GitHub Copilot hits milestone with 1.3 million users; indicating rapid growth in AI coding sector

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered code suggestion tool, became generally available to all developers at 10 USD/month or $100 USD/year on June 21, 2022. The tool was initially previewed in 2021 before becoming generally available.

This AI pair programmer is becoming popular, and its number of users has reached more than 1.3 million. When you type code or comment, GitHub Copilot can efficiently suggest the next line of code. Not only this, but it can also suggest complete methods, whole unit tests, boilerplate code, and complex algorithms.

GitHub Copilot is developed in collaboration with OpenAI, uses advanced generative AI to improve coding accuracy and efficiency.

Many developers have mentioned that GitHub Copilot has sped up the coding process with accuracy. Here are some reviews:

Enhance Your Data Science Projects With Generative AI
For past few months, I’ve been personally using several generative AI products, and GitHub Copilot is one of them, I mainly used it to assist me to code my Data Science projects, and I can say that it really helpful for someone like me who learned Python coding in a non formal way. It helped me a lot in terms of refactoring my code that align with the best practice, another thing that amaze me is the ability of understanding the context of the code that i wrote, so the suggestion can be more accurate to my needs, not to mention that i can easily integrate it to my main IDE (Visual Studio Code) in a simple click.

One of the Reddit user, genitor says:

Definitely worth it, and it seems to be getting better all the time. It’s great for generating code that follows patterns that already exist in your code, and for generating helpful comments/messages/etc.

It’s also getting spooky good at generating the code that you were about to write, too. Just make sure to double check it.

I personally feel like the productivity increases it creates are well worth the $10/month.

Another Reddit user, k3liutZu mentioned:

I just love when it autocompletes my test boilerplate, and once a test is done it autocompletes my other tests which follow the same pattern.

However, there are a few people who don’t quite like the service as they have mentioned rather than writing the code, they are spending time verifying the code that the AI assistant suggested.

Some advised that Junior developers should not use the service, as they need to learn and skill up on their own and then use the AI assistant to speed up their work.

Despite differing opinions about the product, the numbers of active users is increasing for GitHub Copilot, despite the occasional inaccuracies, and majority of developer community seems to like it.

With Microsoft commitment to integrating AI in its products has surely revolutionized the way we work, and we expect the company will continue to enhance its products for the betterment of technology and people around.

Have you used the paid version of GitHub Copilot? If so, share your opinions with our readers telling howu useful you find it in the comments section below.

How to Stop the Xbox App from Automatically Signing in to Windows 11

Posted on by Claire Moraa

The Xbox app has an auto-sign feature where it automatically signs into your Windows 11 device using your Microsoft account.

While this can be convenient for most gamers, sometimes when it signs into the wrong account, it can be problematic especially if you’re on a shared computer and would like to keep your sign-in credentials private.

How do I stop Xbox from automatically signing in to Windows 11?

1. Disable Xbox automatic sign in

  1. Launch your Xbox app and go to Settings.
  2. Go to General.
  3. Uncheck the Automatically launch app at startup option under Startup settings.

2. Delete accounts and cache folder

  1. Open File Explorer using the Windows key + E shortcut. In the address bar paste the following line:
    %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\TokenBroker
  2. If there are Accounts and Cache folders available make sure that you delete them.
  3. After removing the cache, log out of your Xbox app, restart your PC and see if it automatically signs in to your Windows 11.

Clearing this information means deleting all associated passwords and any other credentials tied to your Xbox account. You’ll have to log in afresh the next time you start up Windows.

3. Remove your password from Windows Credential Manager

  1. Click on the Windows Search icon on the taskbar, type Control Panel and click Open.control-panel-search fallout new vegas runtime error
  2. Select User Accounts.going user accounts control panel
  3. Click on Manage your credentials on the left-hand side.Open Manage your credentials
  4. Select Windows Credentials in the new window.going windows credentials windows 11
  5. Expand the unfamiliar user account, and in the drop-down menu, click Remove to get rid of that user.
  6. Next, press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
  7. Navigate to the following path: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Packages (change the Username to the name of your user account).
  8. In the Packages folder, locate Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyew and right-click on it. Select Delete from the context menu and restart your PC.
  9. Sign in with the Xbox Console Companion.

4. Enable 2FA Authentication

  1. Navigate to your browser and go to your Microsoft account. 
  2. From the top-right corner, click My Microsoft account.
  3. Go to the Security tab. Then, on the next page, click Other ways to sign in.
  4. Click Use my password.
  5. Select Advanced security options.
  6. Under Additional security, click Turn on for Two-step verification.Turn 2FA -microsoft authenticator wrong code

After removing your password, enabling the two-factor authentication for your Microsoft account will not only add an extra layer of protection but also lock out unauthorized devices and apps from signing in without a verification code.

This in turn will prevent the Xbox app from automatically signing in to your Windows 11.

5. Reinstall the Xbox app

  1. Clean your registry with a reliable registry cleaner.
  2. Log into your Microsoft Store with your desired Xbox account, install a game, and launch it.
  3. Close the game.
  4. Now go back to the Microsoft Store, install the Xbox app.
  5. Next, press the Windows+ I keys to open the Settings app.
  6. Type Windows PowerShell (Admin) and select the matching result from the list of options.
  7. In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and hit enter to execute:
    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  8. Wait for the command to execute, and then restart your PC.
  9. After the restart, check whether the Xbox app is automatically signing in to your Windows 11.

6. Reinstall the Gaming services app

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type powershell, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.powershell
  2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  3. Now, paste the following command and hit Enter:get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-Appxpackage –allusersreinstall gaming services to fix windows 11 xbox app not downloading games
  4. Next, execute the following command:start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN
  5. Finally, click on the Get button to reinstall the Gaming Services.get

Finally, the Xbox app automatically signing into your Windows 11 may not be a huge problem per se especially if it is the right account. However, for the sake of your privacy and security, it is important to disable automatic sign-in and exercise more control.

And if none of the above steps have been helpful, another option would be to create a local account temporarily. Alternatively, you can also copy your user profile to a new one and see if this resolves the problem.

Aside from automatic sign-ins, Xbox may also fail to sign in at times but nothing a Windows update can’t fix. However, if the Xbox app is not working on your Windows PC, that may require more muscle like resetting the app to default settings.

And it’s a wrap from us but we’d like to know whether you’ve managed to stop Xbox from automatically signing in to your Windows 11. Which solution worked for you or do you have any other not mentioned above? Drop us a line in the comment section below.

Irresistible deal alert: Get Asus Zenbook 14 OLED powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU at $799

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

ASUS – Zenbook 14 OLED 14 WUXGA touch laptop, powered by Intel Core Ultra 7, designed for power users and multitaskers, released in March 2024 is now available for $799.99 on Best Buy. You can also get it for $66.67/mo suggested payments with 12-Month Financing. The original cost for this laptop is 1049, as of now you can save up to $250.

This machine is ideal for casual gamers as it has Intel Arc graphics plus it is portable due to its 14 inches screen and small size, so you can easily carry it around.

ASUS Lumina OLED touchscreen, powerful new Super-linear speakers with sound by harman/kardon, AI Engine and FHD 60 Hz OLED, you can immerse your sense and get lifelike visual experiences

Here are the detailed specifications of the laptop

CategoryTech specs
Operating systemWindows 11 Pro
Touch screenYes
Color Jasper Gray
Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 1
Up to 5.1 GHz
with a total of 16 cores
CPU base close frequency 1.4 gigahertz
Graphics Intel Arc
Memory16GB
Storage 1TB storage
NPUIntel AI Boost
CPU TDP28 W
Battery life75Wh, 15+ hours
Battery typeLithium-ion
DisplayASUS Lumina 3K 120 Hz OLED (1920 x 1200 (WUXGA))
HDR brightness: 500-night peak
Aspect ratio: 16:10 
Screen-to-body ratio – 87% 
HDR display
Corning Gorilla GlassYes
Thickness14.9 mm
Weight 2.82 lbs / 0.59″
Refresh rate 60Hz
Sound Dolby Atmos
Sound by harman/kardon
Anti-fingerprint touchpadYes
Emoji hotkeyYes
Quiet Keyboard technologyYes
AiSense cameraYes
Two-Way AI Noise CancelationYes
Windows Hello Infrared (IR) cameraYes
Backlit KeyboardYes
2-in-1 DesignNo
I/O Ports 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
Audio combo jack
HDMI 2.1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
Physical webcam privacy shieldYes

With this stunning sturdy build laptop, you also get two freebies:

  • Microsoft – Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1 Month Membership – Activation Required [Digital]
  • Norton 360 (3 Device) with LifeLock Identity Advisor (1 Adult) Internet Security Software + VPN (6 Month Subscription) – Android, Apple iOS, Mac OS, Windows [Digital]

What do you think about this laptop and Best Buy’s deal? Share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below

How to Stop the Xbox App if it Keeps Pinning Itself on the Taskbar

Posted on by Claire Moraa

We all love the convenience of the Windows 11 taskbar to reach out for our frequently used apps but when an app like Xbox keeps pinning itself without your intervention, it can be annoying.

