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FCC Rescinds Rules Requiring Telecoms to Secure Their Networks to Prevent Hacks

Michael Kan — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:42:26 +0000

The commission voted 2-1 to roll back an effort to protect US networks from Chinese hackers. Republican Chair Brendan Carr called the previous rules illegal and ineffective.

The Federal Communications Commission is rescinding an effort meant to protect US telecom networks from Chinese hackers at a time when the breaches have been described as perhaps the worst in US history.

In a Thursday meeting, the FCC voted 2-1 to withdraw a January ruling …

Signal Makes It Easier to Join Group Calls, Adds Support for Up to 50 People

Jibin Joseph — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 11:56:23 +0000

Previously, Signal users had to create a group chat to start a group call. Now, you only have to create a link and share it with invitees.

Signal's end-to-end encrypted platform is introducing new features to improve its group calls.

Previously, Signal users had to create a group chat to start a group call. Now, you only have to create a link and share it with invitees to …

Man Behind AOL's 'You've Got Mail' Voice Dies at 74

Will Mccurdy — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:23:05 +0000

Elwood Edwards reportedly only got $200 for the gig, which eventually led to a small voice cameo on The Simpsons and an appearance on The Tonight Show.

The man behind AOL’s iconic “You’ve Got Mail” message died earlier this week.

Elwood Edwards, 74, is thought to have passed away due to complications related to a stroke he suffered last year, the Associated Press reports. He lived much of his life in …

Discord Battles MapleStory Publisher Nexon Over Piracy Claims

Kate Irwin — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:16:09 +0000

Nexon subpoenas Discord, demanding user data. But Discord says unmasking users would violate their privacy and First Amendment rights.

MapleStory game publisher Nexon is fighting Discord in the US court system because Nexon wants the chat platform to hand over more user information so it can tackle what it says is a piracy problem.

An unspecified number of Discord users are violating the US Digital Millennium …

Apple Allows Users to Change iCloud Addresses in iOS 18.1

Will Mccurdy — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 20:01:28 +0000

Apple previously didn't allow users to change their primary iCloud email address at all.

If you're embarrassed about your decade-old iCloud email address, this might be your month.

MacRumors reports that Apple will allow users to change their iCloud email address for the first time with the introduction of iOS 18.1, and will also make it dramatically easier to …

Russia Weighs Discord Ban, Demands It Purge Nearly 1,000 Posts

Kate Irwin — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:27:57 +0000

Russia fines Discord and orders it to delete a range of posts it deems 'illegal.' A Russian news outlet suggests the country may block Discord entirely.

Russia may ban the US-based messaging, voice call, and video chat platform Discord "in the coming days" because Russia believes Discord has repeatedly violated its content policies, according to a report from Russian news outlet Kommersant on Tuesday.

The …

How to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Wireless Webcam

Whitson Gordon, Jason Cohen — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:37:54 +0000

While most laptops come with built-in webcams, desktops do not. Here’s how to turn your smartphone into a wireless webcam with some free software.

If you’re working from home and need to communicate with your team, a little video chatting goes a long way. While a laptop typically comes with a built-in webcam, desktops do not, and laptop cameras can break at any time. You could Slack after a hack leaked 1TB+ of company data earlier this year, the WSJ reports, citing an internal memo from Disney CFO Hugh Johnston.

According to the memo, first reported …

Meeting Overload? Gemini AI Can Now Take Notes for You in Google Meet

Joe Hindy — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:40:25 +0000

The feature uses Gemini to take notes during a meeting and attaches the document to the calendar invite when it's done.

If your schedule is packed full of meetings, it can be hard to keep track of what was discussed, which is where Google's new AI-powered "take notes for me" feature comes in.

As its name suggests, the tool will listen to Google Meet video chats and take notes for you. First …

Proton Drive Launches Business Suites for Email, VPNs, File Sharing

Kate Irwin — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:21:23 +0000

Proton is adding more options for privacy-minded teams and businesses with 1TB of storage per user.

Swiss tech firm Proton is continuing to expand its beyond its flagship encrypted email product. Proton Drive now offers three different paid plans for businesses, the startup announced Tuesday, which range from a straightforward team storage plan to more comprehensive productivity and security software packages.

