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Original Publish Date: January 9th, 2025 Ah, Microsoft, always raising the bar! Once again, they’ve unleashed a new feature preview that blends AI’s brainpower with the art of customization—and this time, it’s all about Copilot Studio. Tailored in-app chat experiences are now within your grasp, promising to supercharge your apps and enhance user satisfaction. So, what exactly is going on here? Buckle up because we’re about to deep dive into the innovation behind Copilot Chat Customization in...

Microsoft is sharpening the blades of its Chromium-based Edge browser, and the sparks come from an ambitious project codenamed Project Phoenix. With a clear focus on aesthetics, functionality, and speed — all in line with the design principles of Windows 11 — this overhaul promises to be a journey rather than a one-time grand performance. Let’s dive in and see what the buzz is about, and explore how these updates could affect your digital browsing experience. What is Project Phoenix...

Episode 914 of Windows Weekly, humorously titled "Something Weird From the Closet," delivers a fascinating peek into the Microsoft world and adjacent tech developments as we embrace the beginning of 2025. If you're not caught up, don’t sweat it—I’m here to break down the juiciest bits from the episode and dive into the broader implications for Windows enthusiasts and beyond. From the so-called "Year of the Windows 11 PC Refresh" to Qualcomm's surprise legal victory, and Microsoft's...

Microsoft has doubled down on reinforcing security through every nook and cranny of Windows 11, and one standout component in this mix is Smart App Control, a security feature crafted to block malicious, untrusted, or potentially unwanted apps from running on your system. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this app sketchy, and do I really want to run it?”—Smart App Control is trailblazing its way into making that decision for you. But, as with any new tech, there’s a swirl of questions regarding...

It's pretty rare to wake up one morning and suddenly declare allegiance to a completely different operating system. Yet, that’s precisely what João Carrasqueira described in an article citing seven reasons why his Mac Mini stole him away from the vast universe of Windows PCs. Life-long Windows users, proceed with caution: this isn't just about the Mac Mini being cute, it's about efficiency, features, and surprisingly fewer headaches. Let's dig into his arguments and see what they mean for...

Just when we thought 2025 would be the year of seamless Windows 11 experiences, an update to the highly anticipated Version 24H2 has introduced a swarm of new bugs that are causing widespread frustration among users. Whether you're team "File Explorer Warrior" or someone who reluctantly clicks the folder icon twice a week, these bugs have managed to make routine tasks anything but routine on Windows' flagship OS. Let’s break down what’s happening, what’s being done, and how you can deal with...

Microsoft has rolled out a crucial set of changes in its Privilege Attribute Certificate (PAC) Validation protocol, addressing two significant security vulnerabilities: CVE-2024-26248 and CVE-2024-29056. These updates, released via Windows security patches on April 9, 2024, and scaling enforcement through January and April 2025, mark an important shift in how Kerberos authentication and PAC ticket validations are managed. Let’s break down what this all means for IT professionals, sysadmins...

In a move that will excite security-conscious organizations and users alike, Microsoft has announced a significant update to its revamped Outlook for Windows. Set to land later this January, the company will introduce Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) support for primary accounts. What does this shift mean for you, whether you're an IT admin keeping your organization secure or just a power user of Microsoft's expanding suite of tools? Let's dive into the nitty-gritty...

Windows 11 has arrived, and you may still be wondering: "What exactly makes it different from Windows 10?" Whether you're a new user or an experienced one, this guide highlights 22 fantastic tips and tricks you can try in Windows 11 to make the most of Microsoft's latest OS. Windows 11 isn’t just about sleek visuals; it’s a productivity powerhouse packed with user-friendly tools and features. Let’s break down these tips in detail along with explanations to help you master Windows 11. 1...

The default File Explorer in Windows 11 is reliable for basic needs, but let's face it—a little pizzazz and added functionality wouldn't hurt, right? If you're tired of working with the same old File Explorer and itching for more power, flexibility, and ease in file management, I've got some fantastic news for you! There’s a world of configuration tweaks and third-party tools just waiting to supercharge your File Explorer experience. From sprucing up file previews to simplifying batch...

Keeping your Windows apps up to date can feel like a chore—what with the constant rollout of patches, new features, bug fixes, and sometimes random widget updates you didn't even know were a thing. But Microsoft has done us all a favor by incorporating a built-in feature for automatic app updates straight into the Microsoft Store. If you've been manually updating apps like some kind of digital archaeologist, it's time you streamlined things. Let's dive deep into enabling automatic app...

If you've ever slogged through a Microsoft Word document manually copying the same text over and over again—whether it's a name, a company title, or any other critical field—you may want to sit down for this. Word has a built-in feature you might've missed that can shave hours off your task list: repeating and automatically updating text fields. Yeah, it's as cool as it sounds. Let’s unpack how this works and why it’s a game changer for anyone drafting reusable documents like contracts...

Hold on to your keyboards, Windows administrators, because 2025 isn’t just shaping up to be the year Microsoft hypes up Windows 11; it’s also a year of farewells—a number of features and technologies across Microsoft 365 (M365), Windows, and related services are heading for the great tech graveyard. If you’re still holding onto legacy tools and apps, it’s time to brace yourself for all these changes. Microsoft has already flagged off several retirements well in advance, but the sheer volume...

It’s New Year tech resolutions time, and Microsoft has kicked it off with yet another iteration of the Windows 11 Canary build. Version 27768 is here for those braving the experimental Canary Channel. While this isn’t a revolutionary release—no holograms flying off your screen just yet—it comes packed with incremental improvements, bug squashes, and a sprinkle of much-needed polish. If you’re all about File Explorer finesse and smoother settings, this one’s worth a closer look. Let’s break...

Mark your calendars, Windows enthusiasts and IT pros! Microsoft is hosting the next installment of its ever-popular Windows Office Hours series on January 16, 2025. Whether you're an organizational IT manager, a product expert, or just someone passionate about Windows 11 and beyond, this event promises to deliver answers and actionable advice on a range of pressing topics in the Windows ecosystem. Think of it as your live troubleshooting hotline... but turbocharged by Microsoft engineers and...

The retail landscape is on the brink of profound transformation, and at NRF (National Retail Federation) 2025: Retail’s Big Show, Microsoft is putting its cards on the table for what could redefine the industry. It’s all about big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and how these technologies—armed within Dynamics 365—are poised to transform enterprise resource planning (ERP) like never before. Let's dive into what this means for retailers, why it matters, and what might be the game-changer...

2025 is opening with some intriguing moves from Microsoft, combining workforce changes with ambitious growth in its Azure cloud infrastructure division. With fewer than 1% of its approximately 228,000-strong global workforce affected, the tech giant has leaned into small but notable performance-based layoffs. But don’t mistake these cuts as a pessimistic harbinger—Microsoft’s laser focus on future opportunities like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services screams confidence, not...

It’s always an exciting day when the Windows Insider team rolls out a new preview build, and today they’ve released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768 into the wild via the Canary Channel. Whether you’re a seasoned IT pro, a curious tech enthusiast, or someone flirting with pre-release builds for the thrill of exploring cutting-edge features, this latest build has something to pique your interest. Here’s the scoop on what’s new, what’s improved, what’s broken, and why this release...

Windows pirates, gather around the screen because today’s stew of tech gossip has stirred the pot big time. An ex–Microsoft employee has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) for claiming that Redmond doesn’t give two bits about pirated copies of Windows 11. You read it right: a former member of the house that built Windows has openly stated that pirating Microsoft’s flagship operating system won’t make you public enemy number one. But what’s the deal here? Is Microsoft really indifferent to...