Microsoft says this was done to free up space on the taskbar. While some users may like the change, as it gives them more room for other icons and information on the taskbar, others may dislike it.

Good news is that Microsoft added a new preference as well that allows users who do not like the change to restore the classic behavior.

Tip: You can hover with the mouse cursor over date and time to get a small popup with the full information.

How to restore the full date and time on Windows 11

Here is a step-by-step guide to restore the classic taskbar behavior:

1. Right-click on date and time on the taskbar.
2. Select "adjust date and time". You can also open Settings > Time & language > Date & time manually instead.
3. Expand "Show time and date in the System tray" by clicking on the down-arrow icon.
4. Uncheck "Show abbreviated time and date".

The change is immediate. You should see the full date and time again on the taskbar.

Using the Registry

Administrators may modify the Registry to restore the classic display of date and time on Windows 11's taskbar.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type regedit and press the Enter-key.
3. Confirm the security prompt that is displayed.
4. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
5. Check if ShowShortenedDateTime exists on the right.
   1. If it does, go to step 6.
   2. If it does not, do the following:
      1. Right-click on Advanced.
      2. Select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
      3. Name it ShowShortenedDateTime.
6. Double-click on ShowShortenedDateTime.
7. Set its value to 0.
8. Restart the PC.

Tip: To restore the default, delete the key ShowShortenedDateTime, or set its value to 1.

Using the Group Policy Editor

Note: the Group Policy Editor is only available in Pro, Enterprise, Workstation, or Education versions of Windows 11. Home users may want to use the Registry directly to make the change, as described above.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press the Enter-key.
3. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
4. Double-click on "Turn off abbreviated time and date format".
5. Change the value from "Not configured" to "Enabled".
6. Click on ok.
7. Close the Group Policy Editor.
8. Restart the PC.

Closing Words

There you have it. It takes just a few clicks to restore the full date and time format on the taskbar on Windows 11 devices.

Now it is your turn. Do you like the new format? Or do you prefer the old? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

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Apart from improved performance and low latency, Gemini 2.0 Flash also comes with native support for multimodal output, including natively generated images mixed with text and steerable text-to-speech (TTS) multilingual audio. It also supports multimodal inputs like images, video, and audio. This new model can also natively call tools, including Google Search, code execution, and others.

Developers can now try out the experimental version of the Gemini 2.0 Flash model in AI Studio and Vertex AI today. Developers can also try out the new Multimodal Live API that has real-time audio, video-streaming input, and the ability to use multiple, combined tools.

This new model is available for consumers via the Gemini experience on the desktop and mobile web, and it is coming soon to mobile apps as well. Google will announce the general availability of Gemini 2.0 Flash in January 2025.

Along with Gemini 2.0 Flash, Google also announced several prototypes that explore the agentic capabilities of Gemini 2.0.

• Project Astra can now converse in multiple languages and mixed languages. It now has up to 10 minutes of in-session memory and can use Google Search, Lens, and Maps.

• Project Mariner is an AI agent that can understand and reason across information on your browser screen to complete tasks. Google claims that Project Mariner achieved a state-of-the-art result of 83.5% working as a single agent setup.

• Jules is an AI-powered code agent that integrates directly into a GitHub workflow to fix an issue, develop a plan, and execute it.

   

With its multimodal capabilities and native tool integration, Gemini 2.0 Flash opens up exciting possibilities for developers and consumers alike.

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Here's what's new:

24H2

Highlights

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.

Improvements

This security update includes improvements that were a part of update KB5046740 (released November 21, 2024). Below is a summary of the key issues that this update addresses when you install this KB. If there are new features, it lists them as well. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

 

• This update makes miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. No additional issues were documented for this release.

   

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

 

For more information about security vulnerabilities, please refer to the Security Update Guide website and the December 2024 Security Updates.

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5049685)- 26100.2592

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

Known issues in this update

23H2 and 22H2

Highlights

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.

Improvements

Windows 11, version 23H2

 

Important: Use EKB KB5027397 to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

 

This security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:

 

• This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.

   

• No additional issues are documented for this release.

   

Windows 11, version 22H2

 

This security update includes improvements that were a part of update KB5046732 (released November 21, 2024). Below is a summary of the key issues that this update addresses when you install this KB. If there are new features, it lists them as well. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

 

• This update makes miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. No additional issues were documented for this release.

   

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

 

For more information about security vulnerabilities, please refer to the Security Update Guide website and the December 2024 Security Update.

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5046729) - 22621.4539 and 22631.4539

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

Known issues in this update

These updates will be available from Windows Update and should install automatically in most cases. If you would like to download these updates for offline installation, you can get them from the Microsoft Catalog website. You can find the update for 24H2 here (but check the install instructions here as it's more complex, go to the Catalog tab at the bottom of the page), and 23H2 and 22H2 here.

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The new updates are being distributed under KB5048652, bumping up the builds to 19044.5247 and 19045.5247. You can find standalone links to download the new update on the Microsoft Update Catalog at this link.

The major highlight of the release is security patches.

Highlights

 

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.

Microsoft says there are no known issues in this update.

Some of the older Windows 10 versions have also received updates today, which have been listed below with their respective release notes (KB) linked as well as links to download them at Microsoft's Update Catalog:

It is noteworthy that Windows 10 20H2 and Windows 10 1909 reached the end of servicing. Non-LTSC editions of 21H2 have also reached the end of servicing.

