Linux users in need of a proper VPN service, rejoice! Surfshark has just launched its very own Linux VPN with a full-blown graphic user interface (GUI). Now, for the first time ever, Linux users can enjoy the same level of user-friendliness, functionalities, and benefits, as VPN users on other operating systems do.
"Previously, Linux users had to control the app via the terminal. While this was nothing unusual to the dedicated users, it was still less convenient than it could have been. But with the new GUI, Surfshark Linux users will be able to enjoy a fully functional app that allows them to do more than just switch VPN servers with a couple of mouse clicks," says Justas Pukys, VPN product owner at Surfshark.
Among the features the new Linux version has are Setting favorite servers, viewing recently used servers, accessing MultiHop and static options, as well as VPN state transitions and seamless error handling.
Surfshark’s Linux VPN service also comes with features such as CleanWeb, Wireguard, privacy tools such as IPv6 & DNS leak protection, static and favorite locations, quick connect, as well as 17 languages.
For Surfshark, this is just scratching the surface, as the company is already working on the second version of the VPN, which should bring additional features, such as auto-connect, or Kill Switch. The company has also said it would support more Linux distros in the future, and that it is working on bringing additional features to its VPN on other operating systems, as well.
The app is currently available on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, Mint 20, and newer versions.
Those that would still prefer the GUI-less version will still be able to use it for the time being, although Surfshark hinted it would be discontinued in the near future.
Up until now, most VPN services for Linux were do-it-yourself affairs, with only a limited number of companies providing their services for the popular OS.
Zoom is rolling out a wave of updates in an effort to increase engagement among meeting attendees as hybrid work grows.
The new changes are a Collaborate Mode and Breakout Rooms. Collaborate Mode allows hosts to start a creative experience for attendees and have them interact with an app. Breakout Rooms are closed-off discussion spaces from the main meeting room where people can have a more focused conversation.
Both features will be coming out to all browsers that host Zoom. There’s no full list of apps that will have the update, but Zoom lays out key examples.
The Welo App inside Zoom(Image credit: Zoom)
Enhanced collaborations
For starters, the whiteboard app Miro will have a new collaborative workspace where participants can pull together ideas and notes in real-time. There are templates available for structured discission or you can let people freely play around with various visual tools.
To break up awkward introductions, Zoom is adding the #AskAway app from developer Playco to its platform. Basically, the game is a series of rounds where one person gets asked a question about their personal life, favorite foods, and more to get to know them better.
And the last noteworthy Collaboration Mode is seen in the Coda app. Coda is a word processor app where you can write documents and take input as you hold a meeting. Under the new mode, you’ll be able to bring in new people to write the document alongside you.
Metaverse work
Breakout Rooms appear to be more creative. The feature isn’t just fancy private rooms but some incorporate games into meetings.
Funtivity by Hermis has a series of in-meeting games where people can play head-to-head or in teams. It’s a way to break the ice or train people, according to Zoom. As an example, Funivity has Star Wars trivia and Escape Room games with more on the way.
If you’re interested in a metaverse-like setting, the Welo app is now on Zoom. Welo incorporates a digital house where people are represented by an avatar and can go off into individual rooms for a private meeting.
You can move from one private meeting to another by having your avatar walk over to the other group and connect automatically. It’s supposed to feel like you’re at a party where you leave and join groups smoothly (ideally). Welo is in beta right now. The developer admits that certain features may not work as intended, but they’re working on it.
If you want something similar to Welo but that’s more stable, there’s twine for Zoom which use an algorithm to pair people based on criteria. But Welo seems a lot more fun.
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The buds sport Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 which enables that noise-canceling and reduces distortion while taking little energy from the battery. They have also DSEE Extreme to restore song quality that may get lost in compression.
Delivering this sound are two dynamic 5mm drivers with a water resistance rating of IPX4, allowing them to survive splashes of water.
Ton of features
Starting off the suite of features is Adaptive Sound Control. The earbuds will automatically adjust their sound to suit the surrounding environment, but the amount of adjustment is dependent on where you are located. Sony claims the AI behind Adaptive Sound Control will learn user behaviors and recognize locations you visit often.
The LinkBuds S also has Precise Voice Pickup Technology which functions similar to Adaptive Sound Control. This feature controls the microphones present on both buds to ensure clear phone conservations by automatically suppressing ambient noise.
Sony also included some interesting quality-of-life features. You can enable Speak-to-Chat which will pause the music playing whenever it detects you having a conversation with someone. Proximity sensors are present inside the buds which pause the music whenever you take them out.
