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Pics The Hubble Space Telescope is back in action doing what it does best capturing stunning images of the universe after more than 50 NASA engineers worked hundreds of hours to get the instrument working again.

After activating redundant components within the orbiting observatory on Friday to clear a hardware glitch, the telescope has been able to use its sensors again. NASA released two photos of oddball galaxies Hubble snapped over the weekend: one depicting two galaxies intersecting each other, and the other showing a large spiral galaxy with three arms.

Left: ARP-MADORE2115-273 is a picture of two galaxies colliding in the southern hemisphere. Right: ARP-MADORE0002-503 is a large spiral galaxy with three arms ... Click to enlarge. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Julianne Dalcanton (UW), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

About a month ago, Hubble's onboard payload computer, which controls its instruments, mysteriously froze, forcing the main computer to put the observatory's sensors into an inactive safe mode. It was feared by some that ol Hubble was a goner after attempts to revive the machine failed.

NASA had to dig up 30 to 40-year-old documents to investigate the hardware lock-up, and engineers were even called out of retirement for advice. By switching to backup power supply electronics as well as a backup payload computer, the US space agency was finally able to bring Hubble back online.

Now it's all systems go and now hopefully the Hubble controller's biggest headache will be dealing with the backlog of requested observations.

Im thrilled to see that Hubble has its eye back on the universe, once again capturing the kind of images that have intrigued and inspired us for decades, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.

This is a moment to celebrate the success of a team truly dedicated to the mission. Through their efforts, Hubble will continue its 32nd year of discovery, and we will continue to learn from the observatorys transformational vision.

At first, NASA thought the problem was down to a faulty memory module that had degraded over time from absorbing too much cosmic radiation. But utilizing an alternative onboard module didnt fix the issue. Further analysis suggested the glitch had something to do with an iffy power control unit. When the team switched to a backup unit to power the backup payload computer, Hubble came roaring back to life.

The switch required 15 hours of spacecraft commanding from the ground, said Jim Jeletic, deputy project manager of the Hubble Space Telescope working at NASAs Goddard Space Center.

The main computer had to be turned off, and a backup safe mode computer temporarily took over the spacecraft. Several boxes also had to be powered on that were never turned on before in space, and other hardware needed their interfaces switched.

This isn't Hubble's first outage. In 2008, its Science Instrument and Command & Data Handling unit failed and a four-person crew of astronauts repaired the machine in orbit in 2009. Backup components in that replacement hardware was booted up 12 years later to deal with this crisis.

The telescope was launched in 1990, and was designed to last 15 years. Over 30 years later, however, its still toiling away and observing the heavens.

Hubble is in good hands, said Kenneth Sembach, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, which helps conduct Hubble science operations. The Hubble team has once again shown its resiliency and prowess in addressing the inevitable anomalies that arise from operating the worlds most famous telescope in the harshness of space.

I am impressed by the teams dedication and common purpose over the past month to return Hubble to service. Now that Hubble is once again providing unprecedented views of the universe, I fully expect it will continue to astound us with many more scientific discoveries ahead.

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Not only is Hubble back online after outage, it's already taking photos of the cosmos - The Register

Next billion-dollar enterprise software companies will be born outside the US.

Ive written frequently about how the next wave of developer-focused software companies will fuel a $1 trillion enterprise software market, driven by trends such as free open source platforms and flexible API building blocks. The market fundamentals that underpin this trillion-dollar software sector are clear: as every company transforms into a software companya transformation only accelerated by the pandemicdevelopers are in the drivers seat. They want to choose their own tools, technologies and platforms, not products foisted on them by their employers. Thus, enterprise software companies that understand and cater to developer needs stand to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in the years to come.

But what sets this next trillion-dollar enterprise software wave apart, distinct from the earlier waves of SaaS software and public cloud, is that the next billion-dollar enterprise companies could be born in any country. Most large software companies today are headquartered in the US, but in the next few years, we will see several billion-dollar enterprise leaders emerge in Europe, Asia, Israel, and Latin America. Thats because the very nature of developer-driven softwareglobal, distributed, bottoms-up, collaborativeprovides a fertile ground for developer-focused entrepreneurs to build their companies anywhere. Developers dont care if great open source code or APIs got their start in Boston, Bangalore or Buenos Aires, they just want to use the best platforms available. And theyre accustomed to collaborating with developers all over the world, sharing ideas on forums, writing code for global open source projects, and reading articles written by their peers working on similar projects.

Already, were seeing developer-focused software companies spring up around the world that have attained, or are set to attain, multi-billion-dollar valuations. For example, JFrog, an Israel-born software company that went public in September 2020 is now worth more than $4 billion. Postman, a US/Bangalore company building a collaboration platform for API development announced a $150 million Series C round at a $2 billion valuation in the middle of the pandemic and BrowserStack, an Indian cloud web and mobile testing platform completed a $200 million round at a $4 billion valuation in June of this year.

