Vivaldi Technologies notes that it is now rendering browser windows through React portals. The effect of the code refactoring is that the browser opens windows faster now and that it uses less memory for browser windows.

The company explains that the JavaScript Framework Portal Windows derives from React. Vivaldi engineers worked on the project for several years to implement the feature in the browser. The main goal was to reduce memory and CPU usage, and also introduce improvements that would not have been possible otherwise.

Vivaldi Technologies ran benchmarks to compare the before and after performance. Vivaldi's window opening speed improved by 37% after the changes were implemented claims the company. The benchmarks were run on a low-end Intel 2GHz Core i3 processor. Compared to an older version of the browser from 2018, windows opened 64% faster, according to Vivaldi Technologies.

Vivaldi 6.2: Address Field customizations

Vivaldi 6.2 ships with several new features and improvements. One of the most interesting ones is the ability to change the priority of address field items that the browser displays when users type in the address bar.

All modern web browsers use several sources they pull data from: from search, the user's bookmarks, the browsing history, or pages visited frequently.

Vivaldi users may control the output of the browser in Vivaldi 6.2 by changing priorities and removing entire sources from the list of sources Vivaldi uses. It is possible to turn off search entirely to only get local results, or to keep search and bookmarks, but disable the browsing history.

You can change the the priority and data sources of the output in the following way in Vivaldi 6.2:

1. Select the Vivaldi Menu and then Settings.
2. Switch to Address Bar in the sidebar of the Settings window that opens.
3. Scroll down to Drop-Down Menu Priority.
4. There, you may uncheck any of the available sources:
   • Autocomplete Results.
   • Search.
   • Bookmarks.
   • Search Suggestions.
   • Nicknames.
   • Frequently Visited Pages.
   • Typed History.
   • Browser History.
5. Most of the options may also be moved. Select them and use drag & drop, or the up/down icons in the lower right corner of the interface.
   • Note that the first two options, Autocomplete Result and Search, can't be moved at this time.

There is a handy Reset Priority button to restore the original configuration at any time.

Other changes in Vivaldi 6.2

There is a new clear browsing data button in the History panel now. It allows you to quickly delete history entries.

Select the History icon in Vivaldi's side panel and activate the erase button once the history is displayed. There, you get the options to delete data for the past hour, day, week, 4 week period or all time, and may select the databases that you want processed.

Selecting all will process all of them, but there is also the option to select individual databases, e.g., downloads or browsing history, to have them processed only.

Another useful feature of Vivaldi is the ability to follow YouTube channels without Google Account. Vivaldi uses YouTube's RSS feed for that. You can check out my guide from 2022 on subscribing to YouTube channels without Google account.

Vivaldi 6.2 improves the discoverability of the feature according to the announcement, but we could not get this to work on YouTube.

Vivaldi users on macOS may now use the geolocation service of the macOS system, the Apple Location Service.

The built-in mail client, one of Vivaldi's many features that make it stand out, supports new mail filters in the new version. You may switch between displaying text menu and icons only for the mail client's filter view under Settings > Mail > Filter View Buttons.

The mail client support's FastMail's OAuth login system in the latest version, which means that users can log in to their accounts without using an app-specific password in Vivaldi 6.2.

Vivaldi 6.2 is available via the browser's automatic updating systema and as a standalone download from the developer website.

Closing Words

Vivaldi 6.2 is a big release for the company and also for users of the web browser. It improves the browser's speed and memory usage, and introduces new unique customization options next to that.

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Version 6.2, now available for download on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offers significant performance and responsiveness improvements, especially when opening new windows. Developers say changing the code base to Portal Windows, a Javascript framework, allowed for more efficient code sharing between the browser's windows.

According to a blog post on the official Vivaldi website, it took developers several years to implement Portal Windows. As a result, they achieved a 37% improvement when opening new windows compared to the previous version and about 64% compared with an older version from 2018.

The Portal project represents a monumental undertaking, and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved. Looking ahead, the Portal work opens up many possibilities and flexibility. We hope both existing and new users will appreciate the difference brought about by introducing Portal.

Besides offering a snappier UI, Vivaldi 6.2 contains the following changes and new features:

• Improved Address Field suggestions let you prioritize the order or hide certain items (bookmarks, history, nicknames, search, and more) to tailor the drop-down to your needs and make it more personal.

  

• Native Geolocation Service on MacOS. Vivaldi for macOS now utilizes the built-in CoreLocation service, similar to the Windows version and the built-in Microsoft Location Service.
• Delete your browsing history with a single click: The history panel now has a quick-purge button, letting you remove your recent or entire browsing history and related data.

  

• Follow YouTubers without a Google Account: The browser's built-in Feed Reader now allows you to reclaim a bit of your privacy by following favorite YouTubers without a Google Account.
• Vivaldi Mail 1.7 adds new mail filters and Fastmail's OAuth login method.

  

You can download Vivaldi from the official website. The browser is available on Windows 10 and 11, macOS, Linux, and Android. It is also coming soon to iOS, but the exact release date has yet to be revealed.

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The updated release notes for Windows 11 build 23531 mention a bug affecting the recently introduced Unicode Emoji 15 support and the updated colour font format with COLRv1 support. According to Microsoft, those changes are no longer available in the latest Dev build, but developers are working to resolve the problem in a future update.

[ADDED 8/28]Unicode Emoji 15 support which began rolling out with Build 23475 and the updated colour font format with COLRv1 support that began rolling out with Build 23506 no longer appear after updating to Build 23531 due to a bug. This issue will be fixed in a future flight soon.

Unicode Emoji 15 adds 21 new emoji, such as a shaking face, more colourful hearts, two hand gestures, several animals, plants, and objects. As for the COLRv1 format, it enables Windows to display richer 3D-like emoji (those responsible for the "emojigate" scandal). You can learn more about COLRv1 implementation in Windows 11 from the official documentation. Full release notes for Windows 11 build 23531 are available here.

Three emoji styles available in Windows 11.

As a reminder, Dev and Canary builds often contain notable bugs and issues, so those willing to join the Windows Insider Program should back up important data and prepare for potential troubleshooting. Microsoft does not provide official support for PCs running Windows 11 preview builds, so the best idea is to run them on a spare PC or a virtual machine. If you need one, check out Microsoft's official free Windows 11 virtual machines available in four different formats.

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To answer that question, we put Edge vs Firefox in a battle of user-friendliness, features, performance, and more.

Of course, choosing a browser partly comes down to personal preference, but it’s also important to know which hogs more resources, whether there are any privacy concerns, and the features that stand out the most.

Edge vs Firefox Overview

Currently, both browsers are free, available across desktop and mobile operating systems, and can sync between your personal devices.

Comparing Microsoft’s Edge to Mozilla’s Firefox is a worthy task, as they both occupy the third and fourth spot in the global browser market.

