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Microsoft will pause optional non-security Windows updates

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Specifically, Microsoft will suspend C and D updates, which are usually released during the third and fourth week of each month, respectively. These include non-security improvements and fixes. But the changes don’t go into effect until May, so we can still expect a few last optional non-security releases next month.

Microsoft will release its monthly security (B) updates as planned on the second Tuesday of each month, aka Patch Tuesday. We are already waiting for updates to fix two critical zero-day vulnerabilities, which Microsoft disclosed yesterday and that hackers are actively exploiting.

With so many of its users and employees working from home, the last thing Microsoft needs is to introduce a bug or flaw. Google is taking a similar approach. Last week, it said it would pause Chrome updates to limit issues while its teams work remotely and to prioritize security. Later, it said that its Chrome release schedule will skip version 82 entirely.

Microsoft is also delaying the scheduled end of service date for the Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 10 from April 14th to October 13th. Those devices will receive security updates for the next few months.

“We have been evaluating the public health situation, and we understand this is impacting our customers,” Microsoft said. “In response to these challenges we are prioritizing our focus on security updates.”



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CBS offers a free month of All Access so you can binge-watch ‘Picard’

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You’ll need to use the code “GIFT” when you’re signing up to take advantage of the offer. It’ll work for both the limited commercials and ad-free plans on the service.

Streaming services regularly offer free trials for their platforms — the CBS All Access one is often for seven days instead of a month. Millions of people are suddenly stuck at home and looking for something to do, so burning through a series or two should keep you occupied.

With tens of thousands more TV episodes and up to 1,000 movies heading to CBS All Access later this year, ViacomCBS will be hoping people will stick around for those by becoming paid subscribers after the free month is over. There’s already plenty of Star Trek material on tap for Trekkers, though. Along with Picard, Discovery and Short Treks are available, while the franchise has at least two more shows in the works.



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BioWare book will chronicle 25 years of games

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The hardcover book should be available from Dark Horse Books on October 13th for $40.

This could be a fascinating read if you’re a longtime fan. With that said, its official nature suggests you might not hear some of the juiciest tales from BioWare. You probably won’t get all the sordid details of Anthem‘s troubled development, for instance, or hear much about any tensions between BioWare and EA. So long as you aren’t anticipating an exposé, though, this may be a satisfying read.

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Save the world from a pandemic in the next ‘Plague, Inc.’ update

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Plague, Inc. lets you become a mad scientist. You design a pathogen and release it upon the world, trigger certain evolutionary traits and — if all goes according to plan — wipe out the human race. The game came out eight years ago, but the relevance of the game during real-life events like the current coronavirus pandemic and the ebola outbreak of 2013 keep bringing people back for more. To help make the game a little less morbid, Ndemic Creations will add a new mode to Plague, Inc. that lets you take on the opposite role and save the world from a global disease. The designers are working with the World Health Organization, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and other groups to create an informative experience. Though a release date hasn’t been announced, the update will be free for all players.

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Anchor makes it easier to invite guests to your podcasts

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While the Record with Friends feature isn’t new, today’s 2.0 beta launch is a significant upgrade in terms of accessibility. Previously, you had to have an Anchor account to join your friend’s podcast, and you could only do so through a mobile device. Obviously, in an ideal world, all your guests will have decent equipment at their disposal. Still, at least this removes a significant obstacle to recording audio shows, especially at a time like this. It seems like the pandemic pushed Anchor’s development of the feature, with the company saying it’s been working quickly over the last few weeks to expand its remote podcasting capabilities.

“Talking to each other, sharing stories, and sparking conversations are a crucial part of staying connected, and right now, podcasting is one of many ways those connections can be maintained,” said Anchor. “So we wanted to make it easier to record with others, even from a distance.”

Once you’ve recorded an episode, you can also use another recent Anchor feature to make a trailer for your podcast. There’s a good reason the platform is so focused on accessibility. Last year, Spotify acquired the company as part of its big push into podcasting. The medium has been a significant boon to both Spotify’s popularity and its financials.

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Google makes it easier to find COVID-19 travel advisories

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When you search for flights, hotels or things to do, you’ll soon see travel advisories or restrictions for your destination. This info will appear on the search results page, at the top of google.com/travel and in Google Maps when you search for hotels. When possible, Google will also link to relevant information from your country’s travel authority.

Google

When you search on Google for flights with a specific airline or visit Google Flights, Google will direct you to a Help Center article with info on fare flexibility. At the moment, that shows links to most major airlines’ policies, which may outline adjusted change fees or cancellation policies. Google warns that this info may change frequently.

Google Travel Advisories

Ideally, you won’t need to travel any time soon, but if you are trying to cancel or reschedule plans you made before the coronavirus pandemic, this could be especially useful. If you booked a stay with Airbnb, the company is allowing no-penalty cancellations for stays and Experiences made on or before March 14th, with check-in dates between March 14th and April 14th — though that doesn’t cover mainland China, where normal business could resume as soon as April 1st.

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Bigelow Aerospace laid off all of its workers

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It’s unclear as to how exactly the coronavirus pandemic affected Bigelow — aerospace manufacturing is deemed an essential industry by the government, meaning the company would be allowed to continue its operations despite any mandated business closures. The company has been facing issues over the past several years, though. The slightly eccentric founder of the company, Robert Bigelow, said that financial concerns prevented the company from submitting a proposal to NASA last year, when it solicited bids for more commercial modules to be attached to the ISS. (NASA eventually chose Axiom Space to supply the modules, and will install them starting in 2024.)

If Bigelow Aerospace doesn’t resume business, it could be a noticeable loss for the industry. And while Rober Bigelow himself didn’t lay the groundwork for inflatable spacecraft (he licensed the technology from NASA and then built upon it), he and his company were able to achieve a major accomplishment by creating the first fully functional inflatable habitat to be used in space. Unfortunately, we may never see the company’s inflatable orbiter come to fruition.

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Apple rolls out iOS and iPadOS 13.4 with trackpad support

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There are other substantial improvements. You can finally share iCloud Drive folders (this was announced at WWDC last year), complete with real-time file updates. You can buy iOS and Mac apps in bundles. Third-party navigation apps now work with the CarPlay Dashboard if you’d prefer not to use Apple Maps. Mail has an updated button layout to prevent you from accidentally deleting messages. The TV app now has data saving features to save bandwidth and storage. And yes, there are new Memoji stickers in case you need to add a personal touch to your eyerolls or celebrations.

There are corresponding updates for Apple TV, Mac and Apple Watch users, although the Apple Watch update may be the highlight. It now allows in-app purchases for watch apps, and introduces both ECG support as well as irregular heart rhythm alerts in Chile, New Zealand and Turkey.

There’s no mention of CarKey and other hinted-at iOS 13.4 features, but some of those may depend on partners and hardware announcements, assuming Apple doesn’t wait until a later release. Even so, there’s plenty of substance here to justify an upgrade.

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‘Gwent: The Witcher Card Game’ finally arrives on Android

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To play Gwent on an Android device, it’ll need to have at least 1.5 GB of RAM and be running Android 7.0 or later. If you’ve played the game elsewhere and it’s connected to a GOG account, you can carry over your progress and purchases. The Android version also offers cross-play with PC and iOS.

Interest in the franchise exploded after Netflix released the first season of The Witcher in December, with folks flocking to play (or re-play) The Witcher III. However, that same month, CD Projekt Red said it would shut down Gwent on PS4 and Xbox to focus on the “most popular” versions on PC and mobile. The Android release should at least help some console players who don’t have a PC or iOS device get back in the swing of things.



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