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Here is the announcement:

It’s native: With this update, the previous Copilot progressive web app (PWA) is replaced with a native version. After installing the Copilot app update, when you run Copilot, you will see it appear in your system tray.

 

New quick view: You can access the new quick view for Copilot by using the Alt + Space keyboard shortcut on Windows 10 and 11 PCs. You will be able to move the quick view window and resize it to suit your workflow and you can use Alt + Space to open and close Copilot’s quick view whenever you need. To flip back to the main Copilot app window, just press the icon at the top left corner of the quick view window. PCs with the dedicated Copilot key will open the Copilot app up the main window. Copilot will continue to explore options related to the keyboard shortcuts for the app.

Note that the Alt + Space shortcut is frequently used in other apps, so you might encounter a shortcut conflict with apps like PowerToys Run and more. Microsoft says that Windows will assign the shortcut to whichever app is open first or is running in the background.

Another thing worth adding is that the new Copilot app is rolling out gradually, so it might take a few more days before it reaches your computer with a Windows Insider build (any channel).

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Windows 11 has a pretty powerful panel that provides access to emoji, GIFs, ASCII art, special symbols, and your clipboard history. However, not everyone knows about its existence, and Windows 11 does not provide any helpful insights into it (press Win + ; to launch the emoji panel). Microsoft wants to change that by offering the option to display the emoji panel in the tray area every time you type something.

If you are running the latest Windows 11 preview build from the Beta Channel, you can try the new button yourself. Here is how to do it:

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Launch Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
3. Type vivetool /enable /id:48504539 and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.

After restarting your computer, launch the Settings app (Win + I) and go to Personalization > Taskbar > System tray icons and select the desired option from the "Emoji and more" drop-down. You can keep the button visible all the time, only when typing, or never.

In case you missed it, Microsoft is also working on more substantial changes for the tray area. Users recently noticed that the company had redesigned the battery indicator. The new version is larger and features better icons, more color, and other improvements over the current version in stable Windows 11 builds.

Source: @PantomOfEarth on X

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Today's release patches several annoyances and bugs, such as missing scrollbars in certain parts of the browser, invisible toolbar buttons with high-contrast themes in Windows, incorrect window positioning, and more.

Here is the official changelog for Firefox 133.0.3:

Version 133.0.3, first offered to Release channel users on December 10, 2024

 

• Fixed the missing scrollbar in the Library window, such as when viewing History or Bookmarks. (Bug 1934482)
• Fixed a problem where toolbar buttons were not visible on mouseover when using both the Windows High Contrast theme and the Firefox System theme. (Bug 1930840)
• Fixed blurry line drawing on some Canvas elements when hardware acceleration is enabled. (Bug 1933668)
• Fixed incorrect Firefox window positioning on Windows when restoring from maximized. (Bug 1934238)

Firefox will update itself automatically in the background. However, you can speed things up by heading to Menu > Help > About Firefox. Alternatively, download the browser from the official website or the Microsoft Store if you are on Windows 10 and 11.

In other Firefox news, Mozilla recently implemented several new techniques to make Firefox your default browser during and after installation. Also, Firefox 134 Beta brought hardware-accelerated HEVC/H.265 codec support on Windows and several other changes. You can check out full release notes for Firefox 134 Beta here.

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The official Microsoft 365 Service Health Status website currently lists there is no issue with "everything up and running". However, the page will likely be updated soon to reflect the situation.

From the user comments on the M365 Status X thread, it appears that the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal is also inaccessible and the session may be getting signed out as well as a result of this issue.

We will update the post once more details are available.

Update, December 10 2024, 19:00 IST: Microsoft says that it is looking into the root cause and has also provided a potential workaround:

Update, December 10 2024, 20:25 IST: Microsoft has closed the issue after confirming earlier that it was a token generation bug. The company has thus deployed a fix by disabling proactive caching:

The issue stands as resolved:

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Google Docs is rolling out 40 new templates to make your documents more visually appealing. The new pageless templates cover a wider range of scenarios, whether you’re writing a blog post, creating a project roadmap, or making an interview guide.

 

Google says its “high-quality, visually modern” templates come with preset layouts and styles. They also make use of some of the newer features within Google Docs, such as tabs to better organize documents and placeholder chips that let others know the information they need to fill in.

 

GIF: Google

 

I’m not seeing the new templates just yet, but Google notes that the full rollout could take up to 15 days. Still, I’m glad to see Google adding more designs, as I’ve always felt Docs fell short in terms of template variety and quality when compared to Microsoft Word and even Canva.

 

You can access templates in Docs by selecting the “Templates” button at the top of a new document or by heading to File > New > From template gallery. The new templates will be available to everyone with a personal Google account, as well as Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual subscribers.

 

Google plans on rolling out “even more high-quality Docs template options in the coming months.”

 

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Linux Mint 22.1, like preceding versions, will feature Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions so that users have a decent amount of choice. The Cinnamon edition will get a notable upgrade this time around because it ships with the new Cinnamon 6.4.

Cinnamon 6.4 includes an improved dark theme with better contrast and new dialog boxes. If you want to take a look at some of the screenshots, please check our previous coverage of Cinnamon 6.4.

As a point release of the 22.x series, it will still be supported until 2029, and upgrading to this version is not mandatory if you already have Linux Mint 22, though, you will be offered it and the upgrade is usually seamless.

Linux Mint 22 was codenamed Wilma, if the team sticks to tradition, 22.1 will also carry a female name beginning with W. Some possible codenames that we could see are Winifred, Winter, or Whitney.