Since the death of Internet Explorer, most web users jumped to Google’s Chrome, which gained significant exposure because the search engine is so popular. On the other hand, Apple users predominantly use Safari as it’s native to iOS and macOS.

Microsoft has managed to regain support with Edge and Firefox has maintained a loyal following as the proverbial third party.

Here’s what we found when putting them head-to-head on Windows.

Edge vs Firefox – User Interface

When it comes to interfaces, most desktop browsers including Edge and Firefox have become quite homogenous. That’s not a bad thing, as developers know what users want.

The address bar, tabs, and settings icons are all at the top where you’d expect. The key difference is that Edge supports vertical tabs. This allows you to scroll through in a similar fashion to the Windows start menu (or any menu for that matter).

While this isn’t groundbreaking, it’s useful if you are constantly working through a lot of tabs and/or have a small display. More screen space is given, so the tabs don’t get bunched up. Firefox does have a solution by allowing horizontal scrolling, but it’s more clunky.

Because Edge is integrated with Windows and Bing, there’s also a bit more happening on-screen than Firefox. It makes use of a small toolbar on the right that includes shortcuts to Bing AI, Office 365, Outlook email, etc. Firefox gives all its screen space to the web page.

Functionally, both are very easy to find what you want. In two clicks you can be in the settings deleting cookies or modifying your homepage.

It all comes down to whether you value the extras that Edge offers or a cleaner interface from Firefox.

Winner: Draw

Edge vs Firefox – Features

Let’s first look at what both browsers do the same, so we can then highlight what makes them unique. Both browsers have:

• Web tracking and crypto mining blockers
• Curatable homepages
• Password management and syncing
• Built-in screenshot tools
• Video pop-out play
• Auto-play blocking
• Text-to-speech
• Spell checker

Here’s how each browser stands out:

Edge and Bing AI

Perhaps the most notable feature that has popped up in recent months is Bing’s ChatGPT-powered assistant. Clicking the B icon on the right toolbar expands a window where you can ask the chatbot questions.

There is also a tab for composing different types of content, including email responses, short paragraphs, or even entire blog posts. Drafts can be saved and are easily retrievable.

While Firefox may be able to achieve a similar experience with add-ons and extensions, Edge has nailed AI integration out of the gate.

Edge and OneDrive

Edge can sync your files between your computer and OneDrive, so you can access them from anywhere. When you save a file in Edge, you can choose to save it to OneDrive. This will make the file available on all devices that are signed in. It also has an easy share and collaborate feature.

Edge Tab Groups

As well as vertical, Edge also supports tab grouping to keep track of your tabs and to make it easier to find the tabs that you need. Once you have created a tab group, you can open and close it by clicking on its name in the tab bar. You can also move tabs between groups by dragging and dropping them.

Edge Price Comparisons and Coupons

This built-in tool helps you find the best prices when searching for products online. When you’re on a shopping website, Edge automatically scans the web for lower prices from other retailers. It will also show you any available coupons or promo codes that you can use to save money.

It doesn’t always get it right, but it’s certainly useful if you never considered that a product might be cheaper elsewhere.

Firefox Instant Queries

As the name suggests, instant queries give you basic search results and answers within the Firefox address bar. For example, you don’t have to wait for a full page to load to get the solution to a math problem, currency conversion, or language translation.

Firefox Search Shortcuts

While Edge walls you into Bing search, Firefox has easy shortcuts within the address bar itself to use your preferred search engine.

Firefox Address Bar Customization

Firefox is a lot more customizable than Edge and is technically open-source. So, if you’re inclined, you can get down into the code.

For the average user, customization can be experienced with things like separating the search bar from the address bar, resizing toolbars, changing the colour scheme, and adding shortcuts.

Firefox Pocket

This modern take on bookmarks lets you save articles, videos, and other content in your ‘pocket’ to access later. You can then access this content from any synced device that has Pocket installed.

You can tag content for easy organization, create lists, share your pocket with others, and access it offline.

Firefox Containers

Containers are like different browsing profiles. This can be useful for keeping your work and personal browsing separate, or for managing multiple social media accounts.

Each container is isolated from the others, so cookies, site data, and other tracking information are not shared between containers. This can also help to improve your privacy and security.

Edge vs Firefox – Extensions

Firefox used to rule the roost when it came to extensions, but in 2023, Edge is Chromium-based and therefore is compatible with many of the extensions developed for Google Chrome. This compatibility has significantly expanded Edge’s extension library.

Firefox still uses its own system, giving you a smaller library to choose from. The only saving grace is that these are generally more customizable.

Winner: Edge

Edge vs Firefox – Privacy

While browsers like Brave or Tor are best for privacy, Edge and Firefox both offer a high level of privacy without sacrificing features.

Firefox has a built-in Enhanced Tracking Protection that blocks third-party trackers from tracking your browsing activity. Edge also has a tracking protection feature, but it is not as comprehensive as Firefox’s and isn’t turned on by default.

Moreover, Firefox’s Private Browsing mode has an auto-erase feature that removes all cookies, cache, and browsing history once you close the browser. Edge’s InPrivate mode still saves some browsing history. It also doesn’t prevent the sites you visit from tracking you.

If you are looking for the most privacy-focused mode, Firefox private browsing is the better option.

Winner: Firefox

Edge vs Firefox – Resource Consumption

There’s nothing worse than a browser that slows down your computer, hogs memory, or freezes when too many tabs are open.

Both Edge and Firefox are well-optimized and will not significantly impact a modern Windows computer. However, they both perform better in different areas.

When browsing simple websites and opening a few tabs, Firefox is more RAM-efficient by roughly half. However, Edge closes the gap when opening lots of tabs, because it doesn’t keep unused tabs in memory like Firefox.

Firefox also uses more processing power than Edge.

Therefore, Edge generally has the advantage, unless you never open more than a few tabs.

Every setup is different so you can test system performance by checking the Windows Task Manager yourself.

Winner: Edge

Edge vs Firefox – Browsing Speed

Your internet connection is always the most important factor for browsing speed, but the browser itself also plays a role. Benchmark speed tests can give insight into which browser loads pages, videos, and other data quicker based on similar conditions.

Using Mozilla’s own benchmark tool, Speedometer, Edge still comes out on top with a score of 201 compared to Firefox’s 147.

Winner: Edge

Conclusion – Edge gets the Edge

The Edge vs Firefox contest is closer in 2023 than in previous years.

Microsoft has greatly improved its browser since switching to Chromium and it now surpasses Firefox in speed and system performance. The inclusion of Bing Chat and vertical tabs is useful to many.

For most Windows users, Edge is the better option, overall.

However, that doesn’t mean Firefox has been left in the dust. Its performance is still excellent, and its interface is less cluttered. Mozilla’s browser is also more customizable with better privacy and transparency. That still counts for something, especially if you aren’t married to Windows.

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What is new in Firefox 117?

