Latest Software News
SEE SOFTWARE STORIES BY CATEGORY
News
TL;DR: Google is adding AI web page summaries to Chrome
Google is adding AI-powered search summaries of web pages to Chrome, following similar AI-powered summaries by Amazon, Microsoft, and Newegg.
Feature
Can you play PS5 games directly from an external USB drive?
Given the limitations of the PS5's internal storage, an external USB drive makes a lot of sense. Here's what you can and cannot do from an external drive.
News
Google starts warning users it will delete inactive accounts (with caveats)
Google is taking the next step in deleting Google accounts that are no longer used, sending an email to all account holders.
Updated
Intel 'Downfall': Severe flaw in billions of CPUs leaks passwords and much more
There is a serious security flaw in billions of Intel CPUs that can let attackers steal confidential data like passwords and encryption keys. Firmware updates can fix it, but at a potential significant performance loss.
News
Quake II gets an enhanced port 26 years after release
The remastered version of multiplayer classic Quake II is available on all platforms for $10, with new missions and enhanced graphics.
News
Robots soundly beat humans in bot-spotting captcha tests
Could the web's annoying robot protection be playing out its role?
Feature
Make Windows search so much better with these tricks
How to search for files, settings, online info, and more from inside Windows.
News
Google Docs and Drive now natively support eSignatures
Google’s electronic signature feature moves into beta, and it should simplify the logistics of contracts and other legal documents.
News
Google Chrome is now releasing security updates weekly
This change narrows time between security patches, in order to reduce the ability to exploit vulnerabilities.
Feature
I finally ditched LastPass—and switching was a nightmare
Sick of LastPass' frequent security breaches and product changes? The act of taking your LastPass-stored passwords elsewhere is a mega-headache.
News
Xbox Game Pass $1 trial now only lasts two weeks
After briefly shutting down, the much-loved $1 Xbox Game Pass trial comes back with a shortened time limit.
News
Norton’s free AI-powered Genie tool helps you spot online scams
Not sure if the message, email, link or social media post you’ve received is a scam? The AI-powered Norton Genie is designed to help.
News
Slack's trying to solve its biggest problem with a new design
Slack's new user interface tries to organize all of the information you see across various channels and direct messages, but the problem might be too big to fix.
News
Gmail language translation finally appears on mobile
Google has added automatic translation to its mobile Gmail app, after offering it on the web for years.
News
Researchers steal passwords using only keyboard sounds
A new system trains itself on the sound of individual keystrokes, and can record your typing even over Zoom.
News
Google now alerts you if your contact info appears online
In addition to updating to its Results About You tool, Google has also streamlined the process for removing search results for non-consensual explicit material, too.
Updated
The Excel World Cup returns to ESPN with a high-stakes battle royale
The Excel World Championship, aka the Financial Modeling World Cup, is back — but with a new "eliminator" format that will boot the participant with the least amount of points every five minutes.
News
Seeing endless 'Outlook closed while you had items open' prompts? Here's a fix
With this trick you can solve the annoying queries for opening closed windows in Outlook.
News
Brave's search engine is now totally independent from Google and Bing
Brave has migrated its video and image search away from Bing and Google, making Brave Search entirely private, the company says.
News
Google's AI search adds multimedia, but its fundamental issues remain
Google improves its Search Generative Experience (Google SGE) by adding video and images to the search results, but the source of the information is still tough to find.
News
Smart Answers: GenAI tool makes it easier to find the info you need
Don't wait for content to find you: Smart Answers combines the expertise of PCWorld editors with the computational power of GenAI to quickly serve up exactly the information you need.
News
Opera GX sanitizes your browsing history after your death
Opera GX's new feature lets you leave the mortal coil without having to worry about anyone finding your search history.
News
Phishing scams love mimicking Microsoft
Check Point has published a recent list of the brands that are exploited for phishing.
Deal
Get 15 months of Norton 360 Deluxe, the best antivirus, for just $30
Norton 360 Deluxe is the best AV we've tested, and you can get it for dirt cheap with this special offer from the PCWorld Software Store.
