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GoPro pulls the plug on its desktop Quik editing app – less than a year after bringing it back

GoPro sunsets its Quik desktop app and points you to Adobe Premiere instead.

GoPro is sunsetting its Quik desktop video editing app The Mac version will be removed from the App Store on December 31GoPro says it’ll no longer be launching a Windows version

GoPro has pulled a surprise U-turn and announced that it’s sunsetting its Quik desktop editing app – less than a year on from bringing it back.

The Quik Desktop for Mac app will disappear from the App Store on December 31, according to a GoPro blog post. Meanwhile, the long-promised Windows version, which never arrived, will “not be released”.

The app was a handy video editing option for GoPro subscribers, and its return was announced in late 2023 after GoPro discontinued a previous free version in 2017. But after finally launching the Mac version in February, GoPro says it’s now “shifting gears to focus solely on mobile-focused editing solutions”.

That means the GoPro Quik app for iOS and Android will soon be the only GoPro-made way to edit your videos and boost their stabilization. If you’d prefer to edit on desktop, GoPro says it’ll be releasing updated versions of its plug-ins for some of the best video editing software like Adobe Premiere and After Effects.

GoPro does also have a web app for subscribers who’ve stored their videos and photos in the GoPro Cloud service, but that’s strictly for watching and sharing footage rather than editing.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

Why the U-turn?

GoPro is clearing going through some challenging times, with its main focus in 2024 being growing its subscriber base. But while the Quik desktop app was part of that plan (being only available to GoPro subscribers), it clearly wasn’t moving the needle enough to justify the development costs.

As GoPro recently revealed in its latest earnings call, the GoPro Max 2 – its long-awaited challenger to the best 360 cameras like the Insta360 X4 – now definitely won’t be launched until sometime in 2025.

That’s a big delay considering it was confirmed to be “in the works” back in September 2023, so it’s no surprise that the Max 2 is a bigger priority than shipping a Windows version of the Quik desktop app.

When the Max 2 does eventually arrive, it’ll be interesting to see what editing options GoPro provides, because 360-degree clips are notoriously demanding and often better edited on a desktop machine.

Until then, current GoPro owners who prefer desktop editing will need to either continue with an out-of-date Quik Mac app or switch to the likes of Adobe Premiere, After Effects or (hopefully) DaVinci Resolve, if GoPro makes a plug-in for the latter.

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Spyro Reignited Trilogy gets an Xbox Game Pass release today

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is finally coming to Xbox Game Pass.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is coming to Xbox Game Pass todayXbox initially confirmed the news in a cryptic social media postThis follows months of rumors that the game would get a release on the subscription service

After months of rumors, Spyro Reignited Trilogy has finally been confirmed for Xbox Game Pass.

Microsoft announced the news in a new blog post, sharing that the 2018 trilogy will be coming to the subscription service today November 12 for all tiers including Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass, for cloud, console, and PC.

“Xbox players have been able to explore the Dragon Realms with Spyro since 2018 with the release of the Reignited Trilogy, and now we’re excited to invite our community to jump into these incredible adventures once again and relive the fun and nostalgia that only Spyro can bring,” Microsoft said.

Some crystal-shattering news!The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is coming to @XboxGamePass and @XboxGamePassPC tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/fChY2mKj0JNovember 11, 2024

Before the news broke, the X / Twitter accounts for Xbox Game Pass and Spyro hinted at a release in a series of cryptic tweets suggesting an official announcement was on the way.

This followed months of rumors that more Activision games were to be added to Xbox Game Pass. In July, a leaker accurately predicted the release of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 on the service, while also suggesting that Spyro Reignited Trilogy was “coming very soon”.

The Reignited Trilogy features all three original games built from the ground up for current-gen consoles and PC, including Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon.

