Logging in to Windows 11 after setup should be the start of a smooth PC experience, but for many users, it’s felt more like a gauntlet of annoying popups. For months, Microsoft has been bombarding users with the “Second-chance Out-of-Box Experience” (SCOOBE): an intrusive string of prompts asking them to commit once more—sometimes more forcefully than ever—to using Microsoft Edge, OneDrive, and other bundled services. This has led to widespread frustration, with users venting about being...
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A seismic shift is rippling through PC gaming as Electronic Arts mandates Secure Boot activation for all Windows users wishing to enter the world of Battlefield 6. This requirement, announced on the eve of the game’s high-profile beta, underscores a new era in anti-cheat technology for multiplayer shooters—one that trades player convenience for heightened security. As anticipation for Battlefield 6 reaches a fever pitch, the community is grappling not just with gameplay dreams but also with...
Microsoft’s journey to a clear, inclusive, and universally logical Windows version naming convention has been less straightforward than many users might realize. After years of bewildering and, at times, geographically exclusive update names like “Anniversary Update,” “Fall Creators Update,” and “Spring Creators Update,” the company decided to abandon these seasonal and arbitrary monikers in 2018. The change, motivated by the need for global inclusivity and genuine clarity, ultimately...
Microsoft’s announcement that support for Windows 11 SE will officially end in October 2026 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of the company's strategy for education-focused operating systems. After just five years on the market, the tailored OS designed as a direct competitor to Chrome OS will see its final security updates with version 24H2, while being excluded from all future Windows updates, such as the anticipated 25H2 release. The move not only signals the sunset of a niche...
The next generation of console gaming is on the horizon, and new credible leaks suggest that the PlayStation 6 is poised to usher in a seismic leap in ray tracing technology, potentially reshaping how immersive worlds are rendered for millions. Details shared through trusted industry voices indicate not just an incremental improvement, but a transformative step forward—promising ray tracing performance that eclipses its predecessor, the PlayStation 5, by up to a staggering 10 times. As Sony...
Anticipation is reaching a crescendo as Microsoft's next-generation Surface Laptop 8 edges closer to its widely rumored October debut. Industry insiders, leakers, and enthusiasts are abuzz with details, and the consensus is clear: this new flagship Windows 11 laptop is poised to set a fresh standard for premium ultraportables. The most notable upgrade? Microsoft’s strategic embrace of Qualcomm’s revolutionary Snapdragon X2 platform, promising an unprecedented blend of raw performance...
The convergence of cybersecurity and data protection is undergoing a dramatic shift, as evidenced by the strategic partnership between Sophos and Rubrik. Their newly announced integrated solution—Sophos M365 Backup and Recovery—marks a pivotal moment for organizations relying on Microsoft 365, promising robust protection against both ransomware and data loss. As AI-driven cyberattacks grow in sophistication and speed, traditional approaches can no longer keep pace with the evolving threat...
Managing power and sleep settings in Windows 11 is essential for optimizing your device's performance and energy efficiency. By customizing these settings, you can extend battery life, reduce energy consumption, and tailor your system's behavior to your preferences.
Accessing Power and Sleep Settings
To adjust power and sleep settings in Windows 11, follow these steps:
Open Settings: Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app.
Navigate to Power & Battery: Click on System in the left pane...
Windows 11 continues to break ground with features that make accessibility tools not only robust, but also highly customizable for users with diverse needs. One of the most significant enhancements in recent updates is the ability to add custom words to the Voice Access vocabulary—a development that unlocks new possibilities for dictation, navigation, and hands-free control for power users and newcomers alike.
Background
While Windows has long supported speech recognition capabilities, the...
A sudden and perplexing error has been cropping up for many Windows 11 users: a popup demanding “Get an app to open this ‘ms-gamebar’ link,” even when the Game Bar integration isn’t actively being used. This glitch, triggered seemingly at random—whether you’re gaming, recording, or simply using your system—has become a disruptive hurdle for those who depend on Xbox Game Bar’s rich suite of tools. Fortunately, several proven solutions and technical workarounds can address the root causes...
