How to safely uninstall Steam games on Windows 10

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

We live in an era of digital game distribution, and Steam is most likely the king of the hill. However, as the games become significantly larger, deleting some titles you rarely play is an obvious step.

This, of course, means you’ll need to download them again later through Steam, and if you have a data cap, this might be an issue.

If not and you’re indeed low on space because a darn game takes 70 GB, here’s how to safely uninstall Steam games.

How can I safely uninstall Steam games?

1. Use the Steam client

  1. Open Steam client.
  2. Open Library.
  3. Right-click on the game you want to uninstall, and choose Uninstall from the contextual menu.
  4. Confirm selection and you should be good to go.

Uninstalling games through the Steam client is as simple as the installation is. You’ll still get to keep your save games, but you might as well back them up.

Don’t worry about your games, as they’ll still be available to download in the library.

Once you’ve deleted all local content, and considering how large modern titles are, this will get you a lot of free storage space.

But, without further ado, you can follow the above steps to safely uninstall a Steam game via the Steam desktop client.

2. Try the manual approach

  1. Close the game and Steam client.
  2. Navigate to Program Files (stored in System partition, usually C:).
  3. Open Steam, then steamapps and, finally, Common.
  4. Delete the folder of the game you want to remove.

On the other hand, if you prefer avoiding Steam desktop clients, uninstalling games from the Windows Control Panel is not an option.

However, as they are still stored on your HDD, you can delete them like any other folder or file. The only thing worth knowing is the location where Steam is storing games locally.

And if you want to reinstall the game you’ve uninstalled before, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Steam client for Windows.
  2. Open Library.
  3. Choose the game you want to install from your Library. All the purchased games are in the left-pane list.
  4. Click on the game, and then click Install.
  5. Wait until the client downloads and installs the game.

3. Use a professional uninstaller

Manually deleting a game is a time-consuming task, and sometimes it can be hard to remove the leftovers.

A professional third-party uninstalling tool can perform this process in a fast and efficient way.

This type of software has powerful capabilities, and it can delete all the unnecessary files left behind by the game with just a few clicks.

Hence, if you need to completely delete any games from your PC, perform it using efficient uninstaller software and complete the job efficiently.

Alternatively, you can just search for the game in the Store section and install it from there.

That’s it. The only remaining thing is to open Steam again and focus on something else worth acquiring. Hopefully, this was a helpful read and if that’s indeed the case, tell us in the comments section below.

Also, if you have more solutions or other questions on this topic, feel free to leave them in the comments.

DuckDuckGo traffic is exploding but can it replace Google?

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

You must be sick of advertising trackers that are constantly monitoring your each and every move over the internet. The latest security breaches have spooked most of the people to be concerned about their privacy more than ever before. If you are one of them, don’t worry DuckDuckGo is here to take care of your privacy.

What is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that does not track its customers. The search engine assures its users that it is not going to follow them by using cookies. The search engine makes sure that it does not collect the personal information of its users.  The privacy is further ensured due to the fact that user IP addresses are also hidden.

How it differentiates itself from Bing & Google?

You might not be aware of the fact that the users’ search terms are shared with the website that they are visiting.  It is done as soon as users click on the links from Bing and Google.  The HTTP referrer header is used for that purpose even if the user is clicking the links from Bing and Google in private mode. Your IP address is also automatically shared by your computer. The information is then used by the website for identifying each user.

The process is termed as “search leakage” by DuckDuckGo. It prevents sending the search terms to other websites through redirection in a particular way. DuckDuckGo restricts the websites from identifying users based on their personal information, neither do they have information about your search terms.

Moreover, an encrypted version of DuckDuckGo is available as well. The links from various websites (Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, and Wikipedia) are changed automatically to offer encrypted versions for each of them.

In case you want to be secure while surfing the internet, you will need to get a full-dedicated tool to secure your network.  Install now Cyberghost VPN and secure yourself. It protects your PC from attacks while browsing, masks your IP address and blocks all unwanted access.

DuckDuckGo reaches 800 million monthly searches

DuckDuckGo has gained the trust of users in a short span of time. The privacy features of DuckDuckGo are compelling enough for the users to make a permanently ditch Google.

 Its popularity can be understood by the fact that 800 million monthly direct views have been recorded during September last year. 

Some of the users turned to Reddit to share their experiences about the search engine. 

“I tried DDG for a few weeks since it seemed like a better option. The search results were different when I compared them to Google, but I wouldn’t say they were much better or worse.”

Most of the users prefer DuckDuckGo because unlike Google their advertisements are not personalized or customized by your search history. Instead, the search engine uses keywords that are entered by the users to display ads. One of the users expressed his views about the same on Reddit:

“Yes. When you look up, for example, office desk prices on DDG, you’ll be served with ads for office desk on that search and that search alone, as opposed to Google which will still try to sell you office desks for the rest of eternity.”

It is worth mentioning that some of the users are still concerned about the fact that tthe founder of DuckDuckGo has sold user’s data in the past. He is being criticized for not apologizing for his unethical actions to the general public. DuckDuckGo needs to take care of the situation otherwise it can be a serious problem for the emerging search engine. 

While another user had to switch back to Google after using DuckDuckGo for almost 6 months. He was compelled to do so because the search results were not good in his native language. Even though he wanted to switch from Google due to privacy concerns, the search results made him stick to the world’s biggest search engine. 

Verdict

Finally, we cay say that DuckDuckGo is such as privacy-focused search engine that is definitely going to be a tough competition for Google Search. The search engine is named after a popular game for the kids. DuckDuckGo should consider improving its existing features if it wants to stay in the search engine space. DuckDuckGo has still a long way to go!

FIX: Outlook Meeting updates not updating in the Calendar

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Outlook is a vital part of the Microsoft workspace, used by millions of satisfied users. By unifying the e-mail client with calendar and tasks, Outlook revamp was welcomed as a positive change and a step forward for sure. When it works, it works great, both for home or professional users. On the other hand, when it fails, it fails miserably.

That seems to be the case with Outlook Meetings which, based on many user reports, are not updating in the Calendar. We made sure to shed some light and provide possible solutions for this below.

How to fix update issues with Outlook calendar meetings

Using Outlook to set meetings with your contacts is quite a usual and a rather useful feature. It’s an important piece of software for so many users who require organization and scheduling, including meetings with anyone from your contacts list.

To make it even better, Outlook is a multiplatform solution so it can sync on a plethora of devices, PCs and smartphones alike. There’s a lot of competition in this field, but it seems Microsoft has hit a soft spot with Outlook.

On the other hand, everything falls apart if Outlook won’t sync or update meetings in the calendar. This is, seemingly, a grave problem for a hefty number of users. The worst thing about it is that these occurrences are selective.

Scheduled meetings are updated on some devices and not on others. This gets peculiar when scheduled meetings successfully update changes on the web-based Outlook while the desktop app fails to do so.

There are no official solutions provided by Microsoft at the moment, but we can suggest a few steps based on the app version. For the desktop app, you can try running two commands. The first one should reset roaming preferences while the second will reset client processing.

Outlook for desktop

In order to run these two, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Windows Search bar and copy-paste the following command:
    • Outlook.exe /cleanroamedprefs
  2. Press Enter. If that fails, try copy-pasting this command and press Enter afterward:
    • Outlook.exe /sniff

Outlook for web

With that said, we can conclude this article. Hopefully, these steps helped you address the problem at hand. If that’s the case, give us a shout-out in the comments section below.

Posted in Fix

Skype users cannot sign back in unless they update the app [Updated]

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

So, this morning, I powered up my computer and grabbed a cup of coffee as I was getting ready for a new work day. I heavily rely on Skype for both work purposes and keeping in touch with family and friends but, boy, was I in for a big surprise!

Apparently, Microsoft decided that I can no longer use my current version of Skype and I need to update if I ever want to sign back in.

Just a few seconds after I launched Skype, the app closed down automatically with the following alert:

It looks like Skype hasn’t been update for some time.
What happens if I don’t update now?
The next time you sign in or restart your computer, you’ll need to update Skype before you can sign back in.

And here’s the visual proof of this:

update skype

Microsoft leaves users no choice but to update Skype

As you can see, starting from this day, if you want to use Skype, you need to install the latest app version. Personally, I really don’t like this pushy approach but I need Skype for work. As a result, I did hit the ‘Update Skype’ button.

At the same time, I’m also looking for a reliable Skype alternative. I believe users should have the right to choose whether to update Skype or not. If Microsoft doesn’t offer me this option, I’ll look elsewhere.

What’s your take on this? Were you met with this Skype alert as well? Let me know in the comments below.