If you want even more control, the LinkBuds S has sensors that let you adjust settings, control music apps, and activate Endel, an app that lets you create personalized sound portfolios.
The last set of notable features involves Sony’s recent partnerships. The LinkBuds S works with Google Assistant and Alexa, and has a unique functionality with the AR mobile game Ingress. The title will take advantage of the LinkBuds S’ sensors and features to deliver spatial sound.
And if you’re curious about the battery, the LinkBuds S has a max battery life of 16 hours with noise canceling turned off. The earbuds will launch at the end of May for around $200 in either Black, White, or Cream color.
A lot of Sony’s recent headphones have been getting rave reviews. The WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds have been enjoyed by critics who love its rich sound and controls. Then there are the WH-1000XM5 headphones which also sport Speak-to-Chat and similar sound control.
The 2022 Best Buy Memorial Day sale is almost here, which means massive deals on TVs, appliances, laptops, and more. We've created this guide to bring you all the top offers from the Best Buy Memorial Day sales event, plus we've listed today's top offers.
Memorial Day sales mean discounts on appliances, TVs, and laptops, and Best Buy is one of the leading retailers that offer impression bargains during the holiday deals event. You can find huge savings on major appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry packages, as well as small devices like vacuums, air fryers, and coffee makers. You'll also find deals on TVs, laptops, headphones, and tablets from brands like Samsung, LG, Apple, Sony, and HP.
Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 30 this year, and we expect Best Buy to kick things off on Friday, May 27. While we wait for the official Best Buy Memorial Day sale, we've gone through the site to list today's best deals on TVs, major appliances, laptops, vacuums, air fryers, and more.
Best Buy:save up to $400 on major appliances from Maytag, Samsung, LG, and more
Save up to $200 - Best Buy's Memorial Day sale is always a customer favorite, thanks to huge savings on major appliances and its complimentary home consulting service. Right now, the retailer is offering up to $400 refrigerators, washers and dryers, and dishwashers from Samsung, LG, Maytag, and more.View Deal
TCL 70-inch 4 Series LED 4K UHD Smart TV:$829.99$499.99 at Best Buy
Save $330 – One of the best cheap TV deals we've spotted ahead of Memorial Day is this massive 70-inch 4K TV from TCL on sale for just $499.99. An incredible price for a big-screen 4K TV - you're getting 4K UHD resolution, the Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in for seamless streaming, and a handy voice remote.
Bella Pro Series Analog Air Fryer:$59.99$34.99 at Best Buy
Save $25 - If you're looking for a cheap air fryer deal in today's early Memorial Day sales, Best Buy has this Bella Pro Series air fryer on sale for just $34.99. The 4.2-quart air fryer allows you to whip up your favorite fried foods with little to no oil for healthier meals.View Deal
Asus 14-inch laptop:$229.99$139.99 at Best Buy
Save $90 – If you need a Windows machine on a budget, consider this Asus - one of the best value pre-Memorial Day laptops for under $200 this week. It features a large 14-inch screen, 4GB RAM, and an Intel Celeron processor, all ideal for a budget-friendly laptop for light work and browsing. Compared to the other cheap laptops in this price range it has double the storage too up to 64GB, which gives you more room for files and applications.View Deal
Bella 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker:$39.99$29.99 at Best Buy
Save $10 - Pick up this budget Bella coffee maker at Best Buy for just $29.99. The 12-cup coffee maker is programmable so you can wake up to fresh coffee, and you're getting a pause and serve feature so you can stop your coffee maker without making a mess.View Deal
Insignia 50-inch F30 Series 4K UHD Smart Fire TV:$399.99$299.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - A great cheap mid-size TV deal, Best Buy has this Insignia 50-inch 4K smart TV on sale for just $299.99. You're getting smart capabilities with the Fire TV experience, so you can stream from apps like Hulu and Netflix, plus control your TV with the sound of your voice with Amazon Alexa.View Deal
Shark Cordless Pet Plus Stick Vacuum:$349.99$249.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - The Shark Pet Plus Stick is a great alternative to the pricey Dyson brand, and Best Buy has the vacuum on sale for a record-low price of $249.99. Designed for pet owners, the powerful stick vacuum features an anti-allergen complete seal and includes a handheld vac attachment for quick and convenient cleanups.View Deal
LG 50-inch UP7000 Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$459.99$329.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 - If you're looking for a mid-size premium TV deal, this LG 50-inch 4K TV is on sale for $329.99 at Best Buy. The 50-inch set packs an excellent 4K processor for top-notch upscaling, LG’s fantastic WebOS smart platform, and a handy Game Optimizer mode to reduce input delays should you want to hook up your favorite console.View Deal
