ZDNET is offering a deal on Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 for PC or Mac, with a 28% discount. The suite includes lifetime access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The improved version features AI integration, better performance, advanced content creation tools, and an enhanced user interface. While the deal is available from Stack Social, a licensed partner of Microsoft, there's a possibility that the license could be ended by Microsoft in the future.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/buy-microsoft-office-home-business-2024-for-pc-or-mac-for-28-off/
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has been praised by a tech writer and mom of three for its impressive productivity features, AI capabilities, and long-term software support. The tablet boasts a 14.6-inch AMOLED display, supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and is water- and dust-resistant with an IP68 rating. With a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, the S10 Ultra offers enhanced performance and AI integrations. While it's not as portable as some users might prefer, the tablet excels in tasks like sketching, writing, and productivity.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of software development and data science. According to experts Thomas Davenport and Ian Barkin, AI-powered citizen revolution will enable everyone to become their own software developers. With low-code and no-code tools, robotic process automation, and now AI, the gates of software development are open to all.
However, this shift may render some extraordinary skills unnecessary. Gen AI will take over tasks like generating application code, automations, and data science analyses, freeing humans from mundane work. Dominic Ligot, CEO of CirroLytix, agrees that AI will eventually replace traditional data science as we know it.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/could-ai-make-data-science-obsolete/
TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is underway! Today's agenda includes Startup Battlefield fast pitches, hardware and robotics showcases, and pitch sessions from Japan, Korea, and Ukraine. The event also features over 60 company-hosted side events, allowing attendees to network and explore various topics.
Meanwhile, tech news is abuzz with updates on Meta's open podcast generator, Apple's patent win against Masimo, and Lyft's $2.1M penalty for false earnings claims. Other top stories include Merlin Solar's innovative solar panels and the latest VC megadeals.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/heres-whats-happening-on-day-one-of-techcrunch-disrupt-2024/
A recently released policy guide, Project 2025, has garnered attention for its recommendations on technology and national security. Authored by two former Trump administration officials, the guide outlines a framework for addressing perceived threats from China, Russia, and other nations. The report calls for increased surveillance powers, reforms to Section 702 of FISA, and closer cooperation with allied nations in space programs.
The guide also criticizes the Open Technology Fund (OTF) as "wasteful" and recommends funding closed-source technology instead. Additionally, it highlights concerns about undersea cable trunks powering the internet and suggests leveraging shortwave radio capabilities to maintain communication in areas where online traffic is limited or restricted.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/24279329/project-2025-tech-policy-guide-trump-admin
A new report from the Election Infrastructure ISAC warns that cybercriminals, rather than state-backed actors, pose a greater risk of launching disruptive attacks on US election systems. The report highlights the threat of ransomware and DDoS attacks, which can cause significant delays in election-related operations. While Russian, Chinese, and Iranian state-backed hackers have been active throughout the 2024 campaign season, they tend to favor intelligence-gathering and influence operations over direct hostility. In contrast, ideologically motivated cybercriminals aim to cause disruption.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/cybercriminals-disruptive-hacking-us-elections-dhs-report/
US Election Security Warning Issued: Insider Threats Expected to Rise
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/insider-threats-election/
The Open Source AI Definition (OSAID) has been released, aiming to standardize the use of publicly available data in training artificial intelligence models. While some consider this a step forward, others argue that the definition lacks clarity on proprietary training data licensure and copyright issues.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/we-finally-have-an-official-definition-for-open-source-ai/
Read AI Secures $50M Funding to Enhance Integration with Slack, Email, and More
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/read-ai-raises-50m-to-integrate-its-bot-with-slack-email-and-more/
Remote, an HR platform for managing geographically distributed teams, has launched Remote Equity, a new product that simplifies equity grants for international employees. The company has partnered with Carta to automate global equity tax withholdings and provide compliant legal documentation for stock option plans. This move aims to address the challenges startups face when granting equity to international employees.
