According to @NTDEV_, the project's creator, tiny10 23H2 resolves multiple "nagging issues" from older versions. Rebuilding tiny10 with a new tool also improved compatibility with most Windows components, allowing customers to install extra features, such as Windows Media Player, whenever necessary. Also, NET Framework 3.5 is fully functional again.

To ensure tiny10 takes as little space as possible on your drive, the developer removed a few extra features, such as rarely used OCR and Tablet PC Math. Despite being significantly lighter than its "vanilla" counterpart, tiny10 does not compromise security—the standard Windows security bits, such as Microsoft Defender and BitLocker, are still there.

You can download tiny10 23H2 (built upon version 19044.3324) from the Internet Archive. For now, it is only available in the x64 variant, so those needing an x86 image should resort to tiny10 version 2303 from May 2023. Another thing worth noting is that you still need a genuine Windows key to activate the operating system (older Windows 7 and 8.1 keys should work just fine).

Finally, always mind the potential risks of using a modified Windows ISO and ensure you trust its source before installing.

Source

As spotted by Leopeva64, the Redmond giant is working on two new features for the Android version of Microsoft Edge — on-device encryption and auto-verify CAPTCHA. The on-device encryption feature is currently available in Microsoft Edge under Settings > Account > Passwords but does not work at the moment.

The feature will basically encrypt new passwords on the device before saving them to the Microsoft Password Manager, providing an extra layer of privacy as well as security to the user. Microsoft notes that the feature is, "For added safety, encrypt passwords on your device before
they're saved to Microsoft Password Manager".

On-device encryption is already available on Google Chrome and can be accessed under Settings > Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager > Settings > Set up on-device encryption. Google notes the following on the sign up page:

On-device encryption turns your device into a key that’s used to lock your passwords before they’re saved to Google Password Manager.

This means that only you can see your passwords. It also means that if you lose the key, you could lose your passwords too.

Google further mentions that once the encryption is set-up, user cannot remove it and some sites may not automatically sign-in after the feature has been enabled.

Moving on to auto-verify CAPTCHAs, as the name suggests, the feature will auto-verify that you are not a bot on the websites, saving you the troubles of solving CAPTCHA. The feature was first added to the Chromium developers page in February and is now making its way to Microsoft Edge. Auto-verify works by saving a small amount of info with Edge that can be used by other websites to confirm that you are not a bot.

Currently, auto-verify is only available on Microsoft Edge Canary and Dev builds on Android. There is no word on when the feature will be available on other devices including Microsoft Edge desktop apps.

Source

Microsoft typically ships non-security updates for Windows 10 and 11 every fourth week of the month. These releases contain fixes, new features, improvements, and other changes unrelated to the operating system's security. Opting for non-security updates can get you a much-needed fix or another important change, such as a time zone adjustment.

Optional updates also include gradual feature rollouts, a method Microsoft uses to bring "the best experiences year-round through proven and controllable mechanisms." With the newest policy, IT admins can ensure their organizations get new features correctly with the right level of control.

The new "Enable optional updates" policy allows organizations to pick one of three options for managing optional updates and gradual feature rollouts:

• Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs). Select this option for devices to get the latest optional non-security updates, including gradual feature rollouts. There is no change to feature update offering.
• Automatically receive optional updates. Select this option for devices to only get the latest optional non-security updates. They won’t automatically receive gradual feature rollouts. There is no change to feature update offering.
• Users can select what optional updates to receive. Select this option to allow users to set their own preferences with respect to optional non-security updates. There is no change to feature update offering.

Microsoft says the change will not affect customers until administrators configure or turn the policy off. Allowing users to download gradual feature rollouts and optional updates will present them with two options: manually download a certain release from the "Optional updates" section in the Settings app or let Windows 11 download the latest updates as soon as they are available.

Of course, some will prefer to keep everything as is and wait for the changes and improvements to arrive as usual. According to Microsoft, whatever option admins and users choose, they will remain in control and continue getting security updates the way they have them configured. You can read more about the change in a post on the official Tech Community forum.

Source

The feature, which is in testing at the moment, can be enabled by all users of the latest stable version of Firefox.

1. Load about:config in the browser's address bar.
2. Confirm that you will be careful to continue.
3. Search for browser.migrate.chrome.extensions.enabled.
4. Set the feature to True, which enables it.
5. Restart Firefox.

Mozilla has integrated it into the browser's import functionality, which users may use on first run or at any time from the Settings page.

To do so, select Menu > Settings > Import Data (button), or load about:preferences#general in the browser's address bar and activate the import data button on the page. Select Chrome from the list, expand the available import options and make sure extensions are checked.

Imports are usually limited to some data, such as bookmarks or the browsing history. Firefox is the first major browser, maybe the first browser at all, that adds extensions to the list of supported imports.

The feature is limited at the time to Google Chrome and select extensions. Even though Firefox and Chrome extensions use the same framework, WebExtensions, they are not compatible immediately. Firefox users who attempt to install extensions from Chrome's Web Store may notice that this is not working.

Mozilla decided to create a list of extension pairs for extensions that are available on the Chrome Web Store and the Mozilla Add-ons Store. Instead of importing the Chrome extension directly, Firefox is installing the Firefox version of the extension from Mozilla's own extension store.

While that is useful in itself, as users get some of their favorite extensions installed in Firefox right away, it has a few downsides. Customizations, changes to settings, appear to be not imported. This does not have to be a problem, especially for extensions that work without any configuration, but it could mean that users have to make the changes again or find ways to import configurations, if supported.

Another downside is that the new import system is not supporting that many extensions at the time of writing. This page on Mozilla's website lists the pairs, of which 73 exist currently.

Imports of extensions such as uBlock Origin, LastPass, AdGuard AdBlocker, Ghostery or BitDefender TrafficLight are already supported.

Plans are underway to extend the list to add more extension pairs to the import feature. It is also likely that imports from other browsers will be supported in the future. Most rely on Chrome's Web Store for extension installs, but some browser makers operate their own stores next to it.

Closing Words

Importing extensions is a useful feature that is hopefully improved in the future. Mozilla is the first mover, but makers of Chromium browsers could use Mozilla's data of compatible extensions to create their own extension imports. Whether that is going to happen remains to be seen.

Mozilla is also working on unlocking the Firefox for Android extensions system, so that all compatible extensions can be installed, and not just a selection of extensions.

Now You: do you use cross-browser extensions? (via Sören Hentzschel)

Source

Since most people spend approximately 7 hours per day on the web, there’s a good chance you venture onto Edge sometimes.

From market share and user demographics to performance metrics and feature adoption, let’s uncover what the Microsoft Edge statistics say about this enduring browser software.

Key Microsoft Edge Statistics

These are the key Microsoft Edge statistics that shed light on its popularity, market share, and other important metrics.

• Microsoft Edge has over 285 million users.
• Edge is the third most popular web browser in the world.
• 77% of businesses prefer Microsoft Edge, the most of any browser.
• The original Edge never had a market share higher than 4.57% in the US.
• In 2023, Edge took the third spot in the Apple App Store for utilities.
• Microsoft Edge generates most of its revenue through its Bing search partnership ($18 billion in 2022).
• Businesses adopting Microsoft Edge made productivity savings of over $2.7 million.

Microsoft Edge Statistics for Usage, Popularity, and Market Share

A deeper look at the data for market share in different regions, usage, download rates, and more.

1. Microsoft Edge has over 285 million users.

(Source: AtlasVPN, The Verge 1)

Thanks to its association with Windows, the Microsoft Edge browser boasts nearly 286 million users, as of May 2023.

However, this marks a significant drop from previous measures when it may have had upwards of 600 million users.

In early 2023, Microsoft’s Bing search engine also passed 100 million daily active users.