A major leap forward in enterprise AI implementation has emerged as Reply, a global systems integrator and technology consultancy, has been elevated to the prestigious Prioritised Tier within the Microsoft Copilot Jumpstart Partner Program. This top-tier recognition cements Reply’s position as a strategic force inside Microsoft’s evolving Copilot ecosystem, driven by the specialized capabilities of its affiliates WM Reply and Valorem Reply. The achievement not only highlights Reply’s deep...
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern workplace, and few case studies illustrate this evolution better than Advania UK’s ambitious rollout of Microsoft Copilot across its entire staff of more than 1,000 employees. Rather than restricting advanced AI tools to select departments or power users, Advania made the bold decision to democratize access, giving every employee—from solutions architects to service delivery managers—the opportunity to leverage next-generation AI. The results...
With the debut of Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 5G, the lines between laptops and mobile devices blur further, revealing both a pivotal step for always-connected computing and a compelling challenge for its rivals. At a price point exceeding $1,700 and tailored for business, this device signals Microsoft's ongoing ambitions to merge high-performance hardware, ubiquitous connectivity, and cutting-edge AI integration. Its launch, however, casts a spotlight on Apple’s curious omission in this...
In a pivotal year for the technology sector, Microsoft has undertaken one of its most profound transformations—laying off 15,000 employees, equivalent to 6.7% of its global workforce, even as it posts record profits and pushes aggressively into artificial intelligence. In a rare display of candor from a Fortune 500 leader, CEO Satya Nadella has publicly acknowledged the emotional and ethical gravity of these decisions, stating, “I feel the immense weight of the choices we’ve had to make.”...
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to manage one’s life with the strategy and precision of a seasoned product manager is swiftly moving from novel idea to everyday practice. As AI tools surge in capability and accessibility, individuals are empowered to transform personal productivity, set intentional goals, and iterate on their habits for meaningful improvement. This emerging trend is not merely about automation but about bringing the rigor and intentionality of product...
Microsoft’s unveiling of its ambitious AI vision for its channel and partner ecosystem marks a decisive shift toward a more agile, data-driven, and empowered future for the worldwide technology community. In a landscape where artificial intelligence has swiftly transitioned from buzzword to business imperative, the company’s latest strategy signals that AI is not only embedded throughout internal operations, but is also being positioned as the core engine for partner growth, customer...
The long-heralded evolution of human-computer interaction is accelerating, as Microsoft unveils a sweeping vision for Windows that places artificial intelligence at the heart of every user experience. By 2030, Microsoft predicts that PCs will do more than just process inputs—they will see, hear, and converse alongside their users, marking the most disruptive shift in the history of the Windows operating system. The mouse and keyboard, once the icons of digital productivity, are set to become...
Reply has secured a significant milestone in its journey as an innovation leader by being named a Prioritised Tier Partner in the Microsoft Copilot Jumpstart Partner Program. This recognition stands as Microsoft’s highest distinction for partners who demonstrate exceptional Copilot-specific expertise, and it places Reply and its subsidiaries, WM Reply and Valorem Reply, at the forefront of AI-driven business transformation within the Microsoft ecosystem. The elevation to this distinguished...
Microsoft has lit a fire under the AI landscape by integrating OpenAI’s newest open-weight language models—gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b—directly into Azure and the Windows AI Foundry. These models, distinguished by their open-weight status and extreme configurability, put advanced generative AI within the reach of developers, enterprises, and power users alike. For the first time since GPT-2, OpenAI is granting unrestricted access to model weights, fundamentally changing the rules of...
In a joint move reshaping cyber resilience for cloud productivity suites, Sophos and Rubrik have unveiled a backup and recovery solution specifically optimized for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) environments running Microsoft 365. This innovative partnership brings Sophos M365 Backup and Recovery Powered by Rubrik—built for deep integration into Sophos Central—to a market increasingly threatened by ransomware, account compromise, and insider risk. Sophos promises that this solution...