Google has released an update to its Mac Chrome browser that includes four security fixes. Three of the vulnerabilities were reported by third-party researchers, while the fourth was discovered by Google internally.

Google recommends updating the browser to version 120.0.6099.234. To check Chrome’s version, launch Chrome and go to Chrome > Settings, and click About Chrome in the left column. In the main About Chrome window, the version number appears. If an update is available, you need to click the Relaunch button, which will quit the app, install the update, and re-open it.

The three reported vulnerabilities are recorded in the National Vulnerability Database. Here’s a list with descriptions provided by the NVD:

• CVE-2024-0517: Out of bounds write in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 120.0.6099.224 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.

• CVE-2024-0518: Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 120.0.6099.224 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.

• CVE-2024-0519: Out of bounds memory access in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 120.0.6099.224 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.

Google notes that it is aware of CVE-2024-0519 having been exploited in the wild. The Chrome Releases blog notes that the update also includes “Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing, and other initiatives,” tracked as Issue 1518006 by Google.

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To that end, DeepMind today unveiled AlphaGeometry — a system that the lab claims can solve as many geometry problems as the average International Mathematical Olympiad gold medalist. AlphaGeometry, the code for which was open sourced this morning, solves 25 Olympiad geometry problems within the standard time limit, beating the previous state-of-the-art system’s 10.

“Solving Olympiad-level geometry problems is an important milestone in developing deep mathematical reasoning on the path toward more advanced and general AI systems,” Trieu Trinh and Thang Luong, Google AI research scientists, wrote in a blog post published this morning. “[We] hope that … AlphaGeometry helps open up new possibilities across mathematics, science and AI.”

Why the focus on geometry? DeepMind asserts that proving mathematical theorems, or logically explaining why a theorem (e.g. the Pythagorean theorem) is true, requires both reasoning and the ability to choose from a range of possible steps toward a solution. This problem solving approach could — if DeepMind’s right — turn out to be useful in general-purpose AI systems someday.

“Demonstrating that a particular conjecture is true or false stretches the abilities of even the most advanced AI systems today,” read DeepMind press materials shared with TechCrunch. “Toward that goal, being able to prove mathematical theorems … is an important milestone as it showcases the mastery of logical reasoning and the ability to discover new knowledge.”

But training an AI system to solve geometry problems poses unique challenges.

Owing to the complexities of translating proofs into a format machines can understand, there’s a dearth of usable geometry training data. And many of today’s cutting-edge generative AI models, while exceptional at identifying patterns and relationships in data, lack the ability to reason logically through theorems.

DeepMind’s solution was twofold.

Image Credits: DeepMind

In designing AlphaGeometry, the lab paired a “neural language” model — a model architecturally along the lines of ChatGPT — with a “symbolic deduction engine,” an engine that leverages rules (e.g. mathematical rules) to infer solutions to problems. Symbolic engines can be inflexible and slow, especially when dealing with large or complicated datasets. But DeepMind mitigated these issues by having the neural model “guide” the deduction engine through possible answers to given geometry problems.

In lieu of training data, DeepMind created its own synthetic data, generating 100 million “synthetic theorems” and proofs of varying complexity. The lab then trained AlphaGeometry from scratch on the synthetic data — and evaluated it on Olympiad geometry problems[.]

Olympiad geometry problems are based on diagrams that need “constructs” to be added before they can be solved, such as points, lines or circles. Applied to these problems, AlphaGeometry’s neural model predicts which constructs might be useful to add — predictions that AlphaGeometry’s symbolic engine uses to make deductions about the diagrams to identify like solutions.

“With so many examples of how these constructs led to proofs, AlphaGeometry’s language model is able to make good suggestions for new constructs when presented with Olympiad geometry problems,” Trinh and Luong write. “One system provides fast, ‘intuitive’ ideas, and the other more deliberate, rational decision-making.”

The results of AlphaGeometry’s problem solving, which were published in a study in the journal Nature this week, are likely to fuel the long-running debate over whether AI systems should be built on symbol manipulation — that is, manipulating symbols that represent knowledge using rules — or the ostensibly more brain-like neural networks.

Proponents of the neural network approach argue that intelligent behavior — from speech recognition to image generation — can emerge from nothing more than massive amounts of data and compute. As opposed to symbolic systems, which solve tasks by defining sets of symbol-manipulating rules dedicated to particular jobs (like editing a line in word processor software), neural networks try to solve tasks through statistical approximation and learning from examples. 

Neural networks are the cornerstone of powerful AI systems like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 and GPT-4. But, claim supporters of symbolic AI, they’re not the end-all be-all; symbolic AI might be better positioned to efficiently encode the world’s knowledge, reason their way through complex scenarios and “explain” how they arrived at an answer, these supporters argue.

As a hybrid symbolic-neural network system akin to DeepMind’s AlphaFold 2 and AlphaGo, AlphaGeometry perhaps demonstrates that the two approaches — symbol manipulation and neural networks — combined is the best path forward in the search for generalizable AI. Perhaps.

“Our long-term goal remains to build AI systems that can generalize across mathematical fields, developing the sophisticated problem-solving and reasoning that general AI systems will depend on, all the while extending the frontiers of human knowledge,” Trinh and Luong write. “This approach could shape how the AI systems of the future discover new knowledge, in math and beyond.”

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When users open an Incognito browser on Chrome, they'll see a notification warning them that other people using their device won't be able to see their activity but that their downloads, bookmarks and reading items will still be saved. Now, Google has updated that disclaimer in Chrome's experimental Canary channel, shortly after agreeing to settle a $5 billion lawsuit accusing it of tracking Incognito users. As first noticed by MSPowerUser, the company has tweaked the disclaimer in Canary to add language that says Incognito mode won't change how websites collect people's data.

"Others who use this device won’t see your activity, so you can browse more privately," the new disclaimer reads. "This won't change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved." The publication spotted the updated warning in Canary on Android and Windows, and we can confirm that the same language appears in the version of Chrome for Mac.

Google was hit with a lawsuit in 2020, accusing it of tracking users' activities even if they're on Incognito mode. The plaintiffs told the court that the company used tools like its Analytics product, apps and browser plug-ins to monitor users. They also argued that by tracking users on Incognito, Google was giving people the false belief that they could control the information they're willing to share. A Google spokesperson explained at the time that the mode could only hide a user's activity on the device they're using but that their information could still be collected. That's not clearly communicated in the current disclaimer for the public version of Chrome, but it looks like that could change in the near future.

Google

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The extended support range was announced by Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth in an interview with the YouTube channel Destination Linux. The interview begins at 8.46 and the revelation about extended support happens at the 17:36 mark.

