The new Outlook is available already. Users of the latest Windows 11 version may have the app installed on their devices. It is also available as a standalone download from the Microsoft Store.

Even classic Outlook contains an option to test the new Outlook for Windows. Microsoft plans to replace Mail and Calendar on Windows 11 with the new Outlook for Windows in 2024. Microsoft employee Caitlin Hart revealed in a Tech Community post that the new app will also replace classic Outlook eventually.

The article lists features that Microsoft is working on currently and features that it has added to the new Outlook for Windows already.

Your emails and login information may be transferred to Microsoft

A reminder is shown to users when they add a new third-party email account to the new Outlook. It links to the Sync your account in Outlook to the Microsoft Cloud support website. There, users are informed that emails, contacts and events of that account are synced with the Microsoft cloud to enhance the Microsoft 365 experience.

This works with a limited number of third-party email providers and also depends on the platform. The Windows version supports the feature for Gmail and Yahoo accounts, while the iOS, Outlook for Android and Mac versions support Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and IMAP accounts.

Microsoft gets full read access to the emails and other information that it syncs. The only options that users have is to select continue or cancel. Continue proceeds with the setup, cancel stops it at that point.

Apart from gaining access to emails, contacts and events for supported email providers, users may also wonder how the syncing is established.

German computer magazine CT discovered that Outlook may transfer the target server, username and password to Microsoft servers. This was, for instance, the case for test IMAP accounts.

TLS is used to encrypt the data in transit, but Microsoft gains cleartext access to the data. I confirmed the findings using a test account.

Users are not informed about this by Microsoft during setup. Microsoft gets full access to the email account, including the username and password, and does not inform users about it.

To be fair, this is not the case for all third-party email accounts. Gmail, for instance, uses OAuth2 for authentication. Microsoft still gets read access to emails and other data, but it does not get the user's login information.

Gmail users may retract these permissions in their Google account at any time.

The new Outlook and third-party accounts

Windows users need to be very careful when it comes to the new Outlook. We recommend not to use it with third-party accounts at the time of writing until Microsoft publishes an official statement about this.

The new Outlook has a 3.5 out of 5 rating on the Microsoft Store. Reviews are mixed, and so are reviews on third-party websites.

Now You: which email app(s) do you use?

Source

The first Patch Tuesday happened just over 20 years ago, in October 2003. In a new blog post, John Cable, Microsoft's Vice President for Program Management and Windows Servicing and Delivery, takes a look back at the history of this effort to offer regular security updates for Windows.

The idea behind Patch Tuesday actually began over a year earlier on January 15, 2002, when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates sent out a memo to all of the company's employees. He announced the Trustworthy Computing (TwC) initiative as a way to spur the company to create more secure software products and better ways to update them. He wrote:

Our new design approaches need to dramatically reduce the number of such issues that come up in the software that Microsoft, its partners and its customers create. We need to make it automatic for customers to get the benefits of these fixes. Eventually, our software should be so fundamentally secure that customers never even worry about it.

That memo inspired Microsoft to come up with a regular schedule for releasing security and bug patches for Windows and other software programs, which evolved into Patch Tuesday.

In today's blog post, Cable offers a timeline of Microsoft's efforts to improve the security of Windows, such as Secure Boot in Windows 8. The company has also tried to improve how it offers information on its patches, such as release notes that began with the launch of Windows 10.

Cable says that Microsoft will continue to improve the quality of patches for future Windows releases. He stated:

With new hotpatching technologies proving themselves across Azure Fleet and Windows Server Azure Edition, the future for patching is bright as we continue to pursue fast, reliable, secure updates for the best possible update experience. We’re also investing in new AI technology and talent, as well as in leadership and cross-team partnerships, to ensure that we can keep you protected and productive for the next 20 years of Windows.

The next Patch Tuesday is coming up in just a few days on November 14.

Source

You're welcome.

Here is what Google documented as changing:

• Malicious software: The scope of the Malicious software policy is narrowed to prohibit the intentional distribution of malicious software or “malware” that may harm or gain unauthorized access to a computer, device, or network. This prohibition applies to your ads and listings and any software that your site or app either hosts or links to, regardless of whether the software is promoted through the Google network. A violation of the Malicious software policy will now be considered an egregious violation.

• Compromised sites: A compromised site refers to a site or destination whose code has been manipulated or hacked to act in ways that benefit a third-party without the knowledge of the site or destination’s owner or operator, and often in a way that harms the site’s users. Your ads and listings are not allowed to use destinations which are compromised or hacked. Violations of this policy will not lead to immediate account suspension without prior warning. A warning will be issued, at least 7 days, prior to any suspension of your account.

• Unwanted software: Ads, listings and destinations that violate Google’s Unwanted Software Policy aren’t allowed. Violations of this policy will not lead to immediate account suspension without prior warning. A warning will be issued, at least 7 days, prior to any suspension of your account.

Google said it will begin enforcing these policies in October (which has already passed), with full enforcement ramping up over approximately four weeks after (so now?).

Forum discussion at X.

Source

A hot potato: Google introduced a new policy for "inactive" accounts earlier this year: to enhance security, dormant, unused accounts are slated for deletion. The search giant will commence the enforcement of this policy on December 1, 2023.

Google has issued initial warnings regarding inactive accounts, those untouched for at least two years. In three weeks, the updated Inactive Google Account Policy will come into effect, resulting in the deletion of millions of Google accounts. Supposedly, all data within these accounts will be permanently removed.

As per the revised policy, an inactive Google account is defined as one that has remained unused for a period of two years. Google specifies "activity" as actions such as being signed in while reading or sending emails, utilizing Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, sharing photos, or downloading apps.

Google emphasizes that account activity is associated with the account itself, not the device. This implies that users must perform actions on any platform where they are signed in to demonstrate activity. Additionally, multiple Google accounts must individually show activity within the 2-year timeframe to avoid universal digital deletion.

