Coined A.I. Verify, the new toolkit was developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), which administers the country’s Personal Data Protection Act. The government agencies underscored the need for consumers to know AI systems were “fair, explainable, and safe”, as more products and services were embedded with AI to deliver more personalised user experience or make decisions without human intervention. They also needed to be assured that organisations that deploy such offerings were accountable and transparent....

Open source is no worse or better than proprietary software when it comes to security, according to Levy, who busted myths about open source security — and detailed its genuine security challenges — at the Open Source, Open Standards conference in London last week. Open source myths Open source software is more/less secure than proprietary “I’ve done a lot of work on this, there’s no objective evidence either way. On average, good open source is about as good as good proprietary, and [bad] about as bad as bad proprietary,” said Levy....

According to analyst Counterpoint Research, Apple accounted for three-quarters of the smartphone industry’s profits in Q2 2021. The analyst doesn’t state the total revenue of profits for the industry. However, research firm Gartner reported global smartphone sales reached almost 329 million in Q2 2021, up 10.8% year-on-year. Apple reported that in fiscal Q3 2021 iPhone sales rose by 50%, year over year, to $39.6 billion. SEE: Our old devices are creating a mountain of e-waste....

According to SoFi CEO Anthony Noto, extended trading hours will launch in the coming weeks, while the company is looking to have options trading available by the end of the year. Additionally, Noto said the company is considering adding additional cryptocurrency products to its investing platform as a way to provide greater value to SoFi clients. Noto also took the time on the company’s earnings call to highlight the company’s continued vision....

According to the company’s press release, Splunk plans to find a new CEO with “a proven track record of scaling operations and growing multi-billion dollar enterprises.” During Merritt’s tenure, Splunk’s revenue has from $302 million in fiscal 2014 to an expected $2.58 billion for fiscal 2022. Splunk shares fell about 13% in early trading Monday. The vacant leadership role will be filled on an interim basis by Graham Smith, current Chair of Splunk’s Board of Directors....

The earbuds sit completely in the ears with no sticks hanging down outside of your ears. The box includes four earbud tips for comfort and fit. Twist them in your ears to get the best fit. They are rated IPX8, which means that they can be completely immersed in water. I did not test this in case I fritzed the earbuds, but I can confirm that they are certainly splash-proof and sweat-proof and did not move or fall out when I was running....

In the box, there is the speaker, USB Type-C cable, an aux audio cable and a user guide. There is also a rugged carrying strap that affixes to the metal loops at each end of the speaker. The speaker has raised silicone buttons on the top of the speaker. There is a power button, mode, equalizer, and True Wireless Stereo pairing button. There are also indicator lights for Bluetooth, equalizer, and TWS....

Black Friday: Early storage deals on flash drives, SSDs, and more Not true. While it’s very easy to sell the merits of SDDs, there are plenty of cases where HDDs are a perfect choice, even in a modern setting. Also, remember, HDDs and SSDs aren’t just used for storage inside desktops and laptops. There’s a place for storage drives inside servers, external storage boxes, and NAS devices. And by choosing the right storage for the right job, you can save both money and increase the lifespan of a device by lengthening the time between upgrades....

Here’s how to stop handing over your location data to Google. Must read: These three simple tips will keep your iPhone safe from hackers Fire up your browser, and go to Google.com.Click on your profile pic and sign into your account.Click on your profile pic followed by Manage your Google AccountFrom Privacy & Personalization, select Manage your data & personalizationGo to Activity controls and select Manage your activity controlsGo to Web & App Activity and switch the toggle to offOn the screen that follows (a screen explaining the downsides to turning this feature off), click Pause...

“The launch of Steam Deck will be delayed by two months. We’re sorry about this – we did our best to work around the global supply chain issues, but due to material shortages, components aren’t reaching our manufacturing facilities in time for us to meet our initial launch dates,” the company said. Valve said customers would keep their place in the reservation queue, but the window will shift back two months....

We tested Surfshark last year when we were looking to find out which one was the best VPN on the market and found this one was the best value for your money. If you use a lot of devices and need a fair amount of connectivity, this, by far, is the best VPN out there for you. Additionally, Surfshark will include antivirus protection to your VPN for free to keep your devices extra secure....

“If T22 was a strategy of necessity, T25 is a strategy for growth,” Telstra CEO Andy Penn said. But one of the most significant changes to the company has continued to be pushed back – the restructuring of Telstra that was first announced last year. Under the plan, Telstra would break itself into fixed, tower, international, and service entities that sit under a holding company. The service entity would gain the bulk of Telstra, owning its retail business, active electronics and radio access network, spectrum, as well as offering services and products to customers....

“The place that concerns us most as an organisation … don’t read anything into the fact I’m going to mention the word Microsoft, they’re probably a Microsoft-only environment. They don’t have ERPs, CRMs, they are basically a Microsoft-style environment,” said Telstra Enterprise group executive David Burns, who gave a keynote to the Trans Tasman Business Circle. “How do we build [cyber resilience] into the tools of systems and networks that we provide … because I think we could all do the basics, and we should all do the basics but [cyber attackers] are very sophisticated players....

Many budget-friendly prebuilt gaming PCs offer SSD storage for faster boot times and program launching as well as RTX 30 series graphics cards. They also have extra RAM slots and storage drive bays to give you ways to upgrade your gaming PC down the line as your needs change. Also: The best gaming PCs: Top rigs for pros, casual games, and creators To help you find the best cheap gaming PC, I’ve put together a list of the best you can buy....

While none of these products will be capable of 5.1 or 7.1CH audio, you’ll still get top-quality sound with fewer channels; one pick even comes with a subwoofer and satellite speakers to make an affordable home audio system. We’ve chosen some of the best cheap soundbars available after reviewing their features to help you decide which is the best fit for your space and budget. Also: The best soundbars: Turn it up...

But investing in a webcam doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune. We have the best cheap webcams for your home or office, offering the best performance at the best price. Also: What are the best standing desks, and how often should you stand? Now, all you need to accompany your webcam is a computer. For shopping ideas, check out our picks for the best computers, best laptops, and the best Macs!...

Research shows that having plants around the home and office significantly improves people’s moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression. You don’t need a green thumb to keep a plant alive, because many indoor plants are low-maintenance. We’ve rounded up the best indoor plants for your office, whether you need one that’s easy to water, non-toxic to pets, or bright enough to boost your mood during lulls in the work day....

Also: Best October Prime Day deals still available More October Prime Day 2022 Kindle deals Read: Best October Prime Day deals under $20 that are still available Read: Best October Prime Day deals still available

We had the opportunity to personally test some of today’s best travel backpacks, in addition to reviewing top picks on the market, researching thousands of real user reviews. According to ZDNET experts, these are the best travel backpacks for your next trip. Also: These travel pillows actually let you catch some Zzz’s away from home. There are many different types of bags you can use when traveling. Before your next trip, consider our picks for best luggage brands and best luggage sets!...

We’ve compiled the best portable speakers that connect via Bluetooth so that your music goes with you for any occasion. For more options, check out our expert picks for the best stereo speakers, the best smart speakers, and the best WiFi speakers! You can also use the Sonos app to control your speaker with Trueplay tuning for premium sound. There is even the ability to connect to other Sonos speakers in your home to hear your favorite songs throughout the house....