Once the Beta has been released, we will get an official statement from the Linux Mint team who will call on its community to help test it. About two weeks later (but it could be longer), the Linux Mint team will release the Stable version and open up the upgrade path for existing users. If you're still on Linux Mint 21 or older, this would be a good time to finally upgrade.

Source: Linux Mint

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In addition to shipping preview updates via the Microsoft Store (the manual installer is still available from the official website), developers will publish regular changelog on their website with all the details about each release. The latest version, 3.8.1, features improvements for the details pane, shortcuts, the properties window, drag and drop, archives, and more. You can check out the complete changelog here.

If you already own Files in the Microsoft Store, you can download Files Preview for free using this link. The app will remain free for the rest of the month. It is worth noting that the Files app is a free app if you download it from the official website, but those wanting to support the development can purchase it from the Microsoft Store for $8.99.

Other changes for the Files app include WinGet support, allowing you to install the program using Windows 11's default package manager. To do so, run Windows Terminal and type the following commands:

• Files Stable Version: winget install FilesCommunity.Files
• Files Preview Version: winget install FilesCommunity.FilesPreview

Finally, Files is now available via Scoop, another package manager for Windows. However, unlike WinGet, which is preinstalled with each Windows 11 copy, you should install Scoop first before using it to download Files and other applications. Developers say supporting Scoop gives users more flexibility and convenience. You can learn more about it here.

If you prefer stable software over preview versions, check out what is new in the latest Files 3.8 update.

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The new battery indicator is noticeably larger, which gives it more pixels to accurately display the current charge level. Next, it is no longer black and white: when connected to a charger, the indicator turns green. Turning on the energy saver makes the remaining battery level yellow. For reference, the current battery indicator in Windows 11 only displays a lightning icon when charging and a leaf when saving energy.

For now, the redesigned battery indicator is only present on the taskbar. The lock screen still uses the old variant, but it is safe to assume that one will be updated eventually as well.

If you want to try the new battery indicator in Windows 11, update your system to build 26120.2510 from the Dev Channel and use the ViVeTool app to enable several feature IDs:

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
3. Type vivetool /enable /id:48822452,48433719 and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.

Other changes in Windows 11 build 26120.2510 include a bunch of AI-powered features for more Copilot+ PCs. Now, owners of computers with the latest Intel and AMD processors with neural processing units can try Recall, Click To Do, Paint Cocreator, Image Restyle, and other previously exclusive to Snapdragon-powered PCs.

Credit for the IDs goes to @PhantomOfEarth on X.

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After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might experience issues while starting Microsoft Outlook if you are using Google Workspace Sync. You might observe that Microsoft Outlook fails to start, and you are unable to uninstall or reinstall Google Workspace Sync.

 

Resulting from this issue you will observe an error which begins with ‘Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open the Outlook Window. The set of folders cannot be opened. An unexpected error has occurred. MAPI was unable to load the information service’.

Not only that, the operating system won't let you uninstall or reinstall the Google Workspace Sync client. As it usually goes in scenarios like this, Microsoft applied a "compatibility hold," preventing affected customers from updating to Windows 11 version 24H2.

Fortunately, if you are affected, there is no need to wait several days for a fix.

Users can resolve the problem by updating to the latest version of Google Workspace Sync. You need to install version 4.3.68.0 and newer before attempting to update to Windows 11 version 24H2. Those updating with the Media Creation Tool app will be prompted to take action during the installation process.

Note that it might take up to 48 hours for the update block to lift on your system. Microsoft says that those who cannot update after installing the latest version of Google Workspace Sync should contact Google's official support. Also, only client versions of Windows 11 version 24H2 are affected, and Outlook should work without issues with Google Workspace Sync on previous releases.

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In late November, Microsoft acknowledged gaming issues on systems with Windows 11 version 24H2 and certain Ubisoft games. Affected games would hang upon loading and get stuck on a black screen. Affected titles included Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Origins, Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Now, Microsoft has an update to the story.

The company has updated the official documentation to notify users that Ubisoft released temporary hotfixes for Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Microsoft, in return, lifted the update block, allowing gamers with those games installed to move from previous Windows 11 versions or Windows 10 to Windows 11 version 24H2, assuming no other upgrade blocks are present.

If you want to update to the latest Windows 11 version, make sure Star Wars Outlaws is updated to version 1.4.0 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to version 1.2. Keep in mind that although compatibility bugs are now fixed, there are still some performance issues:

Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora are no longer affected by this issue due to temporary hotfixes deployed by Ubisoft. While these fixes mitigate the crashes, players might still experience some performance issues.

Also, Assassin's Creed games are still listed as incompatible, which means you cannot update to Windows 11 version 24H2 until Ubisoft updates them. Alternatively, you can uninstall those titles and move on to a newer Windows release.

You can learn more about the bug in the official Windows Health Dashboard documentation via this link.

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The full changelog is given below:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Taskbar & System Tray]

 

• The more simplified system tray with shortened form date/time we began rolling out with Build 22635.4010 is being temporarily disabled to address a few issues. Thanks to all the Insiders who gave us feedback on this experience.