Google's policy is applicable only to personal accounts and not those associated with work, school, or other organizations. Google states that the contents and data of an inactive account "may be deleted," but the company ensures that multiple notifications will be sent to the account and any linked recovery email address.

The removal of inactive accounts is motivated by the likelihood that they are abandoned, forgotten, or unattended, making them vulnerable to compromise. According to Ruth Kricheli, Google's VP, a compromised account can be exploited for malicious activities, including identity theft and spamming.

Google's notifications encourage users with inactive accounts to safeguard their private information and prevent unauthorized access, even if they are no longer utilizing Google's services. Google accounts are commonly used for federated access on third-party websites, implying that losing access to a Google account would eventually hinder users from accessing those external sites.

It's worth noting that any account used to post one or more videos on YouTube will be exempt from the account purge, regardless of the period of inactivity.

Source

Microsoft launched Copilot in Windows 11 version 23H2. It sits next to the Start menu button by default, providing you a one-click access to the company's latest AI assistant. However, it seems that Microsoft is open to experimenting with other places for Copilot. @PhantomOfEarth noticed that enabling a specific feature ID in builds 25992 and 23585 moves Copilot to the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Release notes for the latest Windows 11 preview builds do not mention the new home for Copilot. Also, the Settings app, including the new Copilot section, does not contain any toggles or switches for repositioning the icon. You may assume this is just an experiment that might never reach a stable release. Still, you can try it while it is available in Windows 11 build 25992 and 23585 using the ViVeTool app.

Important: Back up your data before modifying Windows 11 using ViVeTool or similar apps.

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack it in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Launch Command Prompt as Administrator. You can use Windows Terminal in Command Prompt mode.
3. Navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files using the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
4. Type vivetool /enable /id:46874360 and press Enter.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Type vivetool /disable /id:46874360 to revert the changes.

Interestingly, enthusiasts recently discovered code bits hinting at a possible return of the user tile in the notification area from the early dates of Windows 8 development.

What do you think about the Copilot icon in the notification area?

Source

Trick or treat? Microsoft released Windows 11 23H2 on Halloween.

On top of that, November’s Patch Tuesday is just around the corner, and Copilot will continue to dribble out — even on 22H2 — in the November security releases. Therefore, I’ve raised the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

As with many changes Microsoft makes these days, 23H2 and Copilot for Windows will be phased rollouts, so there’s no telling when any individual user will see them offered in Windows Update. So remember that there are many tools to control the Copilot rollout, including a registry key and Group Policies (you can download our ADMX and ADML files).

For Microsoft’s complete statement about the Windows 11 updates, see KB5031455 (OS Builds 22621.2506 and 22631.2506) Preview.

What does all this mean for you?

First, Microsoft’s ISO for Windows 10 22H2 is no longer available, having been replaced by 23H2. If you did not grab a copy of 22H2 earlier, you’ll need to use Rufus to get it.

Second, you can keep 23H2 at bay if you have used InControl, Group Policy, or Registry methods to do so. That also applies to the Microsoft patch-control systems such as Windows Update, Intune, or WSUS. All these solutions block 23H2, so no other action is needed.

Third, keep in mind that pieces of 23H2 have been installed in the background for some time. So if you decide to let 23H2 install, it will not be particularly time-consuming.

Finally, and if you are looking forward to getting 23H2 on your Windows 11 PC, go to Settings | Windows Update and toggle on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Then click the Check for updates button. Also note the enablement packages mentioned in the Tech Community post What’s new for IT pros in Windows 11, version 23H2. I’ve posted the direct links for these easy upgrades to 23H2 (should you want to jump there on a backed-up test machine) in this AskWoody forum post. All you need to do is click on the links to install 23H2 without waiting for Windows Update to offer it to you.

All that said, my very strong opinion is that it’s better to wait and make sure there are no unmanageable side effects. Let others (like me) endure the slings and arrows so you don’t have to.

Many of you will be looking forward to a long-requested change, “never combined.” This allows more control over the way the taskbar is presented, in that windows for one app will be displayed individually on the taskbar. The default for some time, including in Windows 10, is that one icon appears for the app, so you must hover over the icon to see the individual windows. Go to Settings | Personalization | Taskbar | Taskbar behaviors and set Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never. There is also a separate setting for turning this on for other taskbars when you use multiple monitors.

As you scroll down the listing of “Highlights” on the KB5031455 Preview page, you may think these sound a lot like the features touted for 23H2. That’s because the are. Windows 11 23H2 will fully enable all these features, unlike the October update that started to make these changes under the hood, over time. I think the dribbling was deliberate, almost to make you feel as if the Windows 11 23H2 rollout were anticlimactic.

Windows 10 22H2’s security updates next week won’t be so full of changes. One overdue change I’m looking forward to is a printing fix with Outlook. Microsoft notes,

This update addresses an issue that affects Outlook. It stops responding. This occurs when you print to an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer that has a slow response time.

I still don’t recommend the use of IPP or WSD (Web Services for Devices) printer connections. I prefer and recommend USB for home computers or TCP/IP (network) connections in office printers. This update for Windows 10 also includes a fix addressing an error that occurs when you print using v4 printer drivers. Even in a home setting, I recommend that you double-check printers to be sure they still work after installing monthly updates.

If you were planning to give yourself a Christmas present in the form of a new MacBook, be aware that Apple released its upgraded MacBook lineup in its October 20 event. The new lineup became available in stores on November 7. If you have an existing MacBook, don’t forget to check its trade-in value on the Apple website.