Proton's …

Microsoft Makes It Easier to Switch Between Accounts on Teams

Jibin Joseph — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:24:25 +0000

Windows and Mac users no longer have to use separate apps for work and play.

Microsoft is rolling out a unified Teams app that will allow users to easily switch between work, personal, and education accounts.

Previously, Windows and Mac users had to install two Team apps to access both their work and personal accounts in one place, while Android and iOS …

Zoom Webinars Can Now Host Up to 1 Million Attendees

Jibin Joseph — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 19:15:46 +0000

After several 'for Harris' calls crashed Zoom, the video-conferencing service increased its top webinar tier from 100,000 attendees to 1 million. But it'll cost you.

Zoom is expanding its webinar plans to accommodate up to a million attendees.

Zoom previously supported up to 100,000 attendees and 100 panelists for monthly and annual webinar subscription options. Now, the company offers single-use webinar plans for up to 1 million participants and 1,000 panelists. Additionally, …

Lucidspark

Jill Duffy, Gabriela Vatu — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:26:27 +0000

A competitive, collaborative whiteboard

Organizations that support remote work need tried and tested collaboration apps. Lucidspark is a visual collaboration app, more specifically a whiteboard app. You and your teammates use it to brainstorm ideas, present during meetings, and even play icebreaker games. Collaboration can happen in real time …

EU to Microsoft: Bundling Teams With Office 365 Is 'Possibly Abusive'

Joe Hindy — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:56:53 +0000

In a preliminary finding, the EU says Microsoft has 'breached EU antitrust rules' by tying Teams with Microsoft 365 and Office 365.

The EU says Microsoft is potentially violating antitrust rules by bundling its Teams software with Office 365 and Microsoft 365.

"The European Commission has informed Microsoft of its preliminary view that Microsoft has breached EU antitrust rules by tying its communication and collaboration product Teams to …

How to Forward Gmail Messages Automatically and Put Inbox Organization on Autopilot

Eric Griffith — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:00:00 +0000

With just a few easy settings adjustments, you can configure Gmail to automatically filter and forward any messages that meet your criteria. Here's how.

Are you getting emails that need to go to a different inbox? Perhaps you have a new email address and need to forward everything from your old account, or maybe you regularly get messages meant for a family member or co-worker, and you'd like to auto-forward them to that person. …

Yahoo Mail! Joins the Generative AI Push

Michael Kan — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 21:37:08 +0000

The longtime email service is tapping generative AI to scan and deliver summaries of important emails that otherwise might get ignored.

Yahoo! Mail is rolling out one of its biggest changes in years by introducing AI-powered features that include a new tab that highlights and summarizes your most important emails.

The changes are part of a visual overhaul to Yahoo! Mail's desktop experience announced on Tuesday. Users …

Microsoft, Google Lay Off Hundreds of Staff on Cloud Teams Amid AI Push

Kate Irwin — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:58:10 +0000

Is big tech seeing a cloud cooldown? Both Microsoft and Google confirm layoffs in their respective cloud computing divisions.

Microsoft and Google are laying off hundreds of employees each across Azure and Google Cloud, respectively, according to separate reports published this week.

Google is reportedly making cuts across the company so that it can better prioritize its AI push, CNBC reports. At least 100 employees across …

Slack Trains Some of Its AI-Powered Features on User Messages, Files

Kate Irwin — Fri, 17 May 2024 12:58:20 +0000

Slack feeds user content, messages, and uploads to its machine learning models. All users are opted-in by default.

Slack is training its machine learning features on its users' data—and everyone's opted-in by default.

Slack uses machine learning, a subfield of AI, to operate in-app features like channel recommendations, search results, autocomplete, and emoji suggestions, according to the company. But it's pulling from users' Slack messages, …

Hands On With Google's Project Starline: 3D Video Conferencing Gets Real

Michael Kan — Wed, 15 May 2024 17:04:42 +0000

At Google I/O, we try Project Starline, the company's hyper-realistic video-conferencing solution.

I’m talking to a Google employee on a video-conferencing call —a technology we’ve all become accustomed to since the pandemic. The only difference? The images from the video call practically pop out from the screen.

The employee, Google General Manager Andrew Nartker, is holding up an …

Google to Ship Hyper-Realistic 'Project Starline' Video-Call System in 2025

Michael Kan — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:23:50 +0000

The tech giant partners with HP to commercialize Project Starline, which it says produces 'better attentiveness, memory recall, and an overall sense of presence' in meetings.

