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Microsoft is investigating an ongoing outage blocking Microsoft 365 administrators with business or enterprise subscriptions from accessing the admin center. While the company has yet to disclose which regions are currently affected by this ongoing service degradation issue, it's currently tracking it on its official service health status page to provide impacted organizations with access to up-to-date information. "Microsoft is investigating a potential issue that may be preventing administra
Microsoft Microsoft has a new experiment, called Copilot Appearance, that's designed to bring its AI assistant to life -- visually, anyway. Also: Microsoft's Copilot Vision can now see and analyze your entire Windows desktop Available now as an early preview in Copilot Labs, this feature layers real‑time facial expressions and non‑verbal cues onto Copilot's voice interactions. The goal is to make conversations with Microsoft's AI feel more natural, human‑like, and animated. What is Copilot A
If you use Microsoft Authenticator to manage your passwords, the clock is ticking. On Aug. 1, the app won't store or manage your passwords anymore. That means you won't be able to save passwords or use two-factor authentication or auto-fill. And if the Authenticator app was your go-to password manager, you'll need to find a new one. Microsoft is moving to a login method we're becoming more familiar with: passkeys. Instead of a mix of letters, symbols and numbers, you'll use PINs, fingerprint s
Screenshot by the author. Photo: Microsoft . Generative AI is nothing but a con dressed up in big promises that become harder to believe with every passing month. After narrativizing chatbots and image generators into the next big thing, to such an extent that credulous governments now believe access to the technology is key to their geopolitical position in the world, tech companies can’t allow the bubble to burst. But keeping the bubble inflated costs hundreds of billions of dollars, and tha
is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI CEO, has a vision of Copilot that involves it being so highly personalized that “it will age.” Microsoft has been increasingly pushing Copilot to be a personalized AI assistant, with a big redesign last year that included a conversational voice mode. Now, Suleyman’s Microsoft AI team is launching a new Copilot virtual character that will interac
is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature, that automatically screenshots nearly everything on a Copilot Plus PC, is meeting resistance from app developers. Signal kicked off a trend of blocking Recall earlier this year, with AdGuard and the Brave browser now also blocking the Windows AI feature. AdGuard calls Recall a “privacy concern” in a blog post outlining why it’s blockin
Back Services & Software All the news and tips you need to get the most out of services, apps and software you use every day.
mwm The window manager for the true minimalist: 20 LOC. No modes. No "eye-candy". No mouse control. No virtual desktops. No configuration files. Not standards-compliant. No title bars, no status bars, no buttons, no borders, no menus, etc. All windows are full-screen, just one is visible at any given time. Absolutely adaptable to your needs. Includes just what is strictly needed. This is the smallest, actually usable window manager I know about. Even TinyWM is twice as large. Howeve
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks with Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Information Technology Budi Arie Setiadi, on the day of their meeting with Indonesian President Joko WIdodo, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 30, 2024. Microsoft has laid off over 15,000 people so far in 2025. The stress of the belt-tightening has gotten to CEO Satya Nadella. "Before anything else, I want to speak to what's been weighing heavily on me, and what I know many of you are thinkin
Apple announces a new design language for its operating systems called "Liquid Glass" during the annual Apple "Worldwide Developers Conference" (WWDC) at Apple Park, the corporate headquarters of Apple Inc., in Cupertino, California on June 9, 2025. Apple released the public beta preview version of its next iPhone operating system, called iOS 26. This software release on Thursday means that members of the public with recent iPhones can preview how the device's interface will change in the fall
Apple has launched public betas for iOS 26 and its companion updates, including a HomePod software 26 public beta. Here’s what you should know about the release. New HomePod beta introduces at least two new features Today Apple launched its long-awaited public beta program for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and more. There’s even a public beta available for HomePod and HomePod mini. The new HomePod software 26 is rolling out now, and you can sign up for access on beta.apple.com. HomePod 26
You can now take Apple's 2026 software for a spin. The first public betas for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and tvOS 26 are now available, and we have directions on updating your devices if you're feeling brave. The two most obvious changes serve to unify Apple's platforms. First, we have Apple's biggest cosmetic overhaul to date. Liquid Glass is the company's name for the shiny, translucent redesign that will be heading to its software this fall. The other significant change is in th
A China-based hacking group is deploying Warlock ransomware on Microsoft SharePoint servers vulnerable to widespread attacks targeting the recently patched ToolShell zero-day exploit chain. Non-profit security organization Shadowserver is currently tracking over 420 SharePoint servers that are exposed online and remain vulnerable to these ongoing attacks. "Although Microsoft has observed this threat actor deploying Warlock and Lockbit ransomware in the past, Microsoft is currently unable to co
Amazon My older kids each have a Kindle they use to read each night before bed. Thanks to strong parental controls and an easy user interface, it's the perfect e-reader for young readers. Now, Amazon is adding color to the Kindle Kids lineup with a new Kindle Colorsoft created exclusively for children. The first-ever color Kindle for kids is a 16GB Kindle Colorsoft built to provide young readers a more enriching experience. The device brings a color E Ink display to the Amazon Kids+ and Kindle
