Windows 10 is updated differently to previous versions of the platform. Microsoft now issues two annual updates (like feature upgrades) which come with new tools and features. These are the releases that have been running under the Redstone moniker while in development (Creators Update, Fall Creators Update, and so on). In between those twice-yearly updates, Microsoft sends out monthly cumulative releases. Typically rolled out on Patch Tuesday’s these updates fix known issues in the platform and patch security problems....

In case you own a new Surface Pro and have experienced random hibernation problems, all you have to do is update your device. In a blog post, Microsoft provides a firmware update which fixes the hibernation issue, and you can get it by checking Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. Some Surface Pro owners began reporting that they were having hibernation/sleep issues with the new devices. On July 10, Microsoft officials said they had identified the issue causing the Surface Pro energy problem....

Available globally through the Dynamics 365 Enterprise license, Microsoft Forms Pro is also available to other Office 365 users. Microsoft Forms is a platform that helps professionals and educators create content in minutes. Forms can be surveys, feedback forms, or quizzes. They can be shared with anyone and form owners can see results of completed forms in real time. Below are some of the features available in Microsoft Forms Pro:...

Microsoft has been increasing functionality of Sticky Notes to enhance quick task management tools for users. A new leaked feature suggests Microsoft will turn the app into a one-button only service. Microsoft watcher Ajith took to Twitter to reveal Sticky Notes will soon include an Always On Top button. With this button, users will be able to stick notes onto the top of documents to keep them visible at all times....

“Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit has executed work to disrupt cyberattacks from a threat group we call Phosphorus which is widely associated with Iranian hackers,” Microsoft corporate vice president Tom Burt writes in blog post. Phosphorus is the name Microsoft has given to the group, but it is also known as the Ajax Security Team, APT 35, and Charming Kitten. Microsoft says it has been following the group’s actions since 2013 and knows it has hacked several organizations, individuals, and governments....

Those improvements will be in place by June 30, 2023, the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year. ArentFox Schiff published a 50-page report that had recommendations for Microsoft. Now, the company with putting them in place. In a Microsoft blog post, the company says it will release an annual report to update on its gender discrimination and sexual harassment policies. That will include highlighting incident reports and the actions Microsoft took in response to them....

1 Hyrid Support2 Other Changes3 Windows Server Essentials The newest version of Microsoft’s server-based operating system will come in three editions: Standard, Datacenter, and the small business-focused Essentials. We’ll touch on the importance of that last edition soon, but let’s first look at what Windows Server 2019 brings to organizations. Firstly, Microsoft says System Center 2019 will not be arriving next month with Windows Server 2019. This is the company’s suite of tools for managing Windows Server, although it won’t reach general users until “the first half of calendar-year 2019....

Build-tracking website BuildFeed has found an early preview of what could be Redstone 3. Windows 10 Build 15141 is currently among the rs_prerelease branch. It is among the builds associated with internal testing. However, it is sitting separate to the rs2-release branch, which is where Creators Update builds reside. While the number of builds in and out of preview may seem confusing, it is actually a clear system. Redstone 3 relates to the so far unnamed feature update that will arrive later this year....

When it launched, Windows 10 S was a separate SKU from other Windows variants. That means it sat separately from Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise. Although, you may remember Microsoft has been offering a free upgrade path to Win10 S to Win10 Pro. Microsoft has decided to kill off Windows 10 S as an individual SKU. Instead, the company is making the build into a platform that will run on top of existing SKUs....

You may remember Microsoft Launcher 6 which was built on an entirely new codebase. That explains why it spent months in public testing. As a from-scratch rebuild, this version lacked some features form the full Launcher experience. Microsoft has used the long preview time to bring version 6 up to speed in terms of features. It also seems Microsoft will maintain three Launcher apps on Android signaling three levels of development (Preview, bets, and full release)....

For example, Microsoft Launcher has received improvements to the status bar to match the theme of the Android device. In terms of feature changes, Microsoft has added a new Cricket widget. This is for fans of the sport in the UK, Australia, India, and Pakistan to follow information from teams and matches directly from the launcher. Finally, Microsoft Launcher now supports the Android Work Profile. Users can view Personal and Work apps separately from the launcher....

In a blog post, Microsoft’s head of Access Technology Program, Sunday Parker explains her own personal journey to become a champion of nonprofits. With the Accessibility Nonprofit Tech Accelerator, Microsoft is creating a program that provides support for nonprofits focusing on disabilities. NTA gives access to Microsoft’s enterprise-grade technology to help. Microsoft says a grant round will start in 2023 and a pilot program will be available for a “small subset” of nonprofits that are helping to reduce the Disability Divide....

If you’re unfamiliar with Mouse and Keyboard Center, it is a management hub for Windows peripherals. For example, with the app users can customize their accessories, such as what buttons do on mice. With the Surface Precision Mouse, you can set the pointed to a single side of the display and control a second PC it is paired with through Bluetooth. Now with ARM64 support in tow, the app is moving to version 12....

Speaking to Bloomberg recently, Microsoft President Brad Smith spoke about the company’s new approach to fake news detection. Specifically, Smith says users are increasingly savvy about where they get truthful information, and it is not from governments: “I don’t think that people want governments to tell them what’s true or false,” says Smith “And I don’t think they’re really interested in having tech companies tell them either.” User Power Microsoft says it puts freedom of speech first and will not sensor posts....

Needless to say, this is a potentially significant problem because Microsoft Office 365 Message Encryption is used by businesses to send sensitive and/or private information. Like all encryption, it provides confidentiality for sending messages safely from point to point. In Office 365, the component that controls data encryption – Electronic Code Book (ECB) – has a problem. ECB is the mode that infers plaintext message. However, areas of the plaintext data that repeat have the same encryption if the same key is used....

The update is available for Power BI users now. Microsoft has introduced a new summary page view with new UI configurations. Users of Power BI Gateways can see the new interface after configuring a gateway. This is achieved by searching for “On-premises data gateway” in the start menu. With the new UI, users will see the version number and notification about a new version, and the gateway’s name and status....

Microsoft is ending support of Windows 7 in 2020, meaning anyone who remains on the platform after will be without security patches and software updates. As the cut off draws nearer, Microsoft is about to ramp up upgrade pleas with some good old-fashioned nagging. Next month, the company will begin sending Windows 7 users notifications prompting them to upgrade to Windows 10. While we think these notifications will be annoying, Microsoft calls them a “courtesy reminder”....

Microsoft has pulled the first two patches entirely but doesn’t recommend users uninstall KB4461529, as it remedies four remote code execution flaws. Instead, it says users should use Outlook Web Access to perform tasks. Obviously, all of this marks a huge inconvenience for users, with the bugs first noticed shortly after their release on November 6. Currently, Microsoft is still investigating the issues and is yet to give an ETA on when users can expect normal functionality....

Now, the Redmond giant has announced the release of Skype for Mac v7.50, which adds support for the Share extension on MacOS 10.10 or higher. The Share extensions give users a convenient way to share content with other entities, such as social sharing websites or upload services. For example, in an app that includes a Share button, users can choose a Share extension that represents a social sharing website and then use it to post a comment or other content....

This begins a new way of testing and rollout from the company that could lead to more stability. The company is also bringing 19H2 builds to users via cumulative updates rather than the regular feature update framework to reduce disruption. “As mentioned previously, we may ship features in these updates turned off by default and turn them on via controlled feature rollouts. Doing this helps us gain better feedback on overall build quality,” explained Microsoft Insider leaders Brandon LeBlanc and Donar Sarkar in a blog post....