Here are release notes for Firefox 117:

New:

• Support for credit card autofill has been extended to users running Firefox in the IT, ES ,AT, BE, and PL locales.
• macOS users can now control the tabability of controls and links via about:preferences.
• To avoid undesirable outcomes on sites which specify their own behavior when pressing shift+right-click, Firefox now has a dom.event.contextmenu.shift_suppresses_event preference to prevent the context menu from appearing.

Fixed:

• YouTube video lists now scroll correctly when navigating with a screen reader.
• Various security fixes.

Changed:

• Firefox no longer shows its own screen sharing indicator on Wayland desktop environments. The system default sharing indicator will be used instead.

   

Web Platform:

• Support for improved CSS nesting is now enabled by default.

• Firefox now supports RTCRtpScriptTransform.

• ReadableStream.from is now supported, allowing creation of a ReadableStream from an (async) iterable.

• Firefox now supports the math-style and math-depth CSS properties and the font-size: math value.

   

Developer:

• Web compatibility inspection has been enhanced with our new CSS compatibility tooltip in the Developer Tools Inspector. An icon is now displayed next to properties that could lead to web compatibility issues. When hovered, the tooltip indicates which browsers are not supported and displays a link to the MDN page for the property so the user can learn more about it.

• console.clear() no longer clears the Console output if the "Enable persistent logs" option is enabled.

   

You can find enterprise-specific bug fixes and changes in the Firefox for Enterprise 117 Release Notes.

Like most mainstream browsers, Firefox updates itself automatically in the background. You can also force-update it by heading to Menu > Help > About Firefox. Alternatively, download the installer from the official website.

Firefox 117 is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Those still using Windows 8.1 and 7 can download Firefox 115 ESR and continue receiving security updates until September 2024.

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Users can get incoming call notifications on their macOS machines even when the WhatsApp app is closed. Also, they can join a group call after it has started and the new app allows files to be shared simply by dragging and dropping them into the chat window.

These new features are on par with the app's Windows counterpart which saw a major refresh earlier this year. It was known back then that a revamped version of the app for macOS with improved performance was also in the making.

The new native WhatsApp for Mac now requires macOS 11 Bug Sur or higher installed on your Apple-branded computer. It is available for download on the WhatsApp website and will be available on the App Store soon. "As with WhatsApp on any device, WhatsApp for Mac keeps your personal messages and calls private across devices with end-to-end encryption," the company said in a blog post.

WhatsApp has been on a launch spree this year with a plethora of new features, including support for HD media, screen sharing during video calls, instant video messages, contextual stickers, Channels feature, Chat Lock, edit sent messages, and more.

Moreover, the instant messaging app has also made it easier to text unknown phone numbers. But it has also added the ability to automatically silence unknown phone calls in the app. Recent reports suggest WhatsApp is also testing some new text formatting tools and a feature that helps create stickers using AI text prompts. Boosting the app's cross-device experience, WhatsApp now allows users to use the app on multiple smartphones at the same time.

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Back in July, Linus Torvalds was worried the next update of the Linux kernel might be "one of those releases that may drag out" because most of Europe goes on vacation during August. 

It turns out that his worries were for nothing -- and the new release has arrived: "Nothing particularly odd or scary happened this last week, so there is no excuse to delay the 6.5 release," announced Torvalds on 27 August. 

Yet despite the release of Linux 6.5, Torvalds remains slightly concerned: "I still have this nagging feeling that a lot of people are on vacation and that things have been quiet partly due to that. But this release has been going smoothly, so that's probably just me being paranoid." 

To that end, he encourages developers to give "this final release one last round of testing." So, before you get too wrapped up in building new releases on top of Linux 6.5, developers would be wise to check out the new kernel carefully before deploying it. 

Some of the developers who are likely to be eager to build on the new release include those working on Linux distros, such as Arch, who often leap at the latest releases, and those working on the upcoming Ubuntu 23.10, whose developers plan on using Linux 6.5.

For developers who want to get testing, what do we get with this new version of Linux? Tha simple answer is: lots of things. 

The biggest news for servers -- and cloud Linux users -- is AMD Ryzen processors' P-State support. This support should mean better performance and power use across CPU cores. Intel Alder Lake CPUs have also received improved load balancing in a related development. 

RISC-V architecture fans will be pleased to find Linux now has Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support. ACPI is used in Linux and other operating systems for power management. It's vital for laptops and other battery-powered systems. 

For better security, people using virtual machines or sandboxes based on Usermode Linux for testing, or running multiple versions of Linux at once, now have Landlock support. Landock is a Linux Security Module that enables applications to sandbox themselves by selecting access rights to directories. It's designed to be used by unprivileged processes while following the system security policy. 

To make talking with the rest of the world easier, Linux 6.5 now supports USB 4v2. This new USB-C standard will support up to an eye-watering 120Gbps.

And while we're still getting used to Wi-Fi 6E, the Wi-Fi Alliance is already working on bringing us Wi-Fi 7. When Wi-Fi 7 arrives, with its theoretical maximum speed of 46Gbps, Linux will be ready. 

As usual, the new Linux has many more built-in audio and graphics drivers. 

There is, however, one feature that didn't make it into Linux 6.5. That's the Bcachefs filesystem. This copy-on-write filesystem is intended to be more reliable and robust than its rivals. The filesystem supports multiple devices, replication, erasure coding, compression, encryption, snapshots, and caching. 

While the Bcachefs filesystem looks good, there's been a lot of developers fighting about the development process. These personal arguments have led Torvalds to decide not to incorporate Bcachefs into Linux 6.5. Hopefully, all these issues will be calmly resolved -- and Bcachefs will finally make it into Linux 6.6.

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Back in March, Google announced that almost every application in its Workspace would get an AI revamp. At this year's Google Cloud Next event, the tech giant has made that announcement a reality with the unveiling of Duet AI for Google Workspace. 

Duet AI is Google's real-time AI collaborator that works with users across Workspace applications, including Slides, Meet, Gmail, Chat, and more. It can facilitate everyday pesky tasks, such as reading hefty emails, creating slide decks, and even being in meetings. 

For example, a financial analyst could use Duet AI to create a last-minute presentation by asking Duet AI to summarize the business's performance and produce a presentation by including text, charts, and images found in the analyst's Drive and Gmail accounts, according to Google. 

Duet AI will also help facilitate workplace communications via special integrations in Google Meet and Google Chat. 

Google Meet 

Meetings provide a platform for collaboration, team-building activities, and workflow management. However, attending unnecessary meetings can waste time during the workday -- and that's especially a problem when that time could be allocated to more productive tasks. 

Duet AI is here to help by attending the meeting for you. 

With the "attend for me" feature, DuetAI can attend meetings on your behalf, deliver the message you would have liked to share, and then give you a recap of what you missed. 

Duet AI can take notes, jot down action items, and even grab video snippets in real time using the 'take notes for me' feature. Then, after the meeting, it will send a summary to the attendees, and to those who couldn't attend, but who want to stay up to date. 

If a user joins the meeting late, they can use the "summary so far" feature to catch up quickly with the rest of their colleagues. 