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The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s repair pricing shows the most dangerous thing about owning a foldable

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold inner screen could cost you at least $1,199.99 / £1,127.99 to replace.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s inner screen costs $1,199.99 / £1,127.99 to fixiFixit calls the repair ‘Difficult’Foldable are a delight, but should be handled with care

You’re likely trying to take good care your Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but you might want to be extra careful with the foldable, as iFixit has listed its repair kit (spotted by 9to5Google) for the phone’s inner screen, and it costs $1,206.99 / £1,134.99 (that’s about AU$1,830) with the screen on its own costing $1,199.99 / £1,127.99.

That’s about as much as an iPhone 16 Pro Max or a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which means that if your foldable screen smashes you might be better off just buying a whole new device from our best phone guide instead of fixing it.

Interestingly it’s also pricier than the same part for the Google Pixel Fold – which costs $909.99 / £904.99 (about AU$1,400) for the kit or $899.99 / £894.99 for the part only. The only saving grace is that at least a replacement is available, as iFixit doesn’t provide repair kits for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

You’ll only need to spend this much if you want to repair your phone yourself. If your phone is under warranty, or if you have Google’s Apple Care-like Preferred Care plan for your foldable, the cost of fixing it won’t be quite as steep.

If you do need to arrange the fix yourself, taking it to a professional will also save you a lot of time, as iFixit says replacing the inner screen will take roughly three to four hours and rates it as a “Difficult” fix – advising you to “Proceed with caution and patience” when undertaking it.

Buy with caution

(Image credit: Future)

Ideally, of course, you don’t want to have to fix your foldable, so it’s important that you don’t mistreat it.

While you can’t buy inner screen protectors for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you can get phone cases which should be able to absorb the shock of a drop better than the phone’s chassis alone. And bear in mind that the non-dust proof devices shouldn’t be taken to the beach, or anywhere particularly dusty.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t still consider getting a foldable despite these challenges. I’ve tried out the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and I’m currently testing the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and love both phones.

That larger inner screen is a delight for games and reading – effectively giving you a mini tablet in your pocket – and with the Pixel foldable its full-sized outer screen means you won’t always feel the need to unfold it (something which isn’t as much the case with the Z Fold 6).

That said, it’s worth considering a foldable’s added cost and extra fragility before you commit to making what will be an expensive investment.

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You can preload Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl on Xbox… if you have almost 150 GB of space

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available to preload, but you might need to clear some space on your Xbox first.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now available to preloadIt requires roughly 150GB of console storage spaceThe game will launch on November 20

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to launch on November 20 and can be preloaded now on Xbox so that you’re ready to play when the big day comes around.

There is a catch, though, as the game comes in at an absolutely massive 146.58GB, which puts it right up there with some of the largest games on the platform.

Ensuring you have enough space for the download is going to be a bit of a hassle if you already have a substantial game library, especially for those using the original 512GB Xbox Series S which only has about 350GB of usable space out of the box.

If you don’t have around 150GB available, your best bet is to start uninstalling games or invest in any of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs, like the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, for a big storage boost.

Three editions of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl can be purchased now: the standard version, the Deluxe Edition, and the Ultimate Edition. The game is also available via an Xbox Game Pass subscription. All three versions are eligible for preloading, including for those accessing the standard version through Game Pass.

Luckily, if you can’t manage to muster up the storage space before launch day, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will also be offered as Xbox Cloud Gaming. This won’t be much consolation for those with poor internet connections, but it does offer some the option to give the game a try before committing to a full download.

Throughout its development, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was hit with multiple delays partly due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the region where developer GSC Game World is based, and the desire to polish out any ‘technical imperfections’.

In addition to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the game will also be launching on PC.

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Amazon confirms employee data stolen after third-party MOVEit breach

More victims are emerging from the MOVEit vulnerability exploition and subsequent data breaches.

Amazon has confirmed data has been breached through a third partyThe MOVEit cyberattack left the data of hundreds of thousands exposedThe third party did not have access to highly sensitive data

The MOVEit Transfer cyberattack that swept the world across the second half of 2023 is apparently continuing to wreak havoc, with Amazon confirming some of its employee details have been leaked via a breach in a third-party provider.