Update: Three of my colleagues just got the same Skype alert.

Update 2: We contacted Skype Support asking for more information about this alert. We also asked them whether more users should expect to see this alert today or these are only isolated cases. We’ll update this post as soon as we have an answer.

Update 3: We just got a response from Skype. Microsoft is indeed retiring older Skype versions in batches, hence the alerts that me and my colleagues received recently.

Hi Madeleine! From time to time we retire older versions of Skype to introduce new features, improve existing ones and fix bugs. When this happens, you won’t be able to sign in until you upgrade to the latest version.

And now you know.

These DJI drones are learning to recognize objects with help from Microsoft AI technology

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

With Azure Cognitive Services, Microsoft is using AI and the power of the cloud to allow apps to process natural language, identify objets, and even persons. We’ve already seen the power of these technologies in apps like Bing Visual Search and Seeing AI, an iPhone app that can help the visually impaired to recognize text, people, and objects around them

DJI, the world’s biggest drone manufacturer has now teamed up with Microsoft to create drones that can recognize objects, including different types of fruits (via Tech in Asia). Both companies recently organized the AI x Drones Joint University Competition, where students had to build AI models so that DJI drones would be able to recognize fruits that had been scattered in a specific area.

In the image below, you can see how an AI model built by students was able to label different fruits, and add a number next to each of them to indicate if the results could be really trusted or not.

Image credit: Abacus.

According to Winnie Chu, Business Group Lead, Cloud and Enterprise at Microsoft Hong Kong, the intelligent edge (the ability to run AI closer to the physical word) really helps to make AI models more effective on these drones. “Once a drone detects something, it can send the message or the results back to the computer, and it will make the whole performance and user experience much better,” said Chu.

If it doesn’t seem very useful to have drones that can recognize fruits, there could be many more interesting use cases for this technology, such as checking stocks in massive warehouses or explore other areas inaccessible to frontline workers. “We see drones as empowering workers and becoming a new tool in the toolbox,” explained Kevin On, Global Marketing and Communications director of DJI.

Feature image credit: Abacus.

YouTube TV, one of Xbox One’s best TV apps, is now available broadly in the US

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

YouTube TV is now available to 98% of people in the United States (via The Verge), and the majority of those users will be able to enjoy at least three of the big four local broadcast giants (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) depending on their area. Google promises the remaining area will get access soon, the wait primarily being due to negotiations with local broadcast stations, since local stations are a big part of the service.

YouTube TV has become my primary means of entertainment on the Xbox One, especially given I have access to all four of the local options. It’s probably the best option out there and the only one that gives up to six family members their own unlimited DVR storage (although recordings expire after 9 months) for just $40 a month. The only downside is the lack of Viacom and Discovery networks, so that means no Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, or Discovery channels.

YouTube TV screenshots on Xbox One

That said, there are other options out there for those who do need the extra channels or features. Sling TV allows users to build their own plan, and Hulu brings their entire on-demand library to subscribers of their live TV service. Then there’s also cable though OneGuide for those who need a lot of channels. However neither of those services offer the incredibly useful unlimited DVR storage that YouTube TV offers.

If you’re interested, you can download the app on the Microsoft Store for your Xbox One, and if you’re on Windows 10 its available on the Chrome and Firefox web browsers. Unfortunately that leaves out S Mode users, at least until Edge becomes powered by Chromium. Additionally, anyone on iOS and Android can download the app on their respective app stores to enjoy live TV, DVR, and on-demand content from anywhere they wish.

YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Download
QR-Code

YouTube TV
Developer:
Google LLC
Price:
Free


‎YouTube TV
‎YouTube TV
Download
QR-Code

‎YouTube TV
Developer:
Google
Price:
Free


YouTube TV: Live TV & more
YouTube TV: Live TV & more
Download
QR-Code

YouTube TV: Live TV & more
Developer:
Google LLC
Price:
Free

 

Microsofts decouples Search and Cortana in Windows 10 v1901

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

New features and updates in technology play a very important role for users. The same is valid for Window Insiders. As a matter of fact, Windows 10 Insiders can now test a new ‘feature’ where Cortana and Search are separated.

So, how is this new feature different from the previous Cortana-Search combo and how can users utilize it in a better way? In this new update, Search and Cortana are decoupled in the taskbar which means that these two features can be used separately and independently.

This has been one of most popular requests in the Feedback Hub. Some of the Insiders are already running this new OS update. They tested the separated Cortana-Search feature and they’re quite satisfied with it.

This will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases. […]
Some Insiders have had this update for a few weeks now, and we appreciate all the feedback we’ve received about it so far!

Here is also the tutorial for those of you who want to learn more on how to  use Cortana and Search separately.

How to use Cortana and Search separately

cortana search separated
In the taskbar, there will be a separate search icon which is a new addition brought by the latest update. On the left side of the taskbar, an icon stands for Cortana and by clicking on it, the voice-first digital assistant will be automatically launched for you.

The privacy and search settings of Search and Cortana are also segregated in two parts. Microsoft introduced this separated settings policy in order to improve the search results. You can also tweak the design of the search box (that can be unique and different for all users) and you can also integrate the Microsoft To-Do with Cortana easily.

So these are the main advantages that one can have by installing the new update. If you’re not an Insider but you want to test the new feature, you can enroll in the Windows Insider Program via the Settings page.

If you have any question about this update, feel free to comment below.

Note: For now you can get Cortana on supported markets only.

RELATED STORIES:

Windows Server vNext Insider build 18317 and Windows Admin Center Preview 1812 are now available

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has just announced the release of the preview build 18317 for the Windows Server vNext Semi-Annual channel release, as well as Windows Admin Center Preview 1812. The new Windows Server build brings the ability to support multiple code integrity policies through three different scenarios, in addition to a couple of bug fixes.

Windows Admin Center, the new graphical management tool for Windows Server is also getting some love in this 1812 release. New features include a new dark theme UI, the addition of Power configuration tab on the server settings page, and the ability to configure Windows Admin Center using PowerShell.

This new Windows Server build is now available to download for Insiders on the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. Microsoft noted in the release notes that in-place upgrade will fail for this build, so you’ll have no choice but doing a clean install.

Microsoft’s new Classroom Pen is designed for K-8 students and optimized for Surface Go

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is using the Bett education conference in London to announce some interesting hardware news this morning. In addition to the seven new Windows 10 PCs for education, the company also unveiled the Microsoft Classroom Pen, which is designed for K-8 students and optimized for Surface Go tablets.

The Microsoft Classroom Pen has a design similarity with the company’s Surface Pen, but it’s just over 4 inches long with two buttons on the side. According to Microsoft, the new Classroom Pen is “designed for students who put their learning tools through heavy wear and tear and features a durable, hardened pen tip and a replacement tip for each pen included in the box. Plus, a built-in slot at the end makes for easy tethering to students’ device cases, so the pen doesn’t get lost.”

The Microsoft Classrom Pen is just over 4 inches long.

The Microsoft Classroom Pen will be offered exclusively to EDU institutions in all 36 Surface Go markets starting in February. It will only be sold in packs of 20 for a cost of $799.80, which represents approximately $39.99 per pen. The company plans to share more details about the new pen on Friday.

Mortal Kombat 11 could get crossplay between Xbox One and other consoles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It appears NeatherRealm Studios, the company that is developing the upcoming Mortal Kombat XI fighting game, is interested in enabling cross-platform multiplayer in their new game, due for release this Spring. This could enable users on various platforms such as Xbox One, PC and Mac to not just play with each other, but also interact with cross-platform profiles, friends, voice communication, and match-making, cloud saves and even achievements could work between the different platforms

All of this could be possible in part due to Epic Games’ release of their API tools, as spotted by the writers at Wccftech. The gaming company that develops the heavily popularized and highly cross-compatible Fortnite game will make new cross-platform features free for all developers, and the APIs will be released over a period of several months for any developer wishing to incorporate them into their own titles.