The Xbox app or any other program may keep re-pinning itself on the Taskbar after you’ve removed it if it is corrupt or its registry files have been modified.

If space is the main issue and your Taskbar items appear squeezed, you can always increase your Taskbar’s size. Otherwise, you can just remove it.

How do I keep my Xbox app off my taskbar?

1. Disable Xbox from Startup programs

  1. Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type in shell:startup in the dialog box and hit Enter to open the Startup folder.
  3. Select the Xbox app you want to disable then click on the trash icon to delete.

2. Adjust the Default Layout settings

  1. Hit the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
  2. Click on View>Hidden items and navigate to the following path: C:\users\Yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
  3. Right-click on the LayoutModifications file and select Edit.
  4. Delete the following line: taskbar:UWAAppuserModeIID=”Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App”/>
  5. Unpin the Xbox app then restart your PC.

3. Disallow pinning of programs from the Group Policy Editor

  1. Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the dialog box and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.gpedit.msc virus & threat protection
  3. Navigate to the following path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar
  4. Double-click on Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar.
  5. Click on the Disabled box then click on Apply then OK to effect the changes.
  6. Restart your PC and check whether the Xbox app is still pinning itself on the taskbar.

4. Reinstall the Xbox app

  1. Hit the Start Menu icon and click on Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Click on Apps on the left pane then select Apps & features on the right pane.
  3. Locate the Xbox app, click on the three ellipses, and select Advanced options.
  4. Click on the Uninstall button.
  5. Go to the Microsoft Store, search for the Xbox app and install it.

If there was a problem with the initial installation of the Xbox app, a fresh install can resolve these issues. Just remember to clean up any remnant files before installing again to prevent replicating the same issue.

5. Create a new user profile

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run console, enter netplwiz in the text field, and click OK.
  2. Click Add in the User Accounts window.
  3. Select Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended).
  4. Click on Local account button.
  5. Enter a username and password (optional) for the new user account, and a hint, in case you set a password. Once done, click on Next.
  6. Click on Finish to create the Local account.

The purpose of a new user profile is to isolate the issue and see if it’s a profile-related problem. If your user profile is corrupt, some apps or functions may behave abnormally, so the Xbox app keeps pinning itself deliberately even after you unpin it.

Aside from the Xbox app that keeps pining itself on the Taskbar, you may also find that your pinned apps are not showing. If so, we have the answers on how to get them back.

And if the icons are too small, you can increase your taskbar icon size. Elsewhere, if you don’t like a cluttered desktop look, you can always hide your taskbar permanently.

That’s all we had for this article but if you have any other solution we may have missed, feel free to share it with us in the comment section below.

Analyze pages more efficiently with Ask Copilot and tagging in Edge

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Edge and Copilot have a deep integration, and Microsoft plans to expand it further with additional features.

So, what are these new features, and when can we expect to see them in action?

Microsoft is testing Ask Copilot in Microsoft Edge

These two features were spotted by Windows Latest, and the first feature is dubbed tagging since it allows you to tag the page you want for Copilot to scan for data.

Often Copilot will crawl the web instead of the currently opened page or document thus giving you incorrect information.

This feature fixes that since it allows you to select the source that you want Copilot to use. You can choose between This page or Relevant sources.

In addition to providing correct information, Copilot is also about 30% faster since it needs to process and analyze only a single page.

Another new feature is the Ask Copilot, it’s a menu that will appear when you right-click selected text or page.

From this menu you can choose one of the following options: Explain, Summarize, Expand, or Ask anything in the chat.

After that, the Copilot will analyze the selected text and apply the chosen command. The feature works with web pages and PDF files alike.

Regarding availability, tagging is already available, while Ask Copilot is currently being tested in Edge Canary.

This isn’t the only news regarding Microsoft’s AI assistant, as the company is currently testing Draft with Copilot in Edge.

As for other software integrations, Copilot in Excel will get support for conditional formatting soon.

Meta is determined to win the AI race with its new free assistant

Posted on by Sebastian Filipoiu

At this point, it feels like most AI companies are releasing new AI assistants capable of surpassing the previous ones. Sometimes, it is hard to keep up with them and decide which one to use. A few months ago, ChatGPT was on top, then Gemini, then Copilot, and the list goes on with other models. Now, Meta brings a new AI assistant powered by their Llama 3 model, which could be better than ChatGPT.

Meta will add the new AI assistant to Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. In addition, you can access it through the Meta.AI website.

Is the Meta AI assistant better than its competitors?

According to The Verge, the Llama 3 model used for the AI assistant outperforms its competitors in benchmarks. Also, the tech giant claims that it is better at coding too. On top of that, two of the Llama 3 models available are open source. Additionally, Meta will release a third multimodal version in a few months.

One of the models has 8 billion parameters available, while the other has 70 billion. Also, they will both be accessible on major cloud providers. Meanwhile, the upcoming third Llama 3 model has 400 billion parameters and over 15 trillion tokens.

The new Llama 3 has a seven times larger training dataset and four times more code than Llama 2. So, once available, it will improve the Meta AI assistant. However, Mark Zuckerberg says it won’t be open-source for safety reasons since the tech giant trained it on AI and public data and has a larger corpus than the Common Crawl.

The new assistant offers premium AI features for free

Meta wants to create the most intelligent AI assistant that people can freely use. So, the new model can use both Google and Bing searches. Furthermore, its image generator can create gifs, short animations, and high-resolution images faster than other models.

The new AI assistant from Meta might surpass others because the company tries to give it most of the existing features of other models. Thus, if Meta succeeds, we might stop using other assistants since this one offers premium AI features for free. However, there could be a usage limit to prevent overcrowding.

Even if OpenAI will release the new GPT-5, it won’t be a problem for the company. According to Zuckerberg, the main goal of Meta is to be the leading AI in the world. So, the tech giant is already planning Llama 4 and 5.

Unfortunately, the new AI assistant from Meta is only available in the U.S. and Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. So, it will take some time until it is globally available.

In summary, the new AI assistant from Meta could become the most used on the market. After all, it offers premium features for free, has a giant database, uses both Bing and Google, and generates images and short animations faster than other models.

What are your thoughts? Are you eager to use it? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft Office 2024: Things we know so far

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

Microsoft announced the release of the commercial preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 for Windows and Mac devices, which could help us understand what we can expect from Office 2024.

We know that Microsoft has announced that Office 2024 will be available this year and will replace Office 2021. So far, there is no official release date for this version.

In the tech blog post by Microsoft, we got to know that Office LTSC 2024 will include all the features present in the previous Office version and some new features available in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise.

The company also mentioned:

 Office LTSC is built for specialized use cases that require a long-term servicing channel such as regulated devices that cannot accept feature updates for years at a time, manufacturing process control devices that are not connected to the internet, or medical testing equipment running embedded apps that must stay locked in time.  

Although the LTSC version is different from the Office Home version, it provides us with some clues about the latter. The upcoming version will replace Office 2021 and will also be a one-time purchase version that will have Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

This servicing channel will be supported for five years under the  Fixed Lifecycle Policy, in parallel with Windows 11 LTSC, which will launch this year.

The Redmond tech giant mentioned earlier that Office 2024 would be supported for five years and that the price wouldn’t be different from the previous iteration, which was $150 for a license on a single machine.

The Windows for Office 2024 LTSC version will include Excel, Word, Access, OneNote, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Skype for Business; the Mac version has Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Outlook. However, this version does not include all the AI and cloud-based collaboration features.

As of the Office 2024 Home version, we will get all the apps except Skype for Business. As for Outlook, the availability is uncertain due to the fact Microsoft has made Outlook for Mac and Windows (not the classic one) a free app.

What are you expecting from Office 2024? Share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below.

Microsoft’s strategy worked: Its games on PlayStation Store top the popularity chart

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

When Microsoft first started focusing on the software side of gaming and subsequently released Xbox exclusives on other consoles, many were skeptical, calling it the end of Xbox. But as it turns out, things look promising for Microsoft, with its games outselling Sony-owned titles on the PlayStation Store.

First reported by Derek Strickland on Tweaks Town, Microsoft presently has 7 titles compared to Sony’s 5 in the top 25 best-selling games list. This includes games from studios recently acquired by Microsoft, such as Activision Blizzard, a deal valued at $69 billion.

Games from Microsoft-owned studios on the top-selling list include

  • Call of Duty
  • Overwatch 2
  • Fallout 4
  • Sea of Thieves
  • Minecraft
  • Fallout 76
  • Grounded

Sea of Thieves and Grounded were two Xbox exclusives recently released on PlayStation.

As for Sony, the five titles that made it to the top 25 best-selling games are:

  • MLB The Show 24
  • Helldivers 2
  • Destiny 2
  • Stellar Blade
  • Rise of the Ronin

Remember, the rankings change every day, and the data used is for April 18, 2024.

Microsoft’s recent acquisitions play a key role in scoring this win

Even though Microsoft is losing the console war, with PlayStation outselling Xbox, Microsoft-owned games performing way better on the PlayStation Store shouldn’t come as a surprise. Microsoft’s recent strategies in gaming, from acquiring studios to bringing Xbox exclusives on other platforms to going all digital, have paid off!

