Items tagged with Microsoft
A notorious cyber-criminal group is believed to be responsible for a malicious Word document that attempts to lure victims by preying on their curiosity towards Windows 11, the next major operating system from Microsoft. The document began making the rounds in June, the same month a leaked Windows 11 ISO tipped up, followed by the first Insider Preview build being made available. The leaked Windows 11 ISO showed up around the middle of June, and immediately drew interest because for many people, it provided a first real look at the upcoming OS. Adding to the interest, Windows 10 was supposed to be the last version of Windows ever, with recurring feature updates on a bi-annual basis (and of course...
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The Surface Go 2 took all the good looks of Microsoft's more expensive tablet + keyboard combinations and brought the price point down to a very affordable level. That machine has been hanging around since its release in the middle of last year, so it's getting a little long in the tooth. If rumors pan out to be true, it seems that the company is due to announce a successor, the Surface Go 3, in short order. We already know that a big event is coming up where we expect to see, among other things, another foldable phone dubbed the Surface Duo 2. It seems that affordability is also on the menu for that event as well. If leaks reported by the German WinFuture are accurate, the newest Surface...
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A key component for getting Android applications to play nice in Windows 11 has made an appearance in the Microsoft Store. It is called Windows Subsystem for Android, though don't get overly excited about its availability—yes, you can mosey on over to the Microsoft Store and download it, but at present, it does not appear to do anything. We tried it ourselves on a Windows Insider preview build, and all that happens is it loads up a white screen. On the store page, it comes with a description that reads, "Microsoft Confidential - For testing purposes - Please do not take screenshots or communicate about the content." None of which we can do anyway, so no worries Microsoft. Of course, if...
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Windows 11 is just over a month away from its official release, which means that Microsoft is working overtime to crush any existing issues with the operating system. Unfortunately for testers, the latest Windows Insider Dev and Beta channel build introduced a rather nasty bug with the Star Menu Taskbar. Microsoft's new Start Menu and Taskbar have had their ups and downs as users get acclimated to its visual and functional redesign compared to Windows 10, so this latest glitch is leading to more frustration. In the image provided below, you can see one outcome of the glitch, where it appears that the Taskbar doesn't load entirely on the affected system. In other instances, Microsoft indicates...
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Windows 11 isn't the only big release that Microsoft has planned for this fall. Today, the company announced that it would hold a Surface event on September 22nd, where it will talk about Windows 11 and supporting hardware. There's no doubt that the headlining device at the event will be the Surface Duo 2, which leaked in the flesh in late July, and hit the benchmark circuit last week. The overall form-factor of the device will match that of its predecessor, but it will feature much more powerful hardware thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and 8GB of RAM compared to its predecessor's Snapdragon 855 and 6GB of RAM. And while the original Surface Duo puzzled many by only supporting 4G LTE...
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Microsoft announced yesterday that Windows 11 officially launches preinstalled on new PCs (and as an upgrade for select new Windows 10 PCs) on October 5th. With the launch just over a month away, the company is adjusting its Windows Insider Program testing regimen to align with its goals for having the operating system ready for launch. Unfortunately, this means Windows Insiders testing Windows 11 with an unsupported PC are now getting the boot from Microsoft. Testers who visit Windows Update in their current build of Windows 11 are now greeted with the following message: Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. Your device is not eligible to join the Windows Insider...
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Windows 11 is coming just about six weeks from now, on October 5th -- at least, on new PCs. One of the biggest pieces of application-related news was the ability to run Android apps directly in Windows. Thanks to Intel, Android apps compiled for Arm64 would still be able to run on x86 PCs directly from Amazon's App Store. And it has already been confirmed that users can side loaded directly from an APK. Unfortunately, this technology isn't going to be ready for launch when the next version of Windows ships. Presumably due to pressures brought on by both ChromeOS and macOS, Windows 11 will run Android apps natively. Intel's Bridge Technology is a runtime post-compiler that will prepare an...