  • Cross-Platform Login, Friends, Presence, Profile, and Entitlements (coming Q2-Q3 2019 to PC, other platforms throughout 2019): Provides the core functionality for persistently recognizing players across multiple sessions and devices; identifying friends; and managing free and paid item entitlements. This will support all 7 major platforms (PC, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch) to the full extent each platform allows per-title.
  • PC/Mac Overlay API (coming Q3 2019): Provides a user interface for login, friends, and other features in a game-agnostic, engine-agnostic way.
  • Cross-Platform Voice Comms (coming Q3 2019 to all platforms): Epic is building a new in-game voice communications service supporting all platforms, all stores, and all engines, which will be available for free. (For developers needing an immediately-available voice solution, check out Discord, Vivox, TeamSpeak, Ventrilo, and Mumble.)
  • Cross-Platform Parties and Matchmaking (coming Q3-4 2019 to all platforms)
  • Cross-Platform Data Storage, Cloud-Saved Games (coming Q2 2019)
  • Cross-Platform Achievements and Trophies (coming Q3 2019)

Cross-platform multiplayer is unlikely to be available in the game’s initial release in April 23, and the developers haven’t addresses much, including whether the game could work between PS4 and other platforms. This is likely due to Sony’s strict policies against cross-play, however lately it seems to be willing to soften its stance on the issue.

If you’re interested, the game is available for pre-order right now on the Microsoft Store, and will be an Xbox One X Enhanced title and supports HDR10 for anyone who is sporting a supported TV and Xbox One S or X system.

Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat 11
Download
QR-Code

Mortal Kombat 11
Developer:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Price:
Free

Microsoft Launcher version 5.2 now available for beta testers with several new features

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft Launcher has begun rolling out its second major update since the app’s v5 launch on the Google Play Store, bringing the beta to version 5.2 to those who wish to preview the update ahead of its official release. The app’s development head Gordon Lin took to the app’s Google+ community to give users the full changelog of the update, which includes UI enhancements to give them app improved design consistency and ease of use especially on larger-screened devices.

These changes include an option to disable full screened folders as seen in the image above, and improvements to the font size so that it now reflects the phone’s system settings. Additionally, the launcher’s Cortana integration will now only be able to access calls and messages when set as the phone’s default assistant due to a policy change on the Play Store, which could disappoint users of the dedicated Cortana app. Here’s the full list of changes:

– Non-full screen folders for easier one-handed use and large-screen devices
– Microsoft Rewards daily deal card now allows you to earn Rewards points for using Microsoft Launcher and completing other tasks!
– Long-press shortcuts now work on home screen icons even when the home screen is locked.
– Microsoft Launcher no longer asks for Calls/SMS permissions by default per Google Play Store policies.
– Customers can now send a CPU profile through “Contact Us” in Settings in case of device performance issues
– Adaptive font- Launcher font size will now respect the system font size

If you’re interesting in previewing the update, Lin points out that anyone can do this simply by heading to the app’s beta testing page on Google Play, and signing up to ‘Become a tester.” Signing up give users early access to the launcher’s updates, bringing new features to them ahead of everyone else.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) gets new Vikendi Edition on Xbox One

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

To help promote the launch of the new Vikendi map in the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) video game today, a new special Vikendi Edition of the popular game has just gone live on Xbox One.

This new PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Vikendi Edition comes with the base PUBG game, access to the public test server, 2,300 G-Coins, the Survivor Pass: Vikendi, and a Military Uniform Set which can be worn by both male and female characters.

To complement the new Vikendi Edition of the main game, a Vikendi Pack has also been made available for those that want the new digital content but don’t wish to re-buy the full game. The Vikendi Pack comes with the bonus 2,300 G-Coins, the Survivor Pass: Vikendi, and the Military Uniform Set.

The Military Uniform Set is exclusive to both of these bundles and won’t be available anywhere else. Each bundle will also be extremely limited and will be removed from the Xbox storefront on March 28th.

Are you tempted to buy either of these PUBG Vikendi bundles? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more PUBG content.

PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Edition
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Edition
Download
QR-Code

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Edition
Developer:
Microsoft
Price:
Free


PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Pack
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Pack
Download
QR-Code

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS: Vikendi Pack
Developer:
Microsoft
Price:
Free

Microsoft AI is powering digital transformation in India to fuel economic and social growth

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

At its annual Media & Analyst Days event in India, Microsoft India shared details about its progress on its vision to democratize AI in the country to fuel economic and social growth.

“A tectonic shift is happening in AI. Nearly 85% of enterprises globally will use AI in some form or the other by 2020, and Indian firms are now fast catching up,” Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said in his opening keynote.

  • Analytics: $200 billion global market by 2020
  • Data: 44 zettabytes annually by 2020
  • Cloud: Cloud shift will affect more than $1 trillion in IT spending by 2020

He pointed out that while 8% of GDP components in India are impacted by digital technologies today, this number is expected to go up to 60% by 2021.

At the event, Microsoft shared that over 700 business and government organizations have adopted its AI solutions to drive digital transformation with 60% of these customers being large manufacturing and financial services enterprises.

Amongst the top 500 organizations on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 97% of the top banks, 75% of the top retailers, 81% of the top auto firms, 75% of the top pharma firms, and 67% of the top healthcare firms are Microsoft’s customers in India. In addition, Microsoft is working with new-age organizations that are leapfrogging and disrupting industries.

Out of the 9,500 Microsoft Partners in India, there 2,995 Cloud partners with 88 own IP-ready partners helping Indian organizations to inlock the full potential of AI, Cloud, and data.

Microsoft recently introduced the Intelligent Cloud Hub program in India with an aim to help build AI and cloud computing skills required for future jobs. The company aims to equip research and higher education institutions with AI infrastructure as well as build curriculum and faculty capability to skill students in AI and cloud technologies.

According to a LinkedIn survey, US, China, and India have the highest penetration of AI skills among the workforce, in that order.

Last year, Microsoft India announced an agreement with NITI Aayog to leverage the benefits of AI for the growth of the nation. The NITI Aayog, also National Institution for Transforming India, is a policy think tank of the Government of India.

As part of the agreement, Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas to advance agriculture, healthcare, natural language computing, and a sustainable environment Microsoft will also accelerate the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing.

We believe AI will enable Indian businesses and more for India’s progress, especially in education, skilling, healthcare and agriculture. Microsoft also believes that it is imperative to build higher awareness and capabilities on security, privacy, trust and accountability. The power of AI is just beginning to be realized and can be a game-changer for India.

– Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India

In 2016, Microsoft created the global Artificial Intelligence and Research (AI & R) group with the goal to bring AI to every person, organization, and company.

The company now offers a broad framework for integrating AI with Azure, Azure Stack, Azure IoT Edge, and Azure Sphere. With 54 Azure regions globally, Microsoft has more cloud regions than both Amazon (AWS) and Google (Google Cloud) combined.

Telegram updates on Windows 10 with new useful group chat settings

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The official Telegram app for Windows 10 devices updated today with some improvements for groups. With this update, group admins can now place limits on the type of content members post, access to the group settings has been significantly streamlined, and all groups can now have up to 200,000 members (up from the previous 100,000 limit).

Other changes made with this update include an option to select emoji sets in chat settings, support for automatic media downloads, and new input and output settings.

Here’s the full release notes:

  • Global permissions for groups. Restrict all members in any group from posting certain types of content.
  • Unified group settings. Make groups public, set admins with granular permissions and toggle persistent history in just a few clicks in any group.
  • Choose the emoji set you would like to use in Chat Settings.
  • Choose input and output devices for Telegram Calls in Settings > Advanced > Call Settings.
  • Support for automatically downloading files and music.

Telegram is a popular chat service that has official apps on all major platforms including Windows phone. Its recent updates on Windows 10 added features such as anonymous polls and support for custom-made languages.

Are you a Telegram user? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more tech content.

Telegram Desktop
Telegram Desktop
Download
QR-Code

Telegram Desktop
Developer:
Telegram Messenger LLP
Price:
Free

Guacamelee! 2 video game launches on Xbox One and Windows 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The sequel to the hit platformer Guacamelee!, Guacamelee! 2, is now live on Xbox One and Windows 10 devices. The game is very much in the same vein as the original with a bright Mexican-influenced design aesthetic, eccentric characters, Metroidvania-style platforming challenges, and support for local multiplayer.

Here’s the official Guacamelee! 2 game description:

Brawling has never been more beautiful! The long-awaited sequel to the smash hit action-platformer is here: Guacamelee! 2 brings luchador Juan Aguacate out of retirement for a stunning new Metroidvania-style adventure, where he must face his greatest challenge yet – one that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the Mexiverse!

Explore a huge, hand-crafted world inspired by Mexican culture and folklore, filled with sassy new villains and weirdos (and a few old friends!). Learn a deep repertoire of bone-crunching wrestling moves to fend off the skeletal hordes and overcome skillful platforming challenges… and who said anything about a Chicken Illuminati? Certainly not us!

Guacamelee! 2 supports Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere initiative which means that buying it on Xbox One will unlock it for free on Windows 10 and vice versa. Game saves will also transfer between devices using the same Microsoft/Xbox account and players will be able to unlock Xbox Achievements wherever they choose to play. The game will also play in 4K Ultra HD on the Xbox One X console.