Sony, on the other hand, has not shown much interest in bringing its exclusive titles to the Xbox console, although games like Helldivers 2 did make it to the PC.

Concerning the future of Xbox, reports suggest that the next Xbox will be more like a PC, allowing users to play a wider set of games from different platforms. This will surely be something to look out for and may help Xbox reclaim the lost share in the console market!

Which Microsoft game on the PlayStation Store is your favourite? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Meta AI got powered up by Llama 3, now available in other countries

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

As you may know, Meta has released the Llama 3 model recently, and the new model offers new features and amazing performance.

The model is available for testing, and you can try it by using Meta’s chatbot web page.

Meta AI is now available in 13 additional countries

Following the launch of the new LLM model, Meta has decided to extend the availability of its chatbot to more countries as MSPowerUser writes.

The chatbot is available now available in the following:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Ghana
  • Jamaica
  • Malawi
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

The AI was previously limited to Meta’s mobile apps such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, but now it’s available in web browsers.

At the time of writing, we weren’t able to use the service in Firefox, but it worked perfectly in Chrome without a Facebook account.

If you’re located in one of the countries that supports Meta AI, be sure to give it a try. As for global availability, we expect to see it soon although no official information is available.

Microsoft’s latest patent describes a sustainable computing technology that can be integrated with Windows

Posted on by Flavius Floare

Sustainable computing is a concept that has been gaining ground in the tech industry over the last few years. With movements such as the Right to Repair advocating for serviceable devices gaining traction, and our survey confirming people everywhere agree with legalizing and turning it into a law, it’s clear that many of us want devices that can last longer, and that can be repaired in case they go south.

However, a vital part of these devices’ longevity is their ability to manage resources in a way that doesn’t overstimulate them.

In other words, all of our devices cannot consume just the right amount of computing power necessary for different tasks, but they are equipped with software that regulates consumption, such as battery-saving settings. These are limited in their rights, and once enabled an array of other options won’t be available to use.

But Microsoft is working on a solution. The company, which already supports the Right to Repair movement and has designed its upcoming Surface devices to be highly serviceable, is working on a sustainable computing technology that can be theoretically integrated with Windows.

The patent calls the technology a Sustainability-aware computing device behavior management, and it’s a system that helps manage how a computer device behaves in a way that’s good for the environment.

The way it works makes it quite intriguing, as it can automatically detect just how sustainable your energy provider is: the platform gets information about how sustainable an energy grid is from a data provider.

Then it makes a forecast about sustainability, which a computer device can receive and store. The device uses this forecast to manage its functions.

It can do certain things at times that are less harmful to the environment, which means it uses less energy when the environmental impact is predicted to be high.

The device can update the stored forecast regularly or when it finds out that its location (and maybe the energy grid it’s connected to) has changed.

One of the most intriguing parts of this technology is its ability to cache the sustainability forecast, and it uses that cache to initiate further sustainable actions, instead of consuming more energy to get the information from the data provider.

The computing device may cache the sustainability forecast for the time period, thereby potentially reducing the amount of sustainability forecast requests that is received in aggregate from a population of computing.

According to the patent, the technology can be implemented in an array of devices, from laptops to desktops, mobile phones, or tablets, and even Internet-of-Things devices, as it could be part of operating systems, such as Windows, Android, and so on.

It will be appreciated that the disclosed techniques may be applied to any of a variety of computing devices, inclduing, but not limited to, mobile computing devices, tablet computing devices, laptops computing devices, desktop computing devices, server computing devices, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) computing devices.

This sustainable computing technology would also manage peripherals connected to devices, automatically, using the same process. The patent describes a situation where an external hard drive would be put to sleep automatically, to consume less power.

A computing device may have an associated peripheral device, such that usage and/or behavior of the peripheral device is similarly managed based at least in part on a sustainability forecast. During a period of comparatively high impact, the external storage may be put into a lower power state and/or backups may be deferred until the forecasted impact associated with energy grid use decreases.

Given Microsoft’s goal to be as sustainable as possible (after all, the company did promise the upcoming AI data centers are designed to be sustainable and carbon-negative), this technology will most likely see the light of day in a future version of Windows, but maybe as a stand-alone technology, as well.

Speaking of light and sustainable computing, Microsoft patented another technology, a while ago, which focuses on dimming each pixel of a display individually. The technology would allow for a selective dimming option: one part of the display could be brighter, while another part would not be affected, all at the same time. It creates a more immersive experience when gaming, and it also, inadvertently, is sustainable, as it consumes less power than it has to.

So, Microsoft clearly thinks sustainable computing is the future.

Vivaldi started updating their browser for the upcoming fleet of ARM-basted laptops

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Recently, Google released a Chrome version for ARM and now, Vivaldi released what they call an ARM64 architecture preview package for testing. However, the publishers say that you should proceed with caution because they didn’t test it on actual ARM64 devices:

As an extra bonus we also include Windows arm64 “architecture preview” packages for those of you with suitable hardware. These builds are not yet part of our automated test system and have only been lightly tested on one piece of hardware. Serious issues may exist and should be expected. Nonetheless, any testing and feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Vivaldi news

What’s new from Vivaldi browser?

For those of us who love staying on the cutting edge of tech, this is pretty exciting news. But what does it mean for the average user? Vivaldi’s update is not just any ordinary tweak. It’s a step forward into a territory that’s gaining traction due to the upcoming wave of Windows laptops powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite CPUs.

These processors are designed to compete with the likes of Intel, AMD, and Apple’s M1 chips, boasting 12 high-performance cores and impressive clock speeds. The promise of better performance on ARM architecture is tantalizing, but Vivaldi cautions that this version is in its infancy. Expect some bumps along the road.

If you’re someone who’s always looking for the best performance and efficiency from your devices, this update could be a game-changer. Imagine your browser running smoother and faster, making your online experience more enjoyable.

The release of ARM-compatible versions by both Google Chrome and Vivaldi signals a growing interest in catering to ARM-based hardware. This isn’t just about making apps run; it’s about optimizing them to take full advantage of the hardware’s capabilities. And with major PC makers like Acer, ASUS, Dell, and Lenovo gearing up to release notebooks equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite chip in 2024, the future looks promising. The tech world is clearly gearing up for an ARM-powered revolution.

In conclusion, the ARM architecture is slowly but surely claiming its place in the tech ecosystem, and with Vivaldi’s latest update, we’re getting a glimpse of what’s to come. Tell us what you think about this in a comment below.

VASA-1 could become the main generator for deepfakes that will make or break elections

Posted on by Sebastian Filipoiu

Microsoft’s VASA-1 is a new tool that allows you to create deepfakes with just a photo and an audio clip. After all, wrongdoers can use it in various ways. Fortunately, at the moment, the framework is not accessible because developers are still researching it.

According to Microsoft, Russian and Chinese hackers use similar tools to VASA-1 to generate complex deepfake videos. Through them, they spread misinformation about existing socio-political problems to influence U.S. elections. For instance, one of their methods is to create a fake video of a less-known politician talking about pressing matters. In addition, they use phone calls generated with AI to make it more credible.

What can threat actors do with VASA-1 and similar tools?

Threat actors could also use VASA-1 and tools like Sora AI to create deepfakes featuring celebrities or public people. As a result, cybercriminals could hurt the reputation of the VIPs or use their identity to scam us. In addition, it is possible to use video-generating apps to promote fake advertising campaigns.

It is possible to use VASA-1 to create deepfakes of experts. For instance, a while ago, an advertising company generated a video of Dana Brems, a podiatrist, to promote fake practices and products, such as weight loss pills. Additionally, most threat actors doing this type of fraud are from China.

Even if the deepfakes generated with VASA-1 are complex, you don’t need advanced knowledge to use it. After all, it has a simple UI. So, anyone could use it to generate and steam qualitative videos. Besides that, all others need is an AI voice generator and a voice message. So, others might use it to create fake court evidence and other types of malicious content. Below you can find the post of @rowancheung showcasing it.

Are there any ways to prevent VASA-1 deepfakes?

VASA-1 shows how much AI grew in a few years, and though it feels a bit threatening, officials set new rules in motion. For example, we have the EU AI ACT, the first regulation of Artificial Intelligence, which bans threatening models. Furthermore, Microsoft ensures us that VASA-1 won’t be available too soon. However, it exceeded its training and accommodated new features.

Unfortunately, the existence of VASA-1 shows that it is possible to create an AI generative tool capable of creating deepfakes. So, experienced threat actors could make their own malicious version.

Ultimately, we won’t be able to create deepfakes with VASA-1 too soon. However, this technology has the potential to become a real security threat. So, Microsoft and other companies should be careful when testing it to avoid leaving vulnerabilities. After all, nobody wants another AI incident.

What are your thoughts? Are you afraid that someone could use a deepfake generator against you? Let us know in the comments.

Build your dream PC with this ASUS motherboard and liquid cooling discounts

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Getting a high-quality motherboard and cooling isn’t always easy due to pricing, but if you’re looking to upgrade or build a new PC, we have some good news for you.