 

[File Explorer]

 

• We’re making a change so that when you launch File Explorer folders from outside of File Explorer (for example, from an app or from the desktop), by default they will now open in a new tab if you have an existing File Explorer window open. If you’d prefer that they continue opening in a new window, you can change this in File Explorer folder options, under General > Browse Folders.
• When “Retore previous folder windows at logon” is enabled in File Explorer, we will also now restore all the extra tabs which you previously had open in each File Explorer window. As part of this work, we have also updated the logic for the “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in” setting via Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, so that when you enable this, we will automatically enable the File Explorer specific setting for you too.
• We’re adding a new option to snooze or turn off the “Start backup” reminder in the File Explorer address bar, for those that aren’t already backing up their Documents, Pictures, or Desktop folders. This option is available when you right-click “Start backup”.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Input]

 

• Fixed an issue for Pinyin IME users, where switching between windows (like with ALT + Tab) may unexpectedly switch the IME from Chinese to English.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Other]

 

This update includes fixes for the following issues:

 

• [Bluetooth LE Audio] Fixed: Some devices, like hearing aids, do not stream Bluetooth audio.
• [Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer] Fixed: Windows stops responding when you use an IPP USB printer.
• [Motherboard replacement] Fixed: Windows does not activate after you replace a motherboard.
• [Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)] Fixed: This update brings profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.

Microsoft Store Update

For Win32 apps that are “provided and updated” by their publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updating directly in the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated outside of the Microsoft Store. Insiders can head to the Downloads page and click Get Updates. If any installed apps of this type have updates, it’ll be displayed on the pending list. You can perform the update by clicking the update button; it won’t start automatically.

 

You can also head to the product page and see an update button.

 

Windows Insiders across all channels running Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x and higher will see this improvement.

 

Click here to read more about recent updates to the Microsoft Store!

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

You can find the official blog post here on Microsoft's website.

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Here are the new features you will get with this update:

• Recall: A feature that snapshots what you do, giving your computer a "photographic memory" and the ability to go back in time and search for any file or app using natural language.

  

• Paint Cocreator: This feature generates AI images based on what you draw on the canvas.
• Restyle Image and Image Creator in the Photos app: With these capabilities, the Photos app can generate images based on your text prompts and restyle existing pictures.
• Click to Do: Click to Do analyzes what is on the screen and provides quick actions for text, images, and other content.

  

Note that getting new AI features to work requires installing the latest chipset drivers. To do so, toggle the "Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available" option in Windows Update settings. You can learn more about those capabilities in the announcement post.

Other changes are included in build 26120.2510 include the following:

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

 

Modernized Windows Hello

 

At Microsoft, we are committed to security and enhancing user experiences. As part of this commitment, we launched enhanced passkey features in September 2023 and are now revamping the Windows Hello user experience. This represents a significant update to Windows Hello, aligning it with contemporary Windows visual design standards. The primary focus is on making authentication intuitive and seamless.

 

Modernized Windows Hello Visual Communication: The updated Windows Hello visuals are designed to facilitate fast and clear communication and appear on the Windows Sign-in screen as well as other authentication flows such as passkey, Recall, Microsoft Store and many more.

 

Revamped Windows Hello credential user experience for passkeys and the new administrator protection experience: We redesigned Windows security credential user experience for passkey by creating a cleaner experience that supports secured and quick authentication. Users will now be able to switch between authentication options and select passkey/devices more intuitively.

 

This experience will also apply for the new administrator protection feature coming to Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher and currently in preview with Windows Insiders in the most recent Canary Channel builds. For more information on administrator protection – you can check out this blog post that highlights our investments in adminless experiences in Windows from Microsoft Ignite.

 

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

 

[Taskbar & System Tray]

 

• The more simplified system tray with shortened form date/time we began rolling out with Build 26120.1843 is being temporarily disabled to address a few issues. Thanks to all the Insiders who gave us feedback on this experience.
• Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

 

[Taskbar & System Tray]

 

• Fixed a few issues impacting taskbar and explorer.exe reliability.

 

[Audio]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to USB audio devices going to sleep after 1 minute of idle time, and not waking up until the PC was rebooted.
• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead you to unexpectedly hear a mute or unmute noise in certain headsets.
• Fixed an underlying issue that could lead to the audio on certain audio devices unexpectedly going to 100% on boot or after sleep.

 

[Other]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to Excel sometimes hanging on launch when opening certain files.
• Fixes for everyone in the Dev Channel

 

[Recall]

 

• Fixed an issue where Recall didn’t warn that you must have Secure Boot enabled for Recall to save snapshots.
• Improved the experience for submitting feedback for Recall by adding a loading dialog.
• Fixed an issue where some users experience a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline while using their device.
• Fixed an issue where Recall won’t save any snapshots if you join the Dev Channel and install Build 26120.2415 after installing KB5046740.

 

[Other]

 

• [Exporting chart objects] Fixed: An app stops responding when it exports chart objects in PDF and XLSX formats.
• [Internet connection] Fixed: A small number of devices cannot connect to the internet. This occurs when a DHCP server response has duplicate DHCP options. This stops IPv4 connections on certain networks.
• [Display] Fixed: Some secondary displays might experience lag and screen tearing when a window is in full screen.
• [HTML Applications (HTA)] Fixed: HTA optional components (OC) are now in ARM64 Windows PE.

Finally, the update contains the recent Microsoft Store update with improvements for Win32 app updates.

Here is the list of known bugs:

[Rollback]

 

There is an issue where if you roll back from Build 26120.2510 to Build 26120.2415, you will see an “Your organization used App Control for Business to block this app” dialog when attempting to use or install certain third-party apps on your PC due to an incorrect policy being enforced. To avoid this, please take the following steps FIRST before rolling back:

 

Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

 

1. Type and hit enter: mountvol s: /s
2. Type and hit enter: del S:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\cipolicies\active\{8E8A94F0-6EB9-42C7-A189-E018C8CF3D10}.cip
3. Type and hit enter: del S:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\cipolicies\active\{36D62F7C-AB85-4F61-8724-744294F24023}.cip
4. Type and hit enter: del S:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\cipolicies\active\{66D7D265-7EDD-47DD-86E4-F7C42CD55A8F}.cip
5. Then proceed with rolling back.

