.In addition to its being cybersurfer, Opera has unveiled a new Web3 cybersurfer which is now in beta on Windows, Mac, and Android as part of its “ Crypto Browser Project”.

The company's new cybersurfer is grounded around cryptocurrency and will give druggies an easier way to browse decentralized apps, games, and metaverse platforms for a more flawless cross-platform experience.

Opera's Web3 cybersurfer also comes equipped with a news and data aggregator called “ Crypto Corner” that will include crucial information on crypto news, crypto-asset prices, and gas freights as well as on crypto events, airdrops, and indeed podcasts. Just like with Opera cybersurfer, the company's new cybersurfer will include a no-long VPN as well as a native announcement and shamus blocker for fresh sequestration and security.

EVP of mobile at Opera, Jorgen Arnesen explained in a press release that the company created its new Crypto Browser Project to give druggies a simplified Web3 experience, saying

."The interest in Web3 continues to grow but none of them being web browsing gests offered moment are erected to produce a flawless and secure stoner experience in the decentralized web. Opera's Crypto Browser Project promises a simpler, briskly, further private Web3 experience for druggies. It simplifies a Web3 stoner experience that's frequently bewildering for mainstream druggies. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use for the decentralized web to reach its full eventuality."

Opera's new cybersurfer aims to make using the blockchain-grounded web as simple as penetrating Web2 with direct access to decentralized exchanges, Web3- grounded NFTs, and gaming decentralized apps. There's also intertwined support for Twitter and Telegram which can both be penetrated directly from the cybersurfer's sidebar.

What would a crypto- concentrated cybersurfer be without a devoted crypto portmanteau? Fortunately, the cybersurfer will feature an erected-in non-custodial portmanteau that will originally support Ethereum in beta. Still, Opera plans to extend interoperability across all of the major networks and naming systems through hookups with Polygon, Solana, Nervous, Celo, Impregnable Disciplines, Handshake ENS with further to be blazoned in the future.

The cybersurfer's portmanteau supports both commutable ERC-20 norms as well as non-fungible norms including ERC-721 commemoratives with ERC-115 support coming in the first quarter of this time. Druggies will also be suitable to buy cryptocurrency via an erected-in edict-to-crypto on-ramp as well as grease direct crypto-to-crypto barters.

Opera's new cybersurfer is now in beta to get feedback from the crypto community and interested druggies can download it then.

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(Image credit: Image Credit: Pixabay)

The newest future Support (LTS) edition of the Linux kernel, set to power some important upcoming Linux distros, has been released as per schedule.

As is that the norm, the last kernel release of the year is an LTS that’s maintained for the subsequent half a decade. LTS kernel releases find yourself in LTS distros that put a greater emphasis on stability and are wont to power servers and important services.

The rate of changes during this release has bothered Linus Torvalds, the principal developer of the Linux kernel, throughout its seven weeks of the development cycle. within the end, however, the massive number of changes within the release candidates only translated into a wealth of latest features for the ultimate release.

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“It's mostly drivers - because it should be - with a smattering of fixes everywhere,” notes Torvalds within the release announcement. 

The release improves support for the subsequent generations of desktop CPUs from Intel called Rocket Lake. Furthermore, there’s also some early support for the 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs also because of the 13th generation Meteor Lake CPUs from Intel.

On the AMD side of things, there are performance improvement fixes for the AMD Zen 3 CPUs. the discharge also improves the support for the RDNA 2 architecture, which can power the next-gen gaming graphics from AMD. 

Kernel 5.10 also adds support for the ARM Video Core IV that’s utilized in the Raspberry Pi 4 and a few initial support for booting RISC-V on EFI systems.

There’s also something for gamers because the release supports the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and Pro controllers. you'll use all their features including rumble, and even accelerometer and gyro data in both Bluetooth and wired USB mode.

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Data News: What to seem for from data recovery services

Separate the good from the great when it involves data recovery services

Most businesses don’t believe data loss until it’s too late. Whether caused by human error, software failure, or malware, a full or partial corruption of a tough drive or backup server may be a disaster. Valuable or sensitive files are often lost, and important business relationships are often put in danger. within the worst of cases, data loss can cause legal liabilities.

Fortunately, data recovery software is now cheaper and accessible than ever. this text helps businesses make the proper choice when investing during a data recovery solution. Before reading our guide to the simplest data recovery software, you’ll get to skills data recovery software works and what you’re trying to find during a business solution.