ASUS has a great discount on motherboards and liquid cooling, so you’ll be able to find something that matches both your needs and budget.

These ASUS motherboards are at a discount, so be sure to get one

According to ASUS Edge Up, the company is having a discount on various motherboards and liquid cooling, so this might be a perfect time to get a new motherboard.

For budget gamers, there’s ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II and it comes with the following specs:

  • Support for Zen 3 architecture
  • 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x16)
  • 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (x4)
  • Support for Dual channel 5100MHz RAM
  • 2x M.2 slots, one PCIe4 and one PCIe 3.0

You can combine it with ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB which offers, a 240mm radiator and AniMe Matrix display. Regarding the price, you can get the motherboard for $169.99 and cooling for $139.99 on Amazon.

If you’re a fan of Intel and on a budget, then TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi might be up your alley:

  • LGA 1700 socket with support for 13th Gen processors
  • Single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot
  • 4xDIMM slots for DDR5 7800+ memory
  • 20Gbps USB, Thunderbolt 4
  • 4x M.2 slots

As for cooling, there’s TUF Gaming LC 360 ARGB with a 360mm radiator and premium durability.

You can get the motherboard for $249.99 and cooling for $114.99 on Amazon.

For users that need more power, there’s ProArt X670E-Creator WiFi, with the following specs:

  • AM5 socket for Ryzen 7000 series
  • 4xDDR5 slots, maximum capacity is 128GB
  • 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots (x16 single or x8/x8 dual)
  • PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (Max. x2)
  • 2 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots

ProArt LC 420 is recommended and it comes with a large radiator, three 140mm Noctua fans, and an illuminated meter on the pump cover.

The motherboard is priced at $419.99 while the cooling costs $239.99 on Amazon.

For high-end gamers, there’s ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II, which comes with the following:

  • LGA 1700 socket for 13th Gen Instal CPUs
  • 4x DIMM slots for DDR5 7800+ memory
  • 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Safeslot (x16)​ [CPU]​
  • 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (x4) [Chipset]
  • Five M.2 slots

To keep your PC cool during gaming sessions, ROG Ryuo III 360 ARGB will help you keep your device at optimal temperature.

Regarding the pricing, you can get both from Amazon. The motherboard will cost you $439.99 while the cooling is priced at $189.99.

These are all amazing motherboards, so if you’re planning to upgrade or you’re building a new PC, be sure to check them out.

In case you’re looking for a graphics card, you can get GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER for 28% off, if you’re quick enough.

Google finally brings Dark Mode to Drive on web

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Dark Mode is a standard feature across apps and websites these days. Over the last five years, nearly all have integrated it, owing to increased user requests. Now, it seems Google, too, has finally caved in because the Drive’s web version finally has a Dark Mode.

And it’s not like Google didn’t receive many requests for it. The California-based tech giant admits that Dark Mode was a highly requested feature in the official announcement blog. It reads,

Today, we’re introducing a highly requested feature: Dark mode in Drive on web. This new setting aims to provide you with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience for Drive.

After integration, when I opened Google Drive, it came up with a popup notifying me about the change as well as the option to choose between Light, Device, and Dark modes.

Dark Mode notification on Google Drive

It only pops up the first time. On subsequent visits, the mode set initially will be applied. But you can always manually enable/disable Dark Mode from Drive’s web settings!

How do I enable Dark Mode on Google Drive web?

  1. Open Google Drive, click on the gear icon near the top left, and then select Settings.
  2. In the General tab, select Dark under Appearance and the changes will be applied immediately.dark mode

If you don’t see the Dark Mode option yet, remember that it’s a gradual release and may take up to 15 days to show up for everyone, according to Google.

As for the availability, you will get Dark Mode only on the following accounts:

  • Google Workspace customers
  • Google Workspace Individual subscribers
  • Personal Google accounts

Dark Mode has become an essential feature, given the battery savings and reduced stress on the eyes. And with it coming to Google Drive, you don’t need third-party extensions to switch to Dark Mode.

Google is also working on an ultimate Dark Mode for Chrome that automatically applies across websites, irrespective of whether the website supports the mode.

Don’t you want Google to introduce the mode on more of its offerings? Share with our readers in the comments section.

When you will buy the next Xbox console, it will be more like a PC

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

The featured image was generated using DALL-E and it’s not an actual image of an Xbox console

If you’re old enough, like me, to remember the arcade games from pubs, recreation centers, and basically every street corner, you also know that the game consoles were created to transport all that fun into our homes. Back then, the PC was just a big calculator connected to a screen, and no one thought that it could actually be used for games.

The hype of the gaming consoles continued a long time because it was a lot more convenient to start up your games without needing to boot up an OS and deal with other resource-hungry software that compete with what we actually want to do: play!

The gaming market monopolies are at an end

In modern days, gaming consoles were kept alive only by game exclusivities and developer-distributors monopoly and that story is about to be played out as well. Sony is starting to release more and more versions of their games from PS to PC, while Microsoft, with they Xbox on every screen policy is obviously bringing all that Blizzard-Activision goodness on Windows as well.

In the meantime, the Redmont giants is opening up their app stores to all developers and platforms, and bring all the Xbox games to PlayStation, disrupting monopoly across the board.

In fact, Phil Spencer, the visionary behind Xbox, says in an interview for Polygon that everyone should be free to buy their games from their preferred store:

Yes, [Consider] our history as the Windows company. Nobody would blink twice if I said, ‘Hey, when you’re using a PC, you get to decide the type of experience you have [by picking where to buy games]. There’s real value in that.

However, he went further with that idea pointing out that this vision should also apply to gaming consoles.

Then, there is the hardware problem. When you’re buying a console, you can’t upgrade it like a PC. The fear of console modding and other hardware restrictions has limited the potential for console manufacturers and even the developers. The PC components market is moving a lot faster and the upgradeability of the systems gives them the high ground.

The implications of Spencer’s plan are vast and could lead to more possible outcomes. For one, it could lead to a more competitive marketplace within consoles, driving down prices and offering more choices to consumers. It also represents a significant shift in how console makers generate revenue, potentially moving away from the reliance on exclusive titles to a more diversified income stream. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of Spencer’s vision is the potential for innovation it unlocks. By breaking down barriers between platforms, developers could reach wider audiences, and gamers could enjoy a richer tapestry of gaming experiences.

What does this mean for the future of Xbox?

If Spencer’s vision comes to fruition, the Xbox of tomorrow could be shaped up more like a PC, blending the best of both worlds: the convenience and user experience of a console with the openness and versatility of a PC. This isn’t just about playing PC games on Xbox; it’s about reimagining what a console can be. It’s a bold move that could redefine the gaming landscape, making Xbox a central hub for gaming across platforms.

The journey towards this future is filled with technical and regulatory challenges, but Spencer seems confident that he can make it happen.

The bottom line is that for you and I, the consumers, but also the developers, it’s a future that promises more freedom, more choice, and more possibilities. It’s clear that the lines between consoles and PCs are blurring, and Xbox might be leading the change.

What is Sony or Nintendo going to do about that? Adapt, diversify, but make it quick, because things are quickly about to change.

Will you buy that new console if it’s just like a desktop PC? Let’s discuss that in the comments below.

Microsoft Teams webinar organizers can stop attendees from sharing their webinars on social media

Posted on by Flavius Floare

In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has decided that it’s time to give Teams webinar organizers even more control over their projects, by allowing them to stop attendees from sharing their webinars on social media.

The new option will be released in June 2024, and it will impact Teams on all platforms, including Web, Desktop, and Mac versions, according to the latest entry in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

Disable the ability for attendees to share the webinar event page to social networking sites for public events post-registration.

Microsoft

While I don’t know which webinar organizer would want to stop participants from sharing their webinar on social media, something that would automatically give the webinar more exposure, thus possibly other participants, it’s good that Microsoft Teams allows them to have the option, at least.

Truth is, the option is useful in corporate situations to control possible exposure to a private corporate webinar.

The Redmond-based tech giant is releasing a bunch of similar features aimed at organizers and presenters. For example, Microsoft Teams will allow webinar organizers to block the sending of attendee emails, which the platform usually does every time someone sets up a webinar, as a way to remind participants to attend.

The platform will also be updated to support a private chat channel for organizers and presenters in Microsoft Teams webinars. This update, slated for release in June, is a way to privately chat about the management of the webinar without participants knowing what’s going on.

These features will all give greater control to organizers to set up their webinars as they want, without having to worry about annoying future participants with too many emails, or even creating a bigger event than it should be.

In many ways, with these features Teams will become a preferred platform for webinar hosting, since the experience of attending one on the platform can be highly customized.

What do you think about it?

HP Omen 17: Perfect blend of gaming power and AI integration

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

HP has a track record of amazing devices, and speaking of which, the company has just introduced the latest member of the Omen series.

Join us while we take a closer look at the newly announced Omen 17 model.

Omen 17 is a gaming laptop with Copilot integration

HP has just introduced a new laptop, called Omen 17, as XDA Developers writes. Regarding the hardware, you can find the following:

  • 17.3-inch display that comes with Full HD or Quad HD resolution
  • The Quad HD display can support up to 240Hz refresh rate
  • Up to Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU with Ryzen AI
  • Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU
  • 1TB SSD and up to 32GB RAM

Additional features include a 1080p webcam, a single USB-C port, three USB Type-A ports, HDMI, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack.