2. In 2022, Microsoft Edge was downloaded 7.12 million times.

(Source: Statista 1)

While a download figure of 7.12 million seems low, the majority of Edge installations are pre-bundled on Windows systems. Even then, Edge ranked as the 8th most downloaded Microsoft app for that year.

Just ahead was PowerPoint (8.84 million), while Microsoft Teams was the most downloaded app with 30.79 million new downloads that year.

3. In 2023, Edge took the third spot in the Apple App Store

(Sources: NikoLaroza, Apple App Store)

In early 2023, the Microsoft Edge browser app with Bing Chat jumped to the #3 spot in the Apple App Store’s utilities category. Today it still ranks 10th but this is behind Chrome and the main Google app.

4. The Android app of Edge is the most popular in the UK.

(Source: SimilarWeb)

The Android version of Microsoft Edge is used the most in the UK, where it ranks 75th in the app rankings and 14th in the communication category. This is followed by Canada, Germany, and the United States.

5. Edge is the third most popular web browser in the world.

(Source: StatCounter)

As of July 2023, Microsoft Edge has a 10.75% global share of the desktop web browser market. Chrome remains the dominant leader with 63.32%, followed by Safari 13.13%.

When accounting for mobile, Edge remains third place but drops to 5.13% compared to Safari (19.95%), and Chrome (63.55%).

In the prior year, Edge’s highest month was in November, with an 11.7% market share.

Its best month so far in 2023 was March, with an 11.13% market share.

6. In Europe, Edge is second place on desktop.

(Source: StatCounter)

The Edge browser is most popular in Europe, where it holds a 13.84% share of the desktop web browser market. This puts it in second place in the region – Firefox comes in third (10.59%), while Chrome still dominates with 59.04% of the pie.

In contrast, Edge holds a smaller 10.18% share in North America, trailing Safari (20.29%), and Chrome (58.03%).

Edge has the lowest market share in South America (7.63%). Here Chrome leads with a staggering 76.37% of the desktop browser market.

7. Microsoft Edge has a #10 ranking on Google Play.

(Source: SimilarWeb)

Over the past 28 days, the Android version of Edge ranks 10th in the communication category on Google Play. This is ahead of Firefox (15th), Opera, and Brave. Chrome consistently tops the charts.

8. Microsoft Edge is the preferred web browser for 37.77% of businesses, ahead of Chrome.

(Source: TechRadar)

In a survey of 3,000 employees, Microsoft Edge was the most popular web browser within the workplace (37.77%). This was followed by Google Chrome isn’t far behind (33.01%).

This demonstrates significant differences between web browser usage in the workplace and overall usage including home users where Chrome is number one.

9. Edge peaked in popularity in August 2015 and resurged in 2020.

(Source: Google Trends)

Based on Google Trends search popularity metrics for the term Microsoft Edge, users were searching for the browser the most in August 2015. Its second-highest peak was in June 2020.

This coincides with the browser’s initial release in 2015. The 2020 boost came after the big switch to the Chromium-based ‘NEW Edge’, which saw consistent growth after its launch at the start of the year.

10. The original Edge never had a market share higher than 4.57% in the US.

(Source: Statista 2)

Based on US data, the original Microsoft Edge peaked in market share in February 2019 with 4.57% of the pie. This put it ahead of Firefox (4.47%) but behind Internet Explorer (5.18%). Chrome dominated with 49.3%, followed by Safari (31.61).

It took the release of New Edge to draw its biggest user base.

11. The new Bing Chat increased Edge users who then turned to Google anyway.

(Source: Search Engine Land)

Despite a significant 1 million increase in Microsoft Edge usage after the introduction of Bing AI Chat, this actually saw Google Search rise to 3.4-3.6 million from 3 million prior to the Bing Chat launch.

So, rather than using Bing, many started using Google Search on Edge instead.

12. Edge surpassed Internet Explorer almost immediately in 2015.

(Source: Statista 3)

It stands to reason that once Microsoft put all its focus on Edge in 2015, the vintage web browser Internet Explorer would take a hit. By 2021, Internet Explorer was the least popular browser, dropping below Opera, which is still its closest competitor.

Financial Microsoft Edge Statistics and Facts

Exploring what the data says about revenues, financial benefits to business users, and other interesting financial figures.

13. Microsoft Edge is the road to other Microsoft products, not a revenue earner itself.

(Source: Microsoft)

Nobody has to pay to use Microsoft Edge but when they do, they are sold on Microsoft’s other revenue-making products. There is also a data collection aspect that can help give insights into the entire Microsoft ecosystem.

14. Microsoft Edge helps generate most of its revenue through its Bing search partnership.

(Sources: Make Tech Easier, The Verge)

Much like the revenue model of Google AdWords, Microsoft Edge predominantly generates income for Microsoft from Bing search engine ads.

Over 2022, revenue grew by $8 billion to $18 billion, up from $10 billion. All thanks to Bing. However, this is still a long way off from the $200 billion that Google made from ads in the same period.

15. When Yahoo partnered with Bing it made $500 million.

(Source: Digital Trends)

When Yahoo first partnered with Microsoft’s Bing search in 2009, it made Yahoo an additional $500 million a year in revenue with $200 million a year in savings from operating expenses.

Today the duo is still going strong despite Yahoo being purchased by Verizon in 2017 who then sold a majority stake to Apollo Global Management. As of 2020, it was worth $7.4 billion.

16. Businesses adopting Microsoft Edge made productivity savings of over $2.7 million.

(Source: Microsoft)

A survey of businesses that adopted Microsoft Edge as the default browser resulted in productivity savings of $680,400 in the first year, $1,020,600 in year 2, and $1,020,600 in year 3, for a total of $2.721 million.

This was because slow browsers with compatibility issues with modern web applications greatly hindered productivity.

The cost of running Edge was a fraction of productivity savings at just $22,968 over the same 3 years.

Fun Microsoft Edge Facts and Stats you might not know

These fun and miscellaneous Microsoft Edge statistics and facts will leave you wondering: How did I not know that?

17. Edge is now based on the same foundational coding as Google Chrome.

(Source: Tech Target)

Although they are often rivals, Edge and Google Chrome use the same technology behind the scenes.

In January 2020, Microsoft introduced a new version of Edge based on the Chromium open-source project, just like Google Chrome uses.

The switch to a Chromium-based engine improved compatibility with websites and provided a more modern browsing experience. The new Edge also brought features like improved performance, extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and cross-device synchronization.

18. Edge is the default browser on Windows 11 and Xbox One.

(Source: Engadget)

Edge is no longer just bundled with Windows, it’s also the default browser on the various Xbox One gaming console editions. The PS5’s browser is more likened to rival Safari.

19. Microsoft Edge is the fastest browser on PC in 2023.

(Source: Avast)

Based on tests from Avast, Microsoft Edge is the fastest browser on PC so far in 2023, with a score of 125.63. It was followed by Chrome (105.17), and then Firefox (92.1). Tests were based on typical actions the average user might take and the higher the score the better.

20. Edge uses less system resources than Chrome.

(Source: Cloudzy)

You only have to check your own task manager to see that Chrome is a memory hog compared to Edge. In our experiment playing the same YouTube video with another tab open to Google.com, Chrome used more than 5 times the memory of Edge!

21. In May 2020, an update to Microsoft Edge allowed users to access an online surfing game.

(Source: The Verge 2)

The Microsoft Edge surf game, officially known as Let’s Surf, is a hidden Easter egg embedded within the web browser at edge://surf. Similar to other browser games like the dinosaur game in Google Chrome the Edge surf game can be accessed when there’s no internet connection.

22. Microsoft Edge is now officially available across four operating systems.

(Source: EarthWeb)

Despite being intimately tied to Windows, Microsoft Edge now has official support for all major computer and mobile devices. This includes Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Linux and other OSs can also use the browser with a bit more effort.