The compromised data includes employee work contact information, for example work email addresses, desk phone numbers, and building locations.

Amazon did not state how many employees had their data stolen, but confirmed the unnamed third-party did not hold sensitive data such as Social Security numbers or financial information.

MOVEit breach effects continue

Speaking to TechCrunch, Amazon spokesperson Adam Montgommery said, “Amazon and AWS systems remain secure, and we have not experienced a security event. We were notified about a security event at one of our property management vendors that impacted several of its customers including Amazon.”

The original MOVEit attack impacted an estimated 2,600 organizations after the Cl0p ransomware gang used SQL injection to compromise public-facing servers and steal data using LemurLoot from connected organizations.

Amazon’s confirmation of a breach comes shortly after a threat actor published data on BreachForums, a site used by cyber criminals to advertise stolen data for sale. ‘Nam3L3ss’, the original poster of the data said in their forum post that they had data stolen from 25 major organizations including Amazon, U.S. Bank, HP, Delta Airlines, Lenovo and many more (via HudsonRock).

Nam3L3ss also emphasized that “What you have seen so far is less than .001% of the data I have. I have 1,000 releases coming never seen before.”

The data stolen in the original breach remains a threat to affected organizations and could be used in a number of harmful ways, including phishing, social engineering, and fraud.

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This iPhone 14 Pro prototype has a haptic volume key, showing what could have been – and what still might come

An iPhone 14 Pro prototype has been shown on video, sporting a button design Apple might still be working on.

A video has shown off an iPhone 14 Pro prototypeThis unreleased design has haptic volume and power buttonsThe unified volume button design is reminiscent of a rumored iPhone 17 Pro feature

Apple seems to have developed an obsession with buttons during the last couple of iPhone generations, specifically with changing buttons (consider the move from a mute switch to an Action button) and adding them (see the new Camera Control button).

Previous leaks suggested that Apple had also experimented with various other iPhone button changes in recent years, and now we’ve seen a prototype showing one of these proposed changes in action.

YouTuber Apple Demo (via 9to5Mac) has shown off a prototype iPhone 14 Pro, complete with a haptic volume button. Rather than the two volume keys on current iPhones, the model in question just has a single button, and it’s a solid-state button rather than a mechanical one – meaning it won’t move when pressed, but is designed to provide haptic feedback, so you know the press has been registered.

This prototype uses the same technology for the power button, but it’s the volume buttons that we’re most interested in here, because an iPhone 17 Pro leak suggests this upcoming phone could have a single button in place of the volume buttons and the Action button.

That, then, would be different to what we see here, but with this prototype, Apple has already replaced two volume keys with a single button, so it’s partway to what this leak suggests.

Possibly still planned

Now, this iPhone 17 Pro leak doesn’t say whether a solid-state button will be used, but this is an idea Apple has seemingly spent a while exploring, with Apple Insider previously sharing images of an iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype that also had a unified, haptic volume button. On top of which, some leaks even suggested Apple might equip the iPhone 16 series with solid-state buttons.

That of course didn’t happen, and leaks suggest Apple eventually gave up on the idea due to its complexity. But given the company’s current obsession with changing up the buttons on its phones, and the aforementioned leak about a new combined button on the iPhone 17 Pro, it’s possible that Apple is still working on some version of this concept.

Of course, that doesn’t mean an iPhone 17 Pro with unified volume buttons – let alone solid-state ones – will actually launch, but it’s a possibility. And if not, then this iPhone 14 Pro prototype is still an interesting look at what could have been.

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Not a fan of the new Photos app? iOS 18.2 is fixing one of its most annoying quirks

Apple has changed the Photos app in iOS 18.2 to improve how videos are shown on-screen.

Some users have complained about how videos are displayed in iOS 18Apple has adjusted video layouts in the third beta of iOS 18.2Bezels have been removed and videos automatically fill the screen

Apple made major design changes to the Photos app in iOS 18, with a new layout and new navigation system. But the redesign hasn’t been universally praised, and Apple has had to backtrack on a number of the changes it introduced – and now it’s altered the Photos app again to reverse a change to the way it handles videos.