Omen 17 might be a gaming laptop, but it’s AI-focused, and it utilizes AI to improve video and voice quality. It even comes with a trial of Otter.ai Pro which lets you record, transcribe, and summarize meetings.

Lastly, the laptop also has a dedicated Copilot key that you can use to quickly and easily open the AI assistant.

Overall, this is a great device, and it will be available starting April 24th with a starting price of $1,349.99.

If you’re looking for something different from the OMEN series, then you might be interested in this HP OMEN 40L discount.

For more casual users, there’s also a great HP Dragonfly Pro One 14 discount that you shouldn’t miss.

Microsoft Edge on Android is adding Actions to the Omnibox; here’s how they can be useful to you

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

Currently, Microsoft is testing mobile Omnibox Actions for the Edge browser on Android. This will allow you to open Copilot, Bing Translator, Microsoft Rewards, weather, and more right from your address bar.

The feature is tested in Edge Canary. A similar feature is already available in Google Chrome on both desktop and Android, which supports actions that let you perform tasks like launching a clear browsing data tab or checking updates from the address bar.

This is not it; Chrome has a long list of actions you can perform right through your address bar. Earlier, Microsoft Edge used to support actions behind Omnibox pedal suggestions and another flag.

However, Edge now doesn’t display actions in the Omnibox on the desktop, but the Redmond-based tech giant is working on bringing similar types of actions to the Omnibox for users to save time.

new Omnibox action 1

For example, a new Omnibox action displays a weather pedal in the Omnibox that redirects you to a weather website when you type Weather as a query.

Similarly, an Ask Copilot pedal or icon that launches Copilot will appear in the Omnibox when you type Copilot. We can compare this experience to using the Gemini shortcut in the Chrome address bar on the desktop to chat with Gemini.

new Omnibox action 2

Another omnibox action appears when you type translate, and Edge will show you Translator with the action to Open Quick Translator, which takes you to the Bing translate website. Here are some more:

  •  Image creator – launches Copilot that creates images with words you submit
  • Rewards – Displays the Microsoft Rewards action that opens the Rewards dashboard

How can I Enable Omnibox Actions in Microsoft Edge on Android?

You can launch Microsoft Edge on an Android phone. In the address bar, type edge://flags and press Enter. In the search bar, type mobile omnibox action. Now, enable all the highlighted flags and restart Edge.

edge://flags

Next, launch the browser and start typing in the Omnibox to check out the actions. These actions are currently working on Microsoft Edge for Android in Canary. However, we don’t know when it will make it to the Stable Channel.

However, as they are being tested by Microsoft, there are chances that they will eventually become a stable release, as the action commands include using Copilot from the address bar.

What do you think about this new feature? Share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below.

Microsoft plans to triple data centers, environmentalists express concern

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

In the last few years, Microsoft has made significant investments in ramping up its data center infrastructure in a bid to train and run LLMs and meet the growing global demands for AI.

As per a report published in Business Insider based on an internal document titled Commercial Cloud and AI Demands: Fueling our Expansion, Microsoft plans to triple the data center capacity by the first half of the 2025 fiscal year. This requires 200 MW (megawatts) every month. As for mid-2024, Microsoft intends to double the new data center capacity.

Microsoft has, on several occasions, made public its plans to scale up data centers to develop advanced AI solutions. The Redmond-based tech giant recently purchased a 136-acre site to set up a data center in Georgia.

Last month, Microsoft and OpenAI partnered to build a data center for its supercomputer, Stargate, which reportedly cost $100 billion.

Environmentalists raise an alarm

Data centers require processors and related components to train generative AI models. Anticipating a growing demand, Microsoft plans to buy 1.8 million AI chips in 2024. This will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the environment!

As a result, environmentalists worldwide have expressed concerns about this massive increase in data centers and its effects on energy and water consumption. Similar concerns were raised in the past when the whole cryptocurrency mining craze was at its peak, and many had assembled power-intensive setups in their garage.

Data center

Remember, the data center landscape is dominated by just a few tech giants. A report by Synergy highlights how the data center capacity is doubling every four years, and only three companies, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, account for 60% of it.

So far, it’s unclear whether Microsoft is already witnessing an increased demand for generative AI and is ramping up data centers to accommodate it or is simply planning for the future. Though, the latter looks more probable, given Microsoft’s recent expansion in the AI landscape worldwide!

What do you think about Microsoft’s expansion plans for data centers? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Microsoft 365 GCC customers will get the Cloud policy service which greatly strengthens the security

Posted on by Flavius Floare

Microsoft promises a safer environment for GCC customers by updating the 365 productivity platform with the new Cloud policy service, which allows Microsoft 365 admins to forge policies, configure them, and deploy them in Microsoft 365 apps.

Through the new Cloud Policy service, these new policies will be automatically enforced to users upon signing in.

The Redmond-based tech giant will release the new service to Microsoft 365 GCC customers in June 2024, according to the latest entry in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, and it will happen in stages. Initially, there will only be policies for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Windows, but more platforms will be included down the road.

Here’s what the entry says:

The Cloud policy service will begin rolling out for Microsoft 365 GCC customers late June 2024. The Cloud Policy service allows Microsoft 365 administrators to configure policies for Microsoft 365 apps and assign these policies using Microsoft 365 or Entra ID groups. Once configured, these policies are automatically enforced as users sign in and use Microsoft 365 apps. The initial release will support policies for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Windows and future updates will bring support for additional applications and platforms. For additional information about the Cloud Policy service, refer to Overview of the Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

Microsoft

The new Cloud policy service will be particularly useful in these specific situations, where data privacy and security are essential. Managers and government organizations will be able to build specific policies to suit their environments and make sure bad actors can be detected when trying to break in.

Coupled with the new Copilot for Security, this new enhancement should protect government infrastructures from the new AI-based cyberattacks, as well. Unfortunately, according to a Microsoft report, these sorts of attacks are becoming more and more popular and complex, making them hard to beat.

But with efficient policies known only to executives, it should make it harder for bad actors to undergo cyberattacks.

Microsoft will update Copilot in Excel to support formula conditional formatting

Posted on by Flavius Floare

The Redmond-based tech giant first released Copilot in Excel last year, but initially, the AI model was capable of simple tasks, such as summarising and editing information in there. However, gradually Microsoft updated it to support different formulas.

For instance, a while ago it introduced two new complex formulas to manage multiple tables, and it also got the ability to generate multiple formula columns from a single prompt.

According to the latest entry in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Copilot in Excel will also be soon capable of formula conditional formatting. This will allow the AI model to handle complex tasks, meaning users won’t be alone in handling such tasks anymore, as Copilot can be of assistance.

Additional support for complex conditional formats beyond the basic top and bottom or conditional operators. For example, Copilot analyzes two factors when highlighting all rows where the product is bikes and sales is greater than 100.

Microsoft

The new formula conditional formatting enhancements will be released to Copilot in Excel in May 2024, and those dealing with a lot of Excel information on a daily basis, at their work, should use it.

Why? It could greatly streamline workflows and enhance productivity, as the AI model can extract information from different Excel documents and analyze and process them using the formatting options. The good thing about Copilot is that the AI model is a unified experience meaning it should, theoretically, understand and extract information from different documents.

This makes it a valuable tool to use: it reduces time and provides a relatively stress-free experience with dealing with detailed information such as Excel data.

Razer Kishi Ultra controller can turn almost any portable into a handheld gaming console

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Razer, a company known for its gaming hardware and accessories, has recently unveiled a new mobile game controller that’s causing quite a stir in the gaming community. The Razer Kishi Ultra is designed to bridge the gap between mobile gaming and the more traditional PC or console gaming experience.

Unlike its predecessors, which were criticized for their lack of ergonomic design, the Kishi Ultra boasts a look and feel that mirrors the comfort and layout of standard PC and console controllers. This innovative design not only caters to hardcore gamers who are venturing into mobile gaming but also enhances the gaming experience on devices like the iPad Mini, transforming them into formidable gaming handhelds.

Razer Kishi Ultra works with almost any mobile device

Razer Kishi Ultra

The best part about Razers’s Kishi Ultra is its compatibility with a wide range of devices, including Android phones, iPhones, and even smaller Android tablets up to eight inches. It can also double as a PC game controller when connected via a USB C cable. Razer’s focus on ergonomics and gameplay is obvious in the Kishi Ultra’s full-sized handle and button layout, which may rival Razer’s pro console controllers.

One of the standout features of the Kishi Ultra is its Mecha-tactile responsiveness in the D-Pad and ABXY buttons, along with full-sized trigger buttons and thumbsticks. It even includes programmable L4/R4 buttons for customized control setups. For Android and Windows 11 PC users, the controller offers Razer Sensa HD Haptics, providing a multi-sensory gaming immersion that surpasses traditional console controller vibrations.

