Microsoft treats Windows 11 21H2 users to the bug-bashing KB5025298 update
While Microsoft is keen for everyone to run Windows 11 22H2, older versions of the operating system remain supported. And it is with this in mind that the company has released the preview version of next month's KB5025298 update for Windows 11 21H2.
This is a non-security update, just like the KB5025305 update released for Windows 11 22H2, and it addresses a range of problems. The update also introduces firewall settings changes that mean it is now possible to configure application group rules.
Microsoft releases KB5025305 update for Windows 11, adding Widgets icon animations and Windows Update changes
We've reached the point of the month when Microsoft releases previews of the updates that will get a wider launch next month. As such, the company has released the KB5025305 update for Windows 11 22H2, and although this is not a security update, it includes a number of important changes and additions.
Microsoft draws attention to the arrival of animations to icons on the Widgets taskbar button when hovering over them, or when there is an announcement. This update also makes it easier to get hold of non-security updates faster, and makes a key change to Windows firewall as well as fixing numerous bugs and issues.
Google Authenticator gains cloud backup of one-time codes
Google has released an important update for its Authenticator app. The latest versions of Google Authenticator for iOS and Android can now synchronize one-time codes to the cloud.
In offering Google Account synchronization, the 2FA tool is now easier to use across multiple devices. This is something Google points out as being useful in the case of a lost or stolen device.
Microsoft said to be unbundling Teams from Office to avoid antitrust investigation
Following a complaint from Slack, Microsoft may have decided to stop bundling its Teams video conferencing software with Office.
A report says that the move comes as the Windows maker looks to avoid an antitrust investigation by the EU. The company has indicated its willingness to cooperate with the European Commission as it seeks to avoid further legal wranglings with the bloc.
Proton Pass is a new password manager from encryption specialists Proton
Proton, the company behind the security- and privacy-focused Proton Mail and Proton VPN, has launched a beta version of its new password manager.
Going under the unsurprising moniker of Proton Pass, the software is described as "perhaps the first one built by a dedicated encryption and privacy company". What this means in practice is that security is greater than in other password managers, with end-to-end encryption on all fields of forms.
Microsoft may make the Windows 11 taskbar bearable with future changes
With the taskbar in Windows 11 Microsoft not only made a lot of changes, but also a lot of mistakes. But some of the issues that irritate users could soon be a thing of the past.
In preview builds of Windows 11, there is evidence that Microsoft is working to improve the taskbar by returning features that were removed in the upgrade from Windows 10. The upcoming changes may not make Windows 11 flavor of the month overnight, but could go some way to improving the image of the operating system, improving workflow and making things easier to use.
WhatsApp makes a very strange change to disappearing messages
WhatsApp is not alone in offering a disappearing message feature. It is an idea that's fairly self-explanatory: messages can be configured to automatically delete after a certain period of time -- something that's ideal for certain sensitive information.
But in a slightly confusing move, WhatsApp is introducing the option to stop disappearing messages from disappearing. The option is called Keep In Chat, and it is being described as "your new sender superpower".
Twitter quietly updates Hateful Conduct policy to remove protections for transgender users
Twitter has undergone some huge changes since Elon Musk took over at the social media platform, many of which have been very public. But others, like a recent update to its Hateful Content policy, have been quietly slipped out without announcement.
The policy change sees Twitter removing sections that specifically protected transgender users. This means that a long-standing ban on the purposeful deadnaming or misgendering of trans users has been lifted, leading to condemnation from LGBTQIA+ groups and angering the trans community.
New European legislation may mean Apple introduces app sideloading globally in iOS 17
Apple has long taken a walled garden approach with so many of its products, but this is perhaps most apparent for iPhone users who are only able to install apps from the official App Store. But with the release of iOS 17, this looks set to change.
The ability to easily sideload apps from other sources is something that Apple customers have desired for years, and while the iPhone-maker seems on the verge of giving people what they want, it is not necessarily the case that the company is doing so willingly.
SEGA is buying Angry Birds-maker Rovio
Following days of rumors, SEGA has confirmed plans to acquires mobile game firm Rovio.
Best known for its Angry Birds range of title, the Finnish firm is being snapped up by SEGA in a $776.2 million (€706 million) deal. The tender offer from the company behind Sonic the Hedgehog is due to start next month, and the acquisition is expected to close in Q2 of FY2024/3.
Install this emergency update from Google to patch an actively exploited Chrome security flaw
Google has issued an emergency update for Chrome which should be installed as soon as possible to plug a vulnerability known to be under active exploitation. The update is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
In releasing Chrome v112.0.5615.121 for desktop to the stable channel, Google addresses the high severity CVE-2023-2033 as well as issuing other fixes. Described as a "type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome", CVE-2023-2033 is being exploited in the wild, hence the need for the emergency patch.
Microsoft warns of compatibility issues with new Windows LAPS and Legacy LAPS
Microsoft has issued a warning about compatibility issues that can interfere with the new Windows LAPS and Legacy LAPS.
A few days ago, the company released the KB5025239 update for Windows 11 which, among other things, saw the arrival of the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). The introduction of a new LAPS means that the previous system is now referred to as legacy LAPS.
Spotify is killing Heardle after less than a year
There can be few internet users who are not aware of Wordle, the outrageously popular word-guessing game that is now owned by the New York Times. The game has a huge number of fans all over the world, and it has served as inspiration for many derivatives.
One such Wordle-inspired game is one for music fans, developed by Spotify. Bursting onto the scene in the middle of 2022, the music-guessing game Heardle earned itself an eager following. But disappointment is on the horizon; Spotify has announced that Heardle is closing down.
Microsoft is testing Windows 11 Start menu ads to push Microsoft 365 and Microsoft accounts
In the latest Windows 11 Dev build, there is a new Gallery in File Explorer for browsing your photos. This is something that is likely to prove popular, but the same build also include some rather more controversial changes.
In Windows 11 build 23435, Microsoft is tinkering further with the Start menu bringing ads to the heart of the operating system. The company likes to refer to this advertising as "badging", but the latest attempt to promote Windows 365 and Microsoft accounts is more likely to be seen as badgering.
Install the latest Microsoft Edge and get two taskbars in Windows!
For anyone who has made the jump from Windows 10 to Window 11, there is a lot of disappointment with the taskbar -- primarily that it is immovable. But whether you have upgraded to Windows 11 or stuck with Windows 10, there is a way to double the number of taskbars available to you. Sort of.
With the very Canary build of Microsoft Edge, there is a new optional sidebar that can be detached from the browser and pinned to the desktop. So if you feel like getting taskbar double vision, here's what you need to know.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. She is currently training to be an LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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