not give the user a choice to reboot without installing the update.
Twenty years of software updates


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.
Microsoft delivers game-changing updates to The Sims 4 on Xbox


Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round! Microsoft has heard your cries, your pleas, and your heartfelt desires for a better Sims 4 experience on Xbox. And boy, oh boy, have they delivered! After diligently collecting feedback from all you passionate Simmers out there, they have worked their magic and unleashed a wave of updates that will make your virtual lives more thrilling than ever before. Brace yourselves for a journey of button-smashing delight and gaming glory. Let's dive right in and explore the marvelous changes that await us!
First up, the bumper buttons. Oh, how they used to confuse us with their ever-changing functions depending on the game mode. In Create a Sim (CAS), they would whisk us away from one Sim to another, while in Live Mode, they would warp time itself. But fear not, for Microsoft has answered your prayers. They have aligned the stars, straightened the planets, and unified the bumper buttons across CAS and Live Mode. Now, with a simple press, you can seamlessly switch between Sims in both modes. And what about adjusting game speed in Live Mode, you ask? Well, hold on tight, because the triggers have taken on the responsibility of time manipulation. The power is in your hands!
Manjaro Linux 22.1 'Talos' is here with updates for GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce


Weight-loss drug Mounjaro is all the rage these days, helping people to shed pounds. Please don't confuse this medication with the similarly named "Manjaro" Linux-based operating system. While Mounjaro helps you lose weight, Manjaro can help you lose Windows!
Today, Manjaro Linux 22.1 is released. Code-named "Talos," it is chock-full of new features. Once again, this version of the distribution can be had with your choice of three desktop environments -- GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce.
Sonos CEO apologizes for device update fiasco


Owners of Sonos devices were disappointed when they were told by the company that as of May 2020, there would be no more software updates released for older equipment. Sonos offered customers two options for "legacy products": keep using them without updates, or brick them by putting them in Recycle Mode in return for a 30 percent discount on a future purchase.
There was an understandable backlash from Sonos' userbase, and now the company's CEO has been forced to pen a letter in which he assures customers that devices will work for "as long as possible". Patrick Spence concedes that "we did not get this right from the start". He continues: "My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward".
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