In watchOS 10.1, iOS and iPadOS 16.7.2, tvOS 17.1, iOS and iPadOS 17.1, Apple recently fixed an issue tracked as CVE-2023-42846. The vulnerability was an information leak leading to disclosure of the device MAC address, even when Wi-Fi MAC address randomization is enabled. As noted in that information leak post:

The information leak is only possible to exploit when a device is connected to the same network as the attacker. There is no way to access any port on the device until it is authenticated with the WiFi network and associated with an access point, or, in simpler terms, until the user connected to the network.

Passive tracking by sensors was prevented by MAC address randomization as designed. It was not possible to track mobile device presence without a user connecting to a WiFi network under threat actor control because each network scan came from a different, random MAC address.

Many in the news media called address randomization worthless. However, the failure of this feature is a problem for some businesses and government agencies. For you and me, not so much. Don’t believe the media hype: iPhones still have a very solid privacy stature.

For business users, I am still concerned about patching a Hyper-V or VMware host. I recommend it only if you have trust in your restoration processes, are not using secure boot in your processes, and have failovers and windows of maintenance ready. If you don’t have that luxury, I think it’s wise to hold back until we see the impact of the November updates before installing any of them on a host machine running a number of virtual machines. I don’t make it a habit to recommend that you not patch, but this is one to attend to carefully.

For those who do Windows patching of workstations, remember that Copilot for Windows will be disabled if the operating system senses that it’s in a “managed” state — which usually means that updates are being controlled by something other than Windows Update. You can enable it if you like, but you can also control these “dribbled” changes with various Intune and Group Policy settings, as described in Microsoft’s article Enterprise feature control in Windows 11.

Because of all these anticipated changes, I recommend that updates be deferred. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to install updates and, as usual, will be tracking side effects.

Resources

And despite the improvements, not everyone is a fan of how Windows looks and feels which is why there are third-party apps available for tweaking and modding. Recently Start11 v2 was released with rounded Taskbar elements, and new Start menu layouts, among other things.

Apart from that, Windhawk, which provides an extensive list of mods, is finally out of beta. A new offline installer has been added, among other improvements.

StartAllBack Windows 7 theme

StartAllBack, which is another tweaking tool, has also been receiving very regular updates ever since Windows 11 23H2 reached the Beta channel. There are multiple bug fixes and improvements that have been baked in so far which include workarounds and resolutions related to File Explorer crashes, Start menu bugs, and more.

In recent history at least, when a new feature update is out, Shell-related issues like this are fairly common.

Aside from fixes, there are new additions too as the latest beta update version 3.7 brings "Enhanced System Tray". The full changelog for the recent changes related to Windows 11 23H2 is given below:

Version 3.7 BETA - Enhanced System Tray

 

• Available on all displays with pixel-perfect icons
• Compatible with Settings but spot new tweaking UI

 

Version 3.6.16 6 Nov 2023

 

• Workaround 23H2 Explorer crashes

 

Version 3.6.15 26 Oct 2023

 

• Removed taskbar Chat icon

 

Version 3.6.14 21 Oct 2023

 

• Minor improvements and fixes

 

Version 3.6.13 4 Oct 2023

 

• Fix 23H2 native start menu under vertical taskbar

If you want to try StartAllBack, you can head over to this page on its official website.

Source

Microsoft has confirmed a bug in Windows 11 23H2, where using Copilot on multi-monitor setups can cause desktop icons to move unexpectedly between screens.

Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview).

 

To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows (in preview) might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration.

 

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

It is worth noting that a bunch of icons jumping from one screen to another is probably the most innocent bug in Windows 11 version 23H2. Users have reported cryptic install errors, freezes, and performance degradation when installing the latest update. If you value stability over fancy new stuff, you will be excused for not wanting to get to the bleeding edge and upgrading to version 23H2 before it gets a few patches and fixes.

In other Copilot news, Microsoft is testing a new home for the Copilot icon. Users noticed that the latest Dev and Canary builds have a hidden ID that lets you move the icon to the notification area. As for Microsoft Edge, another place hosting Microsoft's new AI assistant, it no longer allows turning off the sidebar if Copilot is disabled.

Source

Today, Microsoft posted a blog update with a long list of features that it says will be added to the new Outlook app over the course of the next year. A few of these upcoming features have already been revealed including offline support for the app.

Here is the list, which Microsoft says is just some of the new features they are working on for Outlook updates:

• Auto capitalization
• Collapsible headers in the message list
• Conditional formatting
• Copilot
• Drag and drop emails and attachments to the desktop
• Dictation
• Preserve declined meetings
• EML file support
• File tab in Outlook search
• Folder reordering
• Inking (Draw tab) while composing an email
• MSG file support
• Offline support
• Outbox folder
• Picture formatting
• POP3 account support
• PST file support
• Message Recall
• S/MIME
• Save as for attachments (choose folder to save to)
• Share local files from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Shared calendar notifications for work accounts
• Teams tab in search

The blog also points out some recent improvements that are already in the new Outlook for Windows app:

• Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and IMAP account support
• ICS file support
• Message list selection improvements
• Quick steps
• Sort by sender or subject line
• Scheduling across different time zones
• Table styling improvements
• Folder list experience improvements
• Search folders (unread mail, flagged, or sent directly to me)
• Reminders window
• Find related messages (from this sender, in this conversation)

Microsoft added that they have received feedback about the performance of the new Outlook app and stated they are working to improve that aspect of the app, "ranging from focused optimizations to larger platform investments."

The new Outlook app will eventually replace the classic version. It will also replace the Mail and Calendar apps in Windows 10, which are currently scheduled to shut down by the end of 2024.

Source

As spotted by @PhantomOfEarth on X (formerly Twitter), the latest Windows 11 Canary build lets you compress files into two more archive formats: 7z and TAR. RAR is still missing, but at least you are no longer limited to just ZIP, even though it is one of the most popular and universal compressing formats across various platforms.