Important features

When trying to find a knowledge recovery solution, some features are more important than others.

One of the foremost important is cross-platform operability. Today, the bulk of companies use a variety of devices running macOS, Windows 10, and/or other operating systems. So when considering a provider, confirm their software operates across multiple operating systems, or if compatible software is out there to download. Because nothing might be worse than thinking that you’re prepared for a knowledge loss crisis, only to understand that the software isn’t compatible with the device in question.

Businesses must also search for a file recovery provider that permits different scanning options for various data recovery needs. for instance, providers like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro provide both quick and deep scan options. the fast scan option takes only 1–2 minutes and is right for recovering accidentally deleted files or reformatted data. The deep scan, however, can last several hours and is meant for complex data loss scenarios like a significantly corrupted filing system . Locating malicious data or malware would also require a deep scan.

Another useful feature is data backup. Some providers, like Crashplan, operate both as a service for backing up data (with unlimited cloud storage space) and as a knowledge recovery service. this sort of dual-operability may be a nifty feature that permits businesses to kill two birds with one stone.

Finally, small but useful features like file previewing, partition recovery, and disk cloning mark the difference between a mean and a top-notch data recovery service. These features add useful flexibility and make it simpler for businesses and individuals to recover their lost files.




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Linux Laptop: Linux laptop vendor uses a really surprising hack to guard your privacy

Nail polish on screws may be a good way to guard laptops against tampering while in transit

Several years ago, it had been revealed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) will sometimes intercept networking gear during shipping so as to switch it to supply backdoor access to the hardware. to urge around this, one company has devised an ingenious hack to make sure that its laptops arrive at customers without being tampered with.

Just six months ago, the social purpose company Purism decided to formalize its anti-interdiction services in order that they appeared as a drop-down choice as against being a “hidden menu item” that was difficult to seek out. The laptop and smartphone maker is one among if not the sole hardware vendor that gives an entire suite of custom anti-interdiction measures to stop its devices from being tampered with during shipping.

What exactly are these anti-interdiction measures? Well for starters, Purism applies glitter nail enamel to all or any of the screws on the rock bottom of its Librem 13 and Librem 15 laptops in order that users will know if someone took the device apart after it had been shipped. the corporate also ships its laptops with customized tamper-evident tape on a bag surrounding the device and its box. it'll even send pictures of the laptop measures it performed over encrypted email to customers.

Purism also offers a PureBoot Bundle to detect firmware or OS tampering with a custom pin. this feature includes the company's Librem Key which may be a USB security key to form encryption, key management, and tamper detection convenient and secure. for patrons that want additional security, Purism will even ship the Librem Key and laptop separately to different addresses to form interdiction even harder.

When Purism first formally announced that it might offer anti-interdiction services to its customers, the corporate expected it to be a fringe upgrade that only a little number of individuals would choose. However, many purchasers trying to find additional security decided to upgrade to its anti-interdiction services.

While some people decided to settle on the service because they're during a high threat situation, others just want the peace of mind that comes with knowing their laptop won't be tampered with in transit without their knowledge.

Of the anti-interdiction measures, Purism offers, its glitter nail enamel is extremely popular and customers prefer to have it placed on either the middle screw or all of the screws of their new laptops.

In a blog post, the chief security officer at Purism, Kyle Rankin reflected on the success of the company's anti-interdiction services, saying:

“Six months on I might need to say that the anti-interdiction service has been a hit. we've processed much more orders than I initially thought and for a really diverse range of consumers. Now that the method has become more streamlined we should always be ready to complete future anti-interdiction orders even more quickly and are trying to find other ways we will make it even faster. we've also expanded anti-interdiction services beyond laptops and adapted it to Librem Server, Librem Mini, Librem 5, and Librem 5 USA.”




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Starting with Oppo, coming back before long to Realme

(Image credit: Oppo)

Oppo had the overseas unveiling of ColorOS seven in Asian countries these days, wherever all the new options, style, and rollout schedule details were shared for future smartphones.

The package skin on Oppo’s smartphones was typically thought-about to be a touch out of place in otherwise smart offerings. With ColorOS seven, it aims to boost that whereas conveyance numerous optimizations and new options that ought to build it to most future and existing smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer.