Previously, when you opened a video in Photos it would be displayed with thick bezels around the top, bottom and sides, with the video squashed down slightly in order to fit within these borders. When you tapped the video, the playback controls would disappear and the video would expand to fill the screen.

That’s all done differently in the third beta of iOS 18.2, as videos now fill the screen automatically when you open them. The playback controls – including the play and mute buttons, as well as the video timeline – are still visible and overlaid on top of the video. When you tap the screen, the playback controls disappear but the video retains its regular dimensions.

It’s a similar situation to how the Photos app worked before iOS 18, and should be good news to people who weren’t fond of Apple’s alterations to video layouts.

On the left is the video playback layout in iOS 18. The iPhone on the right shows how the video playback design has changed in the third beta of iOS 18.2 (Image credit: Future)

It’s not the first time that Apple has had to revert changes it’s made to the Photos app. One of the headline features of the Photos app was a carousel of highlighted images and videos, but Apple ditched it in iOS 18 beta 5. The app is highly customizable, which means you can tweak its layout if you don’t appreciate its default arrangement.

The Photos app is very different in iOS 18 compared to earlier versions of the iPhone operating system, with most of the app’s various categories, features and highlights placed in a single page. Apple says this is to “help users easily find and relive special moments.”

To get the latest update, you’ll need to enroll your device into Apple’s beta software program on the company’s website, then open the Settings app on your iPhone and head to General > Software Update > Beta Updates and enable the iOS 18 developer beta.

Note that you shouldn’t install the beta on your main device, as it could come with bugs and issues that may cause problems for your phone. We’ve got a full guide on installing the iOS 18 developer beta if you need more details.

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Apple Music’s 100 best albums are now available in book form –so like a website but made out of a tree

Missing physical media in the streaming age? Apple Music’s 100 best albums are now available as a pricey limited-edition book.

Apple Music’s 100 best albums are now available in book formStrictly limited to 1,500 hand numbered copiesYours for just $450

If you’ve moved from buying music in a physical format (CD, vinyl, cassette tapes… 8-tracks?) to streaming it, you’ve probably encountered an important issue: what do you do with all the shelf space you previously needed for music? The answer, it seems, is “spend $450 on a big book”.

This is no ordinary book, though. Apple Music: 100 Best Albums is a hand numbered limited edition and very fancy guide to – yes! – the 100 best albums on Apple Music, as chosen by – yes! – Apple Music. And it features the same liner notes you’ll find on – wait for it! – Apple Music. The foreword is by Zane Lowe and the book promises insights from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Mark Hoppus and Charli XCX.

Apple Music is believed to pay artists $0.01 per stream, so if an artist wanted to earn enough to buy a copy of the book, they’d need their music streamed 45,000 times.

Apple Music: 100 Best Albums – the details

So what do you get for your $450 compared to reading Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which is free and has 400 more things for you to listen to?

The book is a strictly limited edition of 1,500 copies, each one housed in a transparent acrylic slipcase etched with the Apple Music logo. The linen hardcover is embossed with the same logo, and the book edges are gilded with a gold finish that mirrors the title on the spine.

Inside, you’ll find coverage of records from 1959 to the present day, with 208 pages and 97 illustrations. The book weighs a whopping 8lbs and is 16 inches by 11 inches and 2.5 inches thick. The sub-editor of this piece checked though, and an IKEA Billy bookcase shelf has a depth of just over 11 inches and maximum load limit of 66lbs, so you’re good.

You can probably tell by the snark that this book isn’t going to be in my letter to Santa. But then, it’s not really aimed at the average Joe or Jane. It’s part of the Assouline Legends Collection, which includes expensive tomes dedicated to fine watches, famous artists, designer brands and similarly refined subjects. So if you see it casually slung on a Le Maé coffee table soon, next to your flat white, consider yourself fortunate.

