Microsoft has offered a miniscule concession to users determined to install Windows 11 on PCs that don’t meet its minimum hardware requirements: you will be able to do it, but on your own head be it should things go wrong.

The apparent moderation of its previously hardline upgrade policy appeared on a support page update which lists the numerous disadvantages of pressing ahead with a Windows 11 on an unsupported system.

These include unspecified compatibility problems, and a watermark noting a PC’s non-compliant status that will appear on the Windows 11 desktop. More significantly, it states:

“If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates.”

This is unambiguous – no security updates. And that’s in addition to the rather alarming warning that any “damages to your PC due to a lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty.”

Those are serious gotchas, the same ones Microsoft has been warning about for some time. Only a week ago, a blog by Microsoft senior program manager Steven Hosking described the most important element of the Windows 11 requirements, support for Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, as “non-negotiable.” That remains the case.

Not sugarcoating it

What has changed? Despite some optimistic news reporting on this issue, nothing. Microsoft doesn’t want users to upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but is now acknowledging that some people will push ahead regardless. That being so, it wants to tell them what might happen, so they can’t say they weren’t warned.

The date Windows 10 is due to stop receiving updates, Oct. 14, 2025, remains the same. Upgrading to Windows 11 without meeting the hardware requirements won’t change the negative consequences of this. Nor does the update explain how users can bypass the minimum requirements, should they choose to do so.

Importantly, users who regret upgrading will only have ten days to revert to Windows 10. After that, the files enabling this function will be deleted to save disk space, and the “go back” button in Recovery options will disappear.

Microsoft also doesn’t elaborate on what it means by Windows 11 “compatibility issues,” so this is a matter of guesswork. However, it’s possible to imagine that new features that assume a TPM is available could cause instability on a machine lacking this facility. It could also affect drivers for older hardware no longer supported in Windows 11, although this would be likely to be an issue over the longer term.

Meet the TPM

Microsoft’s minimum requirements for Windows 11 cover several hardware components, including having enough RAM and a powerful enough microprocessor. But the most contentious issue is whether a PC contains or supports a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), specifically version 2.0, released in 2014.

A TPM is a secure enclave for storing data such as cryptographic keys, certificates, and biometric information fundamental for the security of a PC, including those required for low level PC checks such as Secure Boot, or for the use of Microsoft’s BitLocker in its more secure mode. Having one is somewhere between a good idea and essential, as more and more software systems going forward assume one will be there at the root of trust. For a summary of the arguments in favor of upgrading to a system with TPM 2.0, Hosking’s blog is a good place to start.

When it comes to TPMs and Windows, PCs divide into three categories, the first of which supports the functionality using a TPM 2.0 chip installed on the motherboard. The second doesn’t have a TPM chip, but can either have one installed using a chip upgrade kit from the motherboard vendor or can have TPM enabled through firmware at UEFI level. The third are PCs that don’t support either option, which means they can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 without a registry hack.

Intel and AMD PCs from about 2017 onwards should support a hardware or software TPM 2.0, while earlier ones going back to Intel’s Skylake 6th generation in 2015 might do so, depending on the specific processor and support at motherboard and UEFI level.

Extended support

For anyone who doesn’t want the risk of a Windows 11 upgrade on unsupported hardware, or just prefers Windows 10, after October 2025 the most secure option will be to pay for an Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription at an unconfirmed cost of $30 per annum for individuals. That way, updates won’t disappear abruptly, putting the PC in peril as vulnerabilities pile up over time.

Not surprisingly, a lot of users are happy with the status quo and don’t feel they should be forced to upgrade to Windows 11 or to pay to remain on Windows 10. This, arguably, is Microsoft’s fault. It hasn’t always clearly explained the benefits of its minimum requirement. That, unfortunately, includes explaining why TPM 2.0 is a good idea, and how its software increasingly depends on it for security.

Source:: Computer World

Apple has introduced significant improvements for enterprise IT admins in the newly-released iOS 18.2, including the power to manage the latest salvo of additional Apple Intelligence features and more.  Here’s a swift look at what’s new.

Giving you control of Apple Intelligence

Apple’s approach to generative AI (genAI) is all about combining convenience with privacy. That means it has built large language models (LLMs) that work on the device, supplemented by highly secure cloud-based models that use highly secure Apple servers in data centers, and partnerships with third-party services to handle tasks the company’s own models can’t accommodate.

