FossBase: Open Tech Tips – Telegram
FossBase: Open Tech Tips
630 subscribers
124 photos
8 videos
561 links
[ Formerly @LinuxCentral ]
Your go-to hub for tech, tips, updates, and insights.
Our chatroom: @FossBaseChat
Download Telegram
OpenAI Faces Lawsuit Over Teen's Suicide, Plans ChatGPT Updates

Parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine from California have sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming ChatGPT validated their son's suicidal thoughts after months of conversations, leading to his death in April.

In response, OpenAI expresses deep sympathy and announces plans to train the AI to better detect mental distress in extended chats, plus new parental controls for monitoring kids' usage.
Nothing Busted: Stock Photos Passed Off as Phone 3 Camera Samples!

Tech brand Nothing caught misrepresenting stock photos as Phone 3 camera samples. Five images claimed to be taken by the device were licensed photos shot with other cameras. A photographer confirmed to The Verge that one image, licensed via Stills, wasn’t captured by Phone 3, with EXIF data showing it was taken in 2023, before the phone’s release.
New Proton Security Feature Lets Your Friends And Family Access Your Account In Emergencies

Proton introduced a new Emergency Access feature on August 28, 2025. This feature allows paid Proton account holders to designate up to five trusted contacts (family or friends) who can access their encrypted account data in emergencies, such as incapacitation or death. Users can set immediate access with approval or a custom wait time (e.g., seven days) for automatic access if a request goes unanswered. The feature, secured with Proton’s strong encryption, is available only to paid subscribers, with plans like Proton Unlimited starting at $12.99/month. It ensures sensitive data remains accessible without compromising privacy.
Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” Is Now Available for Download

The wait is finally over as the Linux Mint team has published the final ISO images of the Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” release, which are available for download from the official mirrors.

Based on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) operating system series and powered by Linux kernel 6.14, which should boost hardware support, Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” ships with the usual editions featuring the Cinnamon 6.4, Xfce 4.18, and MATE 1.26 desktop environments.

What's New:

- Fingerprint 🫆 Enrollment Feature
- Accent colour support for Xapps
- improved Wayland session
- Sticky notes update

so you can download Linux Mint 22.2 right now from the download links below. The Linux Mint 22 series will be supported until 2029.
Mozilla’s Lifeline is Safe After Judge’s Google Antitrust Ruling

Mozilla, the organization behind Firefox, can continue receiving payments from Google following a U.S. antitrust ruling against Google for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act due to its monopolistic control over search markets. Over 85% of Mozilla’s revenue comes from Google’s search deal, and losing it could have threatened Firefox’s existence. District Judge Amit P. Mehta’s September 2025 ruling preserved this financial lifeline while imposing restrictions on Google, such as banning exclusive contracts and requiring data sharing with competitors. This outcome ensures Firefox’s survival but highlights Mozilla’s need to find alternative revenue sources.
DuckDuckGo Revamps Subnoscription With Upgraded AI Chat, VPN Perks, And More

DuckDuckGo is enhancing its Privacy Pro subnoscription, priced at $9.99/month or $99/year, as part of its Duck.ai focus. The updated subnoscription includes a VPN for secure browsing across up to five devices, Personal Information Removal to combat identity theft and spam (U.S.-only), and Identity Theft Restoration support. It also offers access to advanced AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and GPT-5, Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4, and Meta’s Llama Maverick, with free LLM use still available. The service emphasizes privacy by preventing data collection and is accessible in the U.S., Canada, EU, and UK via duck.ai.
🎅2🌚1
The Browser Company, maker of Arc and Dia, is being acquired

Atlassian, known for tools like Jira and Confluence, has agreed to acquire The Browser Company, creators of the Arc and Dia web browsers, for $610 million in cash. The acquisition aims to integrate The Browser Company’s AI-powered browser technology with Atlassian’s expertise in enterprise software to develop a browser tailored for knowledge workers. The deal follows reports that OpenAI and Perplexity also considered acquiring The Browser Company. The acquisition is expected to close in Atlassian’s fiscal second quarter, ending December 2025.
Google NotebookLM's AI podcast hosts can now get into an argument over your notes

Google's NotebookLM has updated its Audio Overviews feature, adding three new AI podcast formats—Brief, Critique, and Debate—to the existing Deep Dive option. The Brief format delivers a short summary in 1-2 minutes, Critique provides constructive feedback on your notes, and Debate has AI hosts argue opposing viewpoints on key topics. Users can customize aspects like tone, language, and length for more tailored audio experiences. This enhances the tool's interactivity for learning, boosts accessibility (e.g., for visual impairments), and promotes critical thinking, though it risks over-reliance on AI. The rollout starts in the US, with global expansion expected.
Warp Code: Revolutionizing Prompt-Based Coding with Agent Steering

Warp, a Rust-powered, cross-platform coding tool, launched Warp Code, a feature set for agent-generated code from prompt to production. Initially a modern terminal, Warp pivoted to an Agentic Development Environment with Warp 2.0, boosting signups and revenue 30x. Warp Code refines prompt-based coding with "agent steering" for better control, integrating top coding agents, code review tools, and a lightweight editor with tabs and syntax highlighting. Available free on Windows, macOS, and Linux (AppImage/DEB), it’s closed-source, requires signup, and has paid plans for full use.
1
Qualcomm and BMW Unveil Hands-Free Driver-Assist System

Qualcomm and BMW have collaborated on Snapdragon Ride Pilot, a new hands-free driver-assist system for BMW’s iX3, debuted at the Munich auto show. Built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride system-on-a-chip, it meets high safety standards and supports Level 2 Plus automation, allowing hands-free driving on approved roads in over 60 countries, with plans to expand to 100+ in 2026. Comparable to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and similar systems, it aims to enhance safety and convenience. Qualcomm, with a $45 billion automotive revenue pipeline, emphasizes driver engagement to counter overreliance risks, as safety concerns grow with partial automation systems. The system is available to all automakers and Tier-1 suppliers.
Pete Hines, Bethesda's former senior vice president of global marketing and communications, has some thoughts about gaming subnoscription services like Game Pass, saying they are "worth jack s***" without the developers who make games for them.
Firefox 32-bit Linux Support to End in 2026

Mozilla will end Firefox support for 32-bit Linux systems in September 2026, with Firefox 144 being the last release to include 32-bit builds. Maintaining these builds has become challenging as most Linux distributions have phased out 32-bit support, and modern CPUs are 64-bit. Firefox ESR 140 will provide security updates for 32-bit systems until the cutoff. Mozilla urges users to switch to 64-bit systems for continued support. This decision reflects Mozilla’s broader efforts to optimize resources amid financial strain, including shutting down services, adjusting licensing for advertisers, and focusing on AI features.
🫡1
Google finally details Gemini usage limits

Google has updated its Help Center to clarify usage limits for Gemini Apps across different tiers. Free accounts get up to 5 prompts per day with Gemini 2.5 Pro, 5 Deep Research reports, and 100 generated images daily. AI Pro plan users receive 100 prompts, while AI Ultra plan users get 500 prompts. Both Pro and Ultra plans allow up to 1,000 generated images per day.
Euphonica is Now Available on Flathub

Euphonica is an MPD client with integrated spectrum visualiser, metadata downloading & more.
1🔥1