Tech news

The fear of technology has been around for as long as technology itself, and like technology itself, this fear is always changing. There is evidence of "technophobia" -- the technical name for this affliction -- in every age and in every part of the world. However, it is perhaps reaching a peak in modern society. Americans are more afraid of technology then death, suggests research conducted in 2019. Specifically, they fear what technology will do in the future. Many of Americans' greatest fears concern the state of tomorrow. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2BVfleC

Azure Sphere will be generally available in Feb 2020, Microsoft announced at the IoT Solutions World Congress. Its scheduled arrival highlights Microsoft's readiness to fulfill its promise for better Internet of Things device security at scale, company officials said. Microsoft first introduced Azure Sphere in 2018, opting to use its own version of a Linux operating system instead of Windows 10 to drive its new Azure Sphere OS to securely connect Internet of Things devices. Security is one of the leading barriers to IoT adoption. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2WsurBL

Active Noise Cancellation is just one of the hot new features in the latest generation of Apple's AirPods. The new AirPods Pro, which go on sale Wednesday for $249, combine earbud microphones with software to remove background noise and improve a user's listening experience. An outward-facing mic on the bud collects environmental sound for analysis. That analysis allows the bud to create a sound that can cancel out noise before it reaches a listener's ear. Meanwhile, an inward-facing mic listens toward the ear. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2ozHt44

Nvidia has introduced two new versions of its Android TV-based Shield streaming product. Shield TV and Shield TV Pro are replacements for the last generation of Shield video streamers, which Nvidia introduced in 2017. The Shield TV Pro retains the form factor of its predecessors -- the box-like form favored by the industry generally -- while the lower priced Shield TV is cylinder-shaped. "The Shield TV is meant to be the more mainstream product and has a unique form factor for the market," said Paul Erickson, senior analyst at IHS Markit. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2BVBQjq

Though they're often made fun of, millennials arguably are making a bigger impact on saving the planet than the generations that preceded them. It does seem strange to me that our governments haven't been more aggressive about protecting the environment, given that the cost of not doing so poses an existential risk to the human race. It seems insane to me as we watch parts of the country burn and other parts of the country drown that we're still arguing about climate change rather than coming together to do something about it. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/36flrEs

There's a new trailer for Battlefield V , the World War II first-person shooter Electronic Arts released last year, highlighting the game's Chapter 5: War in the Pacific . The trailer previews team-based gameplay in settings ranging from Europe to the South Pacific. War in the Pacific is a free download that will be available on Oct. 31. New maps will include familiar stomping grounds such as Wake Island and Iwo Jima, and add American and Japanese factions to the game, along with a slew of new weapons and vehicles. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/340sm2p

Unmanned aerial vehicles -- or "drones" as these flying objects more commonly are known -- pose a growing danger, cybersecurity expert Kevin Townsend recently warned. The drone category is broad -- it includes toys for hobbyists, tools for commerce, and devices used for a variety of military purposes. They range in size from massive military drones that can be equipped with 500-pound laser-guided bombs and Hellfire missiles, to small hobbyist devices that carry little more than a camera. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2MGVnug

GoPro has begun taking preorders for its $500 360-degree camera, the Max 360. It has two 180-degree lenses that can capture 360-degree stills at 16.6 megapixels, single lens shots with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 5.5 megapixels, and arresting 270-degree "PowerPanos" at 6.2 megapixels. For video, it can capture 1440p at 60 frames-per-second with a single lens and 5.6k spherical clips at 30 fps. There are microphones on all sides of the camera, save one, and it supports all current GoPro accessories. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2pIxJ7G

Samsung has called quits on its effort to provide a full Linux desktop platform for Android. In an email to beta testers last week, Samsung said it would not support its Linux on DeX beta program for future operating system and device releases. Samsung's announcement coincides with Google's release of the Android 10 OS update and its rollout on Samsung phones. Neither company will provide Linux on DeX support. Linux on DeX allows users to connect smartphones or tablets to monitors to simulate a full Linux desktop computing experience. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Ngwtkv

Flaws in Amazon and Google smart speakers can expose users to eavesdropping and voice phishing. Researchers at Security Research Labs discovered that developers could create malicious apps for the Amazon and Google platforms to turn the smart speakers into smart spies. Using the standard development interfaces for the platforms, the researchers found a way to request and collect personal data from users, including passwords, and to eavesdrop on users after they believed the smart speaker had stopped listening. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Jeu0FP