23. AdBlock is Microsoft Edge’s most popular browser add-on.

(Source: Edge Add-ons)

As of August 2023, Ad-block is the most popular add-on for Microsoft Edge. This is followed by Coupert coupon finder, McAfee Web Advisor, Total Adblock, Norton Safe Web, and PDF Wizardry.

Microsoft Edge Facts and Statistics for the Future

What will the browser landscape look like for Edge in the future? What new features are on the horizon?

24. A fully-fledged AI assistant is coming to Microsoft Edge.

(Source: WindowsLatest)

The feature is named Copilot for Edge and will function as an AI assistant for the browser. E.g., on Windows 10 or 11, you will be able to quickly ask chatbot-style questions, customize browser settings, and more – all with help from AI.

25. Microsoft Edge now offers a free VPN service.

(Source: NeoWin)

The new Edge VPN by CloudFlare allows for basic VPN functionality with one click within the browser and it’s free for up to 5GB of data usage. While it might be good for general security, it’s still not known how private it will really be compared to other leading VPNs. E.g., you need a Microsoft account to even use it.

26. An even darker Dark Mode for Edge is on the cards.

(Source: BleepingComputer)

In an update to its dark gray theme, Microsoft Edge is poised to launch an even darker Dark Mode, which is currently being tested in Edge Canary, Microsoft’s experimental version.

27. Experts believe privacy is at risk with planned Edge webpage screenshot history.

(Source: TechSpot)

The new feature will save a screenshot of every single web page you visit, to display browser history more easily when offline. However, experts are concerned about a lack of transparency and these screenshots could be used to breach user privacy.

28. A special Microsoft Edge for businesses launches in August 2023.

(Source: GHacks)

The new version of Edge, known as Edge for Business, is unique compared to the normal version of Edge with different icons and other visual cues. It also gives bosses more control over the browser’s features and settings and allows employees to use a personal browsing tab for activities not related to work.

Edge for Business can automatically switch between business and personal browsing modes, depending on the user’s needs.

Conclusion

As we conclude this exploration of Microsoft Edge statistics, it’s evident that the browser is here to stay with many exciting new features on the horizon. It’s super-fast on PC and even has a large user base on iOS.

While it’s unlikely to capture Chrome’s market share, with Microsoft and Windows backing, it will always have loyal users.

Sources

1. AtlasVPN
2. The Verge 1
3. Statista 1
4. NikoLaroza
5. Apple App Store
6. SimilarWeb
7. StatCounter
8. TechRadar
9. Statista 2
10. Search Engine Land
11. Statista 3
12. Make Tech Easier
13. Digital Trends
14. Microsoft
15. Tech Target
16. Engadget
17. Avast
18. Cloudzy
19. The Verge 2
20. EarthWeb
21. Edge Add-ons
22. WindowsLatest
23. NeoWin
24. BleepingComputer
25. TechSpot
26. GHacks

Source

According to a growing list of reports (and our observations on local machines), Microsoft's latest attempt to increase its user base is to spam Chrome users with Windows ads begging to set Bing as the default search engine.

Steven Parker, Neowin's co-founder, discovered the ad on his computer running Windows 10 this morning. The banner tried to tempt him with your typical cheap tricks promising an "improved search experience," Microsoft Rewards points, and the new AI-powered Bing. Unlike Windows 11 upgrade prompts with two "yes" buttons, this time, the thing lets you refuse the offer with the "Don't Switch" button (we could not find what happens when you agree since probably no sane Chrome user would accept the generous offer from Microsoft).

An intrusive ad in the bottom-right corner of the screen is not everything you get. Customers who were unlucky enough to experience Microsoft's latest trick also reported seeing an unknown "BGAUpsell" process located in the C:\Windows\Temp\MUBSTemp folder with denied access.

A quick Google search revealed the first reports of the banner dating back to June 2023 (the BGAUpsell file is signed with a seemingly valid certificate from May 25, 2023). We contacted Microsoft and asked the company to shed some light on the controversial ad, and we will update the article once we have a response.

The banner asking Chrome users to switch to Bing might be an experiment targeting a specific audience in specific regions or other criteria. Virustotal scans show that the executable pings multiple browser-related parameters, such as browser version, defaults, identifier, and more.

Despite making genuinely great products—no one questions that the new Bing is good—Microsoft is getting increasingly desperate with its aggressive marketing, completely ignoring the customer backlash. And with Edge injecting ads on the Chrome website and Windows 10 nagging Chrome users with full-blown banners, one may rightfully ask how hard the company is willing to annoy its core audience for a fraction of new customers and when using a Microsoft-made product will start resembling that Futurama episode about streaming ads into dreams.

Are you switching?

Source

Here is the changelog:

Highlights

• New! This update adds a new hover behavior to the search box gleam. When you hover over it, the search flyout box might appear. You can adjust this behavior by right-clicking the taskbar. Then choose Taskbar settings to change your search box experience.

• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Israel.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the search icon. When you select it, the Search app does not open. This occurs after a machine has been asleep.

• This update improves the reliability of the Search app.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the TAB key. Using it to browse search results requires additional actions.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. It does not correctly identify the search box on the taskbar and search highlights within the search box.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the search box size. Its size is reduced in tablet posture mode on Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Book devices.

Improvements

This non-security update includes quality improvements. When you install this KB:

• New! This update adds new functionality that affects app defaults. To learn more, see A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows.

• New! This release adds a new policy called “Enable optional updates.” Administrators can use it to configure the monthly, optional cumulative updates for commercial devices. You can also use this policy for the gradual Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFR). To learn more, see Enable and control optional updates for your organization.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy Service. It will not wait for 30 seconds, which is the default wait time, for the network to be available. Because of this, policies are not correctly processed.

• This update adds a new API for D3D12 Independent Devices. You can use it to create multiple D3D12 devices on the same adapter. To learn more, seeD3D12 Independent Devices.

• This update addresses an issue that affects a WS_EX_LAYERED window. The window might render with the wrong dimensions or at the wrong position. This occurs when you scale the display screen.

• This update addresses an issue that affects print jobs that are sent to a virtual print queue. They fail without an error.

• This update addresses an issue that causes high CPU use. This occurs when you enable the “fBlockNonDomain” policy.

• This update addresses an issue that affects disk partitions. The system might stop working. This occurs after you delete a disk partition and add the space from the deleted partition to an existing BitLocker partition.

• This update addresses an issue that causes Windows to fail. This occurs when you use BitLocker on a storage medium that has a large sector size.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop sessions. Sometimes you receive a wrong error message when you try to sign in to a session.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Start menu icons. They are missing after you sign in for the first time.

• This update addresses an issue that affects settings. They do not sync even if you turn on the toggle on the Windows Backup page in the Settings app.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP). The Windows LAPS "BackupDirectory" policy setting was not being reported. This occurs when the setting is set to 1, which is “Back up to AAD.”

• The update addresses an issue that affects those who use Windows Update for Business. After you are asked to change your password at sign in, the change operation fails. Then you cannot sign in. The error code is 0xc000006d.

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

Windows 11 servicing stack update - 22621.2061

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

There are no known issues with this update. You can check out the full support page for this update here.

Source

Here is the changelog:

Highlights

• New! This update improves how Windows detects your location. This helps to give you better weather, news, and traffic information.

• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Israel.

Improvements

This non-security update includes quality improvements. When you install this KB:

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy Service. It will not wait for 30 seconds, which is the default wait time, for the network to be available. Because of this, policies are not correctly processed.

• This update adds a new API for D3D12 Independent Devices. You can use it to create multiple D3D12 devices on the same adapter. To learn more, see D3D12 Independent Devices.

