Forget about Ubuntu Linux, because the superior Pop!_OS 20.04 LTS is here

Hamburgers are wonderful, but there is something even better -- cheeseburgers. Yes, by simply putting a piece of cheese onto a hamburger,  you create something different and better. In the Linux world, Ubuntu is a hamburger, System76 is a slice of American cheese, and Pop!_OS is the cheeseburger. Jeez Louise, I am hungry now... but I digress. In other words, Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu, and System76 (the Pop!_OS developer) essentially makes Ubuntu better by adding tweaks and other improvements. Today, Pop!_OS 20.04 LTS becomes available for download. This is only a week removed from the official Ubuntu 20.04 release,… [Continue Reading]

Check Point uncovers flaws in online learning platforms

Researchers from Check Point have found serious vulnerabilities in the widely-used WordPress plugins that are used for large-scale online learning by top academic institutions and major businesses. By exploiting the flaws in LearnPress, LearnDash and LifterLMS, students, as well as unauthenticated users, can abuse security flaws in order to steal personal information, siphon money and attain teacher privileges on the platform. Check Point vulnerability research team leader, Omri Herscovici says, "Because of coronavirus, we're doing everything from our homes, including our formal learning. Students and employees logging into eLearning sites probably don't know just how dangerous that can be. We… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases PowerToys v.0.17.0 bringing automatic updates and more to the Windows 10 tweaking tool

It is a month since Microsoft released an interesting update to PowerToys, adding new features and tools. This was followed by a less interesting but no-less important bug-fixing update which also added telemetry. Now the company has released PowerToys v.0.17.0 which adds the much-needed automatic update option. This release also brings important updates to FancyZones and more. See also: Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.16.1 with numerous bug fixes and added telemetry Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.16.0, adding four new tools including Image Resizer and Window Walker Microsoft has new utilities planned for the next version of PowerToys While this is not a… [Continue Reading]

Raspberry Pi gains a new 12.3-megapixel camera and interchangeable lenses

The Raspberry Pi can be used for all sorts of maker projects, and the foundation has offered camera modules for it since 2013, adding vision-related functionality. The first module was a modest 5-megapixel affair that was eventually replaced by an 8-megapixel Sony sensor four years ago. Today, sees the arrival of a new much higher 12.3 megapixel quality camera, and a range of interchangeable lenses. The new camera is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models -- from Pi 1 Model B onwards -- with the exception of early Pi Zero boards. The camera is available to buy from today for… [Continue Reading]

How businesses can benefit from process automation [Q&A]

As the robotic process automation (RPA) market heats up, more businesses are looking to bring RPA into their business processes, but where do they start? Enterprises are in the dark about how to integrate bots into their existing processes, and those that go into the buying process without a clear vision will meet roadblocks. Vadim Tabakman, director of technical evangelism at automation software specialist Nintex believes businesses need to go down the road of identifying processes that can benefit from RPA the most. We spoke with him to find out more. BN: Where should enterprises get started when looking to… [Continue Reading]

Lexar unveils two new USB card readers

If you are into digital photography, picking a camera is only part of the equation -- you also need to buy a storage card. Nowadays, this is most likely going to be an SD card, but there are cameras that use other types, such as microSD and CompactFlash. If your computer doesn't have an integrated card reader, you may need to get a USB variant -- that is probably the easiest and fastest way to transfer the photos. Over on Amazon, there are lots of USB card reader models to be had, but many of them are by unknown brands… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft's Your Phone app now lets you control music on your Android device directly in Windows 10

If you're a Windows 10 user, and you have a supported Android phone, then Microsoft's Your Phone is a great app to have as it bridges the gap between your different devices. Microsoft has added a number of new features to the app over time, making it ever more useful, and today it announces it's adding the ability to control your Android music and audio apps using it. In other words, you can access and control the audio apps playing from your phone directly in Windows. Your songs will remain in sync between your phone and PC, and you can… [Continue Reading]

Evolution of privacy protection over the coming years

The war over data privacy has been raging for 25 years and is far from over. Large corporations, states and criminal networks are improving tracking tools, trying to dictate their own rules, and control and manage people's need to protect their personal data. The issue of privacy is getting unbelievable traction on different levels, including the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). The value of personal data is constantly increasing, as it's getting harder to collect, and the possibilities of making money on it are endless. Will users ever be able to decide for themselves what information they are… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Insider Build 19619 to the Fast ring