Duet AI will also help to optimize the video experience for people on the call by providing a studio look, lighting, and sound, according to the release. 

To make it easier to see and understand participants who are joining a call from a conference, Google is implementing dynamic tiles and face detections, which will give each participant a video tile with their meeting name. 

Lastly, Google Meet will now have "automatic translated captions" for 18 languages, where it will automatically detect when another language is spoken and display a real-time translation. 

Google Chat 

To facilitate quick, on-the-go conversations, Google Chat now has a refreshed interface, new shortcuts, an enhanced search, and even a new huddle in Chat feature, allowing quick, impromptu voice chats.

Users can also chat with Duet AI directly and "ask questions about your content, get a summary of documents shared in a space, and catch up on missed conversations", according to the release. 

To save you time when composing messages, Google is enhancing its smart reply feature to support the generation of longer personalized replies in Gmail and Duet AI. 

Privacy 

A major concern when employees use generative AI in the enterprise is company privacy and security, especially since generative AI models often use input data to train and get smarter. 

To ease those tensions, Google reassures professionals that interactions with Duet AI are private and will not be used to train any models without user authorization. 

Availability 

These DuetAI features are available with a no-cost trial, which users can access by completing this form. The form asks for the number of employees at the interested user's organization, whether you are a Google Workspace customer, and contact details. 

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Firefox 117 is a security update as well, but information about the fixes has not yet been released.

Executive Summary

• The native translate feature is included, but disabled by default.
• Firefox 117 is security update.
• The last point update for Firefox 102 ESR is released today. It will run out of support on September 26, 2023 when installations will be upgraded to Firefox 115 ESR automatically.

Firefox 117 download and update

Mozilla Firefox 117 is released via the web browser's updating system, and it is also available as a standalone download. Firefox users may select Menu > Help > About Firefox to display the current version that is installed on the device.

The update will be released on August 29, 2023. Depending on when you are reading this, it may not be yet available. Opening the About Firefox page runs a check for updates. Later today, Firefox should pick up the new version 117 and download it when opened.

Here are the official download locations:

• Firefox Stable download
• Firefox Beta download
• Nightly download
• Firefox ESR download
• Firefox for Android on Google Play

Firefox 117.0 new features and improvements

Native Translation feature

The native translate feature of the Firefox web browser is included in the Firefox 117 release. It is disabled by default and Mozilla labels it as beta at the moment. Mozilla plans to roll out the functionality in the coming weeks to Firefox users, and to enable it by default in Firefox 118 next month.

Firefox users may enable the translate feature in Firefox 117 right away, however:

1. Load about:config in the Firefox address bar.
2. Search for browser.translations.enable.
3. Set the status to True.
4. Restart Firefox.

Firefox displays a new translate icon in its address bar when a foreign language page is opened. A click on the icon displays options to translate the page and to configure translations for the language and/or site.

Firefox Translations is different from Google Translate and other translate features of browsers. It is a native translation feature, which means that it does not require cloud connectivity; this improves privacy, as no data is submitted to third-party servers. Firefox needs to download language data the first time a new language needs to be translated. Another downside, at least for the foreseeable future, is that language support is quite limited.

Other changes and fixes

• Firefox 102.15 ESR release is the last release for that version of the Extended Support Release channel. Installations will receive the update to Firefox 115.3 on September 26, 2023 automatically.
• Credit card autofill is now available in the locales IT, ES, AT, BE and PL.
• Firefox users on macOS devices may control tab-key behavior now in the browser's Settings. The new "Use the tab key to move focus between form controls and links" option is available here.
• The new preference dom.event.contextmenu.shift_suppresses_event improves accessibility on sites that display their own context menu when users press Shift-Right-Click.
• Firefox no longer shows its own screen sharing indicator on Wayland desktop environments. The system default sharing indicator will be used instead.

Developer changes

• The math-style and math-depth properties are now supported.
• The contain-intrinsic-size: auto none; syntax is now supported.
• Inline SVGs now support <script> elements with type="module", defer, and async attributes.
• The Range header is now a CORS-safelisted request header when the value is a single byte range.
• The ReadableStream.from() static member is now supported.
• The CanvasRenderingContext2D.getContextAttributes() method can now be used to get the 2D context attributes being used by the browser.
• Web compatibility inspection has been enhanced with the new CSS compatibility tooltip in the Developer Tools Inspector
• console.clear() no longer clears the Console output if the "Enable persistent logs" option is enabled.
• Support for improved CSS nesting is now enabled by default.

Enterprise changes

• The ExtensionSettings policy has been updated to support default_area (introduced in Firefox 113, but not documented until now).

Security updates / fixes

Outlook

Mozilla plans to release Firefox 118 and Firefox 115.3 ESR on September 26, 2023.

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Let me paint a picture for you.

I was running a virtual instance of another Linux operating system this morning with VirtualBox. Everything was going fine (as it usually does) until it wasn't. The virtual operating system prompted me for my user password (to run an admin task). When I started typing the admin password, things went a bit south.

Essentially, what happened was VirtualBox locked up my desktop. It wasn't a full-blown lockup, as I could still move my mouse. I couldn't, however, click on anything or interact with the desktop in any way (besides moving the cursor).

Sometimes, it's just a matter of waiting for whatever is happening in the background to finish and control will be handed back over. That did not happen. No matter how long I waited, the desktop remained unresponsive.

I know what you're thinking. All I had to do was power down the machine, restart it, and get back to whatever it was I was doing. 

For any given MacOS or Windows user, that's the logical process when the desktop locks up. But this is Linux and with Linux…there is always a way. 

I wasn't 100% certain that VirtualBox was the culprit, but I was fairly certain (as that's what I was using when the lockup occurred). And because this isn't my first (or last) go around the block, I knew there was a much easier solution. Besides, Linux users are not fond of either shutting down or rebooting their computers. We like to brag about our uptime. I've had Linux desktop computers stay up for over a year and servers even longer. It's a point of pride. 

Of course, I don't really bother with such things any longer and if I feel a reboot is necessary (especially when a new kernel is installed), I won't hesitate.

Today was one of those days where I really didn't feel like rebooting my machine. First off, the power switch has gone out and, in order to restart the machine, I have to remove the case and press a hard-to-reach switch for the machine to power back on. (I'm working on getting a replacement power switch as I type.) 

So, when my desktop locked up (without an easy means to reboot), what did I do?

Something your operating system probably can't do.

Here's how it happened:

• I logged into my MacBook Pro.

• I opened the terminal app.

• I used Secure Shell to remote into my desktop, using the command ssh 192.168.1.62.

• I checked to see which application was abusing my system resources with the top command.

• With the app in question found, I located the Process ID (PID) with the command ps aux | grep Virtual, which gave me the PIDs for both the VirtualBox application and the virtual machine.

• I killed the processes with the command kill PID (where PID was the ID for each VirtualBox instance).