News
Public companies now have a deadline to report cyberattacks
New SEC rules require companies to be much faster in sharing when hacks are discovered—and clearer about cybersecurity practices overall.
News
Windows update causes video problems: Microsoft issues emergency fix
Microsoft confirms two new automatic updates are causing problems with video playback under Windows 10/11 for many users, and offers a fix.
News
Photoshop adds outpainting to see beyond the Mona Lisa
Adobe's latest feature, Generative Expand, lets you use AI to extend the boundaries of your original photo and add more to the scene.
News
Vivaldi, Mozilla raise alarms over Google's proposed 'DRM for the Web'
Google's proposed Web Environment Integrity would allow web sites control over which browsers access them, drawing fire from smaller browser makers Vivaldi and Mozilla.
News
OpenAI's ChatGPT is too good for its own AI to detect
OpenAI has killed Classifier, a tool that it had created to detect AI-authored works.
News
Meta's Threads finally adds a following feed
Meta's Threads app now allows you to exclusively see posts from people you follow, while TikTok now supports text-only posts.
News
ESRB wants to scan kids' faces to enforce game ratings
The controversial move would employ age estimation software to police who can play M-rated games and above.
News
Don't panic: Ubisoft won't delete your digital games
Recent headlines declaring that Ubisoft might erase digital purchases have proven to be untrue.
News
Remnant II is the first PC game 'designed with upscaling in mind'
Remnant II more or less requires DLSS or FSR in order to run smoothly, and gamers aren't happy about it
News
Outlook for Windows will replace Mail starting in August
Users of Windows Mail and Calendar will still have access to the old apps for a while, but will be "force-migrated" to Outlook by 2024.
News
Microsoft's AI Bing Chat comes to Chrome, with limitations
Microsoft's Bing Chat AI chatbot leaps from Edge to Chrome, but shorter requests and conversations await in Google's browser.
Updated
Google will start deleting inactive accounts: Gmail, Docs, YouTube at risk
If you haven’t used or signed into your account for two years or more, you now run the risk of account deletion.
News
Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and more agree to voluntary AI safeguards
Several AI companies, from Google to OpenAI to Microsoft, have worked with the White House on a set of voluntary AI safeguards.
Deal
Epic Games Summer Sale kicks off: 15 can't-miss game deals
Here are our picks for the best deals to be had on the Epic Games Store right now.
News
Microsoft 365 makeover: Office docs are getting a new default look
Significant changes are coming to your Office documents with Microsoft 365's new default theme.
News
Microsoft Teams' newest filter applies your makeup for you
This new video effect supercharges what you can do in rival apps like Zoom.
News
Blizzard games head for Steam, starting with Overwatch 2
Blizzard is expanding its digital downloads beyond Battle.net for the first time
News
Google quietly increases YouTube Premium's price
So far, YouTube Premium's stealthy price increase has only affected US subscribers.
News
Google experiments with AI backgrounds in Meet
Google is testing a way to allow you to create your own AI-generated backgrounds within Google Meet, though you'll have to be part of its beta program to try it out.
News
Gmail wants you to turn on Enhanced Safe Browsing mode
For many people, this mode’s stronger protection against internet threats is all benefit and no downside.
News
Microsoft 365 Copilot AI's steep price is an ill omen for Windows users
Microsoft announced that it will charge businesses $30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Copilot, its AI assistant for the Office apps. In some cases, that's more than double its price for Microsoft 365.
News
Google Maps: This free tool shows a heat map of where you've been
A cool free tool creates a heat map of your Google Maps movement data in no time at all. You can immediately see where you spend most of your time and where you rarely go.
News
Your Twitter settings may be blocking direct messages
If Twitter’s gone quiet on you, it may be your DM settings have changed.
News
Stable Doodle AI tool can turn your scribbles into 'real' art
Stable Doodle, the latest offering from Stability AI, is a fast way to make your art more presentable… or just replace it entirely.
News
Google's major Bard expansion now scans images and talks to you
Google's AI assistant, Bard, is receiving its largest expansion with image analysis, oral responses, bookmarked conversations, and new conversational formats for its responses.
News