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Folks, we finally have a launch date for Windows 11. Microsoft today announced that its next-generation Windows 11 operating system will launch on October 5th, just over six years after the initial debut of Windows 10. The announcement was made via a blog post, in which the company explained that "Windows 11 is ready to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity." New PCs with Windows 11 preinstalled will ship on October 5th, and Microsoft will deliver free upgrades to the operating system to "eligible Windows 10 PCs." However, the Windows 11 upgrade process will be different from years past. Instead, the free upgrades will initially only roll out to new eligible devices. "The upgrade...
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There has been quite a bit of confusion surrounding supported systems and hardware in the migration from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Microsoft is partly to blame for this confusion, given its changing stance on supported processors. However, it also stated that a workaround would allow Windows 11 to install on unsupported processors but would miss out on Windows Updates. Microsoft already has its PC Health Check Tool, which is available as a separate download that will show if your current system is ready to make the jump to Windows 11. And if your hardware isn't up to the task, it will tell you what must change to bring it into compliance. Microsoft's PC Health Check Tool for Windows 11 However,...
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Here's an interesting twist on a story that we brought you yesterday regarding Windows 11. There has been a lot of consternation about Windows 11 and its support (or rather lack of support) for popular processors. For example, first-generation AMD Ryzen processors aren't officially supported, and they were released not too long ago, in early 2017. Therefore, PCs with these processors aren't supported at all by Microsoft when upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. However, Microsoft confirmed yesterday that enthusiasts and businesses could get around this limitation by performing a clean Windows 11 install with an ISO. The company didn't make clear at that time that while this workaround will...
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We finally have a release date for Halo Infinite, which will now arrive on December 8th, more than a year after it was initially supposed to launch. The game will be available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles as well as Windows PCs. When it comes to consoles, there's no need to worry about system requirements, as the game should "just work." However, the game will look and play the best on the flagship Xbox Series X. On the PC side, things are very dependent on the hardware that powers your rig. Luckily for us, we now know the minimum and recommended specs for the PC version of Halo Infinite, courtesy of its listing on the Steam store. Getting your foot in the door isn't that difficult,...
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Microsoft has posted an update to its system requirements for Windows 11, and they bring a reprieve for customers that feared that their older PC wouldn't be supported. But, of course, there's a bit of nuance in Microsoft's latest policy updates, so let's dig right into the changes. Microsoft previously stated that it would only support 8th generation Intel Core and Ryzen 2000 and newer processors. However, the company later stated that it would investigate the inclusion of 7th generation Core and Ryzen 1000 processors. After consulting with AMD, Microsoft says that both companies decided not to add first-generation Ryzen 1000 processors to the compatibility list. However, Microsoft and Intel...
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Researchers at a cybersecurity firm headquartered in Israel say they recently alerted Microsoft to a startling vulnerability in its Azure Cosmos DB database service. Multiple flaws could allow an attack to "gain complete unrestricted access" to accounts and databases of several thousand companies, including Fortune 500 outfits like Coca-Cola, Exxon-Mobil, Citrix, and more. The researchers have dubbed the vulnerability #ChaosDB, noting that it consists of a series of flaws that effectively create a loophole for any user to access a customer's data. This flaw left more than 3,300 companies exposed to potential hacks, whereby a malicious actor (or anyone) could "download, delete, or manipulate"...
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When Microsoft launched the Surface Duo last year, it felt more like a prototype than a fully fleshed-out product. While the dual-screen form-factor was intriguing, it was plagued by software and firmware bugs that Microsoft has worked to rectify over time. It also didn't help that the Surface Duo debuted at $1,399 with last-generation hardware and no 5G. Microsoft is looking to right all those wrongs with the Surface Duo 2, which just appeared in the Geekbench database. As we reported back in late July, the Surface Duo 2 comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which is a considerable step up from the Snapdragon 855 in the original. In addition, this prototype is paired with...
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As if the Xbox Series X isn’t already hard enough to purchase at MSRP, Microsoft this week announced a new version that is most assuredly destined for unobtanium. Witness the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition console, which is sure to be a hot ticket item during the Holiday 2021 shopping season. According to Microsoft, this limited edition console was designed to commemorate Halo’s 20th anniversary, and it is “skinned” to match up with Master Chief, courtesy of iridium gold accents and dark metallic paneling. Additionally, the top portion of the console is covered with Zeta Halo’s starlit sky. In addition to the console itself, you’ll find a matching...
