Abstract: A Windows launch isn’t the end a process — it’s really just the beginning. As with Windows 10, Microsoft continually works on improving Windows 11 by fixing bugs, releasing security patches, and occasionally adding new features.In this story we summarize what you need to know about each update released to the public for the most recent version of Windows 11 — currently version 23H2. For each build, we’ve included the date of its release and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it. The most recent updates appear first.The easiest way to install updates is via Windows Update. Not sure how' See “How to handle Windows 10 and 11 updates” for full instructions. Note that Windows 11 version 23H2 is being released as a phased rollout and may not be available to you in Windows Update yet.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:02:00 -080
Abstract: Facebook parent company Meta is facing yet another legal challenge over user privacy, as a Spanish media company representing top media outlets in the country is suing the social media giant for $600 million for competitively unfair advertising practices based on noncompliance with the EU's General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR).The Information Media Association (La Asociación de Medios de Información, or AMI), has filed a €550 million ($600 million) lawsuit against Meta, claiming Meta's ability to design personalized advertising on its Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms based on its enormous user base represents an unfair competitive advantage in the advertising market in Europe, which includes media companies.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:44:00 -080
Abstract: Microsoft plans to offer extended security updates to both business and individual Windows 10 users for the first time when the operating system reaches end-of-life in late 2025.Microsoft encouraged Windows 10 customers to begin plans to migrate to the latest version of the operating system — Windows 11 — last April with the announcement that Windows 10 22H2 would be the final version.Windows 10 is still the most widely used version of the OS, accounting for 64% of US desktop market share, according to StatCounter’s figures; that compared to 30% for Windows 11.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:05:00 -080
Abstract: Reminiscent of the recurring battle between open source and proprietary ecosystems, the AI Alliance includes about 50 members and is expected to help IBM, Meta and AMD challenge the largest players in generative AI. PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:01:00 -080
Abstract: In yet another illustration of just how devious criminals have become in their attempts to undermine security, Jamf Threat Labs has identified a potential tampering technique that puts a device into Fake Lockdown Mode.As most people know, Lockdown Mode is an extreme protection feature for iPhone designed to protect the kind of high-value targets some of the nastiestsurveillance and state-sponsored attackers aim for.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:45:00 -080
Abstract: Singapore government on Tuesday announced its updated national AI strategy, dubbed the National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0, as AI technology development gains momentum across the globe.The new policy introduces three major changes. The first key policy shift is that Singapore now believes that AI is a necessity and no longer “good to have.” In this context, it aims to triple the talent pool of AI experts to 15,000 by training and hiring people, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said while launching NAIS 2.0.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:37:00 -080
Abstract: When it was first released in July 2015, Windows 10 was clearly a winner. It undid the damage wrought by Windows 8, including eliminating the awkward Charms bar and bringing back the Start menu. Windows 10 introduced many key features as well, such as the Edge browser, integration with Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service, a shape-shifting interface that works well with both touch-based and traditional PCs, and plenty more.In the eight years since its launch, Microsoft has honed those features, added new ones, and scrapped some that didn’t work out as it’s rolled out 12 major updates to Windows 10. For example, the Cortana digital assistant was initially a core part of Windows 10 but has now been discontinued.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, on Monday, said he will “prioritize” Japan for batches of GPUs to help develop the nation’s AI industry, promising partnerships with local giants including Softbank to help develop the industry locally.“Demand is very high, but I promised the prime minister we will do our very, very best to prioritize Japan's requirements for GPUs,” Huang is quoted as saying. “In combination with generative AI and Japan's expertise in manufacturing, the future of robotics could be revolutionized here in Japan.”Japan’s NTT, Sakura Internet, NEC, and Softbank are reportedly working with the company to develop AI solutions to automate various processes in their respective companies, something that’s necessary in a country struggling with a chronic labor shortage.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 02:54:00 -080