Here is the video for you to watch:

Core support for Ubuntu won't change according to Shuttleworth. Ubuntu LTS versions continue to be supported for 5 years and non-LTS releases for 9 months. Ubuntu 23.04 LTS is the current long term support release.

Ubuntu Pro subscribers may extend support of LTS versions by an additional 7 years going forward. Ubuntu Pro is available for Home users and Enterprise / business customers. The subscription is free at the time of writing for Home users and starts at $25 per year and machine for Enterprise customers. Server subscriptions start at $500 per month.

Canonical introduced Ubuntu Pro back in January of 2023. Back then, the company announced that subscribers would be able to get 10 years of security updates for Ubuntu Main and more than 20,000 additional packages. Ubuntu Pro promises other advantages, including a kernel livepatch service or optional phone and ticket support.

The livepatch service works through notifications. Canonical releases a security notice when a critical or high Linux kernel vulnerability is found. Systems with livepatch enabled will download and install these patches automatically once they have been released.

Organizations may subscribe to Ubuntu Pro to run a specific LTS version of the Linux distribution for an extended period of time. Canonical has increased the maximum support length by 2 years to 12 years now for Ubuntu Pro subscribers according to Shuttleworth. Extended support will be backdated to previous LTS versions of Ubuntu as well. Shuttleworth calls it "Platinum grade Enterprise commitment".

Support for packages is also improved and has reached the 30,000 packages mark. This means that Ubuntu Main and these packages will be supported by Canonical for up to 12 years.

Closing Words

Ubuntu Pro subscribers may get 12 years of support for their desktops and servers. This extends the previous support period of 10 years by another 2. Enterprise customers who require long-term support benefit from this the most.

Most Home users may want to upgrade their desktop systems regularly to gain access to new features and support for new technologies.

Now You: for how long would you like your OS to be supported?

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My bias starts with Mint's Ubuntu 22.04 Long Term Support (LTS) and Linux kernel 5.15 foundation. It's a stable, reliable operating system for both new and experienced users. Since it's also a Mint LTS, you can use it without any worries until April 2027.

Like all Linux desktop distros, Virginia isn't just a desktop operating system, it includes all the software you need. The distro comes with LibreOffice 7.3.7 for office productivity, Thunderbird 115.16.0 for email and calendaring, GIMP 2.10.30 for graphics editing, and Firefox 121.0.1 for web browsing. 

But if you don't like these default applications, no worries. It's simple to install new software programs on Linux. Just like a smartphone, you simply go to the software store -- in Mint it's called Software Manager -- search for your program, and download and install it. 

For example, if, like me, you prefer Chrome, all you have to do is search for "Web browser", and you'll have three dozen web browsers to choose from. I found Chrome from a selection that included Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and -- a real blast from the past -- Mosaic. A minute later, I was in business.  

And when I call it a software store, it's important to note that almost all these applications are free. The Software Manager also includes application ratings to help you make informed decisions about which program you want to use. For example, I'm not a fan of Thunderbird. My favorite e-mail program is GNOME Evolution. And, yes, it's also free.

The Software Manager's refreshed user interface also enables you to download and install Flatpak-packaged applications. These are containerized applications that can run on any Linux distro. Mint does not, however, support Snap-packaged applications by default. But it's easy to add Snap support to Mint if you want access to Snap programs. I do it all the time.

If you don't like Flatpak or Snap because their containerized applications take up more drive and memory space, that's no problem. Software Manager makes it easy to see the difference between a conventional and a Flatpak installation. And don't bother adding Snap support if you don't want to.

The abundant RAM and storage in modern computers means I never worry about running out of room. Linux applications tend to be smaller than their macOS and Windows rivals.

Linux Mint also comes with its own homebrew apps. The ones I find most interesting in this release are: Hypnotix, an IPTV tuner and viewer; Warpinator, a simple local area network file-sharing utility; and Bulky, an application for easily renaming multiple files and directories. 

Hypnotix is a great way to stream videos to your Linux Mint-powered PC. Screenshot by sjvn/ZDNET
© Provided by ZDNet

Hypnotic now supports custom and favorite channels. Behind the scenes, it also comes with a very handy yt-dlp update, which enables the software to do a better job of presenting YouTube videos. Warpinator's new features enable you to connect to networked drives manually via IP or QR codes. However, I would be hesitant about connecting to an otherwise unknown device using a QR code. Finally, Bulky supports thumbnails, drag-and-drop files, and directory moves. 

While Linux Mint supports many Linux desktop environments, such as MATE and Xfce, its default environment -- and my favorite -- is Cinnamon.

This fork of the GNOME 2.0 environment is simple, clean, and easy to use. I think it's the best desktop environment out there. 

Linux Mint 21.3 boasts the newest version of Cinnamon, Cinnamon 6.0. In this release, more optional features, called spices, enable you to do such things as make a bootable USB stick from its Nemo file manager. 

You can also now use the Wayland display server. However, this protocol is optional. And unless you want to live on the wild side of Linux, I wouldn't bother with it. While Wayland's been in the works for years now, it's still not ready for prime time. Indeed, Mint's developers don't plan on using it until 2026. 

Without Wayland, the Cinnamon interface remains quick and snappy. I've already moved my main desktop -- a 2020 Dell Precision 3451, with an Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU 16GBs of RAM, and a 512GB SSD -- to Mint 21.3, and it runs great. Unlike Windows, where operating system "upgrades" almost always bring slower performance, every step forward with Linux Mint gives you a faster machine. 

In fact, Linux Mint will run on pretty much any computer. You're good to go if your PC has 2GB of RAM and 100GB of storage, any graphics card, and a monitor that supports a 1024×768 resolution. If you're unsure if you want to try Mint, you can grab almost any PC from a second-hand store to play with it. I recently described how to move from Windows to Linux Mint 21.2, and the same methods will work with 21.3 as well. Just download the Linux Mint 21.3 image, and you'll be in business.

If you want to run Linux Mint and Windows on the same machine, albeit not at the same time, Mint 21.3 has made that approach easier than ever. The new version of Mint comes with full support for Secure Boot and has more compatibility than ever with a wide variety of BIOS and EFI implementations. I don't recommend beginners try this route, as it's more of a job for power users or other people who know their way around a computer's vital systems.

There are literally hundreds of Linux desktops out there. I should know, I've looked at many of them. But whether you're a new Linux user or someone like me who's been using the operating system since Linus Torvalds was a grad student, I think you'll find this latest Linux Mint update to be everything you'd want from a general-purpose desktop.