(Image credit: Oppo)

There square measure over three hundred million active ColorOS users across the globe, cover a hundred and forty countries, and victimization it in 80+ languages. For its latest iteration, the main focus was on providing a “Smooth and Delightful” expertise that delivers consistent performance, is stable across the board, and doesn’t chug on the battery. This enclosed vital facelifts to the planning, security, and customizability aspects with ColorOS seven.

When is ColorOS seven coming back for your Oppo phone?



(Image credit: Oppo)

Oppo mentioned that the foremost vital update to ColorOS would even be its biggest package rollout, covering nearly its entire current portfolio. ColorOS seven supported automaton ten restricted trial can begin in Gregorian calendar month itself, and can eventually be obtainable for additional phones. we tend to conjointly expect future high-end Oppo phones to run on the newest package skin.

The first wave of phones includes the metropolis and therefore the metropolis 10x Zoom Edition, which can be eligible for the update beginning Gregorian calendar month twenty-six.

That will be followed by the Reno2 and therefore the F11 series, in December of this year.

The first quarter of 2020 can see phones like the realize X, Reno Z, Reno 2Z, R17 series, RX17 Pro, and therefore the A9 be enclosed.

The next quarter can involve the F7 series, the F9 series, the R15 series, the A5 2020, the A9 2020, and the K3.



ColorOS for Realme phone
(Image credit: Realme)

Realme is functioning on its package skin known as Realme UI, which can be supported ColorOS seven engineered atop automaton ten. The beta program for the X2 professional users commences on Gregorian calendar month twenty-seven.

The public rollout can begin early next year, beginning with the Realme XT and three professional in Gregorian calendar month, the X and five professional in Feb, the flagship X2 professional in March, the three and 3i in April, the five and 5s in might, the two professional in June, and therefore the C2 your time within the third quarter of 2020.

What's new in ColorOS 7?

Let’s begin with what has been redesigned for a far better visual expertise. the fast settings within the notification pull-down can currently be borderless and have an additional easy style. Even the remainder of the icons are created easier and follow dual-tone Material style pointers. The shapes and sizes of those icons can even be made-to-order. the amount management pop-up is currently vertical and can seem nearer to wherever the amount rocker is found.

To reduce eye fatigue, all system colors are created slightly less saturated and with higher distinction. a brand new batch of dynamic wallpapers has been supplemental that reply to your bit or the time of the day or your surroundings.



Modal pagesModal pages (Image credit: Oppo)

On the audio front, Oppo has partnered with Epic Sound to reimagine all interactions. Backed with improved haptics, all touches, slides, and toggles can respond with new sounds that build additional sense and square measure pleasing to the ear. Alarm tones is custom-made to the weather, too, wherever the regular music can have a layer of the rain or wind sounds with it.

The interface has conjointly been simplified and created additional consistent across varied pages and system apps. They mentioned however specific tasks {that would|that might|that may|that can} take 4-5 steps to achieve will currently be within the style of a “Modal page,” that seems as a floating interface from all-time low and may be discharged with a swipe down or detailed with a swipe up.

Oppo introduced 3-finger swipes for screenshots back in 2014. Now, it's being taken to successive level wherever the screenshot is directly shared by a swipe down on the preview, and extended by a swipe up. For taking screenshots of specific regions, a 3-finger swipe follows by a protracted press can choose solely the half that's swiped.

(Image credit: Oppo)
Catching on to the present year's trends, a system-wide dark mode is additionally obtainable currently whose distinction changes with the time of the day. Oppo calls it “All-day-comfort dark mode.” This dark mode can even be utilized in tandem bicycle with eye protection mode. in keeping with them, most users pay solely concerning 100% of the time on the house screen and system apps. so that they optimized multiple third-party apps to show in dark modes, like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube. it's speculated to save battery consumption by thirty-eighth.

Animations conjointly get a facelift with the new “Quantum high frame rate animation” package, which is meant to form animations and transitions additional fluid. we tend to expect this to be an important a part of Oppo’s future phones with high refresh rate displays. These transitions can even be canceled halfway through.

The VOOC charging animation also will be updated to form it additional exciting and visual.


One of the future universal themes (Image credit: Oppo)

Universal themes are created obtainable within the coming back months, besides a subject matter editor for creators to transfer their styles simply. there'll reportedly be a comparatively giant assortment of free themes.


(Image credit: Oppo)

In terms of performance, users square measure probably to gauge the responsiveness of skin supported app launch times, switch between apps and vice. ColorOS seven has been optimized to boost performance across all of those fronts.

