Star Wars: The Last Jedi digital pre-orders open on Windows 10/Xbox One

The latest film in the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, is now available to pre-order digitally in the Microsoft Store for Microsoft’s Movies & TV service on Windows 10 devices, Windows phones, Xbox 360 and One consoles, and HoloLens.

The film debuted in cinemas yesterday around the world so won’t be available to actually watch digitally for several months from now but many hardcore Star Wars fans who know they’re going to buy it eventually anyway will probably appreciate the chance to get the purchase out of the way.

The Microsoft Store digital copy of the film will come with most of the special features on the physical Blu-ray release and one of them, the New Head of the Resistance featurette, can be viewed right now. All previous seven Star Wars films including the Rogue One spin-off are also available to watch digitally.

Have you seen The Last Jedi yet and will you be buying it digitally? Let us know (with no spoilers!) in the comments below.

Android Xbox Beta app begins testing Party Chat

The official Xbox Beta app has updated on Android devices. While there aren’t that many changes with this update, is does signify the beta testing for Xbox Live party chat which will allow Xbox gamers to communicate with each other through the app via voice chat.

The Xbox Beta app is used to test new features before they’re perfected and pushed out to the main Xbox app. Users can provide feedback on the app directly to Microsoft which is used to decide what features are prioritized by the company.

Would you ever use party chat via a mobile app? Let us know in the comments below.

Xbox beta
Xbox beta
Price:
Free

Microsoft launches Azure Stack for India

Microsoft, the only provider of all three clouds – private, public, and hybrid – announced the launch of Azure Stack for India on the sidelines of Microsoft Media & Analyst Days 2017 held in Hyderabad at the Microsoft India Development Center.

Azure Stack is an extension of Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, and brings the agility and fast-paced innovation of cloud computing to on-premises environments and enables entirely new hybrid cloud scenarios.

All the major Azure Stack partners HP, Dell, EMC, Lenovo, and Cisco, have started shipping Azure Stack to customers in India and an Azure Stack ready partner ecosystem has been created with partners such as Netmagic, Embee, and G7CR. Microsoft India has more than 9,000 cloud partners while globally, Microsoft has 64,000 partners — more than any other cloud services provider.

As the pace of digital transformation picks up in 2018, we recognize that many customers prefer to evolve gradually by first moving to a hybrid cloud environment before fully embracing the public cloud. With Azure Stack, we will help our customers move forward in their preferred digital transformation path at a pace they prefer.

– Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India

At the event, Anant shared that 70 of the top 100 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed companies are now using Microsoft cloud to drive their digital transformation.

Satya Nadella to appear tonight on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show

Noted by Jay Greene on Twitter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is set to make an appearance tonight (12/13) on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show at 11:00 PM ET (via Windows Central.) It’s not certain what the CEO will discuss, but we expect him to talk about his new book “Hit Refresh” and what he has accomplished at Microsoft during his tenure.

The Microsoft CEO has been on a media tour ever since his book hit store shelves: he recently spoke at the GeekWire summit and mentioned Microsoft’s hardware efforts, and also sat down with Fast Company to discuss his new book.

We don’t expect Nadella to suddenly reveal the Surface Phone during his time with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, but we still will keep an eye out for any interesting comments. Will you be watching tonight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Stats downgrade: less than 1 in 6 Windows 10 users use Edge, says Net Applications

A little more than two years after its launch, did Microsoft Edge manage to get a significant browser share on Windows 10 PCs? Far from it, according to the latest data from Net Applications. The company that provides detailed web usage share statistics has recently modified its methodology to exclude bots from its statistics:

“As bot traffic across the web has risen dramatically, it has been a challenge to detect and remove it from our dataset,” explained Net Applications. “This is a critical issue since bots can cause significant skewing of data. In particular, we have seen situations where traffic from certain large countries is almost completely bot traffic.”

Net Applications modifying its methodology to eliminate bot traffic had a big impact on Edge’s real use worldwide. According to the company’s updated data, Edge’s browser share went from 14.8% in May 2016 to 13.2% in November 2017, but topping at 15.6% in April of this year.

As noted by Computerworld, these are much lower numbers compared to the legacy data from Net Applications, which the company says was biased because of bot traffic:

Before Net Applications’ methodology modification, Edge was the choice of between 28.5% (in May 2016) and 15.7% (October 2017) of all Windows 10 users. While that was ultimately a steeper decline, for most of the period Edge’s share of Windows 10 hovered around the 21% to 22% mark. Only in the last three months did the older data show Edge’s place on Windows 10 start to slide, perhaps a sign that Net Applications’ new data scheme was implemented before the firm made the news public.

It’s interesting to remember that if Edge has been globally bleeding browser share between and April 2016 November 2017 (an 11% decline), Net Applications says that the OS share of Windows 10 went from 23.06% to 31.95% during the same time frame. Obviously, that didn’t help Microsoft Edge gain more users on Windows 10.

So yes, despite all the progress that Microsoft has made on Microsoft Edge over the past two years, the web browser is currently being used by less than one in six Windows 10 users. It remains to be seen if the availability of Microsoft Edge on iOS and Android could reverse this trend, but for now it’s still too early to have an idea. Edge recently reached 1 million downloads on Android, but the web browser should become much more attractive once Microsoft implements tab sync between Windows 10 and mobile devices.

What do you think Microsoft Edge needs to make it more attractive for Windows 10 users? Sound off in the comments below.

Microsoft’s head of Partner programs leaves the company

According to a report from ZDNet, Ron Huddleston, the CVP of One Commercial Partner organization at Microsoft, has left the company. Previously holding positions at Salesforce and Oracle, he joined Microsoft in mid-2016 and is apparently going on an indefinite family leave, with no clear word if he will be returning to Microsoft.

The news comes in the months after Microsoft reorganized their sales division, which the One Commercial Partner Organization is a part of. Taking over in Ron Huddleston’s place will be Gavriella Schuster, who was previously in charge of the Global management of Microsoft’s partner recruitment from May 2014 to June 2016.

Schuster is well seated at Microsoft, being with the company since 1995, and currently listed as the Corporate Vice President of Commercial Partner Channels & Programs. Some may recall Schuster from a keynote at Ignite, and her other work with Windows, Cloud & Enterprise and partner organizations.

According to his LinkedIn Profile, Ron Huddleston previously worked with Salesforce and Oracle. At Salesforce he was the Senior Vice President of IoT Cloud, and he held multiple positions at Oracle.

Poll: Will a Windows Mixed Reality headset make it under your tree this holiday?

Microsoft is having a big sale today only on Windows Mixed Reality headsets, as part of their annual “12 Days of Deals.” We’ve had a chance to play around a bit with one of these devices, the Lenovo Explorer, and our own Arif Bacchus came away impressed.

But it’s still early in the AR/VR game. Microsoft is making big bets on the future of the platform, beginning with the introduction of HoloLens back in January of 2015, and continuing on by building in 3D graphics capabilities and Windows Mixed Reality interfaces all over Windows 10.

So, are you sold? Are you asking Santa for a Windows Mixed Reality device this year? Is it still too early? Take our poll below and let us know where you stand.


