HPE to help build Europe’s first regional data innovation centre


Sabina Weston

31 Jul, 2020

HPE has announced that it is helping the University of Edinburgh build what will be Europe’s first regional data innovation centre.

The company is to provide high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools powered by HPE Apollo Systems and HPE Superdome Flex Servers, as well as software supported by HPE Ezmeral Container Platform. The deal is expected to be worth over $125 million (£95 million) over the next 10 years.

The Edinburgh International Data Facility (EIDF) will assist 1,000 public, private and non-profit organisations in developing products and services using R&D and other data-driven programmes, as well as elevate Edinburgh to the title of the Data Capital of Europe, the company claims.

The EIDF is expected to play a crucial role in the region’s Data Driven Innovation (DDI) programme, pioneered by the University of Edinburgh to overcome societal and industrial challenges as well as deliver benefits from the data economy, all while improving the digital and data skills of over 100,000 people from across the region.

Mark Parsons, director of EPCC at the University of Edinburgh, said that the institution is “pleased to be working with HPE” on what he believes is “the only facility of its kind in Europe focused specifically on data-driven regional growth”.

“With the Edinburgh International Data Facility, we are combining computing and data resources to create a facility that will allow organizations to use data to innovate throughout their organizations. HPE is uniquely positioned to provide the spectrum of infrastructure and services, as well as the flexibility that this project demands,” he added.

In order to manage AI workloads and applications crucial to scientific research and engineering, EIDF will be deploying the HPE Ezmeral Container Platform, which provides native Kubernetes support and enables self-service ML applications with flexible use of accelerators, such as GPUs.

The platform runs on HPE Apollo Systems, which are purpose-built to support HPC, deep learning and other data-intensive workloads. What is more, the platform will also support HPE Superdome Flex Servers to support applications requiring large in-memory processing, as well as include pre-integrated persistent data storage in the form of the HPE Ezmeral Data Fabric file system.

HPE is also set to provide the Cray Shasta ClusterStor E1000 storage system, which is purpose-built to support EIDF’s ongoing data growth and converged HPC and analytics workloads using intelligent data management.

EIDF is expected to gain 20 petabytes of storage capacity with the new system which will also be used for vital COVID-19 research at the University of Edinburgh.

Lee Rand, director of HPC and AI at HPE EMEA, said that the company is “proud to embark on this long-term initiative with the University of Edinburgh, following a highly competitive tender process”.

“We were chosen due to the flexibility and reliability offered through our end-to-end solutions portfolio, and because we were one of the very few organizations able to seamlessly combine all of the Edinburgh International Data Facility’s requirements into a single framework. In the data-centric era deriving insights and value from across multiple datasets will be a key to success for business and government alike. We look forward to boosting the UK’s capacity for data-driven innovation through this initiative.”

The EIDF is expected to be fully operational later this year.

Pin an app window in Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox one-click tool Window on Top


When working between multiple programs or windows in Windows 10, you might want to pin a window on top and be able to continue working with other programs.  

Some programs in Windows 10 have built-in intelligence to accomplish this. However, not all programs are created equal and most do not have this functionality.  

It’s quite easy to force your desired window to float on top regardless of the program’s individual ability with the Parallels® Toolbox tool Window on Top.  

Window on Top is a simple one-click solution to get around the pesky Windows 10 programs that don’t have a pin or float functionality. If you need a window to always be on top of other programs, start this tool and select the window you want. It will always be displayed above other windows for immediate access. 

This tool is a better solution than remembering multiple keyboard commands or buying an individual third-party app to accomplish this.  

Parallels Toolbox is a helpful suite of one-click tools that is here to help manage your productivity. Our engineers designed this all-in-one suite for creative individuals, students, small-business owners, chronic multitaskers, IT managers and everyone in between to ensure everyone can use their PC to its maximum potential.  

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs. Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

The post Pin an app window in Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox one-click tool Window on Top appeared first on Parallels Blog.

One-click for currency or unit conversion for macOS or Windows 10 with Parallels Desktop tool Unit Converter


Trade is growing at a rapid rate and has changed our world’s economy. Converting a familiar measurement or currency to a new form is now a common task—and can be overwhelming. It can also become tiresome to download multiple apps and programs across your devices to ensure the conversions you need are available to you.  

Unit Converter in Parallels Toolbox is easy to use and supports a wide array of measurement units and global currency. See how easy this tool is to use for yourself: 

One-click quickly launches the Unit Converter tool. Instantly convert different units of measurement and currencies by simply typing your query. 

