Category: Software

clean windows 11 start menu

Windows 11: how to clean up after – junkless install; stop links to Edge; start menu searches and ads

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft has gone long with Windows 11 now that Windows 10 support stops. You can’t install it without a Microsoft account and loads of tie-ins. All links open the privacy slurping Edge browser. The start menu is a sea of adverts. Thankfully you can get around all that. This App Stops Windows 11 From Opening Read more about Windows 11: how to clean up after – junkless install; stop links to Edge; start menu searches and ads[…]

You can now mark up your Google Docs with handwritten notes on Android devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google Docs is getting an annotation feature that will let you mark up your documents just like you might with a pen and paper. With today’s update, announced at MWC 2024, Google Docs users on Android devices can use a finger or stylus to write notes, highlight text and circle words to their heart’s desire. Read more about You can now mark up your Google Docs with handwritten notes on Android devices[…]

Doom running on gut bacteria, proving you really can play the game on anything

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An MIT biotech researcher has been able to run the iconic computer game Doom using actual gut bacteria. Lauren Ramlan didn’t get the game going on a digital simulation of bacteria, but turned actual bacteria into pixels to display the 30-year-old FPS, as reported by Rock Paper Shotgun. Specifically, Ramlan created a display inside of Read more about Doom running on gut bacteria, proving you really can play the game on anything[…]

Japan will no longer require floppy disks for submitting some official documents

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Japan is an innovative country that leads the way on many technological fronts. But the wheels of bureaucracy often turn incredibly slowly there. So much so, that the government still requires businesses to provide information on floppy disks and CD-ROMs when they submit certain official documents. That’s starting to change. Back in 2022, Minister of Read more about Japan will no longer require floppy disks for submitting some official documents[…]

ICANN proposes creating .INTERNAL domain which will never be used in root zone DNS

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has proposed creating a new top-level domain (TLD) and never allowing it to be delegated in the global domain name system (DNS) root. The proposed TLD is .INTERNAL and, as the name implies, it’s intended for internal use only. The idea is that .INTERNAL could take Read more about ICANN proposes creating .INTERNAL domain which will never be used in root zone DNS[…]

Samsung and Google launch ‘Circle to Search’ Too

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Samsung announced many interesting products and features at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event (including the Galaxy S24 series) but one of the more impressive developments isn’t actually unique to the Galaxy brand itself. The feature, Circle to Search, was developed in partnership with Google, which means it’ll live on Google phones, too. What is Circle Read more about Samsung and Google launch ‘Circle to Search’ Too[…]

Developing An App For Reduced-Gravity Flying

Posted on by Robin Edgar

You’ve likely heard of the “vomit comet” — an rather graphic nickname for the aircraft used to provide short bursts of near-weightlessness by flying along a parabolic trajectory. They’re used to train astronauts, perform zero-g experiments, and famously let director Ron Howard create the realistic spaceflight scenes for Apollo 13. But you might be surprised Read more about Developing An App For Reduced-Gravity Flying[…]

Nissan 300ZX Owner Turns Ford Digital Dash Into Wicked Retro Display – why don’t all automakers allow digital dash theming?!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

You’ve got to love a project with amazing elements of both art and science. Nissan 300ZX enthusiast and talented tinkerer Kelvin Elsner has been working on this custom vaporwave-aesthetic digital gauge cluster for months. It’s not in a car yet, but it’s an amazing design and computer coding feat for one guy in his home Read more about Nissan 300ZX Owner Turns Ford Digital Dash Into Wicked Retro Display – why don’t all automakers allow digital dash theming?![…]

Microsoft confirms Smart App issue renaming printers to HP, installing HP apps and drivers for no reason

Posted on by Robin Edgar

No, it isn’t your imagination. Windows really is installing the HP Smart App and renaming printers without user interaction. Microsoft has updated its Windows release health dashboard to admit a problem exists. The title of the issue says it all: “Printer names and icons might be changed and HP Smart app automatically installs.” The problem Read more about Microsoft confirms Smart App issue renaming printers to HP, installing HP apps and drivers for no reason[…]

Roundcube Open-Source Webmail Software Merges With Nextcloud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The open-source Roundcube webmail software project has “merged” with Nextcloud, the prominent open-source personal cloud software. In boosting Nextcloud’s webmail software capabilities, Roundcube is joining Nextcloud as what’s been described as a merger. In 2024 Nextcloud is to invest into Roundcube to accelerate the development of this widely-used webmail open-source software. Today’s press release says Read more about Roundcube Open-Source Webmail Software Merges With Nextcloud[…]

“Make It Real” AI prototype wows UI devs by turning drawings into working software

Posted on by Robin Edgar

collaborative whiteboard app maker called “tldraw” made waves online by releasing a prototype of a feature called “Make it Real” that lets users draw an image of software and bring it to life using AI. The feature uses OpenAI’s GPT-4V API to visually interpret a vector drawing into functioning Tailwind CSS and JavaScript web code Read more about “Make It Real” AI prototype wows UI devs by turning drawings into working software[…]

