Windows, Security & Privacy, Open Source and more
Google announced the deprecation of its link shortening service goo.gl almost seven years ago. Created in 2009, millions of Internet users have used the service to create shorter versions of links for sharing and archiving. Back in 2018, Google disabled the option to create new links using the service, but did not touch existing links….
If you thought that the current state of the Internet and advertisement in general is at a threshold already, then you may be surprised that companies like Google, Meta, Netflix, or Amazon don’t really think so. Google seems to be one of the main driving forces behind ads. The advertising company that also operates a…
While Windows 10’s official end of support later this year is the big Windows-topic of 2025, an earlier version of Windows 11 is also put to rest by Microsoft on the same day. Windows 11, version 23H2, released almost two years ago, will reach end of support in November 2025 shortly after Windows 10 reaches…
He has done it again. The developer of several useful open source tools, Belim, has changed the name of another of his applications. The useful open source Windows-11-Upgrader Flyby11 is now known as FlyOobe. The program itself makes it easier to upgrade Windows 10 systems to Windows 11, especially if the computer does not meet…
Most web browsers support some form of digital rights management (DRM), which is used to play DRM-protected content on the Internet. Services like Netflix, Disney+, and most paid ones use DRM, The functionality provided by a service may depend on the DRM technology that is supported by the browser. Microsoft’s PlayReady DRM, for example, supports…
Microsoft has updated the official Backup app of the Windows operating system recently with PC transfer functionality. It is designed to move files and data from an older PC, e.g., a Windows 10 device, to a newer PC. The new option addresses a common issue that users face when they buy or a build a…
Microsoft’s big plans for its Microsoft Store are slowly coming to an end. The company launched the Store with some fanfare as a place to get games, apps, music, TV shows, and movies. Music, along with the streaming-app Groove Music, was pulled by Microsoft back in 2017 already. Now, Microsoft is adding movies and TV…
Netflix published a new shareholder letter that covers the second quarter of the year. Revenue continues to grow and Netflix is optimistic that the trend continues. The letter covers monetization on the platform, which may also be of interest to Netflix subscribers. In short: It does not take a genius to understand how this is…
In the past decade, many services and products have switched from a pay-once model to a subscription-based model. Sometimes, you get a choice, say between the pay-once version of Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365. Even then, companies usually tweak the deals to raise the attractiveness of the subscription-based product. Microsoft, for example, does not add…
Mobile devices like Windows 11 laptops use batteries for power. Keeping an eye on the remaining battery is essential to avoid unexpected system shutdowns due to a lack of power. Modern mobile devices support battery saving modes. These are designed to save battery while the device is idle or in use. Common tweaks include reducing…