Additionally, one of the best things about our Unit Converter tool is the dozens of immensely helpful tools that are also included with Parallels® Toolbox for macOS or Windows at no additional cost. 

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs.

Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

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One-click closes all your open programs in Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox Close Apps


Windows users who are diligent about shutting down their open programs and PCs every day often look for the fastest way to quit everything.  

If you’re like most Windows users, you likely have several or dozens of programs running at any given time. Manually closing these applications everyday can take up more time than you might like to volunteer toward task management. It becomes irritating when you’ve already mentally quit your task at hand.  

Does this look familiar to you? 

Luckily, it’s easier now than ever before to quit all the programs you’re running on Windows 10 with the Parallels Toolbox tool Close Apps. 

Close Apps is the best solution for shutting down multiple applications in Windows quickly.  

Use this tool to immediately clear up the desktop by closing or minimizing all apps and windows with just one click. Close Apps frees up a lot of time when it comes to shutting down your PC for the day. 

Not to mention, you also receive dozens of wildly helpful tools included with Parallels® Toolbox. Our engineers designed Parallels Toolbox as a simple suite for creative individuals, students, small-business owners, chronic multitaskers, IT managers and everyone in between.  

Tips and tricks: 

  • In the preferences for Close Apps, you can choose to conceal apps with the following options: closing the app, minimizing the app or force-closing the app.   
  • Choose to “hide” your desired app instead of closing, minimizing or force-closing the program.  
  • Warning: when choosing to force-close a program, all unsaved data is lost. 

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs. Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

The post One-click closes all your open programs in Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox Close Apps appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Automatically schedule break reminders on macOS or Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox Break Time


Are you feeling burned out at work or lacking motivation during long stints on the computer? Whether you’re working remotely or back in the office, keep reading to learn what you can do when you need a break from screen time to protect your mental and physical health.  

Burnout at work can feel like: 

  • Constantly struggling to concentrate 
  • Lack of satisfaction from work accomplishments 
  • Change in sleep habits 
  • Excessive stress or anxiety 
  • ..and many more symptoms based on your lifestyle 

Parallels Toolbox sweeps into the rescue with an incredible suite of one-click utilities. It’s filled with helpful tools to help manage the health of your computer, your productivity and your own wellbeing. Our engineers designed this all-in-one suite for creative individuals, students, small-business owners, chronic multitaskers, IT managers and everyone in between.  

Included with Parallels® Toolbox is an incredible tool called Break Time that schedules break reminders to avoid burnout and promote productivity. Additionally, Parallels Toolbox is available for either macOS or Windows 10 with dozens of additional helpful tools included. 

The Break Time tool is simple. Our tool allows for customized breaks with automatic reminders to keep your schedule optimized for your needs during the day.  

Nourish and promote your own productivity by using the Parallels Toolbox Break Time tool as a reminder to take regular breaks from your computer. When it’s break time, our tool encourages you to spend some time away from the computer screen. 

We’ll leave medical advice to the experts, but it’s safe to say it’s not optimal to sit in the same position for long periods. Not to mention, a break from screen time does wonders for promoting positive mental health habits.  

In the tool’s preferences, you can set how often to take a break and how long the break should be. When the time comes, you’ll be reminded to take a break. Your break duration will be counted if there is no use to the keyboard or movement to your computers mouse.  

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs. Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

The post Automatically schedule break reminders on macOS or Windows 10 with Parallels Toolbox Break Time appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Easily arrange and manage macOS apps with Parallels Toolbox one-click tool Window Manager


Whether you’re a macOS lover or a Windows fanatic, chronic multitaskers often have several applications or programs running at the same time—not to mention the dozens of tabs open in your web browserDon’t worry, we’re right there with you. 

It’s quite easy to get lost in the real estate of your screen if you self-identify as a multitasker. Additionally, it’s almost too easy to forget about an open window if you minimize and move onto another task. I have found myself lost in the window abyss far too many times than I would like to admit.  

However, this is where the excellent Parallels Toolbox comes in handy—particularly the Window Manager tool. Easily use Window Manager to size a window on your Mac to your predefined dimensions and position. Simply drag a window to a screen’s edge and it will automatically resize to half a screen, a third of a screen or even a quarter.  

