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The "End of 10" group wants novice users to switch to Linux, but its various distros still lack full app and anti-cheat support. Windows 10 hits its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, and it's fast approaching. Despite requests and pleas from millions of users, including a Public Interest Research Group that filed a petition asking Microsoft to reconsider its decision to end support for Windows 10, citing "the single biggest jump in junked computers ever," the tech giant isn't changing its plans. As such, Windows 10 users are left with limited options: upgrading to Windows 11, paying up for an additional year of support through the Extended Security Updates program, or switching to another operating system entirely. It's apparent that Microsoft wants users to upgrade to Windows 11, but its stringent minimum system requirements for the operating system are making the transition an uphill task. Many Windows 10 users may have to ditch their current, incompatible devices to buy new Copilot+ PCs or other devices loaded with Windows 11. Microsoft hasn't been shy about its campaign for Copilot+ PCs, touting it as the perfect device for an intuitive Windows 11 experience with better battery life, faster performance than Apple's MacBook Air M4, and up to 5x faster than a 5-year-old Windows 10 device. However, a small team known as End of 10 has a different (yet exhaustingly familiar) approach and solution to Windows 10's imminent death. Rather than buying a new device to meet Microsoft's stringent system requirements for Windows 11, the group floats the idea of ditching the Windows ecosystem entirely and switching to Linux on their outdated Windows 10 devices. Interestingly, a report by Canalys claims approximately 240 million PCs aren't Windows 11-ready because of the system requirement limitations. Will Microsoft ever lose a chunk of its market share to Linux? Windows 10 users are running out of time to switch. (Image credit: Getty Images | Dragon Claws) For context, the End of 10 group consists of users from the Linux community and the KDE project, which includes the Windows-like KDE Plasma desktop environment. While it remains unclear how Windows 10 users will approach this recycled idea, it could pose a threat to Microsoft's market share if any particular Linux distro could finally offer comparable native app support. Unlike Windows, End of 10 promotes Linux for its lack of ads and telemetry tracking. Additionally, the group promotes Linux as a free and open-source operating system, making it a cheaper alternative than ditching your current device to buy a new PC for Windows 11. The group also says that the approach is friendly to the environment as it will reduce e-waste, which is one of the most prominent issues of Windows 10 reaching End of Life (EoL). End of 10 says "most" people should be able to get Linux to run on their devices and recommends searching for Linux distributions for beginners as the first step. And if you happen to get stuck, the group affirms that the Linux community will lend a helping hand, but that won't help a lack of anti-cheat support for popular multiplayer games and other missing support for native Windows apps. As highlighted by Tom's Hardware, there is a comprehensive list of shops and tech collectives that are willing to offer Linux support, most of which are located in , while the rest are scattered across other parts of Europe. • Editor's note: Windows 11's market share (42.69%) has grown steadily, but Windows 10 continues to dominate the category at 54.2%, and the "year of the Linux desktop" continues to be a touted promise that hasn't yet made its mark. While the looming end of support for Windows 10 is problematic, it'll be a difficult (and ongoing) challenge for Linux fans to win over the majority, and this isn't a new trend by any means. Linux and Windows continue to work in harmony with broad app cross-compatibility, but significantly denting Microsoft's OS market share would be an incredible feat, if it ever happens. — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of April): 1,811 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

A few days back, Microsoft announced that the Windows 11 2024 update (version 24H2) had "reached the last phase of the gradual rollout" and thus the update would be available to download for everyone, unless it was some bug like the one causing 0x80240069 error that has a fix now. At the same time, the company also reminded users about the upcoming end of support date for Windows 10 non-LTSB and non-LTSC. Microsoft issued the reminder on its Windows health dashboard website. It wrote: Microsoft says that there are a few ways to go about this. First is to check if your current Windows 10 is eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade. The company has even offered the latest feature update (version 24H2) on such systems. If that is not the case, then a new PC is the way forward says the company. Microsoft recently highlighted how Copilot+ AI PCs can be a massive upgrade over an older Windows 10 device, and it brought up some numbers to prove it. This is hardly the first time though that the tech giant has suggested getting rid of a PC that's not supported on Windows 11. ESET, however, recommends going Linux if your PC is not officially supported by Windows 11. The third and final option for individuals as well as enterprises is to opt for paid Extended Security Updates (ESU). It writes: You can find details about the ESU program in our dedicated article here. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of April): 1,811 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