Opening apps once more has been created twenty-fifth quicker due to Cache preload, conveyance it up to an equivalent level as conveyance Associate in the Nursing app up from memory. Once open, apps can sustain peak performance via oMem Priority Management, which will increase RAM utilization by up to four-hundredth. This impact can keep on to vice, wherever oSense CPU programming can bring the typical framerate up by nineteen and improve bit responsiveness by V-day. Lastly, UFS+ Anti-aging solutions can use hardware and package optimizations to scale back app fragmentation over time.

ColorOS seven conjointly brings updates to privacy and information security. For apps that need individual-specific permissions, it'll workaround that by causing dummy or empty info. for instance, if a third-party requests access to your contacts, you'll be able to use Personal info Protection to send made-up empty contacts rather than your actual contacts.

App lock and personal house square measure still around and maybe barred with parole, PIN, fingerprint, or maybe your face.

New options have conjointly been delivered to the photography expertise, with AI change of state two.0 for higher matching the filters to the setting and therefore the subject’s skin tone, radical Dark mode for higher photography in dark eventualities whereas reducing noise Associate in Nursingd rising the brightness for an overall swindler image. Associate in Nursing radical Steady also will be supplemental for action videography.

To cater to the rising trend of short-form videos, vlogging, and social media, ColorOS seven can return bundled with a video editor known as Sloop, that offers templates, music, filters, piece of writing and subtitling capabilities.

Oppo is additionally operating together with Google’s CameraX project, which lets third-party app manufacturers higher optimize their in-app cameras to form higher use of the phone’s camera capabilities in aspects like HDR, shutter speed and AI change of state.


(Image credit: Future)
ColorOS seven conjointly brings some options specifically for the Indian market. DigiLocker, that was a district of the Government’s Digital Asian country theme, also will be natively gifted, creating Oppo the primary smartphone manufacturer partner for this initiative. This DocVault is non-public, secure, encrypted, and may hold soft copies of your relevant documents.



Other Asian country-specific additions embrace a Riding mode, that puts your phone on DND mode and blocks all notifications except those apps that square measure whitelisted.

Music Party can let multiple users play equivalent songs along during a synchronized fashion. To use it, choose the choice which can show a QR code, that different ColorOS seven users will scan and be part of.

Lastly, we tend to conjointly get some digital upbeat options like a spotlight mode, and Oppo Relax, which can return next year.





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Pick a card – any card

If Amazon Prime Day didn't make it easy enough to flex your credit cards, Chrome is now enabling your impulse shopping habit further by automatically entering your payment details without the need to sync your browser.

Until now, credit card details could be stored in Chrome along with bookmarks, passwords and settings, but they'd only be accessible on a different device if you activated Chrome Sync

Google is now rolling out a change that will let Chrome autocomplete payment details previously saved to your Google account without any input on your part. You'll only need to enter the CCV code (the last three numbers on the back of your card) to go ahead with your shopping spree.

According to Google's Chromium blog, this requirement means you're "always in control", but it could be alarming to see your card number and expiry date automatically entered on a new device if you're not expecting it.

That syncing feeling

The new feature will only work if you've signed into your Google account in Chrome, and it won't cause your bookmarks and other settings to be synchronized.

"Every time you open your browser, you have a task in mind to accomplish. We’ve built Chrome to help you do that as quickly and safely as possible, whether you are completing a search, viewing a website, or making a purchase," said Google.

The fact that automatically completing card details reduces friction between seeing an ad in Google Search and handing over your cash is probably just a happy coincidence.




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You can now send images and videos via text message from your PC

Microsoft has updated it's popular Your Phone app for Windows 10, so users can now send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages using the app on PC.

This will allow users to send images, videos, and GIFs from the app, and it’s a feature that many people who have been using Your Phone have been waiting for.

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Your Phone is a handy app for reading and replying to text messages that arrive on your smartphone from within Windows 10. You can also view and edit recent photos taken on your smartphone directly on your PC, and Microsoft has promised new features to make the app even better.

Early access

The new features are only available to people signed up to the Windows Insider program, which gives access to early versions of Windows 10 and its apps.

To get the feature, you’ll need to have Windows 10 Build OS 18362.113 (19H1) or 18885 (20H1) or later installed.