• This update addresses an issue that affects a WS_EX_LAYERED window. The window might render with the wrong dimensions or at the wrong position. This occurs when you scale the display screen.

• This update addresses an issue that affects print jobs that are sent to a virtual print queue. They fail without an error.

• This update addresses an issue that causes high CPU use. This occurs when you enable the “fBlockNonDomain policy.”

• This update addresses an issue that affects disk partitions. The system might stop working. This occurs after you delete a disk partition and add the space from the deleted partition to an existing BitLocker partition.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP). The Windows LAPS "BackupDirectory" policy setting was not being reported. This occurs when the setting is set to 1, which is “Back up to AAD.”

• The update addresses an issue that affects those who use Windows Update for Business. After you are asked to change your password at sign in, the change operation fails. Then you cannot sign in. The error code is 0xc000006d.

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

Windows 11 servicing stack update - 22000.2355

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

There are no known issues with this build release. You can check out the full support page for this update here.

Source

Citing its sources within Microsoft, Windows Central claims the company is experimenting with new artificial intelligence experiences in Windows 11 and its inbox applications. For example, add generative AI into Microsoft Paint (recently received the long-promised dark mode support and centered canvas), everyone's favorite image editor. Open Paint, click the "Magic Paint" button (according to the mockup below), and tell the AI what to generate. A similar experience powered by Dall-E is already available in Bing Chat.

Optical character recognition (OCR) is another capability you might soon get in Windows 11, namely some of its stock apps, such as Photos, Windows Camera, and Snipping Tool. In addition, Microsoft wants to make the Photos app capable of recognizing and cutting out people and objects on photos, similar to what Apple introduced in iOS 16. Interestingly, some of those features are already available to Windows 10 and 11 users—the PowerToys app has a built-in OCR tool that lets you quickly extract text from the selected area on the screen.

The report claims that some of the features Microsoft plans to add to Windows 11 might require dedicated hardware like Windows Studio Effects that only work on devices with dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPU). Other additions should work on existing systems with "conventional" processors from AMD and Intel.

Microsoft is holding a special Surface hardware event on September 21, 2023, where you can expect several new Surface computers and more details about how the company plans to incorporate artificial intelligence into its products.

What AI-based features would you like Microsoft to add to Windows 11?

Source

You can check the release notes below:

Highlights

• New! This update improves how Windows detects your location. This helps to give you better weather, news, and traffic information.

• New! This update expands the roll out of notification badging for Microsoft accounts on the Start menu. A Microsoft account is what connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature gives you quick access to important account-related notifications.

• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Israel.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the display of the search box.

• This update addresses an issue that affects settings. They do not sync even if you turn on the toggle on the Windows backup page in the Settings app.

   

Improvements

This non-security update includes quality improvements. When you install this KB:

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy Service. It will not wait for 30 seconds, which is the default wait time, for the network to be available. Because of this, policies are not correctly processed.
• This update adds a new API for D3D12 Independent Devices. You can use it to create multiple D3D12 devices on the same adapter. To learn more, see D3D12 Independent Devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a WS_EX_LAYERED window. The window might render with the wrong dimensions or at the wrong position. This occurs when you scale the display screen.
• This update addresses an issue that affects print jobs that are sent to a virtual print queue. They fail without an error.
• This update addresses an issue that causes high CPU use. This occurs when you enable the “fBlockNonDomain policy.”
• This update addresses an issue that affects disk partitions. The system might stop working. This occurs after you delete a disk partition and add the space from the deleted partition to an existing BitLocker partition.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP). The Windows LAPS "BackupDirectory" policy setting was not being reported. This occurs when the setting is set to 1, which is “Back up to AAD.”
• The update addresses an issue that affects those who use Windows Update for Business. After you are asked to change your password at sign in, the change operation fails. Then you cannot sign in. The error code is 0xc000006d.

You can find the support article here on Microsoft's official website.

Source

Microsoft's blog post states:

With Designer in Edge, you can now create stunning visual designs with just a few clicks, right from your browser window. While on Edge, simply go to the sidebar and use the + icon to find Designer to get started. Once enabled, on the search bar simply type what you want to create – like keywords with the theme/title of your event – and Designer will generate stunning visual design options for you to choose from, even including unique images with DALL-E technology. From there, you can save or copy and use it across your social media platforms.

You can learn more about how to use Designer in Edge at this support site. You can access the feature by clicking on the "+" icon in the sidebar and then turning on the Microsoft Designer toggle option.

The support page says that while Designer will be free to use in its current public preview, when it becomes generally available some features will need an additional fee to access. There's also no word on when Designer will be available in Edge outside the US.

Microsoft also announced that it has added some new functionality for the Bing Chat AI chat bot in the Edge browser. It stated:

For example, it can help you stay on-task by organizing your many open tabs, like “organize my tabs related to news.” You can also use the Compose feature within Bing Chat to help you write an email to your professor with poise and confidence. Wherever you are, Bing Chat is there to help unlock your productivity.

The latest 116 Stable version of Edge launched this week and adds support for Edge for Business.

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Here is how Microsoft describes Smart Find in the Edge browser:

Searching for a word or phrase on a webpage has become easier with AI. Even if you misspell a word in your search query, we’ll suggest related matches and words making it effortless to find what you're looking for. When you search, simply select the suggested link to quickly locate the desired word or phrase.

And here is an example of Microsoft Edge suggesting related matches on a Wikipedia page:

In addition to AI-powered search, Edge will get two filter options (already available in Edge 116), allowing you to match the whole word and perform case-sensitive searches.

Use Match case to match whole words and accented characters when using Find Filters. Select Show find options then toggle Match case to turn on the filter.

Microsoft says the Smart Find feature will begin rolling out to all users in September 2023. However, you can try it without waiting for the public rollout by downloading Edge Beta, Dev, or Canary from the official Edge Insider website. Note, however, that Smart Find is only available in Microsoft Edge on Windows—there is no support for Linux or macOS.

Another search-related change in Microsoft Edge is the ability to use "Find on Page" in Edge Sidebar. But it is not just a new place for the popup—the updated variant can also show you the entire sentence containing your search. Unlike Smart Find, "Find on Page" for the sidebar is part of a gradual rollout, and it is only available to a subset of Edge insiders.

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Earlier this month, the first Cobalt build of Windows 10, 21262, leaked onto the web via the DuoWOA Telegram group. For those not familiar, Cobalt is what eventually evolved in to Windows 11 version 21H2.

Screenshots of the ARM64 version of the build 21262 running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Development Kit were shared there and they later made their way on to the BetaWiki website. Here is a winver screenshot of the build:

The BetaWiki website notes that the kernel and HAL (hardware abstraction layer) binaries of this particular build have been replaced by corresponding private builds of these components.

Up next, we have a picture of the desktop (below). Interestingly, as you may notice, the build has the icon for Spartan Edge. In case you need a recall, Project Spartan was announced by Microsoft in January of 2015, and a month later in February, at a QnA session, the company explained in details the benefits of it.

Spartan is what eventually became Edge, which curiously was also the name of the underlying rendering engine. A few years down the line in 2019, Spartan Edge was eventually replaced by Chromium Edge starting with Windows 10 build 18362.266.

Finally, we have the taskbar and the Task Manager, which shows the processor Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 and CPU utilization among other things. What's interesting is the design of the Settings app icon, something which has made its way to Windows 11, but has since been revamped on 10.

Source and images: BetaWiki via NTDEV (Twitter)

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By Susan Bradley (AKA The Patch Lady]

August can be a weird month where patching is concerned.

I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level, but with caution. I usually hope to give time near the end of the month for patches to be applied, by lowering the level to 4 and sometimes 5. This time, I’m wishy-washy. Caution is the order of the day, so I’m lowering the level to just 3.