Abstract: Cloud communications company Twilio is planning to reduce its workforce by 5%, marking its third significant reduction in staff numbers.Twilio is making cuts mainly in the sales teams for its consumer data and contact center software. The company has let go of more than 3,000 employees since September 2022, cutting down about a third of their total staff from that time.“Last year, we set out on a path to reorient our business toward profitable growth,” said company spokesperson Kari Ramirez. “Specifically, we streamlined our more mature, scaled Communications business to focus on efficiency and profit, and we organized our Technology, Data and Analytics (TD&A) business to optimize for growth. We’ve made tremendous progress in Communications, even overachieving on our goals; however, we’ve underachieved on growth in TD&A.”To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:59:00 -080
Abstract: Apple has thousands of engineers within its silicon development teams working on a range of projects, including processors, graphics chips and, of course, modems.And while the modem development work is clearly slower than expected, at Apple the end of some projects is not always the beginning and that is why it is now focusing on the next big networking standard, 6G.Apple’s been saying/not saying this for some time, via its usual outlets of speculation, rumor, and media proxies. It leaves a lot of what we think we know sitting firmly beyond the wall of industry speculation in a place more cynical eyes see as “plausible deniability."To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 09:32:00 -080
Abstract: In less than a week of its launch, Amazon Q — Amazon’s Copilot competitor — is already facing a threat to its survival as a new report suggests the generative AI assistant could be hallucinating.Q is grappling with inaccuracies and privacy issues, including hallucinations and data leaks, The Platformer reported, citing leaked documents. Significantly, the report comes as two major studies showed that large language models (LLMs) are highly inaccurate when connected to corporate databases and are becoming less transparent.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 06:32:00 -080
Abstract: Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is likely to play a critical role in addressing skills shortages in today’s marketplace, according to a new study by London-based Kaspersky Research. It showed that 40% of 2,000 C-level executives surveyed plan to use genAI tools such as ChatGPT to cover critical skills shortages through the automation of tasks.The European-based study found genAI to be firmly on the business agenda, with 95% of respondents regularly discussing ways to maximize value from the technology at the most senior level, even as 91% admitted they don’t really know how it works.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: A story that got left out of the corporate infighting that led to Sam Altman’s firing, then re-hiring as CEO of OpenAI, was about the firm’s relationship with a startup called Rain Neuromorphics, which is developing a neuromorphic processing unit (NPU) designed to replicate features of the human brain.Rain says their brain-inspired NPUs could potentially offer 100 times more computing power and, for AI training purposes, deliver up to 10,000 times greater energy efficiency than the GPUs predominantly used by AI developers.In theory, these NPUs could provide a big boost in processing power for portable “edge” devices such as smartphones or vehicle infotainment devices located far from a data center. Samsung, for instance, says that the Galaxy S24 – its next-generation flagship phone – will be AI-enhanced, but smartphones are limited in their processing abilities by their portable nature.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:56:00 -080
Abstract: Mobile phone sales are rising, showing improvement in fourth quarter shipments despite an overall decline in 2023, according to the newly released International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. Notably, iPhones have performed better than other devices, and adoption of 5G technology is anticipated to boost sales further.Global smartphone shipments are forecast to jump 7.3% in the fourth quarter compared to the year-earlier period. For all of 2023, smartphone shipments are expected to decline 3.5% to 1.16 billion devices, but that's a rosier forecast than the 4.7% drop predicted earlier in the year. IDC says the market recovery will continue in 2024 with 3.4% growth.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:59:00 -080
Abstract: AWS CEO Adam Selipsky and other top executives at the company’s annual re:Invent conference revealed updates and new products aimed at challenging offerings from Microsoft, Oracle, Google, and IBM. PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:14:00 -080
Abstract: If nothing else, Apple’s most recent emergency security update should be considered proof of an increasingly tense security environment.Enterprises must understand that while Apple maintains a pretty solid ecosystem — certainly at present the most secure, even according to Cisco — that doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe, and every Apple customer needs to get wise to the growing proliferation of threats.With more and more business users turning to the company’s solutions, it’s important to get ahead of the threat.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:44:00 -080
