New Microsoft Store layout is rolling out
A new Microsoft Store layout featuring a new look and categories is rolling out now.
Windows 10 users who open the Microsoft Store on their devices may see the new layout already. It includes a new set of categories and reorganizes entire sections of the store.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 teardown reveals that it is partly held together with magnets
Microsoft recently unveiled the Surface Laptop 3 and, true to form, iFixit has taken one into the labs and ripped it to pieces.
The teardown shows that Microsoft has learned a lot, and the laptop is significantly easier to repair than the previous generation. While still a long way from perfect, the Surface Laptop 3 earns itself a huge jump in its repairability -- not least because it is held together in places with magnets.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 19008
Microsoft is currently expected to begin rolling out the Windows 10 19H2 release -- the November 2019 Update -- on November 12.
In the meantime however, it’s busy working on the follow up, due out next May. The latest flight from the 20H1 branch doesn’t have any new features, but Build 19008 does include a number of useful fixes and improvements. These are:
Microsoft buys cloud migration tool Mover to simplify switching to OneDrive
With a seemingly endless array of cloud storage services to choose from, you may well find that you want to switch allegiances at some point. Jumping from one service to another can be a pain, but with its purchase of Mover, Microsoft has just made it much easier to make the move to OneDrive.
Details of the deal have not been revealed, but Microsoft is keen for people to use the service to migrate from one several supported cloud providers to either OneDrive or SharePoint.
Microsoft teams up with chipmakers to create Secured-core PCs with unhackable firmware
Microsoft is partnering with PC manufacturers and chip-makers on a new initiative designed to make systems with firmware that cannot be hacked.
Called Secured-core PCs, the systems apply the security best practices of isolation and minimal trust to the firmware layer. This helps to protect systems from low-level interference by malicious code.
KB4520062 update is breaking Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection for some
Another update for Windows 10 is causing issues. This time around the update is KB4520062 for Windows 10 version 1809, and it was supposed to fix problems with Bluetooth and blank screens when it was released earlier this week.
But some users are finding that the update is breaking Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Microsoft has acknowledged that the update can stop the anti-malware tool from running, and may also result in a 0xc0000409 error.
KB4517389 is causing even more problems with Windows 10 than first thought
That Microsoft's updates for Windows 10 have been problematic is hardly a revelation, but the scale of the problems just keeps on growing.
We have already written about numerous bug-ridden updates, including KB4517389 breaking the Start menu and Edge. Now this same update is being blamed for display issues and random BSODs.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 19002 with improved Bluetooth pairing
It won’t be too long now until Microsoft begins to roll out Windows 10 19H2 -- the November 2019 Update -- but in the meantime it’s working hard on the next big feature update due out next May.
The latest flight from the 20H1 Branch released today, Build 19002, has one major improvement, and that concerns Bluetooth.
Microsoft warns Windows 7 Pro users about end of support
Six months after informing users of Windows 7 Home about the impending end of support for the operating system, Microsoft is now starting to display the same warning to Windows 7 Pro users.
While the warning message is spreading to most Windows 7 Pro users in a bid to encourage upgrading to Windows 10, not all users will see it.
Microsoft launches two new open source projects for developers -- OAM and Dapr
Continuing its embracing of open source, Microsoft has today announced two new open source projects. The first is Open Application Model (OAM), a new standard for developing and operating applications on Kubernetes and other platforms
The second project is Dapr (Distributed Application Runtime), designed to make it easier to build microservice applications. Microsoft says that both OAM and Dapr "help developers remove barriers when building applications for cloud and edge".
Microsoft enables Tamper Protection by default in Windows 10
Assuming you have Windows 10 1903 (Windows 10 May 2019 Update) installed, you should find that you now have Tamper Protection enabled.
Microsoft has announced that the security feature is now generally available for Microsoft Defender ATP customers, and at the same time it has enabled the feature by default for all Windows 10 users. But just what is Tamper Protection?
Microsoft turns to AI to clean out bad language from Xbox Live chats
Microsoft has announced that it is introducing new filters that will enable Xbox Live players to avoid language they may find offensive or unacceptable. It is hoped that the AI-powered system will help to reduce trolling and bullying.
The system will be optional and will offer three levels of language filtering, as well as the option of remaining unfiltered. It's an expansion of Microsoft's family settings, and the company says it recognizes "that while some adults use profanity without any ill intent while gaming, parents with small children likely won't find this same experience acceptable".
How to avoid Microsoft's problematic Windows 10 updates
Over the last few months there have been a seemingly endless stream of reports of updates from Microsoft that have caused various problems with Windows 10. From breaking the Start menu and interfering with game audio, to preventing printing and causing issues with Edge, Microsoft's quality control has been brought into serious question of late.
So how do you like the idea of avoiding updates while Microsoft -- hopefully -- sorts itself out and starts to implement more rigorous update tests before unleashing them on the public? Here's what you can do.
You won't be surprised to learn that yet another update is causing Windows 10 problems
Well, color us completely unsurprised! Another Windows 10 update -- KB4517389 this time -- is causing problems.
Continuing Microsoft's frankly appalling run of problematic updates, KB4517389 cumulative update is leading to problems with the Start menu and Microsoft Edge.
Windows 10 19H2 gets a new name and is ready for testing
Microsoft typically rolls out two feature updates a year for Windows 10, but changed its approach in 2019. Instead of two feature updates -- one in spring and the other in fall -- the software giant has opted to make the second release more of a service pack. It does have some new features, but it’s more about providing "quality enhancements".
This service pack update, codenamed 19H2, has finally been given an official name, and it’s available for testing too.
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