I was moved by the recent news about a woman being shot in her home by a police officer. Once again, I found it frustrating that people immediately jumped to apply blame before all the facts were in. Three mistakes contributed to the incident. The first was by the neighbor, who should have called the homeowner before calling the police. The second was by the police, who should have called the woman before going to the front door. Finally, the woman made the final mistake by picking up a gun without being ready to use it. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Jbc9zv

The Solus Project is alive and well and continues to offer a fresh approach to uncomplicating the computer desktop. That says a lot, given the sometimes sordid developmental path of the almost 5-year-old Linux distribution. Solus 4.0 Linux "Fortitude" was released earlier this month. The Solus team provided updates and improvements to each of the distribution's supported desktop environments -- Budgie, GNOME and MATE. An independent Linux distribution built from scratch, Solus is available for 64-bit computers only. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/33NYF4R

As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the National Cyber Security Alliance is advising all computer users to "Protect IT" by taking precautions such as updating to the latest security software, Web browser and operating system. The nonprofit public-private partnership, which works with DHS as well as private sector sponsors, advised computer users on ways to protect their personal data and how to use WiFi safely. Protect IT is the third pillar of the NCSA's overarching message around this month's awareness program. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2MVoskN

San Francisco officials want to get ahead of the emerging technology curve by prequalifying and regulating startup tech proposals before products become available to consumers. That approach is a developing trend in the U.S., according to Arle Lommel, senior analyst at CSA Research. If approved, the creation of a city-controlled regulatory office would invert the historical norm and effectively require companies to request permission for anything not expressly allowed. For adoption, the measure requires passage in a second vote next month. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2IX1WXy

Developers have patched a vulnerability in Sudo, a core command utility for Linux, that could allow a user to execute commands as a root user even if that root access was specifically disallowed. The patch prevents potential serious consequences within Linux systems. However, the Sudo vulnerability posed a threat only to a narrow segment of the Linux user base, according to Todd Miller, software developer and senior engineer at Quest Software and a maintainer of the open source Sudo project. "Most Sudo configurations are not affected by the bug," he said. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/33APgNJ

A new flagship smartphone, a slick refresh of Pixelbook Go, some home gadget improvements and a revamp of its wireless earbuds highlighted Google's annual hardware event in New York City. The latest models of Google's flagship smartphone, Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, base priced at $799 and $899 respectively, will have wider distribution, as they'll be available from all major U.S. carriers from the first day they hit the retail market. The phones will include an innovative radar chip for sensing motion. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/32n8ExI

An option in Apple's Safari browser that's supposed to protect Web surfers from malicious sites has raised privacy concerns in some quarters. The option, called "safe browsing," is turned on by default. Depending on where an Apple device is registered, the browser could be sending IP information to Tencent, a conglomerate with close ties to China's government. "Safe browsing should not only mean you're protected from visiting websites that are dangerous, but that your privacy is safe, too," said law professor Joel R. Reidenberg. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2J73rCD

One of the interesting and somewhat underappreciated aspects of the Qualcomm wireless event a few weeks back is that 5G will make realistic AR avatars possible. This advance will be possible because with high bandwidth and very low latency, processing could shift from the device to the cloud. Coupled with the rollout of distributed data centers, to keep latency down, this means you could have realistic virtual pets and friends, or even visit remote locations virtually, appearing to people there as your avatar. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/33xyWgN

Since the dawn of the Internet age, criminals have looked for ways to profit on unsuspecting people while they browse the Web. Viruses, malware and other schemes were invented to infect and infiltrate systems, both at the enterprise and consumer levels. One of the most successful forms of cybercrime is social engineering, also known as the con man of the Internet. Social engineering actually covers a wide range of security threats, not just those in a digital context, but it's usually associated with attacks like phishing. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2nGh3x4

Austrumi Linux is an unusual distribution. With a little more polish, it could be a good tool for running the Linux operating system on any computer you touch without changing anything on the hard drive. Last updated on Oct. 3 to version 4.08, Austrumi Linux is a bootable live Linux distribution based on Slackware Linux. It was created and is maintained by a group of programmers from the Latgale region of Latvia. One of the things that makes Austrumi so interesting is its desktop -- FVWM, or Feeble Virtual Window Manager. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2VujsHq