Abstract: The launch of a major Windows 10 update isn’t the end of a process — it’s really just the beginning. As soon as one of Microsoft’s feature updates (such as Windows 10 version 22H2) is released, the company quickly gets to work on improving it by fixing bugs, releasing security patches, and occasionally adding new features.In this story we summarize what you need to know about each update released to the public for the most recent versions of Windows 10 — versions 22H2 and 21H2. (Microsoft releases updates for those two versions together.) For each build, we’ve included the date of its initial release and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it. The most recent updates appear first.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:58:00 -080
Abstract: Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscribers get more frequent software updates than those who have purchased Office without a subscription, which means subscribers have access to the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. But it can be hard to keep track of the changes in each update and know when they’re available. We’re doing this for you, so you don’t have to.Following are summaries of the updates to Office 365/Microsoft 365 for Windows, with the latest releases shown first. We’ll add info about new updates as they’re rolled out.Note: This story covers updates released to regular Office 365/Microsoft 365 for Windows subscribers. If you’re a member of Microsoft’s Office Insider preview program or want to get a sneak peek at upcoming features, see the company’s “Release notes for Office for Windows Desktop (Beta builds)” page.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:43:00 -080
Abstract: Two reputable news organizations — Reuters and The Information — recently reported sources claiming that recent drama around OpenAI’s leadership was based in part on a massive technological breakthrough at the company.That breakthrough is something called Q* (pronounced cue-star), which is claimed to be able to do grade-school-level math, and integrate that mathematical reasoning to improve the choosing of responses.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: It’s the last call to keep any Gmail accounts you haven’t used recently.Beginning December 1, Google will start deleting accounts that have been inactive for two years, including all associated photos, Drive documents, contacts, emails, and calendar entries. The tech giant first announced this change in their inactivity policy in May.Google confirmed to Computerworld that it’s proceeding with the deletion plan. “We plan to roll this out slowly and in phases, not all at once,” spokesperson Christa Muldoon said. “We'll be starting with accounts that were created and never used.”Separate Gmail accounts held by the same user under different names are also subject to deletion, Muldoon said.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:40:00 -080
Abstract: A UK investigation into Apple's and Google’s dominance of the markets for mobile browsers and cloud gaming will go ahead as a local antitrust regulator has won an appeal against a previous ruling that had blocked its work.The story so far…The UK Competition and Markets Authority began investigating both companies last year. Part of that probe looked at how Apple might be restricting the cloud gaming market by restricting such spaces on its App Store.The regulator at the time said, “Apple’s restrictions in particular are holding back potentially disruptive innovation that could transform the way that consumers access and experience content online.”To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:52:00 -080
Abstract: Zoom has introduced a new tool to create and edit polls and surveys, which it claims will make it easier to gauge employee engagement.While Zoom had already enabled surveys for feedback during and after meetings, Zoom Surveys extends this capability more widely across its portfolio of collaboration and productivity tools, the company said Wednesday.“People have different workstyles and meeting styles, and we wanted to make it easier for our customers to interact with their entire audience, not just those who attend meetings,” Darin Brown, head of product and productivity applications at Zoom, said in a blog post. “With Surveys, users can easily get a quick pulse on whatever issue they need from those who matter most, without having to call an unnecessary meeting to discuss.”To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:58:00 -080
Abstract: Employee-centric super apps are mobile applications that aim to bring together all the tools and resources employees use daily within a single platform.“A super app is a single application that sits on top of a variety of mini apps... [in a] modular approach that offers users many different functions, all in one single, familiar interface,” said Eric Helmer, senior vice president and chief technology officer at IT support services provider Rimini Street.Traditionally, organizations have used mega applications, continuing to add functionality after functionality over time, he said. However, those mega apps quickly got out of hand. They had performance issues, and users had difficulty navigating them.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: Generative AI is likely to threaten the jobs of management consultants and business analysts the most in the UK, according to the impact of AI on UK jobs and training report published by the country’s Department for Education’s Unit for Future Skills.Workers in London and South East of the UK are likely to be the most impacted by generative AI. North East, on the other hand, is likely to be least impacted by AI in the UK, the report said.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:22:00 -080
