Category: News

Arc Browser: and then there was Dia

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of Arc Browser, a Chromium-based browser by the Browser Company that has been making some waves lately in the influencer-sphere. While I like some features, I disliked others like the forced registration on start or the lack of customization options.

Some time ago, the makers of Arc announced that they started to work on yet another browser. This one less focused on experienced or professional browser users but on artificial intelligence.

Called Dia, it is currently only available with an invite. The Browser Company did publish a short video on YouTube that provides a quick tour of the browser though.

Here it is:

The main feature that the company highlights is the integrated AI. Search, for example, combines answers from the web using large language models and open browser tabs. While you can still search the web normally, you can also direct your questions to the baked in AI to get an answer generated.

This works similarly to how all other AI tools work today. You write something, the AI responds, and you may follow-up. The most interesting feature from my perspective is the ability to use the AI to interact with open tabs in the browser.

So, you could open up tabs during research that list different products. You could use the integrated AI to find out more about these exclusively.

There is also an “ask” button available on all webpages that you may activate to ask the AI questions about the current webpage.

The main question is whether this is enough to convince users to give it a try or even switch to it. My initial guess is that this is not sufficient for that. While Arc may convince some users to give it a try or even stick to Dia, it seems to lack the same features as Arc.

To be fair, Dia is still in active development and it may take a while before the browser is published publicly.

Now you: what is your opinion on baking AI into browsers? Good thing that is useful or rather something that you don’t want at all?

France and Germany launch Docs, an open source alternative for Google Docs

France and Germany launch Docs, an open source alternative for Google Docs

Posted on by Ashwin

France and Germany have announced an open source collaboration tool called Docs. Its description says that Docs was designed to be a secure alternative to Notion, Outline or Confluence.

Well, that definitely applies to Microsoft 365, and Google Docs, because they are the big players on the field.

Docs was developed as a joint initiative by France’s Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM), and Germany’s Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS). Open source tools like Docs will allow users, and businesses to move away from paid services. This may just be the start of many such services. The EuroStack report highlighted the importance of building an independent digital ecosystem for Europe, to address dependencies on foreign technologies and fostering innovation.

Now, you may wonder, what’s with the generic name? Docs, surely they could have done better there. Well, that’s because Docs isn’t just a product, it is a collaborative text editor which is part of a suite which is called “La suite numérique”, you can check the website here to learn more about it. It also has its own GitHub page with repositories for each tool.

Docs will allow users to edit documents and export them into various formats including DOC, ODT, and PDF. It supports markdown, various block types, slash commands, etc. Editors can collaborate on a document in real time. The best part is that you can keep editing the document when you are offline, and your edits will be synced when you’re back online. You can also share documents that you have created using the platform.

And like many modern programs, Docs also has some AI-powered features, these are called AI Actions and allow you to generate content, sum up, correct or translate text.

Docs is built on top of Django Rest Framework, Next.js, BlockNote.js, HocusPocus and Yjs. As a matter of fact, they are also the sponsors of BlockNote and Yjs. The tool uses the MIT license.

You can sign in to Docs using your FranceConnect account. There is a demo page that you can test by signing in using your web browser. Just head over to the official GitHub, scroll down to the getting started section, and you will find the credentials you need to test the app. It has a fairly simple interface, and is quite user-friendly. You can also see the documents that were created by other users in this test environment.

While it is designed as an online collaboration tool, you can download Docs and self-host it if you want to, but keep in mind it’s still a work-in-progress. But, if an offline office suite is what you want, there is a better option, LibreOffice. It is also free, open source, and supports Windows, macOS and Linux.

Did you know that it is also used by Governments? As noted by HowToGeek, Schleswig-Holstein, a state in Germany, switched from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice last year. And they also migrated over 30,000 PCs from Windows to Linux. A lot of people will be doing that later this year, when Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life support date.

Migrating from Skype to Microsoft Teams

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft plans to retire the communication software Skype in May 2025 and recommends that users switch to Microsoft Teams for all their communication needs.

You may ask yourself now how that works. How do you get data like your contacts migrated to Microsoft Teams? This guide walks describes what Microsoft has in store for you and how to export your Skype data manually as well.

First, the information that Microsoft provided so far:

  • Skype users will be able to sign into Teams using their credentials.
  • Chat and contacts will automatically appear, according to Microsoft.
  • During a transition period, calls between Teams and Skype users will be supported.

This makes the migration to Microsoft Teams quite convenient, provided that you want to migrate to the new application.