Of course, if you’re giving rather than getting, or hoping to get, tell us about that, too. You can head over to the Microsoft Store to pick yourself (or that lucky someone close to you) a great deal on one of these headsets, check out Arif’s posts on the Lenovo Explorer, or just let us know your thoughts in the comments below

Deck out your Windows 10 PC for the holidays with the Ninja Cat Holiday Escape theme

Looking to deck out your Windows 10 PC for the holidays to match the decorations in your home? Well, now you can, as Microsoft recently released a unique Ninja Cat Holiday Escape theme for Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store.

The theme puts Microsoft’s Windows Insider mascot in 13 different winter-themed scenarios, be it with a Yeti, under the Northen lights, or even snowboarding. It’s pretty cute, and joins in as the third entry in the Ninja Cat theme series, following Ninja Cat Beyond, and The Adventures of Ninja Cat.

One of these Ninja Cat themes made an appearance yesterday during the Windows Insider Webcast, and some Microsoft Employees even appear to be using it on their PCs. Great to see Microsoft making these downloadable themes for Windows 10, as it was a prominent interface aspect of the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Do you have a favorite theme which you use in Windows 10? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Okami HD is now playable on Xbox One consoles

Okami HD is now playable on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles. The game is a re-release of the classic Okami video game but has received a graphical upgrade, a new aspect ratio, and 4K support when played on the Xbox One X. Here’s the official game description and link.

Experience the critically acclaimed masterpiece with its renowned Sumi-e ink art style in breathtaking high resolution. Take on the role of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess who inhabits the form of a legendary white wolf, on a quest to defeat Orochi, an eight-headed demon and tyrannical monster responsible for turning the world of Nippon into a ruined wasteland. Players will be able to choose between modern widescreen format or the original release’s 4:3 ratio. Interactive loading game screens from the original game are also included.

Have you had a chance to play Okami HD yet on your Xbox One? Is this your first time playing it? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below.

ŌKAMI HD
ŌKAMI HD
Developer:
CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Price:
$19.99

CHUWI Lapbook Air review: My travel laptop on a budget

I’ve been testing the CHUWI Lapbook Air extensively for three weeks now so it’s high time that I wrote this review and share my experience on using the device.

CHUWI Lapbook Air review

1. Design

chuwi lapbook air review

As its name suggests, the CHUWI Lapbook Air borrows some elements of design from Apple’s MacBook Air line. As far as the overall design is concerned, I am impressed.

The first thing that stroke me when I unboxed it was its appealing and harmonious design. The laptop has a compact and sturdy design. When I held it in my hands for the first time, I noticed this laptop is not at all fragile. Honestly speaking, I had expected that taking into account its price tag. Once again I was reminded not to judge a book by its cover.

The screen doesn’t bend and the hinges are very strong and durable.

The shiny metal edges around the display, touchpad and the lower part of the “clamshell” add a very professional, business look to it.

The full-sized keyboard with individually spaced keys makes typing on the CHUWI Lapbook Air a very pleasant experience.

chuwi lapbook air keyboard

The laptop is slim, ultraportable, measuring only 13″ x 8.6″ x 0.8″ (33 x 22 x 2 cm) in size and it weights only 3-lbs (1.4 kilos).

2. Display

chuwi lapbook air review 2018

The display is another pleasant surprise. The 1920 x 1080 14.1-inch IPS LCD display renders clear and vivid images. Compared to my good old Intel i7 HP ProBook 470 that I use daily to write on WindowsReport, the difference is significant.

Indeed, when it comes to display and image quality, the CHUWI Lapbook Air gets a big like. The display is one of its strong points.

However, if glare display is not your thing, you may not like that aspect.

3. CPU and performance

chuwi lapbook air specs

The CHUWI Lapbook Air is a budget laptop, so don’t expect it to be the Superman of laptops. The device is powered by an Intel Celeron N3450 processor clocked at 2.2 GHz – this puts it in the mid-range category.

Other key specs include 8GB of RAM and 128 eMMC.

So, if you’re looking for a reliable laptop to complete your school/ college assignments, browse the Internet, watch some movies, connect to your social media accounts, the CHUWI Lapbook Air is powerful enough to help you do that.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to play heavy games, do a lot of video editing work and run tens of apps and programs that usually require lots of computing power, then you should select another laptop model.

The laptop is built and designed for the average consumers, not for gamers and graphics artists.

4. Battery

CHUWI Lapbook Air’s battery can power you for up to 5 and a half hours with the brightness setting set to 100%. If you reduce brightness and run only a few apps and programs, you can extend its battery life by one hour.

Unfortunately, it takes around 4 hours for the battery to fully charge, so there is still room for improvement.

5. Connectivity

The laptop comes with two USB-A ports, one mini-HDMI port, one headphone jack and one micro-SD card slot. Charging is done via Chuwi’s proprietary port.

6. Speakers and sound

chuwi lapbook air sound

Well, as far as sound is concerned, I’ll put it mildly and say it’s satisfactory. However, I recommend that you use headphones or an external speaker if you want to get clearer and deeper sounds.

The built-in speakers aren’t powerful enough to deliver high-quality sounds.

Speaking of sound, there is another thing that I noticed after pairing my Harman Kardon GoPlay speaker to the Lapbook Air via Bluetooth – it tends to overheat.

The good news is that I did not experience any other overheating issues except for that particular case.

Why you should buy the CHUWI Lapbook Air

chuwi lapbook air thin laptop

After my three week experience using this budget laptop, my conclusion is clear: this is going to be my travel laptop.

I no longer play heavy computer games, I play only quick tower defense games that I usually download from the Microsoft Store. I already played Prime World: Defenders for a couple of hours and the CHUWI Lapbook Air was up to the task – no lag, smooth gameplay.

As far as my work is concerned, my main tasks involve word processing, basic photo/video editing and surfing the Internet. The CHUWI Lapbook Air has already proved that it can handle the job well.

If you’re looking for a mid-range budget laptop and display and image quality, alongside design are two of your main criteria, then the CHUWI Lapbook Air is the perfect choice for you.

There is no need to buy the most expensive laptop on the market if you’re not going to take full advantage of its capabilities and features.

CHUWI Lapbook Air summary of the main strong points:

  • Thin, light and ultra portable
  • Stunning design, it actually looks like a laptop costing twice as much
  • The display delivers crystal clear images, good color, contrast, and brightness
  • Large screen-to-body ratio
  • It costs under $450.00
  • Full-sized backlit keyboard
  • Good battery life
  • It doesn’t overheat after long hours of use
  • A good choice for the average consumer

Cons:

  • The charging cable is a bit short, so you’ll have to adapt
  • The trackpad may sometimes behave erratically, so it’s best to use a mouse
  •  You can’t open the laptop using only one hand.

Buy the CHUWI Lapbook Air from Amazon for $429.00.

I enjoyed using the CHUWY Lapbook Air so much that I already ordered one for my younger sister who started college this year. She needs a light laptop that’s easy to carry around from one classroom to another, and I think the Labook Air is perfect for her.

Do you own a CHUWI Lapbook Air laptop? Tell us more about your experience using this device in the comment section below.

If you like CHUWI’s products you can back the company up on Indiegogo and help them fund their upcoming CoreBook.

