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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a recall of the highest severity level for a mobile application connected to an insulin pump. The application, the t:connect Mobile App iOS v2.7 from Tandem Diabetes Care, was recalled due to a bug that affected its communication with the t:slim X2 insulin pump. This detected software error could put diabetes patients, who rely on the app to control their insulin levels, at serious health risk. The FDA has advised patients to stop using the affected version of the app for the time being, and to return to using the insulin pump's integrated user interface until the problem is resolved. The company Tandem Diabetes Care is already fixing the problem and is expected to make a corrected software update available soon. In the meantime, users have been encouraged to keep a close eye on their glucose levels and consult their healthcare professionals about their insulin management. In the analysis of the problem in question, it was observed that this application - intended to be synchronized with the t:slim X2 insulin pump - stops and restarts abruptly, which can lead to rapid depletion of the pump's battery and users may not be able to access or control it via the application. In these situations, interruptions in insulin administration can occur, posing serious health problems for patients dependent on the pump. The original article via BaselineMag can be read here. 

Last week Apple released the latest update to its operating system, iOS 17.5, and although this update didn't bring with it many new features, its release was marked by a software error that causes old photos to reappear in the gallery, even though they have already been deleted. The first reports of this problem appeared on social media, especially on Reddit, where some users expressed their surprise when they realized that they had found old photos, which had already been deleted years ago, marked as "recently uploaded" in iCloud. Another user even shared a similar episode: "I have four photos from 2010 that keep showing up as the last photos uploaded to iCloud. I've deleted them several times". "I had a photo of a concert taken with my Canon camera, which reappeared in my phone's library as if it had been added today" - added another user. It's not clear why this problem has occurred, but given that some of the photos were apparently taken years ago, it can't be a problem of recently deleted photos not being deleted. In Apple's "Photos" application, deleted photos and videos are kept in the "Deleted" album for 30 days, so that users can recover them or permanently remove them from all devices.Still, the latest reports indicate that this could be an indexing bug, corruption of the photo library or a synchronization problem between local devices and iCloud Photos. Another possibility is that, in trying to fix a photo synchronization bug that occurred in iOS 17.3, Apple inadvertently caused a new synchronization problem that may involve iCloud backups. Some users running iOS 17.5 developer beta 4 have previously reported similar experiences. The original articles via PPLWare and Tom's Guide can be read here and here.

For those wishing to progress in their professional careers, here are three tips to help you stand out in the world of Software Testing: 1. More and more companies are demanding ISTQB® software testing certification for tester/QA roles. So if you don't already have an ISTQB® Foundation Level certification, don't waste any more time! This certification is mandatory before any other, and can really help boost your career path, enabling you to progress in your current company, or even get a new job. 2. Having an ISTQB® Foundation Level certification is the first step in the right direction, however, companies like their employees to evolve in their knowledge, and for this reason, you should also look for other ISTQB® certifications. Fortunately, PSTQB has all the available ISTQB® certifications at its disposal: not only those focused on specific areas, such as the ISTQB® CTFL Mobile Application Tester or even the ISTQB® CTFL Gambling Industry Tester; but also the more common ones, such as ISTQB® CTFL Agile Testing; and even the most recent one, which has aroused a lot of curiosity in the community, such as ISTQB® CTFL AI Testing. On the other hand, you can also take more advanced levels if your career requires it: in this case, ISTQB® CTAL Test Manager and ISTQB® CTAL Test Analyst, or even ISTQB® Techincal Test Analyst are good examples of steps to consider. (3) If you are interested in securing an ISTQB® certification, do so through PSTQB, with the support of an authorized training entity, or even independently if you wish. If you are successful, don't forget to update your CV and profile on professional social networks, as well as keeping in touch with other testers/QAs on the market. Original article translated and adapted from the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB).

According to reports on social networks and forums, in recent months a software error has affected PlayStation Network (PSN) users, causing their games to be removed from their transaction history, making it impossible to use them. This problem was initially detected and exposed by a user on the Reddit social network. "In recent months, there has been an error affecting a relatively small number of PSN users," the post begins. The bug allegedly involves unlinking games purchased and titles added to your library via PlayStation Plus (PS+) from your transaction history. Specifically, this bug seems to be related to game licenses, which caused players to receive the error message CE-117773-6 when using them. According to the author of the original post, affected users may notice that their transaction history appears to be working correctly, however, the "Purchased" tab only shows the titles that were added after the error - "When trying to download, you will be asked to buy/add it on PS+, but if you try to do that, the system will tell you that you already have the content." In practice, according to this user, the installed games affected by the bug appear with a padlock icon and are not launched. Since it was published, the post has received thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments. "We need legislators to pass laws that protect consumer rights when it comes to digital goods," said another user. It's true that digital property has a number of advantages over physical games, being quicker to load and avoiding the accumulation/storage of disks. Nevertheless, they have a major drawback, since they are subject to companies being able to withdraw access to games at any time. This is not the case, but vulnerability to errors and glitches have prevented people from temporarily accessing their games. On the other hand, there were those who defended Sony, saying that all software is subject to bugs at any time - "There is no widely used software that doesn't have bugs," reads the same post. The author of the original thread also offered some tips to some users who may be affected by the supposed error: "My recommendation for anyone who receives an error message when trying to launch a game that was previously released normally is to first go to Playstation.com and check your games library - "Take a look at the "Purchases" tab and make sure it matches your complete history of games purchased/added on PS+", he added. He also left a warning: "If anything looks wrong, don't run the 'Restore Licenses' command on your console." The US Sun contacted Sony for comment, but has not yet received a reply. The original article via TheSun and USTimesPost can be read here and here.

