Linux users get an early Christmas gift -- Microsoft Teams
Modern Linux users have it pretty good. In 2019, there are many major players supporting desktop operating systems running the open source kernel. Years ago, it felt like Linux on the desktop was a second class citizen -- switching from Windows was not as easy as it is today. These days, it is totally possible to forgo Microsoft's desktop operating system and still have a high quality computing experience with top-notch software, including video editing and PC gaming.
To show just how far we've come, Microsoft today brings an essential Office 365 program to Linux. No, it isn't Word, Excel, or PowerPoint -- that would be a true miracle. Actually, it is one of the newer Office applications that is seeing a surge in popularity -- Microsoft Teams. This is a top-notch communication and collaboration service. Depending on who you believe, Teams actually has more users than Slack -- a very impressive feat. Now, Microsoft Teams joins Slack on the Linux desktop!
OneDrive to get Save for Later and File Request features
Microsoft published the OneDrive Roadmap Roundup for November 2019 on December 10, 2019. The roadmap highlights features that Microsoft plans to introduce into the company's cloud service OneDrive.
The first feature, called Save for later, allows OneDrive users to bookmark files or folders across OneDrive and SharePoint for later access.
Microsoft is killing off Wunderlist in May 2020 as it focuses on its own To Do app
It is no secret that since buying Wunderlist, Microsoft has wanted to -- ultimately -- close it down. The question on users' lips has been,"when?".
And now we have an answer. Microsoft has revealed that Wunderlist will be retired on May 6, 2020. So with just five months to go, what does this mean for users?
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 (2004) Build 19037 and makes Windows PowerShell ISE a 'Feature on Demand'
We’ve already had one new Insider build for Windows 10 20H1 this week, Build 19035, but arriving in time for the weekend comes a second one.
Build 19037.1 is available for both Fast and Slow rings, and fixes a couple of additional issues.
Best Windows 10 apps this week
Three-hundred-and-sixty-four in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store in the past seven days.
Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015 and ran a free upgrade campaign in the first year. Mark discovered that it is still possible to upgrade to the new version of Windows 10 for free; this may be useful to know for users who run the soon-expiring Windows 7 on their devices.
Microsoft is forcing Windows 10 November 2019 Update on people
Microsoft has started to push the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (Windows 10 version 1909) onto users.
Keen to get as many people as possible running the latest version of Windows, the company says that it will "automatically initiate" the upgrade process for people currently running Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Windows 10 version 1809).
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Microsoft pulls Notepad from the Microsoft Store
Microsoft announced this week that it won't offer Notepad through the Microsoft Store anymore. Notepad, the default plain text editor on Windows, is included in every version of the operating system.
The functionality of the text editor has been improved in recent times; Microsoft added support for text zooming, new shortcuts, improved text wrapping, line endings, and more.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 (2004) Build 19035 to both Fast and Slow rings
The next big feature update for Windows 10 is drawing ever closer to completion, although there are still a number of known issues for Microsoft to address.
Today the software giant releases Build 19035 to Fast and Slow Insider rings, as well as Cumulative Update Build 19035.1000 (KB4533028). The latter features no new changes but is designed to allow Microsoft to test its servicing pipeline for 20H1.
You can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free
When Windows 10 first appeared, Microsoft made quite a fuss about that fact that while it was possible to upgrade for free, this was a time-limited offer. Many people rushed to upgrade because they felt the deadline was hanging over them like the sword of Damocles… but it seems that the deadline was not as pressing as Microsoft made out.
In fact, you might be surprised to learn that more than five years after the launch of Windows 10, it is still possible to upgrade for free. So what's going on?
No, Microsoft is not removing AutoLogin from Windows 10 version 2004
Windows Insiders who upgraded devices running Insider Builds of the Windows 10 operating system to the latest build, Windows 10 build 19033, may have noticed that the option to sign-in automatically is no longer available.
Automatic Login is quite useful in certain circumstances; I use the feature on all of my devices to sign in quicker. The devices are fully encrypted and the master password needs to be entered during boot before Windows is even loaded.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 19033 -- officially names the update Windows 10 2004
You can tell we’re getting closer to the release of Windows 10 20H1 as the watermark has vanished from the Insider builds, and the latest flight, Build 19033, is available for both Fast and Slow rings.
Microsoft also says it is going to start releasing new test builds in the future from its development branch (RS_PRERELEASE) again, rather than the VB_RELEASE branch (those '20H2' builds will once again have the watermark).
Microsoft updates Windows Terminal preview with multiple panes and tab re-ordering
With the latest release of the Linux-inspired Windows Terminal preview, Microsoft just made the app a whole lot more useful and user-friendly.
The addition of a multi-pane option to Windows Terminal v0.7 means that it is now possible to run two terminals side by side -- something that will be appreciated by many users. Other changes include the arrival of tab re-ordering, and a thinning of the border around Terminal.
Windows 10 November 2019 Update is breaking File Explorer
Microsoft has had a pretty bad run of things recently with numerous problematic updates for Windows 10. With the November 2019 Update the spate of issues continues.
Despite the diminutive size of the Windows 10 November 2019 Update, it is still wreaking havoc for some users. The update is breaking one of the fundamental components of Windows 10, freezing File Explorer when the search box is used.
Microsoft is blocking Windows 10 updates for some Avast and AVG Antivirus users
If you're looking to install either Windows 10 1903 or Windows 10 1909 (the May 2019 and the November 2019 updates) and you're a user of Avast or AVG Antivirus, you may well find that Microsoft prevents you from updating.
The company has identified a compatibility issue with the antivirus software and is therefore blocking the updates. Microsoft is also advising users not to try to sidestep the block by manually installing the update.