If you’re feeling a little bored in lockdown, here’s Microsoft with a new Windows 10 build to entertain Insiders on the Fast ring. Well, 'entertain' might be pushing it as there’s nothing too exciting in this new build. It’s mostly just fixes. There’s one listed improvement: If the Sync button under Settings > Time & Language > Time fails due to network connectivity, the error now tells you that’s the issue. And a handful of fixes: Fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders experiencing bugchecks with error DPC WATCHDOG VIOLATION in the last few builds. This is also believed to… [Continue Reading]

Why payroll security is even more essential now remote work is the norm

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way people work and do business. As governments worldwide impose compulsory community quarantines and lockdowns, many are turning to the internet to continue operating their businesses or doing their jobs. Teleworking is becoming the new normal with everyone expected to observe physical distancing to avoid the pandemic spreading. Among other systems, payroll is one of the workflows worth examining amidst the changes brought about by the pandemic. As companies adopt remote work arrangements to avoid complete operational shutdown, those that have been manually processing their payroll need to find ways to adjust to the… [Continue Reading]

Google Meet is now free for everyone, making it a viable alternative to Zoom

It's only a few days since Facebook launched Messenger Room to serve as an alternative to video conferencing service Zoom. Now Google is getting in on the action, making is own video meeting tool available for free. Google Meet has been opened up to everyone with a Google account -- previously only people with a paid-for G Suite account were able to start calls. From now until September meetings of any length involving up to 100 people are completely free, but at the end of September some restrictions will be introduced. See also: Facebook launches Messenger Rooms as an alternative… [Continue Reading]

Clumio adds Microsoft 365 protection to its SaaS enterprise backup solution

Enterprises and their data are vulnerable, perhaps more so than ever right now, with COVID related phishing scams booming. Backup specialist Clumio is adding Microsoft 365 to its secure backup as a service offering, providing organizations running Microsoft 365 with a globally consolidated data protection service. Companies are constantly at risk of suffering data loss or ransomware attacks, and those running Microsoft 365 need a comprehensive backup strategy. Microsoft's service protection responsibility is limited to infrastructure levels, including infrastructure availability, security and access controls. This means the responsibility for all data protection -- including data security, privacy and retention --… [Continue Reading]

Four things every enterprise needs to consider to emerge healthy

The technology industry has always moved quickly, but COVID-19 is putting companies’ flexibility and adaptability to the test. Although employees are increasingly working remotely, few organizations were prepared to go 100 percent virtual within the matter of a week or two while attempting to understand what life in a pandemic looks like. As the shock and awe of self-isolating practices and quarantines wears off, there are some things enterprises need to consider in order to not just remain in business but ultimately emerge "healthy." Support Your Employees First and foremost, establish policies and practices that show your employees that they… [Continue Reading]

Tax season is on, so are the scammers

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued a statement confirming that it is the busiest time of the year not only for the IRS, but also for bad actors trying to scam their way into people’s tax refunds. According to the BBB, the earlier you file your taxes, the lesser the chances of someone stealing your identity and claiming your tax returns. Unfortunately, a high percentage of everyone filing leave it for the last moment -- which will be July 15 this year -- and these are precisely the people scammers are targeting. During tax season, many Americans wait on… [Continue Reading]

Remote 2.0: Virtually closing the gap in IT training and sales

Nothing will entirely replace meeting face-to-face, particularly when it comes to IT training and sales. After all, you’re dealing with complex solutions in precise applications. That requires seeing a product in action, demonstrated in real-world scenarios and hands-on test drives. With the arrival of COVID-19, in-person meetings, events, user groups and training sessions ground to a halt, impacting IT education and sales. While other industries immediately sought to move employees onto basic conferencing platforms like Zoom or WebEx, those in tech had more sophisticated needs, closer to remote 2.0 in comparison. Foremost, training and sales teams have to effectively deliver… [Continue Reading]

Remote operation changes the working day

The shift to working from home has had a major impact on people's lives, but one of the unexpected effects is how it has changed the working day. New research from digital experience management company Aternity shows that in the Northeast and West regions of the US the working day starts and ends between 30 and 60 minutes later for remote workers compared to those in offices. However, the opposite is true in the Midwest region, with remote workers there starting work several hours earlier in comparison to in-office workers. The report's authors believe this reflects the Midwest's manufacturing base,… [Continue Reading]

macOS Image Capture bug can fill up hard drives with empty data

A bug has been discovered in the Image Capture app that's part of macOS. The app is used to import photos and videos from other devices. The bug kicks in when importing images from an iPhone or iPad, and it can result in a hard drive being filled up with empty data. See also: Coronavirus pandemic means Apple will probably delay the next iPhone release Apple's new 'battery health management' feature improves MacBook battery life Apple thinks the new iPhone SE is worth much less than a quartet of Mac Pro wheels The bug was first reported by the NeoFinder… [Continue Reading]