Stopping cyberattacks requires diligent behavior. One of the themes of this year's National Cyber Security Awareness Month, or NCSAM, is that all computer users should take steps to Secure IT. That means shaking up the passphrase protocol by using not just strong passwords but strong and unique passphrases. Consumers and corporate computer users alike should double login protection through multifactor authentication, and everyone should embrace safe online shopping practices. Everyone should play a little hard to get with strangers online. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2M64IM6

New versions of operating systems are usually about slick interfaces and improved performance, but that's not what Apple was flogging about macOS Catalina upon its release. One of the hot new additions in the OS is Apple Arcade, a game subscription service featuring a batch of new, exclusive games. Also bolstering macOS Catalina's entertainment chops are new versions of Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV apps. The company paved the way for emphasis on services over other features at its annual shindig for developers in June. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2OzFabI

Two things to avoid in online discussions are politics and religion. Open source technology may be an explosive third topic that software developers should be wary of subjecting to a virtual debate. Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and Ruby on Rails creator and Basecamp cofounder David Heinemeier Hansson got into an all-out Twitter slugfest last week about the role of open source. The bantering touched on issues that included the monopoly-making power of WordPress and forking applications to blunt runaway growth. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2LUQOfs

Subscription models have taken hold in everything from software to smartphones, and now Sonos is testing the idea in the premium wireless speaker market. The Santa Barbara, California, company has launched a pilot program limited to 500 homes in the Netherlands, which allows consumers to gain access to Sonos hardware for the equivalent of about $16.46 a month. For 15 euros, a subscriber gets two Sonos smart speakers that sell for 458 euros at Sonos. The speakers can be paired or placed in different rooms. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2VnBwmv

One of the last major initiatives former CEO Steve Ballmer launched before he left Microsoft was its Surface effort. It was designed to address the concern that the iPod would take over the PC world. During the Surface launch last week, it wasn't hard to see that Ballmer was right conceptually. It just took Satya Nadella to execute, showcasing that Ballmer didn't have a strategic problem concerning direction -- he had an execution problem about making his vision real. His problem was under-resourcing, not lack of vision. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Mpt4PC

SolydXK is a Debian-based distribution with a choice of Xfce or KDE desktops. Both versions are simple to use and offer dependable and consistent performance. SolydX and SolydK are Debian Buster-based Linux OSes with the Xfce and KDE desktops respectively. The SolydXK distro is a solid open source alternative for small businesses, nonprofit organizations and home users. The distro's developer team lacks an enterprise business structure and costly tech support services that come with business options such as Red Hat and Ubuntu Linux. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2OlbKhf

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and one of the prongs in the three-part theme is for all computer users to "Own IT." This means staying safe on social media, updating privacy settings, and keeping tabs on apps. Simply put, users need to take better ownership of their data and their online presence as part of daily safe cyber practices. It is all too easy simply to click the wrong link, share the wrong thing on social media, or download the wrong app. One of the biggest risks today is ransomware. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Ofyi38

Microsoft has launched a slew of new devices designed to reshape the world: the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X, Surface Earbuds, and the upcoming Surface Neo and Surface Duo. "The next decade will be about creation, and amplifying what we can do as humans," said CEO Satya Nadella. "It's that ambition that ... underlies the approach to Surface and everything we do today." The Surface Laptop 3, Pro 7 and Pro X are available for preorder in select markets. The dual-screen Surface Neo and Duo will be available next year. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2n9SYhK

Two eGobbler malvertising exploits impacted 1.16 billion programmatic ads between Aug. 1 and Sept. 23, according to Confiant, which has been tracking the threat for about a year. The first targeted versions of Chrome prior to Chrome 75 on iOS. The flaw was fixed in the Chrome 75 rollout June 4. he second exploit impacted WebKit-based browsers. Confiant reported it to the Chrome and Apple security teams Aug. 7. The Chrome team issued a patch Aug. 9. Apple fixed the problem in iOS 13 on Sept. 19, and in Safari 13.0.1 on Sept. 24. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2n4ZZAA

Google's plans to test an encrypted Internet DNS protocol reportedly have spurred some members of Congress to consider opening an antitrust investigation. They are concerned that the new technology could give Google an edge over competitors by making it harder for them to access consumer data. Google is experimenting with new ways to enhance online privacy and security while maintaining existing content filtering and parental controls in its Chrome Web browser, Chrome Product Manager Kenji Baheux explained. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2o6Egs2