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Linus Torvalds has indefinitely postponed the merge window for version 6.8 of the Linux kernel after a winter storm knocked out power and internet near his work-from-home location in Oregon.…

On Saturday Torvalds shared news that temperatures in his area near Portland fell to 14°F (-10°C) and that the power outage was widespread.

“There's apparently about 100k people without power, and I doubt our neighborhood is the priority, so I expect to be without power for some time still,” explained the software developer.

“I hope I'm wrong, but a few years ago it took more than a week to restore power due to all the downed trees. It's hopefully nowhere near that,” he added.

The United States National Weather Service warned on Saturday that a winter storm had brought precipitation, strong wind and very cold temperatures.

The org advised that in some areas peak wind gusts had hit over 83 miles per hour (133 km/h).

Local media reported four to five inches of snow (10-13 cm), blocked roads, over 150,000 people left without power, disrupted public transportation, and several cold weather-related deaths.

It’s a scenario that would make one reconsider ever leaving the house, assuming adequate warmth inside the home. For those without, winter shelters and beds were arranged.

Torvalds decided kernel development was not so important that it warranted a search for warmth and Wi-Fi.

“And before anybody says ‘just go to a Starbucks and work from there’, the scariest thing out there - apart from possibly downed trees and power lines - is other drivers. I'll stay put,” he commented.

The Linux boss already delayed version 6.8 as the process of finishing off Linux 6.7 landed in the middle of the holiday season, meaning developers were away or distracted.

Linux-watchers may recall that January would often see Torvalds head down under to attend antipodean FOSS-fest Linux.conf.au, then sneak in a little diving in local waters. He won’t do that this year, or possibly ever again, as the event has been re-invented under the name “Everything Open” and moved to March in 2023 and April 2024. ®

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In a separate article, the company has also detailed a fix for a WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) security vulnerability that can lead to BitLocker encryption bypass. The issue is being tracked under ID "CVE-2024-20666". Microsoft said that the security flaw could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption if they are able to get physical access to an unpatched PC.

However, this is not one of those WinRE updates that is seamlessly installing on PCs. Users report that the update is failing to install with the error message "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" which indicates insufficient WinRE partition size.

The solution is to resize the partition manually. You can do so by following this dedicated guide here.

Neowin forum supervisor / mod and ESET's Distinguished Researcher Aryeh Goretsky (X account) also experienced the issue which they were able to fix by increasing the recovery partition. Goretsky writes:

Hello,

I can confirm that the KB5034441 hotfix failed on a Windows 10 VM with a Windows Recovery partition that was 511MB in size. I decided to increase it to 1024MB in size, just in case more space was needed in the future. The hotfix installed normally afterwards.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Microsoft of course has been aware of this problem almost from the start which is why it has been recommending the manual resize workaround as soon as it published the WinRE updates. Yesterday, on its Windows health dashboard, the company has added the issue and notes that a fix is coming via a future update.

Microsoft says:

Devices attempting to install the January 2024 Windows Recovery Environment update ( KB5034441/KB5034440) might display an error related to the size of the Recovery Environment's partition.

 

Resulting from this error, the following message might be displayed.

 

• "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE"

Workaround: It might be necessary to increase the size of the WinRE partition in order to avoid this issue and complete the installation. Note that 250 megabytes of free space is required in the recovery partition. Guidance to change the WinRE partition size can be found in KB5028997: Instructions to manually resize your partition to install the WinRE update.

 

Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

Aside from this BitLocker encryption vulnerability, Microsoft has recently updated its Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool to patch against a Remote Code Execution (RCE) security flaw.

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While these features are currently being developed, it is always possible that Microsoft will choose not to release them after testing with the public.

Therefore, it's always important to share feedback with Microsoft via the Feedback Hub.

Here's what Windows 11 users can look forward to in 2024:

Notepad with AI

Microsoft is set to transform the traditional Notepad experience on Windows 11 with its innovative AI feature, aptly named "CoWriter."

This groundbreaking integration brings artificial intelligence directly into the humble text editor, offering users a wide range of smart editing tools.

CoWriter comes equipped with dropdown menus with options for 'Length,' 'Tone,' 'Format,' and 'Instructions.' This suggests a high level of customization, allowing the AI to modify the text according to the user's specific needs.

A standout feature is the 'Replace' button, hinting at the AI's ability to suggest alternatives or modifications to the selected text. Impressively, the AI seems to be context-aware, providing relevant suggestions based on the document's content.

USB 80Gbps Support

An upcoming Windows 11 update will support the latest USB 80Gbps standard, initially available on select devices such as the Razer Blade 18 powered by Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors.

"USB 80Gbps support will initially launch on select devices based on the Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors, such as the new Razer Blade 18," the Windows Insider Program Team said this week.

"It is fully backwards compatible with peripherals built for older generations of USB and Thunderbolt and works alongside all other USB Type-C features."

This major update to the USB4 standard doubles the performance from 40Gbps to 80Gbps, paving the way for high-performance displays, storage, and connectivity options.

It also maintains backward compatibility with older USB and Thunderbolt devices, so your existing devices can still be used.

Copilot autostarts in Windows 11

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 Dev Insiders where Copilot opens automatically on widescreen devices at startup.

As many will likely not like this new feature, Microsoft has thankfully made it possible to disable it by going to Settings > Personalization > Copilot.

Note that this feature is currently trialed on devices with a minimum 27" screen size and 1,920 pixel width and may not be available to all users yet.

Enhanced Sharing Options

Microsoft Edge and other browsers can now leverage the Windows share window for direct URL sharing to platforms like WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.

You can access Edge by clicking the share icon in the toolbar, as shown below.

Lock Screen Weather Updates

A richer, interactive weather experience is coming to the lock screen, allowing users to quickly check the weather even if their screen is locked.

This feature lets Windows 11 users hover over the weather card for detailed information and click it to view the full forecast in MSN Weather via Microsoft Edge.

This feature is rolling out now, starting with English-speaking users in the US.

Voice Access Enhancements

Windows 11's Voice access feature is also significantly improving this year, including extended language support (French, German, Spanish) and multi-display functionality.

Users can now use voice commands for easier navigation and control across multiple screens. Additionally, custom voice commands are now available for English users, allowing personalized voice shortcuts for various actions.

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This guide explains why Start back up is displayed by the Windows File Explorer in certain folders and how to turn this off. There is only one way of disabling the command in File Explorer. While it is possible to uninstall OneDrive, it may not be desirable by some users of the system.

