Software

Although described as a social network, SocialAI is in fact more like "a space for reflection, support, and feedback," as mentioned by Michael Sayman, its creator. What makes it special is that all interactions it facilitates put human users face to face only with AI bots, as imagined by the dead internet theory.

Oppo has announced the date for its annual developer conference and ColorOS 15 will be one of the main announcements at the event. It will also showcase a handful of AI-powered solutions across several areas that it has come up with.

Valve spent a long time telling gamers that GTA V is one of the top games for the Steam Deck, with Steam going so far as to add the game to the Steam Deck Verified list. After Rockstar added BattleEye anti-cheat, breaking Linux compatibility, Valve has not only removed the Verified title, it is also issuing refunds to gamers who purchased GTA V for their Steam Decks.

The Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series are set to receive their biggest updates of the year soon. While Google still remains reluctant to reveal when this will occur, a new leak has provided a specific date when Pixel owners should expect to see the first Android 15 stable update for their devices.

This week, Blizzard fixed multiple issues across more World of Warcraft flavors, including The War Within, Cataclysm Classic, Season of Discovery, Classic Hardcore, and Classic Era. While some are already in effect and others require realm restarts, many others need a client-side patch to be applied first.

Upcoming first-person shooter Trust allows the user to play as a vampire who's back after a century-long sleep to battle humans using vampiric powers or human weapons and technology. This title with a 90s-styled setting and comic book visuals will launch via Steam in the near future, although there is no date set yet.

Garmin asserts that the Messenger Plus is not the average inReach standalone satellite communicator. It is the first of its line to support photo- and voice note-sending in the complete absence of conventional cellular service. The new accessory is also capable of two-way texts, regular location updates and SOS features.

A whole nine years after launch, Rockstar Games seems to want to crack down on cheaters in GTA V, announcing that it has implemented BattleEye kernel anti-cheat for online play. GTA Online is no longer compatible with Linux or the Steam Deck, locking Linux gamers to single-player mode exclusively. This is despite multiple BattleEye games verified to run on Steam Deck via Proton.

One month before the stable release, Fedora Linux 41 beta arrives with a preview of what's about to come. Some of these changes are Python 2's removal, Valkey replacing Redis, the ability to install the proprietary Nvidia video driver with Secure Boot, DNF5 alongside bootc in Fedora IoT and the Atomic desktop versions, and more.

Yesterday's stable Google Chrome release brings the version number of this popular web browser to 129 and, in addition to addressing several security problems, this update also comes with a new AI feature. Tab Compare can generate an overview of the products open in multiple tabs. Now, iOS users can also sync saved tab groups.

Some owners of the 11'' and 13'' M4 iPad Pro have bricked their device following the update to iPadOS 18. This has led Apple to stop the update until the issue is fixed.

Void is the latest to join the growing list of AI code editors, but unlike most, it is launching as open source. Marketed as an alternative to Cursor, this YC-backed project offers a host of AI features to invited developers.

Apple has received clearance to market its latest Watches as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -approved sleep apnea detection devices. Accordingly, they can start using their clinically-validated Breathing Disturbance analysis features in the US from today (September 17, 2024). They are available on the new Watch 10 as well as its predecessor and Ultra predecessor.

Apple has made the latest major version of iOS available today (September 17, 2024) to a broad range of modern iPhones - with one or two notable exceptions. iOS 18 is touted to make iPhones more tailored to the individual user than ever before. Then again, the marquee AI features hyped at its launch are yet to become available.

The latest maintenance release for the 13.x series brings FreeBSD up to version number 13.4 and, sadly, doesn't include any major changes. However, today's update comes with multiple bug fixes, driver updates, as well as more than a few updated versions of apps maintained by third parties.

Based on Arch Linux but also packing a few proprietary pieces of code, such as the Swirl web browser, SDesk received a new update yesterday. Alongside the new drivers, which focus on supporting touch interfaces, this software refresh comes with a move from the Calamares installer to the GNOME first-run wizard.