For some reason, Microsoft has not mentioned the change in the release notes for build 25992. Besides, it is enabled by default, so there is no need to execute special commands to make Windows 11 capable of packing files into 7z and TAR. Update your system to build 25992, pick files to archive, and select "Compress to" from the context menu. Neat!

Besides allowing you to work with more archive types, Windows 11 build 25992 improves performance when working with large ZIP files. This was mentioned in the release notes:

Did some work which should help noticeably improve the performance of opening large .zip files in File Explorer.

Other changes in Windows 11 build 25992 include SMB upgrades, fixes for known issues, and improved HDR support in the Snipping Tool. Check out this article to learn more about Windows 11 build 25992 from the Canary Channel.

Source

Earlier this week, screenshots of what looked like a preview version of Office 2024 were leaked on the X (formerly Twitter) account of Windows enthusiast "techosaurusrex." Now there's a new story with more leaked screenshots of the software suite and word that it's currently in active testing internally at Microsoft.

XDA reports that Office 2024 is available on Microsoft's DevMain testing branch, which is designed for company employees to check out upcoming software products. The same article also posts a way for anyone else to get access to the DevMain build of Office 2024. However, it requires more than a bit of tech knowledge and two third-party open-source projects, so we would not recommend you go this route unless you absolutely want to access this preview build.

The report says that this particular internal build of Office 2024 is not much different than the latest stand-alone version, Office 2021. It's likely that new features will be added before it's available for a public preview and then a final release.

Many people thought that when Office 2021 launched two years ago, it would be the last stand-alone Office product that Microsoft would release in favor of a subscription cloud-based business model. Indeed, Microsoft announced in October 2022 that it was rebranding its Office apps and services under the Microsoft 365 brand.

However, it looks like these leaks, if accurate, show that Microsoft will continue to offer a one-time purchase option for its Office apps with the new Office 2024 release. This development will likely be a big help for businesses and education users, who might want to buy a one-time license for Microsoft's Office apps rather than getting them through a Microsoft 365 cloud-based subscription service. It's possible the company could confirm this move next week as part of its Ignite conference.

Source

Here is the changelog:

What’s new in Build 25992

 

SMB Changes

 

Starting with this build (Build 25992), we are introducing the following Server Message Block (SMB) protocol changes.

 

SMB firewall rule changes: Creating SMB shares changes a longtime Windows Defender Firewall default behavior. Previously, creating a share automatically configured the firewall to enable the rules in the “File and Printer Sharing” group for the given firewall profiles. Now, Windows automatically configures the new “File and Printer Sharing (Restrictive)” group, which no longer contains inbound NetBIOS ports 137-139. We plan future updates for this rule to also remove inbound ICMP, LLMNR, and Spooler Service ports and restrict down to the SMB sharing-necessary ports only.

 

This change enforces a higher degree of default of network security as well as bringing SMB firewall rules closer to the Windows Server “File Server” role behavior. Administrators can still configure the “File and Printer Sharing” group if necessary as well as modify this new firewall group.

 

For more information on this change, review https://aka.ms/SMBfirewall. For more information on SMB network security, review Secure SMB Traffic in Windows Server.

 

SMB NTLM blocking exception list: The new SMB NTLM blocking feature first announced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25951 now supports specifying exception lists for NTLM usage. This allows an administrator to configure a general block on NTLM usage while still allowing clients to use NTLM for specific servers that do not support Kerberos, either because they are not Active Directory domain joined or are a third party without Kerberos support.

 

For more information on this change, review https://aka.ms/SmbNtlmBlock.

 

SMB alternative client and server ports: The SMB client now supports connecting to an SMB server over TCP, QUIC, or RDMA using alternative network ports to the hardcoded defaults. Previously, SMB only supported TCP/445, QUIC/443, and RDMA iWARP/5445. In addition, the SMB over QUIC server in Windows Server also supports endpoints configured with different ports than 443 (this option will be part of a separate Windows Server Insider Preview release). Windows Server does not support configuring alternative SMB server TCP ports, but third parties such as Samba do.

 

You can specify an alternative SMB client port using the NET USE command and New-SmbMapping PowerShell cmdlet. You can also completely disable this feature with a group policy.

 

For more information on using this option, review https://aka.ms/SMBAlternativePorts. For more information on configuring non-standard SMB server ports in third parties, consult their product documentation.

 

SMB over QUIC client access control certificate changes: The SMB over QUIC client access control feature first announced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25977 now supports using certificates with subject alternative names and not just a single subject. This means the client access control feature now supports using a Microsoft AD Certificate Authority and multiple endpoint names, just like the currently released version of SMB over QUIC. You can now evaluate the feature using the recommended options and not require self-signed test certificates.

 

For more information on this change, review https://aka.ms/SmbOverQUICCAC. For more information on SMB over QUIC, review https://aka.ms/SMBoverQUIC.

 

Changes and Improvements

 

[File Explorer]

 

• Did some work which should help noticeably improve the performance of opening large .zip files in File Explorer.

 

Fixes for known issues

 

• We fixed the issue causing blank options to show on the Personalization and Privacy & Security settings pages, where if clicked on it would crash Settings.
• Fixed an issue causing the context menu to draw off screen when invoked using touch or pen on the side of your desktop.
• Fixed an issue where Settings Home might show a prompt to sign into your Microsoft account, and fail to sign in if you tried to use it, even though Settings itself showed you were already signed in.
• If you were experiencing Quick Settings crashes and WIN + A not working in the previous flight, that should be resolved now.
• Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar icons to disappear after switching desktops.

 

Known issues

 

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.
• [NEW] Attempting to navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad on this build will crash Settings.

 

Snipping Tool Update

 

• We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels improving HDR display support. Screenshots and screen recording on displays with HDR enabled should be able to better display colours.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool.

You can get the full blog post here.

