Computeractive 627

Following Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, many readers have asked us whether it’s safe to continue using Kaspersky, and whether we should stop recommending it. We answer those questions on page 10. It’s an acutely sensitive topic that I hope we’ve provided a balanced response to. Rejecting the programs in our Cover Feature feels much less contentious. Most of them have either moved previously free tools to paid-for versions, or flirted with PUPs and adware. Others may be good programs (Adobe Premiere Elements, Microsoft Office), but cost money when free alternatives offer similar tools. I expect you’ll disagree with some of our choices. In fact, I want you to disagree. At a time when people seem to have lost the art of respectfully disagreeing with others, I want to encourage healthy debate.…

Microsoft has added a watermark message to some Windows 11 computers saying they don’t support the operating system. The warning, which reads ‘System requirements not met’, sits above the clock in the taskbar, at the bottom right of Windows 11’s desktop (see screenshot right). It also appears in Windows Settings, as spotted by Windows user Albacore on Twitter (www.snipca.com/41162). It’s similar to the ‘Activate Windows’ watermark that appears when you’ve yet to activate the operating system (pictured at www.snipca.com/41163). For the moment, the messages appear only in preview builds of Windows 11, suggesting that Microsoft is testing users’ reaction to the message before deciding whether to add it to the full version of the operating system. They don’t affect how Windows 11 runs, nor any programs you’ve got installed, though Microsoft may consider making…

Windows 11 is now running on 19.6 per cent of Windows computers worldwide, rising from 16.1 per cent in January. The figure comes from advertising network AdDuplex, which releases monthly reports based on monitoring 60,000 computers globally. It shows that 19.3 per cent are using the full version of Windows 11, with 0.3 running a preview build. The other computers all run a version of Windows 10, with 21H1 – released in May 2021 – remaining the most popular at 27.3 per cent. AdDuplex changed the colours of February’s bar chart to the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag – see www.snipca.com/41164.…

Microsoft has removed Russia Today (RT) apps from its store, as it seeks to block Moscow spreading propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine. It has also banned adverts from RT and Russia’s official news agency Sputnik, and ‘de-ranked’ their sites from results in its search engine Bing. In its blog post (www.snipca.com/41153), Microsoft president and vice chair Brad Smith condemned the “tragic, unlawful and unjustified” invasion, and called for tech companies to take “decisive efforts” to prevent “statesponsored disinformation campaigns”. Smith said that Microsoft detected “offensive and destructive” cyber-attacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure on 24 February, when the invasion began, and told the government in Kyiv immediately. Since then Microsoft has provided “threat intelligence and defensive suggestions to Ukrainian officials regarding attacks on a range of targets”. Many other tech companies have offered support to…

I TV plans to take on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix by launching a new streaming service that will show programmes before they’re broadcast on traditional TV. Called ITVX, it will be available as a free package with adverts, or as paid-for subscription without adverts that also includes access to BritBox (www.britbox.com). It will replace both ITV Hub, and the paid-for version, Hub+ (www.itv.com/hub/plus), which lets you remove adverts for £3.99 per month, or £39.99 per year, after a seven-day free trial. The service will launch with shows including A Spy Among Friends (pictured), starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce, Lenny Henry’s six-part drama The Little Birds, and Litvinenko starring David Tennant as the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after being poisoned in London. ITV said new series will be…

HUAWEI RELEASES ITS FIRST EBOOK READER Chinese firm Huawei has released its first ebook reader, hoping to challenge the dominance of Amazon’s Kindles. The MatePad Paper (www.snipca.com/41130, pictured above) has a 10.3in screen - much bigger than Kindles - and comes with Huawei’s M-Pencil stylus for taking notes. UK prices have yet to be confirmed, though it’ll cost €499 in the eurozone (about £414). CHROME 99 ADDS DOWNLOAD ARROW Google has added an arrow to the top of its Chrome browser that shows when you’re downloading something. When the download has finished, you’ll see a tick next to the arrow (pictured below). It appears in version 99 of Chrome, released in early March.…