Author: Graham

  • WordPress 6.6 Update

    WordPress 6.6 Update

    A new WordPress update is available: 6.6. The update includes a block editor feature that displays fonts and a color palette at the theme level. So don’t change themes or those settings will go away. Also, a new page quick-view option in the site-editor. Note – the Altimeter theme does not have support for either of these two features as it is a Gutenberg WordPress update. Gutenberg is an option if enabled with Altimeter, but comes disabled out of the box. Another update is the plugin update rollback. I, personally, do not enable plugin auto-updates, but to each their own and I think this is a great idea. Especially if a plugin pushes code (unintentionally, we’ve all been there) that has a nasty bug that will shut down both the front and back end. See notes below for a fix to that scenerio. Lastly, there are some performance tweaks to include a 33% speed increase in loading the template in the editor. I’m not sure if that applies to Altimeter sites, but it sounds good. Full details here. and documentation here.

    Artwork Credit:
    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Street_art,_Ray_Dudley_Way,_Walthamstow_E17.jpg

  • Google Investing in Cloud Tech

    Google Investing in Cloud Tech

    According to several sources (WSJ, CNN), Google is considering investing in cloud tech by purchasing a cloud-based tech security startup called Wiz. It will be (speculative) the largest acquisition for Alphabet (Google) which would be almost double what it paid for the acquisition of Motorola which was 12.5 billion. The price on the table is currently 23 billion, but talks are still happening. Google also purchased Mandiant, a cyber security firm, in 2023 and looks to catch up with Microsoft / Amazon in terms of security. This follows a recent hack discovered with Google’s Chrome browser in January and another in December: both zero-day vulnerabilities.

    Google is the developer of Flutter and Firebase – both of which are VERY much on my radar. I’ve been learning and working with the .dart language for over a year and will continue to do so regardless. I do (extremely) appreciate security and take these maters seriously. I also want to encourage you to update your Chrome browser if you haven’t since January.

    Google investing in security is a good thing – it signals a turn towards stability and efficacy for Google, it’s customers, and it’s users. It’s not the only tech giant having issues. Microsoft had a report issued by the U.S. Congress earlier this year concerning a hack that accessed Microsoft’s email exchange server exposing 22 organizations and hundreds of employees to include Secretary Gina Raimondo.

    To update Google Chrome:

    1. On your computer, open Chrome.
    2. At the top right, click More More.
    3. Click Help and then About Google Chrome.
    4. Click Update Google Chrome.
      • Important: If you can’t find this button, you’re on the latest version.
    5. Click Relaunch.
  • Upside: Carbon Emissions Decline

    Upside: Carbon Emissions Decline

    At the end of 2023, carbon emissions were (slowing) falling in the U.S. while the economy continued to rebound from 2020 and the pandemic. The coal consumption has been cut, even if it isn’t where global expectations are for the U.S., a reduction is a reduction. The decrease is not expected to fall drastically this year, but there will still be a reduction and every bit helps the environment as well as the push towards sustainable energy.

    Furthermore, a reduction in coal (globally) will result in the decline of coal consumption in China by means of alternative energy sources. From my standpoint, there is an opportunity here to help China away from carbon consumption and emissions. I would be greatly upset to see that opportunity squandered, but I also understand the complications involved in dealing with a communist and secluded state.