Are you a fan of the original Guacamelee! video game and have you played Guacamelee! 2 yet? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

Guacamelee! 2
Guacamelee! 2
Download
QR-Code

Guacamelee! 2
Developer:
Drinkbox Studios
Price:
$19.99

KB4480977 comes with a total of 14 fixes for Windows 10 v1607

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

LTSC branch devices just got the KB4480977 update for Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) that upgraded the OS build number to 17134.556. 

Windows 10 cumulative update KB4480977 has released a handful of bug fixes that existed in the previous OS releases. A reliability issue in the File Explorer has been fixed.

The issue that caused the RemoteApp Windows to intermittently appear and disappear on Windows Server 2016 has also been fixed. Microsoft also addressed the issue for third-party applications that were no longer able to authenticate hotspots. 

You can read more about the complete list of bug fixes and improvements on KB4480977’s official support page.

Known issues in KB4480977

Microsoft has also reported several known issues in the recent cumulative update. Some of them have been mentioned below:

  • Those applications may fail to open that are using Microsoft Jet database along with the Microsoft Access 97 file format. The error may only occur in the case if the column names in the database exceed 32 characters.
  • The installation of this update on Windows Server 2016 results in the error “Outlook cannot perform the search” , while performing an instant search in Microsoft Outlook Client.
  • Some icons appear incorrectly in the taskbar as soon as the file association defaults are changed.
  • Lenovo systems having less than 8 GB of RAM, may fail to startup after the installation of KB4480977.
  • Soon after VMM refresh, Infrastructure management issues are reported for System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) managed workloads. The issue arises because Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) class around network port is not being registered on Hyper-V hosts.

It is worth mentioning that Microsoft has already ended its support for Windows 10 version 1607 in April last year. The update is no longer available for Windows 10 Home and Windows Pro. However, the support for the LTSC versions has been extended until October 2016. The Intel Clovertrail chipset systems will continue receiving updates until January 2023. 

Microsoft is continuously improving the general performance of old operating system versions by resolving issues reported in the previous releases. The tech giant recommended its users to upgrade their devices to a supported OS version to enjoy the full features offered by Windows 10.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Microsoft quietly adds new “Rules” and “Scenes” smart home features for Cortana

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Even though Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella finally admitted that Cortana won’t compete head-to-head with Alexa and Google Assistant, the company’s digital assistant is apparently still getting new features. As reported by Windows Central, the “Connected Home” section of the Cortana notebook quietly gained two new sections, “Rules” and “Scenes.”

It’s not clear yet if these two sections are live for all Cortana users, but we’ve seen them on a Windows 10 PC running the latest Insider build (18317), as well as the latest version of the Cortana app on iOS. Cortana already lets you add and control several appliances from Ecobee, Philips Hue or Nest, and the new Rules and Scenes features are intended to help you do more with your connected Home.

With Rules, you can create commands with conditions of your choice such as time of day, duration, temperature, and more. Scenes are a slightly more complex feature, letting you create specific commands combining different smart appliances. As an example, you could create a “Good Morning” Scene that turns on your lights, raise the temperature on your smart thermostat, and more. While we haven’t been to experiment with Scenes, the possibilities seem to be quite extensive.

Microsoft has yet to communicate about these new Connected Home features in Cortana, but it’s great to see the company throw a bone to owners of smart appliances. Now that Microsoft wants Cortana to become a “skill” for Alexa and Google Assistant, we didn’t really expect the company to add more “consumer” features to its digital assistant, so that’s definitely a pleasant surprise. Let us know in the comments if you’ve been able to put these new Rules and Scenes Cortana feature into action.

HP HIDClass Error 0x800703e3: How to Fix it

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you’re trying to install the latest HP updates on your Windows 10 computer, but error code 0x800703e3 keeps on popping up, you’ve come to the right place.

If you encounter this error, it means that Windows Update is not working, but there’s a way to fix it.

Before we start, let’s take a closer look and see what causes this issue.

What is error code 0x800703e3?

This is a Windows Update error, and it occurs due to the following:

  • Missing drivers on HP devices will prevent Windows Update.

How can I fix error 0x800703e3?

Use Microsoft Update Catalog

  1. First off, you need to download the HP wireless button. The quickest and safest method is to simply download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
  2. Next, you need to locate the driver suitable for your Windows 10 version. Press Ctrl + F and look for the appropriate version.HP wireless button
  3. Hit the Download button and wait until the driver has been downloaded on your machine.
  4. Now, click on the cab file to open it.
  5. You’ll see that the folder contains three files. These are archived files and you need to extract them first.HP hidclass folders
  6. Now, you need to right-click on the WirelessButtonDriver inf.file. That’s the Setup Information file. A small pop-up window should appear on the screen prompting you to install the wireless button driver.install wireless button driver
  7. Do that, hit Install. If there’s a security window popping on the screen, simply confirm your choice in order to complete the installation process.
  8. Once you’ve done that, go to Windows Update. Check for updates again; you should be able to install the latest HP driver updates normally now.

This method does require some technical knowledge, but it can be performed as long as you follow our instructions carefully.

This quick workaround should do the job. In case you’re not familiar, we also have a great guide on how to access Windows Update Catalog, so you might want to check it out.

If you found other solutions to fix error 0x800703e3, feel free to list the steps to follow in the comments below.

How to fix error 0x80070643 after installing KB4023057

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you go to Windows Update and check for updates, you’ll see there’s an interesting update waiting to be installed. Update KB4023057 is an old acquaintance for many Windows 10 v1809 users, actually.

This is an old update that’s now causing install errors for many users. The most frequently encountered error is 0x80070643. This error occurs because Windows 10 is trying to install an older version of KB4023057, not the latest release.

If you’re experiencing the same error code, follow the instructions listed in this guide to fix it.

Solution to fix error 0x80070643

Uninstall KB4023057

  1. Go to Start > type ‘control panel’ > open Control Panel
  2. Now, navigate to Programs. Update KB4023057 is available as program. That’s a bit strange but that’s how Windows 10 decided to categorize this patch.
  3. Select KB4023057 and simply uninstall it. Wait until the process is finished.
  4. Now, return to Windows Update and check for updates again.
  5. This time, the OS should install the correct version of the update. To make sure this is the case, go to Windows Update and check for updates again. This time, your computer should confirm that Windows 10 is up to date.

There you go, this quick workaround should be enough to fix this issue.

If you encountered other KB4023057, tell us more about your experience in the comments below.

Microsoft’s launches XAML Studio, a free app for making UWP XAML UIs

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Despite all the recent talk about Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), Microsoft and its own in-house development teams appear to maintain a healthy interest in continuing their support of the UWP XAML communities.

A new app from the Microsoft Garage Project studios emerged in the Store recently called XAML Studio which was released to help “rapidly prototype UWP XAML” projects and copied for further development using Visual Studio.

XAML Studio lets you preview your XAML code in real-time and interact with the result just like it was running in your own app!

This instant response lets you quickly iterate on ideas visually, copy in examples from docs to explore, and test the final behavior all at the same time in one app easily downloaded from the store. You can even download it and get started prototyping while installing Visual Studio!

  • Rapidly Prototype UWP XAML UIs with Live Edit and Interaction
  • Binding Debugger
  • Data Context Editor
  • Auto-save and restore Documents
  • IntelliSense
  • Documentation Toolbox
  • Alignment Guides
  • Namespace Helpers

In addition to the streamlined Copy/Paste nature of XAML Studio, developers will also find tools in the app that should help with Data Context for UI decision based on either static test date or live date from JSON REST API. XAML Studio will also allow developers to use a new binding debugging tool that will give insight into the back-end and front end UI usage as well as real-time error-spotting.

Visit the Microsoft Store to give this Microsoft Garage Project a shot, if you’re a UWP XAML developer or tester.

XAML Studio
XAML Studio
Download
QR-Code

XAML Studio
Developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Price:
Free

KB4480976 brings tons of fixes for Windows 10 v1803

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update) just got a new cumulative update: KB4480976. This patch is available for this OS version only.

The recent update patched many problems related to BitLocker, networking, Thunderbolt storage, Microsoft Edge and drivers. All the improvements, fixes, and security updates have been mentioned in the changelog for the Build 17134.556.

The update also fixes the black screen issue that appears as soon as users connect  Thunderbolt storage devices. The tech giant has also addressed a bug that caused  the Windows Driver Frameworks service to trigger high CPU usage issues.

KB4480976 key features

The recent update fixes a major issue related to the focusin event. Previously, the system lacked the timeline and sharing features along with the roaming settings in Korean, Japanese and Chinese languages.