 

Note if you update back to Build 26120.2510 after rolling back, you will still need to do this workaround.

 

If you do not do these steps FIRST before rolling back, your PC could get into a bad state. If you run into issues with Build 26120.2510, we recommend trying the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” via Settings > Recovery which delivers an in-place upgrade (IPU) of Build 26120.2510 instead of rolling back. We expect to have this issue fixed with the next Dev Channel flight.

 

[Recall]

 

The following known issues will be fixed in future updates to Windows Insiders:

 

• Recall can be enabled or disabled from “Turn Windows features on or off”. We are caching the Recall binaries on disk while we test add/remove. In a future update we will completely remove the binaries.
• Some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots”, while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.
• Make sure you update Microsoft 365 apps to the latest version so you can jump back into specific documents.

 

[Click to Do]

 

The following known issues will be fixed in future updates to Windows Insiders:

 

• Sometimes additional context is given when using more intelligent text actions powered by Phi Silica.
• The intelligent text actions leverage the power of Microsoft’s secure cloud to improve your text results by ensuring prompts and responses are safe and appropriate. This data is automatically deleted. Local moderation to ensure the safety of prompts and responses will be added in the future, replacing this cloud endpoint.
• Sometimes Click to Do doesn’t highlight any info on screen if there is no content on a connected external monitor in extended mode.

The complete changelog is available here.

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As the end of 2024 is fast approaching, if we look back, Windows 11 has received a number of improvements throughout the years, many of which became available through monthly cumulative updates, while many others rolled out (and are still rolling out) with the release of version 2024.

Some changes are entirely new, like the Sudo command for Windows 11, the ability to reverse mouse scrolling and Wi-Fi 7 support. Others, such as the archival creation wizard, File Explorer context menu labels, and shorter Taskbar date and time, are enhancements for existing features.

Also, this was a significant year for AI advancements on Windows 11. However, this recap will focus on my favorite AI experiences, excluding "Windows Recall," as it wasn't released to the Stable Channel.

In this guide, I'll share my recap of features and changes that became available in 2024 for Windows 11.

Windows 11 features recap for 2024

The following list of Windows 11 changes is not presented in any particular order and only represents my subjective viewpoint.

1. Sudo command

One of my favorite features for Windows 11 that became available in 2024 is the Sudo command. Sudo or "Superuser Do" is a command that allows you to run commands with elevated privileges without launching the Windows Terminal as an administrator.

The Sudo command has been available for many decades in Linux, macOS, and other Unix-based operating systems. However, the version available on Windows 11 is similar but limited to the one from other platforms.

On Windows 11, the system offers the ability to remove the password from your computer, but this doesn't mean your device will no longer require a form of authentication to access your account.

Although the operating system offers a passwordless experience to access your computer, the feature only removes the password methods and replaces it with the Windows Hello feature so you can sign in to your account using Face, Fingerprint, or PIN, which are more secure than passwords.

If you want to enable this feature, Windows 11 offers two ways, including using the Settings app, or you can also modify the Registry.

In this how-to guide, I will outline the different methods to remove the password experience on Windows 11 while keeping your account secure behind the Windows Hello feature.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and if you do not complete the task correctly, it can cause irreversible damage to your installation. It is recommended that you of the device before proceeding.

How to enable passwordless sign-in on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you have at least two ways to configure the passwordless feature on your computer, including using the Settings app or modifying the Registry.

From the Settings app

To ditch the password authentication method on Windows 11, use these steps:

Here is the changelog:

Added Features:

 

• Added red dots for the ‘What’s New’ feature on android.

 

Improved Behavior:

 

• Resolved an issue where browser would crash when opening online PDF links in InPrivate mode on Android.
• Resolved an issue where a crash would occur when logging in and out of accounts on iOS.

 

Changed Behavior:

 

• Resolved an issue where the ‘History-All’ list was loading slowly and showing a blank screen for seconds when switching to ‘All’ in the history hub.
• Resolved an issue where the browser’s new tab remained open when Game Assist was closed under tabs.
• Resolved an issue where the Rewards page did not adapt to large text mode in the browser app.
• Resolved an issue where the ‘Organize Tabs’ title was clipped in the tab center.
• Resolved an issue where the background color of inactive tabs was incorrect in tab groups.
• Fixed an issue where the color theme section in edge://settings/appearance/themes did not work when trying to apply a color theme using the color picker for the first time.

 

Android:

 

• Resolved an issue where the Omnibox Action feature was unavailable on Android.
• Resolved an issue where, after clicking ‘Allow notifications,’ the pop-up toast would not disappear automatically on Android.
• Resolved an issue where the soft-landing button displayed ‘Sign in to win’ instead of ‘Sign in’ when the account was not logged in on Android.
• Resolved an issue where some content on the notification pop-up card would disappear in landscape mode on Android.
• Resolved an issue where extensions could not be installed automatically and always displayed a checking state on Android.

 

iOS:

 

• Resolved an issue when clicking the back button after switching to landscape mode on the mini app caused the portrait page to display on iOS.
• Resolved an issue where the background of the Omnibox was incorrect on iOS.
• Fixed an issue where the top of the Edit Favorite page and Recent tabs page was transparent on iOS.

