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Because of lockdown measures, remote work and schooling has become the norm for hundreds of millions around the world. That said, the revolution was already underway before 2020 and many apps and services focus on providing distance work features. Like any other tech realm that achieves mainstream success, there are bad actors who want to exploit people using apps. Some of those threat actors are state sponsored. According to an advisory by the National Security Agency in the U....

“Many of you are asking why we haven’t released a SlowRing flight in a while. We have a GSOD that’s caused by a very common scenario around gaming anti-cheat codes,” she said. “Unfortunately, the fix is in the hands of our 3rd party partner company that we’re working with them on.” Microsoft knows that many of its Slow Ring users play the game in question, so that’s the reason for the lack of release....

1 Other Additions2 Returning Anti-Cheat Problem Windows 10 preview build 18912 introduces an advanced feature called “Absolute Bandwidth”. Located in the Settings app, the feature is currently hidden on Windows 10 20H1. Microsoft decided not to officially discuss it in 18912’s release notes. However, Absolute Bandwidth was discovered by Albacore. The feature lets Windows users select exactly how fast Windows Update downloads. By selecting the option, users can limit the bandwidth used by Windows Update to download updates....

To be fair to Microsoft, the team has been working diligently to fix these issues. The browser crashes have been fixed already, and everything else is being worked on. Unfortunately, some users are having problems updating in the first place. A number of users on the company’s support forum have reported error codes. They range from 0xc1900101 to 0xc1900209, 0xc1900209 and 0x80240034. The installer provides no further detail than this, simply reverting the update and requiring the user to download it again....

Due to an interaction with the OS update and some anti-virus software, many PCs were left in an unbootable state. Some vendors were bypassing Kernel Patch Protection through use of a hypervisor, which is used to intercept system calls and guess memory locations. Microsoft’s fix for the Meltdown and Spectre CPU vulnerabilities changed those memory locations, causing boot issues. Naturally, Microsoft halted the updates for many older AMD processors, but it has now removed the block....

Windows 10 64-bit recorded a usage share of 57.03% during June. More importantly, the platform continues to increase its position thanks to a 1.5% bump. Over this year, Win10 has caught and surpassed Windows 7 as the most used platform on Steam. In February, Win7 64-bit held a massive 69.68% of the user base, while Win10 64-bit was at 25.85%. Since then, Microsoft’s newer Windows platform has taken hold of the Steam market....

Redstone 3 is now in development and will pass through Windows Insiders for the next few months before launching (you guessed it) this fall. As with any major update, there were a lot of new feature to discuss. We can argue that the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is not as all-encompassing as April’s Creators Update, or last August’s Anniversary Update. Nevertheless, there are changes aplenty, so here are the big announcements from Build 2017 today: Microsoft Fluent Design System: Known about before today’s Build 2017 address, Fluent Design is Microsoft’s UI overhaul of the Windows 10 platform....

The changes came first to OneNote, but we’re already seeing additions in the Windows 10 Mail app. Microsoft is ensuring you see far more emails on your screen at the same time. This was a particular issue for screens with a low resolution, as blown up UI elements took up a lot of space. According to Microsoft, the Fluent Design changes add 26% more emails in multi-line mode and a huge 84% in single-line....

Twitter’s Albacore found evidence of this via a ‘Shell Update Agent’, which he says “is capable of obtaining and updating the shell on demand”. It’s referred to as a PackageFamilyName, which Albacore believes is enough proof to discern it will be a separate packaged component that could even be shipped inside an Appx. This component is associated with a mechanism called Undocked Shell. Accommodating Windows Core OS Those who have been closely following the rumor mill will note that this is a step towards Windows Core OS, an unannounced evolution of the platform that’s turning a poorly kept secret....

Microsoft watcher Rafael Rivera reports the company is currently developing a dark theme for the File Explorer. The tweak has not yet arrived in the latest preview builds for Windows 10 on the Skip Ahead branch of the Windows Insider Program. If you are unfamiliar, Skip Ahead gives users early access to future Windows builds. The company is currently still working on the delayed launch of Redstone 4, expected this month....

