Switzerland now requires all government software to be open source. Sort of.

Several European countries are betting on open-source software. In the United States, eh, not so much. In the latest news from across the Atlantic, Switzerland has taken a major step forward with its “Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfillment of Government Tasks” (EMBAG). This groundbreaking legislation mandates using open-source software Read more about Switzerland now requires all government software to be open source. Sort of.[…]

Why You Should Consider Proton Docs Over Google

Proton has officially launched Docs in Proton Drive, a new web-based productivity app that gives you access to a fully-featured text editor with shared editing capabilities and full end-to-end encryption. It’s meant to take on Google Docs—one of the leading online word processors in the world, and make it more convenient to use Proton’s storage Read more about Why You Should Consider Proton Docs Over Google[…]

Nike Is Killing the App for Its 5 year old $350 Self-Tying Sneakers

In 2019, Nike got closer than ever to its dream of popularizing self-tying sneakers by releasing the Adapt BB. Using Bluetooth, the sneakers paired to the Adapt app that let users do things like tighten or loosen the shoes’ laces and control its LED lights. However, Nike has announced that it’s “retiring” the app on Read more about Nike Is Killing the App for Its 5 year old $350 Self-Tying Sneakers[…]

The bloat continues: Spellcheck and autocorrect in Notepad begins rolling out. Who wants this stuff?

Notepad (version 11.2402.18.0) With this update, Notepad will now highlight misspelled words and provide suggestions so that you can easily identify and correct mistakes. We are also introducing autocorrect which seamlessly fixes common typing mistakes as you type. Misspelled word highlighted in Notepad with options to correct the spelling. Getting started with spellcheck in Notepad Read more about The bloat continues: Spellcheck and autocorrect in Notepad begins rolling out. Who wants this stuff?[…]

Proton Docs is a privacy-focused answer to Google Docs and Microsoft Word

Proton Docs looks a lot like Google Docs: white pages, formatting toolbar at the top, live indicators showing who’s in the doc with their name attached to a cursor, the whole deal. That’s not especially surprising, for a couple of reasons. First, Google Docs is hugely popular, and there are only so many ways to Read more about Proton Docs is a privacy-focused answer to Google Docs and Microsoft Word[…]

Systemd dev thinks it fine for a temp file purge command to just go and delete your /home/ directory

“A good portion of my home directory got deleted,” complained a bug report for systemd filed last week. It requested an update to a flag for the systemd-tmpfiles tool which cleans up files and directories: “a huge warning next to –purge. This option is dangerous, so it should be made clear that it’s dangerous.” The Read more about Systemd dev thinks it fine for a temp file purge command to just go and delete your /home/ directory[…]

Google’s technical info about search ranking leaks online

A trove of documents that appear to describe how Google ranks search results has appeared online, likely as the result of accidental publication by an in-house bot. The leaked documentation describes an old version of Google’s Content Warehouse API and provides a glimpse of Google Search’s inner workings. The material appears to have been inadvertently Read more about Google’s technical info about search ranking leaks online[…]

winamp interface

Winamp has announced that it is opening up its source code

Winamp has announced that on 24 September 2024, the application’s source code will be open to developers worldwide. Winamp will open up its code for the player used on Windows, enabling the entire community to participate in its development. This is an invitation to global collaboration, where developers worldwide can contribute their expertise, ideas, and Read more about Winamp has announced that it is opening up its source code[…]

Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund Now Supporting FFmpeg

Following Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund providing significant funding for GNOME, Rust Coreutils, PHP, a systemd bug bounty, and numerous other free software projects, the FFmpeg multimedia library is the latest beneficiary to this funding from the Germany government. The Sovereign Tech Fund notes that the FFmpeg project is receiving €157,580.00 for 2024 and 2025. An Read more about Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund Now Supporting FFmpeg[…]

sonos music player being destroyed by an axe chopping it in half

Sonos App Redesign AMA – 769 angry questions, 19 corporate useless answers

After the absolute shitshow and riots around the release of the new app, which missed core functionalities and broke systems, Sonos did participate in their promised Ask Me Anything. Kind of. Three Sonos employees apparently attended, but managed to barely respond to any of the questions – which were almost all overwhelmingly angry, disappointed and Read more about Sonos App Redesign AMA – 769 angry questions, 19 corporate useless answers[…]

Sonos releases new but hugely broken, incomplete app causing shitstorm

Sonos launched a new version of its app this week, altering the software experience that tens of millions of users rely on to control the company’s premium home wireless home speaker systems. Turns out, people really hate it! The response from users on Reddit, on audio forums, and on social media has been almost total Read more about Sonos releases new but hugely broken, incomplete app causing shitstorm[…]

Use This App to Block Ads on Windows 11

Advertisements—sometimes prompts to do something that would financially benefit Microsoft and sometimes actual paid advertisements—are showing up all over Windows 11. Start menu ads are rolling out to all users this month, taking the shape of “Recommended” applications you haven’t installed. Ads also briefly showed up in File Explorer, though this was apparently unintentional. And Read more about Use This App to Block Ads on Windows 11[…]

clean windows 11 start menu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?!

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

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

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[…]