Features

Top IT News of the Week (46/2021)

#ITnews

IT news #1: Apple to launch self-repair service.

Topic: Apple, self-service

Apple has announced that they will be launching a ‘Self Service Repair’, allowing customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple parts, tools and manuals. Available first for iPhone 12 and 13, it will soon be followed by Mac computers with M1 chips. The self-repair service will launch in the US early next year and expand to additional countries throughout 2022. The program’s initial phase focuses on the most serviced modules like iPhone display, battery, and camera, with additional repairs being added later next year. To ensure that a customer can safely perform a repair, it’s advised to review the Repair Manual. After that, an order can be placed for the Apple genuine parts and tools by using the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. After the repair is completed, customers who return their used parts for recycling will receive credit towards their purchase.

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IT news #2: Microsoft releases long-awaited Windows Media Player update.

Topic: Microsoft, software update

The company has released a new media playback app for Windows 11 to supersede both Windows Media Player and the Groove Music app. The Media Player for Windows 11 is now available for testing for Windows Insiders, which is designed to support both music and video playback. Users who prefer to manage their library of tracks on the Groove Music app will be able to update it to Media Player with the library and playlists migrating over automatically. Microsoft believes users will be able to browse their libraries quicker and manage playlists. During the playback, album art and “rich artist imagery” in both full screen and mini-player modes will be visible. It can also add files from a PC’s music and video collection. The company also included improved keyboard shortcuts and access key support for keyboard users as part of the update, among other features.

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IT news #3: HP announces Microsoft licensing management service for SMEs.

Topic: HP, SME

HP has launched a subscription service for SMEs to make it easier to manage Microsoft cloud-based licensing. This comes after the release of Windows 265 earlier this year. The newly launched service is designed specifically for small and medium businesses to make software investment decisions based on reliable workforce intelligence. It provides license management of Microsoft 365 and a full list of Microsoft cloud subscription services. The company said the application displays online visibility of software analytics and usage trending by user, department or geography to help IT departments to shift easily and scale their subscriptions as needed. As a one-stop Cloud-based product, channel partners can sell Microsoft 365 and the entire Microsoft cloud subscription library to their clients.

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IT news #4: UK retail sector faces one cyberattack every eight days.

Topic: UK, cybersecurity

New research by Keeper Security revealed the retail sector in the UK had experienced 44 cyberattacks in the past year, with one attack taking place every eight days. The 2021 Cybersecurity Census Report found that 77% of retailers see the number of cyber threats surging in the next 12 months and causing disruptions in the retail system. It was also shared that the sector has been under pressure over the past 18 months following the rise of online shopping and major high street brands closing down. The report highlighted that in the event of a successful attack against retailers, it has resulted in disruptions to partner and customer operations (34%), the supply chain (33%), and the retailer’s ability to trade (29%), highlighting the severity of the issues retailers are dealing with. However, 41% of the survey respondents confirmed IT had been a top priority over the last year, with larger retailers (86%) recognising the gaps or weak links in their cybersecurity strategies. Despite these optimistic statistics, only 35% of retailers address their vulnerability issues.

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