A wide range of earlier-stage developer-driven software companies born outside the US that are also on track to be billion-dollar businesses include Stream, a leader in API-driven chat messaging and activity feed solutions founded in Amsterdam; Rasa, developers of open source conversational AI tools founded in Berlin; Evervault, a provider of encryption tools for developers based in Dublin; Nozomi Networks, an IoT security leader founded in Switzerland; Supabase, an early-stage open source database company based in Singapore; and Jina, an open source AI company based in Berlin with development teams in China. All of these companies have developers using their products all over the globe, and they sell to enterprise customers worldwide.

Venture Capital Investment in Enterprise Companies by Country

Venture capital investors have traditionally focused on funding US-based enterprise software firms, but now that the focus has shifted to developer-driven software, opportunity is everywhere. Investment trends show a shift toward global investment in enterprise software companies. Analyzing Pitchbook data showing the total venture capital dollars invested in enterprise software companies globally between 2017 and 2021 (with numbers projected through the end of the year), we found that investors are increasingly backing companies outside the US, albeit at a stop-and-go pace of change. In 2017, the US captured 69% of total venture dollars invested in enterprise software companies, falling to 49% in 2018 when deals in China and Singapore surged, then climbing back to 61% by 2020. For 2021, its projected that the US will account for 59% of the total venture investment in enterprise companies. During the last five years, companies that continued to gain investment dollars include Germany, the UK, and Spain, while Israel, France, and Brazil largely held steady.

If the pandemic has proven anything, its that countries around the world are deeply connected, but software developers have known that for years already. Whether a developer lives in Bangalore or Budapest, they want the best tools for the job, no matter where they were first created. And they collaborate with one another through forums, Github, shared projects, and open source communities. Enterprise software companies that build tools and platforms for the global developer community, and truly understand the needs and mindset of this diverse group, are well positioned to become billion-dollar brands, no matter where they get started.

My firm, GGV Capital, is an investor in Nozomi Networks, Stream, and Jina, all mentioned in this article.

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Why The Next Billion-Dollar Enterprise Software Companies Will Be Born Outside The US - Forbes

Broadcom Inc. is in talks to buy SAS Institute Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, in the latest move by the acquisitive technology giant to beef up in the corporate-software market.

A deal, which would value closely held SAS in the range of $15 billion to $20 billion, could be finalized in the coming weeks, assuming the talks dont fall apart, the people said. That number is so-called enterprise value, some of the people said, which typically includes assumed debt and is adjusted for cash on the targets balance sheet.

Broadcom has a market value of nearly $200 billion after its shares have risen around 50% over the past year.

Broadcom, a semiconductor powerhouse built largely through acquisitions, has been on the hunt for more deals since former President Donald Trump blocked its quest to buy rival Qualcomm Inc. in 2018, citing security risks. Broadcom has since moved its headquarters from Singapore to the U.S.

Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan has been focused on diversifying beyond the companys core chip business and pushing into the lucrative software arena. In 2018, he struck a roughly $19 billion deal to buy software firm CA Technologies, formerly Computer Associates. The following year, Broadcom agreed to buy Symantec Corp.s so-called enterprise business for roughly $10.7 billion.

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Broadcom in Talks to Buy Software Firm SAS - The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft has a tool to help you figure out if your device will be able to run Windows 11, but it's temporarily offline. Here's how to check another way.

A vast majority of PCs should be compatible with the newWindows 11 operating system,according to a Windows blog postpublished after the announcement of Microsoft's first major software upgrade in six years. But if you're planning to upgrade your current PC instead of buying a new device, we recommend you make sure the updated OS will work on your computer. Otherwise, you'll probably need to replace your PC by 2025asMicrosoft phases out Windows 10over the next several years.

When Microsoft first directed Windows users to download itsPC Health Check appto test whether your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11, many people reported that it was not giving enough detail as to why their device was not compatible. The company temporarily removed the tool and said in a blog post that it plans to address the feedback and get it back online sometime before Windows 11 becomes generally available in the fall.

You can still figure out if your device will run Windows 11 a few other ways, though. Here's what to do.

Read more: Should you buy a new Windows laptop now or wait for Windows 11?

A new, open-source app calledWhyNotWin11 could be a good alternative to the PC Health Check app, especially while Microsoft's official tool is offline. The Github app, created by a developer not affiliated with Microsoft, is a less friendly interface, but it should give you more information and go into more detail about various potential compatibility issues.Here's more information on how to use it to determine your own device compatibility with Windows 11.