The feature is linked to OneDrive, the default file storage and synchronization solution. Back up in particular is linked to OneDrive's " Back up important PC folders to OneDrive" feature. It allows Windows users who use OneDrive to back up files to the cloud storage service automatically or on command.

The " important PC folders" are the ones that Start back up may be displayed for when you open the folder in File Explorer. In other words, you may see the command in the Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music and Videos folder in File Explorer.

How to remove Start back up in File Explorer

The only way to remove Start back up in File Explorer without uninstalling OneDrive is to stop backups. Note that backups may be enabled even if they have never run.

The following guide walks you through the configuration to make sure backups are disabled completely.

1. Either click on "Start back up" in File Explorer or click on the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar, select the cogwheel icon, then Settings and then the Manage backup button in the interface.
2. Deselect any folder that is set to backup files.
3. Activate the "save changes" button.
4. Confirm that you want to end backups by selecting "stop backup".

Once done, OneDrive won't display the command anymore in File Explorer. Note that the command is restored whenever you activate the backup feature for any of the supported folders.

Removal does not interfere with any other OneDrive functionality. In fact, you can select a folder manually to have it backed up to OneDrive without using the service's integrated back up feature.

You may have encountered other solutions on the Internet. These may include uninstalling Windows updates or using ViVeTool to disable the feature. These are not recommended. The Windows Update suggestion won't work unless you don't install any cumulative updates anymore on the system. ViVeTool may or may not work, but there is a chance that it may stop working at any time, if it still works.

Closing Words

Displaying "Start back up" in the path in File Explorer is another example of Microsoft's attempts to get users to use its cloud-based and subscription-based services. Windows feels more and more like a vessel to push sales of other services.

Why is that option even in File Explorer? It is already integrated in the OneDrive interface.

Now You: do you back up files to the cloud?

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Microsoft announced the change in the release notes for build 23615, which shipped in the Dev Channel earlier this week. Shortly after that, Microsoft added more insights into it.

There is still no information on what the logic behind the decision was (besides the obvious engagement-boosting). Still, at least it is limited to large displays with 27 inches in diagonal and a minimum width of 1920 pixels. More importantly, Copilot autostart is limited to multi-monitor setups only—you should not expect that thing to pop on your screen every time you power on the computer if you use only one display.

Microsoft knows that such changes are likely to upset a few Windows users, so it provides the option to turn off Copilot autostart. Head to Settings > Personalization > Copilot in Windows and toggle off the "Open Copilot when Windows starts" option.

It is worth reminding that changes and new features in Windows 11 preview builds are often experimental and temporary. Some of them will never see the light of day, so it is too early to tell whether Microsoft will ship Copilot autostart to all users. If you want or do not want that to happen, send your feedback to Microsoft using the Feedback Hub app. Here is what Microsoft said about that in the release notes for build 23615.

We regularly try out different experiences with Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel that may not ever ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready.

What do you think about Copilot autostart in Windows 11?

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On January 3, 2024, Microsoft released a new Windows 11 preview build in the Dev Channel, bringing Windows Insiders a new lock screen widget to try. After a very brief period of testing, the new weather widget is now available for all users in the Stable Channel.

Microsoft is rolling out the redesigned weather experience on the lock screen as a part of this month's cumulative updates (KB5034123 released on January 9, 2023). This is a gradual rollout, which means some users will get the new widget later than others. Microsoft says the new experience will be available for all in the coming weeks.

Microsoft introduced weather on the lock screen almost twelve years ago when it launched Windows 8. The new version released earlier this month displays more information with richer visuals, plus it lets you click the widget to get more weather data in Microsoft Edge (even if you have the Weather app installed). According to Microsoft, the widget works with all lock screen backgrounds, such as Windows Spotlight, a single picture, or a slideshow.

You can force-enable the new weather widget using the ViVeTool app:

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin).
3. Switch Windows Terminal to the Command Prompt profile with the Ctrl + Shift + 2 shortcut or by clicking the arrow-down button at the top of the window.

    

   
4. 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.
5. Type vivetool /enable /id:47526873 /variant:1 /variantpayloadkind:1 /variantpayload:1 and press Enter (credit for the ID goes to @PhantomOfEarth)
6. Restart your computer.

Interestingly, Windows 10 will soon get the same feature. The release notes for the latest Release Preview update mention the redesigned weather experience, albeit without specific details. That, in addition to Copilot, is a part of Microsoft's recent strategy shift to continue adding new capabilities to the outgoing operating system.

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What you need to know

• Many users of Microsoft Edge are taking to places such as Reddit to complain that YouTube has become unusable. 
• Reports include lag and outright freezes, coupled with insane hardware resource use. 
• Some have reported success by disabling ad blockers, because we already know Google is going hard on those. 

The weekend is supposed to be a time to rest and relax, but for a number of folks who use Microsoft Edge, it's far from that. There are threads appearing on Reddit suggesting that Google has nerfed YouTube performance in Microsoft's web browser to a level that makes the site unusable. 

Our own data also suggests a fairly wide-reaching problem. A post on Windows Central from way in 2018 relating to YouTube performance on the old non-Chromium Edge browser has resurfaced in our tracking. While it's unfortunate that post isn't going to help anyone since that browser has long gone, it made me go and take a look to see what's going on. 

This is how one of the threads starts:

Another user in a different thread has even reported seeing a popup on YouTube telling them to try using Google Chrome if they're having performance issues. The browser wars really are just the worst thing. 

For some, the fix seems to have been to disable (or update) their ad blocker. We already know that Google is going hard on ad blocking on YouTube and encouraging people to sign up for Premium to go ad-free. This isn't a post about the moral implications of blocking ads, but if you're experiencing this issue, and you're running one, this would be the first thing to try. 

SIlently breaking things is still dirty

(Image credit: Kevin Okemwa)

Personally, I'm really tired of shenanigans. Obviously Google wants you to use Chrome, and obviously Microsoft wants you to use Edge. But it feels incredibly underhanded for Google to push some code that silently just wrecks performance, if indeed that's what has happened. It's hard to see how it would be anything else, though, given the sudden spike in issues. 

At no point should loading up YouTube pin your CPU and or GPU to high usage while simultaneously just not working properly. 

Ads are a necessary evil on the Internet, there's no other way of saying that. They help to pay your favorite content creators, but, I get it, they suck. I don't like them. If this issue is affecting you, then for now, you'll have to suck it up and disable your ad blocker or get, ahem, more creative. YouTube Premium is pretty good though if you watch a lot of content, and helps support the people making your videos. But whether you want to pay for it, only you can decide. 

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On Windows 11, you can use the Sound Recorder app to quickly record audio in any situation, such as conversations, interviews, lectures, and podcasts. 

