Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 10-14-2023

Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 10-14-2023

Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 10-14-2023, a week in which running Linux for desktop security, following WordPress blogs on Mastodon, iPhone 15 overheating issues, and iOS 17 accessibility features captivated our readers the most. Today, we look back at this week’s ten most engaging articles from the Tech Help Knowledgebase social media feeds. We order the summaries below by user engagement — the stories our users interacted with the most. Articles are in descending order, with the most engaging story first. Our human-curated social media feeds include links to technology news, how-to and help articles, and video tutorials for common issues.

Stories curated for our feeds are from our staff writers or culled from third-party sources that produce content related to the categories covered by our site. See the summaries and links below for this week’s top stories by user engagement. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to interact with our feeds.

Top 10 Most Engaging Stories This Week

1. Linux might be your best bet for heightening your desktop computer security | ZDNET

Linux provides a potential solution for enhancing desktop computer security. The constant and growing threats to security and privacy, such as malware and ransomware, are particularly problematic for Windows users as the number of cybersecurity threats targeting Windows continues to rise. Linux could be a more secure and reliable alternative for users, especially given its resistance to different types of cybersecurity attacks. For those interested in making the switch, start with user-friendly Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or Zorin OS.

2. WordPress.com blogs can now be followed on Mastodon and other federated platforms | TechCrunch

WordPress.com has announced that Mastodon users and users of other federated platforms can now follow its blogs. This capability is made possible by the ActivityPub feature, which is now available across all WordPress.com plans. The feature allows anyone using the hosted version of the open-source WordPress software to connect their blog to federated platforms like Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, and others. By using the plug-in, blog owners can potentially reach more followers as they can share their posts to other platforms and receive replies from those platforms in the form of blog comments. Adding the plug-in allows for a more interactive and dynamic conversation around your content.

3. iPhone 15 overheating fix: Thermal imaging shows before and after | 9to5Mac

The iPhone 15 had been experiencing overheating issues, with some users reporting that their phones were almost too hot to hold in certain circumstances. Apple confirmed the problem and attributed it to a bug in iOS 17 and issues with certain apps like Instagram and Uber. Apple released iOS 17.0.3 to address the overheating issue. 9to5Mac used thermal imaging to confirm and visualize the problem before and after the update. The update was found to be effective, with temperature readings showing that the iPhone 15 did not get above 93.8 degrees Fahrenheit after the update.

4. These Are All the New Accessibility Features in iOS 17 | Lifehacker

The article discusses the new accessibility features introduced in iOS 17, which are designed to enhance the user experience for everyone, including those with disabilities. One of the key features is the ability to speed up or slow down Siri’s speech. Another feature, Live Speech, allows users to type what they want to say and have their iPhone speak on their behalf. The Personal Voice feature enables users to create an AI voice that sounds like their own, which can be used for Live Speech. Additionally, Assistive Access simplifies the iOS interface for users with cognitive disabilities.

5. How to Separate Your Browsing Habits on Mac With Safari Profiles | MacRumors

A new feature in macOS Sonoma and Safari 17 called Profiles allows users to separate their browsing sessions into categories such as Work, School, or Personal. This feature expands on Tab Groups and lets users create profiles, each with its own icon, history, Tab Groups, Favorites, Private Browsing tabs, and cookies. Users can also assign specific extensions to different profiles to optimize their browsing experience based on the task at hand. To set up profiles in Safari, users need to go to Safari settings and add a new profile with a name, symbol, and tab color.

6. Opera’s AI browser, Aria gets 5 new exciting features | Windows Report

Opera has introduced a state-of-the-art browser AI named Aria, designed to assist users in navigating the digital world. Aria, powered by Opera’s unique “Composer” infrastructure, combines the expertise of OpenAI’s GPT technology with additional capabilities like delivering live results from the web. It acts as an intelligent browser companion, supplementing browsing with a conversational element that aligns with individual needs and preferences. Aria’s global reach extends to over 180 countries and supports more than 50 languages. It is designed for cross-platform compatibility, making it adaptable to various devices and platforms.

7. Google is prompting users to create passkeys for passwordless logins | The Verge

Google has introduced a new feature that encourages users to set up passkeys for accounts, aiming to provide a faster and more secure login experience. This passwordless approach utilizes the pin, face, or fingerprint authentication built into devices. Although the ultimate goal is to make passkeys the new login standard, Google has stated that passwords will still be an option during the transition. Passkeys work by replacing traditional passwords with a device’s own authentication methods. Despite the convenience of passkeys, users can choose to opt out of using them by disabling the “skip password when possible” option for their account.

8. WordPress now offers official support for ActivityPub | The Verge

Automattic’s new ActivityPub plug-in allows WordPress blogs to function as federated profiles, broadening their reach to a diverse user base of ActivityPub-compliant platforms. Each author on a WordPress blog can have their own individual profile, and there is also a blog-wide profile. Users can follow these profiles to receive updates and posts in their home feed. However, only new posts made after installing the ActivityPub plug-in will be available in the fediverse.

9. New iPhone 15 Pro overheating reports: Still too hot after iOS 17.0.3 and fresh issues arise | ZDNET

Apple hoped to resolve an iPhone 15 Pro overheating issue by releasing iOS 17.0.3. However, some users have reported that their devices still overheat, even after the update. The overheating reportedly occurs during activities such as making phone calls, playing games, and using the camera. One user in Madrid, Spain, reported that his iPhone 15 Pro Max reached a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit), similar to the temperature recorded during fast-charging before the iOS 17.0.3 update. In addition to the overheating issue, some users have reported a new screen burn-in problem.

10. iOS 17 could be causing iPhone Wi-Fi issues — what we know | Tom’s Guide

The recent iOS 17 update appears to be causing Wi-Fi issues for some iPhone users, particularly those using the new iPhone 15 series. Users have reported a range of problems, including slow connections and apps failing to load content. Some have found temporary workarounds, such as turning off the iCloud private relay or adjusting Wi-Fi range to 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, or 160MHz. However, these solutions may not work for everyone and could affect connection speed. As of now, Apple has not officially acknowledged the problem.

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