ZDNET Microsoft has been touting its Recall feature to certain Windows users, but the screen snooper is already persona non grata with one popular browser. Starting with version 1.81, Brave for Windows will block Recall from automatically taking screenshots of your browsing activity, according to an article posted on Brave's website. "Given Brave's focus on privacy-maximizing defaults and what is at stake here (your entire browsing history), we have proactively disabled Recall for all Brave ta
The public beta for the Apple Watch's latest software just arrived. Apple launched the public beta for iOS 26, WatchOS 26, and more, on Thursday. The software updates don't skimp on new WatchOS features, like an AI-powered fitness coach, Live Translation for Messages, and many more. Also: Everything announced at WWDC 2025: iOS 26, AI, MacOS, iPad OS The new features subtly infuse AI into regularly used apps and functionalities, improve peskier features, like the Call Screener, which monitors u
is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Earlier this year, I heard that Microsoft engineers were preparing server capacity for OpenAI’s next-generation GPT-5 model, arriving as soon as late May. After some additional testing and delays, sources familiar with OpenAI’s plans tell me that GPT-5 is now expected to launch as early as next month. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed on X that “we are releasing GPT-5 so
Amazon’s newest Colorsoft e-reader is downgrading storage so it can upgrade your bank account. A new version of the Colorsoft Kindle—Amazon’s first-ever color e-reader—will come in a 16GB version that cuts the e-reader’s storage in half compared to the first generation but also debuts at a slightly cheaper $250 compared to the first-gen’s $280. There’s not a ton going on here other than the lower storage for a lower price tradeoff, but if you’re not someone who needs the whole 32GB of capacity
is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. Apple has officially released the first public betas for its next major software updates. The list of new betas includes iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, and we have more information here about how to go about installing them on eligible devices. You can see the water droplet look of UI elements in iOS 26. The biggest thing you’ll notice about the
Kiryl Pro motion / Getty Images Microsoft has patched three critical zero-day SharePoint security flaws that hackers have already exploited to attack more vulnerable organizations. Responding to the exploits, the software giant initially issued fixes just for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and SharePoint Server 2019, and then eventually rolled out a patch for SharePoint Server 2016 as well. Designated as CVE‑2025‑53771 and CVE‑2025‑53770, the two vulnerabilities apply only to on‑premis
is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Earlier this year, I heard that Microsoft engineers were preparing server capacity for OpenAI’s next-generation GPT-5 model, arriving as soon as late May. After some additional testing and delays, sources familiar with OpenAI’s plans tell me that GPT-5 is now expected to launch as early as next month. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed on X that “we are releasing GPT-5 so
I also want to acknowledge the uncertainty and seeming incongruence of the times we’re in. By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving — our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right. We’re investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we’ve undergon
TL;DR Amazon has launched a cheaper Kindle Colorsoft 16GB and a new Kindle Colorsoft Kids model. The Kids version includes a year of Amazon Kids Plus, a colorful case, and parental controls. Both devices use the same color screen as last year’s model, which we didn’t love. Amazon is still betting on color E-Ink, even if it had a somewhat rocky start last year. The company just added two more devices to its Kindle Colorsoft lineup: a cheaper 16GB version and a new Kindle Colorsoft Kids. Both a
mwm The window manager for the true minimalist: 20 LOC. No modes. No "eye-candy". No mouse control. No virtual desktops. No configuration files. Not standards-compliant. No title bars, no status bars, no buttons, no borders, no menus, etc. All windows are full-screen, just one is visible at any given time. Absolutely adaptable to your needs. Includes just what is strictly needed. This is the smallest, actually usable window manager I know about. Even TinyWM is twice as large. Howeve
Back Services & Software All the news and tips you need to get the most out of services, apps and software you use every day.
Amazon is making its color screen Kindle more affordable. Following the launch of the Kindle Colorsoft last year, the retailer on Thursday introduced a lower-cost version of the normally $279.99 device. The new device offers a $30 discount for 16GB of storage instead of 32GB, bringing the cost down to $249.99. A kids edition is also now available. The original 7-inch Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was designed to bring a more engaging visual experience to the popular Kindle e-reader, ideal
Despite raising over $60 billion in venture capital, OpenAI seems to be burning through cash faster than it can raise it. Mere months after wrapping up a $40 billion funding round, the AI company is now said to be reopening the books in search of more money, according to Wired. Investors both new and old are now being asked — again — to consider pouring funds into the company, two unnamed sources told Wired. That last round, which was said to be closed on March 31st, sent OpenAI's valuation to
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Amazon finally launched its first-ever color Kindle last year, and while the Kindle Colorsoft was an impressive first effort, the high price of entry likely put it out of range of a lot of people. Well, we have good(ish) news. Amazon has now added a slightly cheaper Colorsoft to its li
When Amazon released its first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, last November, some people balked at its $280 price. We've seen it dip to $225 during Prime Day sales events, but Amazon has now released a new lower-priced $250 Colorsoft model with less storage as well as the "first-ever Kindle in color for kids." The two new models are, in fact, the same device but the Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270) includes one year of Amazon Kids Plus, a two-year "worry-free" guarantee (Am