Keep your fingers crossed for a new build on Thursday, says Jason Howard

It’s been quite a while since Windows Insiders have had a new build to play with, in fact, it’s been since the day before Thanksgiving. There have been many problems with new build candidates, mainly with UWP apps and Microsoft has been busy diagnosing and fixing the issues internally. As explained by Jason Howard during today’s Windows Insider Webcast, Windows Insiders should now be keeping fingers crossed for a new build on Thursday.

Specifically, the candidate build hit Microsoft’s internal Canary Ring this morning, meaning there will be no new builds tomorrow due to the need for some additional testing. Again, it’s not a guarantee, but if all goes right, we can expect a new build on Thursday, perhaps even Friday at the latest.

Today’s Windows Insider Webcast featured a live working demo of Windows Timeline and it went on without issue. So, like Jason Howard said, things should be ready for release soon, and best to keep your fingers crossed and hope for a new build by the end of this week!

Expect Windows Timeline, but not Sets, in Windows 10 RS4

Windows Timeline and Sets are indeed two of the most anticipated Windows 10 features in a very long time. Terry Myerson previously detailed the two features would be coming in future Windows Insider builds, but today during the Windows Insider webcast things were clarified a bit more. Microsoft’s Jason Howard confirmed you can expect Windows Timeline, but not the Sets feature, once RS4 hits the mainstream public.

Though it might be shocking for some, this was in fact previously hinted in the original blog post by Terry Myerson which announced the Sets feature. Windows Insiders can instead expect for the Sets feature to be A/B tested in upcoming RS4 builds, and see the feature get pushed out, then reappear in time for the following RS5 release.

Windows Timeline though, will stand, and Windows Insiders can expect to try out the feature in upcoming new builds. You can tune into the Windows Insider Podcast now for a deeper look at Windows Timeline.

The Better Business Bureau wants to keep you safe from tech scams, with Microsoft’s help

As the average internet user has evolved their search patterns and behaviors so too have the nefarious folks looking to take advantage those developing search trends.

Instead of lacing up fraudulent software upgrades with fiendish code, hackers are now looking to alternative methods to infiltrate the sanctity of the average internet browsing session by running elaborate tech support scams.

Fortunately, Microsoft and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are teaming up to help give users a heads up on would be scams and help them avoid others in the future.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) is a unique group of cybercrime-fighting investigators, analysts and lawyers committed to combating this type of fraud and protecting consumers from becoming victims. Our DCU team and experts across Microsoft use innovative technology to detect how scammers are operating and make referrals to law enforcement. We also work to raise awareness and educate consumers about tech support scams through partnerships with organizations, including the Better Business Bureau and AARP, among others.

Microsoft is providing several resources to browsers that include the FBI’s most recent Internet Crime Report and a global survey conducted in 2016 which should help to frame the rising threat of tech support scams.

Visiting Microsoft’s On the Issues blog also provides browsers with a few quick tips to avoid being tripped up by the next potential scam such as:

  • Be wary of any unsolicited phone call or pop-up message on your device.
  • Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. Any communication we have with you must be initiated by you.
  • Do not call the number in a pop-up window on your device. Microsoft’s error and warning messages never include a phone number.
  • Never give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer.
  • If skeptical, take the person’s information down and immediately report it to your local authorities.

The above mentions are best practices when receiving unsolicited contact, via the phone or email, as for differentiating between legit support help and scams, Microsoft has a few other blog posts that should help to address those concerns here.

Ex-Microsoft exec Julie Larson-Green lands at Qualtrics

A short two months out of departing her executive role at Microsoft, Julie Larson-Green has found a new position at experience management company, Qualtrics (via Geek Wire.) Larson is taking on a chief experience officer role, helping oversee design of the company and the building of a culture that will help attract employees at Qualtrics.

She had held this very position at Microsoft before. as well as other key positions that helped shaped Microsoft to what the company is today. In fact, during her 20 plus year tenure at Microsoft, Larson helped shape Windows and Microsoft Office. Larson-Green commented on the necessity of her shaping a company’s culture when asked about her new position.

“Culture has such a huge impact on the outcome of the product and the outcome of the business…Putting that more front and center and not having as much of a silo as it’s been in the past is a really exciting opportunity.”

According to their website, Qualtrics makes “sophisticated research simple and empowers users to capture customer, product, brand & employee experience insights in one place.” The company has offices in Seattle, Dallas, Provo, Dublin, and six other cities across the globe. We wish Julie Larson Green well in her new journey, and thank her for her service at Microsoft.

Microsoft opens new Azure Availability Zones in France

Following the opening of two data centers in Paris and Marseille, Microsoft announced today that its Azure cloud computing platform is now available in preview in France. “The new Azure Regions in France are part of our global portfolio of 42 regions announced, which offer the scale needed to bring applications closer to users and customers around the world,” explained Tom Keane, Head of Global Infrastructure, Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft has announced 42 Azure regions so far.

The Azure France Preview is already open to all local customers looking to deploy online services and test workloads in the Microsoft Cloud. ”
“The new regions will offer the same enterprise-grade reliability and performance as our globally available services combined with data residency to support the digital transformation of businesses and organizations in France,” Keane added. You can sign up You can sign up for the Azure Preview in France on this page.

Windows 10 Feedback Hub picks up comment reply feature

Microsoft recently pushed out an update for the Feedback Hub on both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, adding in a new comment reply for Fast Ring Windows Insiders (via Aggiornamenti Lumia.) This much-needed feature was long requested by Windows Insiders, helping make the Feedback Hub a social hub for users to communicate about issues with Windows 10.

Along with the usual bug and other fixes, the reply feature is rolling out to Fast Ring Windows Insiders in version 1.1711.3412.0, and you can expect it to come to the other rings soon. Have a look at the changelog below, roughly translated from Italian.

  • It is now possible to reply to specific comments: In the feedback section you can now reply to an existing comment and the response will be displayed just below
  • Miscellaneous improvements and fixes
The reply feature

Though the reply feature is much appreciated, it’s one small step forward for a better Feedback Hub. How do you think Microsoft should improve the Feedback Hub? Be sure to check out the update now in the Windows Store, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is now live on Xbox One consoles in Game Preview

The incredibly popular PC game, PlayerUnknown’s Battleground, is now live on Xbox One video game consoles in Game Preview. This means that while gamers can buy, download, and play it on their consoles, it’s still being tested for stability and full functionality and some of the graphics likely won’t look as good as they will in a few months after more testing is done. Here’s the official game description.

From the makers of the best-selling PC phenomenon, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS drops players into a competitive survival battle where you’ll engage in a heart-racing fight to be the last player left alive. Loot supplies, find weapons and gear-up to take on the competition in a solo or team squad match. Emerge the lone survivor in a thrilling game experience full of unexpected, adrenaline-pumping moments. Game Preview: Game is unfinished and work in progress, may change over time, and may not release as a final product. Game preview information at xbox.com/GamePreview. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately).

PlayerUnknown’s Battleground supports online matches for up to 100 players HDR on compatible consoles and 4K graphics when played on the Xbox One X. Have you had a chance to dive into PlayerUnknown’s Battleground on your Xbox One console yet? Let us know in the comments below.

