Новости за 13.09.2017

September’s retinue of Microsoft patches includes one very important .NET fix that blocks a security hole brought to life when you open an RTF file in Word. It’s only been seen, so far, in a spear phishing Russian-language RTF document, apparently generated by NEODYMIUM, allegedly used by a nation-state to snoop on a Russian-speaking target.

Slack is introducing shared channels to make it easier for employees at separate companies to collaborate using its messaging software.

September brings a relatively large patch profile for Microsoft with 76 reported vulnerabilities, three public disclosures (thank you, Google) and unfortunately one zero day exploit. You used to be worried about browsers and Flash, now we have a publicly exploited vulnerability for augmented reality (AR) with a fix for Microsoft’s HoloLens headset.

Apple on Tuesday quietly announced it will release High Sierra, this year's upgrade of the Mac's operating system software, on Monday, Sept. 25.

With Apple's magical and revolutionary new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X devices now official, the world is about to get its first full look at iOS 11 — the most advanced, beautiful, and amazing software release to emerge out of Cupertino since, erm, the last one.

Organizational changes are common for many companies, but Microsoft has a well-deserved reputation for orchestrating reorganizations more frequently than most.  The software giant was founded in 1975, so they are a young company by some standards, but during the past four decades, they have grown to approximately 100,000 employees. This growth has often been cause for reorgs, but evolving business models and changes in technology often play a role as well. 

The iPhone X replaces the Home button and Touch ID with gesture controls and Face ID, sophisticated facial recognition software that learns to recognize your face and lets you use your device only after it has confirmed it is you. It is a new technology — here’s what we know about it so far:

It will change your life, but will it change your business? That’s a good question to ask come November when Apple releases the brand-new iPhone X, a phone that is packed with high-end features for augmented reality (AR), facial recognition to authenticate and log in to the phone, and a screen that stretches all the way to the edges.

For a $2,999 price point, you might wonder — is the Microsoft Surface Studio desktop really worth it? I tested one recently and found myself being drawn to a few important features that made it worth the high price even compared to similar models from Dell and even Apple.

Amazon's best-selling tablets feature vibrant displays, generous battery life, Alexa, parental controls, and everything you need to surf, check email, watch Netflix, read books, and more. If you're a Prime member, you can get get the Fire 7 for as low as $34.99 after a $15 discount, or the Fire HD 8 for as low as $54.99 after a $25 discount. If you're looking for a tablet that won't drain your bank account these are solid considerations especially at these discounted prices. 

Update 9-13-2017: This article has been updated to reflect a price increase for the 256GB and 512GB models of the iPad Pro.

Microsoft on Tuesday released 259 individual security patches, covering 82 security holes (counting by CVE number). You may feel rushed to apply those patches, particularly when you hear about a really bad vulnerability involving Word, RTF, and the .NET Framework. The facts are a little less alarmist.

Authentication: the act of proving one’s identity to the satisfaction of some central authority. To most, this process means typing in a username and a password. It’s been this way for years and years.

Microsoft has quietly introduced, as part of the Microsoft Graph, the concept of topic, enabling developers to generate a list of people within an organization who are involved with a specific topic. The Microsoft Graph, the successor to the Office Graph and the Yammer Graph, provides developers access to Office 365 data through APIs, enabling them to gather insights into an organization. For example, developers can retrieve a list of people working with a specific person. The retrieved list includes... Читать дальше...

This family-owned computer service bureau survives the transition to PCs and Windows by taking on more individual clients, reports a pilot fish who worked there.

As expected, Apple's new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X will be able to be joined with a new wireless charging accessory based on the Qi standard – the most popular among three main industry specifications.

The evolution of iOS

Just as a computer would be useless without an operating system, so would a phone. In 2007, Apple changed the game with the introduction of its smartphone and first-ever mobile operating system.

The iPhone, then and now

Image by Computerworld / Apple

The iPhone has come a long way since its arrival in 2007.

After months of rumors and speculation, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. The device, which didn’t actually go on sale until June, started at $499 for a 4GB model, $599 for the 8GB version (with a two-year contract). It offered a 3.5-in. screen, a 2-megapixel camera and won plaudits for the then-new multitouch features. Critics, however... Читать дальше...

Apple today said that it will release iOS 11, the latest operating system for its iPhone and iPad line-ups, on Sept. 19, or a week from now.

A few days ago, I raised 23 questions I thought Apple might give us some answers to during its special event. Here’s what the company told us.