Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-twelve in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft has built on past Windows 11 taskbar improvements by adding enhanced app pinning to its operating system.
Why third-party email filters may be ineffective in Microsoft 365 environments
Because email is the primary source of initial entry in many breaches, many organizations pay for sophisticated, third-party email filtering solutions on top of the protections afforded by Microsoft 365. This is a wise investment; having layers of protection by different vendors helps eliminate blind spots found in any one vendor solution and provides complexity that can foil attack attempts.
Yet, few know that threat actors can easily bypass these third-party filtering products by directing emails to onmicrosoft.com domains that are an inherent part of the Microsoft 365 configuration.
Microsoft collaborates with Quantinuum and Atom Computing to advance quantum computing
Microsoft is continuing its efforts to develop quantum computing through its Azure Quantum platform, with the goal of addressing complex scientific and industrial challenges. The company has made progress in qubit technology and hardware integration through collaborations with industry leaders Quantinuum and Atom Computing. These partnerships represent a step toward building a reliable quantum computing infrastructure capable of handling problems that go beyond the scope of classical computers.
In its collaboration with Quantinuum, Microsoft has successfully created and entangled 12 logical qubits using an improved qubit-virtualization system. This achievement sets a record for the largest number of entangled logical qubits, offering higher fidelity for more reliable quantum computations. Microsoft and Quantinuum are focused on advancing quantum capabilities in fields such as chemistry, physics, and life sciences, particularly in simulating complex chemical reactions and predicting molecular interactions.
Microsoft builds on past Windows 11 taskbar improvements with enhanced app pinning
The taskbar and Start menu continue to be features of Windows 11 that divide opinion. And, for better or worse, Microsoft is continually changing things up and making evolutionary developments.
A good example of this is when app pinning was updated so it was possible to drag and drop apps pinned to the Start menu onto the taskbar in order to pin them there as well. Now the company has introduced another significant improvement to taskbar/Start menu pinning that helps to make life much easier.
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Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-eleven in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 on Steam as the most used operating system. It is still close though. On the Recall-front, Microsoft said that users won't b able to uninstall the controversial AI-feature Recall after all.
Microsoft set to launch Surface Pro 10, Pro 11, and Laptop 7 -- AI-powered devices for business
Microsoft has announced the release of its latest Surface devices aimed specifically at business customers. The new lineup, which includes the Surface Pro 10 with 5G, Surface Pro 11th Edition, and Surface Laptop 7th Edition, is set to be available later this month. These devices are designed to boost productivity and foster innovation within business environments, using advanced AI technology powered by a Neural Processing Unit (NPU).
To cater to the diverse needs of its business customers, Microsoft is offering a choice between Intel Core Ultra processors and Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors across its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. This allows businesses the flexibility to select the processing power that best suits their specific requirements.
Launch multiple apps at once with the new Workspaces module in Microsoft PowerToys v0.84.0
The time has come for PowerToys users to celebrate not just the release of a new version of the utility collection, but the addition of a new module. As previewed recently, there is now a new tool called PowerToys Workspaces that can be used to launch multiple apps from a single shortcut.
But more than just making it possible to launch a number of apps simultaneously, PowerToys Workspaces allows for these apps to be launched in saved layout and with configurations. Workspaces is by far the highlight of the newly released PowerToys v0.84.0, but there is plenty more in this update as well.
False alarm! Microsoft says that Windows 11 users will NOT be able to uninstall controversial Recall feature
For anyone using Windows 11 who was hoping to steer clear of the upcoming Recall features, there was a glimmer of hope last week. The KB5041865 update for the operating system included the option to uninstall the controversial activity snapshotting feature, much to the delight of many.
But now Microsoft has dashed the hopes of those with privacy and security concerns, saying that the ability to uninstall Recall was a bug and that it would be fixed. What this means in practice is that Recall will be installed on all Windows 11 machines, and while it can be disabled, it cannot be uninstalled.
Forget Microsoft Windows 11, say hello to Nitrux Linux 3.6.1
Nitrux, the Debian-based distribution known for its focus on simplicity and performance, has just released version 3.6.1, codenamed “lp.” This release packs a series of updates and fixes that are aimed at improving the overall experience for both new and existing users.
If you’ve been contemplating a switch from Windows 11, Nitrux 3.6.1 is the perfect alternative. You can download an ISO here now.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-ten in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Windows 10 users will see ads for Microsoft 365 in the Start menu soon as well. Microsoft launched an update that is integrating the feature.
If you're worried about privacy and security, you'll be able to uninstall Recall from Windows 11
The Recall feature of Windows 11 has not even launched yet, but it has proved endlessly controversial since it was first announced a few months back. Microsoft says that Recall will help users retrace their steps by taking snapshots of activity every few seconds, providing a way to step back in time and jump to an earlier activity.
Such was the uproar about the security and privacy implications of the feature, Microsoft has already made concessions. The company first pulled the feature from preview builds of Windows 11 to do further work on it, and then announced that it would be opt-in rather than enabled by default. Now it turns out that it will be possible to uninstall it completely.
Microsoft's AI research mimics the human brain: Should we be terrified?
Microsoft is delving into the depths of human brain function, trying to replicate its most complex processes in artificial intelligence. While this might sound like progress, it raises a chilling question: Are we on the brink of creating an AI that could outthink and overpower its creators?
In collaboration with top universities, Microsoft Research Asia is spearheading projects that mimic the brain's intricate neural networks. CircuitNet, one such project, isn't just another AI -- it’s a system designed to think like a human. By replicating the brain's connectivity patterns, CircuitNet could potentially surpass current AI capabilities, processing information with an efficiency and accuracy that traditional systems can’t match.
Speed up your system: The best custom Windows 10/11 builds for performance
While the standard versions of Windows 10 and 11 are designed to be all-encompassing, catering to a broad audience with varying needs, they can often be bogged down by features and services that not everyone needs, like Copilot in Windows 11 for example. Whether you're a professional needing a responsive system or a casual user looking for a smooth experience, the default versions of Windows 10 and 11 might not always offer the peak performance you desire.
Fortunately, there are customized versions of Windows that can help you unlock your PC’s full potential. These builds are designed to speed up your system by stripping away unnecessary features, optimizing resources, and delivering a leaner, faster operating system. Here’s a look at the five best custom Windows 10/11 builds that can help you achieve superior performance.
Rectify11 update arrives to fix Windows 11 -- download it now
Despite Microsoft's ongoing efforts to improve Windows 11 by fixing bugs and introducing new features -- most notably AI integration with Copilot -- many users continue to experience issues and design inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience. No wonder so many people are choosing to stick with Windows 10.
However, there's good news: Rectify11, a third-party solution designed to address Windows 11's many problems, has just been updated to version 3.2, offering a more polished and consistent user experience.
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