Asus 11.6-inch Chromebook:$219$99 at Best Buy
Save $120 – The Asus Chromebook is back again at Best Buy - and is the cheapest laptop deal this week once more. It's simply the best option out there if you want to spend the least amount possible on a new device. Of course, this Asus Chromebook is very basic, but it has an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB RAM, and 32GB of storage - all fine for light use and schoolwork.View Deal
Bella Pro Series 8-qt. Digital Air Fryer:$129.99$84.99 at Best Buy
Save $45 - Best Buy has the top-rated Bella Pro digital air fryer on sale for $84.99 ahead of the Memorial Day sales event. The powerful 8-quart air fryer lets you whip your favorite fried foods with less fat and oil and features nine convenient preset cooking options.View Deal
LG OLED G1 Series 55-inch OLED:$1,699.99$1,399.99 at Best Buy
Save $303 - Best Buy has the top-rated LG G1 55-inch OLED TV on sale for a record-low price of $1,399.99.The G1 Series from LG is an outstanding OLED TV that offers excellent contrast, better brightness than we've seen before, and an impressively thin design. It's no surprise that it's on TechRadar's list of best TVs of 2022.View Deal
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550) Robot Vacuum:$549.99$499.99 at Best Buy
Save $50 - Robot vacuums are always a popular sale category during Memorial Day and Best Buy has this iRobot Roomba i3+ on sale for $499.99. The robot vacuum features dirt detect sensors that alert Roomba to work harder on concentrated areas of dirt and automatically docks and recharges when the battery is low.View Deal
When is Memorial Day 2022?
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, and this year the holiday falls on Monday, May 30.
We expect the Best Buy Memorial Day sale to kick off on Friday, May 27, and last through the holiday weekend.
Best Buy Memorial Day sale: what to expect
If you're wondering if Best Buy has any official sales on Memorial Day, the answer is yes. The retailer is always a customer favorite during the holiday weekend, thanks to the huge discounts offered throughout the site.
The most popular deals at the Best Buy Memorial Day sale are on large appliances, with the retailer offering massive discounts on refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry packages, and more from brands like Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, and LG. Appliances are the most popular sale category during the Memorial Day sales event, and Best Buy offers competitive discounts as well as a complimentary home consulting service, so if you have any questions about a product, their experts are on hand to help.
If you aren't after appliance deals, Best Buy's Memorial Day sale also includes discounts on TVs, laptops, headphones, tablets, and more. You can find impressive offers from brands such as Samsung, Apple, and LG, so if you don't want to wait till Prime Day to snag a tech bargain, the Best Buy Memorial Day sale is the event for you.
Best Buy Memorial Day sale: last year's top deals
We've listed the top bargains from last year's Best Buy Memorial Day sale, which gives us a good idea of what deals we'll see come May. You'll find deals on large appliances, TVs, and laptops, as well as small appliances like vacuums, air fryers, coffee makers, and more.
Best Buy |Save up to $500 on top-brand appliances Best Buy's Memorial Day appliance sale includes big savings on top-brand appliances. You score deals on KitchenAid appliance packages, LG appliances, GE washer and dryer packages, plus Best Buy members can get up to $500 e-gift cards when you purchase four or more select Samsung major appliances.
Cheap TV deals:TVs starting at $69.99 at Best Buy If you're looking to score a cheap TV deal this Memorial Day, then head to Best Buy's latest sale. You can find record-low prices on a wide range of 4K TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more with prices starting at just $279.99.
HP 14 Touch-Screen Chromebook:$299$219 at Best Buy
Save $80 - Snag the HP Chromebook on sale for just $219 at Best Buy's Memorial Day sale event. The budget laptop features a 14-inch multitouch screen display, 4GB of RAM, 32GB SSD, a dual-core Intel Celeron processor, and a long-lasting battery life.
Keurig K-Select Single-Serve Coffee Maker:$129.99$79.99 at Best Buy
Save $50 - Brew a cup of coffee in minutes with Keurig K-Select that's on sale for $79.99 at Best Buy. The single-serve coffee maker can brew five cups at a time without refilling the 52-oz. reservoir and features three different sizes so you can make coffee that suits your tastes.
Hisense 65-inch H65 SeriesSmart HD TV:$599.99$529.99 at Best Buy
Save $70 - This Hisense might be on the cheaper end of things, but that doesn't mean it's not packed to the brim with great features, and with a $70 discount, you're also getting a fantastic price. With Google Assistant and a voice remote, you're off to a great start, and you're also getting Motion Rate 120 and DTS Sound Studio.
