Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 11-11-2023

Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 11-11-2023

Weekly Tech Wrap-Up 11-11-2023, a week in which iOS 17.1.1, Fedora Linux 39, Apple pausing iOS 18 and macOS 15 development, and Android 14’s first security update 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. Apple releases iOS 17.1.1 & iPadOS 17.1.1 updates to fix various bugs | Apple Insider

Apple recently rolled out iOS 17.1.1 to rectify the issues plaguing iPhones, including shutdowns and Wi-Fi connectivity problems. While Apple typically does not provide detailed information about bug fixes, this update may address a Wi-Fi connectivity bug fixed in iOS 17.2. The update might also resolve an issue with the deactivation of iPhone 15’s Near Field Communications (NFC) capabilities by the wireless charging systems in certain cars, a problem Apple has acknowledged. The iOS 17.1.1 update is now available to all iPhone users.

2. Fedora Linux 39 Is Now Available for Download, Powered by Linux Kernel 6.5 | 9to5Linux

The Fedora Project has released Fedora Linux 39, the latest stable version of the Red Hat-sponsored GNU/Linux distribution. Linux kernel 6.5 powers the new release and features the latest desktop environments for its various flavors, including GNOME 45 for the Fedora Workstation flagship edition. It also includes an updated GNU toolchain and the latest versions of default apps like LibreOffice 7.6 and Mozilla Firefox 119. The release, intended for new installations, is available for download for 64-bit (amd64) and AArch64 (arm64) platforms. Existing Fedora Linux 38 users should be able to upgrade their installations soon.

3. Apple pauses development on iOS 18 and macOS 15 | XDA Developers

Apple decided to temporarily halt the development of iOS 18 and macOS 15 to prioritize bug fixes and overall system stability. This move aims to address the increasing number of software issues and user complaints about the reliability of Apple’s operating systems. Instead, Apple wants to refine and optimize its existing software to enhance the user experience. This strategic shift reflects Apple’s commitment to delivering more robust and dependable software to its users, signaling a prioritization of quality over rapid feature development.

4. Android 14 gets its first official update with November’s security patches | Android Police

Google released the first official update for Android 14, bringing with it a number of bug fixes and enhancements for Pixel phones. This update, announced in Google’s November security bulletin, addresses several issues, including a green tint problem on the always-on display and several high-severity and critical vulnerabilities in components such as the framework, system, Statsd, and DNS Resolver. The update also includes fixes for issues causing system instability when apps request an uninstalled app and problems with screen jerkiness when touch registration becomes imprecise.

5. These 2 Safari Additions Could Convince Me to Switch to Apple’s Browser | CNET

Two new features in Apple’s Safari browser have made it more appealing. The first feature is the introduction of profiles in Safari, designed to enhance the user’s browsing experience. Unlike profiles in other browsers intended for different users sharing the same computer or browser, Safari’s profiles personalize the browsing experience for individual users. The second feature is the ability to create web app versions of favorite websites and the option to place them in the dock for easy access. These web apps open separately from the Safari browser, providing a more streamlined user experience.

6. Amazon reportedly plans to dump Android for a homemade Fire OS replacement | Engadget

Amazon plans to replace the Android core in its future Fire TVs, smart displays, and other devices with a new Linux-based operating system internally known as “Vega.” This move has been in the works for several years, with Amazon even discussing the idea with chipmakers as far back as 2017. The development of the new OS is complete, with Amazon now focusing on preparing an SDK and planning incentives to encourage developers to invest their time and resources. The switch to Vega would allow Amazon to sever ties with Google’s Android Open Source Project, which has resulted in Amazon’s software lagging several generations behind the most recent Android versions.

7. iOS 17.2 Coming Later This Year With These 10 New Features for iPhone | MacRumors

Apple’s iOS 17.2, set for release in December, brings new features to iPhone users. Among these is the Journal app, which offers personalized suggestions for users to reflect on their day with text, photos, music, and more. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models will have a customizable Action button that users may assign to the Translate app. There are also new widget options for the Weather and Clock apps and several new features for Apple Music, including Collaborative Playlists and a Favorite Songs playlist. Also part of the update is a new Focus filter for Apple Music’s listening history and iMessage Contact Key Verification for enhanced security.

8. Microsoft 365 Copilot is available for purchase. Here’s what to know | ZDNET

Microsoft designed it AI companion, Copilot, to enhance user workflows across all Microsoft applications, including Microsoft 365, Windows 11, Edge, and Bing. It offers assistance in various tasks such as generating text and tables in Word, summarizing and drafting emails in Outlook, and creating Python visualizations in Excel. The release dates for Copilot vary across different Microsoft products. It started rolling out on Windows 11 on September 26, 2023, through a Windows 11 update and will begin rolling out to Bing and Edge in the fall. Microsoft 365 Copilot started rolling out for enterprise customers on November 1, 2023, and will become available to non-enterprise users later.

9. OpenAI’s ChatGPT now has 100 million weekly active users | TechCrunch

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has reached a significant milestone, boasting 100 million weekly active users. Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, made the announcement at the company’s first developer conference in San Francisco. The service launched nearly a year ago, quickly gained popularity, and set a record for the fastest-growing user base. Over two million developers use the platform, including over 92% of Fortune 500 companies. OpenAI also revealed plans for a “GPT Store,” allowing users to publish and potentially monetize their own versions.

10. Android 15 ‘Vanilla Ice Cream’: Everything we know about Google’s 2024 update | XDA Developers

Android 15, internally known as Vanilla Ice Cream, is the upcoming major upgrade to the Android operating system. Expect the first developer preview to arrive in a few months, bringing new features and improvements to various elements of the Android system. The release date for Android 15 is not yet known, but it should follow the same release pattern as previous versions. Despite Google discontinuing the dessert naming scheme with Android 10, the tradition continues internally.

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