As the 2024 election approaches, issues surrounding online speech and regulation continue to dominate the political landscape. Recent developments have seen both Trump and Harris engaging with social media platforms, highlighting the complexity of this issue. While Trump has called for stripping Big Tech companies of their Section 230 protections, Harris has expressed concerns about national security on TikTok while also supporting a divest-or-ban law.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/24279103/2024-election-guide-trump-harris-policy-issues
Looking for the perfect gift for a baby or toddler? Look no further! This article from Wired highlights 16 top picks, including toys that promote learning and development, as well as practical items like extra sheets and sleep sacks. From dump trucks to music players, there's something for every age and interest.
The iconic Gothic architecture has undergone a transformation, shifting from its original heavenly connotations to a spooky and eerie presence in modern horror movies. According to experts, the style's age, scale, and layout make it an ideal setting for terror-inducing scenes. Production designer Jennifer Spence notes that older homes offer decades of backstories, perfect for creating origins of supernatural events. The Haunting (1963) is a classic example, where the Gothic mansion hides secrets and disorients its inhabitants.
Source: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-gothic-architecture-became-spooky
BJ's Wholesale Club Offers Discounted Membership and Gift Card
BJ's Wholesale Club is currently offering a discounted membership price of $20 for new members, with an additional $20 gift card upon spending $60 in the first 30 days. The offer is exclusive to new members and provides significant savings on various products and services.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/join-bjs-wholesale-club-for-20-and-get-a-20-gift-card-right-now/
xAI, owned by Elon Musk, has updated its Grok AI model with image-understanding capabilities. This feature allows paid users on X social platform to upload images and ask the AI chatbot questions about them. The update is part of xAI's plan to release multimodal understanding as part of Grok's experience on X.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/xai-adds-image-understanding-capabilities-to-grok/
Apple is expected to announce a range of Mac updates, including new iPads and Macs with M4 chips. The event is rumored to take place in October, where Apple may introduce a new iPad Mini for the first time since 2021 and a redesigned Mac Mini. The new Mac Mini will reportedly have an internal power supply and several USB-C ports. Additionally, Apple's iMac and MacBook Pro models are expected to receive M4 chip updates.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/24279307/apple-mac-m4-updates-news-announcements
Andy Weir, author of "Project Hail Mary", recommends a list of sci-fi books that readers may not have heard of but should definitely read. According to Weir, one such book is "The Rock" which he describes as a story about Ryland Grace, the sole survivor of a mission to save humanity and Earth from extinction. The book follows Ryland's journey as he tries to complete his assignment despite having no memory of who he is or what his mission entails.
Source: https://shepherd.com/best-books/science-fiction-that-you-should-definitely-read
A legal dispute has been brewing between WordPress and WP Engine, a web hosting company. WP Engine filed an injunction in California court on October 18, seeking access to WordPress.org. However, the case is not just about access to WordPress software, but rather about control over WordPress.org, which is owned by Matt Mullenweg, founder of Automattic. The dispute has led to a significant number of employees leaving Automattic, including 159 who took a severance package on October 3. In response, Automattic offered its remaining employees 200 A12 shares as a token of gratitude.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/
When it comes to testing legacy code, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Two prominent software developers, Michael Feathers and Tim Bray, offer differing perspectives on the topic. According to Feathers, starting with an experiment that requires tests for every change helps teams discover better code and improve their workflow. On the other hand, Bray suggests that some people prefer implementing behavior first and then writing tests, as long as the result is a correct program with robust tests.
Source: https://bitfieldconsulting.com/posts/testing-legacy-code
A recent blog post by Candost offers a comprehensive definition of good software engineers. According to Candost, a good engineer is one who can trust their manager or peer to deliver high-quality solutions by working with the team and producing consistent results. This definition applies to engineers at all levels, from junior to staff+. The author highlights the importance of soft skills like communication, collaboration, and empathy, as well as hard skills like process understanding and organizational adaptability.