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In this episode of First Ring Daily, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss what to expect from the next Windows release coming next year, how Microsoft could use AI across “Windows 12”, and more.

Microsoft is testing updates for its Windows 365 Cloud PC service, which are available for Insiders in the Dev Channel. The enhancements include a dedicated login mode for Windows 365 Boot, an improved disconnect experience for Windows 365 Switch, access to local PC settings from the Cloud PC, and more. Microsoft first launched its Windows…

Microsoft has shared a roundup of updates made to its Microsoft 365 app that launched in November 2022. The app provides a central hub for accessing Office apps, shared documents, meetings, and personalized content. Microsoft introduced its new Microsoft 365 app to replace the all-in-one Office apps on Windows, mobile, and the office.com portal. It…

Security researchers have disclosed a new firmware vulnerability named LogoFAIL, which is capable of infiltrating a wide array of Windows and Linux machines. The attack allows threat actors to use malicious logo images to potentially compromise the security of devices from major vendors, including Intel, Acer, and Lenovo. Cybersecurity company Binarly has discovered a security…

Microsoft has announced that the new version of its Teams app is now generally available for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) customers. The new Teams client has been rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on improved performance, a simplified interface, and reduced memory footprint Microsoft says that the new Teams is two times faster…

Microsoft has acknowledged a new issue plaguing Windows PCs, where the HP Smart App is being automatically installed without user consent. Simultaneously, a separate bug that renames all the installed printers as HP LaserJet M101-M106 has emerged. Microsoft detailed on the Windows release health dashboard that the problem is caused by a bug that incorrectly…

As Azure Stack HCI becomes more common in datacenters and at the network edge, I would like to highlight some frequently asked questions I have encountered during the last few months about software and Azure Stack HCI antivirus. Does Microsoft support third-party software on Azure Stack HCI? In general, you can say “Microsoft does not…

Microsoft announced today that it will offer Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to both consumers and organizations. The company plans to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025 and will no longer release security updates and bug fixes beyond that date. Microsoft is reminding customers that Windows 10 version 22H2 will receive monthly…

PowerShell is considered secure by default due to various design principles and features that Microsoft incorporated into its architecture. These measures aim to ensure that PowerShell provides a robust, yet safe, scripting environment for system administration tasks. One feature of PowerShell that contributes to this are known as execution policies, which can be set using…

Microsoft has warned customers that a Russian state-sponsored hacking group (dubbed Forest Blizzard (STRONTIUM)) is actively exploiting an Outlook flaw to target Exchange Servers. The vulnerability could potentially unlock unauthorized access to emails and pave the way for the pilfering of sensitive information. In March, Microsoft disclosed a critical vulnerability in Outlook for Windows that…

Microsoft will soon introduce a new feature in the new Outlook for Windows client, which will allow users to choose a specific folder when saving attachments. The company announced in a message on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that the upcoming update will begin rolling out to commercial customers in mid-January 2024. As of today,…

Microsoft Copilot, the AI-powered chat tool that launched in preview earlier this year, is now generally available for both consumers and commercial customers. Built upon OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, this AI assistant seamlessly searches the web and integrates the findings into its responses. Microsoft Copilot (previously known as Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise) is available…