Articles about Microsoft

Windows Insiders might have had to wait an extra day for a new Dev Channel flight of Windows 11, but Build 25197 is here at last.

This build reintroduces the tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray updates, and also fixes various problems. Microsoft has additionally released a couple of app updates for Insiders.

Continue reading →

It is mere days until the rollout of Windows 11 22H2 begins -- or the Windows 11 2022 Update as it seems likely to be called. There is a lot to look forward to in this significant update, but Microsoft already has smaller updates planned for shortly afterwards.

Having already said that Windows 11 will only be getting one major update per year, Microsoft appears to be also planning to release minor updates, currently referred to as "Moments". References to Moment 1 and Moment 2 updates have been spotted, and despite being smaller updates, they will bring new features to Windows 11.

Continue reading →

Microsoft released a new version of its Edge browser a few days ago, bringing with it various improvements and changes. But many people who have updated to Microsoft Edge 105 have run into a fairly serious issue -- the browser will not start.

It is an issue that has been very widely reported, and while Microsoft is not publicly saying much about the problem, a member of the Edge development team has stepped up with a solution. So, if the latest version of Edge won't launch for you, you will be pleased to learn that the issue stems from a deprecated group policy and can be easily fixed with a registry edit.

Continue reading →

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) -- the competition regulator in the UK -- has voiced concern about Microsoft's proposed takeover of game publisher Activision Blizzard.

The CMA is worried that the merger of two such huge companies in a $68.7 billion deal "could substantially lessen competition in gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services, and cloud gaming services". Windows 11 maker Microsoft, it almost goes without saying, entirely disagrees, and Phil Spencer, CEO of gaming at the company, has penned a blog post explaining just why this it.

Continue reading →

Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel have had to wait a day longer than usual for a new flight, but Build 25193 is finally here,

This latest test version comes with a good set of fixes designed to improve the overall user experience, It also sees the arrival of Xbox subscription management in Settings.

Continue reading →

Microsoft has revealed details of a high severity vulnerability in the TikTok app for Android. The Microsoft 365 Defender Research Team shares news of the now-fixed security flaw which the company says could have allowed an attacker to take over a victim’s account by simply getting them to click a malicious link.

With hundreds of millions of users around the world, TikTok is one of the most popular social platforms at the moment; the potential damage from the successful exploitation of such a vulnerability is huge.

Continue reading →

Whether you're currently a Java developer, someone looking to get started, or if you sit somewhere in the middle and you're looking to up your coding game, Microsoft has a new resource site for you to check out.

Described as a one-stop shop for Java developers, the site includes beginner guides to getting started in Java coding. The site also features information about deploying and scaling Java apps, and has tips and more to help developers code productively.

Continue reading →

There is a lot to like, even love, about Windows 11, but there are also plenty of things which are very divisive. Wading into the debate about the direction in which Microsoft has taken its operating system is Jensen Harris, former Director of User Experience at the company, who takes aim at the Start menu and what he describes as a "confusing" experience.

In a series of tweets, Harris lambasts Microsoft for including banner ads in the Start menu, for placing obstacles in the way of completing simple tasks, and makes various complaints about design choices. It makes for extremely interesting reading.

Continue reading →

Last week, Microsoft released previews of updates for various versions of Windows before it unleashes the final versions next Patch Tuesday. Included among these was the KB5016691 update for Windows 11 which --although billed primarily as a bug-fixing update -- added new Server Message Block (SMB) compression options.

The same changes were introduced to Windows Server 2022 with the KB5016693 update, and Microsoft has published details of just what the changes mean, as well as explaining how to take advantage of the new options and settings.

Continue reading →

Microsoft's focus may well be Windows 11 and the upcoming Windows 12, but that does not mean that people who have opted to stick with Windows 10 have been forgotten. Having released a preview of the KB5016691 update for Windows 11, the company has also released KB5016688 update for Windows 10.

Available for Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1 and 21H2, the KB5016688 update is a preview of the cumulative update that will be released next Patch Tuesday. Although this is a non-security update, it fixes a large number of issues with Windows 10

Continue reading →

Ahead of a wider release next Patch Tuesday, Microsoft has released the preview version of the KB5016691 update for Windows 11. The update addresses a number of issues that have cropped up recently, including fixing problems with USB printers and also with Bluetooth headsets.

There are numerous other bug fixes such as addressing a problem with Microsoft Edge and a trust issue with Microsoft Store apps. There are also a handful of new features and options, helping to enhance security and giving sysadmins new controls.

Continue reading →

Every -- well, almost every -- new build of Windows 11 has new features, options or settings to explore. Some are obvious, some less so. With the latest release of Windows 11, Microsoft has hidden some seriously impressive new animations.

These animations appear in the Settings app; when you roll your mouse cursor over the icons to the left of the app, they now come to life. But the animations do not appear by default, Even if you have Windows 11 build 25188 installed, there are still steps you need to take to unlock the special animation effects.

Continue reading →

Wednesdays are a big deal for Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel as that’s when Microsoft typically releases new flights. Beta Insiders also now get to enjoy the mid-week release schedule, and today sees the arrival of twin builds 22621.586 and 22622.586.

In theory, Windows 11 Build 22621.586 is the flight without new features, while 22622.586 is the one with new features, except the main difference between today's two builds is the fixes included in them.

Continue reading →

The first big update for Microsoft’s new operating system, now set to be called the Windows 11 2022 Update, is due for release shortly. Microsoft is still hard at work developing new features and fixing problems for future updates.

Last week’s Windows 11 build for Insiders on the Dev Channel wasn’t particularly existing, with the focus on fixing problems, but Build 25188, released today, do introduce some more notable changes.

Continue reading →

Users of Windows 11 have been eagerly awaiting the first major update to the operating system. Windows 11 22H2 has been in the works for quite a while now, and it's due for release in the coming weeks; except it's not.

Microsoft will not be releasing Windows 11 22H2, having changed its mind about what the update will be called. Instead, it is Windows 11 2022 Update that will be pushed out to users as soon as next month.

Continue reading →