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
Developer:
KRAFTON, Inc.
Price:
Free

The official Moleskine Notes app launches on Windows 10 PCs

The official Moleskine Notes app has finally launched in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 devices most major regions. The free app works in conjunction with the Moleskine Pen+ smart pen/stylus device and allows for the digitisation and cloud storage of physical notes as they’re written down or drawn.

The Windows 10 Moleskine Notes app will also sync with Google Drive and the Moleskine mobile apps and content can be pasted into programs like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Evernote. Here’s the official list of app features.

  • Digitalization and storage: Your handwritten notes with Pen+ are digitized and stored on PC. From now keep not only digital documents, but also your handwritten notes on PC.
  • Backup and restore: Backup your important handwriting contents in Moleskine Note Windows to Google Drive. Once you backup to Google Drive, you can edit your handwriting in the mobile App.
  • Full-screen mode: Choose Full-screen mode to see your note pages at a look. What you see on the screen is what you write on the notebook.
  • Export: You can record and save the writing or drawing process as a video. You can also save notes & voice memo while recording.
  • Copy: Copy what was transferred to the app as an image or text file and paste it to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Evernote. It will help your work flow better.
  • Ideation: If you want to share your ideas with others, please choose Ideation function. With one PC, you can connect up to 7 Pen+ at the same time and check your writing on the screen in real-time.
  • Tag and search: Place a tag on your important notes. You can search important notes by tags quickly and easily.

Have you been waiting for this official Moleskine app to launch on Windows 10? Let us know in the comments below.

Moleskine Notes
Moleskine Notes
Developer:
Moleskine Srl
Price:
Free

Windows 7 error 80248015 blocks updates [FIX]

Even if Microsoft was pretty aggressive while pushing its Windows 10, it seems that Windows 7 still remains an extremely popular operating system among users. But unfortunately, more and more users keep reporting an issue that pops up with Windows Update in Windows 7. We are referring to the 80248015 error.

The error message displays “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer.” The sad news is that you won’t be able to fix the problem with a simple restart of the system.

The error message dates back to 2014

This is not the first time that this error message pops up because it seems that back in 2014 it appeared as well. The same problem was spotted in older versions of Windows, and the fixes that were able to solve the problem back then don’t seem to work this time at all.

How to fix Windows 7 error 80248015

The current issue may be caused by a file -authorization.xml in c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\AuthCabs\authcab.cab- that has an incorrect expiration date. To solve the problem, you should head to the settings for Windows Update where you have to disable the option that’s labeled “Give me updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows.”

It seems that this workaround was able to fix the problem for some users, but unfortunately, it’s not 100% guaranteed that it will work for everyone. Because the success rate of this tip is not the maximum, users are advised to wait until Microsoft rolls out a patch to fix the problem or until the company comes up with any other solutions.

Until then, if you happen to get error 80248015, you can try out the solution mentioned above, and if you’re lucky, it will work for you as well.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

You can’t install the latest Windows 10 build? Wait for the next one

There have been reported some troubles by more Insiders while trying to get the latest builds of Windows 10 and this may be due to some internal issues at Microsoft.

Windows 10 users trying to install either the Windows 10 build 17046 on the Fast Ring or build 17025 on the Slow Ring have been receiving error code 800096004 which caused the whole installation process to crash entirely.

More than that, their attempt to download language packs or more features also seems to fail.

Brandon LeBlanc from Microsoft stated that users who have already installed the latest build should not have any problems. On the other hand, users who are planning on installing them may have to wait for the next build to arrive because there’s nothing else they can do.

Causes and potential fixes

Microsoft already addressed the issue on its support page, and describing the bug causing the problems while attempting to install the latest builds. The company provides the information resulted from the investigation, saying that the root cause for this is a bug in the way that Microsoft signs files for builds that are delivered via UUP.

The company states very clearly that there are no steps that are able to be taken on individual PCs in order to bypass this problem. There aren’t any steps required by Windows Insiders to receive and install that next preview build that will be rolled out in the coming days.

Microsoft tells you to wait for the next build

Microsoft didn’t mention that it’s planning to roll out any patches for this bug and the company’s recommendation is to simply wait for the next build to come.

You can check out for yourself Microsoft approach on this matter and go through the company’s investigation and note to Insiders on Microsoft’s forum.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Skype for Windows 10 gets Fluent design touches, new features with latest update

Microsoft has made some substantial progress on its Skype Windows 10 app over the past few weeks, bringing it more in line with the Skype apps on iOS, Android, macOS, Linux and previous versions of Windows. Today, the Skype team penned a blog post to recap all the new features that recently made their way to the universal app.

Interestingly, the blog post doesn’t mention the addition of some Fluent Design touches, which all Windows 10 users can see in the just released version 12.10.572.0. That’s right, the left sidebar is now slightly transparent, and you can also see the “Reveal” lighting effect when hovering your mouse over it.

You may have missed it, but there is now a Gallery button at the top of all your Skype conversations. This handy feature helps you easily find previously shared content including links, files, pictures and videos.

Other recent additions to the Skype Windows 10 app include the new notification panel, which lists @mentions in group notifications, reactions to your messages and more. The profile page has also been revamped, replacing the toggles for ” Do Not Disturb” and “Do Not share my presence” with a more straightforward “Status” field.

Microsoft still has a lot of work to do to achieve feature parity with other versions of the app, and that includes add-ins support (PayPal, Giphy, etc.). Still, the Skype Windows 10 app is slowly getting better and we hope it will continue to improve over the next couple of months.

Microsoft releases Quantum Development Kit – play with qubits, teleportation, and entanglement now

The second half of 2017 has seen a Microsoft driven by the thought, concept and eventual actuality of a future teeming with quantum computing. Event after event and keynote pursuant keynote, executives from Microsoft have championed the phrase quantum computing, perhaps to the dismay of their layman fans and developers who haven’t quite wrapped their heads around the study of computation systems.

Fortunately, Microsoft is looking to help usher in its new age of quantum computing and help people get on board with a new free preview of its Quantum Developer Kit.

Microsoft is releasing a free preview version of its Quantum Development Kit, which includes the Q# programming language, a quantum computing simulator and other resources for people who want to start writing applications for a quantum computer. The Q# programming language was built from the ground up specifically for quantum computing.

The Quantum Development Kit, which Microsoft first announced at its Ignite conference in September, is designed for developers who are eager to learn how to program on quantum computers whether or not they are experts in the field of quantum physics.

Microsoft is attempting to lower the barrier to entry and make Quantum Computing as accessible as possible for interested developers by tieing the preview to Visual Studio through some deep integration that then reaches back out to quantum simulators. The power to stimulate around 30 logical qubits of quantum computing power can be wielded by developers using an average laptop thanks to some tweaks on Microsoft’s end.

As with most things Microsoft is doing these days, it’s offering up an Azure-based simulation for anything larger than the 30 logical qubits of quantum processing, the additional cloud-horse power can begin simulations larger than 40 qubits of computation.

Microsoft will also be providing some documentation to help walk people through some Quantum computing theories and concepts including the idea of quantum teleportation for fans looking to bring Sam Beckett back home (insert favorite Quantum Leap episode).