In the Microsoft Store and across the web, you can find many different audio recording apps, but the Sound Recorder app is easy to use with the basic features that you may need, and it comes already built into the operating system.

In this how-to guide, I will outline the steps to use the Sound Recorder app on Windows 11.

The Sound Recorder app should be installed on your computer, but if not, you can download it directly from this Microsoft Store page by clicking the "Get (or Install)" button.

How to use Sound Recorder on Windows 11

Once you connect a microphone, you can continue with the instructions to start recording audio on Windows 11 without third-party tools.

Record audio 

To record audio on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. (Optional) Click the mic button in the bottom-left corner and choose the recording device you want to use if you have multiple microphones.
4. Click the Record button ("Ctrl + R").

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak )

1. Click the Mark button ("Ctrl + M") to mark a point in the recording. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick note: This option won't interrupt the recording, but you can quickly jump to important parts of the file when listening to the track. The setting is available while recording or listening to the audio file.

6. Click the Pause button ("Alt + P" or "Space key") to stop the recording without separating the track to keep everything in one file.
7. Click the Stop button ("Escape" or "Enter key") to finish the recording.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

After you complete the steps, the file with the audio will be saved in the "Sound Recordings" folder available through the "Documents" folder.

Playback audio

To playback audio from the Sound Recorder, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. Choose the file from the left pane.
4. Click the Play button ("Space key").

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the recording will play, and you can click the "Pause" button to control the audio.

Rename audio 

To change the name of an audio file, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. Right-click the file and choose the Rename option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Confirm the new name.
5. Click the Rename button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

After you complete the steps, the new name will apply in the app and the file. If the file is selected, you can also access the option to change the name from the "More options for recordings" menu in the top-right corner.

If you want to delete a file, right-click the item from the left side and choose the "Delete" option.

Share audio

To share an audio file with other people from within the Sound Recorder app, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. Right-click the file and choose the Share option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Choose the sharing method, including email, app, or through the Nearby Sharing feature.
5. Continue with the on-screen direction to complete the process.

Alternatively, you can always use the "Show in folder" option from the Sound Recorder context menu to access the folder containing your recordings to grab the file manually for sharing.

Change settings

To change the audio format or recording quality on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "More options for recordings" menu from the top-right corner and choose the Settings option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Click the Recording format setting.
5. Select the audio format you want to use, including AAC, MP3, MWA, FLAC, or WAV.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. Click the Audio quality setting.
7. Select the quality option for your recording, including Auto, Best, High, or Medium.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the new configuration will apply, and the app will use these settings on your next recording.

Import audio 

To import an audio file to the Sound Recorder app, use these steps :

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sound Recorder and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Import file button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Select the audio file.
5. Click the Open button.

After you complete the steps, the file will appear in the left navigation pane, ready for playback.

How to fix Sound Recorder on Windows 11

If the app doesn't seem to work, the problem could be related to the microphone or privacy settings.

Fix microphone access

To fix app access to the microphone on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Microphone page on the right side.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Turn on the Microphone access toggle switch (if applicable).
5. Turn on the Sound Recorder toggle switch.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to use the microphone with the Sound Recorder app.

Fix microphone issues

To troubleshoot and resolve issues with the microphone, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Troubleshoot page on the right side.
4. Click the Other troubleshooters setting.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

5. Click the Run button for the Audio troubleshooter.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. Click the Yes button in the Get Help app.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

7. Continue with the on-screen directions to complete the process.

After you complete the steps, the system will scan and fix the problem with the microphone, and it should now work with the Sound Recorder app.

Fix Sound Recorder problems

To fix problems with the Sound Recorder app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click the Installed apps page on the right side.
4. Click the menu button (three dots) on the right side for Sound Recorder and click on Advanced options.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

5. Under the "Reset" section, click the Repair button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. (Optional) Click the Reset button.

These options won't delete your recordings, but the reset option will delete the app's data, meaning that the next time you open the app, the files won't appear in the left pane. However, you can use the import option to add them again.

Although the Sound Recorder app is similar to the Voice Recorder app on Windows 10, one of the biggest differences is that the app for Windows 11 doesn't include the audio trimming feature.

Source

USB Implementers Forum released the USB4 specification in August 2019. Two years later, Microsoft introduced USB4 support in the initial release of Windows 11 (version 21H2). In September 2022, USB4 2.0 was introduced with 80 and 120Gbps modes over the now-standard Type-C connector, and Microsoft is now ensuring its operating system can work with the latest USB generation, which is about to arrive in the first consumer products.

In the release notes for build 23615, the company said the increased performance of USB4 2.0 "enables next generation of high-performance displays, storage, and connectivity." At the same time, USB4 2.0 is fully compatible with accessories made for older USB and Thunderbolt generations with the Type-C connector.

Although USB4 2.0 support is present in the latest Windows 11 preview build, you need the latest and greatest hardware to try it out. According to Microsoft, USB4 2.0 80Gpbs will initially launch on select devices with Intel's recently introduced 14th Gen mobile processors. The new Razer Blade 18 will be among the first Windows laptops with USB4 2.0 support.

Other features in Windows 11 build 23615 include the ability to open Copilot when Windows starts. Microsoft is experimenting with this feature on multi-monitor devices with 27-inch or larger primary monitors and a minimum width of 1920 pixels. The good news is that Copilot autostart is a feature you can turn off in the Settings app.

You can learn more about Windows 11 build 23615 from the Dev Channel here. Microsoft also released ISO files for clean installations, which you can download from the official Windows Insider website.

Source

Speaking of which, Windows Insider Program members on both the Beta and Dev channels got new Windows 11 builds this week. The Beta update added that Weather lock screen feature, and a new Windows Share URL address update for web browsers. The new Dev channel build added support for the new and faster USB 80Gbps standard.

However, if you are a member of the Windows Insider Program in the Canary channel, you will have to wait at least a few days longer to get a new build. Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc confirmed that news when we asked him about it on his X (formerly Twitter account. He replied, "Unfortunately we will not have a new Canary build this week."

There's no word on why there won't be a new Canary Channel Insider build, although we can speculate that the team in charge of the build simply was not ready to launch it to Canary testers this week. Still, this is a rare week when we won't see a new Canary Channel release.

The last Canary Channel build, 26020 was released on January 3. The release had quite a few new additions, including more language support for voice access, using multiple displays for voice features, and previews of new voices in more languages. It also was the first build that won't install the WordPad and People apps after a clean install of the OS.

A new report from Windows Central claims that Microsoft is thinking about restarting the old Windows Insider Program Beta Channel for Windows 10 users, now that Microsoft has decided to continue to add new features to the older operating system.