Source

The full changelog is given below:

Changes and Improvements

[General]

 

• The Camera app, Cortana, Photos app, and People app, and Remote Desktop (MSTSC) client can be uninstalled.

 

Fixes

 

[General]

 

• Fixed a few issues leading to explorer.exe crashes.

 

[File Explorer]

 

• Fixed an issue causing the context menu to draw off screen when invoked using touch or pen on the side of your desktop.

 

[Taskbar]

 

• Fixed the issue causing the purple Chat button to show up again on the taskbar after updating to Build 23580.

 

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.

 

Snipping Tool Update

 

We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels improving HDR display support. Screenshots and screen recording on displays with HDR enabled should be able to better display colours.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool.

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

Source

Here are the options the app lets you pick:

• I do not want OneDrive running all the time
• I do not know what OneDrive is
• I do not use OneDrive
• I am trying to fix a problem with OneDrive
• I am trying to speed up my computer
• I get too many notifications
• Other

Sadly, there is no "none of your business, let me quit" option.

The updated "Quit OneDrive" dialog with its poll is just another Microsoft attempt to impose its services, and discovering multiple similar "ads" in Windows and other products requires only a few clicks. Here are some examples:

• The Settings app will prompt you to enable OneDrive backup when changing your Windows background. Back up your Pictures folder to automatically back up your background image.
• File Explorer shows a flashing backup button in user folders. Tip: close OneDrive to make it disappear.
• Backup notifications in the Start menu.
• Backup notifications in Office apps when saving files locally (how could you dare not save your files in OneDrive).
• And multiple notifications from the OneDrive app itself.

The new OneDrive dialog is available in version 23.214.1015.0001 (Stable build). If you want, you can update your OneDrive client by downloading its executable from the official website. If not, the app will update itself automatically whenever it feels like doing so.

Forcing customers to explain their actions may not look like the deadliest sin, but it does not make user experience any better or more convenient either.

Source

“According to my sources, Microsoft is planning to bring the same Microsoft Copilot to Windows 10 in an update coming soon,” Bowden wrote. “Just like Windows 11, this update to Windows 10 will place a Copilot button directly on the Windows 10 taskbar, which will open the exact same Copilot sidebar experience found on Windows 11.”

Copilot is currently available in preview in select markets, and it has yet to be enabled in Europe. The AI assistant works as a pinned Edge tab that provides access to Bing chat, but Microsoft also built plugins to let Copilot interact with Windows settings. Support for third-party plugins is coming as well, and developers may have a bigger incentive to create plugins if Copilot also becomes available on the most popular version of Windows.

Microsoft said last year that Windows 10 version 22H2 would be the “the final version of Windows 10” and that it would be supported until October 2025. While it looked like no big new features would ever come to Windows 10 going forward, Bowden reports that Microsoft is now considering going into a different direction.

“I’ve also heard that Windows’ new bosses are keen to keep Windows 10 users up to date with select new features and services, and that Windows Copilot is just one of a handful of features that the company is planning to backport to the older OS,” Bowden wrote. Last but not least, Bowden also heard that there are ongoing internal discussions about extending Windows 10’s end-of-support date beyond 2025, though nothing has been decided yet.

Source

New with Start11 v2 are three Start menu styles that seamlessly blend with Windows 10 and 11. Each new style is fully customizable from top to bottom, focusing on a different theme: Apps, Professional, and Launcher.

Start11 v2 is also enhancing the taskbar with new functionality that makes it faster to access your files and folders. You can pin any folder to the taskbar and access its contents without opening File Explorer.

And new today, you can round the corners of the taskbar to give it a modern design that makes your
desktop look like the next version of Windows. "This is a significant update and ships with more than two dozen new features," said Brad Sams, General Manager of Stardock Software. "And we are also introducing new enterprise features as well, including the ability to load a Start menu configuration on login, kiosk functionality that lets you lock components of the Start menu, and improved tooling for advanced deployments."

Also new with Start11 v2 is an updated search experience with native integration with the Everything
search engine. Additionally, Start11 v2 introduces the ability to backup and restore your settings from a file, improved animations when navigating within the Start menus, going for a unified icon experience, options for removing folders from the 'all apps list,' and many more.

Start11 v2 is available today for $6.99 and is also included in the award-winning Object Desktop suite. For more information, visit the Start11 v2 website here.

You can also download the entire Object Desktop package. Object Desktop includes programs such as Fences, Start11, Groupy, SoundPackager, DeskScapes, and Multiplicity.

Disclaimer: Neowin's relationship to Stardock

Source

The new listing stated:

The Tips app is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. Content in the app will continue to be updated with information about new Windows features until the app is removed.

The listing didn't offer an explanation of why the Microsoft Tips app will be going away soon. It's possible that the company decided to pull it because it now has the new generative AI based Copilot for Windows feature that can also offer help on various Windows matters.

The Tips app was just the latest tutorial app that Microsoft created for various Windows versions over the decades. This particular version was launched in Windows 10 and was also available to download in the Microsoft Store. The app continued to be available with the upgrade to Windows 11.

The Tips app offered a quick way for people to learn more about the Windows OS with tips, tutorials, videos, and more. It got updated as new features were added to the OS.

On some Windows PCs, like Microsoft's Surface products, the Tips app could be used to learn about specific features on those devices, like information on how to use the Surface Pen or how to switch between notebook and tablet mode.

Microsoft has not yet announced exactly when the Tips app will be removed, although we suspect it could happen as early as next Tuesday, November 14. That also happened to be when Microsoft holds its monthly Patch Tuesday event for Windows and other company software.

Source

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, all Apple developers working on next year's software updates were tasked with fixing known issues and improving performance rather than adding new capabilities. This pause affects OS releases codenamed 'Crystal' for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, 'Glow' for macOS 15, 'Moonstone' for watchOS 11, and visionOS for the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro headset.

