Microsoft

Microsoft rolls out Copilot "vibe working" mode for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

In brief: Microsoft is bringing Copilot's "agentic" mode to its Office productivity suite. With it, users will be able to provide instructions and let the system generate documents on their behalf. Despite ongoing concerns about hallucinations, the Redmond-based company says customers have responded positively to these capabilities.

Xbox may be working on an even cheaper Game Pass, and possible Netflix bundle

Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to thousands of US workers as AI spending takes priority

Microsoft says Windows 11 changes are "directly influenced" by users

Microsoft's next Xbox could get Asus and MSI variants, leaker claims

Google says AI now generates 75% of its new code, up from 25% in 2024

Microsoft lowers Game Pass Ultimate and PC prices, won't include next Call of Duty

Microsoft's full-screen Xbox experience is now available to Windows 11 Insiders

Researchers warn Microsoft Defender vulnerability is already being exploited

Open-source tool decrypts all private data collected by Windows Recall on Copilot PCs

Editor's take: Windows Recall continues to raise security concerns. Microsoft has redesigned the feature to improve data and identity protection following public outcry, but a new tool is now reigniting the controversy. I have to suspect that few people in their right mind would choose to enable or use it at this point.

Microsoft counters MacBook Neo with free Game Pass and Office bundle on Windows laptops

Will AI agents need to buy their own software licenses? Microsoft sure hopes so

Clicking "reject cookies" might not actually do anything

Bottom line: Those annoying cookie-consent banners that have flooded the internet over the past several years are supposed to give users the option to block most tracking cookies from advertisers. However, a recent California audit claims that the largest ad tech companies usually send cookies anyway, having decided that simply paying potential billions in fines is more profitable.

Malware campaign lures users with fake Windows Update website

Microsoft is removing 32GB size limit for FAT32 volumes, this time for real

Microsoft just made its Surface laptops a lot more expensive

Microsoft admits Game Pass may have gotten too expensive

Mozilla says Microsoft is using Copilot and Edge to tighten its grip on Windows

Editor's take: As Microsoft builds Copilot AI deeper into Windows, the move is rekindling debate over how much control any one company should exercise over the computing environment that so many people rely on. For Mozilla, that question has become a renewed challenge to Microsoft's dominance over the desktop and its implications for competition.

France starts moving government systems from Windows to Linux

The big picture: European governments have long sought to reduce their dependency on non-European (i.e., American) software. While individual municipalities and government sectors have recently begun switching to homegrown options, France's latest announcement signals a broader shift away from tools such as Windows, Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Google Docs.

VeraCrypt, WireGuard among projects disrupted by Microsoft account suspensions

Microsoft OneDrive users report mysterious spam files that won't go away

A version of Windows 10 released a decade ago is now eligible for additional security patches

Hackers are turning home routers into tools to spy on Microsoft 365 users

Some Windows 3.1 apps were simply "too evil" for Windows 95 to support, says Microsoft veteran

Windows is finally killing off the Control Panel