Sealy Hybrid mattress:Save up to $185 at Best Buy Best Buy is offering up to $185 in savings on the top-rated Sealy Hybrid mattress. That means that a Twin is now on sale for $384.99 (was $524.99) and a Queen size is marked down to $524.99 (was $699.99).
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum:$274.99$249.99 at Best Buy
Save $25 - Clean your floors from anywhere with the iRobot Roomba 675 that's on sale at Best Buy for $249.99. The Roomba 675 features Dirt Detect Sensors that alert your vacuum to work harder on concentrated areas of dirt.
Samsung 70-inch 6 Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$749.99$649.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - You can get this stunning Samsung 70-inch 4K TV on sale for $649.99. The 70-inch set delivers a premium picture experience with brilliant colors and sharp contrast thanks to the powerful 4K crystal processor.
Apple AirPods (2019) with wireless charging case:$199.99$159.99 at Best Buy
Save $40 - Get the best-selling Apple AirPods with wireless charging case on sale for $159.99 at the Best Buy Memorial Day sale. That's a $39 discount for the wireless earbuds, which can be charged using a Qi-compatible charging mat or using a Lightning connector.
Vizio 65-inch OLED TV:$1,899.99$1,499.99 at Best Buy Save $400 - This OLED TV has a massive $400 discount for anyone visiting Best Buy. The premium 65-inch Vizio TV features 4K HDR, an OLED panel, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, HDMI 2.1, and a 120Hz panel.
LG NeoChef 2.0 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave:$239.99$199.99 at Best Buy
Save $40 - Upgrade your current microwave with this LG NeoChef that's on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy's Memorial Day appliance sales event. You'll get even heat distribution thanks to LG's smart inverter technology, and the antibacterial coating makes for easy cleanups.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7:$959$699 at Best Buy
Save $260 - Best Buy has the versatile Surface Pro 7 on sale for $699. The powerful tablet features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, includes a full keyboard experience, and provides up to 10 hours of battery life.
Bella Pro Series Analog Air Fryer:$59.99$34.99 at Best Buy
Save $25 - You can pick up this cheap air fryer for just $34.99 at Best Buy's Memorial Day sale event. The 4.2-quart air fryer allows you to whip up your favorite fried foods with little to no oil for healthier meals. View Deal
Scammers are taking advantage of the hype surrounding Pixelmon to distribute password-stealing malware, researchers are saying.
Cybersecurity researchers from MalwareHunterTeam found a fake Pixelmon site that claims to offer a playable demo of the game, but instead just distributes the Vidar virus.
Pixelmon is a non-fungible token (NFT) project. A blockchain-based metaverse game, in which players can collect, and train, their pixelated pets, and then send them into combat against other players.
These types of projects are extremely popular these days, as the price of collectible items in the metaverse can rise into millions. Some are joining to try and earn a quick buck, others because they want to be a part of an emerging, and potentially hugely disruptive, technology.
Whatever the reason, all of them are potential targets. This particular project has some 200,000 Twitter followers, and more than 25,000 Discord members, making it among the most highly anticipated projects in the metaverse.
The legitimate website is pixelmon.club, but MalwareHunterTeam found pixelmon[.]pw, a seemingly identical site. However, instead of offering the demo version of the game, the site is offering a file named Installer.zip, which carries an executable file.
While examining the site, the researchers found the file was corrupt and wasn’t distributing any malware. Other files on the site, though, helped the researchers conclude that it was distributing Vidar.
Vidar is a password-stealing malware that fell into obscurity, as of lately, the publication claims. When executed, the malware will connect to a Telegram channel to retrieve the IP address of its C2 server.
From the C2 server, it will retrieve a configuration command, and download further modules, used to steal sensitive data from the target endpoint. Given that it’s targeting NFT enthusiasts, Vidar mostly looks for data related to cryptocurrency wallets, backup codes, password files, and such.
The site is currently not distributing a working payload, but researchers suspect it is just temporary, and that it's only a matter of time before a new, working payload, is provided. NFT enthusiasts and investors are advised to be extra careful when visiting new pages and downloading content.
Despite being almost 60 years old and seemingly overrun by newer, more potent telecommunications technologies, the fax machine is still very much alive and kicking, new research has found.
A report from eFax surveying 1,001 senior IT and business decision-makers in large enterprises, SMEs, and public sector organizations found that in the majority of firms (54%), there are between 6 and 50 fax users. What’s more, a fifth claimed there were 51 or more fax users within their organizations.
To make things even more bizarre, more than a third (37%) of the survey’s respondents said they expect fax usage to increase in the future, while 28% expect the usage to stay the same. Just 35% expect to see the usage of fax machines decreasing.