Source

Microsoft announced the new weather widget for Windows 10 in the latest Release Preview update for the outgoing operating system. The company said that the richer weather experience on the lock screen would arrive on Windows 10 in the "coming weeks."

You may remember that Microsoft said it no longer plans to release new feature updates for Windows 10. However, the Windows division recently experienced a notable management shift. As a result of that change, Microsoft is adjusting its efforts to port more new capabilities from Windows 11 to Windows 10, which still has an enormous install base with more than one billion monthly active devices.

Copilot is probably the most notable feature Windows 10 borrowed from its successor, and the new Weather experience that serves as a gateway to MSN and Microsoft Edge (it really should launch the Weather app instead) shows that Microsoft wants to use those hundreds of millions Windows 10 users to boost its services.

Moreover, according to Windows Central, Microsoft plans to resurrect the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider program for Windows 10 to let users test new features before they come to the general public. As of right now, the only channel available to Windows 10 users is Release Preview.

Despite all those changes, Windows 10 is still on track to reach its end of life in October 2025. Those unwilling to migrate to Windows 11 (and whatever Microsoft plans to ship later this year) will be able to pay Microsoft for extended security updates.

Source

What you need to know

• Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 11 preview build for Insiders in the Dev Channel.
• Today's build is 23615 and adds a feature that will automatically open the Windows Copilot interface upon boot on PCs with wide screens. 
• The company says this behavior is just a test, and is not guaranteed to ship. Users will be able to disable the behavior.

Microsoft is back with a new Windows 11 preview build for Insiders in the Dev Channel, and this week's build is testing a controversial change that will see the Windows Copilot interface automatically launch upon boot on PCs with wide screens.  The company says it's "trying out" this behavior in the latest build, meaning it isn't guaranteed to ship.

If it does ship, users will have the choice to disable this behavior on their PC. Insiders who install today's build may not even see the change just yet, as it's rolling out in waves so not everyone will have it right away. 

Here is what the official Microsoft blog says about this feature:

"We are trying out opening Copilot automatically when Windows starts on widescreen devices with some Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. This can be managed via Settings > Personalization > Copilot."

The setting to enable or disable Copilot automatically appearing on boot. (Image credit: Microsoft)

Frustratingly, Microsoft doesn't specify what counts as a "wide screen" for this behavior to take effect. Does it include 16:9 and 16:10 displays, or is it only for true ultrawide displays such as 21:9? We don't currently know.

Having the Windows Copilot automatically appear when powering on a PC feels unnecessary currently, but this is likely laying the foundation for a much larger update to Copilot that is rumored to be in the works for the next major version of the Windows OS. 

Microsoft is rumored to be working on an advanced Copilot that will enhance productivity across apps, files, and search. Maybe users will want to have that version of the Copilot run automatically on start-up. As things currently stand, however, this seems like something that's just going to annoy most users.

Source

Here is the changelog:

• New! We are beginning to expanding the ability to use digital handwriting (inking) in some edit boxes for Windows Ink to the following languages and locales: Chinese Simplified (People’s Republic of China), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (United Kingdom), French (Canada), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (Korea), Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Mexico), and Spanish (Spain). This also includes more accurate recognition technology, gestures to delete, select, join, and split words and also gesture to insert a new line.
• New! This update adds a feature for eye control system settings. You can back up these settings from the former device while you set up a new device. Then those settings will install automatically on the new device so you can use them when you reach the desktop.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain types of 7-Zip files. They appear as empty in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that stops search from working on the Start menu for some users. The issue occurs because of a deadlock.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) in the Group Policy editor. HTML preview rendering fails.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). A caching issue occurs. The issue causes CurrentTimeZone to change to the wrong value.
• This update makes Windows more reliable during power transitions. This reduces the risk of a stop error.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the OpenType font driver. On a certain architecture, the issue might affect how text renders for third-party applications.
• The update addresses a known issue that affects the colour font format for COLRv1. It now renders properly. Windows uses this format to display emoji with a 3D-like appearance.
• This update addresses an issue to make video calls more reliable.
• This update addresses an issue that stops WMI from working. This occurs in certain scenarios with mobile device management (MDM) providers, such as Microsoft Intune.
• This update addresses a known issue that affects BitLocker data-only encryption. An MDM service, such as Microsoft Intune, might not get the right data.
• This update addresses an issue that causes your device to stop responding. This is intermittent and occurs after you install a print support app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Access Point Name (APN) profiles. It stops you from automatically configuring APN profiles for cellular enabled devices. This occurs when you run the “netsh mbn show readyinfo *” command.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Trusted Platform Modules. On certain devices, they did not initialize correctly. Because of this, TPM-based scenarios stopped working.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update affects Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot systems. It adds a renewed signing certificate to the Secure Boot DB variable. You can now opt for this change.
• This update addresses an issue that makes the troubleshooting process fail. This occurs when you use the Get Help app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects RemoteApp windows. In certain cases, they persist on client devices after you close them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a remote desktop client. It might connect to a wrong instance of a user’s session. This occurs if a user has multiple sessions on the host.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you change the keyboard language. The change fails to apply to RemoteApps in some scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the File Explorer Gallery. It stops you from closing a tooltip.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio earbuds. They lose sound when you stream music.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a Bluetooth phone call. It stops the audio from routing through the PC when you answer the call on your PC.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) Post Authentication Actions (PAA). The actions occur at restart instead of at the end of the grace period.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory. Bind requests to IPv6 addresses fail. This occurs when the requestor is not joined to a domain.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the LocalUsersAndGroups CSP. It stops processing group memberships if it cannot find a group.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Group Policy Folder Redirection in a multi-forest deployment. The issue stops you from choosing a group account from the target domain. Because of this, you cannot apply advanced folder redirection settings to that domain. This issue occurs when the target domain has a one-way trust with the domain of the admin user. This issue affects all Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), Hardened Forests (HF) or Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments.

You can check out the full blog post here.

Source

The full changelog for the build is given below:

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

 

[Windows Share]

 

• For Microsoft Edge and other browsers that invoke the Windows share window, the Windows share window now supports the ability to share URLs directly to WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. In Microsoft Edge, you can invoke the Windows share window by clicking the share icon at the top right in the toolbar and choosing the Windows share options.

New share targets for sharing links through the Windows share window.

 

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

 

[General]

 

• This update includes a handful of fixes to improve overall reliability.