The temporary development freeze comes as Apple has placed greater emphasis on software quality over the past few years. Under Federighi, the company has adopted new processes like 'feature flags' to catch bugs earlier and 'The Pact' to eliminate regressions. However, as software projects grow more complex with thousands of developers, some issues are still going through internal testing.

With thousands of different Apple employees working on a range of operating systems and devices — that need to work together seamlessly — it's easy for glitches to crop up. "It's a problem of 10,000 people typing code and completely breaking the operating system," one person familiar with the situation said.

By halting new feature work for one week, Apple aims to thoroughly remedy software problems thoroughly, ensuring a smoother experience for users. While this move could marginally delay some product launches, it is not expected to postpone major software releases planned for next fall.

According to Gurman, the pause lifts this week with developers returning their focus to finishing existing features in time for next June's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

In case you missed it, Apple began rolling out iOS 17.1 to compatible iPhones last week. The update delivers some of the previously announced features that were not available in the initial iOS 17.0 update released in September, such as AirDrop over the Internet.

Source: Bloomberg

Source

In addition to page name and domain, the card that appears when you hover over a page in the Tab Strip now shows “Memory usage.”

This simple feature lets you see what pages are particularly taxing your system, and is much more convenient than going to the three-dot overflow menu > More Tools > Task Manager. (In brief testing, the Memory Footprint doesn’t align with the hovercard.)

This builds on Chrome’s Memory and Energy Saver modes. The latter limits background activity and visual effects, like animations, smooth scrolling, video frame rates. The Memory Saver works by freeing up memory from inactive tabs. Those pages remain visible in the Tab Strip and reload when you navigate back. 

You can enable (or disable) both from Settings > Performance. There’s also the ability to “Always keep [certain] sites active.” 

We’re seeing Memory usage in the tab hovercards on the stable channel with Chrome 119. It’s been slowly rolling out in recent weeks for Mac, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. If it’s not yet available for your browser, set this flag to enabled: chrome://flags/#memory-saver-memory-usage-in-hovercards.

Source

YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers is having an impact beyond YouTube. Multiple ad blocking apps claim that thousands of people have uninstalled their products since YouTube started showing warnings to people attempting to watch videos with ad blockers enabled.

One of the companies, AdGuard, told Wired that more than 11,000 people have uninstalled its Chrome extension each day since October 9, compared to 6,000 uninstallations per day before YouTube implemented the change. On October 18, 52,000 people uninstalled AdGuard, the company’s CTO Andrey Meshkov told Wired. However, installations of AdGuard’s paid version, which YouTube’s crackdown doesn’t affect, went up.

Another ad blocking company, Ghostery, said that its usage was flat in October as it experienced three to five times the daily number of installs as well as uninstalls. Notably, the company said that more than 90 percent of its users who completed a survey about why they uninstalled the product said they did so because the tool no longer worked with YouTube.

Since YouTube’s crackdown only seems to affect people who access its website through Chrome on laptops and desktops, some users also tried to use other browsers as a workaround. Ghostery told Wired that its installations of Microsoft’s Edge browser went up by 30 percent in October compared to September.

YouTube ads are increasingly contributing more to Google’s overall revenue. The company sold more than $22 billion in ads on the platform from the beginning of this year through September. But the streaming platform is also trying to push more people to pay for YouTube Premium, which gets rid of ads, lets people download videos, stream videos in higher quality and access YouTube Music. Earlier this year, the company bumped up YouTube Premium’s pricing by $2 to $14 a month.

Source

Besides better OS support, Rufus provides several quality-of-life improvements, especially for those wanting to install Windows 11. For starters, Rufus can bypass TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements to create an install media compatible with older and officially unsupported hardware. Other neat features include the following:

• Automatic offline profile creation.
• Skipping the requirement for a Microsoft Account.
• Disabling "data-harvesting" options during the initial setup.
• Settings migration to speed up the initial setup process.
• Turning off default BitLocker disk encryption.

Users can combine Rufus and the Media Creation Tool when creating a Windows 11 bootable USB. For example, download an official ISO using MCT and then flash it using Rufus. Alternatively, you can download the original Windows ISO files directly in Rufus (supported versions include Windows 11, 10, and 8.1). It is worth noting that Microsoft has yet to update its official Media Creation Tool app with the recently launched Windows 11 version 23H2 images, so Rufus and similar third-party apps are your only option to make a Windows 11 23H2 install media.

Note: Although Rufus allows creating a bootable USB with old and unsupported Windows versions, the app only works on Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. Sadly, Windows 7 is no longer supported.

Create Windows 11 installation USB using Rufus

1. Begin with downloading Rufus from the app's official website. Rufus is free, and it is available in installable and portable variants.
2. Connect your USB drive (8 GB is the minimum requirement) and launch Rufus. If you need to change the app's language, click the button with a globe icon.

    

   
3. Select the USB drive from the Device drop-down.
4. If you already have a Windows 11 ISO, select Disk or ISO Image and click Select, then skip to Step 9.

   

    

5. You can download the original Windows 11 ISO file using Rufus if you do not have it. To do so, click the arrow-down button next to the Select button and press Download. Note that you must let the app check for updates; otherwise, the download option will not appear.
6. Click the Download button again and wait a few seconds for Rufus to run the needed script. Note: Rufus uses a third-party script to connect to Microsoft servers and download original ISOs.

    

   
7. Select the Windows version you need, and click Continue. The app will prompt you to pick release, SKU (Edition), Language, and architecture.
8. Once everything is set, click Download, specify where Rufus should save the ISO, and wait for the app to complete its job.

   

    

9. Now you are ready to write the ISO to the USB drive. You can leave the Volume Label as is or rename it to something more palatable, for example, Windows11_Install.
10. Click Start.