That last thing — use of third-party services — is where some Apple customers might need reassurance. That’s because people might at times share what should be confidential data with these services, which could place companies or individuals at risk of running afoul of data protection laws. Apple has only one genAI partner at this time, OpenAI, and to help mitigate such issues the ChatGPT developer says it does not keep private information pertaining to a request. With cloud queries heavily encrypted, Apple keeps no information at all, which is part of the attraction of using its own LLM models, and users can choose not to work with ChatGPT at all, if they prefer.

But what about unauthorized use of ChatGPT? Or even Apple’s own genAI models? Is there any way a data security-conscious company can try to protect its data against unauthorized sharing?

Now, there is. Starting in iOS 18.2, Apple has, as promised, introduced tools that let Mobile Device Management (MDM) services manage all the latest Apple Intelligence integrations, including ChatGPT, which itself includes search.

What this means is that IT admins can permit use of some, none, or all of the available Apple Intelligence tools, including the capacity to generate images in Image Playground. How this control is made available will likely differ between MDM providers, but you should see tools to manage iOS 18.2’s newly-added Apple Intelligence features arrive in your management console soon. Apple introduced MDM controls for Writing tools, Mail summarization, phone call recoding, and hiding apps in iOS 18.1.

Setting a default browser

While it took time to be convinced, Apple is beginning to allow people to use more browsers than before, potentially opening up competition in the browser industry. The thing is, not all browsers are created equal and it’s possible that some companies might require employees to use a specific browser on a managed device. This has now been made possible with an MDM tool that lets admins set a default browser and prevent users from modifying that browser, or choosing an alternative. (This should help companies maintain specified browser security policies, for example.)

What else is new?

These additions supplement an earlier wave of enterprise-focused admin enhancements introduced with iOS 18.1. 

Hardware-based MFA in Safari is now more reliable when used with security keys.

You can disable RCS messages on managed devices — essential, given the standard doesn’t yet support encryption.

It is possible to prevent users from deactivating VPN use on a per-app basis.

Admins can prevent apps from being locked or hidden by users.

Service discovery in enrollment can request well-known resources from alternative locations specified by MDM 

Tell it from the rooftops

Each time Apple makes one of these iterative enhancements for enterprise deployments of its devices, it shows the extent to which it now deeply supports enterprise markets. If I’m honest, the company should try to make more out of this, particularly as its approach toward building an ecosystem for trusted AI marries so well and so deeply with its existing reputation around security, ease-of-use, customer satisfaction, employee loyalty and TCO advantages in contrast to other platforms. 

But for most admins, the critical piece in the company’s most recent MDM updates will likely be the control it gives them over Apple Intelligence, which should reassure business users that limited deployment of these tools can be accomplished in a deliberate and responsible manner.

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Source:: Computer World

By Nick Godt Costco is partnering with Electrify America to offer EV fast-charging at five new locations in California, Colorado, and Florida.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Siôn Geschwindt Rome-based venture capital firm Scientifica has launched a €200mn fund to support startups in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and other frontier technologies. The fund, set to launch early next year, will provide early-stage companies with both financial backing and access to advanced lab spaces. Scientifica’s fund is based on a “Zero CapEx” model. Startups can use Scientifica’s 4,000 m² of laboratories and a network of 70 certified labs in Italy without incurring upfront costs. The aim is to reduce barriers to innovation by giving early-stage access to cutting-edge tools and facilities. The model reflects a growing trend of venture capital firms supporting…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Siôn Geschwindt If you live in Europe and you use a neobank, you’ve likely been interacting with Upvest’s investment products without even knowing it. The Berlin-based startup runs a stock-trading API that integrates into some of the biggest fintechs in Europe — Revolut, N26, Bunq, Plum, Raisin, Shares and Vivid. Through these banks, some 50 million users have access use the company’s investment products, it said. Amid a broader neobank boom, Upvest today announced it has raised €100M in a Series C funding round led by Hedosophia and joined by Sapphire Ventures. Existing investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, BlackRock, Earlybird, HV Capital, Motive Ventures, and Notion Capital also chipped…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

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By Hisan Kidwai Outdoor speakers are a pretty big market, as almost everyone loves to jam to their favorite…
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The battle between WordPress owner Automattic and WP Engine seemingly struck US federal Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin as rather one-sided, as she ruled against Automattic on Tuesday and granted WP Engine the preliminary injunction it sought.

“Judge Martinez-Olguin’s ruling clearly explains why [Automattic founder] Matt Mullenweg’s campaign against WP Engine has been so misguided,” said IDC research manager Michele Rosen. “By going to war with one vendor that is engaging in a common business practice, Mullenweg caused irreparable damage to the WordPress ecosystem.”

