Google has recently updated its privacy policy, allowing the company to utilize information from indexed websites to train its Bard neural network. This new policy took effect on July 1, 2023.
The GetContact app leaks your personal data even if you never heard about it
GetContact is a popular mobile application that serves as a call manager for Android with the spam blocking feature. It allows identifying who is calling you by maintaining a large database of phone numbers. As a user of GetContact, you can see how the number is saved in other users' address book.
Firefox 115 is out with data import improvements
Mozilla has released Firefox 115, a new version of their web browser. This version falls under the extended support period (ESR) branch, ensuring ongoing updates throughout the year. Additionally, an update has been made available for the previous long-term support branch, version 102.13.0, with two more updates (102.14 and 102.15) expected in the future. Firefox 116 is now in the Beta channel and is scheduled for release on August 1st.
Microsoft’s Validation OS received an update (again quietly)
Microsoft has quietly released an update for Microsoft Validation OS, a lightweight distribution of Windows 11, without any official announcement. The updated ISOs for Validation OS are now available, but this particular operating system is not intended for end-users.
Clippy returns with the power of ChatGPT: a third-party developer has revived it
Developers behind the Fire Cube Studios company have reintroduced Clippy, the iconic virtual assistant, to Windows 10 and Windows 11. This new version of Clippy is built on top of the GPT 3.5 model developed by OpenAI, and the project's source code is openly available on GitHub.
Far Cry 1 code leaked, users managed to build and run the game
The code for the original Far Cry game developed by Crytek studio was recently leaked. Many users were able to compile and run the game using this leaked code. While the leak was missing some assets, users were able to obtain them from the official release version of the game.
How to Enable Improved Snap Layout in Windows 11 Build 23493
As Microsoft noted in the official announcement, Windows 11 Build 23493 adds a new style of snap layout. When you hover over the Maximize or Restore button (or use the WIN + Z combination), you will notice icons of running applications in various layouts, allowing you to select the most suitable option. But Microsoft has made them accessible to a limited group of Insiders. If you don't have them after upgrading to the latest Dev channel build, then you can manually enable them by following this guide.
How to enable the Home page in Settings on Windows 11
Microsoft is working on a new "Home" page for the Settings app for quite long. It is intended to become the first page you see after pressing the Win + I keys. It appeared several times in Insider Preview builds, but always in form of a half-baked hidden feature. Starting in Build 23493, Windows 11 finally reveals the new page to the public.
Bing will show AI-generated shopping recommendations
Bing, the search engine created by Microsoft, will now incorporate AI-generated recommendations. They will appear when you search for products. The suggestions are provided as a table, providing a comparative analysis of similar products from various manufacturers.
How to enable Windows Copilot in Windows 11 (Build 23493+)
Starting in Windows 11 Build 23493, Microsoft ships the Copilot feature with the OS. It is the latest Dev channel build as of this writing. Microsoft rolls-out the new functionality gradually, so you may have no access to it right away. Here's how to enable it and give it a try.
