EU approves Microsoft's multi-billion-dollar Activision Blizzard acquisition despite UK and US opposition
Just last month, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft because of concerns about the impact on competition in the cloud gaming arena. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission is also seeking to block the deal
But now EU regulators have cleared the acquisition, subject to conditions. The European Commission will hold Microsoft to commitments it has made to ensure gamers in Europe will have the ability to stream all Activision Blizzard games for which they have a licence via any cloud game streaming services, as well as a corresponding free license to cloud game streaming service providers to allow EEA-based gamers to stream any Activision Blizzard's PC and console games.
Microsoft is able to look inside your password protected zip files
Microsoft has been spotted scanning for malware within password protected zip files stored on its cloud services.
Security researcher Andrew Brandt was among those to notice that Microsoft appears to be bypassing passwords added to zip archives in order to check for malware. While the intentions of the company may be good, the practice raises serious questions about privacy and security.
Watch Windows 12 being installed
There's been a lot of talk about Windows 12, Microsoft's inevitable successor to Windows 11. Two months ago, my colleague Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson reported on Microsoft's plans for that future OS here.
We've also seen some hints about it tucked away in Windows 11.
Is anyone using the Preview pane in File Explorer?
Windows’ default file management tool, File Explorer, has a preview pane. Windows users may toggle it with the keyboard shortcut Alt-P or the selection of View > Preview Pane.
It displays previews of supported file types. If you select an image in the main pane, a thumbnail of that image is displayed in the preview pane.
Microsoft reminds Windows 10 21H2 users about imminent end of service... and forced upgrades
No operating system is supported forever, and this is true of Windows 10. In fact, anyone using Windows 10 21H2 has just one month of servicing left.
As such, Microsoft has issued a reminder about the approaching end of service, giving users time to prepare. The company has also confirmed that anyone still running this version of Windows should expect to be automatically updated to a supported version of Windows.
Microsoft releases KB5026372 update for Windows 11 with security fixes and faster update option
It is that time of the month again; Microsoft has released a new update for Windows 11, not only addressing security issues, but adding new options.
With the release of the KB5026372 update for Windows 11, Microsoft has addressed an issue with Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as well as fixing numerous other security flaws, including three zero days. The update also adds the option for Windows 11 users to receive non-security updates faster in future.
Freespire closes the gap between Linux and Windows 10
If you've been using Windows for a while, you'll be very comfortable with how Microsoft's operating system looks and works. Although Windows 11 sports a centered taskbar, that OS isn't hugely different to its predecessor, Windows 10.
Familiarity with Windows makes it very difficult for users to switch to a non-Microsoft operating system, but Freespire's latest update aims to make users of Windows 10 or Windows 11 feel more at home using Linux.
Windows 10 is going to be the most stable version of Windows until October 2025
Microsoft announced last week that it won’t release new feature updates for its Windows 10 operating system anymore. Windows 10 version 22H2, released in late 2022, is therefor the last major version of Windows 10.
The operating system won’t receive new (major) features anymore and Microsoft will focus its engineering energy on Windows 11 and potential successors. It is unclear whether smaller changes will still find their way into the operating system. Many of these, if they happens, may introduce changes that most users may not want.
Cyberattacks seek to exploit trust in Microsoft and Adobe tech brands
The first quarter of 2023 has seen a significant increase in cyberattacks looking to exploit trust in established tech brands like Microsoft and Adobe.
A new report from Avast also finds a 40 percent rise in the share of phishing and smishing attacks over the previous year. Overall, two out of three threats people encounter online now seek to use social engineering techniques, taking advantage of human weaknesses.
Microsoft has broken speech recognition and more with a Windows 11 update
Microsoft has acknowledged that a recent update for Windows 11 is causing "intermittent issues" with speech recognition for some users.
The company says that the problems come after installing the KB5022913 update or later for Windows 11 22H2. As well as affecting speech recognition, the update is also causing issues with expressive input and handwriting. Microsoft has provided details of a workaround, but there is no fix currently available.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 23451 with new looks for Windows Spotlight
Good news for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel as Microsoft today releases a new Windows 11 build with some welcome tweaks and new features.
Additions in Build 23451 include a Modernized Details Pane in File Explorer and improvements to Windows Spotlight.
Microsoft seemingly used a Windows update to interfere with Chrome's 'Make Default' button to push its own Edge browser
Microsoft is no stranger to adopting tactics that are seen by many as being sneaky and underhand -- and now the company has been caught at it again.
Last year, Google made it much easier to change the default web browser to -- surprise, surprise -- Chrome, by introducing a new Make Default button. This one-click option served as a user-friendly alternative to the complicated process Microsoft put in place for changing browsers. But with the release of the KB5025221 update, it seems that Microsoft decided to break this handy feature.
Are you still using the Start Menu to launch apps in Windows?
The Windows Start Menu has always been an essential tool for Windows users to launch programs, access system settings, or change the system’s power state.
Microsoft modified the Windows operating system significantly in the latest versions. Windows 10 introduced taskbar pinning, live tiles in the Start Menu, and several other changes.
Grab your free Windows 12 wallpapers here
While the release of Windows 12 may not be on the horizon anytime soon, this hasn't deterred designer Addy Visuals from showcasing his vision for Microsoft's future operating system.
For those who haven't seen it yet, you can check out his video in our previous post here. In addition, Addy has now made the wallpapers from his Windows 12 concept available for free download.
You will soon be able to make Microsoft Edge faster by disabling unwanted features
There are very few web browsers that are not accused of being slow and bloated at some stage, and Microsoft Edge is no different.
Looking to give users more control, Microsoft is looking at ways to give people a more personalized and faster browsing experience. The company's solution is, perhaps, an obvious one -- introducing the option to disable unwanted features to remove unnecessary bloat and speed things up.
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