Latest Technology News

Six-hundred-thirteen in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 next year. If you do run Windows 10 devices, you may find Wayne's article on staying safe useful.

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The latest tech trends report from Info-Tech Research Group suggests that that CIOs will need to increasingly adopt forward-thinking strategies to anticipate and simulate future business scenarios.

"At the intersection of digital transformation and exponential AI growth, IT leaders are
entering a new era where forecasting probable futures will be just as critical as reporting on the past," says Brian Jackson, principal research director and lead author of the report. "Our 2025 Tech Trends report provides a roadmap for organizations to harness AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity solutions to stay ahead of the curve."

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The rate of change in both technology and economic conditions can make it hard for CIOs to both innovate and satisfy the needs of the business.

We spoke to Ioan Iacob, founder and CEO of financial application specialist FlowX, to discuss the challenges of developing apps in the enterprise and how they can be addressed.

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After a lengthy period of testing, Microsoft has announced that the Windows App is now generally available for Windows, macOS and iOS. There is also a browser-based version as well as a preview version of the Android app.

What is Windows App? It provides a way to remotely connect to and control a range of Windows devices. It is, in many ways, a modernization and revamp of Remote Desktop clients, and users will be gradually migrated so they can take advantage of the latest improvements and features. So, what is new?

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Microsoft’s insistence on levering ads into Windows 11 in a variety of ways has long been a source of frustration for users. While the company shows no signs of letting up in this department, there is a tiny bit of good news cresting the horizon.

In the latest beta and canary builds of Windows 11, there are new options in the Settings app that make it possible to take control of ads. This is clearly encouraging, but before you get too excited it is important to note that the level of control the new settings afford users is limited, and there remains no way to avoid ads altogether. Predictably, there is even more bad news.

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SparkyLinux, a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian, has released its latest point update, Sparky 7.5, codenamed "Orion Belt." This is the fifth update to the Sparky 7 series and focuses on improving stability and performance. As with previous versions, Sparky 7.5 is built upon Debian 12 "Bookworm," maintaining full compatibility with its parent distro.

For this release, Sparky 7.5 has updated its core components and applications. Notably, it ships with the Linux kernel 6.1.106 LTS for PCs, with other kernel versions, such as 6.11.0 and 5.15.167-LTS, available in Sparky repositories. ARM devices running Sparky can utilize the 6.6.47 LTS kernel. LibreOffice remains a central part of the productivity suite, though users can find newer versions in the backports repo. Other software updates include KDE Plasma 5.27.5, LXQt 1.2.0, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.18, and Openbox 3.6.1.

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Google has made a move toward a passwordless future by expanding its passkey support to desktop devices. Until now, passkeys could only be saved to Google Password Manager on Android devices, requiring users to scan a QR code from an Android phone to access them on other platforms. However, thanks to a new update, passkeys can now be saved and managed directly on desktop systems running Windows, macOS, and Linux. ChromeOS is also available for testing in the Beta channel.

Passkeys are designed to offer a more secure and user-friendly way of signing in to websites and apps by using biometric methods like fingerprints, facial recognition, or a screen lock instead of traditional passwords. This makes logging in as simple as unlocking your device.

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Sony is gearing up for a massive celebration as the PlayStation brand approaches its 30th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the company is launching a special PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection, featuring exclusive, limited-edition products inspired by the original PlayStation console that debuted on December 3, 1994. These products bring a nostalgic design into the cutting-edge world of PS5 hardware.

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection will include various hardware bundles, such as the PlayStation 5 Pro Console -- 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, which comes packed with a 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, and a range of accessories like the DualSense wireless controller and a limited edition poster. Additionally, a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Bundle with a 1TB SSD will be available.

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Zorin OS 17.2 has officially launched, bringing a host of enhancements aimed at improving both the desktop experience and under-the-hood performance. With a focus on customization, speed, and security, this new release positions itself as a strong alternative to Microsoft Windows 11.

One of the standout features in Zorin OS 17.2 is the revamped Zorin Appearance, which allows users to personalize their desktop environment more than ever. Users can now change their cursor theme easily, thanks to a new option in the “Themes” section. A new Third-Party Theme Installation Guide has also been introduced, making it easier to install additional themes and apply custom styles to native apps.

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As the popularity of Kubernetes continues to grow, it’s essential to understand and navigate the potential challenges of scalability, resource optimization, troubleshooting, and security.

Kubernetes Anti-Patterns offers vital insights and strategies tailored to the current needs of practitioners and enthusiasts navigating the complexities of Kubernetes. Penned by an AWS-certified solutions architect with 16+ years of experience, this book will teach you the essential Kubernetes anti-patterns, their types, causes, and consequences. You’ll find practical solutions for each of the challenges and uncover real-world examples and case studies to enhance your Kubernetes expertise.

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Today, 37 percent of respondents said their companies were fully prepared to implement AI, but looking out on the horizon, a large majority (86 percent) of respondents said that their AI initiatives would be ready by 2027.

In a recent Riverbed survey of 1,200 business leaders across the globe, 6 in 10 organizations (59 percent) feel positive about their AI initiatives, while only 4 percent are worried. But all is not rosy. Senior business leaders believe there is a generational gap in the comfort level of using AI. When asked who they thought was MOST comfortable using AI, they said Gen Z (52 percent), followed by Millennials (39 percent), Gen X (8 percent) and Baby Boomers (1 percent). 

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Let's begin with a math problem -- please solve for “X.” Network Observability = Monitoring + X.

The answer is “Context.” Network observability is monitoring plus context. Monitoring can tell the NetOps team that a problem exists, but observability tells you why it exists. Observability gives the Network Operations (NetOps) team real-time, actionable insights into the network’s behavior and performance. This makes NetOps more efficient, which means lower MTTR, better network performance, less downtime, and ultimately better performance for the applications and business that depend on the network. As networks get more complex and IT budgets stay the same size, observability has become very important. In the past two years, I’ve heard the term used by engineers and practitioners on the ground much more often. Gartner predicted that the market for network observability tools will grow 15 percent from 2022 to 2027.

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The latest threat detection data from Red Canary shows that Atomic Stealer -- an infostealer that targets credentials, payment card data, keychain details, and cryptocurrency wallet information on macOS devices -- has entered the top 10 threats.

Other notable appearances include Scarlet Goldfinch -- an 'activity cluster' that uses fake browser updates to trick users into downloading a legitimate remote management and monitoring tool that can be abused to deploy malicious software -- and ChromeLoader -- a malicious browser extension that reads and hijacks browser traffic to redirect it to specific sites, likely to conduct pay-per-click advertising fraud.

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A survey of 800 security decision-makers across the US, UK, Germany and France reveals that 92 percent of security leaders have concerns about the use of AI-generated code within their organization.

In spite of these concerns though the study from Venafi finds 83 percent of organizations use AI for coding and open source software is present in 61 percent of applications.

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Bose is expanding its QuietComfort line with the launch of its new, designed for everyday use. Available for $179 here, these earbuds offer top-tier audio performance, featuring the company's renowned noise cancellation technology. Available in Black, White Smoke, and Chilled Lilac, they are available for purchase now.

The QC Earbuds come packed with features, including customizable tap controls, voice commands, and a wireless charging case. With up to 8.5 hours of battery life, they promise to keep you connected throughout the day. The wireless charging case provides an additional 2.5 charges, with a 20-minute quick charge delivering up to three hours of listening time. The buds also feature Bluetooth 5.3, providing a range of up to 30 feet and multipoint connectivity for seamless switching between devices.

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