Our engineers designed Parallels® Toolbox as an all-in-one suite for creative individuals, students, small-business owners, chronic multitaskers, IT managers and everyone in between. Multitasking is not bound by a specific industry or skill set. Now more than ever before, there are incredible humans constantly accomplishing more during an average workday. Therefore, it felt natural that we create Window Manager to be added to the productive toolset that is Parallels Toolbox. Window Manager is honestly an incredible tool for multitasking between several windows and programs due to its customizable interface.  

Tips and tricks: 

  • In the tool’s preference settings, easily disable snapping for the individual application that you’re currently using in the Window Manager tool or for all applications.  

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs. Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

The post Easily arrange and manage macOS apps with Parallels Toolbox one-click tool Window Manager appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Hide windows and reveal your desktop with one click with Show Desktop tool from Parallels Toolbox


Do you manage your files, screenshots or shortcuts on your Mac desktop? If so, then you probably find yourself needing to clear away your open windows and applications quickly to access your desktop. I find myself needing to do this multiple times during my workday. If you manage the real estate of your Mac like me, your screen might look like this:

messy desktop macos
Do not be like me.  

Luckily, there’s a way to easily hide windows so you can see your desktop on macOS—with one click. The Show Desktop tool in Parallels Toolbox enables you to hide or close all opened windows at once.  

When a window is hidden, it can easily be accessed by clicking on the application icon in the macOS dock.  

Parallels Toolbox tool Show Desktop in action.

Our engineers designed Parallels® Toolbox as an all-in-one suite for creative individuals, students, small-business owners, chronic multitaskers, IT managers and everyone in between. The helpfulness of Show Desktop is not restricted to a specific industry. A wide variety of users in the digital workplace often find themselves stuck minimizing, closing, quitting and deleting files that were needed to get their task done.

Our goal with the Show Desktop tool is to save those precious files, save your time and provide peace of mind knowing you never have to click more than once to get this job done.  

Tips and tricks: 

  • In the tool’s preferences, the default “hide” can be changed to “quit” to quickly wrap up what you might be working on.  
  • To see which applications will be quit by this tool, use CMD + Tab as a shortcut. 

Parallels Toolbox is our all-in-one solution with over 30 tools for macOS and Windows 10. With just one click, you can save space on your hard drive, create high-quality content, quickly optimize your computer for a presentation and so much more. Our economical suite of tools replaces the need for multiple applications and programs. Try a free 7-day trial of Parallels Toolbox for macOS or Windows 10 from the links below! 


Helpful resources: 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for macOS 7-day Free Trial (.DMG) 

Automatic Download for Parallels Toolbox for Windows 10 7-day Free Trial (.EXE) 

Parallels Toolbox for Mac Updates Historical Summary 

Parallels Toolbox for Windows Updates Historical Summary 

The post Hide windows and reveal your desktop with one click with Show Desktop tool from Parallels Toolbox appeared first on Parallels Blog.

‘Doki’ malware attacks Docker servers using Dogecoin


Keumars Afifi-Sabet

30 Jul, 2020

Malware that has remained undetected for six months is exploiting misconfigured Docker API ports to launch malicious payloads, while abusing the Dogecoin cryptocurrency blockchain in the process.

The malware, known as ‘Doki’, is targeting misconfigured containerised environments hosted on Azure, AWS, and a number of other major cloud platforms, according to Intezer researchers, with attackers able to find publicly accessible Docker API ports and exploit them to establish their own containers.

Google owns my soul and I don’t miss it one bit


Dick Pountain

30 Jul, 2020

Two months ago, in PC Pro, I advised newly homeworking readers to “Get a Google account and a Chromebook”. This off-the-cuff suggestion made me realise how far I’ve drifted from the original personal computer revolution. That was about everyone having their own CPU and their own data, but I’ve since sold my soul to Google and I can’t say I miss it. When first turned on, my Asus Chromebook C301 sucked down all my personal data within five minutes, because I’d already placed it in Google Keep or Google Drive. I still have a Lenovo laptop but rarely use it, except via those same Google apps, and I don’t miss the excitement of Windows updates one bit. 

My love for Google Keep is no secret and it only grows stronger as features such as flawless voice dictation and pen annotations get added. Previously I had spent over 30 years looking for a viable free-form database to hold all the research data – articles, pictures, diagrams, books, links – that my work makes me accumulate. The task proved beyond any of the database products I tried, with Idealist, AskSam and the Firefox add-on ScrapBook lasting longer than most. Those with long memories might remember how Microsoft promised to put the retrieval abilities I need right into Windows, via an object-oriented file system, but it eventually chickened out.

