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    Slack’s new AI-powered assistant aims to streamline your busy work week

    Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Mondays aren’t always just about the start of the work week. They can also introduce new updates that shape the week ahead. Case in point: Slack will receive multiple features that collectively aim to help collect information and streamline workflow. There are five in total, but […] More

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    Amazon Alexa can now be controlled by thought alone – thanks to this brain implant

    Synchron Amazon designed Alexa with voice control in mind, but thanks to a recent innovation, people can also control it with their minds. Synchron, the same company that recently worked to let a man control an Apple Vision Pro with his thoughts, has announced another innovation in accessibility. Using a brain implant, an ALS patient was […] More

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    iOS 17.7 rolls out this week – here’s why it might be a safer bet than iOS 18

    The iOS 18 beta running on iPhone 15 Pro. Jason Hiner/ZDNETiOS 18 officially rolls out today, September 16, to many different iPhone models from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 16 Pro. Users will receive multiple new features, from a more personalized home screen to Apple Intelligence on certain models. When a new iOS version rolls out, Apple begins to slow down its support for the previous generation to get more people to adopt the updated software. But this time, the company is doing things differently. Alongside iOS 18 RC (Release Candidate), Apple is also launching iOS 17.7, according to 9To5Mac.Also: Every iPhone model that can be updated to Apple’s iOS 18 (and which ones can’t)iOS 17.7 isn’t adding any extra features, although it is introducing “security patches and bug fixes.” Release notes are unavailable on the company’s website at the time of this writing, so we don’t yet know exactly what the patch consists of.iPhone owners can download iOS 17.7 with the assurance that their device’s security won’t be outdated or exposed to potential threats. You can move towards iOS 18 at any time. However, you may be better off installing iOS 17.7 instead. Here’s why. More

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    Linus Torvalds muses about maintainer gray hairs and the next ‘King of Linux’

    The Washington Post/Getty Images VIENNA – In a candid keynote chat at the Linux Foundation’s Open Source Summit Europe, Linux creator Linus Torvalds shared his thoughts on kernel development, the integration of Rust, and the future of open source. Dirk Hohndel, Verizon’s Open Source Program Office head and Torvalds friend, moderated their conversation about the […] More

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    Buy a Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro bundle for $50 – the lowest price we’ve seen

    Save big on this lifetime Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle.  Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt doesn’t matter if you’re upgrading to a new laptop or just upgrading your existing system — access to Microsoft Office and Windows is a necessity for getting things done on your computer these days. And right now, you can buy a bundled lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro from Stack Social for $50 — that’s 88% off. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 includes all of the classic and essential Microsoft offerings, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Teams. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles, check out this deal for Microsoft Office 2019, which offers all the same features except for Teams. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is an operating system perfect for working professionals or at-home users. Get an easy-to-navigate interface, biometrics login, Smart App Control, Windows Studio Effects, DirectX 12 Ultimate, and top features like snap layouts, desktops, seamless redocking, improved voice typing, and a powerful search experience. You’ll also get access to Microsoft Copilot, an AI platform designed to upgrade your workflow experience. Also: How to use Copilot (formerly known as Bing Chat)There’s one caveat, though. While Stack Social is an authorized Microsoft partner and offers “lifetime” access to Office, it is possible that Microsoft could end the license. But the site has been running these Microsoft deals for years now, and ZDNET’s Alison DeNisco Rayome can personally vouch for them — she purchased an Office license from Stack Social about two years ago, and it’s still working on her personal MacBook today. While this bundle deal offers a lot, you won’t get the benefits of the latest Microsoft Office 365 subscription, so if you’re looking for Microsoft 365, this deal may not be for you (though Stack Social does have a discount on Office 365, too.) Windows users must update their OS to Windows 10 or 11 to access these software deals. Get your lifetime license bundles for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro right now. More

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    How to set up a Linux NFS server on your home network (and why)

    Abscent84/Getty Images I have various folders shared across my network. Some of those folders are for smaller files that need to be accessed from every machine on my LAN (Local Area Network), while others tend to be used for larger files (such as videos). However, for those smaller files (such as backup copies of galleys), […] More