Articles about Microsoft

Leaked email shows Microsoft-owned GitHub renewing controversial ICE contract

Microsoft and GitHub logos

GitHub will continue to sell software to ICE (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency), a leaked memo shows.

Despite both Microsoft and the GitHub team having voiced concerns about some of the Trump administrations policies -- and disagreeing with them quite publicly -- the decision has been taken to renew a contract to supply ICE with a GitHub Enterprise Server license.

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Apple Store now selling Microsoft Xbox One controller

The Apple Store is selling Microsoft hardware. Let me repeat. The Apple Store is selling Microsoft hardware! It's crazy, but true. Starting today, you can buy the Xbox One controller from Apple's online store. The world has seemingly gone mad these days, as this news follows Microsoft's announcement that it will use the Linux-based Android for its upcoming smartphone -- the Surface Duo.

Why would an Apple user want such a thing? It is quite simple -- the Bluetooth Xbox One controller is compatible with Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. With Apple Arcade now available to all, it makes sense for Apple to offer up such a wonderful controller to its customers.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18999 and adds calling to Your Phone

The Windows Insider program is currently looking for a new leader, but new Windows 10 builds from the 20H1 branch, due out next May, are continuing to roll out on a weekly basis.

Build 18999 makes the ability to move and resize Cortana’s window available to all Insiders, and calling is now available in the Your Phone app.

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Microsoft warns Windows 10 users to upgrade as version 1803 nears end of support

The end

Updates for Windows 10 might have been endlessly problematic of late, but Microsoft is still eager for users to update to the latest version of its operating system.

The company has now started to warn users of Windows 10 version 1803 that their software will soon no longer be supported, and will therefore no longer receive any security updates.

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Big changes ahead for the Windows Insider Program as Dona Sarkar switches roles

Windows Insiders provide feedback on new test builds of Windows 10, and Microsoft has frequently talked up the importance of the community in relation to the development and direction of its newest operating system. In reality, however, Insiders mostly just identify bugs for Microsoft to (maybe) fix.

In recent months there has been a lot of negativity surrounding the quality control of Windows 10, with updates breaking everything from printers to the Start menu.

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KB4517211 update is breaking search and VMWare Workstation in Windows 10

Frustrated with computers

Microsoft has had an appalling run of problematic Windows 10 updates recently, and the spate of dodgy patches shows no signs of letting up.

With the recently released KB4517211 update, users are now reporting problems using Windows 10's search function, as well as finding that the update is preventing VMWare Workstation from launching.

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Printer-fixing KB4524147 update is breaking the Start menu in Windows 10

Frustrated computer user

Another update for Windows, and another set of unwanted side effects. Continuing Microsoft's recent run of problematic updates, users are reporting that KB4524147 is killing the Windows 10 Start menu.

KB4524147 was supposed to fix -- among other things -- a printing problem that was introduced by the KB4522016 cumulative update. But rather than helping, this latest update seems to be making things worse, resulting in people seeing the error message "Your Start menu isn't working. We’ll try to fix it next time you sign in".

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Microsoft fixes Windows 10 printer problems with yet another patch

Microsoft glass building logo

Microsoft's game of patching catch-up continues this week. After a raft of problematic updates, some Windows 10 users found that a recent update was causing problems with printing.

The company has now released a new update that addresses this and other issues in both Windows 10 and Windows Server.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18995 with new sign-in option and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) updates

Microsoft will begin rolling out the Windows 10 19H2 update very soon, but in the meantime it’s working hard on the next big feature release -- the May 2020 Update, due out next spring.

Fresh from its big hardware event yesterday, the software giant today rolls out a new flight to Fast ring Insiders. Build 18995 introduces a number of new features, including adding Windows Hello PIN sign-in support to Safe mode, and yet more improvements for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

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Microsoft's Your Phone app gains new features


Microsoft’s Your Phone app allows you to link your Android or iOS device to your Windows 10 PC, and perform tasks like viewing your phone's photos on your computer, and reading and sending text messages from the comfort of your desktop or laptop.

Today, the software giant rolls out a big update to the app that introduces some additional features that will be of particular interest to owners of a Samsung flagship phone.

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Microsoft courageously omits headphone jack from Surface Pro X, but don’t worry -- there’s a dongle for that

Apple was one of the first companies to show true courage (yes, I’m being facetious) by removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from some of its devices. And now, Microsoft is following the iPhone-maker’s lead.

Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled several upcoming Surface devices, but one of them in particular was surprisingly lacking a headphone jack -- the Surface Pro X. This is a tablet/laptop combo powered by an ARM processor.

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Microsoft Surface Duo shows Linux is the future -- not Windows

Microsoft Surface Duo

Windows is a massive failure -- in the mobile world, at least. Microsoft should have been a dominant force in smartphones and tablets, but no, it let Apple and Google eat its lunch with iPhone and Android. While Windows 10 is still a decent enough desktop operating system that keeps chugging along, Windows Phone died a bloody death -- consumers barely paid attention to it. Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile were utter embarrassments for Microsoft.

What can Microsoft do to save its mobile dreams? Turn to Linux, of course. Yes, with the upcoming Surface Duo smartphone (you can read about the dual-screen device here), Microsoft will be using the Linux-based Android operating system. This is a smart business move, but it must be absolute hell for the Microsoft faithful -- if Bill Gates was dead, he would be spinning in his grave.

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Surface Phone is real! Microsoft unveils foldable, dual-screen Android-based Surface Duo

Microsoft Surface Duo

At today's Surface event, Microsoft had a surprise for everyone -- its version of "one more thing", if you will. In addition to the Surface Laptop 3, the Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Pro X, the company also revealed the Surface Duo, a foldable Android-based phone with two screens. No, it's not running the new Windows 10X operating system.

If you have concerns about this device being foldable, don't worry, it's not like the Samsung Galaxy Fold. Rather than having a single screen that actually folds, this is a dual-screen clamshell style handset, and it's due for release next year.

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Windows 10X is a 'lite' operating system for dual-screen PCs

Earlier today at a special hardware event, Microsoft took the wraps off a lot of new Surface devices, including the Surface Laptop 3, and Surface Pro 7 and Pro X slates.

It also revealed the Surface Neo, the first device in a brand-new category of dual-screen computers, and the operating system that will power them -- Windows 10X.

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Microsoft announces Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X

At a special hardware event today, Microsoft took the wraps off a new generation of Surface products, including the new Surface Laptop 3.

The tech giant also announced the new Surface Pro 7 with USB-C, and the ultra-mobile Surface Pro X.

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