• I closed the SSH connection with the exit command.

• Once both VirtualBox instances were closed, I had control of my desktop once again. No reboot needed.

I understand this isn't something someone new to Linux would know how to do (without the help of Google) but it's one of the many tricks I've learned over my years of using Linux. And any time I'm using an operating system that isn't Linux, I know that I'm hindered from doing such things, which (in my opinion) helps to make other operating systems inferior to the open-source option. 

Don't get me wrong. This isn't something I have to do regularly. In fact, I can't remember the last time I had to pull off such a feat to regain control of my desktop. The good thing is that the option is there should I need it. Linux has always been known for having multiple options for just about every need and that makes it an incredibly powerful, flexible, and reliable operating system.

You may never run into such an instance but knowing that you have ultimate control over your desktop can be very assuring, especially when you have important work you won't want to lose, thanks to an errant application.

I've been taking advantage of such cool tricks on the desktop for decades. Don't you think it's time you gain the same benefit and enjoy a desktop or laptop operating system that won't relinquish control to you when it's most needed?

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Poe is now available on the web, iOS, Android, and the Mac.

Image: The Verge

Poe, the AI chatbot platform created by Quora, has added a slew of updates, including a Mac app, the ability to have multiple simultaneous conversations with the same AI bot, access to Meta’s Llama 2 model, and more. It’s also planning an enterprise tier so that companies can manage the platform for their employees, according to an email that was recently sent to Poe users.

 

As my colleague David Pierce wrote in April, Poe’s ambition is to be the web browser for AI chatbots. Adam D’Angelo, the CEO of Poe’s parent company Quora, also sits on the board of OpenAI and thinks that the number of AI bots will keep increasing. Poe wants to be the one place where you can find them all.

 

“I think there’s going to be this massive ecosystem similar to what the web is today,” D’Angelo recently said. “I could imagine a world in which most companies have a bot that they provide to the public.” Poe lets you pay one subscription for unlimited access to all of the bots on its platform for $19.99 per month or $200 per year.

 

Poe’s mobile app.

Image: The Verge

 

The new Mac app works very similarly to Poe’s web and mobile apps, which let you chat with bots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 alongside Anthropic’s Claude. Per the email that went out over the weekend announcing new product updates, there are three new bots that offer access to Meta’s (almost) open-source LLama 2 model.

 

Additionally, Poe now lets you conduct multiple conversations with the same bot, search for bots through its explore page, and use the platform in Japanese. Poe is also a bot creation platform with its own API, and now it will let developers adjust the “temperature” of prompts. “Higher temperature values create more varied but less predictable replies and lower values create more consistent responses,” according to the company.

 

Poe has yet to share details on its planned enterprise tier, but you can get on the waitlist via this Google form.

 

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In a long Twitter thread, Maarten Balliauw said that Microsoft is sending a machine fingerprint to a remote server every time a user opens a new tab in Edge. This machine fingerprint can be used to track users across websites.

Balliauw also said that Microsoft is checking a user’s public IP address through a non-Microsoft service. This could be used to identify the user’s location. 

He also reported the issue to Microsoft, but his report was rejected because it did not meet the company’s criteria. He said that the tool’s behavior “definitely matches” the definition of malware for being an obfuscator, its lack of control, advertising, and more as defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework. 

This wasn’t the first dirty attempt made by Microsoft to lure people to use Edge and Bing. Earlier in May, we reported that the Redmond-based tech giant slaps a big desktop notification below the Search bar with Edge update on Windows 10 users. 

It didn’t stop there. In July, Windows 11 users started spotting a new pop-up window to “try the new AI powered Bing in Chrome.” Once clicked, you’ll be asked to install the Bing extension and switch your default search engine.

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Instead, the company implies that the root cause is an incompatibility problem with the affected devices' firmware and asks those impacted by the issue to reach out to the CPU manufacturer for a solution.

"After investigating these reports, we have found that the 'UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR' error was not caused by issues in KB5029351 and is limited to a specific subset of processors," Microsoft said.

"We are collaborating with device manufacturers (OEMs) and will temporarily mitigate this issue by not offering KB5029351 to Windows devices that might be affected by this issue."

Microsoft first acknowledged this known issue on Wednesday, saying that affected platforms include Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 21H2/22H2.

Redmond added that the buggy optional update "might automatically uninstall to allow Windows to start up as expected" and warned customers not to reinstall it to avoid further issues.

This was confirmed by user reports who said that the troublesome updates were automatically rolled back following multiple system reboots.

Incompatibility issues confirmed by MSI

While Microsoft suggests that users should reach out to their device's processor manufacturer (e.g., Intel and AMD) if they continue experiencing issues, only Taiwanese PC vendor MSI has officially confirmed that users of some of its motherboard models might be affected by this known issue.

"MSI has received several reports of users encountering a Blue Screen of Death that has an error message that reads 'UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR' with MSI's 600/700 series motherboards after installing the Windows 11 update, KB5029351 Preview," the company said on Friday.

"Both MSI and Microsoft are aware of the 'UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR' error and have begun investigating the root cause."

MSI has also cautioned all users against installing the August 2023 preview updates on their Windows devices.

For those who have already deployed these updates and experienced blue screens, the recommended course of action involves reverting their BIOS to an earlier version and uninstalling the problematic optional Windows updates.

The computer hardware vendor provides guidance on using M-FLASH to revert motherboard firmware to a previous version in this video.

Intel and AMD spokespersons were not available for comment when contacted by BleepingComputer earlier today.

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Microsoft is making it easier for people with mobility disabilities to use their computers by enabling the Voice Access on login screen on Windows 11. This means that users will be able to control their computers entirely with their voice, even before they have logged in.

As spotted by Windows enthusiast @PhantomOfEarth, this accessibility feature was first spotted in a hidden build of Windows 11 in May 2023, and it is now available in the latest Dev (Build 23531) and Beta Channel (KB5029339) builds in recent updates. 

But now, you can test this feature without having to make registry tweaks to your computer using third-party tools like ViVeTool.

On the login screen, you can now see a toggle to turn on Voice Access. This toggle is located alongside other accessibility features, such as Narrator, Magnifier, Filter keys, and On-screen keyboards.

The login screen is also known as the OOBE screen, which stands for “Out-of-Box Experience”. The OOBE screens are the series of screens that users see when they first turn on a new Windows computer. 

If you haven’t heard yet, there are many exciting updates in development for Windows 11 Insiders. For example, the homepage of the Settings app is getting a makeover with seven new cards to help you set up your PC more easily. Additionally, support for screen casting is being added, and the Task Manager is being improved. 

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Several days ago, Microsoft pushed Edge 117 to the Beta Channel for the final testing before the public rollout next month. The release contains a few important changes and enhancements, such as an improved Microsoft Edge for Business experience with the ability to switch from work to personal browsing, the new Smart Find feature, and E-tree in Wallet (speaking of questionable features). More importantly, Microsoft announced several feature deprecation:

Deprecation of features. To improve end user experience and simplify the More tools menu, the following features are being deprecated: Math Solver, Picture Dictionary, Citations, Grammar Tools, and Kids Mode.