The ruling

Martinez-Olguin ordered Automattic to reverse many of its actions against WP Engine, and gave Automattic 72 hours to:

Remove a list of exiting WP Engine customers that Automattic was publicizing to show how many of WP Engine’s customers were leaving.

“Restore WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org as it existed as of September 20, 2024, including: reactivating and restoring all WP Engine employee login credentials to wordpress.org resources (including login credentials to login.wordpress.org) as they existed as of September 20, 2024.”

Disable “any technological blocking of WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org that occurred on or around September 25, 2024, including IP address blocking or other blocking mechanisms”

“Restore WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ access to wordpress.org in the manner that such access existed as of September 20, 2024, including:

functionality and development resources;

data resources (WordPress Plugin, Theme, and Block Directories, repositories, listings, and other password-protected resources within wordpress.org);

security resources (login.wordpress.org);

support resources (trac.wordpress.org and slack.wordpress.org);

removing the checkbox at login.wordpress.org that Defendants added on or about October 8, 2024 asking users to confirm that they are ‘not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise.’”

Return and restore “WP Engine’s “access to and control of its Advanced Custom Fields (“ACF”) plugin directory.”

The judge further ordered Automattic to:

Stop “blocking, disabling, or interfering with WP Engine’s and/or its employees’, users’, customers’, or partners’ access to wordpress.org.”

Stop “interfering with WP Engine’s control over, or access to, plugins or extensions hosted on wordpress.org that were developed, published, or maintained by WP Engine, including those that had been published, developed, or maintained by WP Engine as of September 20, 2024.”

No longer interfere with “WP Engine’s and Related Entities’ WordPress installations (i.e., websites built with WordPress software) by using auto-migrate or auto-update commands to delete, overwrite, disable, or modify any WP Engine plugin without the express request by or consent of WP Engine and/or its users, customers, or partners.” However, she added, “The above does not preclude wordpress.org’s ability to ensure the security and operability of its site consistent with procedures and policies in place as of September 20, 2024.”

In her detailed decision, Martinez-Olguin reviewed every claim that WP Engine made against Automattic, and found for WP Engine in just about every instance, arguing that WP Engine “is likely to succeed on the merits.”

For example, Automattic had argued that there were no contracts between WP Engine and key customers. 

Although Automattic representatives “press WP Engine to identify specific contracts, there is no credible argument that contracts do not exist between WP Engine and its customers,” Martinez-Olguin wrote. “At a minimum, by seeking to entice WP Engine customers to move away from the company … defendants at least acknowledge that WP Engine has existing contracts with the customers Defendants are targeting.”

Additionally, she said, Automattic’s argument “that the interference WP Engine alleges consists of acts they had a right to take fares no better. They insist that Mullenweg was under no obligation to provide WP Engine access to some or all of the sources on the Website and that he had a right, under the Website’s developer guidelines, to fork the ACF plugin as he did, including to address outstanding issues.

“Mullenweg’s statement that he had the right to disable WP Engine’s account access and to make changes to the ACF plugin for the sake of public safety is belied by the declarations of WP Engine’s executives stating that the claimed vulnerability was minor, patched well before the fix-it window set by industry standard, and showing that Defendants tried to pass off the rating and reviews for the ACF plugin as those for their new purportedly forked SCF plugin.”

WP Engine ‘wins a battle but everyone continues to lose the war’

Automattic responded with a statement saying that the ruling “is a preliminary order designed to maintain the status quo. It was made without the benefit of discovery, our motion to dismiss, or the counterclaims we will be filing against WP Engine shortly. We look forward to prevailing at trial as we continue to protect the open source ecosystem during full-fact discovery and a full review of the merits.”

WP Engine also shared a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We are grateful that the court has granted our motion for a preliminary injunction that restores access to and functionality of wordpressdotorg for WP Engine, its customers, and its users. This ruling provides much-needed stability for the WordPress ecosystem. We deeply appreciate our customers for their continued trust and support. We remain committed to serving them and their sites with the performance, availability, and integrity they deserve, while collaborating to ensure a vigorous, thriving and stable WordPress community.”

The case has concerned many in the open source community, as the acrimonious war of actions and words between Automattic and WP Engine scared various open source companies, along with enterprise CIOs, who worry that these companies might become too toxic and they might need to keep their distance. 

One open source executive read the judge’s decision and said he was concerned that the ruling might have come too late to halt the damage done to the open source community.

