software freedom

The GNU Linux-libre 6.16 release lands on August 24, 2025 with a familiar promise and a precise mandate: take everything new and noteworthy in upstream Linux 6.16 and remove the parts that depend on proprietary firmware, binary-only microcode, or unclear redistribution terms, then ship a kernel...

Microsoft’s Windows 11 is continually evolving, unveiling feature updates at a pace that even the most seasoned Windows enthusiasts can find dizzying. Yet, in recent months, a fascinating (and, to many, frustrating) trend has emerged: a class of highly desired features—some offering genuine user...

As the sunset approaches for Windows 10, users around the globe face a pivotal choice: take the leap to Windows 11, linger on unsupported software, or embrace a radically different path—switching to Linux paired with LibreOffice. The Document Foundation (TDF), the driving force behind...

Microsoft’s approach to browser choice in Windows 11 has long been a sore point for users who value autonomy over their computing experience. This week, the company took a major step in realigning its practices—at least in the eyes of European regulators—by announcing sweeping changes aimed at...

In a landmark shift spurred by Europe’s stringent regulatory landscape, Microsoft has begun rolling out a series of significant updates to Windows 10, Windows 11, and an array of native apps. This evolving update cycle reflects not only Microsoft’s “ongoing commitment to compliance” but also...

For years, Microsoft Edge has been at the forefront of the Windows ecosystem—not just as a browser bundled with every Windows installation, but as the subject of persistent prompts urging users to make it their default. For many, especially those outside the United States, these constant nudges...

For many Windows enthusiasts across the European Economic Area (EEA), the experience of using Microsoft’s flagship operating system has often come with a persistent frustration: the unrelenting push to use Microsoft Edge or the Microsoft Store, even when users have clearly expressed a preference...

With Microsoft intensifying its campaign to migrate users from Windows 10 to Windows 11, or better yet to the new Copilot+ PCs, a subset of the tech community is rising in protest. These users aren’t just resisting change for the sake of it—they’re motivated by a mix of practicality, economics...

As Microsoft proceeds with the final stages of its Windows 11 version 24H2 rollout, a seismic shift is underway for millions of Windows 10 users around the globe. The software giant recently reaffirmed that support for Windows 10 will officially end in less than six months—a deadline that poses...

Windows finds itself at a moment of uncomfortable reckoning—one poised between its vast legacy and a growing sense of ennui, even resentment, among loyal users. Once the great disruptor, now the reluctant incumbent, Microsoft’s operating system dominates desktop computing in raw numbers, but...

Microsoft’s recent move to restrict its C/C++ extension for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) exclusively to its first-party products has stirred significant concern and debate throughout the developer community. As of version 1.24.5 released on April 3, 2025, the extension now refuses to work on...

Microsoft's recent enforcement of licensing restrictions on its C/C++ extension for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has stirred significant controversy among developers relying on open-source VS Code forks like VS Codium and commercial derivatives such as Cursor. This move, which first became...