Quickly fix many of Windows 11's annoying problems

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Windows 11 has the potential to be a great operating system, but it’s not there yet. That’s to be expected of course, as it was only released two months ago, and it took multiple feature updates before Windows 10 became the OS it should have been from the get-go.

Microsoft is rolling out bug fixes for Windows 11 and testing new features and improvements in its Insider builds, which all points towards a bright future. However, if you’re annoyed by the new OS as it is now, it’s easy to fix some of the more frustrating issues.

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Microsoft making it easier to reject Edge and set a different default browser in Windows 11

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Despite recently taking away the option to open internal links in other browsers, and stepping up its campaign to convince would-be Chrome users to stay with Edge, it seems Microsoft has made a surprise change in Windows 11 that will make it easier for users to set a different browser as the default.

At least, that is, if a change that crops up in the latest Insider build makes it into a future stable release.

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Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 22509 with new layout options for Start

Windows 11 laptop

Having taken a week off last week for Thanksgiving, the Windows 11 development team today rolls out a fresh new build to Insiders in the Dev Channel.

The key new addition in Build 22509 is a set of improvements designed to make it easier to browse the web in Microsoft Edge using Narrator, but that's not all. The clock and date will now show on secondary monitors, and there are also new layout options for Start, as well as Settings changes.

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Microsoft introduces Teams Essentials for small businesses

Teams Essentials

The pandemic unquestionably accelerated the move to working from home, and the likes of Zoom and Microsoft stepped up to provide the tools needed for this shift.

Today, Microsoft announces the general availability of Teams Essentials, a standalone, lower-priced version of Teams designed specifically for small businesses.

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Get 'Linux Security Fundamentals' ($24 value) FREE for a limited time

Linux-Security-Fundamentals

Linux Security Fundamentals provides basic foundational concepts of securing a Linux environment.

The focus of this book is the digital self-defense of an individual user. This includes a general understanding of major threats against individual computing systems, networks, services and identity as well as approaches to prevent and mitigate them.

This book is useful for anyone considering a career as a Linux administrator or for those administrators who need to learn more about Linux security issues. Topics include:

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Windows 11 edges closer to 10 percent market share

Windows 11 was first released two months ago, and although it has some tough system requirements (most notably the need for TPM 2.0), and it’s still only being rolled out to compatible systems, the new OS is fast gaining market share.

It still has a long way to go before it supplants Windows 10, but it’s showing solid growth.

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Microsoft's new online museum celebrates 20 years of Xbox

Xbox-20

It’s been 20 years since Microsoft unveiled the original Xbox which, incidentally, is the only model of the company’s games console I’ve ever owned.

Although I’m a PlayStation gamer, I’m also interested in consoles of the past, and for that reason I’ve spent an enjoyable hour exploring Microsoft's new Xbox Museum. This site lets you discover the history of the brand and also the history of Halo, Microsoft's most famous gaming series.

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Get the interactive 'Microsoft Word Course' FREE for a limited time

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Although there are several excellent (and free!) alternatives to Microsoft Office, the software giant’s productivity suite remains the number one solution for most people.

Its core components -- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint -- come packed with features, and while it’s easy to master the basics, there are no doubt plenty of powerful elements you’re not using.

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Get 'The Leadership Habit' ($17 value) FREE for a limited time

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The Leadership Habit provides the framework for patterns of behavior that will transform the way you lead. By articulating a clear, well-defined standard of what it means to be a leader, this book condenses volumes of advice and opinion into 10 key areas and teaches leaders how they can create daily habits surrounding these centers of excellence.

Leaders who can commit to creating change will develop more productive teams and will build long-term growth for their organization.

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Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 22504 with emoji updates

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Yesterday was a busy day for Microsoft. The software giant made the new Media Player for Windows 11 available to Insiders on the Dev Channel, and then began the official rollout of the Windows 10 November Update (21H2).

Today the company follows that up with a new Windows 11 build for Dev Channel Insiders.

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The Windows 10 November 2021 Update (21H2) is now available -- here's how to get it

Win10-21H2

If you’ve been waiting for the latest feature update for Windows 10 -- Windows 10 November 2021 Update (or 21H2) the wait may be over.

I say 'may' because although Microsoft is making the update available from today, it is taking its usual measured approach to the roll out, so you will likely have to wait a while to be offered it.

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Microsoft starts testing Media Player for Windows 11

Media-Player

Microsoft has tried for some years now to phase out Windows Media Player (WMP), replacing it with Groove Music and Microsoft Movies & TV for audio and video playback respectively.

Today though, it gives users what they really want -- an updated version of Media Player for Windows 11.

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Get 'Account-Based Marketing For Dummies' ($16 value) FREE for a limited time

Account-Based-Marketing

Buyers have changed the B2B marketing game. Account-Based Marketing For Dummies is here to give you the tools to transform your current approach to find, reach, and engage with your potential customers on their terms to meet their ever-changing demands.

Packed with expert tips and step-by-step instructions, this book shows you how to analyze current data to identify the accounts with the biggest ROI opportunities and execute effective, account-specific techniques that get results.

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Microsoft fixes loads of Windows 11 problems with Build 22000.346

Windows 11 laptop

On Wednesday this week Microsoft rolled out a new build to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. That build added a new sharing option to the taskbar and also fixed a number of issues.

Today, in time for the weekend, the software giant rolls out a build that offers a long list of improvements for those in the Beta and Release Preview channels.

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Don't want to use Edge in Windows 11? Tough! Microsoft is taking away the option to open links in other browsers

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It’s no secret that Microsoft wants people to use its Edge browser. It advertises it in Windows 10 and 11 and of course it’s the default in both of those operating systems too.

The Chromium version of Edge is very good, but plenty of users prefer a different browser, like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. You can use any browser in Windows, but Edge will still spring into life if you click on a link from within the operating system.

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