Note that it may take days before you are able to sign in to Microsoft Teams with your Skype credentials. Microsoft says that this will happen “over the coming days”, but does not provide additional details.

Skype users may export their data. This can be useful if Microsoft Teams is not an option, or if you prefer to switch to a different communication platform altogether.

Important: Skype remains available until May 5, 2025. It is advised to export the Skype data before the date to avoid disruptions or issues.

Export Data from Skype

Here is how you export your Skype data manually:

  1. Sign-in on the web-based version of Skype.
  2. Locate settings and preferences on the page that opens.
  3. Click on “export contacts (.csv)” to export all contacts.
  4. Click on “export files and chat history” to save it to the local system.
  5. Click on “export caller ID numbers” to save the data locally.

Not all third-party communication services may support Skype imports, but you can also open the files manually to access the information whenever you require it.

Now it is your turn. Did you use Skype in the past or are you using it still? What is your take on Teams? Is it a good replacement? Let us know in the comments below.

Opera’s AI Browser Operator: AI in the browser acts now in your name

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Most interactions with AI follow a chat-like system. You write or say something, and the AI responds. This may go back and forth, for instance when you have follow-up questions or need corrections.

Opera Software unveiled AI Browser Operator today. The integrated AI agent is more capable than traditional AI, as it is designed to act on your behalf.. You could, for instance, ask the Browser Operator in Opera to find and buy something for you on the Internet.

So, if you forgot to buy your significant other an anniversary gift, you could let the AI do all the heavy lifting. What could possibly go wrong.

While you could argue that other AIs can also point you at products on the Internet, Opera’s implementation is not done at that point. It supports you from start to finish according to Opera Software

Here is how Opera Software describes the functionality:

So how does it work? Browser Operator understands your written instructions in natural language using your browser client’s local resources, and our AI Composer Engine processes this information to complete tasks in the browser. Browser Operator will pause and ask you to take action whenever it needs you to fill in a form, confirm an order, or perform some other sensitive task. In this entire process, you are in control and can take over at any moment from Browser Operator, while you can also review all the steps it took to perform the task you requested.

Opera Software says that Browser Operator has been designed with security and privacy in mind. The AI agent does not use screenshots or video captures of the browsing session, and it is not running in the cloud either according to Opera Software.

Browser Operator “runs natively inside your browser” according to the blog post on Opera’s website. It “uses a textual representation of the webpage” for its activity.

Browser Operator is available as a preview at this stage. I checked several Opera installations, including the latest development builds, and did not find it in the sidebar or when using the command line.

Here is the demo video:

Closing Words

The example that Opera Software provided, the buying of socks, is probably not the best when it comes to the capabilities of AI agents. While some Internet users may appreciate that mundane tasks are taken over by AI agents, human interaction is still required throughout the process.

You need to confirm that you want to buy the product the AI found for you, sign in or create an account, enter payment details, and more.

AI agents may shine when it comes to tasks that do not require user confirmation or input after the task has been given. You can let your imagination run wild at this stage. It is fairly certain that agentic AI will play a large role in the coming months and years.

What is your take on this? Would you use an AI agent in the future for certain tasks? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Firefox

Mozilla updated its Terms of Use again to address concerns

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Wow, this week has to be one of the worst for the people over at Mozilla. There has been tremendous backlash to the organization’s updated Terms of Use.

Maybe not has big of a deal to Mozilla’s Mr. Robot blunder or the announcement to drop Firefox’s custom extensions system for that of Chromium, but still.

To recap: Mozilla announced terms of use and an updated privacy notice for Firefox on Wednesday. These were worded in lawyer-speak and included the following sentence:

When you upload or input information through Firefox, you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that information to help you navigate, experience, and interact with online content as you indicate with your use of Firefox.

Tech sites wrote about it and users were up in arms over the wording. Mozilla tried to calm users in an update, stating that the new terms did not give it ownership over user data or the right to use it for anything, even things not mentioned in the privacy notice.

It appears to have helped little. Mozilla published a new statement yesterday saying that it has updated the wording in the new terms of use to make things clearer for users.

The new wording includes the following paragraph now:

You give Mozilla the rights necessary to operate Firefox. This includes processing your data as we describe in the Firefox Privacy Notice. It also includes a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the purpose of doing as you request with the content you input in Firefox. This does not give Mozilla any ownership in that content. 