 

Mac:

 

• Fixed an issue where hovering over ‘Workspaces’ list items did not resize the text in the browser.

You can download Microsoft Edge Dev 133 from the Edge Insider website. Stable release for version 133 is scheduled for the week of February 6, 2025.

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Today we are pleased to release a new build of the next Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) Preview that contains both the Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions, Annual Channel for Container Host and Azure Edition (for VM evaluation only). Branding remains, Windows Server 2025, in this preview - when reporting issues please refer to Windows Server vNext preview. If you signed up for Server Flighting, you should receive this new build automatically.

 

Windows Defender Application Control for Business (WDAC)

 

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) for business is a software-based security layer that reduces attack surface by enforcing an explicit list of software that is allowed to run. Introduced with Windows Server 2025, we have provided Microsoft defined ‘default policy’ which can be applied to the server via PowerShell cmdlets, powered by our ‘Security configuration platform called ‘OSconfig’.

 

To learn more, please review Windows Defender Application Control for Business (WDAC) - Microsoft Community Hub

 

Windows Admin Center (WAC)

 

Beginning with build 26252, Windows Server preview customers can download and install Windows Admin Center right from the Windows Server Desktop using the in-OS app that takes care of downloading and guides you through the installation process.

 

Note: You must be running a desktop version of Windows Server Datacenter or Standard preview to access this feature.

Known issues in this update include the following:

Flighting: The label for this flight may incorrectly reference Windows 11. However, when selected, the package installed is the Windows Server update. Please ignore the label and proceed with installing your flight. This issue will be addressed in a future release.

Windows Server build 26334 is valid until September 15, 2025. You can install it using the following keys:

• Server Standard: MFY9F-XBN2F-TYFMP-CCV49-RMYVH
• Datacenter: 2KNJJ-33Y9H-2GXGX-KMQWH-G6H67
• Azure Edition does not accept a key

You can find full release notes for Windows Server 2025 build 26334 here.

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For reference, AMD and Nvidia already released their corresponding drivers (AMD here and Nvidia here) for these games.

Here is the changelog:

Gaming Highlights:

 

Intel Game On Driver support on Intel Arc A-series Graphics GPUs and Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs for:

 

• Indiana Jones and The Great Circle
• Marvel Rivals
• Path of Exile 2

Intel graphics driver 32.0.101.6319 does not fix any bugs, so the list of known issues remains the same:

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit darker than expected shadows in certain campaign scenarios.
• Topaz Video AI may experience errors when exporting videos after using some models for video enhancements.
• Topaz Gigapixel AI may experience intermittent crash while exporting images.

 

Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

 

• SPECworkstation3.1 may exhibit system instability while running certain workloads.
• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience errors intermittently with benchmark preset set to Extended.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may experience errors while rendering OpenVino test scenarios.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (DX12) may exhibit flickering corruption during gameplay.

 

Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

 

• Adobe Premiere Pro may exhibit corruption in the output video after performing 8K AV1 Encode.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may experience issues while rendering certain OpenVino test scenarios.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may exhibit corruption while rendering certain AI workloads.
• Star Wars Outlaws (DX12) may experience sporadic crash during gameplay

Intel 32.0.101.6319 non-WHQL is available on systems with 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 with the following graphics products from Intel:

You can download the driver from the official website here. Full release notes are available here (PDF).

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Broadcom will no longer take VMware's biggest 2,000 customers directly. Instead, it will work with VMware's 500 biggest customers, giving channel partners the opportunity to participate in deals and provide additional value for VMware customers. The reversal is being viewed as an effort from Broadcom to discourage migrations from VMware, but there's skepticism around how much impact it will truly have.

Various customers have lamented the changes that succeeded Broadcom buying VMware about a year ago. Controversial moves have included ending perpetual license sales, bundling VMware products into a smaller number of SKUs, and ending VMware's channel partner program. These changes have led some firms to consider reducing their business with VMware.

This week, for example, UK-headquartered cloud operator Beeks Group said that a 1,000 percent increase in VMware costs led to it moving most of its 20,000-plus virtual machines to OpenNebula. And numerous customers that Ars Technica has spoken with in the last year are seriously researching or planning total or partial VMware migrations.

Now, Broadcom is looking to save some business by incorporating channel partners into deals that it previously ushered them out of. In January, CRN reported that Broadcom took over more than 2,000 of VMware’s biggest accounts, circumnavigating partners and confusing some partners and customers. In a March earnings call, CEO Hock Tan said Broadcom would focus on upselling those accounts. As The Register reported today, Broadcom recently announced told partners that it will only work directly with the top 500 VMware accounts.

In a statement, a Broadcom spokesperson said:

Broadcom continues to work on behalf of our partners to create new value in capturing the market opportunity for private cloud. Most recently we announced a program that is currently in development to offer qualified VCF customers a 15 percent professional service entitlement of their annual contract value to access partner-delivered or Broadcom professional services. This will help customers improve both time to value and ROI. Broadcom does not have an official, static number of direct strategic accounts. The number of customers with whom we work directly changes over time.

At Canalys’ APAC Forum event today, Canalys chief analyst Alastair Edwards said that "Broadcom recognizes that its best defense against possible migrations is making sure customers implement its full private cloud bundles and see strong return on investment. Broadcom sees giving 1,500 big users back to partners as the way to make that happen, and is even giving its channel 15 percent of the value of deals they win to fund professional services so that VMware software is quickly made operational," per The Register.