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Windows 11’s latest update might finally make choosing default apps easier (looking at you, Edge)

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update redesigns default app settings, potentially making it easier for users to select their preferred apps without constant prompts toward Microsoft apps like Edge.

The new changes in Windows 11’s settings aim to streamline how users select their default apps, addressing longstanding complaints about the difficulty of switching from Microsoft’s default programsMicrosoft’s insistence on setting Edge as the default for certain link types, like hyperlinks in Outlook and Teams, has caused frustration among users and app developers. Microsoft claims this was meant to improve workflow, but it has spurred criticism about limiting user choiceThis update, discovered by Windows observer Albacore in a Windows 11 preview build, is still in development. Microsoft’s willingness to adjust the default app settings could signal a shift toward more user-friendly options, though it remains to be seen if the final implementation will fully address user concerns

Microsoft has taken to redesigning Windows 11’s settings for its default apps, bringing changes to how people choose their preferred apps in the operating system (OS). This will affect apps that automatically open certain types of files or web links. It’s suspected to have to do with Microsoft’s reluctance to let users pick an app not made by the company, such as using the Chrome web browser instead of Microsoft Edge, for example.

The tech giant has been fairly forceful in trying to steer users towards its own browser that comes installed on new Windows 10 or 11. It’s become a common point of complaint for users, as lots of us have own own apps that we prefer to use.

Microsoft is also sometimes suspected of making it hard to change what apps you use by default. Neowin found evidence that indicates that Microsoft deliberately added parts to its software to make modifications when users change their default apps. When speaking to Neowin in May 2023, Microsoft expalined that it added a modification that defaulted hyperlinks included in messages in Outlook and Teams to be opened with Edge. Apparently, this was meant to improve users’ workflow.

This position by Microsoft has triggered complaints from other software companies and individual users alike, which Neowin describes in-depth, as some feel the company has an unfair advantage. Luckily, it looks like Microsoft might actually be listening to these complains and making some user interface (UI) changes in the page about default app choices in the Settings app.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Mojahid Mottakin)

We expect to see new default-app related settings soon

The development was discovered and shared by X user and eager Windows observer Albacore, who often shares peeks of the newest additions and changes in Windows 11. This is a part of a recently released Windows 11 version 24H2 preview build (build number KB5045885), which was released in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program.

Configuring default apps is getting an overhaul. It’s a mess of placeholders and broken viewmodels at the moment, all very early. pic.twitter.com/C3Pg7Pm9MKNovember 10, 2024

The change is still in development, with the rest of the new page in the Settings app being mostly filled with placeholder labels such as one titled “Set a default for a file type or link type.”

If Microsoft fleshes this out, it could be seen as evidence that the company is still thinking about the user experience of its products. People want to be able to customize their user experience, and it can be especially annoying when Microsoft puts artificial blocks to changes to force people to use apps that they might not want to. We’ll have to see if Microsoft’s efforts bear fruit or if they fall by the wayside as the Windows 11 preview build makes its way with testers.

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Tackling software vulnerabilities amidst the QA talent shortage

The QA talent shortage exposes vulnerabilities, but test management strategies optimize efficiency and safeguard security.

This year has seen an increase in businesses addressing a wide range of software vulnerabilities. Most recently, the CrowdStrike outage caused thousands of flight cancellations and disruptions for companies relying on devices running Windows 10 and 11 in their daily operations. This highlights the critical need for rigorous, high-quality testing to prevent similar incidents. Software engineers and quality assurance (QA) testers are working diligently to mitigate and keep up with the rise of such events. However, a significant roadblock is exacerbating the problem: shortage of technically skilled, qualified talent to meet the increasing requirements of the modern QA/test engineer.

Job openings for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are projected to grow by a significant 17% between 2023 and 2032. If this gap remains unfilled, the United States economy stands to lose $162 billion in annual revenue. The growing complexity of software, coupled with rapid technological advancements, makes it increasingly difficult for companies to find skilled professionals. This shortage leaves organizations of all sizes vulnerable to escalating defects, delays, and cyberattacks.