 

New features for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

Richer weather experience on the lock screen

 

We are introducing a richer weather experience to your lock screen. This includes dynamic, interactive weather updates. So, as you hover over the weather experience on your lock screen, you will see more information. When you tap or click on the weather card and sign in, Microsoft Edge opens with the full forecast in MSN Weather. If you already use Weather under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Lock screen status, there is nothing for you to do. Also, this new experience will be on by default. Should you not want to see this experience, you can change your lock screen status to “None.” This rich weather experience is available when you lock your screen no matter which personalization option you select (Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow).

 

Richer weather experience on the lock screen..

 

[We are beginning to roll this out starting with EN-US only, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Lock screen.

 

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Settings]

 

• We’re beginning to update references to Azure Active Directory (AAD) to Microsoft Entra ID in Settings.

 

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

• This update addresses an issue that affects the spellchecker.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the ActiveX scroll bar. It does not work in IE mode.

Microsoft Store Update

Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel running version 22312.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

 

Launch Instant Arcade games while browsing: In recent months, we announced Instant Arcade where you can play some games without the need to download them. Now, you’ll be able to launch these games directly while browsing or in search results. Simply hover over the instant arcade game and click the Play Now button.

 

Notifications for app installations: When you initiate a download from the Microsoft Store, we’ll send you a notification when your app is installed and ready to use. This can be toggled off in the store’s settings page.

 

Notification from Store when your app is installed and ready to use.

 

Performance improvements when installing from search or browsing: We made things a little faster when you install products from the search results page or while browsing. Animations are smoother and more seamless.

 

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

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

Source

Microsoft is also releasing ISO files for the new Windows11 Dev Channel 23516 build. Here is the changelog:

What’s new in Build 23615

USB 80Gbps

We are excited to announce support for the latest generation USB standard, USB 80Gbps, in this build of Windows. USB 80Gbps support will initially launch on select devices based on the Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors, such as the new Razer Blade 18.

 

This is the first major version update of the USB4 standard and increases performance to 80Gbps from 40Gbps. It enables the next generation of high-performance displays, storage, and connectivity. It is fully backwards compatible with peripherals built for older generations of USB and Thunderbolt and works alongside all other USB Type-C features.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Buses.

Changes and Improvements

[Copilot in Windows]

 

• We are trying out opening Copilot automatically when Windows starts on widescreen devices with some Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. This can be managed via Settings > Personalization > Copilot. Note that this is rolling out so not all Insiders in the Dev Channel will see this right away.

New Copilot Settings page.

[Windows Share]

 

• For Microsoft Edge and other browsers that invoke the Windows share window, the Windows share window now supports the ability to share URLs directly to WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. In Microsoft Edge, you can invoke the Windows share window by clicking the share icon at the top right in the toolbar and choosing the Windows share options.

New share targets for sharing links through the Windows share window.

Fixes

[Task Manager]

 

• Fixed an issue which was impacting Task Manager reliability for some Insiders.

 

[Windows Share]

 

• Fixed an issue which was impacting Windows share window reliability for some Insiders.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues

[Copilot in Windows]

 

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you’ll need to use “Show grid” commands to click in the “Ask me anything” box for the first time.

[Widgets]

 

• Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

You can check out the full blog post here.

Source

Here is the changelog:

• New! This update adds a feature for eye control system settings. You can back up these settings from the former device while you set up a new device. Then those settings will install automatically on the new device so you can use them when you reach the desktop.
• New! The coming weeks will bring a richer weather experience to your lock screen. This includes dynamic, interactive weather updates. So, as you hover over the weather on your lock screen, you will see more information. When you tap or click on the weather card and sign in, Microsoft Edge opens with the full forecast in MSN weather. If you already use Weather in Settings > Personalization > lock screen > Lock screen status, there is nothing for you to do. Also, this new experience will be on by default if Lock screen status is set to “None.” Like today, lock screen status will be available when you lock your screen no matter which personalization option you select (Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow).
• This update addresses an issue that affects an Internet Explorer shortcut. After you use a policy to remove it, the shortcut reappears.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). A caching issue occurs. The issue causes CurrentTimeZone to change to the wrong value.
• This update addresses an issue that affects XPath queries on FileHash and other binary fields. It stops them from matching values in event records.
• This update addresses a known issue that affects BitLocker data-only encryption. A mobile device management (MDM) service, such as Microsoft Intune, might not get the right data.
• This update addresses an issue that affects some single-function printers. They might install as a scanner.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Code Integrity Module (ci.dll). This issue stops your device from responding.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update affects Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot systems. It adds a renewed signing certificate to the Secure Boot DB variable. You can now opt for this change.
• This update addresses an issue that stops you from reconnecting to an existing Remote Desktop session. Instead, you get a new one.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you change the keyboard language. The change fails to apply to RemoteApps in some scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) Post Authentication Actions (PAA). The actions occur at restart instead of at the end of the grace period.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory. Bind requests to IPv6 addresses fail. This occurs when the requestor is not joined to a domain.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the LocalUsersAndGroups CSP. It stops processing group memberships if it cannot find a group.
• This update addresses an issue that affects deleted cloud files. When a cloud provider vetoes a deletion request, the files might still be removed.
• This update addresses an issue that affects MSIX applications. They do not open, and, in some cases, they make the host unresponsive. This occurs when they use MSIX App Attach with a CimFS image.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Group Policy Folder Redirection in a multi-forest deployment. The issue stops you from choosing a group account from the target domain. Because of this, you cannot apply advanced folder redirection settings to that domain. This issue occurs when the target domain has a one-way trust with the domain of the admin user. This issue affects all Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), Hardened Forests (HF) or Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments.

You can check out the full blog post here.

Source

On Windows 11, whether you use the "Home" or "Pro" edition, the setup must go through the activation process before accessing all the features, such as changing the desktop wallpaper. 

The activation process usually happens automatically as soon as the device connects to the internet, and this is true for new devices that come pre-installed with the operating system and after reinstalling Windows 11 on a previously activated device. However, if you're unsure whether your machine has been activated, Windows 11 includes several easy ways to check the activation state from the Settings app, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Run command.

In this how-to guide, I will walk you through the steps to find out the activation status of Windows 11.

How to check Windows 11 activation status from Settings

To check whether Windows 11 is activated or not, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Activation page on the right side.
4. Confirm the "Activation state" setting:

• Active: No action is needed. The setup is fully activated.
• No active: The system is not activated. You will have to take action.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

5. (Optional) Click the "Activation state" setting (if activated) to confirm whether the setup is using a digital license or product key. 

• Quick note: If you're signed in with a Microsoft account, the system will more than likely be using a digital license.

Once you complete the steps, if the settings page reads "Active," the device is fully activated.