In my house, August represents a tradition — things occur that make me think technology wants to take a vacation, just like the rest of us.

This year, a limb dropped onto a cable line and broke the Internet connection to the house. You find out really fast how dependent you are on Internet, television, and phone when that happens. As I waited for the technician to come the next day, I used my Surface tablet and Lenovo laptop because they have cellular broadband connections. Those are not as fast as a wired connection, but at least I was able to write this article and connect to streaming services.

Outages instantly bring to mind Xfinity’s upcoming Storm-Ready Wi-Fi, which includes a built-in cellular connection as an automatic failover. It might be time to spring for that equipment.

It appears Microsoft had some technology mishaps this month as well. Although my home computers went through the updates just fine, as did the servers at the office, I can’t say the same for a business patcher dealing with Exchange this month. I’ll get to that in a minute. I’m also tracking some lingering issues with VPN side effects.

These are my primary reasons for caution and for my decision to set the level to 3. Patch, but afterward you must review your systems to make sure they are functioning properly. Don’t just patch, walk away, and assume everything’s fine.

For business patchers, the special registry keys that we were advised to use to deal with CVE-2023-32019 are now included in the August updates. If you recall, this was the infamous patch that was supposed to have side effects. I have not seen any. I don’t think Microsoft has, either, because the fix is now enabled by default. Note that you will not see any registry keys — this is apparently a “trust us, they are there” deployment.

I’ve been running Linux Mint “Victoria” Cinnamon version 21.2 for a while now, but for those of you who are more advanced, consider it similar to service packs or feature releases. Wait a bit for all the bugs to be worked out. Remember to check your system tray for alerts about new updates.

Apple Ventura received 13.5.1 on August 17. This is a bug fix for the 13.5 release and fixes an issue regarding location services settings on the Mac.
Since July, users have complained about an issue with the location privacy settings. The bug prevents you from accessing and
controlling location permissions for first- and third-party apps. If you have been impacted by these bugs, you may wish
to make this a priority — but remember to back up your system first.

For Windows 11 workstations, ensure that you have updated any third-party apps that modify the menu or file system on Windows 11. One of the reasons for delaying updates is to give these vendors time to deal with the changes each month may bring. As you read this, I think vendors have had time to deal with the side effects introduced by recent updates.

My Windows 10 workstations have been trouble-free this month and have handled the updates without a hitch.

For anyone looking for the firmware updates that will fix the Downfall vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-40982, keep in mind that Intel will be releasing these updates over time. But don’t panic — this vulnerability enables a user to access and steal data from other users who share the same computer. This vulnerability will not be a risk for a home or consumer user. Computers in a hosted setting or a data center will be at risk, not you.

There is nothing more frustrating than receiving a confusing error message from Windows update, indicating that the system is having problems getting updated. I suggest you bookmark the Microsoft documentation page Fix Windows Update errors by using the DISM or System Update Readiness tool. It will give you a hint as to what the problem is, but not necessarily a solution.

In July, one of my servers received a message with the error code 0x80073712 (ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT). It means the component store is in an inconsistent state. But how do I fix it? Any time there is an error hinting at something corrupt, I normally do a repair install over the top on any Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine. To do an over-the-top repair, refer to our own knowledge base guidance 6000015 – Repair install of Windows 10 22H2. You will not lose data or program files, and your system will be fixed.

But this wasn’t any old machine, it was a domain controller server — a special role in a network that needs a bit more care. Normally in large businesses, you would just deploy a new domain controller role, replicate the active directory information, and then remove and destroy the faulty domain controller. But I wanted to see whether I could use Microsoft’s own tools and instructions to get this server back into patching condition. When I ran sfc /scannow from an administrative command prompt, it confirmed that it was seeing issues but could not fix the problem. Then I attempted the DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth command. No go. It still would not fix the underlying corruption.

I ended up downloading an ISO image of the server operating system, in my case Server 2019, and mounting the ISO as a drive letter. You do this by clicking on the ISO; in my case, D : was assigned. Then you use the following command:

It took a while. Upon completion, it reported that the system was repaired. I tried installing the August updates; those were applied and worked.

Microsoft, fixing corruption should be easier than this. Granted, I don’t know the root cause of the corruption; but needless to say, a domain controller server is not a system on which I will be surfing the Internet and thus will not expose it to those types of threats.

August has been an absolute disaster for Exchange patchers. First, the updates wouldn’t install on non-English servers; then there were issues found in the English releases. Microsoft re-released all the Exchange updates. Also, there is a manual step that needs to be completed on all Exchange servers. Microsoft has provided a grid of exact steps, depending on where you are or where you left off. Ugh.

Microsoft is making the domain-join process more secure. In the process, this may cause issues — even with Windows workstations. KB5020276 documents the changes that have occurred that limit the ability to join a domain to only those workstations you intend and not to an attacker. As a result, Microsoft urges you to configure a new allow-list policy, using group policy on a domain controller, before September 2023. You’ll want to remove any legacy client-side workarounds before that date. Bottom line: Review that KB for impact on your network. I’ll have more on this in a future article.

Business users who use VPN with L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) on Windows 11 may be experiencing slowdowns. Some have reported that enabling Routing and Remote Services (look in the services snap-in) and changing the startup type from disabled to enabled sped up their VPN connection. It remains to be seen whether this is a permanent workaround or whether Microsoft will finally identify the root cause and issue a fix.

Resources

What is new in NVIDIA 537.13 WHQL driver?

Game Ready for Starfield

• This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games including Starfield and the ICARUS: New Frontiers expansion.

Fixed Issues in Version 537.13:

• [Battlefield 2042] Game stability can decrease when applying GeForce Experience Freestyle Filters.
• [Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart] Performance fluctuations due to issues between DirectStorage and NVIDIA Reflex.

Fixed General Bugs:

• [Vegas Pro FX] Preview not working on some notebook configurations.

Note that the update contains several known issues. Also, you might experience some bugs not caused by NVIDIA drivers:

Open Issues:

• [Halo Infinite] Significant performance drop is observed on Maxwell-based GPUs.
• [DaVinci Resolve] This driver implements a fix for creative application stability issues
  seen during heavy memory usage. We’ve observed some situations where this fix has
  resulted in performance degradation when running DaVinci Resolve. This will be
  addressed in an upcoming driver release. [4172676]

Issues Not Caused By Nvidia Drivers:

• Under Windows 10, clone mode across graphics processors is handled by the Windows OS, and not by the NVIDIA driver. Consequently, there are no controls for cross-adapter clone mode in the NVIDIA Control Panel under Windows 10. Functionality of some display controls in the NVIDIA Control Panel may be affected if
  cross- adapter clone mode is enabled through the Windows Control Panel. In this case, use the Windows Control Panel to adjust display settings.
• Because cross-adapter clone mode is handled by the Windows 10 OS, there are no display controls in the NVIDIA Control Panel if no display is connected to the NVIDIA GPU on Optimus notebooks.
• [Windows 10 Fall Creators Update][HDTV]: 12 bpc is automatically applied even on HDTVs that support only 8 bpc, resulting in a scrambled display.
  To work around, open the NVIDIA Control Panel -> Change Resolution page, select “Use NVIDIA colour settings,” then set the Output colour depth to 8 bpc.
• Some games and applications are designed to run at a fixed frame rate, and consequently do not take advantage of NVIDIA G-Sync. To prevent issues, G-Sync may be disabled for those applications.

You can download NVIDIA 537.13 Game Ready Driver from the official website or the GeForce Experience app. Full release notes (PDF) are available here.

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However, for users operating on Windows devices (10 & 11) with Outlook 365, especially those on Outlook Build 16.0.16227.20280 or newer, Microsoft Edge is slated to become the default browser for opening web links in Outlook 365. Nevertheless, users retain the option to use either Microsoft Edge or their system's default browser.