Another annoying issue that has been fixed with this update is the bug that prevented apps from correctly using the built-in Help window.

KB4480976 known issues

The cumulative update has also inherited various known issues from the previous releases.

  • Some users are not able to pin a web link on the taskbar or the Start menu.
  • Those users who were using a local IP address are not able to load a webpage in Microsoft Edge.
  • Some apps (Using Microsoft Jet database with Microsoft Access 97 file format) fail to open with the “Unrecognizable Database Format” error.

How to install KB4480976?

You can simply navigate to Settings > Windows Update section and hit the Check for updates button to make sure that you are using an updated version of Windows 10.check for updates

The Patch Tuesday updates that were rolled out earlier this month addressed the security vulnerabilities that were reported in Windows 10. On the other hand, the latest updates focus on general OS improvements. This time a lot of refinements and general fixes have been added by the company.

Microsoft might release new updates for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update devices as well. The second January cumulative update for Windows 10 v1809 is reportedly in the testing phase and should land later this month.

Related Stories:

Repair Windows 10 From Another Computer [How to]

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Windows 10 is a great operating system but it has issues, and many are wondering if is it possible to repair Windows 10 from another computer.

This is pretty simple to do, and you just need to create a bootable Windows 10 installation media on your PC.

This is simpler than it sounds, and in today’s guide we’re going to show you how to do it.

Can I use a system repair disk from another computer?

Yes, the repair disk is quite similar to the installation disk, meaning that you can use it on a different computer. There are a few benefits of doing this:

  • It allows you to repair a computer that can’t boot or access the Internet.
  • Helps you repair a PC that doesn’t have a repair disk created.
  • Can be used on an unlimited number of computers.

How do I repair Windows 10 from another computer?

Create a bootable Media on another PC

  1. Go to the Microsoft download center and type Windows 10.
  2. Select the version you want and click on the Download tool.

  3. Click on Accept and Accept again.
  4. Choose to create an installation disk for another computer and click Next.
  5. Choose the language, version and architecture of the processor (Choose the recommended options) and click Next.
  6. Now you choose between two ways to download Windows 10: Creating the USB stick or opting for the direct link of the ISO file to burn then on a DVD, using tools like Rufus.
  7. If you have chosen the ISO you will see a window that will let you save the file and to watch the download.
  8. Click Finish to end up the procedure.
Note icon NOTE
If the drive doesn’t boot, you need to change your BIOS boot order and select a flash drive as a boot device.

To keep in mind that it might not be possible to restore Windows 10 from another computer, you can create an installation media that will help you solve most issues.

In order to be prepared in case Windows 10 errors and problems occur it’s advised to create a backup of Windows 10, of files and programs on a disk partition, on an unallocated space of at least 30 GB.

We hope that this guide helped you repair Windows 10 from another computer. As you can see, you just need to create an installation media and start the installation and that’s it.

Did you find this guide helpful? If so, let us know in the comments section below.

Mysterious update KB4023057 got released again: What it is for?

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Here is an interesting situation. Microsoft releases update KB4023057 (again), still doesn’t explain what it is for, and expects everyone to be happy.

Result? Well, you can guess the results. Lots of objections and negative posts appearing left, right, and center.

What is security update KB4023057 all about?

In fairness to Microsoft, since re-releasing update KB4023057 for Windows 10 v1809, they have updated the support page and spelt out what this update does in more detail.

Notes about this update

“This update may request your device to stay awake longer to enable installation of updates.
Note: The installation will respect any user-configured sleep configurations and also your “active hours” when you use your device the most.
This update may try to reset network settings if problems are detected, and it will clean up registry keys that may be preventing updates from being installed successfully.
This update may repair disabled or corrupted Windows operating system components that determine the applicability of updates to your version of Windows 10.
This update may compress files in your user profile directory to help free up enough disk space to install important updates.
This update may reset the Windows Update database to repair the problems that could prevent updates from installing successfully. Therefore, you may see that your Windows Update history was cleared.”

But does this make for good reading? I’m not so sure.

Did you know that Windows updates trigger bugs for 50% of users? Find out more in this article.

Let’s take a look in more detail.

preventing updates from being installed successfully

How does Microsoft know that the updates that ‘aren’t being installed successfully’, aren’t being installed successfully because I don’t want them to be installed?

may repair disabled or corrupted Windows operating system components that determine the applicability of updates to your version of Windows 10

Same thing here. If I disabled the operating system components for a reason, will update KB4023057 enable them?

 compress files in your user profile directory

This ones is interesting. On the support page, it explains in more detail about compressing files, and then adds this line:

At any point during the update process, you should (my italics) be able to access your files.

That ‘should’ doesn’t sound very definite to me. What if I can’t access my files during the update? What if I can’t access my files after the update?

may reset the Windows Update database to repair the problems that could prevent updates from installing successfully

And again, ‘reset the Windows Updates database’. What if I set up the database and don’t want it to be changed?

And…

you may see that your Windows Update history was cleared

My entire update history?

Finally…

How to get this update
Only certain builds of Windows 10, versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803 require this update. Devices that are running those builds automatically get the update downloaded and installed through Windows Update.

Really? Does this mean I have no choice but to install it?

Should you be concerned?

Does all the above make update KB4023057 more troubling than it really is? Probably not. I am not suggesting that there is anything untoward happening here.

However, if Microsoft issues an update, knowing exactly what it will do, and giving us the choice of whether we want to install it or not, seems like the bare minimum.

What do you think? Are you happy to let Microsoft download and update your machine as it wishes? Or are you the type of person that wants to know what’s happening?

Let us know in the comments below.

UPDATE: Microsoft pushed KB4023057 to Windows 10 users in January 2019 as well. This update brings reliability improvements to Windows Update Service components in Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803. If necessary, KB4023057 will also free up some disk space on your computer if there is not enough space to install new Windows updates.

The big M is now offering the Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update) automatically to all the computers that are fully supported.

We are now starting our phased rollout to users via Windows Update, initially offering the update to devices we believe will have the best update experience based on our next generation machine learning model.
Fully available for advanced users who manually select “Check for updates” via Windows Update.

UPDATE AUGUST 2019: Microsoft rolled out KB4023057 to Windows 10 users in August as well. This time around, the update aims at preparing Windows 10 v1803 devices for the upgrade to Windows 10 v1903. Once again, Microsoft didn’t say a word about what’s changed in this update.

Maybe KB4023057 can help you deal with update problems, as more and more 1803 and 1809 users are having trouble with the forced Windows 10 v1903 update.

So, this is why the company decided to release KB4023057 again. If you’re planning to upgrade to a new Windows 10 version, don’t forget to install KB4023057 first so as to enjoy a smooth update process.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Editor’s Note: This post was recently updated for freshness, and accuracy.

KB4480967 and KB4480959 fix hotspot and file access issues

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Microsoft started 2019 in style. The company recently rolled out new Windows 10 updates, just a few days after the January 2019 Patch Tuesday wave of patches. Ladies and gents, please welcome KB4480967 and KB4480959.

As a quick reminder, update KB4480959 for Windows 10 v1703 takes the OS Build version to 15063.1596. Update KB4480967 for Windows 10 v1709 takes the OS Build to version 16299.936.

Let’s see what these updates bring in terms of fixes and improvements.

Windows 10 KB4480967 changelog

  • The issues where Microsoft Edge fails to trigger the focusin event has been fixed.
  • Applications should now display the Help (F1) window correctly.
  • Microsoft addressed the issue that may cause apps to stop working when converting long Kana to Kanji.
  • The update fixed the issue in a multi-monitor configuration that causes a window to unexpectedly move to a different monitor when reconnecting to an existing user session.
  • Addressed an issue in which the desktop wallpaper image set by a group policy will not update if it has the same name as the previous image.
  • Fixed the issue that causes BitLocker Network Unlock to fail on generation 2 virtual machines when it’s used in a network that only supports IPv4.
  • Scheduled Tasks created in a disabled state should now run properly.
  • The Redmond giant fixed the bugs preventing users from overwriting files in a shared folder due to ‘Access Denied’ errors when a filter driver is loaded.
  • The issue where third-party apps fail to authenticate hotspots has been fixed.
  • Blue screen errors should now longer to appear when a Thunderbolt storage device is attached.

You can check out the complete changelog on Microsoft’s support page.

Windows 10 KB4480959 changelog

This patch doesn’t bring as many changes as KB4480967. However, these two updates do share some common fixes for Microsoft Edge focusin event issues, Help pages errors, BitLocker Network Unlock bugs, hotspot authentication problems and ‘Access Denied’ errors.