The results seem to be strongly tied to the fact that everyone’s sending and receiving secure documents remotely, more than ever before. In the past year, roughly two-thirds (64%) said the number of secure documents received either stayed the same - or increased. Overall, a third sends and receives secure documents every day.
Almost half (45%) share such documents via password-protected email, 43% use email encrypted software. Among fax users, 35% use cloud-based fax systems, 31% mix these with traditional faxing, while 15% use just the traditional faxing machine.
Looking at the types of documents being faxed today, contracts make up the majority (56%), followed by tenancy agreements (44%), company accounts (31%), commercially sensitive documents (28%), and documents containing sensitive banking details (26%).
“Fax remains central to many businesses and their operations. Its secret life underpins many organizations, powering the effective communication of secure and legally binding documentation today and for years to come,” commented Scott Wilson, Vice President, Sales & Service, eFax.
“It is, therefore, no surprise that the biggest driver for the ongoing use of fax is security at 41%. But this is rapidly followed by cost efficiency at 36%, compliance to GDPR at 34% and the increasing importance of cloud storage at 23%.”
“Cloud fax providers have had to develop an infrastructure that guarantees business users the most secure, private, and legally compliant way to transmit their confidential data to clients, vendors, partners, and other third parties. This is why the secret life of the fax will remain at the heart of many business processes,” concluded Wilson.
Python is one of the most popular programming languages around, but that doesn't mean it's perfect, especially after what the comapny itself called a "cursed" start to the year.
One of the main criticisms of Python is that it can be rather slow, especially compared to newer languages. Most people put up with this tardiness because of its flexibility and easiness to learn.
All of that could be about to change, however, according to Core Python (CPython) developer Mark Shannon.
Python 3.11
Speaking at the PyCon 2022 conference and detailing in a later accompanying blog post, Shannon gave us some more details on Python 3.11, the next version that is currently in beta stage, which should see the language speed up significantly. More details can also be found on – where else? – GitHub.
In fact, there are some pretty big names trying to get this to work. Microsoft has funded the Python Software Foundation with a goal of speeding things up by at least two times, helping move Python towards C as the dominant language.
As ZDNet notes, Python isn't really designed to be quick and the use cases, most of which are focused around machine learning, support this.
"Python is widely acknowledged as slow. Whilst Python will never attain the performance of low-level languages like C, Fortran, or even Java, we would like it to be competitive with fast implementations of scripting languages, like V8 for Javascript or luajit for lua," wrote Shannon last year.
One language to rule them all
Understandably, there is a lot of competition among programming languages and each has their own pros and cons, leaving it up to the developer themselves to make the final call on which to use.
A Redmonk survey in August 2021 showed that JavaScript was the most popular language, followed by Java and Python in second place.
Rather than resting on their laurels, continuing to release updates that improve the core service is exactly how the developers behind Python need to act.
The purpose of this feature is to essentially help podcasters with the operational overhead so they can focus solely on making the best possible content. Delegated Delivery lets creators authorize a participating provider to deliver their shows to Apple Podcasts automatically.
The service will have a unique dashboard for each provider with the ability to schedule a release, provide early access to premium users, or publish ad-free podcasts. Supported formats include WAV, FLAC, and MP3 files.
Podcast data like analytics and subscription reports will not be given to any of the participating platforms. The full list of providers supporting Delegated Delivery hasn’t been revealed, but Apple did mention a few.
Some of the participating platforms include ART19, Buzzsprout, and Libsyn. Apple recommends periodically checking out its Hosting Providers page for updates on if and when their host will support the feature.
And the best part is that Delegated Delivery is free for all creators on the platform. You don’t have to be a member of the Apple Podcasters Program to publish free shows, but you do have to be a member to publish premium episodes. Delegated Delivery has no specific launch date, but will be coming out sometime in the fall.
The fight over the podcast market continues to heat up.
Over the past year, Apple has been working on improving its lackluster podcast platform, which in the past has been called “an unmitigated disaster”. For example, the company released a new curation feature called Apple Podcasts Subscriptions back in June 2021 that allows people to subscribe to their favorite shows through official avenues.
But it remains to be seen if Apple can compete with its podcasts rivals. Spotify has been consistently releasing podcast-centric features for a while now, such as freeing up Video Podcasts to creators in the US and UK.
YouTube wants a piece of that pie too as recent reports indicate it’s looking to integrate podcast RSS feeds to its site. Hopefully, Apple isn’t too late to catch the podcast wave or it may continue to lag behind its rivals.