However, if you don’t want to sign up for an early version of Windows, it looks like the updated Your Phone app could arrive with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, which is due pretty soon.





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Hanging up the phone

In another blow to its digital voice assistant, Microsoft will remove the Cortana feature in Skype, while adding new integration for Amazon’s rival voice assistant, Alexa.

Microsoft added a Cortana bot to Skype, its VoIP (Voice over IP) messaging app, in 2017. It allowed Skype users to chat to Cortana, and the virtual assistant could also monitor your chats and add events, meetings and more to your calendar as you chatted to your contacts.

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However, it appears that Microsoft has conceded that Cortana isn’t as popular as Alexa – despite Microsoft heavily integrating Cortana into Windows 10.

Skype users who use the Cortana bot are getting notifications telling them that the Cortana bot will be removed on April 30, 2019. It appears they are also getting another message that asks them to check out the new Alexa integration, which was added late last year.

Adding Alexa

One such user, Florian Beaubois, has shared on Twitter the notifications, along with the process for adding Alexa to Skype.

According to the screenshots Beaubois posted, you’ll need to install the Alexa app, then connect it to your Skype account. After that, you can ask Alexa to call your contacts on Skype.

To encourage people to switch to Alexa, Microsoft is also offering 200 free Skype minutes when you link your Skype and Amazon account.

It might seem a bit odd to see Microsoft so eager to convince its customers to move to a rival voice assistant, but the company seems to have accepted the fact that Cortana will never match Alexa’s popularity.

Cortana est encore un peu plus morte aujourd'hui avec Microsoft qui la remplace par Axela dans Skype et me propose des crédits pour switcher. #Windowsinsiders #Skypinsiders pic.twitter.com/piaeytwRrz

— Florian B (@flobo09) March 27, 2019

Microsoft probably weighed up the pros and cons of continuing to force its unloved assistant on its users versus bringing integration to the more popular Alexa, which many people will already be using. In our view, this is the right move.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that Microsoft is giving up on Cortana completely, but with news that Windows 10 will separate Cortana from the search box on the taskbar, where it used to reside, there is a feeling that Microsoft could be losing faith in its assistant.




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More private browsing

A new feature coming to Chrome in the near future will allow users to limit the kind of data certain websites collect about them by blocking access to motion and light sensors on their device.

Laptops, smartphones, and tablets have a number of sensors, such as gyroscope, accelerometer and light sensors, which websites can access to collect data about what kind of device you’re using, where you’re using it and even how you’re using it.

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For anyone who is uncomfortable with websites accessing this kind of information, there’s some good news: Google is working on adding a feature to its popular Chrome web browser that will allow users to quickly and easily block access to these sensors.

Coming soon

The new feature appears in the latest Chrome Canary build, which is an early version of Chrome that allows people to test out upcoming releases and check for any bugs or issues.

The feature will alert you if you visit a website that wants to access your sensors. A pop-up window will appear saying “This page is using motion or light sensors” and offers you the choice of allowing access to the sensors or blocking access on a page-per-page basis.

Chrome allows you to block websites accessing your device's sensors (Image Credit: TechRadar)

This is on the desktop version of Chrome, which is used on laptops and PCs. There is also an option for blocking access to the sensors on Android, but at the moment this is only a simple switch that blocks access for all websites, not just ones you’ve selected.

If you’re using Chrome Canary, you can access the settings at chrome://settings/content/sensors. According to MSPowerUser, the feature should be coming in Chrome 75, which will be made public in a few months.




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Enterprise Key Management tool makes Slack more secure

Slack has moved to make your chats more secure with the launch of a new security management tool.

The company has announced the launch of Enterprise Key Management (EKM) for Slack, which will give an added layer of protection and allow businesses admins full control and oversight on their platform.

First shown off last year, EKM will customers control over the encryption keys used to encrypt the files and messages within their Slack workspace - essentially providing the security controls of an on-premise service but with the benefits of a cloud tool.

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Safety

The new service looks to target security-conscious verticals such as financial services, government, and health care, and Slack says the security benefits of EKM are three-fold.

Firstly, it can provide admins with detailed logs of all the messages and files that are decrypted, offering greater visibility into how your data is being used.

The tool can also offer greater control for admins, who now have the ability to revoke key access to specific messages, channels or users, which the company says will allow teams to continue working in Slack while access to specific information is removed or changed.

