Daily Archives: February 24, 2025

• Patching embedded code

  Posted on February 24, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.08 • 2025-02-24

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I’m here to state that patching firmware is easy.

  Easy, that is, if you can get over a big hurdle — knowing what device you have and where to find the proper firmware update.

  If you have a home-built or custom-built computer, often the hardest part is remembering which motherboard and accessory cards were installed. Then something turns out to be not quite right, and you’re in a pickle.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.08.0, 2025-02-24).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Patch Watch BIOS, Drivers, Firmware, Firmware Update, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Printers, Surface firmware update, System Information Viewer

• How you can make DeepSeek tell the truth

  Posted on February 24, 2025 at 02:44 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  The tech world was shocked last month when a Chinese company released DeepSeek, a chatbot that uses affordable, run-of-the-mill chips and consumes less energy per query than other artificial-intelligence programs.

  What’s not so good about DeepSeek is the way it censors or outright lies about political affairs. This includes anything you ask the chatbot that relates to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Asian democracy, and numerous other subjects.

  But it’s easy to make DeepSeek give you the straight-up truth — and I’ll tell you how to do it.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.08.0, 2025-02-24).

  Public Defender AI, China, DeepSeek, Newsletters

• Microsoft 365 changes, and Copilot

  Posted on February 24, 2025 at 02:43 CST by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  Microsoft has made huge changes to its 365 consumer plans, including the intrusive addition of Copilot into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

  It’s the biggest transformation of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family (Home) plans for over a decade. Worse, it’s led to inevitable misinformation and screwy advice on social media.

  These are changes that all Microsoft 365 customers need to understand.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.08.0, 2025-02-24).

  Microsoft 365 Copilot, Excel, Microsoft 365 Family, Microsoft 365 Personal, Newsletters, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word

• NPS Image Editor — for those who still like Microsoft Paint

  Posted on February 24, 2025 at 02:42 CST by Deanna McElveen • Comment in the Forums

  FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT

  

  By Deanna McElveen

  I’ll admit it. I still use Microsoft Paint from time to time because I like how easily I can paste images into other images, make collages, and quickly add text to an image.

  Before you start writing that email: yes, I know there are other programs that do those things. Remember? I run that download site. But Paint is fast. You can right-click an image icon and choose Edit, and Paint has your image ready for you. Do I wish it had more bells and whistles? I certainly do.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.08.0, 2025-02-24).

  Freeware Spotlight Color picker, Image Editor, NeoHtop, Newsletters, NPS Image Editor, System Monitor