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Microsoft: No more Windows 10 upgrades for some Atom-based PCs
Everyone knows that technology goes obsolete quickly, but Microsoft and Intel are taking that tenet too far for some folks. Owners of three- to four-year-old "Clover Trail" Atom-based PCs like the HP Envy X2 laptop noticed that they were unable to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 Creators Update. Instead, they were greeted with a message saying "Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC," and told to "uninstall this app now."
Microsoft fixes Anniversary Update's login freeze in Windows 10
Windows 10 users had many good reasons to install the Anniversary Update at the beginning of August, even if most changes were incremental. Less loved were the handful of serious bugs that came with it, from breaking webcams to systemwide crashes when users plugged in e-readers. But its worst offense was freezing when users logged in on devices that put their operating system on one logical drive and app data on another. Split users, your ship has come in: Microsoft patched the error in an auto-update on August 31st.
VMware won't charge you to run a new OS in Fusion
Virtual machine software is theoretically a one-and-done purchase, but you know that's not how it works in practice. You typically end up buying an upgrade every year just to get the latest operating system support, whether it's in the virtual environment or your native OS of choice. You might not have to run on that treadmill this year, though. VMware is releasing free upgrades to Fusion (8.5 and 8.5 Pro) and Workstation (12.5 and 12.5 Pro) that support the latest and greatest platforms. The Linux, Mac and Windows versions of those programs can all run Windows 10 Anniversary Update and Windows Server 2016 in a virtual system, including multiple systems on Linux and Windows. On the Mac, Fusion will also take advantage of macOS Sierra features like Siri voice commands and tabbed windows.
The recent Windows 10 update is breaking webcams
If you've installed the recently-released Windows 10 Anniversary Update and noticed your USB webcam is acting screwy, you're not alone. It seems the decision to prevent them from using the popular MJPEG and H.264 encoding processes in favor of the NV12 and YUY2 formats is affecting far more devices than Microsoft anticipated, causing millions of cameras to crash.
Windows 10 update adds AdBlock support to the Edge browser
AdBlock and AdBlock Plus are no longer exclusive to Windows Insider Program participants. Microsoft's anniversary update for Windows 10 doesn't only come with Cortana voice commands (and many other features), it also adds support for the ad blocker to your Edge browser. This version is based off the extension's code for Chrome instead of Internet Explorer, but you might encounter some issues anyway since it's still in development. Of course, you'll have to wait for the anniversary update first before you can install the add-on and tweak its (potentially problematic) whitelist. You're bound to get it within the coming weeks, so long as you're running Windows 10.
Windows 10's Anniversary Update arrives
After a few months of hype, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is here... well, mostly. Microsoft has started rolling out the upgrade to desktop users, who'll automatically receive it in stages. "Newer machines" will get it first. You can update manually if you just can't stand sitting behind the curve. However long you wait, your PC will get more pervasive Cortana voice commands (such as controlling some apps), deeper pen input (including a dedicated pen interface) and a spruced-up Edge browser with extensions.
Windows 10 Anniversary Update arrives August 2nd
Microsoft hasn't done the greatest job of keeping its Windows 10 Anniversary Update schedule a secret (it inadvertently spilled the beans on June 28th), but it's at last official: the upgrade arrives on August 2nd. It's free for anyone who has already moved to Windows 10, so most people won't have to pay for Anniversary features like broader biometric security and pen support, a more efficient Edge browser with extensions, smarter Cortana voice commands and the unification of the Windows and Xbox stores. You'll have to contend with more promoted apps and won't get previously touted perks like messaging everywhere, but those may be small trade-offs given the overall amount of polish.
Windows 10's next update will double the number of Start menu ads
Microsoft is going to double the number of promoted apps in folds into the Start menu when it launches its Anniversary Update for Windows 10. Revealed at the WinHEC conference last week, the typical stable of five apps will be upped to ten: these will be links to drive app buyers to the Windows Store, with each country typically offering different items for different tastes and regions.
Windows 10 won't let you share WiFi passwords any more
Remember Microsoft's WiFi Sense? One of its cornerstones is the ability to share password-protected WiFi networks with contacts, saving them the hassle of logging in when they visit. Unfortunately, though, there weren't many people enamored with the idea. Microsoft has pulled WiFi Sense's contact sharing in its latest Windows 10 Insider preview build after noting that it wasn't worth the effort given "low usage and low demand." It'll remain intact on slower Insider builds and regular Windows 10 releases for now, but it should disappear for everyone when the Anniversary Update hits in the summer.
Watch Microsoft's opening-day Build keynote in just 10 minutes
If you didn't happen to be sitting near a computer during the opening ceremonies for Microsoft's Build developer conference yesterday, never fear: We've condensed the two-hour, opening-day keynote into a roughly 10-minute video. Included in our highlight reel are CEO Satya Nadella's opening remarks; the Windows 10 "Anniversary Update"; news on universal apps; a demo of new Windows inking features; Microsoft's surprise Linus news; a peek at HoloLens's packaging; and, most importantly, a glimpse at Microsoft's incoming army of chatbots. If you've got just 10 minutes, we'll give you all the meat, minus the fluff.
Windows 10's 'Anniversary Update' arrives this summer
Just because Microsoft is less focused on monolithic Windows releases doesn't mean it's forgetting to deliver big upgrades. The company has used Build 2016 to announce a so-called Anniversary Update for Windows 10 that delivers some hefty improvements. For one, it brings Windows Hello's biometric authentication to all kinds of apps, including the Edge browser: You can sign into a website with your fingerprint. Pen support also gets its due with a sticky note app, a sketchpad and virtual drawing tools like a ruler and a stencil. The upgrade brings more advanced gestures and pen input, a Linux command-line shell, smarter Cortana commands (such as sending files to colleagues) and unification between the Windows 10 and Xbox One app stores. The Anniversary Update arrives this summer, so it shouldn't be too long before you can give its features a try. Get all the news from today's Microsoft Build keynote right here!
