Ubuntu-based Linux Mint 20.1 'Ulyssa' gets pushed to 2021 as many bugs still plague it

Let's speak openly and honestly here. The Linux Mint developers never promised that the next version of the operating system would be released in the year 2020. However, when the Linux Mint 20.1 "Ulyssa" BETA was released before Christmas, many people hoped a stable version would be released before 2021. Well, folks, I am sorry to say that the terrible 2020 strikes again, as today is New Year's Eve, and the Mint developers still have no idea when 20.1 "Ulyssa" will be released. Since today is the last day of the year, all we know for sure is 2020 is… [Continue Reading]

Debian-based deepin Linux 20.1 is here and you should switch from Windows 10 now!

Well, folks, 2020 is almost in the books, and once again, it was not the fabled year of Linux on the desktop. Yes, Microsoft's Windows 10 still reigns supreme as far as market share, but that doesn't mean it is the best desktop operating system -- just the most popular. In fact, many consumers are switching to Linux-based Chromebooks for their simplicity and security, while macOS continues to attract new users. Those M1 Macs in particular are quite intriguing, especially when a brand-new Mac Mini can be had for less than $700. The thing is, neither Windows 10 or macOS… [Continue Reading]

Forget boring Windows 10, it's Windows Vista: Remastered Edition we want!

People often claim that Microsoft operating systems follow a pattern, with good and bad versions alternating -- Windows 95 (bad), Windows 98 (good), Windows Me (bad), Windows XP (good), Windows Vista (bad), Windows 7 (good), Windows 8.x (bad), and Windows 10 (mostly good). It’s largely true, although if Windows Vista had been given the same length of life that Windows 10 has enjoyed, there’s a fair chance a good portion of Windows users would still be running it today. Vista wasn’t bad as such, just very unfinished. If the aging OS had a modern makeover, could it win over Windows… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.29 as the last build of 2020

We might be in the middle of the holiday season, but that doesn't mean that software developers stop working. As we approach the end of 2020, Microsoft has pushed out one final version of PowerToys for the year. PowerToys v0.29 lays the groundwork for big changes and additions that are planned for 2021. There are quite a lot of fixes and improvements in this releases, but it is the promise of what's to come that is arguably of greater interest. See also: Microsoft is making big changes to Settings in Windows 10 Microsoft releases an off-schedule update to PowerToys PowerToys… [Continue Reading]

Celebrate 2021 by playing the secret Google Assistant 'New Year Song'

Yeah, I know, 2020 sucks. We have all seen the memes about how it has been a terrible year. Sadly, we have lost more than 300 thousand Americans to the deadly COVID-19 virus, and many people have suffered financially as a result of business shutdowns. It is terrible and tragic. With that said, at least the 2020 presidential election went well, as the best candidate, Joe Biden, defeated the much-maligned Donald Trump in a landslide victory. Understandably, many folks are eager for 2020 to go away, and with New Year's Eve fast approaching, there are sure to be many celebrations… [Continue Reading]

Preventive maintenance: Fine-tuning your warning system

Imagine that you’re driving your car. Everything is running normally when, out of the blue, your check engine light blinks on and off from your dashboard. At this point, the best course of action would be to stop driving and call a tow service, as a flashing check engine light signals that you have a serious problem that, if ignored, could cause serious damage. And, despite the momentary inconvenience, you’ll likely be thinking: Good thing I had that signal. Now imagine the same scenario but without the warning light. In time, your easy fix can quickly escalate to a smoking… [Continue Reading]

Sorry, Americans, but you can't buy this amazing Xiaomi Mi 11 Android smartphone

Being an American is pretty great. After all, we get to live in the best country in the world. We have many freedoms that other countries do not, such as speech, press, and religion to name a few. And when it comes to tech products, we usually get access to the best. Thanks to the xenophobic Donald Trump we can't have Huawei products, but I digress. With all of that said, China gets some amazing tech exclusives -- especially when it comes to smartphones. For instance, Xiaomi phones are quite beautiful and powerful, but rarely destined for the USA --… [Continue Reading]

Best Windows 10 apps this week

Four-hundred-eighteen in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store in the past seven days. More than 84 percent of all Windows 10 users use Windows Hello to sign-in to the system according to Microsoft. What about you? Do you use Windows Hello? As always, if I've missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email. Discounts this week The following list is a selection of… [Continue Reading]

Encryption, zero trust and the quantum threat -- security predictions for 2021

We've already looked at the possible cybercrime landscape for 2021, but what about the other side of the coin? How are businesses going to set about ensuring they are properly protected next year? Josh Bregman, COO of CyGlass thinks security needs to put people first, "2020 has been incredibly stressful. Organizations should therefore look to put people first in 2021. Cybersecurity teams are especially stressed. They've been tasked with securing a changing environment where more people than ever before are working remotely. They've also faced new threats as cyber criminals have looked to take advantage of the pandemic: whether through… [Continue Reading]