Math Solver, Picture Dictionary, Citations, Grammar Tools, and Kids Mode are niche-focused features, and it is unsurprising to see Microsoft ditching them for simplicity's sake. Feature deprecation means Microsoft is no longer developing it, so users should not expect upgrades or substantial changes. Still, a deprecated feature may remain accessible before Microsoft permanently removes it (as it was with Windows 10's "My people" hub).

Microsoft plans to release Edge 117 in the Stable channel on the week of September 14, 2023. It will be available on Windows 10, 11, macOS, and Linux. Those wanting to test early Edge updates can sign up for the Edge Insider program and download the latest Canary, Dev, or Beta version from the official website. Full release notes for Microsoft Edge 117 Beta are available here.

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This trick can be useful in a variety of situations. For example, you can use it to repair a corrupted system file, uninstall a program that is not responding, run a diagnostic tool fast, access a file or folder that is protected by UAC (User Account Control), and more.  

Although this trick has been in Windows 11 for some time, it was not until recently that it was discovered by the online community. This surprised many people, as the trick is quite simple to perform. Here’s how. 

How to easily summon instant administrator command prompt on Task Manager

1. Press CTRL + Alt+ Delete to open security options > Task Manager.

2. Go to Performance

3. While clicking on New Task, hold down CTRL

4. Open the program’s .exe file, then hit OK.

This trick can be used to access an administrator command prompt even when the system is not responding or is otherwise inoperable. It can also be used as a shortcut to open a command window.

In case you missed it, a recent Windows 11 update for Beta channel insiders has also fixed a few Task Manager issues here and there. Practically, they’re fixing the issue where Task Manager crashes when you use the reset to the default button in Settings. 

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We’re excited to announce that a more easy–to–access entry point for Office Add-ins is now available online. By accessing the new entry point in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you’ll have an upgraded experience without worrying about managing all your add-ins or choosing the fit right add-in among the thousands available in AppSource and the Office marketplace. 

You can find the new Office Add-ins entry point in two places now:

1. On the Home tab.

    

   

    

2. On the File tab.

    

   

Plus, it seems that Microsoft will now come with add-in recommendations for you, and they will tailored for you, according to your own experience with the Microsoft Office apps.

The new feature should be available to you now, but if you don’t see it, don’t stress about it too much. Microsoft says it’s releasing it gradually, so you just have to wait.

Not all users are happy about the Office Add-ins’ new entry point

However, not all users are happy about it. Some say the entry point occupies space for nothing, especially for those users who don’t use add-ins in their Office apps. So according to them, Microsoft should add the ability to hide the entry point altogether.

Please add the ability to hide this button/group in File > Options > Customize Ribbon. For users who aren’t interested in add-ins, it needlessly takes up space on the ribbon.

If Microsoft added a new entry point, the Redmond-based tech giant could easily add a feature to hide, because, at the end of the day, the community is right: if you don’t use add-ins, why bother? When you want to use them, you’ll just enable the entry point.

What do you think about it?

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Linus Torvalds announced today the release of the Linux 6.5 kernel series as a major update with several new features, better hardware support, and other changes.

The Linux kernel 6.5 has features like MIDI 2.0 support in ALSA, ACPI support for the RISC-V architecture, Landlock support for UML (User-Mode Linux), better support for AMD "Zen" systems, as well as user-space support for the ARMv8.8 memcpy/memset instructions.

Linux 6.5 supports Intel TPMI (Topology Aware Register and PM Capsule Interface) for the power capping subsystem and a TPMI interface driver for Intel RAPL, and the "runnable boosting" feature in the EAS balancer to improve CPU utilization for specific workloads.

This release also improves SMP scheduling's load balancer to recognize SMT cores with more than one busy sibling and allows lower-priority CPUs to pull tasks to avoid superfluous migrations, and improves EXT4 file system's journalling, block allocator subsystems, and performance for parallel DIO overwrites.

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This month's non-security update for Windows 10 brought the new Windows Backup app Microsoft introduced earlier for Windows 11. In addition, users discovered a surprising change for File Explorer—it now features a new button for backing up documents, pictures, downloads, and more. Clicking the button launches OneDrive and its "Back up important PC folders to OneDrive" feature, ensuring files in your user folders are always in sync with OneDrive.

Microsoft has not announced the new "Start backup" button yet. However, you can enable it on your Windows 10 PC by doing the following:

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area and click Settings.
2. Go to the About tab and toggle on the "Get OneDrive Insider preview updates before release" option.
3. Download KB5029331 from Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog (manual installation).
4. After installing the update, ensure you have installed the latest OneDrive app.
5.  Download ViVeTool from GitHub and extract it into any convenient folder. Note: We recommend backing up important data and creating a system restore point before using ViVeTool.
6. Launch Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the directory containing your ViVeTool files using the CD command. Here is an example: CD C:\vive.
7. Type vivetool /enable /id:40950986 and press Enter.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Open File Explorer (Win + E is its dedicated shortcut) and open the Documents, Pictures, Videos, or Music folder. You will spot the new "Start Backup" button on the ribbon's Home tab.

Many users stick to Windows 10 for its familiarity and the lack of big, often controversial changes (like the one with auto-opening Search in Windows 11). Small improvements like the Windows Backup app and the updated File Explorer will make the old operating system slightly more convenient. True, those changes are hardly major upgrades, but they are welcome nonetheless.

As a reminder, Microsoft plans to pull the plug on Windows 10 and stop supporting the OS in October 2025.

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Microsoft first started testing Chrome support for Bing Chat in early June, and in late July, it revealed more users were able to access Bing Chat on Google's web browser. In a Bing blog post that was quietly updated late on Friday, Microsoft confirmed that both Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise are now available on Chrome for Windows, Mac, and Linux users.

This will likely help expand the use of Bing Chat to many more people who don't wish to use Microsoft's in-house Edge browser. Microsoft also announced a few weeks ago it was working to add support for Bing Chat to other browsers, along with mobile browsers as well.

The same blog post also announced that Bing Chat Enterprise is now available for people who use the mobile version of Microsoft Edge. Microsoft stated:

If your organization has enabled Bing Chat Enterprise, open Edge Mobile, sign in with your work account, and click on the Bing Chat button to access Bing Chat Enterprise.

Bing Chat Enterprise is different than the standard version of the chatbot in that the data that's collected will not leak out of the organization that uses it, and that data won't be used to train external large language models.

Microsoft also announced that users of the Swiftkey mobile keyboard app can access Bing chat for up to 30 chat turns a day without having to sign into a Microsoft account. Finally, it has updated the standard Bing search page results with a new look. Microsoft stated:

The new design avoids content duplication and makes more efficient use of space on the search results page, helping you find answers faster.

