applications – Tech Today w/ Ken May

Apple’s High Sierra security patch affected Mac file sharing

Apple’s latest update for macOS High Sierra hasn’t gone well. As revealed earlier this week, the update included a bug that made it pretty easy for anyone to gain admin rights to your Mac — an obvious privacy concern. Apple rolled out a patch for the issue, but it seems that’s not without its problems either, as some users are now unable to authenticate or connect to file shares on their Macs. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix. As Apple Insider reports: 1. Open the Terminal app, in the Utilities folder of the Applications folder. 2. Type sudo /usr/libexec/configureLocalKDC and hit Return. 3. Enter your administrator password and press Return. 4. Quit the Terminal app. Done. The number of people affected by the new security update’s flaw is unknown. Apple jumped on the case relatively quickly when the initial problems became clear, but whether or not they’ll release yet another update for this latest issue is unknown. Source: Apple Insider

Microsoft plans Office 2019 release for next year

The next version of Microsoft Office is coming to a computer near you soon. The company announced today that Office 2019 will be released sometime in the second half next year. Previews will ship in mid-2018. It will include the applications we’re used to, such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as servers such as Skype for Business and Exchange. Microsoft is making the cloud a centerpiece of its Ignite conference this week, but the company also realizes that not all of its users are ready to fully commit. As such, Microsoft is making this version of Office software work for both customers that are already fully working in the cloud as well as those who are still on their way to that point. Some of the new features in Office 2019 that it highlights are new formulas and charts for Excel, inking features that are both new and improved and visual animation for presentations. Additionally, Office 2019 will focus on IT manageability, usability, voice and security for server updates. Microsoft will release more information about Office 2019 over the next few months. Via: The Verge Source: Microsoft

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Microsoft plans Office 2019 release for next year

H-1B visa applications cap out in just five days

Enlarge / The Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel, California. Tens of thousands of visa applications were delivered to the building last week, which is home to one of several USCIS service centers. Last Monday, the government began accepting applications for H-1B visas that are often granted to foreign tech workers. Trucks full of thick Fedex applications lined up before dawn to get their applications in. By Friday, the door was shut. US Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) said on Friday they have already maxed out , hitting the limit of 65,000 H-1B visas set by Congress and an additional 20,000 visas that are reserved for applicants who have masters degrees. It’s the fifth year in a row that the cap has been met within five days. Some H-1B employers aren’t subject to the visa cap, including universities and some non-profits. Read 3 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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H-1B visa applications cap out in just five days

Windows 10 is getting a picture-in-picture mode

Microsoft just made it easier to use multiple applications at once on Windows 10 , especially when dealing with video-focused programs. The company released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15031 to developers today, and the main attraction is the introduction of so-called Compact Overlay windows. The new feature allows users to run a program in a small window that’s pinned above other applications, so it can be seen without being as intrusive as a standard window. Compact Overlay windows appears useful when dealing with video. For example, keeping a YouTube clip or Skype call visible in the corner would make it easier for users to do things like take notes or check email while not losing sight of the video. The good news for developers is that Compact Overlay windows “work just like normal windows in all other ways, ” so it should be relatively painless to adapt existing programs to be compatible with the feature. It’s unclear if Compact Overlay windows can be resized or used with Snap (a feature just pulled from Xbox One ). We’ve asked Microsoft to clarify. The update also adds full-screen Game Bar support for 52 games, including Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto titles. Microsoft isn’t the only company dabbling in picture-in-picture modes. Apple last year debuted a similar feature for MacOS , which works in much the same way, but is only compatible with Safari and iTunes. Compact Overlay windows are only available to developers at the moment, although Microsoft says that the Skype Preview and Movies & TV apps will soon be updated to take advantage of the new feature. Source: Windows

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Windows 10 is getting a picture-in-picture mode

This "Throw and Shoot" Camera is Like a Flying GoPro That Follows You

GoPro’s variety of harnesses let you mount their cameras to your head, chest or even your dog. But a new company has developed a flying camera that you needn’t wear at all. You simply throw the Lily , as it’s called, into the air, where it takes flight and follows you on your adventures. Just over ten inches square, the aluminum and polycarbonate Lily is a dual-camera-equipped quadrotor drone with 20 minutes of flight time. It hones in on a tracker you wear on your wrist, hovering anywhere from five to 50 feet above your head, and runs a tracking path of your choosing (i.e. follow shot, side shot, Michael-Bay encircling shot). And it’ll keep up with you as long as you’re moving 25 miles per hour or less. It seems pretty unbelievable: The Lily is expected to retail for $999, but the developers are currently selling pre-orders for just $499. I keep thinking of the applications it could have beyond adventure videography. Given a longer flight time and a workable way to navigate overhead obstacles, a fly-‘n-follow camera could be useful for everything from tracking animals on a farm to less confrontational police pursuits. We’ll have to see how well the device actually works when it begins shipping in February of next year.

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This "Throw and Shoot" Camera is Like a Flying GoPro That Follows You