The hope with this new preview is to get developers fiddling with the new technology to hopefully pave the way for solutions that can provide a future filled with realistic applications and algorithms to address artificial intelligence, climate change, and cryptography.

“What you’re going to see as a developer is the opportunity to tie into tools that you already know well, services you already know well. There will be a twist with quantum computing, but it’s our job to make it as easy as possible for the developers who know and love us to be able to use these new tools that could potentially do some things exponentially faster – which means going from a billion years on a classical computer to a couple hours on a quantum computer.”

Visit Microsoft’s AI blog for more information or follow this link to get started with the Quantum Developer Kit today.

Flipkart drops Windows 10 UWP app for basic web wrapper

A little more than two years after the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft is still struggling to convince developers to create universal apps. After launching its Windows 10 app back in January 2016, Flipkart has just replaced it with a basic web wrapper, similar to the current Amazon Windows Store app (via Windows Latest ).

The Indian retailer is definitely no small company, but this news once again shows that the few big developers willing to support Microsoft’s UWP platform often struggle to support their apps in the long run. As it turns out, apps don’t make sense for everything on a PC, especially when most users are perfectly fine with using a web browser.

The previous Flipkart Windows 10 app.

If you liked to use Flipkart’s UWP app, seeing it replaced with a web app will likely be a disappointment for you. But again, maybe usage was just too low for the company to keep supporting it while most of its customers are fine with using the Flipkart website. Do you think UWP apps can provide a better shopping experience, or do you already use your web browser for your online shopping activities? Let us know below.

Here’s how PUBG will work on an Xbox One controller

There are just a couple of hours left before PUBG launches on the Xbox One, so shooter fans (including keyboard and mouse warriors) might want to check out how the battle royale game will be played with an Xbox controller. Yesterday, the Xbox team shared all the details about the Xbox Control Scheme for PUBG, explaining that the developer has worked closely with Microsoft to make sure that PC players will feel right at home on the Xbox One.

You’ll notice that several buttons have a dual-purpose when you’re just exploring the world. “For example, holding X will allow you to reload your weapon; tapping X will allow you to interact with objects,” the Xbox team explained. By pressing the left trigger, you’ll enter aiming mode and you can see the different controls below (note that you can hold your breath by presing LB to increase your accuracy):

There are lots of vehicles in PUBG, and you’ll just have to press X to enter in one. When in the driver seat, note that you’ll be able to quickly change seat (in order to use your weapons) by holding A.

Lastly, inventory management is very important in this game, and you can access your items by pressing the Menu button. Once you’re there, you can navigate between the different columns with RB/LB and select the items you want to use. “The key here is that pressing X picks up items into your bag like ammo and attachments, A swaps and equips items with your current loadout, and Y always drops the selected or highlighted item,” explained the Xbox team.

That’s just a quick overview of the basics, and as with all games, practice should do the rest. PUBG will be available in the US and Canada at 9PM PST today, and you can check all the details about the market release schedule on Major Nelson’s blog.

Paint 3D helps create a better world in Microsoft’s annual holiday ad

Following the spreading of peace and joy with Apple employees in 2015, then a celebration of the spirit of the season in 2016, the Microsoft annual holiday advertisement is back again. This year’s holiday ad is extra adorable, featuring Paint 3D, adorable yetis, and other 3D characters, reminding viewers that they can create a better world.

The Holiday TV commercial follows a young girl Sasha and her friend “Gabe the Yeti” on an imaginary 3D adventure through space. Quite obviously this is promoting the creation of 3D content with Microsoft’s platforms, including both Remix3D.com, and Paint 3D. There’s a little bit more to the story, though, with Microsoft making note of how we can celebrate each other and embrace differences this holiday season:

When we are inclusive and celebrate our differences we can make the world a better place. 3D Holiday tells the story of a young girl who goes on an imaginary adventure through space where she and “Gabe the Yeti” encounter various characters who need a little love and support, culminating in a celebration for all.

After all the controversy surrounding the traditional paint app possibly being deprecated, it’s interesting to see Microsoft promoting Paint 3D and Remix 3D (which were both originally part of the Windows 10 Creators Update last year.) Anyway, you can join in on the fun and download all the 3D characters seen in this commercial then upload your creation to Remix 3D tagged with #Holidayin3D for a chance to be featured on the Microsoft homepage.

Fix: Laptop’s optical drive not working

Even though it’s slowly but steadily getting overrun by flash storage, disk technology is still widely used, both for data distribution and as remote storage. Many modern laptops lack optical drives, but the ones that are still inclined to this almost legacy tech can occasionally run into problems.

We prepared a list of possible solutions for the optical drives issues on laptops, so if you’re unable to open CD or DVD or it barely gives any signs of life, make sure to check them out below.

How to resolve common optical drive issues on laptops

  1. Check the CD/DVD state
  2. Clean the laser lens and lens transport
  3. Check the connection cables
  4. Check the drivers

1. Check the CD/DVD state

Even though the optical drives on laptops are much more sensitive than on their non-mobile big brothers, the main concern is are they spinning or not. If the head spindle is spinning then there’s power, and the device is probably working fine. However, after a long time of extensive use, DVD/CD drives tend to have more problems with scratched or corrupted disks.

So, we advise you to try multiple disks, with the focus on official ones rather than homemade data disks you created. If you have an original disk you should place it in the drive and look for changes. In case the drive is still unable to access the data, make sure to continue with the steps below.

2. Clean the laser lens and lens transport

Now, even if you don’t use an optical drive too often, it will still accumulate dust and debris. Cleaning the optical drive is of utmost importance, at least if you want it to work for a long time. The main focus is on two essential parts of the laptop’s optical drive:

  • Laser lens
  • Lens transport (or transporter).

If there’s any dust or dirt debris on the laser lens, you’ll need to clean it. However, make sure to do it carefully, with a gentle cloth and, preferably, with the solution of rubbing alcohol and distilled water. Don’t rush your moves to avoid scratching or damaging the laser lens. And use barely wet cloth, we don’t want to bath the sensitive lens.

Furthermore, the lens transporter also tends to get stuck due to dirt collected under the side rails. This part needs to move freely so it can position itself properly.

Firstly, we advise you to use compressed air and dust off the underneath of the lens transporter. Then, move the lens transporter carefully by using a plastic pen to the end of the rails. Clean rails with the cloth ( wet it with a minimal amount of alcohol + distilled water). Finally, move the lens transporter to the middle and leave it there.

After that, insert your disk and try it out. If the problem is gone — good; if not, make sure to take further steps.

3. Check the connection cables

Now, the previous step should be performed one way or another, but what to do if the optical drive won’t spin at all and makes no sound whatsoever? There are two possibilities. The unpleasant one means that you’ll be needing a replacement. The latter means that something is wrong with the power cable that goes into the motherboard.

For the majority of laptops, in order to access the motherboard and its main components, you’ll need to remove the optical drive. If you’ve recently opened up your laptop for cleaning or replacement of faulty components, confirm that you connected the optical drive’s power cable with the motherboard. It’s fairly small connector, so it can easily be overlooked. Once you’re certain that the cable is in its place, try again.