“WP Engine wins a battle, but everyone continues to lose the war. WP Engine has had (about a) 15% increase in cancellations in the last few months, and 159 WordPress employees have quit. No doubt these distractions will negatively impact the innovation and evolution of the WordPress solution for months, if not years to come. It’s not hyperbole to say 40% of the internet is and will be losing in some way,” said Michael Sonier, general manager at ButterCMS.

“As a 20-year-old technology, WP remained ubiquitous because of its ecosystem, but now it’s turned on its own. Hard not to see this accelerating the adoption of technologies that are 20 years younger,” he noted. “More broadly, it sets back the open source movement, which was always about community, collaboration, and contribution. Now it’s going to be associated with potential legal battles, finger pointing, and volatility.”

Source:: Computer World

Mozilla has announced that Do Not Track, a feature designed to prevent user tracking online, will be removed with version 135 of the company’s Firefox browser. The decision comes as more and more websites choose to ignore Do Not Track, leaving users with a false sense of security.

Privacy-conscious users are being encouraged to instead enable Global Privacy Control (GPC), a feature that tells sites your data may not be shared or resold to third parties.

Windowsreport notes that Do Not Track remains in place for the time being in other browsers, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. So users who want to continue using the feature, might want to switch browsers.

Source:: Computer World

By Deepti Pathak In 2021, YouTube stopped showing the public dislike count, allowing only creators to see the numbers…
The post How to See Dislikes on YouTube? appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Deepti Pathak Apple’s AirTag has become popular for tracking valuable items like keys, bags, and wallets. However, the…
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By Siôn Geschwindt A police force in the UK is using Bluetooth tracking wristbands for people with dementia in a high-tech bid to keep them safe.   Starting this month, Avon and Somerset Police will start giving out Bluetooth wristbands for free to families. It’s part of a broader initiative to protect dementia patients, who often suffer from extreme memory loss and confusion as a result of the incurable condition. The wristbands are fitted with Tile, a popular tracking device similar to the Apple Airtag. Once the tag is attached to a patient, caregivers can track their location via a smartphone app. If the…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Siôn Geschwindt In 2018, Elon Musk put a Tesla in space. Like many of the billionaire’s antics, it was a publicity stunt. However, it pointed to an undeniable truth: the future of space travel is electric.   Most spacecraft today — like cars and trucks back on Earth — burn chemicals to get around. But space agencies like NASA, ESA, and France’s CNES have been experimenting with electric thrusters for decades, in a bid for a cleaner, more efficient way to propel satellites. A few startups have spun out from this work. One of them is Paris-headquartered ION-X. It hopes to build the…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Nick Godt A new Tesla EV, called the Model Q, is in store for 2025, and it will be priced under $30,000 including incentives, according to Deutsche Bank.

Source:: Digital Trends

A new study by a PhD student at MIT indicates that AI tools can help scientists make more discoveries, according to Nature.

In the study by Aidan Toner-Rodgers, an unspecified laboratory in the US with 1,018 researchers used an unspecified custom machine-learning tool. The work teams that were randomly assigned to use the AI ​​tool then discovered 44% more materials and created 39% more patent applications than those that did not use the tool.

At the same time, the technology had different effects on how productivity was distributed. The bottom third of researchers saw little benefit, while output doubled for top researchers.

AI automated 57% of the “idea generation” tasks and reassigned scientists to the new task of evaluating model-produced material candidates. Top-performing researchers then used their expertise to prioritize promising AI proposals, while other researchers wound up wasting significant resources testing false positives.

The survey also showed that progress has a price: 82% of researchers reported decreased satisfaction with their work due to decreased creativity and underutilization of their skills. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed by other researchers.

Source:: Computer World

Mac developers have a lot to think about as we close in on 2025, the eighth Mac developer survey from Setapp suggests. Should they sell software outside of the App Store? Is it time to diversify to other platforms? When will it be time to build software for visionOS? And what about artificial intelligence (AI)?

Should they sell software outside of the App Store?

Apple is being forced to open up to competition to the App Store, including support for third-party app portals. As these stores appear, it seems inevitable that some developers might consider selling software at those new outlets, including Setapp’s own mobile app store. The data suggests that as many as a third of developers are ready to use third-party stores for iOS apps. 

It’s a little different for Mac applications — just 20% of those are sold exclusively via the Mac App Store, with 37% sold outside of that structure and 44% sold through both outlets. The implication here is that iOS app sales might end up in a similar stance, with the vast majority of apps made available via the App Store, rather than outside of it. 

