As the software used by millions around the world celebrates its birthday, here are some of the low points For millions of people, from accountants to the person in charge of the work rota, Microsoft Excel has been been a godsend. But as the spreadsheet software celebrates its 40th birthday, spare a thought for those who misplaced a decimal, left out a row or got their cut and paste wrong. Here are some of the most memorable examples. Continue reading...

From baby names to wedding planning, fans of the 40-year-old spreadsheet program reveal how it has transformed their lives “I’m a boring man,” says Mike Elwin, an energy management consultant from Warrington. “My friends think it’s ridiculous how much I use Microsoft Excel. But it’s a dead handy tool.” Elwin, 56, has long used Excel to organise his life – from mapping finances, to plotting medical test results, to monitoring his household energy use. When his son was born in 2007, he made a spreadsheet for the feeding schedule. Continue reading...

Faulty update from cybersecurity company grounded hospitals, airports and payment systems in July A CrowdStrike senior executive apologized for causing a global software outage that ground the operations of hospitals, airports, payment systems and personal computers around the world to a halt in July. Adam Meyers, senior vice-president for counter-adversary operations at CrowdStrike, testified before Congress on Tuesday. Meyers will speak to the House homeland security cybersecurity and infrastructure protection subcommittee. In his testimony, he said: “I am here today because, just over two months ago, on July 19, we let our customers down … On behalf of everyone at CrowdStrike, I want to apologize.” He will say the company has undertaken “a full review of our systems” to prevent the cascade of errors from occurring again. Continue reading...

iPhone upgrade joined by watchOS 11, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, adding new features to Apple’s devices Apple will release software updates for its iPhone, iPad, Mac and smartwatch on Monday, adding new features and designs for compatible devices. Announced at the company’s developer conference in June, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia add extensive new home screen and control centre customisation options, smart handwriting and maths tools for Notes and new watch faces, among other new features. Continue reading...

Apple is about to launch a ChatGPT-powered version of Siri as part of a suite of AI features in iOS 18. Will this change the way you use your phone – and how does it affect your privacy? Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to your iPhone soon and, according to Apple, it’s going to transform the way you use your device. Launching under the brand name “Apple Intelligence” the iPhone maker’s AI tools include a turbocharged version of its voice assistant, Siri, backed by a partnership with ChatGPT owner OpenAI. Apple isn’t the first smartphone maker to launch AI. The technology is already available on smartphones including Google’s latest Pixel and Samsung’s Galaxy range. Continue reading...

Titanium superphone has serious speed, battery life and unrivalled camera zoom but is ultra-priced Samsung’s latest smartphone packs a plethora of the latest flashy AI tools in an attempt to improve text, images, video and search – with both hits and misses. The new Galaxy S24 Ultra comes equipped with a combination of Samsung and Google’s latest AI layered on top of one of the most capable phones on the market, filled to the brim with competition-beating specs. Continue reading...

The most ethical, sustainable and repairable handset gets a big upgrade with even longer support The Dutch smartphone company Fairphone has achieved something remarkable – a handset that could last a decade. The ethical pioneer, which leads the way in repairable devices, has just released the Fairphone 5. It is a thinner, lighter and more refined device compared with its predecessors and one that makes leaps and bounds in terms of longevity, repairability and quality. Screen: 6.46in QHD+ OLED (460ppi) Processor: Qualcomm QCM6490 RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB + microSD card slot Operating system: Fairphone OS based on Android 13 Camera: dual 50MP rear, 50MP selfie camera Connectivity: 5G, esim + nanosim, wifi6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and GPS Water resistance: IP55 (spray/splash) Dimensions: 161.6 x 75.83 x 9.6mm Weight: 212g Continue reading...