Code spotted by TestingCatalog reveals a hidden 'Additional sandbox options' setting in Gemini's macOS desktop app that would let the AI read, create, modify or delete files anywhere on a Mac, not just in folders users have connected. The feature would also let Gemini interact with apps like Mail, Safari and Messages, and take some actions without asking permission each time. Google has not confirmed the feature, and it is not yet live.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-10-03
A Docker engineer recounts that Docker Desktop (originally Docker for Mac) was built on a custom-built lightweight VMM called hyperkit, developed from Docker's Mirage Unikernel libraries, running a minimal LinuxKit-based kernel. This architecture replaced VirtualBox, which had powered the earlier Docker Toolbox, and has since evolved into what the company now calls Docker VMM.
dave.recoil.org
· 2026-10-03
A blogger, inspired by Scott Jenson's talk questioning desktop UX stagnation, proposes reimagining window management around tmux's model: scrollable, session-persisted, detachable, task-oriented workflows. The author, who describes themselves as not a UI/UX designer, frames the idea as a thought experiment meant to prompt wider discussion rather than a finished design.
matduggan.com
· 2026-10-02
Sidekick has introduced a desktop application that actively supports patients during telehealth consultations by explaining medical terminology and highlighting questions. After the appointment, it consolidates the conversation, questions, and next steps into a single accessible summary. A mobile version is planned for future release to support in-person and telehealth visits on smartphones.
openhand.health
· 2026-10-01
Parrot is a free, open-source meeting recorder for Mac that captures audio your computer already plays, rather than joining calls as a bot. It works with Zoom, Meet, Teams or any audio source, offers searchable transcripts via a local command palette, and can integrate with tools like Claude Desktop, Cursor and Codex. Users can run it fully offline using Whisper and Ollama, or opt into cloud AI providers like Groq or Deepgram for transcription, paying those providers directly.
openparrot.app
· 2026-09-30
Tom's Hardware reviewed iBuyPower's Slate gaming desktop, priced at $1,999, which pairs an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D CPU, a 360mm liquid cooler, and a tempered-glass RGB chassis. The unit also ships with included gaming peripherals rather than the bare-bones extras typical of the price tier.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-30
Microsoft has released WSL Containers to general availability, letting Windows 11 developers build, run and deploy Linux containers natively through Windows Subsystem for Linux. The update adds a wslc.exe management tool, GPU support, networking improvements, health checks, storage mounts, and integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Intune. Microsoft says file access from Linux environments to Windows storage can now run up to twice as fast, though Compose support is still missing and listed as a priority.
linux.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-29
Framework has refreshed its desktop computer with AMD's most powerful processor, paired with an especially large maximum memory configuration. The machine is being positioned as a modular alternative to premium desktops like Apple's Mac Studio.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-29
Google's March Pixel Drop update for Android 16 introduces Desktop Mode, a feature that lets Pixel 8 and newer phones connect to an external monitor to run a PC-like interface. The feature had been in beta testing for several months before this official release.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-27
Microsoft has acknowledged that recent Windows updates, including August 2026 preview builds and this month's Patch Tuesday releases (KB5120996, KB5120998, KB5124008, KB5122880), can cause black screens after sign-in and Windows Explorer crashes. The issue mainly affects Azure Virtual Desktop hosts using FSLogix profile software. Microsoft has issued a Known Issue Rollback fix for enterprise admins and suggests manually relaunching explorer.exe as a temporary workaround for individual users.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-25
Google is reportedly rolling out a new Tasks mode within the Gemini desktop app, according to TestingCatalog, which separates regular chat conversations from more autonomous, multi-step tasks. The update includes new Computer Use settings allowing users to specify which desktop apps Gemini can and cannot control, plus a more visible option to launch projects from local folders. A Gemini Live button has also been spotted inside Tasks, suggesting users may be able to talk to Gemini while it operates across the computer.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-24
At KDE's Akademy 2026 conference, former Apple and Google UX designer Scott Jenson called on open-source developers to experiment with desktop interfaces beyond the decades-old windows, icons, menus and pointer model. Jenson, who now works with Mastodon and Home Assistant, said he left Google over cultural changes there and now tries to bring better UX practices to open-source projects despite their limited staffing.
lwn.net
· 2026-09-24
GoKawiil