For users on other versions or different systems like Mac, Outlook will maintain its practice of launching links using the system's default browser, which is typically Safari for Mac users. To navigate links in Outlook via an alternative browser, one must modify the default browser settings on their respective system.

How to set Outlook's default browser?

Setting the Outlook default browser for handling links can vary based on the operating system.

Image source: Unsplash

Here's a succinct guide for Windows and Mac users:

On Windows

• Launch the Outlook application.
• Navigate to File > Options (located at the top-left corner).
• In the pop-up window, click on Advanced from the left panel.
• Scroll to the "Link Handling" section on the right.
• Choose between Microsoft Edge or the system's Default Browser for "Open hyperlinks from Outlook in."
• Confirm by clicking OK.
• For older versions of Outlook, adjust the default browser in Windows:

1. • Use the shortcut Windows + I to access Settings.
   • Go to Apps > Default apps.
   • Windows 10 users: Under "Web browser", select your desired browser and confirm by clicking "Switch anyway."
   • Windows 11 users: Locate and select the desired browser, then click "Set default" adjacent to "Make <browser-name> your default browser."

Image source: Unsplash

On Mac:

• Click the Apple icon in the top-left and opt for System Preferences.
• Proceed to General.
• Locate "Default web browser" and use the dropdown menu to select your browser of choice.

Tip: If you're unable to spot these settings, navigate to Apple icon > System Settings > Desktop & Dock, and then continue from the third step.

Image source: Unsplash

Setting the Outlook default browser for link handling can differ based on the device. Here's a concise guide for Android and iPhone users:

On Android:

• Access the Settings application.
• Navigate to Apps and select it.
• Choose "Default apps."
• Click on "Browser app."
• Pick your desired browser to open links from Outlook.

Image source: Unsplash

On iPhone:

• Launch the Settings application.
• Scroll and tap on the browser you'd like to set as default (e.g., Google Chrome).
• Click on "Default Browser App."
• Select your preferred browser from the list.

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This isn't the first time Brave has toyed with artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, an AI summarizer was introduced in Brave Search. It allowed users to interact with the search engine by typing queries, and provides a snippet at the top of the results with the information that you were looking for. It doesn't work for all queries, so the experience can be a hit or miss.

Brave Browser's AI assistant - Leo

Brave Leo is quite different. The AI assistant is a native app embedded in Brave Browser. It is currently available for users in the Nightly channel on desktop. The feature works similar to other AI chatbots, like Open AI's ChatGPT does. So you can ask it questions, generate text, write code, etc.

Based on some quick testing, I'd say it still needs a lot of work, which is why it is part of the Nightly experience, it will be improved based on feedback from users. It generates text very quickly, which is quite impressive.

Brave Leo can summarize articles on the web page that you are on, which can be useful if you are in a hurry, and want to know what the web page is about without scrolling the entire thing.

How to access Brave Leo AI chat in Brave Browser

1. Install the nightly version of Brave Browser. (version 1.59 or later) https://brave.com/download-nightly/

2. Click on the Sidebar button.

3. You should see a new icon that is shaped like a chat bubble. Its tooltip says Brave AI, click on it.

That's it, you can now access the Brave Leo AI chat feature. The panel displays some information about how the assistant's capabilities and limitations.

Privacy

The chat panel also mentions that Brave Leo AI does not collect personal data, including IP Address or other identifiers that can be linked to you. No personal data is retained by the AI model.

Brave Leo is powered by the Llama 2 model, which is a source available large language model (LLM), that was created by Meta (Facebook). That might raise some eyebrows about privacy, but Brave has outlined the details to state that it does not collect data from users.

The announcement says that Brave Leo does not require a user login or account to use the service. The chats in Leo are not used for training the AI. The conversations are discarded immediately, i.e. they are not stored on servers, so nobody can access them, not even you can your chat history. As a matter of fact, these chats work on a per-tab basis, so if you open Brave Leo on one tab and use it, you cannot view the same chat in a different tab.

Brave only shares the latest query that you made, with the server, along with the current conversation history. Similarly, when you use it to summarize a web page, it only detects the article's text from the page that you are currently on, or in the case of YouTube videos, it can access the transcript. If you are worried about this, you can bypass it quite easily by simply opening a blank new tab and access Brave Leo from there.

Brave Leo submits your inputs anonymously through a reverse-proxy to its inference infrastructure. The proxy server in question could be something like how Cloudflare works to protect servers from malicious users, but this time with anonymity for users.

Brave's Leo Assistant has a dedicated section under the browser's Settings. You can find it here: brave://settings/leo-assistant.

The first option, is used to toggle Leo's icon from the sidebar. The next setting is called "Show suggested prompts in the conversation", this option is disabled by default. When you enable this option, Leo will display some contextual follow-up suggestions in the chat.

The Settings page has an option to clear Leo's data manually.

If you head on to brave://flags/ you will find the feature's flag called Brave AI Chat. This is enabled by default. You can remove the icon from the sidebar by right-clicking on the sidebar or from the Settings page. Alternatively, you may choose to disable the flag if you don't want to use the feature.

Limitations in Brave Leo AI

Brave says that Leo does not have access to live info, so it cannot provide up-to-date news on current events like Microsoft Bing chat does. Brave plans to add support for real-time information in Leo in the future, and the results will be powered by Brave Search.

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Here is what is new in Parallels Desktop 19:

• Compatibility with macOS Sonoma: The upcoming macOS update contains several changes affecting virtual machines and specific features, such as printing. Therefore, developers from Parallels had to re-engineer Shared Printing to ensure you can continue printing within Windows. The app now uses Internet Printing Protocol, which can potentially bring more printer-specific features to Windows.
• Design Improvements: Parallels Desktop 19 now meets modern macOS design guidelines and features a reworked icon.
• TouchID support for Windows 10 and 11: Parallels Desktop 19 now lets you use your Mac's TouchID sensor to sign into Windows 10 and 11. The app can save your PIN into Mac Keychain and replace it with your fingerprint. Besides making your Windows on Mac experience more convenient, the change will benefit business customers, who often need to deal with stricter security requirements.
• OpenGL Improvements with support for more CAD software: With OpenGL 4.1 support, Parallels Desktop 19 can run more Windows-specific CAD software, such as VariCAD, Deswik.CAD, Vectorworks Vision 2023, and more.
• Apple Silicon optimizations: The latest improvements bring support for IPSW images, enhancements for basic virtual machine operations, two-finger gestures support for scrolling and zooming, mass deployment, automatic resolution adjustment, and port forwarding.
• Microsoft Intune: Parallels Desktop 19 allows enrolling Windows 11 in Intune, making administering Windows devices within organizations easier and more efficient.

You can find more information about the latest Parallels Desktop on the official website. The app is available starting at $99.99 for the Standard Edition or $119.99/year for the Pro SKU.

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Existing installations of Microsoft Edge should receive the update automatically, thanks to the built-in updating functionality. Users may check the installed version by loading edge://settings/help in the browser's address bar, or by selecting Menu (three-dots) > Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.

The browser should run a check for update when the page is opened to download any update automatically at that point.

Microsoft Edge 116: security update

Microsoft Edge 116 Stable is a security update first and foremost. It addresses two Edge-specific security vulnerabilities and includes fixes for vulnerabilities that affect all Chromium-based browsers.

The two Edge-specific vulnerabilities have been rated moderate and low. The patches address elevation of privilege and information disclosure vulnerabilities. The 21 Chromium-based security issues are also fixed in the release.

You may check out the article on the Chrome 116 release, as it includes additional information on the Chromium-based vulnerabilities.