Last week, members of the Bing team at Microsoft confirmed it was testing a Bing Chat "No Search" feature with a small number of users, allowing them to disable access to Bing search so the chatbot doesn't use it for answers to questions.

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While Firefox Translations is still a work in progress, which becomes apparent when looking at the supported languages, it is a major milestone for users of the browser, as it moves one step closer to feature parity with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and other web browsers.

Mozilla announced the native integration of Firefox Translations in the Firefox web browser back in 2021 and has worked on the integration ever since. Support for new languages was added during the time, but support is still lagging behind when compared to language support in many other browsers.

While that is the case, Firefox Translations and the integration in Firefox is still a game changer for users, especially those concerned about privacy. Chrome or Edge users who want to translate content have the content send to Google or Microsoft servers, processed there and then returned. Not exactly ideal when it comes to privacy.

Vivaldi and Brave use self-hosted solutions, which still require connections, but offer better privacy than an integration of Google Translate or other third-party translation services would offer.

Firefox's solution is superior: Mozilla is in control of the translate functionality and Firefox's integration does not make any connections to remote servers when translating content.

The main issue right now is the lack of language support. While it is possible to translate many popular and widely spoken languages, others, including some that are spoken by a large percentage of the world's population, are still missing.

Supported languages include the likes of English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. Missing languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, all languages spoken in India, Arabic, Turkish and lots more.

How to configure Firefox Translations in Firefox

Starting in Firefox 117 Stable, Firefox users may start using the translate feature natively. Mozilla plans to roll out the feature over time, which means that most Firefox users may start using the new functionality weeks after the release of Firefox 117. Firefox Translations should be enabled for all users from Firefox 118 on.

All Firefox 117 users may, however, enable the functionality right away to use the native translate feature immediately after upgrading to the new stable version of the browser.

This is done in the following way:

1. Load about:config in the browser's address bar.
2. Search for browser.translations.enable.
3. Set the status of the experimental flag to True.
4. Restart the Firefox web browser.

Setting the status to True enables the translate feature. Setting it to False, disables it.

Firefox should display a language icon in the address bar whenever it identifies a page that uses one of the supported languages, provided that it is not set as a language in Firefox already.

Firefox users may load about:preferences#general in the browser's address bar after enabling the translate feature to configure it. The lack of cloud connections makes it necessary to install language packs in Firefox. These need to be installed by the user to add support for the language.

Shipping all language packs with Firefox was not an option, as it would have ballooned the browser's size significantly.

A click on the Firefox Translations icon in the address bar and the selection of the menu icon displays the available options.

This include the options to "never" or "always" translate a language, never translate the active site, and to manage the languages.

Closing Words

The integration and enabling of the native translate functionality in Firefox is a major milestone for the browser. The number of supported languages should be increased in the coming months and years, but it looks as if it will take quite some time before the majority of languages are supported by Firefox.

Now You: do you plan to use the native translate feature?

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Earlier this month, we talked about the launch of Microsoft's first web browser, Internet Explorer 1.0, back in 1995. It was a pretty bare-bones browser, but Microsoft quickly updated it with a 2.0 version later that year, followed by 3.0 in 1996, 4.0 in 1997, and 5.0 in 1999.

On August 24, 2001, 22 years ago this week, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 was released, a couple of months before the company's next consumer OS, Windows XP, was launched. The browser, which we will refer to as IE6 from now on, quickly dominated the market with a share as high as 90 percent at one point in 2004.

However, the release of IE6 might have been the start of a major turning point in Microsoft's command of the browser market. That's because of three developments, all of which led into each other. The first was that Microsoft basically decided, after six major releases of IE, to take a step back and not try to develop and release a major feature update to IE6 as quickly as previous IE versions has been updated in the past.

That lack of active development led to the discovery of a number of serious security flaws in IE6. As reported by ZDNet at the time, in 2004 security researchers found lots of issues in the browser. These flaws were being used by hackers to infect the PCs of IE6 users by them just visiting infected websites. The security issues let IE6 to download malware directly to PCs via those sites.

Those flaws in Microsoft's web browser got so bad that, in June 2004, the US government had to issue an advisory asking PC owners not to use IE6 without certain precautions. An archived post from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) at Carnegie Mellon University describes the issue:

Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) does not adequately validate the security context of a frame that has been redirected by a web server. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to evaluate script in different security domains. By causing script to be evaluated in the Local Machine Zone, the attacker could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running IE.

Microsoft did issue patches to try to correct these issues, but US-CERT also advised IE6 users to disable Active scripting and ActiveX controls in the browser or just use another browser completely.

That piece of advice led to the third development, which was the release of Mozilla's Firefox browser. Launched in November 2004, the free and open-source browser had lots of new features and fewer security issues compared to IE6, and it quickly became a popular alternative.

As a result, Microsoft never dominated the web browser market share again as it did at the peak of IE6 in 2004. That was especially true after the launch of Google's Chrome browser which launched a few years later in 2008.

Microsoft finally released Internet Explorer 7.0 in October 2006, over five years after the release of IE6. Yet, Microsoft's buggy browser still was used by lots of people around the world several years later. In 2011, Microsoft launched a marketing campaign called IE6 Countdown, urging users to stop using the old web browser 10 years after it launched. That campaign eventually succeeded in that goal.

Of course, now the IE brand itself has been eliminated completely as Microsoft moved on with its Edge browser. Updates to browsers, and indeed major software products as a whole, have also evolved beyond what they were in 2004, as new features and bug fixes are released at a far more rapid and regular pace than ever, thanks in part to the rise of fast broadband internet speeds.

Microsoft's complacency with the launch of IE6 22 years ago was a big reason why rivals were able to beat the company in the browser wars, and that continues to this day. While Firefox is not as popular as it once was, Chrome and Apple's Safari both top Microsoft Edge in use, according to StatCounter's most recent numbers.

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Before Windows 11 version 23H2, ZIP was the only natively supported archive format. Therefore, users had to opt for third-party apps to work with RAR, 7Z, etc. Even though there is no shortage of free and premium file compression apps, native support is always better for the average consumer—you do not need to look for a program to extract a single randomly downloaded archive.

Still, the change raises a question: Can the updated File Explorer replace WinRAR, 7Zip, NanaZIP, and other dedicated apps for those frequently working with archives?

To answer the question, I decided to test the updated File Explorer versus WinRAR, arguably the most popular app of its kind (which is honored by the change), and NanaZIP, a great fork of 7Zip for Windows 11. I downloaded Microsoft's massive 24GB free Windows 11 virtual machine and packed its files into three previously unsupported formats: RAR, 7Z, and TAR, with a 50% compression rate. Now, it is time to unpack the archives and measure the time it takes for Windows 11's File Explorer, WinRAR, and NanaZIP to complete the job.