Apart from these improvements, KB4480959 also added the following fixes:

  • Downloads should no longer fail because Mark of the Web (MOTW) was not supported at the download location.
  • The Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) failure audit events should no longer occur without a reason.
  • The update fixed the issue that may cause a 30-second delay when deleting or renaming a link in a Distributed File System (DFS) Namespace.
  • Renaming a folder no longer takes 30 seconds when shared by multiple users work in a group.

As always, you can read more about this update on Microsoft official support page.

Have you encountered any bugs after installing KB4480967 or KB4480959? Let us know in the comments below.

RELATED POSTS TO CHECK OUT:

How to become an Xbox Ambassador: Updated for 2019

Posted on by davew

Here’s a quick update to those wondering about how to join the Xbox Ambassadors Program. The Xbox Ambassadors Program is made up of a group of diehard Xbox gamers who want to share their expertise with the Xbox community. Their goal is to make Xbox the most inclusive and the best place to play. The collective goal of the Xbox Ambassadors is “Making Gaming Fun for Everyone.”

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox Ambassadors

By becoming an Xbox Ambassador, you can unlock XP for completing program-related activities. The more XP you unlock, the quicker you level up through different program tiers, making you eligible to receive exclusive Xbox Ambassador-brand physical and digital rewards. The Xbox Ambassadors team reached out to us, and here’s what’s new, with more to come.

In order to become an Xbox Ambassador, you must meet these three requirements:

  1. Be at least 17 years old.
  2. Have an Xbox Gamerscore of 1500 or higher.
  3. Have no previous enforcement actions on your Xbox Live account.

The big change is you no longer need to have an Xbox Live Gold account. Anyone with an Xbox Live account (Gold or Silver) can be Xbox Ambassadors. Once you meet the requirements and sign up, you will be greeted with a welcome video (see below) that quickly explains the highlights of the program and sets you on your way to the very first welcome mission.

You can talk about being an Xbox Ambassador on any social media platform you choose; Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. Be sure to include #XboxAmbassadors so that fellow Ambassadors can reach out to you to connect. The goal of being an Xbox Ambassador is to get the word out an recruit more gamers to become Xbox Ambassadors too.

Please note: if you are sharing content on YouTube on behalf of Xbox Ambassadors, the program would prefer you use the following statement:

“I’m a member of the Xbox Ambassador Program and can unlock different rewards and recognition for my community involvement. Want to unlock the ultimate achievement? Become an Xbox Ambassador today at ambassadors.microsoft.com/xbox.”

If you have more questions about how to become an Xbox Ambassador, you can reach out to the Xbox Ambassador Team on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. You can also ask me, I am an Xbox Ambassador. My Xbox Live Gamertag is DavidVanDamage. If I don’t know the answer, we can always find an Xbox Ambassador who does! Visit the Xbox Ambassadors website to become an Xbox Ambassador today!

Windows 10 Mail apps quietly gains darker preview pane in latest update

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

With Windows apps being updated through the Microsoft Store almost independently from the major operating system updates, it’s sometimes hard to pinpoint when and what new features have been implemented versus usual developer maintenance. Being a Windows Insider infinitely complicates feature tracking as some app updates become release triggered.

Now that I’ve applied a qualifying excuse to my overlooked reporting, I can say with moderate embarrassment, “hey guys, have you tried the new darker reading mode in the Windows 10 Mail app?”

I was tipped to its appearance via the Italian website Aggiornamenti Lumia where a gif was posted of the new toggle feature.

Sure enough, the new toggle is available on my version of the Windows 10 Mail app running on the latest Fast Ring build 18317, despite there being little to no fanfare about it in the developer release notes. I’m not sure when it first appeared but users have been vocal about its implementation for over two years.

The dark preview pane may seem like a trivial addition, but its small details such as these that help bring cohesion to the platform and may help some users pivot from using Chrome or the big box version of Outlook, to the default mail experience in Windows 10. I know, I’m a fan of the app!

If you happen to know when exactly this toggled showed up, please feel free to drop that knowledge in the comment section for inquriing readers.

We Happy Few and LEGO Movie are now available in Xbox Game Pass

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

After being hinted at yesterday, We Happy Few and The LEGO Movie Videogame are now both available to play for free as part of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

The LEGO Movie Videogame will look familiar to anyone who’s played any of the other LEGO video games on Xbox One. This one is based on the LEGO Movie storyline and features a diverse selection of over 90 characters to unlock.

Join Emmet and an unlikely group of resistance fighters in their heroic quest to thwart Lord Business’ evil plans—a mission that Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously unprepared for.  It’s a wild ride with a surprising mix of over 90 playable characters including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Green Ninja, Gandalf, Shakespeare, Cleopatra and more.

We Happy Few is a more mature video game with a strong emphasis on story. The game has been rather well-received by critics and gamers though may be too intense for young players.

We Happy Few is the tale of a plucky bunch of moderately terrible people trying to escape from a lifetime of cheerful denial in the city of Wellington Wells. In this alternative 1960s England, conformity is key. You’ll have to fight or blend in with the drug-addled inhabitants, most of whom don’t take kindly to people who won’t abide by their not-so-normal rules.

Discover the retrofuturistic city’s dark history as you play through the intertwined narratives of three quietly rebellious citizens of Wellington Wells. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses as they face their pasts, prepare for the future, and engage in activities that aren’t exactly status quo in the artificially enthused society.

In addition to confirming We Happy Few and The LEGO Movie Videogame’s addition to Xbox Game Pass today, Microsoft also officially announced that Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Saints Row: The Third would be coming to the service on January 24th.

Are you an Xbox Game Pass subscriber and are you hyped to play these games? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

The LEGO Movie Videogame
The LEGO Movie Videogame
Download
QR-Code

The LEGO Movie Videogame
Developer:
Warner Bros. Games
Price:
$19.99


We Happy Few
We Happy Few
Download
QR-Code

We Happy Few
Developer:
Gearbox Publishing
Price:
Free

Xbox 360’s Ace Combat 6 gains Xbox One backwards compatibility today

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Xbox 360 video game, Ace Combat 6, is set to get Xbox One backwards compatibility sometime today. Ace Combat 6’s new Xbox One product page is currently live in the Microsoft Store, however, the game itself doesn’t appear to be available just yet at the time of this writing.

Ace Combat 6 is a military action-strategy game that originally launched back in 2007. It features a strong focus on flying military aircraft but also contains other aspects of such as naval combat as well.

Here’s the official game description and trailer:

Witness high definition graphics rendering the world around you into super realistic war zones, made possible only by next generation processing power. Lead not only aerial combat units but also naval and ground combat units to victory. Massive conflicts unfold on a “living battlefield” integrated by the “Dynamic Operation System” where up to six independent aerial, ground, and naval battles can break out at once as allies and enemies clash in real-time.

Ace Combat 6’s sequel, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, is set to launch on the Xbox One family of consoles tomorrow and will be available in both a Deluxe and regular version. Digital pre-orders for both are now live.

Are you a fan of the Ace Combat video games? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

ACE COMBAT 6: Fires of Liberation
ACE COMBAT 6: Fires of Liberation
Download
QR-Code

ACE COMBAT 6: Fires of Liberation
Developer:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
Price:
Free


ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Launch Edition
ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Launch Edition
Download
QR-Code

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Launch Edition
Developer:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
Price:
Free


ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Deluxe Launch Edition
ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Deluxe Launch Edition
Download
QR-Code

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN Deluxe Launch Edition
Developer:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
Price:
Free

What is Windows 10 Cost and Can You Get it For Free

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Switching to the new operating system comes with a price, and many are wondering how much Windows 10 costs.

In today’s guide, we going to take a closer look at different editions of Windows and let you know the price of each one.

How much does a Windows 10 cost?

The cost of Windows 10 depends on the edition that you’re planning to install:

Windows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro
Download$129.99$199.00
USB$99.99$119.00
OEM Disc$89.00$99.00
Upgrade$99.00

What is the cheapest version of Windows 10?

The most affordable version of Windows 10 is the OEM edition of Windows.

Although it’s most affordable, it comes with limitations that all OEM versions have.

Can you get Windows 10 for free?

Yes, it’s possible to get Windows 10 for free, right from Microsoft’s website. However, even though you can use this version, it won’t be licensed and you’ll often get a message asking you to activate it.

If you want to use the full version, you can try upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free as a workaround.

How can I get Windows 10 forever for free?

You can’t get a licensed copy for free, but you can use an unactivated version almost without restrictions as long as you like.