It’s taken years, but Google plans on finally commercializing its hyper-realistic video-conferencing technology in 2025.

Google today provided an update on Project Starline, which uses 3D imaging to make video calls feel more like in-person interactions. Google now says it’s preparing …

Google Fires 20 More Over Protests, Former Employees Call It 'Textbook Evil'

Emily Forlini — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 17:23:31 +0000

A handful of the 50 fired employees say Google has a role in 'AI-powered genocide in Palestine,' but Google says Project Nimbus is not 'related to weapons or intelligence services.'

A handful of former Google employees are speaking out about their experience protesting the Israel-Palestine conflict at work on April 16, which they say led to an unceremonious, unjust termination from the company.

"I could no longer support Google’s role in the AI-powered genocide in Palestine," Hassan Ibraheem said on a …

Google Fires 28 Employees After Protests Over $1.2B Israeli Military Cloud Contract

Kate Irwin — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:24:43 +0000

Google says the fired staff violated company policies, but the protestors say Google executives have refused to hear their complaints for years.

Google fired over two dozen staff Wednesday night. The company says the 28 employees participated in an office sit-in protest this week over the tech giant's role in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud contract between Google, Amazon, and Israel's government and military.

Google's VP of Global …

Microsoft Teams Split From 365 Bundles Globally Amid Antitrust Concerns

Kate Irwin — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:45:12 +0000

Anyone can now buy Microsoft's video conferencing software Teams separately from 365.

Microsoft is releasing a standalone version of its Teams video-conferencing software globally.

Microsoft previously split Teams off from Office 365 for just European customers last year after the European Commission began investigating the tech giant over possible antitrust violations. Workplace messaging …

Google Meet Brings Its Touch-Up Filters To Desktop

Emily Price — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 16:56:56 +0000

Now you can look a little more refreshed for that 8am meeting.

What you see in the mirror isn’t always what shows up when you join a virtual meeting using your computer’s webcam. Now, Google is making it easier to give your appearance a bit of a touch-up in Google Meet meetings with …

Proton Mail Launches Desktop App for Paying Windows, macOS Users

Kate Irwin — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:41:54 +0000

Proton Mail's desktop app is now live for users who pay for its end-to-end encrypted email service. Free users can get a two-week free trial.

Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service whose dedicated desktop app has finally fully launched for premium subscribers using Windows and macOS computers, allowing users to move away from its prior web browser-only experience if desired.

Proton Mail will offer free users, who get …

What Is Discord and How Do You Use It?

Jordan Minor — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:20:12 +0000

Don't let Discord's gamer-centric reputation scare you off. This free service for text and video chat is an excellent place for anyone looking to start public or private communities.

Video games and the internet go together like Doritos and Mountain Dew. With online play, you needn't seek an arcade's bustling crowds or wrangle friends together for couch gaming. You can enjoy cooperating with, or competing against, people from across the globe.

Online Feb. 26 update is the final one that will support iOS 11 and 12. Users will have to update by the next update to keep using Zoom; …

Elon Musk Teases 'XMail' After Gmail Shutdown Hoax

Michael Kan — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:25:07 +0000

Might old-school email be the next frontier for Twitter/X?

Does Twitter/X need an email service? Elon Musk thinks so.

In the wake of an online hoax about Gmail shutting down, a security engineer at X named Nate McGrady tweeted: “When we making XMail?” Elon Musk replied: “It’s coming.”

Musk didn't say anything else, leaving us skeptical that …

Slack AI Aims to Help You Deal With Message Overload

Joe Hindy — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:59:05 +0000

Inundated with endless chats? Slack AI can serve up summaries of discussions or channels.

Slack has formally jumped on the AI bandwagon with the launch of a chatbot that's intended to help you navigate all the data and conversations stored on the business messaging app.

Slack AI is mostly meant for data retrieval and …

Japanese Government Is Finally Ditching the Floppy Disk

Kegan Mooney — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:54:52 +0000

Japan drops floppy disks, which—alongside CD-ROMs—have long been required to submit more than 1,900 official documents to the government.

Japan might be one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but people there have long been required to use 3.5-inch floppy disks or CD-ROMs to submit official documents to the government. Until now.

