Our favorite free Windows customization tool just got updated -- download Winhance 5 now!
We wrote about Winhance 4 just a matter of days ago, telling you how it can debloat and optimize Windows 10 and 11, and keep it that way.
The tool was originally a PowerShell GUI application, but with version 4 it transformed into a standalone app that can be installed or uninstalled easily. It was also made available in portable form. The app has now been updated to version 5, and it fixes a number of problems and introduces new functionality.
The amazing (and free) Sucrose brings your Windows 10 or 11 desktop to life -- download it now!
Static Windows wallpapers can often feel a little, well, uninspiring -- especially if you don’t change them regularly. Sucrose is a free and fully open-source solution that brings a dynamic, customizable approach to desktop backgrounds.
This versatile wallpaper engine allows you to animate and personalize your desktops with interactive wallpapers, and it supports both light and dark themes. Sucrose works across multiple screens and supports a range of resolutions, making it compatible with various display configurations.
A third of employees keep their AI use secret
A new survey finds that 32 percent of employees who use GenAI tools at work say they're keeping it a secret from their employer.
The research from Ivanti finds that some use discretion when using AI because they like the 'secret advantage' it offers (36 percent); others because they worry their job may be cut (30 percent); and 27 percent have AI-fueled imposter syndrome, saying they don’t want people to question their ability.
Microsoft says the Windows 11 24H2 is ready for everyone... except for those that it's not
The rollout of Windows 24H2 has been a slow and bumpy road. We’re not far from entering 25H2 and Microsoft has just announced that the Windows 11 2024 Update is now “broadly available”.
The shift to broad availability means that anyone with a compatible system will now be able to download the update, but many people are likely to find that they are automatically upgraded without having to do anything. Despite entering the final stage of rollout and availability, Microsoft says there are still compatibility holds in place that will block access to the upgrade for some users.
Apple celebrates queer communities with the launch of its Pride 2025 collection
June is Pride Month, and ahead of this Apple has launched its Pride 2025 Collection. There are free components to the collection, in addition to some to purchase, making it accessible to everyone.
The company says it proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities and is using the collection as a way to "celebrate the strength and beauty" of such communities around the world. Among the goodies on offer is the hand-assembled Pride Edition Sport Band for Apple Watch, but iPhone and iPad users have not been forgotten.
Microsoft cracks down on bulk email with strict new Outlook rules
I’ve got some bad news for you, email administrators -- your Monday may be getting a lot worse. You see, starting today, Microsoft has officially begun rejecting high-volume emails that don’t meet its new authentication rules.
Here’s the deal. If you send more than 5,000 messages per day to Outlook.com addresses (including hotmail.com and live.com) and you’re not properly set up with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, your emails may never arrive. Yikes.
How cognitive load measurement can increase trainee performance [Q&A]
Proper training is vital to success in pretty much any job. That's even more true in complex and stressful environments.
How much the brain can cope with at any time, or 'cognitive load' is an important part of the process. We spoke to Nial Campion, co-founder of virtual reality training specialist VRAI, who believes that managing cognitive load is critical for developing the skills and resilience necessary for effective performance in high-stress environments.
Microsoft resolves a Windows 10 issue that broke Start menu jump lists
After the release of updates for Windows 10 in February, users started to complain of problems with jump lists. More than this, Start menu issues, and an inability to view recent files plagued systems after the installation of the KB5052077 update and later.
Affecting both Windows 10 Home and Pro, Microsoft found that the problems stemmed from the rollout of a feature that integrates account control experiences in the Start Menu in Windows 10 22H2. A fix has been issued, and Microsoft has advice for anyone still experiencing the problem.
Trump kicks the TikTok ban can down the road yet again
President Trump has made much of wanting to ban TikTok from operating in the US. In fact, he’s talked about it so much, and -- initially, at least -- with such passion, that you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was one of his top priorities.
But having already delayed the implementation of a ban twice, Trump has now indicated that he’d be willing to do so again. And the reason for doing so is just hilarious.
Skype shuts down today as Microsoft transitions users to Teams
Marking the end of an era, May sees the retirement of Skype, Microsoft’s loved and loathed messaging app. The death of Skype has been a long time coming, with the aged platform struggling to keep pace with the competition, and now the last rites can be read. Today, May 5, is the day Microsoft pulls the plug.
The writing was on the wall for Skype as soon as Microsoft started development of Teams, and this is precisely where the company is hoping ex-Skype users will move to. But while paying and non-paying users of Skype will have to find a new home, Skype for Business lives on... for now.
Spotify breaks out of Apple’s payment system stranglehold following court ruling
Moving incredibly quickly after a court ruled that Apple was in “willful violation” of an injunction that ordered it to allow out-of-app purchases, Spotify has updated its app with new payment options. Developers have long been frustrated by Apple’s requirement for purchases and subscriptions to be paid for via the App Store, and Spotify is the first to take advantage of the latest ruling.
The music streaming service submitted an app update to Apple which allows users to start a Spotify subscription or change plans within the app, change plans easily, and avoid Apple’s payment system. Apple has accepted the update, so users in the US now have more flexibility.
Microsoft sees the future as passwordless; all new accounts will be password-free
It is a year since Microsoft embraced passkeys for user accounts, and now the company is taking things further. With passkeys having been conceived as a replacement for passwords, any newly created Microsoft account will be passwordless.
This is not just a change that is about improving security (passwords having been shown time and time again to be highly fallible), but also user experience. The passkey-by-default approach now being adopted is part of a streamlining of UX for sign-ins.
Apple Maps putting Long Island drivers at risk with false red light camera alerts
Sigh. It’s May 2025, folks, and believe it or not, Apple Maps still hasn’t caught up with a change that happened on Long Island way back in 2024. If you’re driving through Suffolk County, New York, chances are your iPhone is still screaming about red light cameras that no longer exist. You see, the county shut the whole program down in December of last year, but Apple hasn’t bothered to update its navigation data. The alerts keep coming like the cameras are still up and active -- but they actually aren’t.
For years, Suffolk’s red light camera program was a point of frustration. Sure, officials said it was about safety, but many residents saw it differently -- especially once it brought in nearly $290 million. Then came a court ruling that said the extra fees attached to the tickets weren’t legal. That basically brought the system to its knees. Suffolk shut it all down. But Apple? Still acting like nothing’s changed.
Grand Theft Auto VI delayed and some gamers seem genuinely distraught
More bad news for the gaming community. Following the unfortunate Xbox price increases, Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI will now launch on May 26, 2026. Yes, folks, that’s about a year later than many had hoped. The update came directly from the developer, which explained that the delay is necessary to ensure the game meets the quality standards fans expect. After more than a decade since GTA V, it’s a very tough pill to swallow.
Reactions online have been quite intense. Some gamers genuinely seem distraught, venting their disappointment across forums and social media platforms. It’s the kind of news that hits hard, especially when a title has been hyped for so long. One could almost imagine grown men screaming in agony from their moms’ basements -- figuratively, of course. At least I hope it’s figurative.
Someone tried to activate every version of Microsoft Windows using ChatGPT -- Here's what happened
You’ve possibly seen people online try to use ChatGPT to generate valid product keys for paid software, including different versions of Microsoft Windows.
YouTuber Gameboy Hub set out to test how successful ChatGPT is at generating, or sourcing, product keys to activate various versions of Microsoft Windows -- starting from Windows 95 and working up to Windows 7 (from where, in theory, it could be possible to upgrade to Windows 10 and Windows 11).
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