Microsoft Edge 116: new features

Microsoft highlights two features in the release notes. The first brings the ability to attach the Microsoft Edge sidebar to the desktop to the Windows 10 operating system.

Microsoft Edge displays a sidebar on the right side of the browser window by default. It is a customizable toolbar that displays search options, tools, various other services and also an option to add links to custom sites.

Windows 10 users may activate the "detach from Edge" button on the sidebar to attach the sidebar to the Windows 10 desktop. The sidebar is detached from the browser when the button is activated and remains attached to the desktop, even if Microsoft Edge is closed. The functionality remains identical to Edge's sidebar.

Microsoft notes: " As an opt-in experience in Windows 10, users can attach the sidebar to their Windows desktop by clicking a "popout" icon near the base of the sidebar in the browser. This enables a side-by-side experience that works with any Windows app — including Microsoft Edge itself. Users enjoy streamlined access to the same set of powerful AI tools and web-based services, including Bing Chat, without launching a browser window, enhancing productivity regardless of where they are in Windows". Microsoft reveals that it plans to add features and options in the future to the sidebar.

The second feature that Microsoft highlights is Microsoft Edge for Business. We reviewed Microsoft Edge for Business earlier this month. Available for Microsoft Entra accounts (formerly known as Azure Active Directory), Microsoft Edge for Business ships with improved management options, and the ability to use personal and business browsing modes.

Now You: do you use Edge and its sidebar?

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Along with preinstalled apps, Microsoft puts in a few icons for other non-Windows apps and services, whether you use them or not: the ClipChamp video editor, the Microsoft 365 web apps, and OneDrive, plus the preinstalled version of Teams. Even the Microsoft Solitaire Collection, the replacement for Windows' venerable standalone Solitaire app, is now a free-to-play version stuffed with ads that you need a paid subscription to remove.

 

Then there's the Bing stuff, which is mainly present in the Search menu and the Widgets menu; the things Bing shows me range from benign-but-useless items (ads for games I'll never play, offering to tell me what my birth flower is) to misinformation-adjacent junky news from SEO-farm websites (usually something about Joe Biden's age and mental state).

 

I could keep going for a while, depending on how deep you want to go—the Microsoft account and OneDrive status messages in the Settings app, persistent reminders to use Edge as your default browser and Bing as your default search engine, and a whole battery of extra add-ons if you decide you want to use Edge (there's also a separate OOBE to click through, even if you're just using Edge to download another browser). In the fall, Windows Copilot will debut as yet another built-in service.

A gradual shift

This didn’t happen overnight, but like a frog in a slowly warming pot, I looked around and found myself surrounded by extra stuff I don’t want in a new Windows install, and there's a growing list of things to disable and uninstall before I get to the work of installing software I actually want to use.

 

Here are a few attempts to be fair to Microsoft:

 

• It’s hard to know where to draw the line when it comes to built-in software and services, and where you draw the line might not be the same place I would draw it.
• Windows 8’s bundling of Microsoft’s good-enough-for-most-things first-party anti-malware scanner (a separate installation in previous versions) has surely been a net positive for user safety and security.
• The Microsoft Precision Touchpad standard has made PC laptop trackpads better, if not exactly great. I'd rather have built-in controls for things like RGB LEDs than rely on overstuffed and buggy third-party apps.
• If I used OneDrive or had a Microsoft 365 subscription—a big "if"—I'm sure I would appreciate the convenience of having that software available with minimal extra effort.

 

And it's not as if this is all new to Windows 11. Most of this behavior started during the Windows 10 era, the beginning of the modern Windows-as-a-service, when Microsoft began offering Windows upgrades for free and never technically stopped (to this day, Windows 7 product keys will successfully activate new installs of Windows 11). The Windows 10 OOBE process offers all the same things as the Windows 11 one if you sign in with a Microsoft account, and it plunks most of the same third-party apps into the Start menu.

 

Windows Elev(enshittification)

Once I've removed all the stuff I don't want, I still, by and large, like Windows 11 and most of the stuff it does. It's as visually coherent as any version of Windows has looked in a very long time, and we regularly cover small, smart quality-of-life enhancements that Microsoft is continuously adding. The fact that the company has managed to take this huge, sprawling, taped-together battleship of an operating system from a three-year update cycle to a several-times-a-year update cycle without breaking too many things is a major technical achievement.

 

But it does feel like Windows is increasingly getting sucked into the vortex of what Cory Doctorow colorfully calls "enshittification"—the tendency of platforms to gradually stop centering the user in favor of centering revenue and then getting ever more desperate to bring in more revenue, ruining the product in the process.

 

To be clear, I still think we're a long way off from that. Once I've skimmed the pond scum off the top of Windows 11, there's essentially a heavily modified version of Windows Vista/7 under all of it, and I can still get it set up the way I like. I'm also probably more attuned to and frustrated by this stuff because, as someone who tests and writes about technology, I'm running up against the Windows install and setup process more often than most people ever will.

 

But the subtle, ever-encroaching creep of Microsoft's non-Windows stuff into Windows feels like the company trying to squeeze its users for just a bit more revenue as Windows' market share gradually ticks downward year after year. All the extra stuff and data collection in Windows 10 and 11 have given rise to third-party "minimalist" Windows installs that try to strip as much as they can out of Windows without breaking it (sometimes they don't succeed, and some of these setups can't even install security updates; I can't recommend that you install one on a system you actually intend to connect to the Internet and use every day).

 

The 90-day preview of Windows 11 Enterprise that Microsoft offers gives us a look at what a clean install could still be like if Microsoft wanted it to be. There's no Microsoft account sign-in requirement, which skips over most of the setup screens for additional products and services, and the default Start menu has no third-party apps and very few first-party apps pinned.

 

(Part of the reason that Windows 11 Enterprise looks as clean as it does is because Microsoft expects most businesses to enforce some kind of sign-in requirement and replace lots of Microsoft's recommended content feeds and third-party app pins with their own. But that's all left up to the discretion of your company's IT department rather than being forced upon you.)

 

People who install and use Windows deserve something better than the current out-of-the-box experience, something where apps aren't installed unless you want them to be and Microsoft backs off a bit on pushing its own add-on subscription services. Microsoft should provide that experience to everyone who chooses to do a clean install of Windows. Failing that, it would at least be a nice value-add for people who fork out for the Pro version. Until that happens, I'll be here, manually uninstalling a dozen things from every new Windows PC I set up.

 

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In a world dominated by proprietary operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Bodhi Linux 7.0 emerges as a breath of fresh air, presenting itself as a compelling alternative. The release boasts an impressive array of enhancements and changes that cater to both newcomers and seasoned Linux enthusiasts.

One of the standout features is the introduction of the "s76" release, showcasing a more advanced Kernel for users who seek cutting-edge performance. What's more, Kernel updates are now the default setting, ensuring users are equipped with the latest advancements. The EFL and Terminology components have been updated to their e-git versions, reflecting the project's commitment to staying current with the latest technologies.

A notable development is the transformation of Moksha, the Bodhi Linux desktop environment. Moksha has shed its reliance on deprecated libraries, ensuring a more modern and secure experience. The upgraded BL7 login screen features a sleek greeter with a password reveal feature (Version 1.8.1) and is accompanied by a brand-new Plymouth theme, providing users with a visually appealing and secure entry point.

The visual transformation continues with the adoption of the Moksha Green default theme. This lively theme is complete with an animated background, refreshed splash screen, and meticulous fine-tuning, showcasing the project's dedication to aesthetics. Additionally, Bodhi Linux 7.0 has expanded its reach by offering the Quick Start Guide in multiple languages, welcoming collaboration from around the world.