In a LinkedIn blog post last month, Edwards noted several other recent “major reversals," including bringing back-end rebates back to the Broadcom channel program “following the unsuccessful move to a front-end discount-only program at the start of 2024 in a drive for simplification" and launching a points-based partner program to replace the VMware one it canned early this year.

Customers re-examining VMware dependence

VMware has been the go-to virtualization platform for years, but Broadcom's acquisition has pushed customers to reconsider their VMware dependence. A year into its VMware buy, Broadcom is at a critical point. By now, customers have had months to determine whether they'll navigate VMware's new landscape or opt for alternatives. Beyond dissatisfaction with the new pricing and processes under Broadcom, the acquisition has also served as a wake-up call about vendor lock-in. Small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs) are having the biggest problems navigating the changes, per conversations that Ars has had with VMware customers and analysts.

Speaking to The Register, Edwards claimed that migration from VMware is still modest. However, the coming months are set to be decision time for some clients. In a June and July survey that Veeam, which provides hypervisor backup solutions, sponsored, 56 percent of organizations were expecting to “decrease” VMware usage by July 2025. The survey examined 561 “senior decisionmakers employed in IT operations and IT security roles” in companies with over 1,000 employees in the US, France, Germany, and the UK.

Impact on migrations questioned

With the pain points seemingly affecting SMBs more than bigger clients, Broadcom’s latest move may do little to deter the majority of customers from considering ditching VMware.

Speaking with Ars, Rick Vanover, VP of product strategy at Veeam, said he thinks Broadcom taking fewer large VMware customers direct will have an “insignificant” impact on migrations, explaining:

Generally speaking, the largest enterprises (those who would qualify for direct servicing by Broadcom) are not considering migrating off VMware.

However, channel partners can play a “huge part” in helping customers decide to stay or migrate platforms, the executive added.

“Product telemetry at Veeam shows a slight distribution of hypervisors in the market, across all segments, but not enough to tell the market that the sky is falling,” Vanover said.

In his blog, Edwards argued that Tan is demonstrating a “clear objective to strip out layers of cost and complexity in the business, and return it to strong growth and profitability.” He added: "But so far this has come at the expense of customer and partner relationships. Has VMware done enough to turn the tide?"

Perhaps more pertinent to SMBs, Broadcom last month announced a more SMB-friendly VMware subscription tier. Ultimate pricing will be a big factor in whether this tier successfully maintains SMB business. But Broadcom's VMware still seems more focused on larger customers.

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While discussing changes and additions to the new Linux KConfig (kernel configuration) build, Torvalds expressed his annoyance and disapproval of the AMD64 or x86_64 architecture feature levels. He wrote:

On second thought , let’s not go to x86-64 microarchitectural levels. ‘Tis a silly place"

 

The whole "v2", "v3", "v4" etc naming seems to be some crazy glibc artifact and is stupid and needs to die.

 

It has no relevance to anything. Please do *not* introduce that mind-fart into the kernel sources.

 

I have no idea who came up with the "microarchitecture levels" garbage, but as far as I can tell, it's entirely unofficial, and it's a completely broken model.

 

There is a very real model for microarchitectural features, and it's the CPUID bits. Trying to linearize those bits is technically wrong, since these things simply aren't some kind of linear progression.

 

And worse, it's a "simplification" that literally adds complexity. Now instead of asking "does this CPU support the cmpxchgb16 instruction?", the question instead becomes one of "what the hell does 'v3' mean again?"

 

So no. We are *NOT* introducing that idiocy in the kernel.

 

Linus

For those wondering, these x86-64 microarchitecture levels were introduced back in 2020 by Red Hat's Florian Weimer. Initially, "Levels A, B, and C," were proposed, and later "Level D" was added too.

What these levels essentially do is classify CPU features in a temporal/chronological manner in an attempt to make it simpler to improve hardware and OS/software compatibility and synergy for better compilation optimizations:

• x86-64-v2 brings support (among other things) for vector instructions up to Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.2 (SSE4.2) and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSSE3), the POPCNT instruction (useful for data analysis and bit-fiddling in some data structures), and CMPXCHG16B (a two-word compare-and-swap instruction useful for concurrent algorithms).
• x86-64-v3 adds vector instructions up to AVX2, MOVBE (for big-endian data access), and additional bit-manipulation instructions.
• x86-64-v4 includes vector instructions from some of the AVX-512 variants.

Linus Torvalds feels these architecture levels make things more convoluted rather than simplifying the matter as linearizing the progression of hardware instructions and features is not a realistic approach.

Here, Torvalds does make sense given that we often find that certain CPU instructions, like say AVX, may be present in some processor family but it goes away later on. A recent example is Intel introducing AVX-512 in 11th Gen Rocket Lake and then removing it later in succeeding generations.

It is noteworthy here that Linus Torvalds is now a luminary of the recently conceived x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group so his input can certainly hold some weight.

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Those with a Radeon GPU already playing or looking to jump in to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Slitterhead, or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl can now download the latest driver to get a better experience.

As for new titles, Marvel Rivals (December 6) and Delta Force (December 5) have both received official support with this driver release too. AMD hasn't detailed any exact improvements but 24.12.1 is a recommended install for all these games.