    

     

11. After clicking the Start button, Rufus will offer you to customize the installation with the following options (place checkmarks next to the ones you need):
    • Remove Requirement for 4GB+ RAM – tick this option if you want to install Windows 11 on a computer with unsupported hardware.
    • Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account—select this option to skip the Microsoft Account requirement. Windows 11 will not ask you to sign in with a Microsoft Account during the initial setup.
    • Create a local account—you can specify your account name, for example, Neowin.
    • Set regional options using the same values as this user – Rufus will copy the current regional settings to the new installation.
    • Disable data collection – Windows 11 will not ask you to send diagnostic data, enable location, advertisement ID, and other things some users consider privacy-invading.
    • Disable BitLocker automatic device encryption—this will ensure BitLocker is not turned on by default.
    • 
12. Click OK and wait for Rufus to create a Windows 11 installation USB. You can check the progress in the Status section.

Now you can use your USB drive to install Windows 11 from scratch. Restart your computer and boot from the newly made Windows 11 install USB.

Source

Error IRQL not less or equal (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

On Windows 11, if you run into the "Error 0xA: IRQL_not_less_or_equal" error, you have at least five ways to troubleshoot and fix this problem, and in this guide, I'll show you how.

The "not less or equal" error is a known issue that essentially means that the system is having problems with one of the hardware drivers, the memory is misbehaving, or there's a conflict with the antivirus. 

When you encounter this issue, Windows 11 provides at least six ways to resolve it using Windows Update, the System Configuration settings, DISM and SFC command-line tools, and Windows Memory Diagnostic. You can also try removing the antivirus and reinstalling the graphics drivers.

In this how-to guide, I will walk you through how you can try to fix the "not less or equal" error on Windows 11.

How to resolve the error IRQL not less or equal

On Windows 11, you can perform various troubleshooting steps to resolve the "IRQL_not_less_or_equal" problem on your computer, including making sure the system has the latest update that may include a fix for the problem. You can try a clean boot to discard a problem with a third-party service. It's also possible to repair installation to fix file system corruption. A memory test can rule out a problem with one of the modules. And you can try reinstalling the graphics drivers. Here's how.

Install latest updates

Your computer can receive two types of updates, including updates for the operating system and drivers.

Install system updates 

To update Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. (Optional) Turn on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switch.
4. Click the "Check for updates" button.

• Quick note: If there's a known issue causing the error and Microsoft is previewing an update that will resolve the problem, you can turn this feature to download the update without having to wait until it becomes available to everyone.

5. Click the Restart now button.

Install driver updates 

To update drivers through Windows Update, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the Advanced options page on the right side.

4. Under the "Optional updates" section, click the Optional updates setting.

5. Check the available drivers and other updates.
6. Click the "Download & install" button.

Once you complete the steps, confirm whether the device continues to show the "Error 0xA: IRQL_not_less_or_equal" error.

Perform a clean boot

Services from other non-Microsoft programs can also cause conflicts that might trigger the "IRQL" error. A "clean boot" is a way to start the computer with a minimal set of drivers and apps at startup to help you determine if third-party services are causing problems.

To perform a clean boot on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msconfig and click the top result to open the System Configuration app.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. Check the "Hide all Microsoft services" option.
5. Click the Disable all button.

6. Click the Startup tab.
7. Click the Open Task Manager option.

8. Select each enabled application.
9. Click the Disable button.
10. Restart the computer.

If, after you complete the steps, the error no longer occurs, you can re-enable one service at a time until you find the one causing the problem.

You can re-enable the services again using the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, start enabling the services one by one with a reboot in between.

Repair the installation

Usually, you will come across the "IRQL_not_less_or_equal" error when one or multiple files become corrupted in the system. If this is the case, repairing the installation with the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and the System File Checker (SFC) command-line tool can resolve the issue.

To repair the installation of Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command and press Enter: dism /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
4. Type the following command to repair the installation and press Enter: SFC /scannow

Once you complete the steps, the DISM tool will scan and repair the files of the local image containing the system files, and the SFC tool will use the system files in the image to fix the current installation to resolve the "IRQL_not_less_or_equal" error.

This DISM command tool guide walks you through how to use the tools to repair the installation in more detail.

Run a memory test 

If the problem lies in the system memory, Windows 11 includes a tool to diagnose and determine if there is an issue with the memory.

To run a memory test on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows Tools and click the top results to open the folder.
3. Double-click the "Windows Memory Diagnostic" tool.
4. Click the "Restart now and check for problems" option.

After completing the steps, the system will start in the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool and run the "Standard" mode test, which should be enough to determine if the memory is faulty. You can always use the "F1" key to open the page to change the scan options.

Once the test is completed, the computer will reboot. To check the Windows Memory Diagnostic results on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Event Viewer and click the top result to open the app.
3. Expand the Windows Logs category.
4. Right-click the System item and choose the Find option.

5. Confirm the "MemoryDiagnostics-Results" keyword and click the Find Next button.
6. Click the Cancel button.
7. Double-click the MemoryDiagnostics-Results source on the right side.
8. Review the diagnostic results. 

If the result reads, "The Windows Memory Diagnostic tested the computer's memory and detected no errors," you can discard memory as the root of the problem.

If the memory is experiencing problems, you can try reinstalling the modules on the motherboard. If the issue persists, it might be time to upgrade the system memory. 

Remove the antivirus 

The "Error 0xA" error could also mean that the antivirus (other than the Microsoft Defender Antivirus) conflicts with the operating system. You can troubleshoot this issue by uninstalling the antivirus temporarily.

Although it's not recommended to use a computer without an antivirus, when you uninstall the security application, the Microsoft Defender Antivirus will activate automatically.