Functionality is another focal point of this release. Thunar's archive plugin comes pre-installed, streamlining tasks related to archives and compression. The introduction of the Web-browser-manager simplifies the installation of popular web browsers, making it effortless for users to customize their online experience.

Moksha's enhancements extend to user convenience, with the Keybindings viewer providing easy access to essential shortcuts directly from the Menu. The iBar Module now supports application instances, enhancing organization, while the revamped Notification module offers comprehensive support for Notification actions, delivering more interactivity.

While many Linux distributions thrive on their vibrant and supportive communities, Bodhi Linux 7.0 takes this camaraderie to a new level. The release offers dedicated support networks, vibrant forums, and comprehensive documentation to ensure that users of all skill levels have the guidance they need.

Bodhi Linux 7.0 stands as a testament to the power of collaborative, community-driven development. The operating system emerges as a true alternative to proprietary solutions like Microsoft Windows. With its commitment to innovation, user experience, and community support, Bodhi 7.0 presents a compelling case for those seeking an open-source, customizable, and efficient operating system.

You can download Bodhi Linux 7.0 here now. The full release notes can be found here.

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As posted on Microsoft's updated Windows blog site:

We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 25931.1010 (KB5030120). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Canary Channel.

In other words, this updates doesn't have any new features, nor does it have any improvements or bug fixes. It's been a little while since we have seen Microsoft release a new Canary Channel that was just for testing its update process.

The last 25931 update was released on August 16 and includes a number of upcoming Windows 11 features that were first included in an earlier Dev Channel update, including Emoji 15 support. It also added a couple of new improvements to the DC locator algorithm feature. That included the block of the default for the use of NetBIOS\WINS\mailslot-based methods for DC-discovery.

Last week's build also had a number of other small improvements and changes. That included the expiration date for Canary Channel builds changing to September 15, 2024. The last Canary build also let users uninstall a few clients, including the Photos app, People app, and Remote Desktop (MSTSC) app.

We have had a larger number of Windows 11 Insider previous builds than normal in the past few weeks. We even had updates for the next version of Windows Server with some major features rather than just bug fixes.

It's likely that Microsoft is making some last-minute preparation for the next major Windows 11 content update, which could come sometime later this month, or perhaps sometime in September.

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Bodhi Linux 7.0 is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and uses the Enlightenment-based desktop and Moksha window manager by default. The distro is notable for running deftly on devices with limited resources (though there’s no reason you can’t or shouldn’t run it on high-end devices too).

I took a look at the Bodhi Linux 7.0 beta back in May and liked what I saw. Since then the distro’s devs have updated the s76 ISO to use Linux kernel 6.4 and the HWE ISO to use Linux kernel 6.2, brought in a yet-newer version of slick-greeter, and continued fixing up bugs and adding polish.

Let’s take a closer look.

Bodhi Linux 7.0: What’s New?

Lots of visual changes for those migrating from Bodhi Linux 6.x series.

A new Plymouth boot screen adds visual flair to the startup experience; there’s a new login screen theme; and the distro now dresses in “MokshaGreen”, a new theme and icon set combo (which has a darker, sleeker appearance).

Moksha keyboard shortcuts are made discernible through a new keybindings viewer (press super + f1 to open it); it’s now possible to snap windows to screen edges; and it’s possible to drag menu items out and drop them on the desktop (to create an icon/shortcut to them).

Modularity is a key USP of Moksha, and there are various improvements to the many modules included with or made available in Bodhi Linux.

Charging status in the Battery Module pop-up has been tweaked; date/time settings are included in the Clock Module; notification actions are accessible in the Notifications Module; there’s a copy shortcut I the Shot Module; and a slew of new settings in the Shelf Module, including icon size.

Apps-wise, this release comes with non-Snap build of Chromium as default web browser (a web browser manager app is included to install other browsers); Terminology terminal client; LeafPad text editor; and file management is taken care of using Thunar.

Performance is a key consideration in Bodhi Linux so a new ‘mem trimming’ function has been introduced. This makes Moksha trim its own memory ‘every now and then’ to keep the user interface responsive.

More details in the official Bodhi Linux 7.0 release notes.

Download Bodhi Linux 7.0
Bodhi Linux 7.0 is available to download in 3 distinct versions:

Standard ISO uses Linux 5.15 kernel (base kernel in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS)
HWE ISO uses Linux 6.2 kernel (included in Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS)
s76 ISO uses Linux 6.4 kernel (courtesy of System76’s Pop!_OS)

Which version you use is up to you. If you’re on old-ish 64-bit hardware the standard ISO is likely the best fit, while those on spangly new systems should opt for the s76 ISO for better support.

You can download Bodhi Linux 7.0 by following the links on the project’s official download page.

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Aside from Windows, Microsoft also rolled out Office security updates for Outlook, Excel, Word, and more, which fix issues like spoofing and remote code execution (RCE). So you should probably update if you haven't already (find the download links here).

Speaking of security updates, this month's Patch enables a kernel security vulnerability fix by default, something Microsoft had cautioned back in June that it could potentially break something on your system, though it didn't really go into much detail about it. The support page for the issue had later been updated with the following message confirming that Microsoft was now enabling the fix by default for everyone on Windows 11 and 10:

IMPORTANT The resolution described in this article introduces a potential breaking change. Therefore, we are releasing the change disabled by default with the option to enable it. We recommend that you validate this resolution in your environment. Then, as soon as it is validated, enable the resolution as soon as possible.

NOTE The resolution described in this article has now been released enabled by default.

[...]

IMPORTANT The resolution described in this article has been released enabled by default. To apply the enabled by default resolution, install the Windows update that is dated on or after August 8, 2023. No further user action is required.

However, since we reported this news, Microsoft has once again updated its bulletin and has removed the portion that warned users of the kernel issue. That's because the tech giant now feels confident stating that the potentially-breaking Windows kernel patch is problematic no more. The company assures this after having run "multiple investigations and tests" wherein "no issues were found". On the change log, it notes:

August 18, 2023

Removed the recommendation for validation concerning breaking changes in the "Resolution" section because after multiple investigations and tests, no issues were found associated with this update.

You can follow the issue on the support document under KB5028407.

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The upcoming feature was unearthed by Leopeva64 and will use Microsoft's handwriting-to-text system to convert your handwritten text into digital sentences. The feature will be an extension to Microsoft's current efforts to make inking an operating system-wide feature.

Just a couple of months back, Microsoft announced that the upcoming Windows 11 update will let users scribble text into any text box within the operating system. However, the feature was not available on Microsoft Edge but looks like the company is now gearing up to test it out now on Edge as well.

The Handwriting to Text feature is currently hidden behind a flag in Microsoft Edge Canary and needs to be enabled for it to be available for users.

Allows inking via pen to be converted into typed text on most text input fields in Microsoft Edge. This is available on devices where handwriting is supported. To check whether Handwriting to Text is enabled on your device, look for “Use your handwriting to enter text” in Windows Settings. – Windows

It is currently not clear when the feature will be available to the public. However, if you like to live on the edge (no pun intended), then you can download the latest Canary Build from Microsoft's website to try it out for yourself.

However, that's not all. According to various other flags in Edge Canary, the company may be planning to be adopting the FedCM (Federated Credential Management) as well. In case you don't know, FedCM provides additional security and privacy to users when they are browsing the internet.

The Federated Credential Management API (FedCM) provides a use-case-specific abstraction for federated identity flows on the web, by exposing a browser mediated dialog that allows users to choose accounts from IdPs to login to websites.

FedCM is a multi-step journey to make identity on the web better, and in its first step we are focused on reducing the impact of third-party cookie phase-out on federated identity .

Again, it is not clear when the company is planning to announce the feature to the broader audience. However, as of now, it may be a while before everyone can try out the new Edge features for themselves on the stable version of Microsoft Edge.

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