A Quick Newsletter This Time Around
I'm dealing with some things right now, and taking a break from creating content. Here are some quick things to check out this week.
If I’m being completely honest, a lot is going on in my life right now, and it’s all stressful. Things should settle down sometime in April.
I greatly enjoy my work and creating this newsletter, so don’t think I’m going to be calling it quits any time soon. Just wanted to spell that out.
Here’s some tech news worth checking out this week.
Does Your Grandson Really Need Bail Money? Beware the 'Grandparent Scam'
The Short Version
A group of 25 Canadians ran a massive "Grandparent Scam," tricking elderly Americans out of $21 million by posing as arrested relatives needing bail money. They used fake lawyers, real estate tricks, and even rideshare drivers to collect cash. A police raid caught them mid-scam—now, the ringleaders could face up to 40 years behind bars. If you suspect elder fraud, call 833-FRAUD-11.
Know More
Vermont officials charged 25 Canadians for a $21 million "Grandparent Scam" that targeted elderly Americans. Operating from Montreal call centers (2021–2024), scammers posed as relatives in legal trouble, pressuring victims to send bail money.
"Openers" convinced victims their grandchild was arrested, then passed calls to "closers" posing as lawyers. Cash was sent to vacant properties or handed to fake bail bondsmen. Some victims, dubbed "whales," were repeatedly scammed. Money was laundered through Canada, sometimes via cryptocurrency.
A June 4 raid caught scammers mid-call, with one leader’s truck full of victim lists and phones. Ringleaders face up to 40 years in prison; others, 20. Authorities urge reporting elder fraud to 833-FRAUD-11.
Firefox 136 Adds Updated Sidebar and Vertical Tabs
The Short Version
Firefox 136 is here with some solid updates—but the long-awaited vertical tabs feel like an afterthought, which is pretty frustrating. If you're looking for real vertical tab support, Zen Browser might be the better option. Plus, Mozilla had to clean up a privacy policy mess before this release.
Know More
Mozilla just released Firefox 136, bringing some solid updates—but first, they had to fix a controversy over their terms of use. A recent update made it seem like Mozilla could use user data freely, sparking backlash. They quickly clarified that they don’t own or sell user data and revised the wording to reflect that.
Now, onto what’s new:
Updated sidebar – Now fully available, with bookmarks, history, synced tabs, and an AI chatbot.
Vertical tabs – A long-requested feature, but unfortunately, it feels like an afterthought. Given the demand, it’s frustrating that Firefox didn’t implement them better. If you're looking for truly usable vertical tabs, check out Zen Browser, a Firefox-based alternative.
Improved data clearing – Saved form data can now be cleared separately from browsing history.
HTTPS-first – Firefox now defaults to loading secure HTTPS versions of websites.
Smartblock Embeds – Allows selective unblocking of social media embeds in strict tracking protection.
Linux on Arm – Now natively supported, with Flatpak coming soon.
Mac & Linux updates – Better power efficiency on Mac, AMD GPU video decoding on Linux.
Regional features – UK gets address autofill; parts of Latin America get weather on the new tab page.
A decent update, but the handling of vertical tabs is a letdown.
LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs
The Short Version
LibreOffice is booming, with nearly a million downloads a week. As Microsoft and Google push cloud-based suites, more users—and even governments—are turning to this free, AI-free alternative.
Read More
LibreOffice is surging in popularity, with nearly a million weekly downloads—its highest since 2023. The free, open-source Microsoft Office alternative is gaining traction, especially after its recent 25.2 release.
Most users (85%) are on Windows, but businesses and governments are increasingly adopting it, like Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein, which is switching 30,000 PCs. LibreOffice stands out for its no-subscription model and AI-free approach, unlike Microsoft and Google’s cloud-focused suites. While OpenOffice has stalled, LibreOffice remains the leading open-source productivity suite.
The Sole Developer of Deck.blue is Going Full Time
The Short Version
Big changes are coming to deck.blue! This is a project for those who want something akin to Tweetdeck, but while using Bluesky. After months of job hunting, the developer is going all-in to make it their full-time focus. With new features, a complete rewrite in React, and updated Patreon tiers, deck.blue is evolving fast.
Know More
The developer of deck.blue recently shared an update about their journey. After being laid off four months ago and struggling to find a new Mobile Developer job, they’ve decided to go all-in on deck.blue as their full-time job.
To make this sustainable, they’re increasing Patreon tier prices while adding more benefits, with current subscribers grandfathered in at old rates. New features like reposting, video scheduling, and improved list management are on the way. They’re also rewriting deck.blue in React for better performance, aiming to launch v3 by July 2025.
Long-term plans include potential team management features, but for now, the developer remains a one-person team. They expressed deep gratitude to supporters and encouraged sharing deck.blue with anyone missing TweetDeck.
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