Mozilla says it has also removed the “reference to the Acceptable Use Policy” because it seemed “to be causing more confusion than clarity”.

The Privacy FAQ was updated as well to better provide information on terms like “sells” according to the update.

This is a fairly common statement. Google, for example, has a big section of its terms of service dedicated to the worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license that users give it.

If you check the terms of other browsers, you probably encounter something similar.

Was it an overreaction? Even with all the explaining, it seems likely that Mozilla won’t convince everyone that it was.

What is your take on this? Do you use Firefox currently? Let everyone know in the comment section below.

Microsoft is shutting down Skype: wants you to use this software instead

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

The writing has been on the wall for a long time: Microsoft plans to shut down the communication software Skype in May 2025.

While Microsoft has yet to formally announce the end of the once-popular communication software, a notification about the end of Skype was found in the latest preview of the software.

The discovered string says: “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.”.

Microsoft wants to move customers to Teams, the video conferencing, calling, and meetings software that it favors now.

Skype has been around for quite some time. It was launched in 2003, but Microsoft did not acquire it until 2011. Paid a pretty sum for it, $8.5 billion at the time.

Microsoft discontinued Windows Live Messenger a few years later and tried to make Skype its next billion users product by integrating it in the-then new version of Windows, Windows 10.

This did not work out too well and the launch of Microsoft Teams in 2017 put Skype on the backburner soon thereafter.

As Microsoft has not confirmed the end of Skype yet, there is a theoretical chance that Skype could once more jumping off a scaffold. Microsoft has a few months left to make an announcement either way.

Even if Skype is put to rest, there is a good chance that it could stay around for a while to make sure most users and businesses migrate to Teams in an orderly fashion.

On a personal note, I never warmed up to Skype and have not used it much, even though I had an account for what seems forever.

Now it is your turn. Do you use Skype or have you used it in the past? Feel free to leave a comment down below about that.

Google Translate may get an AI infusion soon: here is what it does

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Millions of Internet users use Google Translate as their daily driver for translations. Google has integrated the service into its Chrome browser and it is also available as an application for Android.

Soon, Google may introduce new AI functionality in Google Translate. Here is what you need to know about that.

The details:

  • The new functionality was discovered during a code analysis of the Android Google Translate APK by Android Authority.
  • It is not available yet.

Good to known: Google Translate is a cloud-based service. Means, you need an active Internet connection to use the service. This means as well that Google is informed about your translations. If you want a privacy-friendly option, check out the Firefox Translate feature instead, as it runs locally.

Main AI feature: Ask a follow-up question

At the center of the new AI functionality is the ask a follow-up option. This enables users to interact with AI to use a range of different options.

These include the following:

  • Get information about the translation. Google Translate informs you about translation nuances for instance, according to Android Authority.
  • Ability to get the translation modified, e.g., to take regional variations into account or changing the tone or style.
  • Listen to the translated text with a click on the sound icon.
  • Ability to provide feedback using thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons.
  • Additional insights, e.g., cultural notes or grammar explanations.

Some of these features could be interesting to some users, provided that features like support for regional variants truly work. With AI, it could be difficult to tell whether there is an error in the regional variant or not.

Android Authority found the functionality in Google Translate 9.3.78.731229477.7 for Android. While included, it appears that it has not started to roll out yet or only to some users.

Closing Words

Some users of Google Translate will certainly like the new functionality. The ability to ask follow-up questions could give users a better understanding of the translation, especially if some things are unclear.

Google has not announced the new feature yet officially.

Facebook changes Live Video policy to the detriment of its users

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Facebook users have plenty of options to communicate with friends, other Facebook users, and the entire world via the platform.

One of these options is via live video. These are recorded and shown on Facebook. The recorded videos were stored by Facebook indefinitely, but this changes with the new policy.

Here are the details:

  • Live video is stored for 30 days only on Facebook.
  • Any Live video that is older than 30 days will be deleted.
  • This applies to all live videos retroactively.

In other words: Facebook will soon start deleting old live videos from its users en masse.

Thankfully for users, this is not done automatically. Facebook says that it will inform users with live videos about the new ruling by email and in the app. Facebook users have 90 days from that day to download or transfer their content for safekeeping.

Facebook explains that users have several options to save videos. There is a single download option, which is listed under the three-dots menu when selecting Menu > Activity log > Live videos.

This is probably not very practical for most users, unless only a few videos need to be saved.

There is also a bulk download option according to Facebook. Note that this requires the notification that informs you about the deletion of the videos.