Each app went through three tests to get the average result on my desktop PC with the Ryzen 5 2600 (I will upgrade to 5600 in a few days), 32GB DDR4-3200, NVIDIA RTX 4060, and Samsung 980 SSD 500GB. Then, I repeated the process on my laptop with the Intel Core i3-1125G4, 16GB DDR4-3200, and a 500GB NVMe SSD.

Keep in mind that my goal was to see the performance difference between apps, not to find another reason to upgrade my computers, which I did anyway since the Zen+ architecture is starting to show its age, and I need a better CPU for the upcoming Forza Motorsport release.

Testing... Attention please!

The experiment revealed that File Explorer had no problems extracting TAR archives and could keep up with WinRAR and NanaZIP: all three finished in about 80 seconds.

RAR was next, and it immediately tripped File Explorer, causing it to complete the process in almost six minutes, more than three times slower than WinRAR and two times more than NanaZIP. Oof!

7Z added insult to injury: File Explorer took nearly nine minutes to extract, while WinRAR and NanaZIP finished in about one minute.

Tests on my Intel-based laptop showed virtually the same result, proving that third-party apps are much better and faster at decompressing files than the upgraded File Explorer.

Is it a problem? Hardly, if you rarely need to extract a RAR or another previously unsupported file type. However, those frequently working with archives are unlikely to ditch WinRAR, NanaZIP, 7Zip, and other applications. And it is not all about the inferior performance—File Explorer is significantly less convenient. For example, it does not display a proper status bar (good luck guessing how much time is left to finish extracting your "homework"), it cannot open a password-protected archive, and ZIP remains the only supported format when you need to pack a bunch of files into an archive (not to mention numerous other features like splitting files, adjusting the compression ratio, etc).

Although Microsoft could have made archive support slightly more convenient, we probably should not crucify it for the current implementation. It will be enough to make Windows 11 better for your average Joe without putting WinRAR and other companies out of business. Indeed, WinRAR, this is fine.

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For the first time, the number of Linux gamers accessing Steam (1.96 percent) surpassed those using Apple's MacOS (1.84). That's likely due to the sales success of Valve's Steam Deck portable gaming PC, which uses a Linux-based "SteamOS Holo".

While Linux is still a distance second compared to the 96.21 percent of Windows users, it still shows that Valve's use of the free OS has caused an overall uptick in its use. Indeed Valve has been a champion of promoting Linux PC gaming well before it launched its Steam Deck.

Ironically, the data about Linux beating MacOS on Steam came just a few weeks before the 32-year anniversary of the first public announcement of what would later be named the Linux OS.

The original creator of Linux, as many of you likely know already, is Linus Torvalds. He was just a 21-year-old computer science student studying at the University of Helsinki when he began working on a free OS kernel.

On August 25, 1991, Torvalds posted his initial public announcement of his OS project on the comp.os.minix newsgroup. MINIX was the name of a Unix-based OS that was first released in 1987 that Torvalds had previously used. That MINIX newsgroup was later archived by Google. Here is his full announcement of the project:

Hello everybody out there using minix -

I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things).

I've currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work. This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them 🙂

Linus

PS. Yes - it's free of any minix code, and it has a multi-threaded fs. It is NOT protable (uses 386 task switching etc), and it probably never will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that's all I have :-(.

How wrong Torvalds turned out to be when he said it would "probably never will support anything other than AT-harddisks." That newsgroup announcement was followed up by the initial first release of Linux less than a month later on September 17, 1991.

By the way, the name Linux was considered and then rejected by Torvalds as being too egotistical. He initially named the OS Freax. However, according to his 2001 book Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary, he stated that a coworker, who was an admin for one of the university's FTP servers, didn't like the Freax name and put in "Linux" as the name of the OS on that server. Torvalds eventually let that slide, and that's the name that stuck.

32 years later, the result of Torvalds's small project was a free open source OS that has been used as the basis for all sorts of operating systems for all kinds of hardware. By far the biggest software release that was initially based on a modified Linux kernel is Google's Android mobile operating system.

Even Microsoft, who was once completely against free open-source software, has since not only embraced Linux, but even launched its own Linux distro, CBL-Mariner. It was first created to help run various Azure cloud services but has since been expanded to host the Xbox storefronts.

Yes, that's another example of Linux support in gaming, which makes this circle back to the recent rise of Linux as the number two OS for Steam PC gamers. It makes you wonder where Linux developers will take the OS in the future.

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This revolutionary tool seamlessly integrates Python's analytical prowess into Excel's familiar grid, offering a dynamic and secure way to enhance your data manipulation game. This guide delves into the exciting world of the =PY function, understanding its capabilities, exploring its secure framework, mastering its application, and how to use Python in Excel well.

Whether you're a seasoned Pythonista or just starting your coding journey, the =PY function welcomes you with open arms.

Python in Excel: Introducing PY Function

At its core, the =PY function is a bridge between Excel's familiar environment and Python's robust analytical capabilities. Microsoft's brainchild, this function empowers users to effortlessly incorporate Python code into Excel, amplifying data analysis, manipulation, and visualization.

Security and privacy are paramount in today's digital landscape, and Microsoft is acutely aware of this. The =PY function operates within the secure confines of the Microsoft Cloud, aligning itself with the rigorous compliance standards of Microsoft 365. Your data's sanctity remains intact; Python code cannot access your user identity. A unique security layer shields workbooks from the internet, isolating them in distinct containers. Microsoft has stitched a fortress around your data, ensuring a worry-free analytical experience.

PY function: How to use Python in Excel

Using the =PY function is a breeze. Picture this: You are in an Excel cell and ready to tap into Python's magic. Simply type "=PY" followed by the Python code relevant to your task. The possibilities are limitless - from complex calculations to data wrangling and eye-catching visualizations. Imagine merging intricate datasets seamlessly, all from within Excel, courtesy of the =PY function.

Let's break it down with an example. Say you have two data sets with tangled information. With the =PY function, you can swiftly script Python code to untangle and merge them. Voilà! Your Excel sheet is now a canvas of organized insights, all thanks to the power of Python.

For detailed information, click here.

The path forward

Microsoft has exciting plans for the =PY function. This functionality is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers during the initial preview stage. But remember, the journey doesn't end there. Microsoft encourages users to explore, experiment, and provide feedback during this phase.

After the preview, some functionalities might require a paid license, underlining the continuous value this function offers.

To join the Microsoft 365 Insider Program, all you have to do is:

1. Go to the Microsoft Insider Program website
2. Sign in to your Microsoft account
3. Browse through the available Insider Programs
4. Opt for the "Beta Channel" as it provides access to Python in Excel

Conclusion

The =PY function isn't just a function; it's a doorway to a dynamic synergy between Excel and Python. It's about crafting elegant solutions to intricate problems and unraveling your data's potential with finesse.

So, whether you're a data aficionado or a coding enthusiast, embrace the =PY function and elevate your Excel experience to new heights. Secure, versatile, and transformative - the =PY function is your backstage pass to the future of data-driven excellence.

Featured image credit: Microsoft

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