US Kaspersky antivirus accounts have been sold to UltraAV, a division of the Pango Group. Kaspersky was forced to abandon the US market after being banned by the Biden administration on June 20, 2024. The action was taken to prevent Russia from collecting and weaponizing data on Americans. All Kaspersky US users will be migrated unless action is taken.

The TI-84 is a powerful graphing calculator in its own right, but modder ChromaLock saw even more potential for the platform. Exploiting some of the calculator's built-in functionality, he found a way to introduce features never before seen in a calculator.

Touted as the only commercially available volumetric display, the Voxon VX2 is the company's latest entry into the space of 3D image visualization.

Available since late March 2014, Debian-based MX Linux has just reached version 23.4. Based on Debian 12.7, the update packs a generous list of fixes, application updates, tweaks, kernel updates, as well as updated language packs. The Xfce, KDE, and Fluxbox ISOs come with the 6.1.106 kernel, while AHS sports the 6.10.10 kernel.

OpenAI o1 and o1-mini have arrived, and these AI LLMs perform much better on coding, math, and science problems and tasks than prior models such as GPT-4o by taking more time to think. The OpenAI o1 models cannot browse the web or accept uploaded files and images as their major limitations.

With a history of over two decades and previously known as OpenBeOS, today's Haiku is pushing forward with the release of the R1 Beta 5 preview version. This community-driven project aims to provide a modern open-source operating system that's also backward-compatible with BeOS.

Microsoft has officially announced its intent to move security measures out of the kernel, following the Crowdstrike disaster a few short months ago. The removal of kernel access for security solutions would likely revolutionise running Windows games on the Steam Deck and other Linux systems.

CD Projekt Red just recently added AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 with Frame Generation to Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion. Although the results in a nearly 100% bump in frame rates, there are visual trade-offs that fans aren't exactly pleased with.

Google has still not delivered a proper alternative to Samsung DeX yet. However, it has taken new steps to doing so by adding desktop window support to Android 15 for Pixel devices like the Pixel Tablet.

Honor has now delivered its first update for the global version of the Magic V3. Rolling out now at over 1 GB, the new firmware claims to bring various improvements to the device, including AI Eraser and enhanced security when switching between USB connection modes.

Initially supposed to arrive two weeks ago, Ubuntu 22.04.5 was delayed until yesterday. This point-release for the 22.04 LTS branch comes with multiple updates and fixes, as usual. The list of updated components includes Ruby 3.0, PHP 8.1.2, BIND 9.18.1, Apache 2.4.52, PostgreSQL 14.2, MySQL 8.0.28, and more.

As of iOS 18, Apple will seemingly start linking individual iPhone components to their owners' iCloud accounts. Activation Lock for iPhone parts will prevent components like batteries, displays, and cameras from being calibrated to new devices as long as they're not

It looks like Unity's controversial Runtime Fee pricing structure has been less popular than the maker of the game engine had anticipated. Effective immediately, the Runtime Fee has been cancelled for all versions of Unity ahead of the anticipated 2024 launch of Unity 6.

Bringing no less than 11 additional tools, Debian-based Kali Linux 2024.3 is an update that also comes with support for the Qualcomm Snapdragon SDM845 SoC. Additionally, it begins the transition to the Python 3.12 update, which removes some deprecated APIs but also breaks some packages, so it needs more work before being released.

Released yesterday, the latest driver package for Nvidia GPUs comes with zero-day support for Final Fantasy XVI, Frostpunk 2, and God of War Ragnarok. Additionally, it also provides optimizations for EA Sports FC 25 (scheduled to launch on September 27th) and optimal settings presets for Star Wars Outlaws, F1 Manager 2024, and Black Myth: Wukong.

Unleashed yesterday, War Thunder "Dance of Dragons" is labeled 2.39 and arrives as this year's third major update of Gaijin's title. Its highlights include the first domestic Swiss aircraft, the French coastal fleet tree closed testing, new premium packs, squadron vehicles, multiple fixes, and more.

