Is it just me, or is it nearly impossible to keep up with goings-on in the computer world? It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I click refresh for tech news, or how many blogs I subscribe to, or how many newsletters I read – there’s always something new to read, to know, to understand.
The good news? Most of the really important stuff – the sneaky changes to privacy settings, or that new vicious virus going around, or weaknesses in an OS update – seems to self-filter itself, floating like an ultra-buoyant pool toy to the top of my email and my news feed.
So, this is about some of that other stuff: interesting computer news from the tech world – all those little tidbits that nerds, geeks, and even general news junkies will find interesting.
Windows News
- Windows users, good news! Netflix launched 4K streaming in November – but only on the Microsoft Edge browser. (And only for certain processors.)
- Love it or hate it, Microsoft’s Office suite is the standard. And in November, the giant launched its Office 365 software in 10 new worldwide markets.
Mac News
- Do you defer more to your tablet than your computer? You’re not the only one. Mac360 dives into tablets-as-PCs and the iPad vs. Mac debate.
- Something scammy this way comes. How-To Geek warns that yep, even the Mac App Store is full of scams.
- Alexey Semeney of the DevTeamSpace blog warns that the new MacBook Pro is no longer the right choice for developers.
Open Source News
- Finally, Microsoft has enabled Linux users to send SMS texts via the latest Skype Alpha.
- InfoWorld’s Agam Shah fills us in on how open-source hardware manufacturers are working to achieve the Open Source Hardware Association certification.
- Microsoft may be late to the party, but the company has finally acknowledged the great potential of the open source talent base: Senior Program Manager, Rich Turner, recently called for Linux developers to switch to Windows 10.
Internet / Online Computing News
- Keep your computer (and your information) safe: Firefox recently announced “in your face” warnings for insecure login pages.
- Being a parent in the online age is more than a little bit overwhelming; there’s just so MUCH out there that can get our kids into trouble. Thankfully, Nerds on Call teaches how we can lock down our kids’ computer activity.
- Oh, and speaking of your kids and their computers, Alexandra Samuel asks the question on every parent’s mind: Are our kids addicted to tech, or are we just old?
- For many of us, Internet is a given but as of year-end, only half the world will be online.
- Just in time for holiday shopping! You can now ask Google how crowded somewhere is, in real time.
- If you want to creep yourself out, a new website – clickclickclick.click – will show you what websites know about you. Look if you dare.
- But oh, sweet privacy! If you’ve ever worried about your online footprint, you can now clean up your internet presence with a single click. Kind of.
- If you think Google search is relegated to typing in a few keywords, you’ll seriously appreciate Layer 2 Computer’s take on how to become a Google master.
- We’re not sure if this stands as a cry for help, or just as incredibly sad, but almost 40% of Americans would give up sex for a year, in exchange for tighter online security.
- This month, the UK apparently passed a “snooper charter” that gives at least 48 organizations access to Brits’ browsing histories.
Other Computer News
- Are you a digital photographer with some great photo editing skills? Terry White has the ‘sitch on why you might consider becoming an Adobe stock contributor.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of supercomputers, the S. announced intentions to build two (at a paltry $200-$300 million, each), while Japan plans to build to the world’s fastest supercomputer.
- Gail Carmichael, who applies the female perspective to computer science, explores how technology can outpace diversity initiatives.
- Oops? Technology brings down technology (yet again), in this recent report on how hackers can steal a Tesla car via its own app.
- Think your desk job is better than unemployment? A recent study out of the University of Melbourne says that doing nothing may actually be better, at least for cognitive function, than working 60 hours/week. That’s encouraging. Thanks, researchers.
- Think computers take the place of human jobs? It does happen, but experts also see room for optimism: computers, technology and bots may create jobs, too. Yes, jobs for humans, not bots.
- Looking forward to where computers (and tech) will go next year? Datamation has 10 artificial intelligence (AI) trends to watch out for in 2017.