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Halo Infinite was supposed to be Microsoft's big Xbox Series X/S launch title in late 2020. However, developer 343 Industries delayed the game to spruce up its graphics and continue development to ensure Halo fans would receive the game with open arms. When announcing the delay, 343 Industries simply said that it would launch in 2021. Now, it appears that the Microsoft Store has leaked the official launch date of Halo Infinite, and it's arriving more than a year after it was initially supposed to debut. Italian site Aggiornamenti Lumia found the Microsoft Store listing, which mentions a December 8th launch date. The Verge's Tom Warren later confirmed that date. Scoop: Halo Infinite (Campaign)...
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Microsoft is actively reaching out to members of the Windows Insider program who are subscribed to the Dev Channel, and letting them know that now is the time to hop over to the Beta channel, if they want to continue testing Windows 11 features and experiences indicative of what the public release will entail. Those who decide to stay put may have to contend with "less stable" builds. The emails going out to Dev Channel subscribers essentially reiterate and expand upon comments Microsoft made in a recent blog, when announcing the latest 22000.160 preview build. "IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you are in the Dev Channel, now would be the right time to consider switching to the Beta Channel if you want...
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We often cover vulnerabilities in Windows 10 that involve convoluted methods of gaining admin access to systems using privilege escalation. However, the latest exploit involving software for Razer products is facepalm-worthy in its sheer simplicity. In this case, the problem stems from Razer's Synapse software, which configures its peripherals like gaming mice and keyboards. This software can adjust macros, program mouse buttons, and control your RGB lighting. However, security researcher jonhat revealed via Twitter that an unscrupulous person with a Razer mouse or keyboard could gain SYSTEM access to a Windows 10 (or Windows 11) PC simply by plugging the device into the target PC. Need...
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Earlier in August, we got to see a tech preview of Halo Infinite that included some rather impressive bots to fight against in multiplayer. Since then, we have been excited for the whole game to release, but sadly, not everything that glitters is gold. In a new announcement, 343 Industries stated that some Halo staples, like campaign co-op and the level editor called the Forge, will be missing at launch after much delay. In the August Halo Infinite Development update, community director Brian Jarrard sat down with the head of creative for Halo Infinite, Joseph Staten, to discuss Halo's tech preview and future. At around the 16:35 mark in the video below, the two get into talking about the campaign...
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Committing to a new operating system is no small task when you are not used to the interface and are unsure where to start. However, developer Blue Edge is trying to solve this problem with a web-based mock Windows 11 experience that can give you a feel for Microsoft’s latest Windows update. Announced back in July, the Windows 11 experience in-browser is a neat project built “using standard web technologies like React, CSS (SCSS), and Js.” According to the FAQ on the project’s GitHub, Blue Edge explained that it took upwards of 12 days to get assets, plan, and program. Though it is not the snappiest experience, the browser-based Windows 11 currently features...
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Windows 11's Insider Preview builds keep coming fast and furious. Just a couple of weeks ago, the next version of Windows made the shift from developer builds into beta, indicating that Microsoft thinks that it's time to let more people in. The Beta Ring gets fewer builds that have purportedly undergone additional testing in comparison to the developer builds, which have come weekly or even more quickly of late. Build 22000.160 is now available, however, and now it's possible to install the operating system from scratch thanks to a publicly-available ISO. To get the ISO, you have to sign up for one of Microsoft's Windows Insider Preview channels. The Developer Channel gets the most fast and furious...
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It's Thursday, which can only mean one thing: it's time for a fresh build of Windows 11 for Windows Insiders. In this case, Microsoft just launched Insider Preview Build 22000.160 for testers on the Dev and Beta channels. As with other recent builds, Microsoft isn't bombarding testers with an abundance of new features. Instead, this release only sees the arrival of a new Clock app with updated visuals and new Focus Sessions. Focus Sessions are available to help you concentrate on your most important work while minimizing distractions. "Research has shown that audio reduces the chance of getting distracted by other things," Microsoft explains. "Focus Sessions supports connecting your Spotify account...
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