Vivaldi Flaunts Its Plus-Size Browser Attributes

Vivaldi on Wednesday launched the first release of its eponymously named browser. Vivaldi is the brainchild of CEO Jon von Tetzchner, a cofounder of Opera Software. Aimed at the power user, Vivaldi 1.0 packs in features that were stripped out of Opera 12. However, "Vivaldi is not about a single feature," von Tetzchner said. "Vivaldi is more about a philosophy." While other mainstream browsers are stripping down their feature sets, "we go in the other direction and add features and options."

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Apple FBI Tussle Puts Bull's-Eye on iPhone

The battle between the FBI and Apple over access to the iPhone of San Bernardino, California, killer Syed Farook came to an abrupt end last week when the agency announced it no longer needed the company's assistance to crack the device. Since the U.S. Department of Justice delayed a hearing on an order to force Apple to assist the FBI in brute-forcing the password on Farook's phone, speculation has spread about how the agency planned to access the data on the device without the help of the iPhone's maker.

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Facebook AI Fills In the Photo Blanks for Blind Users

Facebook on Monday introduced automated alt text, a new tool that describes what's in an image to help visually impaired users engage more on the site. The goal is to help the blind community experience Facebook the same way others enjoy it. People using screen readers on iOS devices will hear a description of the items contained in a photo when they swipe past pictures on a Facebook page. The feature is available in English for iOS users in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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WhatsApp Encryption Ups Privacy Ante

WhatsApp on Tuesday told its 1 billion users that their communications would be better protected from prying eyes with end-to-end encryption. The company always has made data and communication security a priority, according to Jan Koum and Brian Acton, the founders of WhatsApp, which Facebook bought for $19 billion in 2014. "From now on when you and your contacts use the latest version of the app, every call you make, and every message, photo, video, file, and voice message you send, is end to end encrypted by default," they said.

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Qubes' Xen-Like Security Requires a Leap of Faith

If you want an effective and different approach to computer platform security, turn to the Qubes OS. Be prepared to adjust your expectations and your computing comfort zone, however. The Qubes OS does not work the way other Linux distros work in adding extra layers of security. It is based on the Fedora Linux desktop but goes well beyond Fedora's approach. Designed around the concept of security by isolation, it achieves that goal by using domains implemented as lightweight Xen virtual machines.

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Gadget Ogling: Food Frenzies and Rollerblade Off-Roading

Of all the kitchen gadgets I own, the rice cooker is possibly my second-most favorite after the tea kettle. Sure, I could make rice in a pot, but the dedicated rice cooker makes it much easier to attend to other details instead of watching the pot. Xiaomi's pressurized version might prove even better. It recognizes the type of rice from a barcode scan and cooks it perfectly, keeping more nutrients locked in, since it won't let steam escape. It has a nonstick, cast iron pot that should help ensure even cooking.

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HP Debuts Skinniest Laptop Ever

HP on Tuesday unveiled its latest challenger to Apple's laptops, touting it as the thinnest laptop in the world. At 10.4 mm, the HP Spectre's chassis is as thin as a triple-A battery, the company noted. The Spectre is powered by Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and weighs in at 2.45 pounds. It has a 13.3-inch Gorilla glass display, and stereo speakers from Bang & Olufsen. The new line "carries some of the thin design and high-end finishing touches that HP introduced in its EliteBook Folio," said tech analyst Charles King.

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