Next, on the AI side, ONNX Runtime, TensorFlow, Beta support on Triton is now available for Windows Subsystem for Linux on Radeon hardware. Lastly, HYPR-Tune support has been extended to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, MechWarrior 5: Clans, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Here are the bugs AMD engineers have squashed in this release:

• Lower than expected performance may be observed while using llama.cpp. This may also impact Ollama and LM Studio.
• Texture corruption may appear while playing The Crew™ Motorfest.
• System crash may be observed when first launching SteamVR while using Valve Index® at 144Hz on Radeon™ RX 6000 series graphics products.
• Intermittent application freeze may be observed while loading a save file in Monster Hunter: World.
• Intermittent application crash may be observed while playing Fortnite on Radeon™ RX 5000 series and above series graphics products.
• H.264 encoding may not work as expected while using OBS Studio with Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting.

Known issues are these:

• Intermittent driver timeout or crash may be observed while playing Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370. Users experiencing this issue can enable Variable Graphics Memory in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition as a temporary measure (AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition -> Performance -> Tuning -> Variable Graphics Memory).
• Intermittent stutter may be observed while playing Marvel Rivals when AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution 3 frame generation is enabled. Users experiencing this issue are recommended to disable AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution 3 frame generation in the per-game settings as a temporary workaround.
• After using the AMD Cleanup Utility for Windows®, the AMD Bug Report Tool may appear intermittently during a new driver install on AMD Ryzen™ 7000 and above series processors paired with AMD Graphics Products.
• HEVC encoding may not work as expected while using OBS Studio with Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting.
• Limitations for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2) support can be found here.

The WHQL-certified AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.12.1 driver can now be downloaded from the Radeon Settings app as well as AMD's changelog page on its official website here.

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A lot of AI tools promise something like magic. Just write down all the stuff you need to do, or better yet, just let the tool record every second of your life, and presto manifesto, it’ll do… something. Buy plane tickets, maybe, or magically reorder your calendar to maximize your flow state. The idea is huge and enticing, that you could just live your life and your AI assistant will make everything happen on your behalf. But hardly any of it works.

 

The developers of the app Twos are taking a much more cautious and, as a result, much more actually useful approach. Twos is an app for taking notes, managing to-dos, and generally making lists of any and every kind — Parker Klein, the app’s creator, just calls it “a place to write things down.” Klein has been working on the app for nearly a decade, first as a tool just for himself and most recently as a true startup. I’ve been using Twos off and on for a couple of years, and there’s a lot to like about the app.

 

The Twos AI approach, which Klein and cofounder Joe Steilberg call “smart suggestions,” is to use AI to help you simply take the first step in getting something done. If you write down the name of a movie, Twos might offer you a link to a JustWatch search or the IMDb page for that movie. If you write a person’s name and phone number, it can add them to your contacts with one tap. If you’re making a grocery list, it’ll send you to Amazon or Walmart or Instacart to buy it.

 

The logic behind all these suggestions is really simple: Twos looks for certain words and phrases to determine what you’re trying to do and which integration makes the most sense. (You can pick and choose, too — I never use Uber Eats, for instance, so I turned that off entirely.) All the smart suggestions really do is take the first step. They’re definitely not perfect — when I type “bake blueberry muffins,” it offers me an Allrecipes link, which is helpful and relevant, and a Google Maps search for “blueberry muffins around me,” which is not. But even in the feature’s early days, I’ve found it way more useful than almost every other, vastly more ambitious productivity tool.

 

Like any to-do list app worth its valuation, Twos now has an AI chatbot.

Image: Twos

 

Twos also has a built-in chatbot, which you can use to ask questions about your notes. If you use your note-taking app like a journal, this can be really cool — “what was the name of that Thai food place we went to a few weeks ago?” is a surprisingly common question in my life. Lots of apps have something like this, and they all suffer from the same problem: if you don’t put everything in the app, the search isn’t that useful. But whether it’s Notion or Dropbox or Twos, the AI integrations reward the heaviest users. 

 

AI turns Twos into not just my to-do list but the jumping-off point for all my tasks. Since the app works across platforms — it’s fundamentally a web app, but there are versions for Android and iOS, Windows and Mac, and more — it’s easy to just dump information into. Then, when it’s time to leave for the restaurant I wrote down and promptly forgot the name of, I open Twos, tap the sparkles that appear next to any item with a smart suggestion, and it opens Google Maps and directs me there. You can store and organize things inside of Twos, but I find myself using it transiently, just for the small things in day-to-day life. I need to make bread: click the sparkles, bread recipes appear. Remember to buy those Sesame Street bath toys for the kid: click the sparkles, Amazon search done. Ollie’s birthday is December 7th: click the sparkles, in my contacts.

 

For now, the Twos smart suggestions are only available in beta testing, and there’s a waitlist for new users. (Though Klein did tell me that if you sign up and use the code “Verge,” you’ll be able to skip the line.) Klein and Steilberg are working on more integrations and more ways to do even more with just a few words of your writing. They’re obviously enticed by how far this might go. Why not automatically buy the toys or start the grocery delivery and take a cut for themselves? It’s an age-old idea, that one. Any.do tried it years ago; there was even a frenzy of apps like Magic that would do it all via text message. Even the Alexa business model used to depend on you being willing to just shout “buy toilet paper” at your speaker and trust it to do the rest.

 

There’s just one problem with the idea: it doesn’t work. There are too many logistical questions, too many ways to screw it up, and too many consequences for getting it wrong that it’s not going to work anytime soon. If ever.

 

In the meantime, the best AI tools work the way Twos does: by just helping you get started. Some apps help you search for information even when you don’t know exactly how to ask for it; others write the first draft of code or an email to get you started. AI as a complete solution to just about anything still feels like fiction. AI as a first step? Pretty useful.

 

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