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Windows XP source code leak sheds light on Microsoft's OS history
Windows XP's source code appears to have leaked online, hinting at early work that included a Mac-like placeholder theme.
Android 11 review: An incremental update that needs some polish
And, honestly I found the lock screen controls more convenient. Obviously I haven’t used Android 11 long enough for that to happen yet, but I appreciate it in theory. Android 11 is here, three months after the first public beta was released in June.
Windows 95 turned 25 today
Windows 95 is 25 -- yes, the Start menu has been around for that long.
The macOS Big Sur public beta is now available
You can try out big updates to Messages, Maps, Safari and more.
Microsoft makes it harder for businesses to avoid Windows 10 updates
Microsoft has shrunk the amount of time business users can avoid major Windows 10 updates to just 35 days, pushing them to stay relatively current.
Apple Maps adds EV-focused features and cycling directions
Apple is updating Maps to add much-requested cycling directions, EV charger finding and more detailed maps in other countries.
Microsoft stops offering 32-bit Windows 10 to computer manufacturers
When you buy a new Windows-based computer, it will run the 64-bit version of the website.
The first public Android 11 beta will be available on June 3rd
Google will run through some Android 11 features in a keynote on that day.
Windows 10's built-in Linux kernel will be available to everyone soon
You won't have to be a tester to try Windows 10's new, built-in Linux kernel in the near future. Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 will be widely available when Windows 10 version 2004 arrives. You'll have to install it manually for a "few months" until an update adds automatic installs and updates, but that's a small price to pay if you want Linux and Windows to coexist in peace and harmony. It'll be easier to set up, at least -- the kernel will now be delivered through Windows Update instead of forcing you to install an entire Windows image.
Windows 10 icons are getting an overdue redesign
Microsoft refreshed Office's icons last year, and now it's Windows 10's turn. The software giant is rolling out updates to the icons for Windows 10's core apps over the months ahead, starting with the Calendar and Mail apps in a new Release Preview for Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. The company's design team explained that it wanted to break away from the flat, colorless icons you see today in favor of ones that are at once more consistent with newer branding (including apps available beyond Windows) and different enough that you'll have an easier time finding the one you want.
Bug prevents Windows 7 users from shutting down their PCs
Microsoft was supposed to have ended Windows 7 support in mid-January, but it can't seem to completely let go -- and neither can some PCs, apparently. Many users on Microsoft's forums, Reddit and elsewhere are reporting that their Windows 7 systems refuse to shut down or reboot as they normally would, claiming that "you don't have permission to shut down this computer." Users have unofficially fixed it by running the Group Policy Editor from the command line to force permissions, but that's clearly not something users should have to do just to turn their PCs off.
Microsoft ends support for Windows 7 today
It's the end of the road for Windows 7. After 10 years of support, Microsoft is ending security updates for the operating system today. This means that if you're still using it you'll be vulnerable to bugs, and any problems that arise won't be fixed (unless you're part of a company that's paid for extended support, in which case you're good until 2023).
Facebook is working on its own operating system
In an attempt to free itself from other tech giants like Google, Facebook is developing its own operating system (OS), The Information reports. In the future, Facebook's hardware products, like Oculus and Portal devices, could run on the OS, Facebook exec Ficus Kirkpatrick said.
Chrome OS officially supports virtual workspaces now
Chrome OS just became more useful if you rely on it for getting work done. Google is rolling out a Chrome OS 78 update that more formally introduces the virtual desktop support seen in August. Anyone can create "Virtual Desks" that organize app and window layouts as separate spaces. You could have an all-business desktop for when you're trying to finish a report, and a leisure desktop when you want to watch videos and catch up with friends. You only have to open Overview and hit New Desk to create a space.
Windows 10X leak reveals a mix of desktop and mobile interfaces
Microsoft has already teased a few details for Windows 10X, but a leak has revealed a whole lot more. Well-known sleuther WalkingCat discovered a (since-pulled) document cache detailing Windows 10X's interface, and it's clear the changes extend far beyond the tablet-like Start menu. It's really a blend of traditional desktop interfaces with concepts you normally only see on phones and mobile tablets.
One of Linux's most important commands had a glaring security flaw
If you've used the command line in Linux or a Unix-based platform like macOS, you're probably familiar with the "sudo" command -- it lets you run tasks with different (usually elevated) permissions than you'd otherwise have. It's powerful, but it was apparently too powerful until now. Developers have fixed a flaw in sudo that let you claim root-level access even if the configuration explicitly forbids it. So long as an intruder had enough access to run sudo in the first place, they could perform any action they wanted on a given machine.
Windows 10X may be Microsoft's OS for dual-screen devices
No, the leaks for Microsoft's October 2nd event haven't stopped yet. In a follow-up, well-known leaker Evan Blass has claimed that Microsoft will not only have a dual-screen Surface, but that it'll be powered by Windows 10X, an operating system variant built for "dual- and folding-screen devices." While he didn't explain interface changes, 10X would reportedly run desktop apps in "containers" -- a term that typically refers to virtualization. In other words, 10X apps aren't the same as Windows 10 apps, but they will likely virtualize a Windows 10 container to run apps that aren't on 10X.
Windows 10 will let you reinstall the OS from the cloud
To date, reinstalling Windows has meant using a local copy -- either something already stored on your PC (and thus at risk of going bad) or something external. Soon, though, it might just be a matter of grabbing it online. On top of changing tablet mode, the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build on the Fast ring includes a "download Windows" option when you want to reset your PC. Much like the feature Macs have had for years, you can use your broadband connection to grab a fresh install from the cloud. You don't need a backup partition or a thumb drive to get back in business.
Chrome OS finally supports virtual desktops
Chrome OS is adding a mainstay feature that other computer platforms have had for years: virtual desktops. The newly released Chrome OS 76 supports "Virtual Desks" that, like elsewhere, lets you create app layouts you can switch to in a heartbeat. You could have a writing-focused space that revolves around Google Docs, for example, and another space that helps you keep up on your social networks.
Huawei's supposed Android alternative isn't meant for smartphones
When Huawei trademarked its Hongmeng operating system last month, many assumed it was the long-rumored mobile OS that the company said it could use in place of Android or Windows. But that's not the case. Catherine Chen, a Huawei board member and senior vice president, told XinhuaNet that Hongmeng wasn't designed for smartphones. Instead, it's meant for industrial use, and Huawei plans to continue using Google's Android OS for its smartphones.