Organizations must focus on optimizing their QA processes to mitigate the impact of the QA talent shortage. Testing and QA are essential in safeguarding against these threats. By leveraging the proper tools and software platforms, teams can streamline test planning, execution, and reporting, freeing up valuable time for higher-level and more specialized testing.

The QA talent shortage

Entire enterprises, especially their software development departments, are under immense pressure to ensure that system vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they potentially escalate into major security breaches. Unfortunately, many development teams struggle to keep pace with increasingly rapid technological advancements. A recent Harvard Business Review article noted that some tech skills become outdated in as little as 2.5 years. This quick turnover is particularly problematic for QA engineers within development teams, where deep expertise in testing and processes is essential to maintaining software quality.

As systems grow more interconnected and the environments in which they operate become more complex, even the most experienced professionals find it difficult to stay ahead of emerging threats. Without adequate personnel, QA professionals are often bogged down with repetitive, low-level tasks—such as manual testing or bug triaging—leaving little time to focus on strategic priorities such as vulnerability management and advanced threat mitigation. This creates bottlenecks that can delay projects, weaken security, and limit the organization’s ability to seize market opportunities.

For organizations looking to thrive in today’s fast-paced tech landscape, addressing the QA talent shortage is no longer just an operational concern—it’s a business imperative.

Software vulnerabilities: the growing concern

Software vulnerabilities pose significant operational and financial challenges for organizations. Unaddressed defects lead to delays in time to market, higher development costs, and missed business opportunities. Software that lacks rigorous testing not only hampers efficiency but also exposes the company to long-term reputational harm. Without experienced and capable QA-focused engineers on development teams, these issues will continue to escalate, stalling the entire development pipeline and driving up costs.

As these operational setbacks compound and technology continues advancing, cybersecurity threats’ growth in both sophistication and complexity makes them increasingly difficult to detect and prevent. Without proper QA processes in place, businesses are exposed and vulnerable to disastrous breaches. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach is projected to reach $4.88 million by 2024, emphasizing the financial pressure organizations face to prevent these incidents. For industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, the stakes are even higher. Not only do they risk financial and reputational damage, but they also face legal repercussions and regulatory penalties for failing to safeguard sensitive data.

The solution to the QA talent gap

While the QA talent shortage presents a significant challenge, companies can take strategic steps to mitigate its impact. One of the most effective approaches is optimizing QA processes by leveraging advanced test management tools. These tools help alleviate some of the pressure on development teams by creating highly visible and transparent metrics for continuous state of quality monitoring for a product or software development life cycle, and they also significantly enhance overall software quality and speed to market.

Modern test management platforms streamline the entire testing lifecycle—from planning and execution to tracking and reporting. By centralizing these processes, entire development teams can collaborate effortlessly, track progress in real time, and ensure thorough, timely testing. These platforms also strengthen collaboration between departments, supporting a more cohesive and agile software development process that adapts easily to shifting requirements.

QA teams can improve both efficiency and development timelines by leveraging common test management platform features such as templates or various integration options, which can free up their skilled individuals to focus on higher-priority testing, such as vulnerability assessments and complex test scenarios. Test management platforms enable software development teams to scale testing efforts without increasing headcount, risking stability, or compromising on security, a critical advantage in the face of a talent shortage.

The QA talent shortage is a growing concern, and the risks posed by software vulnerabilities and high impact production defects are only becoming more severe. Testing and QA are an essential step in preventing cyber-attacks and defects from having debilitating effects on businesses. Organizations that proactively address the QA talent gap and strengthen their testing capabilities will be well-positioned to tackle future challenges and protect against the rising threat of software vulnerabilities. By investing in innovative technology and tools, organizations can ensure that their software vulnerabilities are minimized and their software testing and quality practices remain strong, even in a challenging talent market.

We’ve listed the best DevOps tools.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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