To uninstall the antivirus software on your computer, use these steps:

3. Open Settings.
4. Click on Apps.
5. Click the Installed apps page on the right side.

4. Click the menu button (three dots) next to the antivirus and choose the Uninstall option.
5. Continue with the on-screen directions to remove the software.

Once you complete the steps, if the error in question no longer appears, it could be related to the security software. If so, check the software vendor support website to determine if an update or a workaround is available. 

Reinstall graphics driver

Usually, when you come across Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors and other problems, the issue ends up being the graphics driver installed on your computer. If you're dealing with the error "IRQL_not_less_or_equal," perhaps reinstalling the graphics driver can resolve the problem.

The instructions to install an updated version of the graphics driver will depend on the card's manufacturer (such as AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel), but you can use these general steps:

1. Open the manufacturer support website. 

• Quick note: These are the links for AMD, NVidia, or Intel. 

2. Download the control panel installer on your computer.
3. Double-click to launch the application.
4. Continue with the on-screen directions.
5. In the steps to customize the installation, choose the option to perform a clean installation of the driver.

• Quick note: A clean installation involves uninstalling and removing any leftover files and configurations of the previous driver install and applying a fresh version. NVidia calls this option "Perform a clean installation," AMD refers to it as "Factory Reset," and Intel may have it as "Execute a clean installation."

6. Continue with the reinstallation process.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will reboot, and the "IRQL" problem should now be resolved.

Source

And although it was not all that elaborate, it may not be too long before we have more details. The first screenshots of Office LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) 2024 Preview are out, courtesy of Windows enthusiast and X (formerly Twitter) user techosaurusrex.

What is more though is that Microsoft seems to also confirm that the successor to the current Windows client OS (Windows 11), casually referred to as "Windows 12" by the community, will indeed be released next year, ie, in 2024.

On the Twitter post by techosaurusrex about the Office 2024 Preview where the user also mentions the "New Windows Client", the official Windows Insider Twitter (X) handle responded with the comment "The future is bright indeed":

Now it is difficult to say for sure what that statement exactly means as it is not a direct explicit confirmation though it is likely that Microsoft kept it ambiguous on purpose as if referring to the next Windows 11 yearly feature update (the version 23H2 was launched recently).

However, reports going back to 2022 have also suggested that Microsoft is making a move back to its three-year release cadence which means Windows 11 is expected to be replaced by the next client version. An Intel executive too stated that 2024 was when Microsoft was planning for a "Windows Refresh".

In terms of the leaked Office 2024 LTSC Preview screenshots, the user posted three images as you can see in the table below. The version and build numbers are "2312" and "17102.20000" respectively. The latest (October 2023) Office LTSC 2021 update is Version 2108 (Build 14332.20582):

The one at the top shows Word as part of Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 Preview while the two bottom ones are photos of Project Professional 2024 Preview (left) and Visio LTSC Professional 2024 Preview (right).

Source and images: techosaurusrex (X / Twitter)

Source

Like most changes and new features in the Canary Channel, "Magnify image" is available only to a subset of Edge Insiders. Still, you can force-enable it by modifying your Microsoft Edge Canary shortcut using a short command. Here is how to do it (via).

1. Update Microsoft Edge Canary to version 120.0.2198 or newer by heading to edge://settings/help.
2. Right-click your Microsoft Edge Canary shortcut and select "Properties."
3. Click the "Target" box, place one space after the path, and add the following command: --enable-features=msEdgeImageMagnifyUI
4. Save the changes by clicking OK.
5. Go to Settings > System and Performance and toggle off Startup Boost. Skip this step if the feature is already turned off.
6. Close the browser and launch it again using the modified shortcut.
7. Navigate to any webpage, right-click an image, and click "Magnify image."

    

   

The image preview window also lets you give Microsoft a thumbs up or thumbs down—developers use those buttons to gather feedback from Edge users, so feel free to use them if you want to share your thoughts with the Microsoft Edge team.

It is worth noting that Google is working on a similar feature for Chrome. However, unlike Edge, it allows previewing links in small windows, similar to how Apple's operating systems let you long-tap a link to preview its content.

Speaking of experimental features in Edge, Microsoft is also testing automatic browser restart to let Edge install available updates faster. You can check out this article to learn more about that.

Do you think image preview will be a useful feature in the Edge browser? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Source

In July, it was first reported that a new Meet feature was going to be added to the new Microsoft Teams app. Today, Microsoft announced that Meet is now generally available for new Microsoft Teams users to better organize their meetings.

In a blog post, Microsoft stated:

Meet is an app available in the new Microsoft Teams experience that centralizes all your common meeting preparation and catch-up activities, helping to enhance meeting efficiency by simplifying the prep work and reducing time spent reviewing missed meetings. Meet provides a single view of upcoming meetings as well as recent past meetings, and enables quick discovery of meeting content like chats, files, agendas, shared documents, and meeting recap.

For people who have activated the new Teams toggle, they can click on the "view more apps" dots icon in the app's navigation bar and then type in a search for "Meet" to bring the app up. It's suggested that users right-click on the Meet app and then select "Pin" so that it's pinned on the Teams nav bar for quick access.

The Meet app has different sections. One of them is "Up Next" where you can see your future meetings, along with any content associated with the meeting like an agenda, any documents, who invited you to the meeting, and other information like if the time conflicts with a different meeting or event or if its time is outside your normal working hours.

Another second is "Recent" Like the name says, it shows all of your most recent meetings, including a transcript, recorded auto or video of a meeting, and more.

The Meet app also offers ways to let meeting members know you are running late or send them reminders to, for example, record a meeting.

Teams Premium members will also get AI-based recap features in the Meet app:

Users can see name mentions and AI-generated tasks in the “Recent” section, and can navigate to the full intelligent recap page with one click.

Microsoft has already confirmed that users of the classic Teams app will automatically get updated to the new Teams app, and the new Meet app feature, after March 31, 2024.

Source