If you already own a previous edition of Windows, you might be able to activate Windows 10 with Windows 7 or 8 key.

What is the difference between free Windows 10 and paid?

  1. The unactivated version has a watermark in the bottom right corner asking you to activate it.
  2. You will often get a nagging screen asking you to activate.
  3. Customization options aren’t available unless the system is activated.
  4. Unactivated Windows can only be used by personal users.

We hope that you now understand better how much different Windows 10 versions cost. Do keep in mind that Microsoft isn’t selling Windows 10 anymore, so you can only get it from retailers.

This is no surprise with the release of Windows 11, and if you’re thinking about upgrading, you might want to learn more about Windows 11 costs.

Are you still looking to buy Windows 10 or are you switching to Windows 11? Let us know in the comments below!

Windows 7 end support scheduled for January 2020

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

It’s official: the countdown to Windows 7‘s demise has begun. Microsoft will end official Windows 7 support on January 2020. You may want to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 in order to avoid continued support fees.

There are many potential security threats and costs incurred in continuing to use Windows 7 just after the tech giant officially ends support for the OS.

Are you planning to upgrade?

There are many Windows 7 users and even IT departments unaware of the approaching end of support deadline. Some are aware of the deadline but have not yet planned to migrate to other platforms.

Some IT professionals will even have to be pay Microsoft for extended support beyond January 14, 2020. Not to mention that large companies might end up losing million of  dollars per year because their systems will be vulnerable to potential cyber attacks.

Notably, Microsoft ended support for Windows Vista and Windows XP around more than three years ago but 16% of the IT professionals have admitted using these outdated OS even today.

Challenges restricting large organizations

One of the major challenges that are faced by large enterprises is updating thousands of machines that are being used by their employees all over the world. In some cases, the complete transition from Windows XP might take months. It is highly recommended that IT managers regularly update their operating systems.

Another challenge faced by large enterprises is the resistance to change to the latest version of Windows 10. Most of the employees have been using Windows 7 for years. They are familiar with working on the OS to an extent that they don’t want to give up on it.

Others might simply want to avoid the whole migration process as it takes a lot of time. IT managers need to create awareness regarding the implications of migration to ensure an easier migration process. Since the process has been streamlined, users will now be facing fewer disruptions and the apps will not fail to migrate during the migration process.

Keep in mind the one-year deadline announced by the Microsoft for ending support for Windows 7. You can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT

New Xbox One 1904 preview build introduces floating mini keyboard

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It’s been quite some time since we last saw something interesting in Xbox Insider builds, but the latest 1904 flight for Preview Alpha Skip Ahead & Alpha Ring members is a welcome change. Indeed, this new build introduces a floating keyboard that should automatically position itself around text boxes.

While the Xbox team didn’t provide an image of the mini keyboard in the release notes, you can see how it looks in the tweet below:

This latest 1904 build also addresses some issues causing blank tabs in the dashboard, as well as Home crashes when system sounds played. Going forward, all new 1904 preview builds will ship to both Skip Ahead and Preview Alpha Insiders, but Microsoft is also testing the Xbox 1902 update with Preview Beta and Delta Insiders.

To be clear, the Xbox 1902 update is expected to ship in February, and the 1904 update will likely follow in April. So far, 1902 preview builds only brought under the hood changes, including framework changes to the mouse feature set for future work, but no new features. It’s pretty much the same story so far with 1904 builds, except for this new virtual mini keyboard. We hope the team will start testing new features with Insiders in the coming weeks.

Satya Nadella opens up about Project xCloud, the upcoming Xbox “Netflix for games”

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Perhaps, priming the pump of journalism around the Microsoft 2019 news cycle, CEO Satya Nadella spoke with journalists at in invitational editors meeting about the company’s ambitious gaming endeavors.

While various company executives throughout the past couple of years have waxed poetic about how much gaming means to Microsoft; it’s only in rare instances and normally in front of a developer crowd, that Nadella has addressed the degree to which developments in gaming will play out in the company’s grander scheme.

Business Insider is reporting on the company’s CEO speaking with journalists the other day, Nadella offered some candid information about Microsoft’s secret game streaming project, Project xCloud.

“We describe it as, shorthand, ‘Netflix for games.”

As has been reported, the premise is that Microsoft’s push into cloud computing will aid in propelling a high fidelity, low latency gaming experience run mostly, if not entirely from the cloud, thus shifting the gaming landscape from a dependency on peridocial console releases. An additional benefit of unclasping the gaming experience from the traditional big box console is that it would free developers to market their experiences on newer, non-traditional gaming devices such as phones, Smart TV’s or ‘streaming sticks’.

The idea of game streaming isn’t new nor is it exclusive to Microsoft’s brand. Microsoft is in good company with both gaming studios and major tech companies such as Sony, Electronic Arts, Google, Apple, Amazon, Activision, and others when it comes to creating a streaming alternative.

However, the devil is in the details, like most attempts at a high-quality game streaming service all run into logistical quagmires attempting to solve the low latency issue combined with reliable enough internet access for gaming.

To that, Nadella believes that, while not fully resolved at this moment, Microsoft is in a better position than others to tackle the aforementioned issues with game streaming.

“We have as much a shot to build a subscription service as anybody else.”We have as much a shot to build a subscription service as anybody else,”

He also made reference to Microsoft’s dual pillar enterprise and gaming businesses that allows the company to leverage several advantages that singularly focused companies are not afforded.

For instance, “We have a huge back catalog, which is we have our own games,” which is something Apple, Google and Amazon lack at the moment when attempting to court the more affluent hardcore gaming crowd, and they also possess a massive cloud infrastructure to push beyond console limits that its major competitor in Sony, does not yet have established.

“We have a structural position in that we have both a console business as well as a PC business, which happens to be bigger than the console business when it comes to gaming.”

Linking Microsoft’s current despot efforts is its Xbox Live and its related services such as Play Anywhere library and Game Pass which will undoubtedly play larger roles in the company’s streaming future.

Nadella’s discussion with journalists earlier this week is yet another formalization of the concept laid forth by company VP of gaming Phil Spencer, wherein, console-quality gaming should be accessible by all and Microsoft is going to be among, if not, the company to deliver those experiences.

Windows Insider preview 18317 highlight changes to Display Settings and S Mode among other fixes and ‘Known Issues’

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Another Windows 10 Insider preview build is up for release to Fast Ring testers. The new Windows 10 preview release today is 18317 and comes with the standard list of General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC as with most releases.

Here is a list of what’s been fixed and what testers need to be on the look out when using this build.

  • We fixed an issue resulting in File Explorer unexpectedly having a lock on USBs when trying to safely eject them.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in frequent bugchecks (GSODs) in the last two flights, citing an error with bindflt.sys.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in frequent bugchecks (GSODs) in the last flight, citing error KERNEL_LOCK_ENTRY_LEAKED_ON_THREAD_TERMINATION.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in not being able to connect to VMs using Hyper-V console after upgrading to recent flights. This issue also impeded the ability to connect to VMs with Enhanced Sessions enabled.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in some full screen games showing a black screen in recent flights even though they worked in windowed mode.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in CDP User Service periodically unexpectedly using a high amount of CPU in recent flights.
  • We fixed an issue causing text in the Windows Security app to be incorrect or potentially missing altogether.
  • We fixed an issue from recent flights where clicking the network button on the sign-in screen didn’t work.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices not being able to wake from hibernation recently. There were two possible symptoms on wake if you were impacted – one was a black screen, one was a screen that continued to say “hibernating…”.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Display Settings crashing in recent builds. If you were impacted, this would have also had the symptom that clicking System or Ease of Access from the main Settings page may crash Settings.
  • We fixed an issue with certain touch keyboard languages where pressing AltGr + [any key] on the full layout would dismiss the touch keyboard.
    We fixed an issue where Windows Sandbox wouldn’t launch on PCs with multiple GPUs.
  • When Scan Mode is on and Narrator is on a slider, the left and right arrows will decrease and increase the slider. Up and down arrows will continue to navigate to the previous or next paragraph or item. Home and End will move the slider to the beginning or the end.
  • The Narrator list of headings command now works as expected in Chrome.
  • We improved Narrator support for Microsoft Teams.
    For cursor and pointer, fixed returning to the right mouse pointers when changing back to the original size and colors.
  • We fixed an issue where some devices would fail to install an update with error code If you are updating from 18309 or newer this issue will be fixed for this update, if you are updating from a build prior to 18309 it will be fixed for the next update.

And here are the Known Issues that the Windows team are highlighting in this build.