Chroma lighting on Razer Kishi Ultra

The Kishi Ultra also comes equipped with Razer Chroma RGB lighting and supports the Razer Nexus app, which grants access to thousands of games compatible with the new controller. Priced at $149.99, the Kishi Ultra is now available right from Razer’s website. Additionally, Razer has released a new version of the Razer Kishi V2 mobile game controller with a USB C port, available for $99.99.

Razer Kishi V2

The Razer Kishi Ultra might be a game-changer for mobile gaming because now you will think twice before thinking of buying that handheld mobile game console. With just $150 you can turn your already powerful smarphone or tablet into a mobile gaming rig.

We remind you that Raser also launched the BlackShark V2 Pro headphones for Xbox and PlayStation to enhance your gaming experience.

What do you think about the new Razer Kishi Ultra mobile controller? Share your thoughts in a comment below.

Windows 11 24H2: System requirements leaked, indicates AI Explorer is just for ARM-powered PCs

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

With Microsoft planning to integrate Copilot into various aspects of Windows 11, we have been hearing a lot about AI Explorer, which will be introduced with the much-anticipated 24H2 release.

Another leak told us something more about the pending feature; it looks like you will need an ARM64 processor like the Snapdragon X Elite powered with NPU, storage of 225 SSD and 16 GB RAM to use it.

Apart from this, all the other new upcoming features will work on all PCs with minimum system requirements.

This was all confirmed by Albacore’s recent X (Formerly known as Twitter) post, which specifically mentions AI Explorers will only work on Snapdragon’s X Elite processors. Here is what the post said:

Turns out Windows 11 build 26100 (purported 24H2 RTM) contains the AI Explorer requirements baked into the OS

  • ARM64 CPU
  • 16GB of RAM
  • 225GB system drive (total, not free space)
  • Snapdragon X Elite NPU (HWID QCOM0D0A) I guess that’s one way to drive ARM64 adoption
Code

The code in the screenshot implies that it is designed to work with a Snapdragon X Elite processor with a designated NPU ID, meaning that many people, even with newer hardware, won’t be able to use AI Explorer.

He also mentioned:

I suppose this implies all upcoming devices will be offered in at least a 16/256 config? Quite the jump from past Surface baseline SKUs. That, or MS will sell you lower tier SKUs anyway and just go no AI Explorer for you

AI Explorer is not the new File Explorer. Instead, it is similar to the Windows 10 Timeline feature, which keeps a record of everything you do on your computer, such as your tasks, browsing history, and meetings, so that you can search for them later.

We hope that as the feature works locally on your device, we won’t have to worry about sending your data to Microsoft.

Microsoft has stressed enough that 2024 will be the year dedicated to AI integration and innovation around the technology. However, the Snapdragon processor constraint and the company trying to highlight that the Qualcomm processor is the best choice for an AI PC implies that not all of us will be able to experience it.

On the contrary, it could be the initial launch strategy to see how things pan out. The Redmond-based tech giant may eventually bring the feature to other NPU-powered devices. Who knows?

Do you think AI PCs will increase the Windows 11 usage rate or even lower it further due to the constraints? Share your opinions with our readers in the comments section below.

Microsoft’s VASA-1 can generate dangerously accurate talking faces

Posted on by Sebastian Filipoiu

Microsoft introduced a new framework known as VASA that can create lifelike talking faces. All it needs is a static image and an audio clip. Afterward, VASA-1, the first model, will generate a video featuring lip movements synchronized with the audio, facial expressions, and natural head motions.

Why is VASA-1 better than other video generators?

VASA-1 is a complex model which uses a disentangled face latent space. This feature allows it to store different expressions separately. As a result, it can recreate expressive facial dynamics based on various emotions. So, the videos generated by the Microsoft tool look more accurate than the ones generated through other means.

The tool has the potential to help us develop better avatars. In addition, we can use it in various other applications. For example, @Wisemasters on TikTok uses a similar technology on historical faces for educational purposes. Unfortunately, they look out of place and stiff compared to the ones generated by VASA-1.

The Microsoft VASA-1 framework allows you to gain control over some aspects. For example, you can set the eye gaze location, adjust the head distance, and use emotional offsets. So, you can make the generated face appear angry or happy, making it more credible.

In addition, the Microsoft video generation tool can handle artistic photos, singing, and non-English speech. However, researchers didn’t train the model to do that. So, the fact that it can handle unexpected situations was a surprise. Below you can find an example featuring the Mona Lisa.

Disentanglement plays a great role in the video generation capabilities of the VASA-1 framework. After all, it allows you to control and edit multiple video aspects because it separates them. For instance, you can tweak the 3D head position, facial features, and expressions.

Researchers claim that the framework can offer real-time efficiency because its offline batch processing mode can generate 512×512 videos at 45 FPS. Additionally, it can support 40 FPS in the online streaming mode with a 170ms latency.

Is the VASA framework a potential threat?

Unfortunately, the tool comes with risks. The X user @EyeingAI calls it alarmingly realistic. After all, someone could use your photo and an AI-generated audio featuring your voice for ill intentions. Additionally, hackers could use the model for cyber attacks and to spread misinformation and fake news.

In a nutshell, the VASA-1 framework has surprising capabilities and exceeds other video generators. In addition, you can make the videos more accurate by using its control options. Future models could help us create better avatars. However, there are many risks, and Microsoft should prioritize minimizing the damage the tool can do.

What do you think? Are you eager to try VASA-1? Let us know in the comments.

Meta just released Llama 3, and it outshines other LLMs in almost every way

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many tech giants are working on their AI models, and Meta is no exception.  As we previously wrote, Llama 3 is expected to come sooner than we think, and this is exactly what happened.

The new version of Llama is finally here, so without further ado, let’s see what’s new.

Llama 3 is finally here, bringing enhanced performance and more

As reported by MSPowerUser, Meta has just released the latest version of its language learning model, bringing improved performance and scalability.

This allows the AI to perform multi-step tasks, lower false refusal rates, improve response alignment, and understand nuances and complex tasks.

Llama 3 was trained on 15T token of data, which is seven times larger than was used for Llama 2. This version supports 8K context length doubling the capacity of Llama 2.

Regarding performance, Llama 3 8B and 70B outshine the competition in almost every regard.

Meta will also make Llama 3 available to everyone by making smaller versions of Llama 3 available as open-source models.

The new version is more secure, and it will utilize Llama Guard 2, Code Shield, and Cybersec Eval 2.

The model is already available in action and it’s powering Meta AI assistant that can be found in Meta’s services such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Meta also has plans to bring video and image support to Llama 3, but no release date for these features is known.

Llama 3 was supposed to change our perspective on AI, and now that the model is finally here, did Meta deliver on its promise? Let us know in the comments!

Microsoft Teams will soon provide unified app management across Teams, Outlook, and Microsoft 365

Posted on by Flavius Floare

The Microsoft 365 Admin Center will be updated to allow managers to perform a streamlined Teams app management across Teams, Outlook, and Microsoft 365 App.

According to the latest entry in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, starting in May 2024, administrators who manage apps that work on Outlook, and the Microsoft 365 App will be able to perform unified management across all these 3 platforms.

Until now, all of the changes made to these apps using the Integrated Apps section (which should provide a unified management experience) would only impact certain apps. With this change, however, all the changes made to these apps in the 365 Admin Center, will affect all of them at once.

Here’s what the entry says:

Administrators using the Microsoft 365 admin center and Teams admin center who manage Teams apps that work on Outlook and the Microsoft 365 App will be able to apply their changes across all three clients (Teams, Outlook and Microsoft 365 App). Before this update, changes made through the Integrated Apps section in the Microsoft 365 admin center would only affect these apps on Outlook and the Microsoft 365 App; similarly, changes made in the Teams admin center would exclusively affect Teams. With this change, management of these apps will be unified across Teams, Outlook and Microsoft 365 App.

Microsoft

The changes will impact admins everywhere. Curiously enough, the Microsoft 365 admin center was plagued with some strange issues that affected users on a global scale: some of its parts were displayed in Croatian when accessed from certain browsers.

With this being said, the 365 Admin Center will also be updated to support organizational messages, allowing managers to edit and schedule organizational messages on Windows 11.

Microsoft is adding them in the Reports section of the 365 admin center, and managers and admins will have a variety of capabilities and features that will allow them to create new messages, review delivery reports, and so on.

Google Chrome will soon let you annotate PDFs with ink signatures

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Google is introducing the ability to add ink signatures to PDFs directly within the built-in PDF Viewer in the Chrome browser. Chrome possibly gets a draw tool to make this possible.

The functionality is currently being tested in Chrome Canary and is available as a flag (features under testing that are not available by default).

Chrome may soon let you sign PDFs with the Draw tool

Google Chrome comes with a native PDF Viewer, which allows quick access to documents along with some pretty basic functionalities, negating the need to rely on third-party PDF viewers.

Until now, Chrome supported a Table of Contents, a Two-Page View, offered controls to Zoom and Fit to Page, and the ability to rotate clockwise/anti-clockwise. You now get the ability to annotate PDFs and add ink signatures, as highlighted on the Chromium Review website.

