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September 2018

Disable notifications on Android's lock screen

Recent versions of the Android operating system display notifications on the lock screen of the device by default.

Some users may like this as it gives them access to notifications on first glance without having to unlock the device first to check out new notifications.

The functionality has one serious drawback in my opinion, however. Since notifications are shown on the lock screen, anyone with access to the Android device may see them as well.

Microsoft on freeing up space for Windows 10 Updates

Microsoft published a new support article "Windows 10 update issues on devices with low storage space" yesterday.

Released in time for the next feature update for the operating system, Windows 10 version 1809 also known as the October 2018 Update, it highlights that updates may fail when disk space is low and provides suggestions on how to free up disk space.

What you can do if your browser uses too much Memory

While web browsers were never the leanest applications memory-wise, memory usage of web browsers seems to have exploded in recent time.

It is not uncommon anymore that browsers such as Chrome or Firefox cross the two or three Gigabyte memory mark; a growing number of users is concerned about the memory use of browsers. But, should they be concerned?

This guide provides you with instructions on taming a browser's memory usage. It also answers whether you should be worried about memory use.

Is high memory use a problem?

Prevent Firefox from reopening on Windows 10 start

Microsoft added a feature to the Fall Creators Update of Windows 10 that restarts select applications that were open when the restart or shutdown command was activated.

The feature lets users continue where they stopped on the next start of the operating system.

Firefox reopens automatically on Windows 10 by default similarly to how Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome get opened automatically by default if the programs were not closed by the user before running the commands.

What is Microsoft Managed Desktop?

Microsoft pushed Software as a Service ever since the company's CEO changed. First, in the form of Office 365 which the company launched as a subscription-based option next to the classic Office desktop applications, and then later on in a package with Windows which Microsoft called Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 is only available for Enterprise, Education, and business customers. Both services have in common that they are subscription-based.

Windows 10 version 1809: removed and deprecated features

As is the case with all new Windows 10 feature releases, some features have either been removed outright from the new version or put on hold for removal in a later version.

Tip: check out the removed and deprecated features of Windows 10 version 1803 here.

The removed features in the October 2018 Update won't affect many users; it may have an impact on some businesses and Enterprise customers.

Improve your privacy on Android with Bouncer

Bouncer is a new paid application for Google's Android operating system designed to give users more control over application permissions.

Permissions give applications extra things that they may access or do and while that is required sometimes for an application to function properly, it is not needed or even abused at other times.

While you could go ahead and only install apps that don't require extra permissions or toggle permissions manually each time you use an application, it is not really that comfortable of a solution.