Abstract: Return to Service is one of the many enterprise-focused improvements Apple introduced in iOS/iPad OS 17. It’s a new device management tool designed to help IT manage remote fleets of iPhones and iPads, and it should make it much easier to handle transient deployments and semi-shared devices.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:11:00 -080
Abstract: Ah, reminders. I'm not sure how I'd possibly function without 'em. (What were we talking about, again')I rely on reminders for almost everything imaginable — making sure I respond to an important message, tackle a pressing task, and perform all sorts of embarrassingly mundane day-to-day chores that are both business-based and personal. (Putting on one's pants technically counts as both, right')And goodness gracious, lemme tell ya: Google's got some incredibly useful ways to set yourself reminders in different areas of Android. Most of 'em are options you'd never even encounter if you didn't know where to look.But once you uncover 'em, holy moly, can these purpose-specific brain jigglers be invaluable for the mushy-minded among us.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: Large language models (LLMs), the algorithmic platforms on which generative AI (genAI) tools like ChatGPT are built, are highly inaccurate when connected to corporate databases and becoming less transparent, according to two studies.One study by Stanford University showed that as LLMs continue to ingest massive amounts of information and grow in size, the genesis of the data they use is becoming harder to track down. That, in turn, makes it difficult for businesses to know whether they can safely build applications that use commercial genAI foundation models and for academics to rely on them for research.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: Private browsing. Incognito. Privacy mode.Web browser functions like those trace their roots back more than a decade, and the feature — first found in a top browser in 2005 — spread quickly as one copied another, made tweaks and minor improvements.But privacy-promising labels can be treacherous. Simply put, going "incognito" is as effective in guarding online privacy as witchcraft is in warding off a common cold.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -080
Abstract: AWS CEO Adam Selipsky on Tuesday premiered the star of the cloud giant's ongoing re:Invent 2023 conference: Amazon Q, the company's answer to Microsoft’s GPT-driven Copilot generative AI assistant. Selipsky’s announcement of Q was reminiscent of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote at Ignite and Build, where he announced several integrations and flavors of Copilot across a wide range of products. “Amazon Q can handle all of the basic productivity tasks that Copilot can, but can also be used to work across a wide range of apps across the stack, which should appeal to IT managers who want to limit the number of assistants that need to be monitored,” said Keith Kirkpatrick, research director of enterprise applications at The Futurum Group. To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:23:00 -080
Abstract: The Windows 11 2022 Update has been released, but behind the scenes, Microsoft is constantly working to improve the newest version of Windows. The company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features.Skip to the buildsThe Windows Insider program is divided into four channels: The Canary Channel (new in March 2023) is where platform changes (such as major updates to the Windows kernel and new APIs) are previewed. These changes are not tied to a particular Windows release and may never ship at all. Little documentation is provided, and builds are likely to be very unstable. This channel is best for highly technical users. The Dev Channel is where new features are introduced for initial testing, regardless of which Windows release they’ll eventually end up in. This channel is best for technical users and developers and builds in it may be unstable and buggy. In the Beta Channel, you’ll get more polished features that will be deployed in the next major Windows release. This channel is best for early adopters, and Microsoft says your feedback in this channel will have the most impact. The Release Preview Channel typically doesn’t see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out. It’s meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds.The Beta and Release Preview Channels also receive bug-fix builds for the currently shipping version of Windows 11. See "How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates" for more details about the four channels and how to switch to a different channel.To read this article in full, please click here PubDate: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:50:00 -070