Keep’s combination of categories, labels, colour coding and free text search gives me the flexible retrieval system I’ve been seeking, but it still isn’t quite enough on its own: While it can hold pictures and clickable links, they’re not as convenient as actual web pages. For a couple of decades, I religiously bookmarked pages, until my bookmark tree structure became as unwieldy as my on-disk folders. 

Nowadays, I just save pages to Pocket, which is by far the most useful gadget I have after Keep. A click on Pocket’s icon on the Chrome toolbar grabs a fully formatted page, complete with pictures and a button to go to the original if needed, making bookmarks redundant. I use the free version that supports tags similar to Keep’s labels, but the paid-for Premium edition has a raft of extra archival features for professional use. And, like Keep, it’s cross-platform so I can access my page library from Windows or a phone. 

Does the cloud make stuff easier to find? To an extent, yes. Save too many pages to Pocket and, as with bookmarks, you’ve merely shifted the complexity rather than removing it. Sometimes I fail to save something that didn’t feel important at the time, then discover months later that it was, at which point Chrome’s history function comes in handy. I use it most to reopen recent tabs closed by mistake (I have an itchy trigger finger) but by going to myactivity.google.com I can review searches years into the past – if I can remember the keywords. Failing that, it’s plain Google Search or the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, recently released as a Chrome extension.

My music nowadays comes entirely from Spotify. My own photos remain the main problem. I take thousands and store them both in the cloud and on a local hard disk, organised by camera (Sony A58, Minolta, Lumix), then location (park, Italy, Scotland). I’ve tried dedicated photo databases that organise by date, but find them of little help: place reminds me far more effectively than time. My best pictures still go onto Flickr, tagged thoroughly to exploit its rather superior search functions (it can even search by dominant colour). Pictures that I rate less Flickr-worthy I sometimes put on Facebook in themed albums, which also helps to find them. The technology does now exist to search by image-matching, but that’s mostly used by professionals who need to spot theft or plagiarism. I can only express what I’m looking for in words, such as “Pip fixing the Gardner diesel engine”. 

What’s required is a deep-AI analysis tool that can facially identify humans from their mugshots in my contacts, recognise objects such as tables, chairs or engines, can OCR any text in a picture (such as “Gardner” embossed on a cylinder block), and then output its findings as searchable text tags. It wouldn’t surprise me if some Google lab is working on it. I realise that if Google went bust, or the internet closed down, I’d be stuck with local data again, but if things get that bad then foraging for rats to eat will probably be a higher priority. 

So, while I still stand by my original answer recommendation to buy a Chromebook, my more thoughtful advice would now be this: keep your feet on the ground and your data in the cloud(s).

Google Cloud and Orange team up on AI and cloud computing


Keumars Afifi-Sabet

29 Jul, 2020

Orange and Google Cloud have announced a strategic partnership that will cover data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing services.

Google Cloud will contribute its expertise in cloud, analytics, and AI tools, while Orange will use the help of Google technologies to manufacture a state of the art data analytics and machine-learning platform.

Targeting the B2B, B2C, and wholesale markets, the partnership aims to provide “flexible, secure and cutting-edge solutions”, as well as take advantage of the 5G rollout in Europe by developing edge computing services.

The partnership is expected to benefit Orange by expanding its Orange Business Services’ portfolio, while Google Cloud is hoping the deal will strengthen its presence in Europe. 

Orange and Google Cloud are also planning to jointly create an Innovation Lab, which will enable new industry solution development based on data and AI, as well as a Centre of Excellence that will provide training in data, AI and cloud services for several thousand Orange employees.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the partnership “will help pave the way for new advanced cloud and edge computing services for the telecommunications industry in Europe”. 

“We look forward to working together with Orange to bring new services and applications to customers and businesses alike, while also continuing to grow our support for European enterprises in their digital transformation journeys,” he added.

In a statement, Orange chairman and CEO Stephane Richard said that the French telecom giant is “pleased to partner with Google to accelerate its data and AI transformation and continue towards a better service for its customers”. 

“Google has been a long term partner of Orange and, as Google is eager to invest in Europe – and especially in France – to develop new data centres, this is the perfect time to work on new services and opportunities in French and European markets”, he added.

The news comes weeks after Google Cloud signed a letter of intent with Deutsche Bank, revealing plans to sign a multi-year contract within the next few months. The partnership will accelerate the German bank’s cloud migration and transform its IT architecture, including optimisation of the bank’s current systems in a phased approach.