Lastly, further security is offered by EKM allowing all your content, including messages, files and comments will be encrypted using your keys (which are all managed in Amazon's AWS KMS) thereby restricting access to your data to only those you authorize and no one else.

EKM is available from today and can be purchased as an add-on to Slack Enterprise Grid.

Bespoke beats

If you've ever made your own videos, you'll know how tough it can be to find music that sounds good, while also navigating the minefield of rights and intellectual property.

Ecrett Music is a new tool that uses AI to generate unique compositions for videos. Upload your video, choose a scene category (such as 'travel', 'relaxing' or 'fashion') and a mood, and the app will generate a bespoke soundtrack.

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You can then tweak the results, changing instruments and timings to fit the video. Ecrett Music can currently generate between 500,000 and 1,000,000 unique compositions per month.

Make it personal

Ecrett Music is the brainchild of Japanese entrepreneur Daigo Kusunoki, who worked with a team of musicians, composers, and engineers to create the web app. Kusonoki made his first venture into music tech with the Soundbooth wearable, which creates music as you move your wrist.

“It can be extremely difficult for content creators to find affordable royalty-free music for their projects," he said.

"It’s also an incredibly time-consuming process to pick out the ‘perfect piece.’ By introducing the power of AI, users are able to generate the perfect music for their videos with incredible ease and for a reasonable price."



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Welcome aboard

Google is testing new welcome screens for Chrome, with a friendlier look and brighter design to greet new users.

The new design replaces the mostly white screen that currently welcomes users to their freshly-installed browser. There seems to be a limited test group at the moment, and we were unable to trigger it at TechRadar, but writers at Android Police were able to activate it briefly and capture screengrabs.

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The new look might be the start of a more 'fun' overall aesthetic for Chrome, with larger buttons that are easier to read and more amenable to touchscreens.

Shiny and Chrome

The new welcome screen encourages you to 'Make Chrome your own' and personalize your browser by selecting a set of bookmarks to get started. Whereas the old design prompted you to sign in with a Google account, the new version doesn't assume you have one and lets you start customizing the browser without logging in.

It will be interesting to see whether this is the first step towards a more flexible, customizable Chrome that has more in common with Vivaldi, which is also based on Chromium.



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A total overhaul

Mozilla is working on an overhaul of Firefox, known as Project Fission, that will help protect your data from security flaws like Spectre and Meltdown.

Spectre and Meltdown were vulnerabilities found in several processors from Intel, ARM, and AMD. Although it seems that they were never exploited, they could have allowed hackers to access private information including passwords and encryption keys (a risk is known as a side-channel attack). Most alarmingly, these flaws had been present in chip designs for over 20 years.

Mozilla acted immediately and released an update to prevent malicious web pages reading private data. Now, the company is working on a project called Fission that will strengthen the browser and protect users from any similar vulnerabilities found in future.

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• You might soon see recommended extensions while browsing with Firefox
• Mozilla has closed its Firefox Test Pilot program

Project Fission has been in progress for several months, but developers have just announced that a release called Milestone 1 will appear later this month.

Safer browsing

There's no word yet on when Firefox Fission will be finished, but elements will be released in Firefox Nightly builds when they're ready.

"We aim to build a browser which isn't just secure against known security vulnerabilities, but also has layers of built-in defense against potential future vulnerabilities," Mozilla said in a blog post.



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Play anything, anywhere

The incredibly powerful open source media player VLC is about to hit a huge milestone: three billion downloads.

As spotted by Variety, a counter on Videolan's stand at CES 2019 showed the number drawing ever closer, and the team expects to hit the target sometime on the afternoon of January 11, just before the show draws to a close.

VLC is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, and lead developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf says roughly a quarter of new downloads are coming from mobile devices.

Virtual Cinema

Videolan isn't resting on its laurels, though, and Kempf says several new features are on their way to the software's billions of users. One of the most significant additions is AirPlay support, which will help bridge the gap between operating systems by enabling users on any platform to send videos straight to an Apple TV and could arrive as soon as February.

The team is also working on enhanced virtual reality support, which will make it possible for viewers to watch 2D videos in a 'virtual theater' using a VR headset. There's no word on when this might appear in the main app, but we look forward to experiencing it when it appears.



