Jay Dickman/Getty Images I remember when I started using Linux in the late 1990s. Back then, using the command line wasn’t optional. If you worked with the open-source operating system, you spent time in the terminal. Using the command line in the past was challenging because there wasn’t as much help as today. I was […] More
ZDNETAnthropic’s Claude AI now has a new model able to “think” longer and deeper when crafting a response to your request. Also: 10 key reasons AI went mainstream overnight – and what happens nextKnown as Claude 3.7 Sonnet, this latest model uses advanced reasoning and greater processor time to evaluate your question in a step-by-step process and then produce a detailed result. The new model doesn’t come freeThe new extended thinking mode is accessible through the Claude website and the API for developers. But it doesn’t come free. Even though Claude 3.7 Sonnet is available for all users, you must have a Pro or Team subscription to tap into the extended thinking option. The extended mode is particularly adept at tackling difficult math and coding problems, as well as front-end web development, Anthropic said in an announcement on Monday. In this mode, Claude “self-reflects” before it provides an answer. Taking the time to develop its response helps it better handle tasks that involve math, physics, instruction-following, and coding. Along the way, Claude shows you the steps it took to arrive at its solution. Also: From zero to millions? How regular people are cashing in on AIIn its announcement, Anthropic also touted the performance of Claude 3.7 Sonnet in early testing and use. One site found the new model significantly improved at handling complex codebases and using advanced tools. Another successfully used Claude to build sophisticated web apps and dashboards from scratch — a task that challenged other models. In a third evaluation, Claude created production-ready code with quality designs and dramatically fewer errors. It’s better than OpenAI’s o1?Testing of agentic tools put Claude 3.7 Sonnet ahead of the 3.5/3.6 version of Sonnet and OpenAI’s o1 model. Testing in software engineering placed Claude 3.7 Sonnet at the top among the previous version, OpenAI’s o1, and DeepSeek R1.Also: 3 easy side hustles OpenAI’s Operator just made possible – plus how you can get started”We’ve developed Claude 3.7 Sonnet with a different philosophy from other reasoning models on the market,” Anthropic said in its announcement. “Just as humans use a single brain for both quick responses and deep reflection, we believe reasoning should be an integrated capability of frontier models rather than a separate model entirely. This unified approach also creates a more seamless experience for users.” More
ZDNETLibreOffice is an open-source office suite that includes everything you need to be productive on any desktop operating system. LibreOffice is my default for both Linux and MacOS, and I’ve used the software to write almost 70 novels.One feature LibreOffice includes is templates, a powerful tool for creating documents quickly and consistently. For example, if you send regular reports, spreadsheets, or letters, you won’t want to start from scratch every time. Also: 5 stand-out LibreOffice features that make it my go-to office suiteThanks to templates, you can create the document’s basic structure and layout and use it as a template. Now you won’t have to start from a blank slate every time.Templates can be used for just about anything, even book formatting.Also: Zen is my new favorite browser – and these 5 mods make it even betterI want to show you how easy it is to use templates in LibreOffice. Once you see how the feature works, you’ll happily add it to your process.Let’s get to work. More
Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images On Oct. 5, 2024, Google released a security update for Android 9 and later, which included a new service, Android System SafetyCore. Most of these patches were the usual security fixes, but SafetyCore was new and different. Google said in a developer note that the release was an “Android system component that provides […] More
Clicks Keyboard on a Razr+ playing Super Mario Bros 2 Clicks If you’re unfamiliar with the gadget, the Clicks Keyboard<!–> introduces a QWERTY-style keyboard to certain iPhone models, such as the iPhone 16 Pro. It aims to enable fast typing via comfortable, tactile keys that sit below the display. Today, the company announced that a new […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Hatch Restore 3 retails for $170 and comes in three neutral colors. It has a new design with bigger buttons and an upgraded app with more bedtime routines. The device is rather large, and you’ll have to pay for a monthly subscription to utilize the app’s whole experience. –> As […] More
ZDNETPast owners of Avast antivirus software could score some cash courtesy of a hefty financial settlement between the company and the FTC. On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it’s now emailing notices to qualifying customers on how to get their slice of the $16.5 million that Avast has been ordered to pay out.Also: The best antivirus software for WindowsThe settlement stems from an FTC order issued a year ago that penalized Avast for selling the web browsing data of its users. The company and its subsidiaries were charged with sharing the data with third parties for advertising purposes after promising that its products would protect users from online tracking. What happened?In the initial complaint, the FTC alleged that Avast collected the browsing information of customers through its antivirus software and browser extensions and sold it without notice or consent. Avast then sold that data to more than 100 third parties through its Jumpshop subsidiary.The data in question contained details about the searches and web pages accessed by users, revealing their religious beliefs, health concerns, political leanings, location, financial status, and other sensitive information, the agency charged. Also: Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacksAvast claimed that it used a special algorithm to remove identifying information before selling the data. But the FTC said the company didn’t adequately anonymize the information. As one example, the data included a unique identifier for all web browsers, indicating each website visited, the precise timestamps, the type of device and browser, and the exact location of the user. More
Opera Opera has been one of my favorite browsers for a very long time. One of the reasons for that is the developers actually listen to the user base. So when users called out for more sidebar service integration, you can believe Opera got busy. To that end, Opera is adding Bluesky, Discord, and Slack integration […] More