To determine if your current PC will be able to run Windows 11, you can check out this list of system specifications on Microsoft's website, or in the chart below. If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free when it becomes available around the 2021 holiday season. If you're part of the Windows Insider Program, you can download the Insider Preview build version now.

Here's thefull list of system requirements for Windows 11, including at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally.

Stay current on the latest Microsoft news, plus reviews and advice on Windows PCs.

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Windows 11 compatibility: Try WhyNotWin11 if the PC Health Check app doesn't work - CNET

Ad blockers are browser extensions that modify the web pages you visit to remove intrusive advertisements and other irritating notifications.

Most ad blockers are free, and work by filtering out any web traffic originating from a giant list of domain names associated with advertisers, and can even be used to avoid seeing pre-roll ads on YouTube and Twitch, as well as promoted posts on Twitter and Facebook.

Browsers already block the worst types of malicious advertising things like the spammy pop-up windows that plagued the early internet but to completely obliterate all forms of digital advertising you need a dedicated ad blocker fighting your corner.

Some ad blockers come with privacy tools built in, which not only prevent ads appearing on the sites you visit, but stop advertisers keeping tabs on your browsing habits. If youve ever Googled a pair of shoes only to have that same pair of shoes follow you around the internet like a lost puppy, youll be familiar with how this kind of tracking works.

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Theres also an ethical consideration to make before using an ad blocker. Free websites rely on advertising revenue to make money and pay staff, which is why most ad blockers now allow you to show some non-intrusive ads and to whitelist the sites you want to continue supporting.

Which ad blocker is best for you depends mostly on which browser you use and how much control you want to have over what you do and dont see. Some ad blockers work across most browsers, while others are specifically designed for a single platform.

The best ad blockers for 2021 are:

(uBlock Origin)

Best: Free ad blocker

The best ad blocker is also a free ad blocker. Describing itself as a wide-spectrum content blocker, uBlock Origin has a low-memory footprint so doesnt hog your computers resources while its swatting ads.

Open-source and cross-platform, the blocker has extensions available for all the main browsers, with the exception of Safari. It utilises many of the same filters used by other ad blockers in this list and so reliably vaporises most forms of advertising, but if theres anything on a page you dont like the look of, you can right click to manually scrub it out.

Download now

(1Blocker)

Best: For Safari

The best way to block ads on iPhone, iPad and Mac, 1Blocker integrates with Safari and offers a suite of tools to block trackers, malicious advertising, pre-roll commercials, adult content and the absolute worst part of the internet comment sections.

It costs $2.99 to upgrade to the full version, but the free version does a decent job of decluttering your browsing experience on Apple devices. With the pro version you can fine-tune which parts of the internet you want to see, but the free version simply blocks all common or garden advertising.

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(AdBlock)

Best: For YouTube

The most popular ad-blocking extension for Chrome and Safari, AdBlock can be fine-tuned to only show acceptable advertisements that meet a certain quality standard, arent intrusive and dont block the content youre trying to read.

You can dial down the strength of the ad blocker until youre comfortable with the amount of consumerism happening on your screen, or crank it way up and block every pixel that looks like it might have the slightest intention of selling you something.

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(AdGuard)

Best: For Windows

A standalone app rather than a browser extension, AdGuard can be installed on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices to block intrusive advertising and malware on a system-wide level. It comes with a slew of other privacy tools and parental controls to help make browsing the web a little safer and a lot less cluttered.

Unlike the rest of the ad blockers in our list, AdGuard charges a monthly fee. The basic plan costs 1.99 per month and covers three devices. If youre only interested in the ad-blocking functionality or only plan on blocking in-browser advertising, wed recommend a free alternative.

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(AdBlock Plus)

Best: For Android

Adblock Plus, or APB, has been around for years and, confusingly, has absolutely nothing to do with the similarly named AdBlock. The browser extension has a straightforward user interface and simple content controls to help you whitelist sites or filter out only the most annoying varieties of ads.

Adblock Plus pioneered the acceptable ads scheme, which allowed non-intrusive and respectful ads to continue to be shown to users. In 2012 Adblock Plus drew controversy when it was found to be charging a fee to large advertisers for inclusion on this whitelist.

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(Privacy Badger)

Best: For privacy

Primarily a privacy tool, Privacy Badger is designed to block the invisible third-party scripts and social media widgets that ignore your do not track settings to monitor you as you move around the web. It just so happens that most of these nefarious trackers happen to be embedded inside regular advertisements, which makes Privacy Badger an incidental but highly effective ad blocker.

Used in conjunction with uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger provides a holistic ad-blocking experience. It doesnt need any tinkering with either, unless you want to fine tune any of the individual trackers youre happy to allow through. Any useful widgets, such as comment boxes and tweet buttons, can be unlocked again with a single click.