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Making your paperwork light and efficient

BEST SCANNING SOFTWARE

1. Abbyy FineReader

2. Adobe Acrobat

3. OmniPage Standard

4. Docufree

5. Readiris

Read on for our detailed analysis of each app

The photocopying machine: that chunky, clunky, problem-fraught tower of plastic, is slowly losing its status as the office centerpiece. Poly-functional (and more reliable) printers have played their part in displacing this staple of the business world, but so too have software services that can take care of scanning, copying and so much more.

The opportunity to reduce paperwork and increase productivity has created a sizeable market for tools of this nature, and with so many proliferating in recent years, we’ve rounded up the best of the bunch to help you choose which would be most suitable for your organization.

From powerful, enterprise-focused Adobe platforms to pick-up services perfect for small businesses, check out the very best of the document scanning and converting world below.

We've also highlighted the best document management software of 2018

1. Abbyy FineReader
An excellent OCR tool



(+)Simple to a use
(+)Includes tool for batch processing
(+)Supports 192 languages

Abbyy is responsible for a number of enterprise-oriented software tools and among them is its platform for document scanning, FineReader, enabling you to edit, review, protect, compare and convert PDFs and scans.

The editing feature allows you to comment and annotate your PDF, making it perfect for collaboration. Compare, meanwhile, helps you identify text changes between different versions of the same document, saving time on proof-reading and back-checking.

FineReader calls its OCR (optical character recognition) technology ‘world-leading’ no less, promising accurate conversion of paper documents, scans and PDFs to Word, Excel, searchable PDFs, and other file formats.

If you’re dealing with scanning on a large scale, the Hot Folder feature is on hand to help schedule batch processing and track documents for conversion with ‘watched’ folders. FineReader can recognize a whopping 192 languages, so you should be covered no matter where your documents are coming from. Prices start at $118.30 (£88) per year.

You can download Abbyy FineReader here

2. Adobe Acrobat
A powerful tool from the software behemoth


(+)Extensive range of tools and capabilities
(+)Lots of integrations
(-)Pricey

If there’s a software company that knows how to handle a document or two, it’s Adobe, and when it comes to PDFs, you’re in safe hands with Acrobat.

The platform allows you to create PDFs from just about everywhere: Microsoft Office applications, the camera of your phone, HTML pages, and even from disparate emails, spreadsheets and documents which can be merged and organized into a simple PDF file.

Key features include passwords and permission for added security, standardized templates to keep your documents consistent in style, the ability to edit and annotate both normal text and data in tables, a comparing tool to identify differences between different versions of the document, and ‘reverse’ conversions from PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint.   Storing all these converted files is made easier too, thanks to integrations with Dropbox, OneDrive and Box.

With Adobe Acrobat, scanning your document really is just the beginning, but the caveat with this platform, like so many Adobe tools, is that it doesn’t come cheap. For businesses, prices start at $14.99 (£11) per person per month.

You can download Adobe Acrobat here

3. OmniPage Standard
Copy complete documents with ease


(+)High-quality scans and conversions
(+)Easy to use on the move
(-)Lots of integrations

Another key player on the enterprise productivity scene is Nuance, and which brings its scanning tech to the market via OmniPage Standard.

OmniPage Standard’s OCR technology takes care of scanning all types of documents in quick and efficient fashion, “enabling you to focus on more rewarding tasks”, it says. Anyone who’s ever had to type up a whole document to make it ‘digitally’ usable will know where they’re coming from.

The platform promises high-quality conversions that maintain the features of the original document – columns, tables, bullets, graphics and all. It also supports a wide range of editing platforms, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel, Wordperfect, and Nuance’s own Power PDF tool.

Conveniently, OmniPage can process via a whole range of devices that capture text as an image, so if your phone, tablet or camera is at hand, you can scan, convert and manage your files on the move.

This accomplished scanning all-rounder will set you back $149.99 (£112).

You can download OmniPage Standard here

4. Docufree
The pick-up and delivery guys who do the scanning for you


(+)(+)Relieves paperwork for document-heavy firms
The reasonable, simple pricing model
(-)Users are unable to scan themselves

Docufree works a little differently from the scanning services we’ve seen so far by physically picking up the documents you want to scan and taking care of the dirty work for you.

How exactly does it work? You place the documents you want to be scanned in a box, which the Docufree team picks up and takes to their conversion center. Here, they prepare and scan the docs to PDFs and TTFS, perform OCR character recognition if needed, and store the converted files digitally and online for you. They’ll return the original documents if requested or shred them for you, offering the attractive option of removing endless boxes of paperwork.