Rivian update bricks infotainment – corp comms quickly and publicly on Reddit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hi All, We made an error with the 2023.42 OTA update – a fat finger where the wrong build with the wrong security certificates was sent out. We cancelled the campaign and we will restart it with the proper software that went through the different campaigns of beta testing. Service will be contacting impacted customers Read more about Rivian update bricks infotainment – corp comms quickly and publicly on Reddit[…]

Google is testing community-sourced notes for search results

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google is experimenting with a feature that would allow people to add their own notes to search results for anyone to see. In theory, this would make results more helpful, providing a bit of human perspective — like feedback on recipe links or tips relating to travel queries — so people can better find the Read more about Google is testing community-sourced notes for search results[…]

Code.org Presses Washington To Make Computer Science a High School Graduation Requirement – this should be everywhere globally

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In July, Seattle-based and tech-backed nonprofit Code.org announced its 10th policy recommendation for all states “to require all students to take computer science (CS) to earn a high school diploma.” In August, Washington State Senator Lisa Wellman phoned-in her plans to introduce a bill to make computer science a Washington high school graduation requirement to Read more about Code.org Presses Washington To Make Computer Science a High School Graduation Requirement – this should be everywhere globally[…]

radio-browser.info – a huge list of online radio streams + apps that use the list

Posted on by Robin Edgar

What can radio-browser do for you? I want to listen to radio Please have a look at the list of apps that use this service by clicking on “Apps” in the header bar. You can also just use the search field on this webpage to find streams you want to listen to. Maybe you want Read more about radio-browser.info – a huge list of online radio streams + apps that use the list[…]

antiX 23: Ultralightweight minimal Debian 12 desktop

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The latest release of antiX is Linux how it used to be, in the good way. It’s not the friendliest, but it does everything – and, wow, it’s fast. The “proudly antifascist” antiX project has released its latest edition, based on Debian 12. This release is codenamed Arditi del Popolo – “the People’s Daring Ones” Read more about antiX 23: Ultralightweight minimal Debian 12 desktop[…]

WhatsApp may finally let you add multiple accounts to one device

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you regularly use people who regularly use more than one WhatsApp account this new beta update is going to be of interest to you. The messaging app is reportedly working on multi-account support for its Android app, an update that would allow you to switch between profiles on the same device, WABetaInfo reports. The Read more about WhatsApp may finally let you add multiple accounts to one device[…]

How to Have Windows Remember Their Size and Positions With WinSize2

Posted on by Robin Edgar

We have been through multiple versions of Windows. Yet, Microsoft still refuses to give its OS one much-requested feature: the ability to remember each window’s desktop placement and dimensions. Thankfully, the free WinSize2 utility can help with that. So, let’s see how you can use it to keep your desktop organized by “sticking” windows to Read more about How to Have Windows Remember Their Size and Positions With WinSize2[…]

How AI Bots Code: Comparing Bing, Claude+, Co-Pilot, GPT-4 and Bard

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In this article, we will compare four of the most advanced AI bots: GPT-4, Bing, Claude+, Bard, and GitHub Co-Pilot. We will examine how they work, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they compare to each other. Testing the AI Bots for Coding Before we dive into comparing these four AI bots, it’s essential Read more about How AI Bots Code: Comparing Bing, Claude+, Co-Pilot, GPT-4 and Bard[…]

Why Video Editors are Switching to DaVinci Resolve in Droves

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Video editors are flocking to DaVinci Resolve in droves, marking a major paradigm shift in the editing landscape that we haven’t seen since the dreadful launch of Final Cut Pro X drove users to Adobe Premiere Pro. […] More a conglomeration of tools than a single program, Resolve came through some acquisitions Blackmagic made when Read more about Why Video Editors are Switching to DaVinci Resolve in Droves[…]

Undercutting Microsoft, Amazon Offers Free Access to Its AI Coding Assistant ‘CodeWhisperer’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Amazon is making its AI-powered coding assistant CodeWhisperer free for individual developers, reports the Verge, “undercutting the $10 per month pricing of its Microsoft-made rival.” Amazon launched CodeWhisperer as a preview last year, which developers can use within various integrated development environments (IDEs), like Visual Studio Code, to generate lines of code based on a Read more about Undercutting Microsoft, Amazon Offers Free Access to Its AI Coding Assistant ‘CodeWhisperer’[…]

Windows 11 KB5025310 changes how the Print Screen key works

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft has been trying to make changes to almost every feature we use on Windows, from the taskbar to notifications. With Windows 11 KB5025310 available in the Beta channel, Microsoft is changing how the Print Screen key works, i.e. its default behaviour. If your laptop has a dedicated Print Screen key, you can press it Read more about Windows 11 KB5025310 changes how the Print Screen key works[…]