In a move perfectly timed for this year's League of Legends World Championship, Opera GX teamed up with Riot Games to provide special access to a Co-Streamer Hub, exclusive drops, as well as custom browser modes for LoL players and fans. In the future, this partnership will bring even more goodies.

Born back in 2015, Redox OS is still in a testing stage, but the latest update, labeled 0.9.0, brings it one step closer to the public release. Written in Rust, it now sports COSMIC desktop apps, a custom web server, as well as performance and stability improvements. Redox OS 0.9.0 also comes with a Nano text editor port.

The Forerunner 965 is now eligible for a new stable software update. Available worldwide as System Software 20.26, the new update replaces System Software 19.18 with fourteen changes, including the option of backing up and restoring device settings.

Garmin has released a new update for one of its current Forerunner smartwatches. Rolling out now globally, the stable update introduces various new features, improvements and bug fixes to eligible smartwatches, including support for Garmin Share.

Garmin has now started rolling out a new stable update to its Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro smartwatches, two months after the release of System Software 17.28. Also available across the Enduro 2, Epix 2, Quatix 7, MARQ Gen 2 and Tactix 7, the update is said to introduce almost two dozen improvements for all smartwatches, including a new Garmin Share feature.

Ford has patented a new system that records conversations, location and destination and even takes the weather into account to deliver targeted advertising to drivers.

Apple has launched the iPhone 16 lineup, and this new series has the first phones the company has designed for AI, specifically for Apple Intelligence, which will be available with iOS 18.1. The Cupertino giant has now revealed when the AI suite and iOS 18 will be available.

Apple has announced that it can now help detect the conditions of sleep apnea and hearing loss in its users in conjunction with the launch of its latest wearables. They will be able to track and generate reports on the former over time, and push interactive Hearing Tests on paired iPhones for the purposes of the latter. The AirPods Pro 2 are also rated to act as a clinical-grade hearing aid if necessary.

The latest addition to the Toree franchise, Toree Saturn is a fun, fast-paced 3D platformer with a variety of levels with various themes, an engaging soundtrack, and straightforward gameplay, which consists of jumping and running around. Alongside the Nintedo Switch version, a PC release is also scheduled.

As X/Twitter remains banned in Brazil, new users from this country helped Bluesky exceed 9 million subscribers while also recording almost 5 million monthly active accounts. Founded in early October 2021, this US-based decentralized microblogging social platform opened signups for everyone this year, in early February.

Steam hardware survey results from last month are out, and in terms of the operating system, Windows 11 has finally managed to beat Windows 10 among gamers.

Garmin has quietly snuck out the debut software update for the Enduro 3, Fenix E and Fenix 8. Sadly, it seems that System Software 11.60 fails to address the litany of bugs that appear to be affecting some early units.

The Internet Archive, which hosts millions of websites, pieces of media, and other bits of information, has lost its appeal in a court case between it and major publishers. The case concerns whether the Internet Archive has the right to redistribute or lend digitized versions of over 500,000 books owned by the publishers, which include Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and more.

Roku has unveiled a new feature called Backdrops, and it takes heavy inspiration from one of the features that makes the Samsung The Frame TV line special. It displays classic art and other images when the smart TV is turned off.

Garmin has delivered a new update to the Fenix 7 series and its peers for the first time in almost three weeks. Arriving on its Beta Program, the new update is claimed to make numerous improvements to not just the Fenix 7 but also the Enduro 2, Marq 2 and Quatix 7, among other smartwatches.

Launching next week, more than two years since the release of the game, the ninth major update to Diablo Immortal takes the main questline further, allowing the players to travel to the Cold Isles. The Crucible of Justice update also comes with a new cooperative mode, three new legendary gems, and more.

Released in 2002 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter returned a few times ever since, reaching more recent consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Now, a physical release brings this action-adventure title back in three editions, with prices up to $174.99.