Thankfully, the app’s latest version fixes that particular niggle. Previously, the actual body of the email was still white in dark mode, rendering it pretty useless. Now, it’s a pleasant dark gray, which is far less harsh on the eyes. The feature initially rolled out to Windows Insiders, but it’s now making its way to regular users. On top of this, there’s a toggle between dark and light mode in the body of emails to ensure you can quickly view content that doesn’t contrast with the background....

1 How to Update Apps on Windows 112 Extra: How to Change Startup Programs in Windows 113 Extra: How to Make the Taskbar Smaller in Windows 11 Before we start, it’s worth noting that by default the Microsoft Store updates apps automatically. However, it doesn’t usually do so as soon as an update is available, instead of waiting for what it thinks is a good time. This isn’t always ideal, as your app may have a critical bug and multiplayer games typically need to be on the latest version to play with others....

This means the update is entering final testing on the inside. This is a release-ready version of the update that is stable and functional. In other words, it is not the relatively unstable builds that would be available through other Insider channels. If you want to try Windows 11 22H2 early but do not necessarily want to deal with unstable builds, now is the time to get on board. Of course, you will need to be a member of the Windows Insider Program to install this update....

However, it is the native Camera app that is getting the most love. Perhaps the most interesting new feature is the ability to control the privacy shutter on supported camera hardware. For example, Microsoft’s own Modern Webcam or the Dell Latitude 9420 and 5420. This will allow the Windows 11 Camera app to automatically slide the shutter to give users more privacy. When the shutter is covering the camera or when the laptop is closed, the app will inform the user the camera is blocked....

Speaking to ZDNet, de Icaza confirmed he is stepping away from Microsoft to take some time out: “I am going to rest while the kids are in school.” Discussing his plans for the future, the engineer says he is ready to explore what the future holds: “Living in this industry is like the kid at the candy store – too many things are happening and there are too many choices....

It is worth noting that E3 will be all-virtual, another sign that a year on the COVID crisis remains. However, Microsoft will be returning to tradition with a bumper event at the conference. As the name suggests, the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase will be all about upcoming titles. Interestingly, Microsoft is going all in on its recent purchase of Bethesda, through the multi-billion-dollar acquisition of ZeniMax Media. At E3, the company is making it loud and clear it now controls the triple A game developer and will be running it closely with Xbox....

However, NPD analyst Mat Piscatella says that though the PS4 won out in terms of units, the Xbox generated the highest dollar sales. This is undoubtedly thanks to the higher priced Xbox One X, but the Xbox One also sold more units in the month than ever before. Regardless of who came out ahead, things are looking positive forth market as a whole. Total spend on hardware saw a 54% increase year-on-year, while software, hardware, and accessory sales grew by 30%....

In a recent report, the outlet received a look at the Xbox One X (Project Scorpio) full benchmarks from ForzaTech. The test put the console through its paces by running several unnamed games in native 4K. Before continuing, it is worth mentioning that these games were ported in a basic method. There was no optimization that other titles will go through for the Xbox One X. In other words, even these results will likely be improved upon when full benchmarks are released....

Microsoft has already told us the Xbox Series X is the most powerful console ever. The company has even delved into some of the finer details. However, Auto HDR mode has remained relatively elusive in the pre-launch chatter. We know the Xbox Series consoles will have unprecedented backward compatibility. In fact, both the Series X will offer backward compatibility across four generations of Xbox (Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Series X)....

On Samsung Gear VR, the YouTube VR app is available through the Oculus Store, which is the app store for the device. Ironically, the YouTube app will not be available for the Oculus Rift or Oculus Go just yet. Although, Google says those devices will also get support. In an effort to push VR content on its platform, YouTube says it is working on exclusive creations: “If music is your thing, you’ll be able to tag along backstage with Portugal....