Here is how that works:

  1. Click or tap on the notification to get started.
  2. Select “Download live videos”.
  3. Pick a location to download and a date range for the live videos.
  4. Select “Create File”.

There are other options, including transferring videos, e.g., to Google Drive, and to convert parts of live videos to reels.

Facebook explains both options on its website.

Why is Facebook making the change?

    Facebook has a simple explanation for limiting storage of live video on its network:

    People all over the world use Facebook Live to share their experiences with their communities in real time. Because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting, we’re updating how long live videos can be stored on Facebook.

    In short: storing live video indefinitely is not financially viable. Facebook has to pay for storage and the earnings from the videos do not justify indefinite storage.

    Closing Words

    If you do broadcast live on Facebook and want to keep your videos, you may want to start downloading or transferring them as soon as you get the notification that the content will be deleted.

    Facebook does not really say when content will get deleted, only that it can be deleted at any time after day 91. Users may also request an extension.

    In about a week, Amazon is removing the ability to download Kindle ebooks to non-Amazon devices

    Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

    Ebooks can be a great alternative to traditional books. They do not weight anything, which means that you can carry around hundreds if not thousands of books effortlessly. They also come with extra features, like the ability to search books.

    If you have bought ebooks in the past, you may know that you do not really own the books. Like most digital content, you get a license to use the book. This license can be revoked at any time and you do not have any say in the matter. If you are lucky, you get a refund. Besides outright removal, rightsholders may also update books at any time.

    You are probably wondering what this has to do with Amazon. Well, Amazon is taking away a fundamental feature of its ebook store that existed for a long time: the ability to download your ebooks to your PC, Mac, and other devices that are not owned by Amazon.

    Here is why that is bad. Currently, you have an option to download any ebook you bought from Amazon to a computer, say, a Windows PC. When you do that, you store the book in a place that Amazon has no control over. It cannot remove the book from the computer nor can it updated the book. Even if the book gets removed from Amazon’s ebook store, you retain that copy on your device.

    This option is removed on February 26, 2025. Means, you only get the option to load ebooks onto Amazon Kindle devices. Amazon does have control over these. It can remove books from Kindle devices or push updates to the devices.

    Another example of why that is bad for you. If you get locked out of your Amazon account, close it, or get banned by Amazon for whatever reason, you will lose access to all of the books that you bought.

    So, if you own Kindle ebooks, you may want to download them before February 26 to a device that Amazon has no control over. You can do that by accessing the Content Library on Amazon’s website, selecting the “more actions” option, and then download & transfer via USB.

    Note that you cannot do so anymore when you buy books after February 26th, as Amazon is removing it.

    Now it is your turn. Do you buy digital content or prefer to buy physical content, if possible? Let us know in the comments.

    Reddit

    Reddit plans to improve search with AI-powered answers

    Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

    Search engines were among the first to push AI answers. These use artificial intelligence to generate answers for user queries and are often placed prominently.

    If you ask me, these are hit or miss. Sometimes, they provide answers that are dead on. At other times, they recommend to eat one rock per day.

    Reddit, which calls itself the homepage of the Internet, has launched its own AI-tool Answers some time ago.

    Answers works like other AI communication tools. You write something and get a response. You may then refine or ask follow-up questions, and get another response.

    In its latest earnings call, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman announced that the company was working on AI-powered search results.

    Reddit’s integrated search feature does not use AI currently. It returns subreddits and posts based on the user’s query. Since it works so-so, some users prefer to use regular search engines instead to find content on Reddit.

    Techcrunch reports that Reddit plans to launch an “upgraded search experience” this year. This is achieved by integrating Answers into search.

    For Huffman, the integration is just the first step to go head-to-head with search engine giant Google.

    He said:

    I think helping the user be able to search directly on Reddit, refine their queries on Reddit, eventually come directly to Reddit for those types of queries, and even integrating search into something like onboarding over time..

    So, instead of going to Google, Bing, or another search engine to find answers, Reddit users might start their searches on Reddit and stay on Reddit. That seems to be the vision of Reddit’s CEO.

    How search engines will react to this remains to be seen. Reddit may be a massive site, but it still pales in comparison to the traffic that Google or Microsoft gets.

    I expect more AI integration in more search tools and more communities going forward. Good news is that these can be ignored largely or removed.

    What is your take on AI-powered search? Something that you use, are interested in, or ignore? Feel free to leave a comment about it below.