With the new ink signature feature, you will be able to sign and annotate PDFs directly in Google Chrome. The functionality is currently available behind the PDF Ink Signatures flag in Chrome Canary, the description for which reads,

Enables the ability to annotate PDFs using a new ink library. – Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, Fuchsia, Lacros

How can I enable ink signatures for PDFs in Chrome?

  1. Launch Chrome Canary, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter: chrome://flags/
  2. Search for the PDF Ink Signatures flag and choose Enable from the dropdown menu next to it.enable PDF ink signatures flag
  3. Relaunch Chrome for the changes to come into effect.
  4. From now on, when you open a PDF, Chrome will have the annotate option within the PDF viewer.

The functionality, however, is not new to browsers. Microsoft Edge, which received most of the PDF features from legacy Edge, comes with a built-in annotation tool that allows you to draw and add handwritten signatures directly in the browser. You can also customize the pen’s color and thickness.

Annotating PDFs in Microsoft Edge

While Google Chrome lacked annotation capabilities earlier, with the feature in the testing phase, you soon won’t have to rely on other software or browsers like Edge to sign PDFs, saving significant time and effort.

In recent months, Google has extensively improved Chrome, from new suggestions in the search experience to security and performance-oriented Chrome’s Real Time Protection. These have helped Chrome retain its top spot in the browser landscape with 65% of the market share, as per StatCounter.

How useful do you believe is the ability to add a signature to PDFs in Chrome? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Microsoft Word integrates Bing Search for effective Internet searching within the platform

Posted on by Flavius Floare

Microsoft introduced Copilot to the Word app a while ago, allowing users to summarize, edit, and compose text with AI. However, according to the latest in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Word will update Copilot to showcase complex answers to all sorts of questions.

The interesting thing? Microsoft Word will basically use the Internet, more specifically Bing Search, to make Copilot answer this way. So in other words, Word might become a search engine on its own.

Well, not really, but it’s close.

Here’s what the entry says:

Ask Copilot a question in Word chat and Copilot generates an answer using the power of integrated Bing search. And you never have to leave the app.

Microsoft

This is quite useful, as you can do everything in Microsoft Word: for example, if you work on a project, you can use Bing Search within Copilot to look for information without even leaving the platform at all.

It becomes a centralized hub, which streamlines productivity, and allows for a lower power consumption: after all, you’ll only be using Microsoft Word. However, you’ll need to be connected to the Internet to be able to use this.

Copilot will also help you edit the newer information to fit your projects, or it can summarize the information you’ve found to better suit your tone and style.

The update will impact Word users everywhere, and it should be completely rolled out by the end of this month.

In other news, Microsoft is also updating Word to support Designer, which means users will be able to enhance their texts with AI-generated images directly on the platform.

The capability is quite useful for those who want to enrich their texts with images, but don’t have the means or the budget to purchase images or create them by themselves.

In a matter of seconds, Copilot can analyze the text, and create an image based on it, and Microsoft will also allow you to choose from different versions until you get the one that fits the text best.

What do you think about these features coming to Microsoft Word?

Edge 124 just dropped, bringing security improvements, new policies, and more

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Microsoft Edge is a solid browser, and Microsoft is constantly working on making it even better with various updates.

Speaking of which, the new version of Edge has just hit the stable channel and it’s available to everyone, so let’s see what this version has to offer.

Edge 124 is rolling out, here’s what’s new

According to Microsoft’s release notes, the new version of Edge is here, and it brings security updates from the Chromium project.

In addition, it also brings fixes for the following Edge vulnerabilities: CVE-2024-29986, CVE-2024-29987, and CVE-2024-29991. These are low-risk vulnerabilities, but it’s still great to see that Microsoft has patched them.

The update brings various new features, and most of them are related to Microsoft Edge management services, including the following:

  • Email notifications for extension requests
  • Enterprise secure AI controls
  • Customization of organizational branding
  • Automatic profile switching controls for Edge for Business

With these features, administrators will be able to receive email notifications if a user requests an extension.

Admins will also be able to manage AI-related policies and customize their organization’s branding.

This version also brings an improved Edge Profile account re-authentication dialog if the SSO fails. Web SQL support is removed, following the changes in the Chromium project.

Cross-device Search Query History suggestions are now available allowing you to see the same search suggestion if you have Edge Sync enabled.

Profile management and customization controls have been improved with the introduction of additional avatars.

Speaking of profiles, the First Run Experience has been improved encouraging users to sign in and create meaningful profiles.

Edge will now also show notifications on Edge updates in the Browser Essentials instead of the Settings page, thus improving visibility.

Lastly, this update introduced CopilotPageContext and CopilotCDPPageContext policies that will allow Copilot to access browser context. As a result, the DiscoverPageContextEnabled policy was removed.

This update is mostly aimed at business users, but personal users can benefit from it thanks to the improved security.

In other news, the Edge Search bar on Windows 11 now supports Google, which is a welcome addition. As for upcoming features, Microsoft Edge’s Magnify Image will now use AI to improve image quality even more.

Microsoft Defender’s Threat Explorer is updated to become a hub for direct cyber protection actions

Posted on by Flavius Floare

Microsoft will be updating its Defender app to become more versatile for users. After announcing that it will flag the AIR fixes as automated actions approved by SecOps, the Redmond-based tech giant says it will update Threat Explorer within the platform to become a hub for direct cyber protection actions.

In other words, Microsoft Defender’s Threat Explorer will allow SecOps to perform a variety of actions, from submissions, and purging emails, to blocking Tenant-wide messages.

According to the latest entry to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, the Redmond-based tech giant will also make Tenant-level block URL and File actions available on this page, later in April.

SecOps can take multiple actions such as purging emails, submissions, and Tenant-level block actions through a single wizard on the bulk of messages. In addition, Tenant-level block URL and File actions are now available directly from Threat explorer.

Microsoft

The change will allow SecOps to take action against cyberthreats faster, and more efficiently, ensuring the companies are responding quickly in such situations, where time is important.

The change is welcomed, considering Defender is also updated to allow administrators or security operators to see results and responses to the submissions they made in the platform much sooner.

This means security experts will have a clearer picture of what’s happening inside an organization by just opening up Microsoft Defender, allowing them to take action when needed.

Microsoft Defender will update its Threat Explorer this month, and it’s expected to be completed by the end of April. All the web versions of the app are impacted, and customers everywhere will have access to the new and enhanced Threat Explorer.

EU greenlights Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI, deal still under the radar

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

In a major relief for Microsoft, EU antitrust regulators have decided not to proceed with a formal probe into the $13 billion investment the Redmond-based tech giant made in OpenAI.

This comes after the regulators came to the conclusion that the $13 billion Microsoft put into OpenAI is an investment, not an acquisition and that the former doesn’t control the latter, negating the need for an investigation, at least for now.

In an email to Reuters, an EU spokesperson said,

The Commission had been following very closely the situation of control over OpenAI before the recent events involving its management. We are checking whether Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI might be reviewable under the EU Merger Regulation.

The investment came under the scanner after sudden reshuffling at OpenAI, which led to its CEO, Sam Altman, being fired. At the time, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, spearheaded the negotiations that ultimately led to Sam Altman getting reinstated as the CEO of OpenAI.

Reports suggest that Microsoft wanted Sam Altman to lead the AI team, but after his return to OpenAI, the tech giant went ahead with Mustafa Suleyman.

Microsoft isn’t completely off the hook yet. A report in Reuters suggests that with pressure mounting, Microsoft could still face an investigation by the EU antitrust regulator.

Besides, the investments are also under the radar of authorities in other regions, as well as the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK. The latter is primarily concerned with the deal’s impact on market competition.

Undeterred by these developments, Microsoft’s push for generative AI continues globally, from introducing AI in manufacturing to its $1.5 billion investment in G42 targeting Middle Eastern and African regions to funding AI-based startups worldwide.

Besides, to aid its expansion plans, Microsoft is planning to acquire 1.8 million AI chips to power the infrastructure.

What do you think about the EU’s decision to greenlight Microsoft’s investments in OpenAI? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Russian and Chinese hackers are trying to influence the U.S. elections

Posted on by Sebastian Filipoiu

Not long ago, Microsoft discovered Russian and Chinese hackers sponsored by their countries. Most of them use social engineering tactics to spread misinformation on social media. In addition, they are targeting the U.S. institutions. On top of that, they are using various ways to exploit the security vulnerabilities of Microsoft.

According to Microsoft, on 17th April Russian hackers started online campaigns to weaken U.S. support for Ukraine. Through their content, they try to generate hostility between us. On top of that, Chinese hackers are trying to diminish our trust in the U.S. democratic systems.

What methods did the Russian hackers use?

The wrongdoers from Russia use multiple methods to catch our attention. For example, besides social media, they engage in covert and overt campaigns and use traditional media.

Russian and Chinese hackers use AI in their campaigns to spread misinformation. One of their methods to spread fake news is to edit videos using AI-generated audio content. Unfortunately, many of us believe their lies without analyzing them.

The Russian group Storm-1516 targets U.S. audiences with fake narratives. To do this, they use the same pattern but multiple languages. Also, they use a three-stage process.