As The Register reports, the country has now …

Here's What a Zoom Call Looks Like on Apple's Vision Pro

Josh Hendrickson — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:37:18 +0000

Zoom will launch a native Vision Pro app alongside the headset on Feb. 2.

Zoom, the teleconferencing app that took off during the pandemic, is ready to support Apple's Vision Pro future. Its native app will launch on Feb. 2, complete with Persona support and more features to come.

Like other augmented reality headsets, …

How to Send an Anonymous Email

Eric Griffith — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:54:14 +0000

Need to send a message without revealing your identity? We've got you covered. These are the best anonymous email tools you'll find on the web.

How do you set up a secret, nameless email address that contains no obvious connection to you, without the hassle of setting up your own servers?

This goes beyond encryption. Anyone can do that with web-based email like Gmail by using a browser extension like Mailvelope. For …

Zoom Is Now Available on the Apple TV 4K

Emily Price — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 22:28:13 +0000

Download Zoom's new Apple TV-specific app, and use an iPhone or iPad to handle your audio and video for calls with the help of Continuity Camera.

Now you can join Zoom calls directly from your Apple TV 4K.

Zoom this week released a new Apple TV app, dubbed Zoom for Home TV. If you’re wondering how that works since the Apple TV doesn’t have a …

Google Plans to Delete Millions of Abandoned Gmail Accounts This Week

Emily Price — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:57:41 +0000

Got some old Gmail accounts kicking around? Log in now to prevent them from disappearing.

If you have an old Gmail account you haven’t logged into in a while, you might want to give it a quick visit this week.

Earlier this year, Google announced plans to delete abandoned Gmail accounts on Dec. 1, and that deadline upon us.

Google …

Google Upgrades Gmail's Spam Filter With New 'RETVec' System

Michael Kan — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:27:00 +0000

The RETVec system detects spam at a 38% higher rate over Gmail's previous filter while also reducing the number of false positives.

Google has quietly updated Gmail with a new spam filter that the company says does a better job of flagging junk messages and phishing emails.

The new spam filter is based on an “RETVec,” a newly developed text vectorizer that can …

Google Drive Files Are Disappearing and Nobody Knows Why

Matthew Humphries — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:39:24 +0000

Google Support acknowledges there is a problem, but they don't know what's causing it (yet).

Some Google Drive users are reporting all their files uploaded since May have disappeared from the cloud storage service without warning.

As Android Police reports, the problems started last week when a South Korean …

Got Something to Say? Google Meet Now Detects Actual Raised Hands

Josh Hendrickson — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:17:10 +0000

An update rolling out to Google Meet will let you physically raise your hand to let other participants know you'd like to speak. No button click necessary.

Just about every video-conferencing app has a "raise hand" button to let others know you'd like to say something. Google Meet is taking things a step further, though, and allowing you to skip the button and actually raise your hand.

Google explained the new feature in …

Google Meet Rolls Out New 'On-the-Go' Feature

Emily Price — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 18:47:35 +0000

Joining a work meeting from the car or in the airport? On-the-Go prioritizes the most important features, such as mute and unmute, hand raise, and audio device selection.

Google Meet is rolling out a new mode to make it easier to connect while you’re away from your computer.

Called On-the-Go mode, the feature will automatically detect when you’re doing something like walking to the subway or in the back of …

Webex Says AI Can Save Us From Glitchy Audio and Video Calls

Emily Forlini — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000

New technology will help fill in the gaps when your audio or video cuts out, while an AI Assistant can summarize meeting notes.

Cisco is turning to AI to solve some of the most common issues with video calls, such as blurry video and choppy audio.

The company announced a suite of new AI products for its Webex video-conferencing software today that it says will "achieve new levels of audio and video quality."

AI …

Google, Yahoo Go After Spam With Stricter Rules for Bulk Email Senders

Michael Kan — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:21:38 +0000

Both Google and Yahoo plan to enforce a 'spam rate threshold' that bulk email senders will need to stay under or else they could face filtering.

Google’s Gmail and Yahoo are adding new rules that promise to make it easier to avoid unwanted email. This includes requiring bulk email senders to add an unsubscribe function for all messages.

The new restrictions from the companies target bulk email senders, or at least in …