Last week, a widespread power outage led US telecoms giant AT&T to fear the worst, but the problem was far from something truly nefarious. The cause of AT&T's network outage has been revealed, and in a statement published on the company's own website, and shared with CNET, the problem in question was the result of software and not a cyber-attack - "Based on our initial analysis, we believe that today's outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used when we were expanding our network, and not by a cyber-attack," the statement reads. "We are continuing our assessment of today's outage to ensure that we continue to provide the service our customers deserve." This outage still lasted several hours, even affecting mobile connectivity for AT&T users across the country. In addition, a source familiar with the matter told CNET that the problem occurred while AT&T was performing its regular maintenance, which usually happens during the night. Reports on social media also suggested that the outage was widespread, with Downdetector, a website where users can report problems with websites and services, showing a spike in problems with AT&T across the country. The operator recommended that customers use other services such as Wi-Fi calling to connect with others while the network was down. The original article via CNET can be read here.

A software glitch in the GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control) system on the upper stage of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket led to the payload not being placed in low orbit. During the Fly the Lightning mission on December 22, Alpha's upper stage did not work as planned due to an error in the GNC software, Firefly said in a statement issued this month. This failure left the upper stage and its payload, a Lockheed Martin demonstration satellite, in a low perigee orbit. After an investigation involving Firefly and independent experts, it was discovered that "a bug prevented the system from sending the necessary thrust commands to the reaction control system engines before the second stage". The Firefly team has not revealed the details of this problem, but the preliminary assessment is that this system was used to ensure the correct phase orientation and fuel regulation in the engine. Bill Weber, managing director of Firefly, said that the team was proud of its work which led to a positive investigation. According to him, it was an important achievement, and the long-term goal is to develop Alpha as a reliable rocket that is in demand in the space launch market. Firefly is currently working to correct the error in the GNC software and implement other changes to better identify similar problems in the future. The US company also stated that Alpha will be ready for its next launch in the coming months, but no specific date was given. As a result of this error, Lockheed Martin's satellite ended up entering orbit with an initial perigee of around 215 kilometers. Lockheed accelerated the testing of satellite antenna technology and achieved significant mission objectives in just a few weeks. The satellite entered the Earth's atmosphere on February 10. Firefly has not announced an exact date for the return of the Alpha rocket, but company executives have confirmed that they plan to carry out four Alpha launches this year, as planned before the incident. Brett Alexander, Firefly's chief revenue officer, expressed confidence that the incident would not slow down the company's growth. The original article via Gadget Tendency can be read here.

Health insurer CZ wants customers to repay millions paid out due to a computer error In the Netherlands, health insurer CZ has seen its system affected by a software error, responsible for automatically generating a declaration that led to tens of thousands of customers receiving higher refunds than they were entitled to in 2022 and 2023. According to Dutch daily De Volkskrant, CZ is now demanding that this money be returned, amounting to around millions of euros. The error in question relates to the assessment of dental treatments for people who have taken out supplementary insurance for this purpose. At issue is the coverage of treatments that resulted from an accident, and in some cases, CZ also paid for treatments that were unrelated to any kind of accident. According to the announcement in a letter sent to affected customers at the end of January, the Dutch insurer admits that: "an error occurred in our systems". The fact that CZ's customers are not to blame for the error is no reason for CZ not to recover the money: "In fact, people have received compensation to which they were not entitled," said CZ's spokesperson. If the company doesn't recover the money, all policyholders will have to pay for the mistake, "which isn't fair", he added, admitting that most customers will only have to pay back a few dozen euros. The original article via NL Times can be read here.