4. Check the drivers

Finally, if you can confirm that everything is fine hardware-wise, let’s check the drivers. It’s rather unusual for an optical drive to have software issues, but let’s not sleep on it. Therefore, make sure to check the drivers, and, it won’t harm to update your BIOS (if updates are available), too.

If you’re not sure how to do it, follow the instructions below:

  1. Right-click on the Start button and, from the Power user menu, open Device Manager.
  2. Expand the ”DVD/CD-ROM drives” section.
  3. Right-click on your optical drive device and choose ”Update driver”.optical drive laptop not working
  4. If the device driver provided by Windows Update won’t fit, make sure to navigate to OEM’s official site and get the drivers there.

Moreover, if you need to perform this operation with automated tools, you should therefore use Fortect Driver Updater to correctly update or install all your PC drivers.

That should conclude it. If you’re still having issues with the optical drive on your laptop, it’s probably faulty and you’ll need to replace it. We only hope that your mobile computer is still under warranty. In addition, feel free to share your thoughts on the optical drive subject we addressed today. That can be done in the comments section below.

The Street’s Jim Cramer is bullish on Microsoft in 2018: here’s why

Jim Cramer is widely known in US financial circles for his CNBC Program “Mad Money” and “The Street.” The popular financial analyst recently expounded on Microsoft, and Cramer likes the company in 2018. Here’s what he said on CNBC:

Cramer lists five basic reasons for his upbeat outlook on the Redmond giant, being impressed with Microsoft “thinking through” its cloud computing offerings by emphasizing regional data centers (more than Amazon and Google offer, combined, with more to come). These local centers “offer companies a solution to security concerns related to hosting domestic-user data abroad and allows companies to be physically closer to their data,” factors Cramer sees as key for the growth of cloud computing where security and local access continue to be big concerns.

Cramer also likes the LinkedIn acquisition. LinkedIn has logged four consecutive quarters of 50%+ session growth, and Microsoft management recently said the acquisition is “ahead of every financial target.” Traditional software (Windows, Office 365, Dynamics 365, etc.) remains a “very strong” segment, and the Xbox One X is off to a “very strong start.”

He ended the segment by noting that changes to US tax law, working their way through US Congress right now, could substantially benefit Microsoft (and other big companies with lots of offshore cash). Microsoft currently has over $132 billion stashed overseas, unable to bring it back to the US due to harsh tax penalties, currently at around 35%. The new tax law would reduce that burden significantly, setting repatriation taxes at around 10%, allowing these companies to bring their overseas earnings back to the US. Microsoft is one of the companies who stand to greatly benefit from these tax law changes, and Cramer believes the company could then “double down on its investment to data-center and other business areas [and] return value to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.”

Are you as bullish on Microsoft as Jim Cramer? What do you think the company will do in 2018 and beyond? Let us know in the comments below.

How to use your PC as Wi-Fi speaker

Combining PC and smartphone to get the best of the both is what most users would do. Music playback on Android smartphones is rather limited due to the sheer size of the speakers.

So, streaming the music from phone to PC equipped with larger speakers is rather nice. And, you can do so without Bluetooth connection that’s usually used for the device pairing. You can do it via Wi-Fi.

Below, we explained how to do it with Bubble UPnP app and Windows Media Player streaming services. Follow the instructions closely and you should be good to go in no time.

How to use PC as a Wi-Fi speaker for your phone or tablet with Bubble UPnP

  1. Preparation
  2. Configuring
  3. Streaming music

Step 1: Preparation

There are various ways to achieve the same goal, but we decided to pick the simplest one. In order to use your PC as portable speaker over Wi-Fi you’ll be needing these:

  • Bubble UPnP Android app that can be downloaded here.use pc as wifi speaker
  • Windows OS with Windows Media Player that allows Streaming (Windows 8, 8.1, and Windows 10)
  • A Wi-Fi connection that the 2 devices will share.

Once you’re certain that you have everything, we can move to configuration part of this tutorial.

Step 2: Configuring

Let’s start with the Windows Media Player. Here are the instructions you should follow in order to enable full-access:

  1. Open Windows Media Player.
  2. Click on Stream, then check and enable these 3 settings:
    • Allow internet access to home media
    • Allow remote control of my Player
    • Automatically allow devices to play my mediause pc as wifi speaker
  3. Confirm changes and move on.

Now, let’s move our orientation to the Bubble UPnP app. Make sure that you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network with both PC and smartphone during the setup. The setup path is simple so just follow the instructions below:

  1. Open the app.
  2. Tap on the hamburger menu and open Settings.
  3. Select Local renderer.use pc as wifi speaker
  4. Check the ”Enable” box and set a name for the network (we conveniently named it ”Home”).use pc as wifi speaker
  5. Get back to your PC and open Windows Media Player > Stream > More streaming options.
  6. Check the ”Allowed” box beside the UPnP network you’ve created.use pc as wifi speaker
  7. Confirm changes but don’t close Windows Media Player.

That’s it. The only remaining thing is to roam through your library and select the playlist or individual track you want to stream to your PC.

Step 3: Streaming music

Finally, open the Bubble UPnP app > hamburger menu and, under Renderer, select your PC’s name. That’s it. You can now stream music from your phone to PC without any effort.

We hope that this was a helpful read. There are multiple uses of this nifty app, so make sure to open Tutorial and learn more about it. In case you have any questions or suggestions regarding the usage of PC as a Wi-Fi speaker, feel free to tell us in the comments below.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

Digital ruler, speedy search comes to OneNote app for Windows Insiders

Microsoft is rolling out today the December OneNote update to Fast Insiders, which brings a digital ruler and an enhanced search feature to the note-taking app (via Neowin.). The new features are being rolled out gradually, so not everyone will be seeing them at first. Here is the changelog for the update:

  • Set things straight: On touch screens, use the virtual ruler on the Draw tab to draw straight lines and measure distance. Rotate to a specific angle with the help of the angle indicator.
  • Speedy search: Search just got faster! Your search results now appear instantaneously, making it easier to get back to your notes.

As is routine, you can expect Microsoft to roll out these features to everyone before the end of this month. For now, though, only Windows Insiders will get to bask in the glory of this minor update.

EU to submit amicus brief in Microsoft/US Supreme Court data privacy case

According to a report from Reuters, the European Union is set to submit an amicus brief in the Microsoft and US Supreme Court data privacy case. As we have reported before, this case has been at the forefront of the tech industry, mainly because it deals with the way content held on cloud servers on foreign soil is handled by governments seeking search warrants from tech giants.

The European Commission said it would not support either Microsoft or the United States Government in the ongoing case. The following statement was issued:

Given that the transfer of personal data by Microsoft from the EU to the U.S. would fall under the EU data protection rules, the Commission considered it to be in the interest of the EU to make sure that EU data protection rules on international transfers are correctly understood and taken into account by the U.S. Supreme Court

John Frank, Vice President for EU Government Affairs, Microsoft also issues a statement about the issue:

We welcome the EU’s involvement in the case. It is important that European voices are heard by the U.S. Supreme Court

It’s not certain what impact the amicus brief can have in this case, but Microsoft recently won an appeal, arguing that U.S. federal or state law enforcement cannot use search warrants to seize emails of citizens of foreign countries located in data centers outside the United States. Microsoft has since been waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case as part of a review of the recent victory.