The most popular channel for Mac app sales outside of Apple’s store is, of course, via the developer’s own website — though when it comes to making those sales, the challenges remain much the same as before: app discovery, marking, and user acquisition. I’ll be interested to see how third-party app stores rise to the challenge of helping developers with those challenges in future.

There’s an interesting side insight here. 

Despite years of complaining about Apple’s 30% fee on apps sold through its own store (really, it is around 15% for the vast majority), it strongly appears developers believe it is worth sharing revenue with app retail services. That, once again, means the only real question behind of the App Store liberation remains the same: How much is fair to charge? That amount differs, but people seem pretty certain that revenue sharing is good for business, and a good chunk of them plan to stick with the App Store.

Is it time to diversify to other platforms?

If Mac developers are a barometer, then it looks as if the majority of Apple’s developers are willing to build cross-platform solutions to bring in new business, though most prefer to remain in Apple’s ecosystem. Three-quarters (75%) of developers build for other operating systems, mainly for iOS (59%), iPad OS (37%), and Windows (23%). Just 11% build for Android — slightly lower than those building apps for Apple Watch.

The trend is that diversification is taking place mostly within Apple’s own ecosystem, with some Windows development. What isn’t happening fast so far is visionOS, which hasn’t yet become a large enough platform for mass market app developers. It’s a professional tool.

When will it be time to build software for visionOS?

Twenty percent of Mac developers plan to develop for visionOS in 2024 or are already in the process. Low market share and high device price remains a concern and is possibly why almost half (45%) of developers haven’t decided whether to build for the platform yet. Thirty-five percent of developers say they will not build for the platform this year, though 8% are building visionOS apps already. 

What’s interesting is that while it confirms relatively low interest in developing apps for Apple’s newest hardware at this time, it shows interest sufficiently high that almost one in 10 Mac developers are already building for the platform.

This bodes very well as Apple improves the hardware and reduces cost, as it means there will already be a decent number of apps available by the time it inches toward being more mass market. While there are many developers who won’t use their resources to build right now, things can and will change as the situation evolves.

What about AI?

Apple’s spatial reality party was to some extent dented by the near-simultaneous revolution of generative AI. If Apple had expected visionOS to grab the oxygen from the room, it only had limited success. Sure, the rest of the industry went into stasis as it awaited news of VisionPro, but AI grabbed headlines everywhere and developers are far from blind to that. Nor, as Apple Intelligence proves, was Apple.

This is probably why more than 41% of Mac app developers are about to begin using AI models in their apps, with another 19% thinking about it. What they are using AI for is interesting. As you’d expect, personalization and automation are big trends, but real-time translation, automated IoT deployments, and productivity tools in various stripes seem to be shades of what’s coming as apps get updated in the coming months. AI/ML development is by far the trend developers think will have the biggest impact on their apps in the year to come, with personalization and privacy rules also in the picture. 

There’s a lot more that should be of interest in the Setapp survey this year. But what seems to be crystal clear is that the intelligence in devices will be harnessed in rapidly more sophisticated ways in the months and years ahead — at what point will AI predict your needs to the extent that App Stores will be redundant? And as apps continue to evolve into becoming cloud-based services, will operating systems mean as much anymore?

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, Mastodon, and MeWe. 

Source:: Computer World

By Deepti Pathak WhatsApp makes sharing videos quick and easy, whether you’re connecting with family, friends, or colleagues. While…
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By Kirstie McDermott December is a good time to think about your next career move. Your colleagues may be on a go-slow when it comes to getting projects over the line ahead of the Christmas holiday period, but for those with an eye on 2025’s job-hunting prize, this month can be a really fruitful time to look for a new opportunity. Bonnie Dilber, who is a recruiting leader at Zapier and an HR influencer on TikTok, explains why, based on her nine-plus years of hiring experience. “Basically you have a situation at the end of the year where companies may have fewer roles…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Siôn Geschwindt UK and Luxembourg-based startup Uplift360 has landed €1mn in pre-seed funding to scale up a greener method for recycling advanced materials like Kevlar. Uplift360’s patent-pending process breaks down Kevlar and other composites without compromising the integrity of the fibres and resins. These raw materials can then be reused to make new products. It does this using safe chemicals and at room temperature — making it greener and more energy-efficient than traditional methods, the startup claims.   “It’s a game-changer,” Sam Staincliffe, Uplift360’s co-founder and CTO, told TNW in an interview. “It means we can lower costs and recycle a wide range…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web