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(Wipr)

Best: For Mac

Apple updated how extensions worked in Safari 13, which broke almost every existing ad-blocking extension and left users of Apples browser rudely exposed to everything from discounted Thorpe Park tickets to urgent solicitations to top up on rinse aid.

Since then Safari has had a complete overhaul, fixing extensions again. But when all other ad blockers were unavailable, Wipr stepped up to become the swatter-in-chief of unwanted browser commercials on Mac and iOS. Frequently updated filters and a low-memory footprint make this the go-to ad blocker for many Safari users today.

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(Stands Fair Adblocker)

Best: For ethical ad blocking

Positioning itself as an ethical ad blocker, Fair AdBlocker only targets the most irritating types of advertising by default: things like autoplaying video ads, ads that balloon in size when you mouse over them, and ads that cover up the actual content you came to the site to see.

Non-intrusive, respectful advertising is still allowed to appear on websites, and websites you like can be whitelisted entirely, generating the revenue many sites need to stay free and in business.

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(Cookie Notice Blocker)

Best: For blocking cookie notices

Well give an honourable mention to this Chrome extension for blocking cookie notices, which are perhaps the most frustrating aspect of using the internet today. New data protection rules make it unlawful for companies to use third-party cookies to track your online behaviour without your consent. But rather than stop doing it, those companies instead bombard users with questionnaire-length permission forms.

Cookie Notice Blocker does a decent job of blocking most of these notices, and doesnt give your consent to be tracked by third-party advertising trackers. It also blocks pop-ups asking you to subscribe to newsletters or allow notifications.

Download now

Ad blocker FAQs

What is an ad blocker?

An ad blocker is a piece of software that modifies the web pages you visit to remove intrusive advertisements, invisible trackers and other irritating notifications. Most come in the form of free browser add-ons and run quietly in the background as you browse the internet.

Ad blockers typically work by referencing a large list of constantly updating domain names related to advertisers, and preventing web traffic from those domain names reaching your web browser.

Are ad blockers legal?

Yes, ad blockers are legal. Just as youre free to mute your television or go make a cup of tea during an ad break, youve no legal obligation to pay attention to any advertising online, and youre free to use software to manipulate what does and doesnt appear on your own screen.

You could argue that theres a moral obligation to accept the inconvenience of advertising as the cost of accessing otherwise free news and information online. We wont open that can of worms, but if the thought of your favourite websites losing revenue keeps you awake at night, most ad blockers allow you to whitelist certain domains.

You may be breaking the terms of service if you block ads on sites like YouTube, but to date no enforcement has ever been made against an individual user for using an ad blocker. Instead, large websites direct their efforts towards identifying and circumventing ad blockers en masse. Others place their content behind paywalls or a subscription model.

Are ad blockers safe?

Many ad blockers are not safe. You should be particularly careful when searching online for ad blockers and other free software, as the internet is rife with malicious adware and dodgy browser extensions with confusingly similar names to legitimate ad blockers. Even in this list there are two almost identically named extensions AdBlock and Adblock Plus which have nothing to do with one another, but are both authentic browser add-ons.

Read more: The best free VPNs for browsing the web safely and securely

An ad blocker needs to be able to read whats on your screen in order to remove ads, so if you end up installing something sketchy, you could be opening up your machine to some serious vulnerabilities. Always check that youre at the correct URL, that the connection is secure (indicated by the closed padlock next to the URL), and that the extension youre installing has lots of users and reviews.

Legitimate ad blockers any of the extensions you install by clicking the above links are safe to use and wont harm your computer.

Do ad blockers really work?

Yes, ad blockers work. Theyre best at removing static advertising like banner ads and autoplaying videos, but theyre also able to block more complex types of advertising, such as pop-up boxes, pre-roll ads, promoted Tweets and interstitial ads (the type that slips in between two slides of a slideshow, for example).

Most can get rid of those weird clickbait links about laser eye surgery and hot singles in your area that appear at the end of many news articles, making browsing the internet more pleasant and for those who arent as experienced online a lot more safe.

The verdict: Best ad blocker

If youre a Chrome user, right now the best ad blocker is uBlock Origin. It's free, uncomplicated and easy to tailor to your personal preferences. Pair it with Privacy Badger for the most private browsing experience you can get without using a VPN.

For blocking ads on Android wed recommend AdBlock Plus extension to the Firefox mobile browser. We would always advise against rooting your phone or enabling side-loaded apps to install any ad blocking software on mobile, as this makes your phone way less secure.

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IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

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Best ad blockers: Get rid of cookie notices and annoying pop-ups in Chrome, Android, Safari and more - The Independent