Some closing thoughts on Windows Mixed Reality and the Lenovo Explorer

Last month, I had a chance to spend some time with the Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality headset. The headset was pretty solid, and I found it as a viable and comfortable option for those looking to enter the world of Windows Mixed Reality. Though I mentioned many aspects of the experience in my full review, I’m now following up with some more editorial-like closing thoughts on the direction of Windows Mixed Reality.

A wide range of comfortable hardware:

My favorite part of Windows Mixed Reality is the solid hardware. Along with the Lenovo Explorer, there are many other headsets from HP, ASUS, and Dell, just like there are many options when buying a new Windows 10 PC. Although the design of the headsets is standard, there are some subtle differences between them, such as color, shape and added features like the AMOLED display on the Samsung HMD Odyssey headset. This is really great, creating many purchase options for consumers, especially because the design on other VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are rather proprietary, boring and uncomfortable looking.

Windows 10 VR/Mixed Reality/Augmented Reality Headsets
Windows headsets

Anyway, Windows Mixed Reality Headsets are also very comfortable. Unlike other VR headsets, you’re not strapping the headset to your head with actual straps. All Windows Mixed Reality headsets use a padded hinge-like mechanism to attach to your head on the front, and an adjustable clamp to connect at the back. This means you have nothing pushing down or putting pressure on your head while you’re wearing the headset. You can wear the headset for a long time without it hurting, and after a while, it feels like it is just there. Plus, when you’re ready to leave the virtual world, all you need to do is push the headset up, and the hinge mechanism allows you to get back into the real world without physically taking the headset off.

Finally, there is the added plus of the headsets connecting to a PC via HDMI and USB 3.0 and using motion-sensing cameras, P-sensor, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer for inside-out tracking. This all makes the setup process very simple (as I highlighted) and the cables are long, tuck to the side, and never get in the way while the headset is in use.  I walked around up to the full 12-feet without any issue, and the computer never once lost track of the headset.

Lenovo Explorer

It just works with… almost… everything:

Another solid part of Windows Mixed Reality is the that it works with most newer modern Windows 10 PCs with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update installed. Simply plug in the cable, and enjoy the action. While this sounds great on paper, the key point here, though, is most. 

Lenovo provided me with a laptop so I could review the Explorer, but there is, in fact, an issue. Your PC needs to meet certain requirements to be compatible with Windows Mixed Reality. My Surface Pro 4 could not handle the headset, and neither could three of the other Windows 10 PCs I own. I did manage to get it working on a newer Lenovo laptop that I own, but it was not as a good of an experience when compared to the Legion Y720 I mentioned in my review.

Anyway, using Windows Mixed Reality headsets with fancy laptops will definitely make for a better experience. There’s actually two levels of Windows Mixed Reality— Ultra and Standard. Windows Mixed Reality (Standard) is for PCs with integrated graphics, and Windows Mixed Reality Ultra is for those higher end PCs with dedicated graphics cards. I used Standard with my older Lenovo laptop without a dedicated graphics card and things were a bit laggy with occasional frame rate drops. But when I used the Legion Y720, things were solid and I never had issues.

Simply put, if you’re looking for a Windows Mixed Reality headset, consider getting a new PC to go with it as a bundle. Not only will you be getting a future proof PC, but you’ll be getting something which will work flawlessy for Windows Mixed Reality.

Legion Y720

Some room for software improvement:

I pointed to the solid Windows Mixed Reality experience in my previous post, but there’s still room for improvement. Opening up 2D apps in Windows Mixed Reality or customizing the virtual home is fun and all, but there is currently not a lot of games or apps available for Windows Mixed Reality. I really would like to see more developers come on board and create content for the platform, but given that these headsets only launched in October, there is still lots of time left.

I also hope Microsoft can speed up the development process of Steam VR for Windows Mixed Reality. It’s currently available in early preview, but when I tried testing it out on the Legion Y720 games would not launch and the headset frequently froze up. Getting Steam VR titles to work perfectly Windows Mixed Reality would be a huge boost, helping bring much bigger AAA titles to the experience.

Steam VR

At the end of the day, Windows Mixed Reality is still a good experience. While still in it’s early stages, there is plenty of room for improvement. Windows Mixed Reality headsets are comfortable, there are a wide choice of headsets to choose from, and you even can use it with most modern PCs if the specs are up for it.

Minecraft launches Realms Clubs, a new online meeting place for Realms

The Minecraft team yesterday announced the launch of Realms Clubs, a new online meeting place for members of Realms to share and socialize. With Minecraft Realms Clubs, players can share posts, like videos, photos, and comments, and much more.

Minecraft players can find Realms Clubs now on Minecraft for Xbox One, Mobile, and Windows 10. Clubs will automatically be created for a Realm, and anyone who is invited to a Realm will also be added to the Club. Players can manage Realm Clubs from the Xbox App on PC, mobile, or console, or directly from the Realms menu in Minecraft.

Screenshots can be posted to a Realm Club by pausing the game and hitting the button with the Camera icon next to the feed button. This will add the screenshot to your list of saved screenshots and your Realms Clubs feed. Please keep in mind you can manage your Club and report comments or block players if necessary.

The experience should also be safe for kids, as kids need permission from a parent to adjust their permissions to use Realms. More details on Realms CLubs and all the FAQ’s are available here.

Microsoft launches Game Awards Sale with big savings on popular Xbox One games

To celebrate all the games nominated for top honors at the Game Awards ceremony today, Microsoft has just kicked off a limited-time sale with up to 60% discounts on recent Xbox One games. The list includes many AAA games released this year including Assassin’s Creed Origins, Destiny 2, Forza Motorsport 7, Cuphead, FIFA 18 and more. You can check the full list of discounted titles on this page, but the main highlights can be found below:

All these discounts will be valid through Sunday, December 10. If you prefer to purchase physical games, the US Microsoft Store is also offering up to 50% discounts on a big selection of Xbox One games today. The list also includes Star Wars Battlefront 2, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Destiny 2, FIFA 18 and more and you can check all the deals on this page.

As a reminder, the Game Awards ceremony will be held later today at 5:30PM PST, and Microsoft will give you free “Mixpot” digital rewards (the content is still unknown) if you watch the livestream on Mixer. You can do so on the web, on your Xbox One or the iOS and Android Mixer apps.

Windows Template Studio 1.5 is now available with new features and template improvements

Microsoft yesterday announced the release of Windows Template Studio 1.5. This release of the wizard-based tool designed for accelerating the creation of new UWP apps includes some new features and finalizes Microsoft’s ongoing work for localization. See a quick look at what’s new with this latest release below, and check Github for the full changelog.