If you’re inundated with documents each day, you can opt for the day-forward scanning service where Docufree collects your documents as they arrive in the post each day. Users can also take advantage of the free online account that comes with the service, allowing you to access and review documents as they’re converted and track the status of a scanning project.

With Docufree you pay by the box which has a fixed price no matter the number of documents. Follow the link below to get a quote.

You can sign up for Docufree here

5. Readiris
Copy, convert and edit your documents


(+)Useful collaboration features
(+)Option to convert to audio
(+)Affordable

Now on version 17, Readiris is a scanning tool that captures and converts your documents to editable files thanks to its OCR technology.

The service enables you to convert PDFs, pictures and texts from an image or scanned doc into Word, Excel, Powerpoint or an indexed PDF. Keeping pace with its higher-level  competitors, Readiris also allows you to annotate files and make comments, making the platform suitable for collaboration in the process of scanning and converting.

Its audio capabilities are pretty handy too, as documents and books can be converted into MP3 and Wav files, enabling you to digest texts without even having to read them. You can record voice comments too, removing the reading and writing process of editing altogether if preferred.

Readiris 17 comes in three packages, with a $50 (£37) service at the lowest end of the scale and Readiris Corporate 17 at the top, priced at $199 (£148).

You can download Readiris here

Best of the rest

Sounding like a pretty fun if slightly nerdy Nintendo game, Data Dash operates in the same manner as Docufree, picking up or receiving your files in the mail then digitising them as you wish, with a reported 99.5% accuracy.

Claiming to be the “first fully functional online PDF solution”, Soda PDF is a very comprehensive service, enabling you to create PDFs from more than 300 file formats, convert to various file types, edit and annotate files, create custom forms, and send and track contracts for electronic signature.

ScanSpeeder, meanwhile, specializes in photos, allowing you to bring your precious prints into the digital world. Start with your own flatbed scanner than allow ScanSpeeder to sort, archive and safely store.

VueScan is on a mission to save old scanners by creating drivers for aging machines so you can keep using the scanner you have. No more throwing hardware away when manufacturers stop releasing drivers!

Focusing on mobile scanning, CamScanner allows your iPhone or Android device to scan, enhance and share documents with just a few taps of your phone. It also includes many of the editing and annotation features of its desktop counterparts listed above.



SOURCE:

Kit out your PC with 13 premium Windows programs

TechRadar has teamed up with six premium software vendors to give one lucky reader a huge software package with a combined retail price of over $700/£570.

The prize contains full versions of 13 premium Windows programs, including PC optimization, multimedia, office and security tools:

Ashampoo Backup Pro 12 – protect all your most important files with simple, scheduled backups and easy recovery.

Ashampoo Burning Studio 20 – everything you need to burn CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, with smart backup plans, and an intuitive editor for covers and inlays.

Ashampoo Music Studio 7 – a powerful app for organizing, editing, ripping and burning music.

Ashampoo Photo Commander 16 – one-click photo optimization, tagging, editing, custom collages, slideshows, photo cards, and panoramas.

Ashampoo Snap 10 – a premium screen recorder to capture all the action from your desktop as videos or still grabs in resolutions up to 4K.

Ashampoo Uninstaller 8 – remove every trace of unwanted software, including the files and registry entries other uninstallers leave behind.

Ashampoo Video Optimizer Pro – crop videos, clip, remove shake, sharpen and apply special effects, then upload them directly to YouTube.

Ashampoo WinOptimizer 16 – one-click optimization that resolves common problems and removes junk files that accumulate with normal Windows use.

SoftMaker Office Standard 2018 for Windows – a complete office suite, including premium word processing, spreadsheet and presentation apps.

Audials One 2019 – record music from thousands of online radio stations, consolidate your streaming services and watch live TV from around the world.

Incomedia Website X5 Evolution 17 – a drag-and-drop website builder for creating your first site, complete with a year’s free hosting and domain registration.

Abelssoft CleverPrint – a suite of smart tools designed to save you ink and paper by optimizing print jobs.

Steganos Privacy Suite – a digital safe to protect your sensitive files, and a comprehensive password manager to keep all your online accounts secure.

To enter, just fill in the form below and answer the simple question. The competition ends on January 10, 2019. Best of luck!



Software provided by Steganos, Abelssoft, Incomedia, Audials, SoftMaker, and Ashampoo.