More automation, earlier security and 'Switzerland platforms' -- development predictions for 2021

The switch to remote working and the surge in online shopping during 2020 has seen a greater focus on the experience that software provides. There have of course been other pressures on developers too, but what can we expect to happen in the next year? Manoj Choudhary, CTO of Jitterbit thinks we'll see more automation, "To paraphrase Gartner, the idea that anything that can be automated in an organization should be automated is called hyperautomation. Along these lines, my belief is that if you do anything in technology three times -- particularly in the DevOps world -- it’s time to… [Continue Reading]

ADATA announces ICFP301 CFexpress Type B memory card

If you are into photography, you have probably seen many types of memory cards over the years, such as CompactFlash, Memory Stick, and Secure Digital (SD). I recall owning an Olympus camera that used the now-defunct xD, but I digress. One of the most cutting-edge memory cards these days is CFexpress, thanks to its blazing fast read and write speeds. It is used by high-end cameras, such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR. Today, ADATA announces the ICFP301 card, which is a Type B variant of CFexpress. While very fast, it should prove rather durable too, as it… [Continue Reading]

Firmware attacks, sophisticated ransomware and ID fraud -- cybercrime predictions for 2021

2020 has seen cybercriminals step up their efforts to exploit the surge of people working from home, as well as seeking to exploit news and information about the pandemic. This is a notoriously difficult area to predict, but what do experts think we’ll see happening in 2021? Liviu Arsene, global cybersecurity researcher at Bitdefender expects to see more attacks on firmware, "As competition in the cybercrime world tightens, malware operators will increasingly focus on burying their creations deeper into compromised systems. Attacks against firmware, previously thought of as extremely complex and difficult to achieve, will likely become mainstream in 2021.… [Continue Reading]

2021 will be the year we redefine innovation

Most people will be glad to see the back of 2020. It caused stress for workers in many industries around the world, as well as hardship for businesses, and forced people out of routines they had been used to operating in for years. It also forced the hand of businesses to innovate and roll out technology projects faster than usual. Whether it was COVID-19 contact tracing applications or contactless grocery orders, we saw the strength of IT teams working closely with the rest of the business to bring about change. But now comes the next stage. 2021 will be a… [Continue Reading]

Cybersecurity predictions for 2021

No one could have predicted the madness of 2020. From a cybersecurity perspective, adversaries hit a German hospital with ransomware that resulted in a fatality, voting equipment manufacturers opted to work with security researchers to find bugs in their networks and websites, and other governments around the globe began to lean into vulnerability disclosure programs (VDPs) to even the playing field with increasingly sophisticated attackers. As a result, these events paved the way for continued change in the new year. Read on for a glimpse of what we can expect to occur from a security perspective. Ethical hackers will play… [Continue Reading]

Cryptocurrency becomes mainstream and new digital standards arrive -- fintech predictions for 2021

In recent years we've seen some significant shifts in the financial sector, with newer businesses using technology to challenge more established players. Much of this has centered around the use of blockchain, although cryptocurrency still hasn't entered the mainstream. What do experts think we'll see in the fintech space next year? Benoit Grangé, OneSpan's chief technology evangelist says, "A massive transformation is occurring across digital and mobile channels in how banks engage with their customers and use AI. Banks will combine machine learning with biometrics to provide new experiences, such as facial and fingerprint verification instead of passwords. One example… [Continue Reading]

Ten predictions for applications and application delivery in 2021

We’ve become an application-centric society. We use apps to help us do our work, to communicate, to stream entertainment, to monitor our health, and to do a whole lot more. Over the years, the number of desktop and mobile apps has grown dramatically. Where we deliver them from has changed too. The cloud has played a huge role as we move away from strictly on-premises data centers to a hybrid cloud and multi-cloud approach. And, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on how we built, delivered, and consumed our applications in 2020. But what will 2021… [Continue Reading]

System Mechanic 21 unveils major facelift alongside new network and process scanning tools

iolo Technologies has unveiled System Mechanic 21, a landmark new version of the venerable -- but still acclaimed -- system tune-up tool for Windows PCs. It’s a noteworthy release thanks to a major user interface update, but also boasts two new scanning tools, step-by-step guides and -- in the Pro release -- improved antivirus protection. The new redesign is immediately apparent the first time the product is run, accompanied by a streamlined install process, clean and simplified dashboard, and pop-up guides that can steer users through their first run with major parts of the program. As before, System Mechanic is… [Continue Reading]