New Features:

  • Share source, share target
  • Multi-view
  • Feedback hub (added in v1.4)

Template improvements:

  • Minor tweaks for Fluent
  • Caliburn.Micro Support (added in v1.4)

Improvements to the Wizard:

  • Localization in all Visual Studio supported language
  • Adjusted the feature categories
  • Lots of under the hood bug fixes and code improvements
  • Much more Visual Basic engine work
  • Work for supporting multiple projects in a single solution
  • Work to support Prism
  • Bug fixes

Developers can get this update by going to https://aka.ms/wtsinstall, clicking “download” and double-clicking the VSIX installer. Visual Studio should also auto update the extension, but an update can be forced by going to Tools->Extensions and Updates and then going to Update expander on the left. Even more features including image gallery, web to app link feature, visual basic support, and more are on the way soon, Microsoft explained yesterday.

Startup Manager in Windows 10: What it is and how to use

You don’t have to be Windows enthusiast to remember the days when managing the startup programs wasn’t exactly as simple as it’s now. People would habitually use third-party tools for startup management, once they confirmed that the system is substantially affected by the abundance of startup programs. Luckily, Windows 10 brought the Startup Manager and made life easier for its users.

Today, we’ll explain where Startup Manager is located and how to use it, so make sure to check the explanation below.

What is and how to use the Startup Manager feature in Windows 10

Firstly, let’s start with where you can find this simple but nonetheless valuable addition to Windows platform. It was an obvious choice to set Startup Manager within Task Manager because that’s basically the hub of Windows monitoring.

startup manager windows 10

Just right-click on the Start button (right-click on the Taskbar does the job, too) and open Task Manager. Once there, you should have an easy time locating the Startup tab.

There you should see the complete list of the programs that start with the system, with details including:

  • Application name and publisher.
  • Current startup status.
  • And the valuable grading of startup impact.

By right-clicking on the application, you can navigate to the locations of its executable file, open properties, or search for the additional details about it online. The online search uses Bing search engine, and that’s something interchangeable with Edge.

Disabling program from starting with the system is simple and you can do it by right-clicking on the program you want to ban from starting and then selecting Disable. The administered changes will apply after the reboot. With the colorful design, you’ll enjoy it much more than the outdated System Configuration menu. And it basically eliminates the purpose of third-party tunning tools that were so popular back in the days. A great addition to Windows 10, that’s actually useful for all users.

Alternatively, you could try using a modern and intuitive task manager that has an all-in-one platform with versatile features and allows you to control everything from one place.

⇒ Get AnVir Task Manager

You can also use this tool to disable startup programs in Windows 7, so be sure to do that.

What are your thoughts on Startup Manager in Windows 10? Do tell us in the comments section below.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

OpenOffice For Windows 10: How to Download and Install it

OpenOffice needs no introduction. Thousands around the world use this free, open-source alternative to Microsoft’s Office suite, and it today’s guide, we’re going to show you how to get OpenOffice for Windows 10.

The software is completely free and can be used without limitations, so keep reading if you want to learn more about it.

Is OpenOffice available for Windows 10?

Yes, OpenOffice is available for Windows 10 and all other versions of Windows including XP, Vista, and newer.

It’s also available for macOS and Linux platforms.

Has OpenOffice been discontinued?

The software was discontinued several years ago, and the suite isn’t receiving any major or feature updates.

However, the community is still working on minor fixes and bug updates, but there are no plans for any major release.

What is OpenOffice?

For past users of OpenOffice, there’s no need to explain anything about this software suite, as you already have all the information you need from the title ahead. However, users who are looking for an alternative to Microsoft’s Office suite should know precisely what OpenOffice is and how can it be of benefit to them.

First, know that OpenOffice for Windows 10 is not an app, but a desktop program. It is very similar to Microsoft Office, with the difference that it is an open-source product, therefore it’s available free of charge.

Linux and Mac users have used this software suite for a very long time.

Open Office Windows 10 compatibility

OpenOffice for Windows 10 provides all the features one might need for daily office work. OpenOffice has all the tools you need, and there’s an alternative for every Microsoft Office application.

OpenOffice comes with its own word processor called Writer. This is a solid Word replacement, and it offers almost all the features that Microsoft Word has.

What is Open Office

If you want to work on your spreadsheets, a solid Excel alternative is available called Calc. The application has all the necessary features, so you should be able to create spreadsheets with ease.

Open Office Windows 10 compatibility

If you want to create a presentation, there’s a PowerPoint alternative available called Impress. This is a decent application, but you might find that certain features from PowerPoint are missing.

What is Open Office

If you work with databases, you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s an Access alternative available called Base. It’s also worth mentioning that OpenOffice has its own formula editor called Math and a drawing application named Draw.

Even though OpenOffice offers alternatives for many Microsoft Office applications, we have to mention that OpenOffice is lacking certain apps.

Unlike Microsoft Office, OpenOffice doesn’t have Outlook or Publisher alternatives, so if you’re frequently using Outlook or Publisher, you won’t find their replacement in OpenOffice.

All of these can be found once you’ve opened OpenOffice for Windows 10, and it will greet you with a welcome window, asking what product you want to use.

What makes OpenOffice so great it the online database of add-ons. Similar to Mozilla’s Extension website, here you can find a great deal of tools.

Anything from various templates for almost any task to compatibility tools, spelling dictionaries, and other functions can be freely downloaded and added to OpenOffice.

This makes it much more helpful and by selecting the right add-ons, you can create a customized version of OpenOffice with all the desired features.

Open Office Windows 10 compatibility

I love using OpenOffice, and thanks to the fact that it is fully compatible with Windows 10, I can now have the MS Office alternative that I used to enjoy on previous versions of Windows.

Keep in mind that OpenOffice uses its own open standards and formats, such as OpenDocument Format (ODF). Of course, Open Office fully supports all file types that Microsoft Office uses, so you can easily open any Microsoft Office file in OpenOffice without using any additional plugins.

How do I download OpenOffice on Windows 10?

  1. Go to the OpenOffice download page.
  2. Select your version of Windows.
  3. Click on Download full installation.

Now you just have to wait for the download to finish.

What is the latest version of OpenOffice for Windows 10?

  • The latest version of OpenOffice is 4.1.14.
  • It was released on 27th February 2023.

What replaced Apache OpenOffice?

In case you’re looking for an OpenOffice replacement, the most obvious open-source choice is LibreOffice. In case you’re not familiar with it, we have a great guide on how to install LibreOffice for Windows.

If you want to know how OpenOffice compares to its successor, we suggest reading our ONLYOFFICE vs LibreOffice vs OpenOffice guide for more information.

Overall, OpenOffice is a great tool and alternative to Microsoft Office. Keep in mind that OpenOffice doesn’t offer a replacement for Outlook or Publisher, but if you don’t use those apps, you’ll find OpenOffice more than suitable for your needs.

It’s also worth mentioning that OpenOffice doesn’t have the same streamlined interface as Microsoft Office, and many Microsoft Office users might see that as a flaw. However, it won’t take you long to fully adjust to OpenOffice’s user interface.

Another problem some users might have is the lack of certain features in OpenOffice. OpenOffice is a solid alternative, but you might find that certain features from Microsoft Office are missing. However, you should be able to overcome this limitation by using add-ons.

In case you already have OpenOffice installed, you might be interested in our guide on how to open Works files on Windows.

What else can we say about OpenOffice? OpenOffice is a solid alternative to Microsoft Office; it’s available for all desktop platforms, and it’s completely free. If you can’t afford the latest version of Microsoft Office, consider trying OpenOffice.