Wayne Williams

Although Microsoft is expected to release Windows 11 this October, there’s still plenty of work to be done on the new operating system between then and now.

Today the software giant releases Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.168 to everyone in the Dev and Beta Channels, but with the warning that Dev Channel builds are set to become less stable in the future and Insiders who aren’t prepared to take that risk should consider switching to the Beta Channel.

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Technology is changing work as we know it. Cultural norms are undergoing tectonic shifts. A global pandemic proves that we are inextricably connected whether we choose to be or not. So much change, so quickly, is disorienting. It's undermining our sense of identity and challenging our ability to adapt. But where so many see these changes as threatening,

Heather McGowan and Chris Shipley see the opportunity to open the flood gates of human potential -- if we can change the way we think about work and leadership. They have dedicated the last 5 years to understanding how technical, business, and cultural shifts affecting the workplace have brought us to this crossroads, The result is a powerful and practical guide to the future of work for leaders and employees.

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Windows 11 is set to arrive (for some users at least) in the coming months, and brings with it a new look that’s proving to be quite divisive.

That doesn’t mean people aren’t interested in upgrading to the new OS. In fact, in a new survey of Windows users, over half of those people polled said they intend to upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible, with the centered Start menu and native support for Android apps being the two big draws.

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If you want to do a fresh Windows 11 install you can now grab ISO files for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.132.

That isn’t the latest version however, as Microsoft today rolls out Build 22000.160 to everyone in the Dev and Beta Channels with some useful additions, including a new Clock app with Focus Sessions.

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Windows 11 is set to be released later in the year, but you can already run it now as part of the Windows Insider Program.

If you would like to try out the new operating system in a virtualized environment, or on a spare PC, the good news is the tech giant has made ISO files for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.132 available to download now.

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Security is one of the most important components to every company’s computer network. That’s why the Security Fundamentals MTA Certification is so highly sought after. Filling IT positions is a top problem in today’s businesses, so this certification could be your first step toward a stable and lucrative IT career.

Security Fundamentals is your guide to developing a strong foundational understanding of Windows security, so you can take your IT career to the next level and feel confident going into the certification exam.

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Shutterstock is well known as a provider of quality stock content and tools for brands, businesses and media companies, and it’s just entered into a new partnership with OpenText, a worldwide leader in digital asset management (DAM).

The new API integration will give Shutterstock Enterprise and OpenText customers direct access to over 380 million high-quality Shutterstock images via OpenText Media Management.

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Windows 11 might be on its way, but before it gets here there’s another feature update for Windows 10 set to arrive. Today, Windows 10 21H2 gets a little nearer to release with Microsoft making Build 19044.1200 (KB5005101) available to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel.

If you’re already on Windows 10, version 21H2 this update will be offered automatically. If not, you’ll need to get it via the 'seeker' experience in Windows Update, although it will only be offered to Insiders who were moved from the Beta Channel to the Release Preview Channel because their PC did not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11.

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It’s not only the Windows operating system that’s getting a makeover, some popular Microsoft apps are also getting updated for inclusion in Windows 11.

These include the Snipping Tool, Calculator, and Mail & Calendar. Today the software giant rolls out new builds of these to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.

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As we inch ever nearer to the release of Windows 11, Microsoft is making its Insider builds for that OS more widely available. Case in point being Build 22000.132 which is being made to everyone in the Dev and Beta Channels.

With this build, Chat from Microsoft Teams is now available for Insiders in the Beta Channel, and one-to-one and group audio and video calling is starting to roll out too.

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In today’s networked global economy, working from home is no longer a novelty. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies and organizations everywhere are embracing the game-changing benefits of allowing employees to work outside the office, and the results are profound: managers benefit by saving money and resources and by having access to talent outside their zip codes, while employees enjoy greater job opportunities, productivity, independence, and satisfaction -- in part from the time saved not commuting.

According to one source, 85 percent of businesses say that productivity increased along with greater flexibility -- and 90 percent of employees say that flexibility boosted their morale.

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When Microsoft removed the Start menu from Windows 8 -- believing we’d all prefer to prod at large tiles on touchscreens -- there was the inevitable backlash. Although the company did restore the Start menu in Windows 8.1, by then the damage was done. The OS flopped badly and that one ridiculous design decision was the main reason for it.

With Windows 11, Microsoft hasn’t been as bold/crazy to repeat history. There’s a still a Start menu, but it’s one that’s centered, which won’t be to everyone’s liking. When Windows 8 shipped without a Start menu, a number of third party developers quickly stepped in to right Microsoft's wrong. And now we’re starting to see similar such Start menus arrive that promise to 'fix' Windows 11.

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Although my Apple Watch is capable of doing a lot of things, such as delivering messages and letting me reply to them, reporting on the weather, and controlling my music, it’s the many health functions I get the most from.

BP Doctor Smart Watch is much more affordable alternative to the Apple Watch that offers a wealth of similar health monitoring tricks, including recording your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, sleep time and HRV (Sleeping Heart Rate Variability), activity (outdoor walking, and indoor or outdoor running) and calories burned. It also has another impressive ability, and one that gives the device its name -- it can record your blood pressure.

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With a rumored RTM date of sometime in October, Microsoft is hard at work on Windows 11 and today rolls out a new build to Insiders in the Dev Channel.

There aren’t any major new features in Build 22000.120 but there is a new Family widget and some minor tweaks to File Explorer.

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Cloud computing is no longer just a clever new toy in the world of IT infrastructure. Despite the nebulous name, it’s become a real and important part of our information architecture -- and tech professionals who ignore it or try to skim their way through risk falling behind rapidly. The new edition of Cloud Computing For Dummies gets you up to speed fast, clarifying your Cloud options, showing you where can save you time and money, giving you ways to frame your decisions, and helping you avoid weeks of research.

In a friendly, easy-to-follow style, Cloud Computing For Dummies, 2nd Edition demystifies the Cloud’s virtual landscape, breaking up a complex and multi-layered topic into simple explanations that will make the various benefits clear and ultimately guide you toward making the most appropriate choices for your organization. 

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