  • The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes.
  • Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
  • Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build.
  • Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.
  • When attempting to update this build some S Mode devices will download and restart but fail the update.
  • Night light functionality is impacted by a bug in this build. We’re working on a fix, and it will be included in an upcoming build.
  • When you open Action Center the quick actions section may be missing.
  • Windows feature update may fail but show up as a successful update in Windows Update history page. If this happens you will see more than one successful install for the same update in the history page.
  • When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
  • There is an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they may not receive policies. Those policies are not applied and left in a “pending“ state on the server. The workaround is to go to Settings/Accounts/Access work or school and “Disconnect” your Azure AD account and then re-enroll.
  • Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
  • Update Orchestrator Service stops working periodically. A fix will be included in an upcoming build. As a result of this issue, you may see an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. If you see this, restarting using the power menu in Start (“Update and restart”) should work, although there’s a chance that it won’t.
  • Closing the lid to a laptop and re-opening can cause icons in the task bar to appear blank. To fix this open task manager and restart explorer.exe or reboot.
  • If you download a theme from Microsoft Store, it won’t appear in Themes Settings.

Known issues for Developers

  • If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings.

n addition to growing list of known issues and fixes, there are other new items for Insiders to be on the lookout for such as Bing Insider stuff, Bug Bash reminders, Windows Console Updates, and more.

If you’re an Insider, build 18317 is definitely a release worth checking out this week.

Windows 10 19H1 build 18317 is out, splits up Windows Search and Cortana, adds better Start reliability

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is rolling out today the Windows 10 19H1 build 18317 to Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring. After some testing with select Insiders in recent weeks, this new build finally separates Cortana from Windows Search in the task bar. “This will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases,” the Windows Insider team explained today.

This new build brings other significant updates, including some background changes to make the Start Menu more reliable than before. The Windows 10 Settings app has also been updated with A Better Font management experience and a revamped Windows Insider Settings page. You can find more details about all these changes below:

Separating Search and Cortana

Going forward, we’ll be decoupling Search and Cortana in the taskbar. This will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases. Some Insiders have had this update for a few weeks now, and we appreciate all the feedback we’ve received about it so far! For those new to this update, when it rolls out to you, you’ll find clicking the search box in the taskbar now launches our experience focused on giving you the best in house search experience and clicking the Cortana icon will launch you straight into our voice-first digital assistant experience.

Other available Search and Cortana settings have also now been split between the two, along with the familiar group policies.

This change is one of several we’ve made throughout this release to improve your experience in this space, including updating the search landing page design, enhancing your search results, and integrating Microsoft To-Do with Cortana. If you have any further feedback, please don’t hesitate to share it with us here.

Note: Cortana is currently only available in supported markets.

The next step in improving Start reliability

As some of you may already know, up until now Start in Windows 10 has been hosted by something called ShellExperienceHost.exe. In order to provide you the best possible Start experience, we’re separating it into its own process, called StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. This has a number of benefits, including simplifying debugging and insulating Start from potential issues impacting other surfaces. This has been running as an experiment for a few weeks now and we’ve seen measurable improvements in the reliability amongst those that have the change, so we’re rolling it out to everyone.

We’re also making a change so that Start no longer suspends, which improves launch time.

A Better Font management experience in Settings

Insiders today can now drag and drop font files from File Explorer into the modern Settings > Fonts page to install them. After installation, click on the font in the Font page, to view the different font faces associated with the font and all the details of the font. You can also uninstall the font from this font details page. Drag and drop font installation by default is installed as a per-user font which does not require elevation, hence it will not be available for other users. To install the font for all users in the device, use the “Install for all Users” option by right clicking the font on file explorer.

A simpler Windows Insider Program Settings page

We are introducing a simplified Windows Insider Program Settings page via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program with Build 18317. The goal is to make the end-to-end experience of signing up for the Windows Insider Program and setting up your PC to take new builds much easier by simplifying the experience and removing some of the clutter. You’ll find that all the same functionality is still there.

New simplified Windows Insider Program Settings page via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program.

Under “Pick your Insider settings” is where you can change your Insider ring on your PC.

Windows Console Updates

We’ve made several fixes & improvements in Windows Console in and leading up to build 18317, including:

  • Fixed spurious text artifacts being displayed when running cscope in a Linux VM via ssh
  • Fixed GitHub issue 296 where the incorrect mouse button ID was being reported when a mouse button was released, resulting in an “unexpected mouse-drag behavior” regression
  • Fixed GitHub Issue 313, enabling colors above index #15 to be set via VT OSC 4
    • Colors <= 99 fixed in this build
    • Colors > 99 fixed in up-coming build
  • Corrected sizing issues for Linux alt-buffer apps (e.g. vim, emacs, etc.) resulting in more reliable resizing
  • Fixed some issues with Consoles growing in height if scroll-forward is disabled
  • Fixed ConPTY, enabling underline VT sequences to now pass correctly, allowing ConPTY-enabled apps (e.g. VSCode’s integrated terminal) to correctly receive and display underlined text
  • Made ConPTY flush its output buffer before terminating ensuring apps receive all input and display correct output
  • When running Tmux, correctly restore state after Win + D, resulting in Tmux’s last line of text rendering correctly
  • Fixed Console to preserve a Console window’s currently colored text when executing Cmd.exe
  • If using raster fonts, Console now correctly preserves the user’s font after running .NET Core code (which defaults to UTF-8 codepage 65001)
  • Correct how Console scrolls text region, fixing how text is rendered in Linux’ `screen`
  • Significantly improved performance of ConPTY – perf now very close to “raw pipe”

Overall, Cortana being separated from Windows Search is pretty big news, and this should give more room to other digital assistants like Alexa (now available as a Microsoft Store app). Cortana has been a part of Windows Search since the launch of Windows 10, but the company seems to have come to the conclusion that this wasn’t such a good idea. In the preview build 18309 released earlier this month, Microsoft also removed the Cortana voice-over when you clean install Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows. Cortana will still have its place in the Windows 10 task bar going forward, but it no longer seems to be a core functionality of Windows 10.

As usual, the preview build 18317 also fixes a long list of bugs, and it also includes the three issues that were fixed in the cumulative update build 18312.1007 released yesterday. You can learn more about the general fixes and known issues in the build 18317 in our separate post.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s The Nightmare DLC launches on Xbox One next week

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Square Enix is releasing The Nightmare DLC for Xbox One next week. The expansion will deliver seven new missions, which the developers are calling “Paths” for Lara Croft to explore. Each path will offer its own set of missions, and Lara can earn new outfits, weapons, and skills with each one. Here’s a list of what’s new in the DLC:

Survive and Thrive: Master the jungle to survive. Explore underwater environments filled with crevasses and deep tunnel systems.

Become One With the Jungle: Lara must use the jungle to her advantage to strike suddenly and disappear like a jaguar, instilling fear in her enemies.

Discover Brutal Tombs: Terrifying tombs, filled with deadly puzzles, require advanced traversal techniques to be accessed.

Uncover Living History: Discover a hidden city and explore the biggest Tomb Raider hub ever.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the latest installment of the Tomb Raider series, taking off from the Rise of the Tomb Raider hit that saw its way to the Xbox One. The Nightmare is the third DLC to become available for the game.

The content will be available for those who whish to purchase this Tuesday, January 22. If you’ve never played before, the developers are offering a free seven-day trial for anyone on Xbox One, Windows 10, and PS4. So now might be a good time to jump on the bandwagon and try the game out.

Microsoft expands M12 investment fund to include India, announces first startup investment

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft will be investing in yet another Indian company. The company’s venture fund, M12, will invest in various startups, with Innovaccer being among the first of recent companies to receive funding from the tech giant. According to Microsoft, Innovaccer is a startup that aims to solve problems with data interoperability in health care, and improve outcomes for health systems. In the words of the company’s global head of M12, Nagraj Kashyap:

“We are thrilled to broaden M12’s reach to include India. India is a market rich with entrepreneurs creating world-class startups that are poised for success on a global scale. In working with these innovative startups, we believe together we will help disrupt enterprises and industries ripe for digital transformation.“

The company’s M12 startup has already made investments to other prior startups, as well. Microsoft explains that these range from “cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to business SaaS and industrial drones.” For those unfamiliar, M12, formerly known as Microsoft Ventures, is a cooperate venture fund which invests in startups, which Microsoft serving as a strategic partner as the companies grow.

Investments to an Indian startup like this is not surprising. The company cites the country’s business-to-business increased equity funding up to $3.08 billion in 2018, a 28% increase from the previous year. Microsoft’s own CEO Satya Nadella is a fellow Indian American himself, so it seems only logical for his company to have familiarity with those businesses.