During the first phase of the process, they create a believable persona often posing as a whistleblower or a journalist who promotes an anti-Ukraine narrative. Then, they post the video on an independent channel. In the second phase, multiple websites managed by the Russian group of hackers promote the video to spread their influence. The last phase of their campaign uses Russian expats, officials, and supporters to spread the lies further.

How do Chinese cybercriminals spread misinformation?

Chinese hackers similarly use AI tools like the Russian ones. Thus, they spread misinformation by creating and sharing memes, videos, and enhanced images featuring fake narratives. Also, most of them post as American voters.

In addition, Chinese threat actors use more advanced tactics based on political divisions. Also, they promote content that benefits a political party while spreading misinformation about others.

Besides Russian and Chinese hackers, Iran might launch cyber attacks when we get closer to the U.S. Election Day. Through their attempts, they might try to steal and manipulate data and affect critical systems.

According to the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC), the most efficient tactics feature:

  • AI-enhanced media instead of generated content.
  • AI-generated audio tapes instead of deep fake videos.
  • Fake phone calls.
  • Disinformation campaigns when there’s a crisis or during breaking news.
  • Impersonators of lesser-known figures.

Ultimately, Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and other hackers might increase their threat attacks close to Election Day. MTAC will continue to search and analyze malicious uses of AI. However, Microsoft says that hackers are using an unreleased tool. So, the rapid development of AI could be a critical threat. As a result, there’s no way to prevent what will happen in November.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the AI is advancing too fast? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft 365 A3 and A5 licenses will receive 100 print jobs per license, up from just 5

Posted on by Flavius Floare

Microsoft will increase the number of print jobs per license to 100, up from 5, for all organizations with Microsoft 365 A3 and Microsoft 365 A5 licenses, starting May 1, 2024. That is about a staggering 1900% increase.

According to the official announcement, these 100 print jobs will be available per account/month, and each month, the number will be refreshed.

The Redmond-based tech giant says the decision to increase the number of Universal print jobs will benefit many organizations, and it cited the use of the print add-ons as an example, saying that now, this new benefit will eliminate the need to rely on them (thus, not having to spend budget on them, anymore).

100 print jobs is a significant increase from the existing licensing terms, which provided only five print jobs. This means that most organizations can use Universal Print with no extra cost if they have eligible licenses. Also, if you have already purchased volume add-ons, this new benefit may reduce or eliminate the need for you to purchase print job add-ons and may allow you to give more users access to Universal Print. Carefully investigate what volume you need and cancel any additional volume purchases if they are no longer necessary.

Microsoft

Alongside this staggering increase, Microsoft is bringing new capabilities to Universal print: users will soon be able to print from macOS devices, but also from any device with the new pull print feature.

Pull Print (coming soon) simplifies the printing process for users, allowing them to print to any printer. Users can print from any device or app without having to choose a printer in advance. Then, they can go to any corporate printer that’s nearby, verify their identity, and safely retrieve their document.

Microsoft

Microsoft decided to increase the number of Universal print jobs, after many educational organizations, including schools, and universities complained about the rising costs of printing.

The Redmond-based tech giant already implemented this increase in the business sector, with Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Business Premium getting 100 print jobs a year ago.

Microsoft has finally made Xbox Mastercard available to users

Posted on by Flavius Floare

The Xbox Mastercard is finally available to users after Microsoft announced it last year. It is a no-annual-fee credit card issued by Barclays, that can be used to earn points with everyday purchases and use them to redeem games and other valuables in the Xbox Store.

According to the official announcement, Microsoft is releasing the Xbox Mastercard as a no-annual fee product that can be used to earn points for every $1 spent on a variety of purchases.

Starting today, the Xbox Mastercard with no annual fee is available to all residents in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. 

Microsoft

The places you need to spend your budget to earn points on the Xbox Mastercard are:

  • Xbox & Microsoft – Earn 5x card points on eligible products at the Microsoft Store.  
  • Streaming services – Earn 3x card points on eligible streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. 
  • Dining delivery services – Earn 3x card points on eligible dining delivery services like Grubhub and DoorDash. 
  • Everyday purchases – Earn 1X card points on all other everyday purchases. 

Plus, those who enlist for the new card will receive a handful of new benefits which include 3 months of Premium Spotify, an instant level 2 on the Microsoft Rewards program, and two 3-month codes for Game Pass Ultimate that can be gifted to family or friends.

It does sound like a good deal, but if you want to enlist in the program, you have to take into consideration the Xbox Mastercard’s terms and conditions. Why? Because it can get you in debt if you have no experience with cards.

Xbox Mastercard’s Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases is 20.99%, 26.99%, or 31.99%, based on your creditworthiness. The APR for Balance Transfers is 20.99%, 26.99%, or 31.99%, based on your creditworthiness.

When considering the Xbox Mastercard’s transaction fees, we have a Balance Transfer, that is either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

If you have $1000 on your Xbox Mastercard, for instance, with an interest rate of 31.99%, and a monthly payment of $100, with an introductory balance transfer of 5% for 18 months, you’d need to pay $59 a month on the balance transfer card to pay off your balance before the intro period ends.

If you paid off your balance by the end of the intro period, you’d save $122 in interest. If you fail to do so, you’ll have a penalty fee of $41, whether we talk about late payments or returned payments.

So, owning this card is no easy task, but if you already own several other cards, and you’re comfortable with it, the Xbox Mastercard could end up being a good deal, as long as you’re spending, of course.

Microsoft Clipchamp is now capable of automatically cleaning long videos

Posted on by Flavius Floare

And by automatically, we mean that now Clipchamp will clean your videos of long silences in just a matter of seconds. According to the official blog post, Microsoft added a new AI-powered capability that will detect long periods of silence and suggest the user push a button and clean them all.

The new capability is called Silence Removal, and it’s perfect when editing video podcasts, for example, something that Microsoft wants users to use Clipchamp for. In fact, in a previous update, Microsoft added a bunch of audio-related features just for that.

This new AI feature in Clipchamp can remove long boring silences in a snap. Silence removal allows you to find, trim and delete the silent parts of audio or video files. This is perfect for anyone who wants to tidy up their podcasts, meetings, interview videos and voiceovers, without having to spend hours tediously editing out silences bit by bit.  

Microsoft

Users will be able to let AI detect these periods of silence, and they can choose to review and remove them one by one, or all at once.

The best thing? Silence Removal is available for free to all users with a personal account.

And, in case you need an intro and an outro for your podcasts when you edit in Microsoft Clipchamp, the Redmond-based tech giant has you covered with a packet full of over 200 new exclusive stock audio tracks, all copyright-free, and free to use for all users with a personal account.

Our content library has had a major improvement in the quantity and quality of audio tracks. You can now find over 200 new exclusive stock audio tracks, plus intro and outro, 30-second and 60-second versions to use as background music in your next video. These exclusive to Clipchamp songs came from artists and are so catchy you’ll find yourself bopping along to your video as you edit. Not only that, but they are all copyright free, and free to use. You can listen to the full library of new tracks in our stock library and read more about it here.   

Microsoft

If you prefer video podcasts, Microsoft makes it easier for you with these new Clipchamp enhancements:

  • You can now add multiple track items to the timeline at once. Simply hold down the Shift key to select multiple items in your media library, and then click the plus button at the top of the library to add them all to the timeline. This is great news for users creating slideshow videos that contain many media assets.  
  • When freehand editing on the stage, you can now edit multiple items at once. To give it a try, hold down Shift key to select multiple items on the stage and move them around, as well as resize and rotate until your heart’s content.  
  • To allow you to further customize the position of your media in the stage, we’ve added the ability to freely rotate any item.  

You can read the full blog post here.

Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 is now in commercial preview for Windows and Mac users

Posted on by Flavius Floare

This is a good day for those commercial users waiting for the new Microsoft Office LTSC 2024: the suite is officially in commercial preview for Windows and Mac users.

We are pleased to announce that the commercial preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 is now available for both Windows and Mac. Office LTSC is built for specialized use cases that require a long-term servicing channel such as regulated devices that cannot accept feature updates for years at a time, manufacturing process control devices that are not connected to the internet, or medical testing equipment running embedded apps that must stay locked in time.  

Microsoft

According to the announcement, Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 will also have a subset of features that are already available in Microsoft 365, but previously unavailable to the Office suite, which means many of them will be useful in modern situations.

Office LTSC 2024 will include features from past Office releases as well as a subset of new features already available in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

Microsoft

The Redmond-based tech giant also said that Windows 11 LTSC is going to be released later this year, confirming the operating system. Together with the new Microsoft Office 2024, both services will be supported for a total of 5 years, under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy.

This means commercial customers will be able to use these services until 2029, with full support from Microsoft, and regular updates.

Speaking of which, commercial customers are now able to preview the following suites:

  • Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access) 
  • Microsoft Office LTSC Standard for Mac 2024 (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote)  
  • Microsoft Project Professional 2024  
  • Microsoft Visio Professional 2024         

Microsoft announced the preview a while ago, and it stated back then that the suite would be updated to deal with modern issues and infrastructures, introducing new features to Excel, and Outlook to keep up with the current demands.