How to check Windows 11 activation status from Command Prompt

To check the activation status of Windows 11 through Command Prompt (or PowerShell), use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt (or PowerShell) and click the top result to open the app.
3. Type the following command and press Enter: slmgr /xpr 
4. Confirm whether Windows 11 is activated:

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• This machine is permanently activated: No action is needed. The setup is fully activated.
• Windows is in Notification mode: The system is not activated. You will have to take action.

After you complete the steps, the command will return a "Windows Script Host" dialog, letting you know the activation state.

How to check Windows 11 activation status from Run

To determine the Windows activation state with the Run command, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Run and click the top result to open the app.
3. Type the following command and press the OK button: slmgr.vbs /xpr 
4. Confirm whether Windows 11 is activated:

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• This machine is permanently activated: No action is needed. The setup is fully activated.
• Windows is in Notification mode: The system is not activated. You will have to take action.

Once you complete the steps, similar to the command method, you will receive a "Windows Script Host" dialog with the activation information.

In addition to these methods, if your device isn't activated, the Settings app home page will usually display the "You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC" message, or the desktop may also display the "Activate Windows" watermark in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Source

Announced on the official Linux Mint website, Linux Mint 21.3 is a long term support release. The version will be supported until 2027. It is a smaller release, as is the case for point releases, but it still features plenty of changes and updates.

You may download the official ISO images using the following links:

• Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon
• Linux Mint 21.3 MATE
• Linux Mint 21.3 Xfce

Linux Mint 21.3

Linux Mint 21.3 comes with Linux kernel 5.15 and Ubuntu 22.04 as its base. The next Edge version with Linux kernel 6.5, and thus better hardware support, will come out in the coming weeks as well.#

All three Linux Mint editions come with full SecureBoot support and improved BIOS and EFI compatibility.

The Cinnamon desktop environment has been updated to version 6.0. One of the main new feature is the addition of a new spice called Actions. These are add-ons for the file manager's context menu. Some are built-in, like the ISO options "make bootable USB stick" and "Verify".

Actions may be downloaded, enabled and rated just like any other spices. Open Start, type Actions and select the result to launch the configuration window. Manage gives you control over installed Actions. Switch to the Download tab to see other Actions that are available.

Each action is listed with its name, a short description and a star rating. Select the download button next to an action to add it to the list of available Actions on the system.

Example actions that you may download include creating a desktop shortcut, opening system settings, restarting Cinnamon or sending the selection as an attachment.

Cinnamon features experimental Wayland support. The developers say that Wayland is not going to replace Xorg anytime soon, but a new option has been added on the login screen to start Cinnamon on Wayland.

Wayland support has been added to preview and test the functionality. The developers say that it "lacks features" and has "limitations" at this point.

Other changes include the return of 75% scaling and Windows opacity keybinding, the ability to disable Stylus buttons and the option to configure the monitor for notifications.

Other changes in Linux Mint 21.3:

• Hypnotix, a TV viewer application, supports favorites and custom channels now. Furthermore, support for playing YouTube channels and videos is improved thanks to the option to update yt-dlp more frequently to counter YouTube changes.
• Warpinator supports connecting to other devices manually now, either by entering an IP address manually or scanning a QR code (on mobile).
• The notes app Sticky support sDBUS commands.
• The batch file renaming tool Bulky supports thumbnails and drag & drop support.

Check out the blog post on the official Linux Mint website for additional details about the release.

Now You: have you tried Linux Mint 21.3 already? What is your take on the new release?

Source

Today, Google announced that it will be prioritizing the features users love the most, and giving up on the ones that are not frequently used. It shared a list of several features that will be unavailable starting January 26, 2024. In the Help Center post it also added alternatives to the affected features.

If a user tries to click on the capability that is going to be removed, they will be notified with the particular date after which it will no longer be available.

Some features that will no longer be available on Google Assistant include controlling and playing audiobooks on Google Play Books through voice commands, managing a stopwatch on Smart Displays and Speakers, asking to meditate with the Calm app, and more.

It appears that most of the features that are being discarded are voice-activated. We see that Google has removed the ability to use voice commands to send emails, video, and audio messages. However, it is still letting users send text messages and make calls.

Furthermore, individuals with Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices will have to resort to tapping buttons to complete actions such as pause, start, and play. They can no longer use voice controls on these.

On the other hand, Google mentioned that the Microphone icon in the Google app will present Search results when a user asks a question. Users can also continue to activate Google Assistant the way they normally would, for example, by saying “Hey Google.”

However, the microphone icon in the Search bar will not complete actions such as “turn on the lights” or “send a message.” Another change Google has made is that the microphone icon in the Pixel Search bar will activate Voice Search and not Google Assistant.

Lastly, Google mentioned that users will be encouraged to update their Google application if they are running v12 and older. The company also noted:

“We know change can be disruptive, but we’ll do everything we can to make these transitions as smooth as possible. While Google Assistant has evolved a lot over the last seven years, one thing remains true: Our improvements are driven by your feedback. And we want to hear it. Just say, “Hey Google, send feedback” and share your comments with us.”

Today, Google also shared that it has conducted major layoffs in its Assistant, Google Devices, and Service divisions. It seems that the company is making major changes to its structure as it is also combining Pixel, Fibit, and Nest hardware teams.

It is likely the aftershocks of this were shown in the latest changes to Google Assistant and other features in Fitbit and Pixel.

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The main highlight of the Dev Home 0.9 release is Windows 10 support. However, there is also one accessibility fix that ensures screen readers properly announce a navigation pane opening or closing. Also, Dev Home should now properly open your browser to allow signing into your GitHub profile.

You can download the Dev Home app from its official repository on GitHub. It is available for free for all users of any Windows 11 and now Windows 10 editions.

For those unfamiliar, the Dev Home app is a sort of control panel for developer-related tasks, downloading apps, packages, or repositories, connecting various developer accounts, and monitoring your PC hardware. You can also use the program to set up a Dev Drive, a specialized partition optimized for app development.

Even those with little to no development knowledge can make good use of the Dev Home app. It contains hardware monitoring widgets, allowing you to track CPU, GPU, RAM, and network performance on the Widgets board. And with Microsoft finally letting you turn off news in Windows Widgets, many users may want to start using that area. Check out our guide to learn how to get CPU, GPU, RAM, and network monitoring widgets in Windows 11.

Besides adding Windows 10 support, Microsoft is working on additional Settings for the Dev Home app. The company wants to give users and developers more control over their computers in the so-called "Advanced Windows Settings" section.

You can learn more about the Dev Home app and its capabilities in the official documentation.

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