The emergence of electric cars has been one of the most striking aspects of the automotive industry in recent years. These vehicles have a different technology to traditional fossil fuel vehicles, and are often presented by manufacturers as "software-defined vehicles", an expression intended to illustrate the innovative technology of these vehicles. These vehicles are highly dependent on software and their problem is that they can be buggy, especially in the early versions. Take Apple, whose iPhone15 overheating problems were caused by software errors. There's no hiding it: software bugs can cause serious problems, and if the software is complex, identifying and correcting the problems can be complicated. Although demand for all-electric vehicles is increasing due to competitive superiority and incentives from some governments, several manufacturers (including GM, Volkswagen and Volvo) are evaluating and reviewing their development process. GM, for example, has postponed production of its electric trucks in the United States. Volvo has postponed deliveries of its new EX30 due to software "challenges". As the saying goes: prevention is better than cure. It's a common belief among consumers that you shouldn't buy a vehicle in the first year after its launch. It's important to give manufacturers time to correct the problems that inevitably arise in any vehicle in the early days after its launch, and with technological developments, manufacturers have perfected and automated their manufacturing processes, testing all components and their integration. When it comes to software, however, things are different: The complexity of the code, the difficulties in defining its requirements, the specificities of each vehicle, the need to recruit people with the right skills, the importance of defining appropriate software development and testing processes are some of the many problems faced by electric vehicle manufacturers. Some manufacturers eventually recognized that software development was not within their area of expertise. And so today we see several manufacturers making a huge effort in this area, recruiting specialists in software development and testing to help them understand and properly integrate software into their vehicles. The original article via PopSci can be read here.

Tesla is recalling almost 200,000 of its electric vehicles to fix a software problem that could prevent its rear-view cameras from working properly when the cars are in reverse. This recall includes some 2023 Tesla Models S, X and Y that have fully autonomous driving technology. According to a report released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem with the cars' rearview cameras was discovered when Tesla began receiving reports of this phenomenon at the end of December. Tesla is not aware of any accidents occurring due to the problem, and according to the NHTSA, the company has released a software update that may solve the problem, and that owners will be notified via letter, which will be sent by March 22. According to the report, since January, Tesla has received more than 80 warranty claims, possibly related to the problem. This is not the first time that the US giant has had to issue recalls, having done so with some regularity over the years. Most recently, the company recalled more than 2 million vehicles in December due to a fault in its Autopilot autonomous driving feature. The recall followed a two-year investigation by the NHTSA. The original article via The Hill can be read here.

If the prediction that AI will eliminate most jobs is close to being true, there is one profession that will certainly survive: software testing. Software testers will be the guardians of quality, ethics and behavior in AI-based systems. Let's look at five reasons why this is true, especially in the case of certified software testers. 1) The Human Presence in the AI World The first (and most crucial) point to consider is the irreplaceable human presence that software testers bring to the table. AI, despite its advances in logic and processing, lacks the human touch - the intuition, ability to perceive subtleties and ethical judgment that are characteristic of human nature. Testers act as the critical human interface, ensuring that AI systems are aligned not only with technical specifications, but also with human values and social norms. 2. A Safety Net in AI Implementation Safety in AI implementation is a primary concern and software testers are at the forefront of this battlefield. The risk of allowing AI systems to self-evaluate is similar to an untested power circuit. AI cannot be tested of itself. Human testers provide a safety net, offering an objective and critical perspective that prevents AI systems from operating in potentially harmful or unintended ways. Their role is crucial in sectors where the risks are highest, such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, defense and public infrastructure. 3. the Quality Assurance of Certified Testers Given the critical nature of this function, it is important to distinguish between amateur testers and certified testers. Analysis shows that the involvement of certified software testers leads to a defect detection efficiency of over 99%. This contrasts sharply with the efficiency rate of 35% when amateurs, such as programmers, carry out testing. In addition, the rate of introducing new problems and correcting existing problems drops significantly with the involvement of certified testers.[1] This data is not only proof of the ability of certified testers, but a clear reminder of their indispensability for this critical quality function. 4 The Evolving Complexity of AI As AI systems become more complex, the likelihood of difficult and unpredictable problems arising increases. Software testers are essential to navigating this complexity, bringing a level of knowledge, understanding and adaptability that AI, in its current state, cannot achieve. The role of software testers is evolving from mere defect identification to architects of AI safety and reliability. 5. the ethical guardianship of AI Another vital aspect that is often overlooked is the role of software testers as ethical guardians. As AI begins to make decisions that impact human lives, the ethical implications become a critical concern. Software testers serve as a checkpoint, ensuring that AI systems comply with ethical standards and social norms. This role is becoming increasingly crucial as we deal with the moral implications of AI in everyday life. The Permanent Profession in the Future of AI: Software Tester Software testers are the humans who can never be replaced in an AI-dominated future. Their role transcends mere technical supervision because they are the guardians of safety, ethics and reliability in an automated world. As we venture deeper into AI, the need for competent, insightful, certified and ethical software testers will increase. They're not just keeping up with technological advances - they're also actively shaping a future where AI serves humanity safely and responsibly. In the narrative of our AI-driven future, software testers are not just participants, they are the ultimate professionals who ensure that this future is safe, ethical and aligned with human values. The original article via the American Software Testing Qualifications Board can be read here. ------ [1] 10 Reasons You Need Testers Certified by ASTQB - ISTQB in the U.S.