When Samsung introduced the Galaxy S20 series in 2020, the top-of-the-line Galaxy S20 Ultra was one of the first smartphones to feature 100x zoom, which the company marketed as "Space Zoom." Samsung also pledged to offer four years of security and three years of Android OS upgrades to the entire Galaxy S20 lineup. Now, the Galaxy S20 series—Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra—have finally reached the end of their road, as Samsung has removed them from its Software Update Schedule. Although the devices were launched with four years of update promise, Samsung gave them a grace period by shifting them to a quarterly update schedule last year in April. Also, the Galaxy S20 series picked up the March 2025 security update last month. But now, the company has decided to pull the plug on software support for the 2020 flagship series. The Galaxy S20 FE, which was launched in October 2020, is still placed in the Quarterly Security Update schedule, meaning the device will pick up security updates every four months—for now. However, it might retire very soon. Since the Galaxy S20 series runs on Android 13-based One UI 4, it may be a good time to upgrade to a newer Galaxy model. Not only will you get to enjoy the Galaxy AI goodies that Samsung has on offer, but if you pick any of the Galaxy S25 models, you will be entitled to receive seven years of software update support. This means the Galaxy S25 series that runs Android 15 One UI 7 out of the box will be fresh (software-wise) until Android 22. Software updates are not only essential for keeping your phone and data secure but also for enjoying the latest software offering from the company. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of March): 1,357 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Microsoft will end support for its Windows 10 operating system this October officially. While users may extend support for a year by paying Microsoft, or longer, if they resort to hacks, many need to make a critical decision this year regarding the future of their PC. Microsoft published a checklist for those users. The Windows 10 end of support checklist helps customers be prepared when end of support comes, according to Microsoft. Problem is, Microsoft's main intent makes the checklist less usable than it could be. It is basically a reiteration of the end of support email that Microsoft sent out last month. First, let us take a look at what Microsoft is suggesting. The Windows 10 end of support checklist Microsoft's list has four items: Check for Windows updates. Backup your data. Safely erase your data. Recycle your PC responsibly. Microsoft's first suggestion is to make sure that Windows 10 is up to date. It does not mention the upgrade option to Windows 11 here, which seems like a missed opportunity. While many Windows 10 PCs cannot be upgraded, some can and that would ensure that they receive security updates after October 2025, albeit on Windows 11. Also, checking for updates only helps until October 2025, after which update delivery will end officially. Backups The second suggestion makes more sense on first glance. Backing up important data should be on every user's agenda regularly, but especially so when migrating to a new system. Microsoft suggests to copy files manually to an external hard drive. This is a time consuming process. Most users may want to use backup software like Paragon Backup & Recovery Free for that instead. The second suggestion that Microsoft gives is to move files to OneDrive. Here, Microsoft fails to note that OneDrive has a storage limit and that upgrades cost money. Also, moving certain files to OneDrive may get the account flagged by automatic scanning systems. Erase data before recycling or giving away Microsoft recommends that users erase data on their PC before they recycle the device or give it away. This prevents data leaks and unauthorized access. The way to do that, according to Microsoft, is to go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and activate the Reset this PC option on the page. Users should then pick remove everything, and remove files and clean drive, to erase all data. Recycling Last but not least, Microsoft says that users should consider recycling the PC or trading it in for a new device (with Windows 11). Here is what is missing Microsoft's main goal with the checklist and the email is to get customers to purchase new Windows 11 PCs. It made the strategic decision to omit certain information to further that goal. First, Microsoft mentions only in passing that an upgrade to Windows 11 may be a possibility. While the email did include an option to check if an upgrade is available, Microsoft's checklist mentions this only as an afterthought. Second, Microsoft makes no mention of the Extended Security Updates program. This allows home users to extend support by a year and businesses by three years. Home users pay $39 for that. Another year could extend the life of the PC and give some users enough time to prepare for a new PC or migration. While it is understandable that Microsoft does not mention third-party options, it is important to realize that these exist. Here are three main options: Micro-patching service 0Patch promised to deliver critical security updates for Windows 10 until at least 2030. This comes at a cost of about $30 per year and includes only critical or exploited issues. Still, it takes care of major vulnerabilities for years to come. Linux is an option to extend the life of a computer. While that requires some testing on the user's side, it is an option and would extend life of the PC for years to come. Upgrade an incompatible PC to Windows 11. Closing Words There you have it. You can choose to follow Microsoft by giving up on your Windows 10 PC, if it is not compatible with Windows 11, or consider one of the other options to extend the life of the hardware. Now it is your turn. Do you still run Windows 10 on (some) of your devices? If so, what are your plans going forward? Feel free to leave a comment down below to join the discussion. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of March): 1,357 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

If you own a third-generation Surface Book, today is a sad day for you. As of today, the Surface Book 3, both 13 and 15-inch variants, are no longer supported. This unique computer has reached the end of its life and no longer receives firmware updates, new drivers, and security patches. The Surface Book 3 debuted on May 6, 2020, nearly five years ago. It went on sale two weeks later with a starting price of $1,600 for the 13-inch variant and $2,300 for the 15-inch variant. Like its predecessor, the Surface Book 3 kept its unique design that combined a tablet with a keyboard dock that also held the device's additional battery and a graphics card in more expensive configurations. Despite the lack of visual changes (the 15-inch variant debuted with the Surface Book 2), the computer received Intel's then-latest 10th-generation Core i5 and Core i7 processors, up to 32GB of RAM (8GB in the base 13-inch variant), and up to 2TB of SSD. As for the graphics, Microsoft offered the Surface Book 3 with integrated Intel Iris Plus, the Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, or the Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q. Despite having a more capable processor and graphics, many agreed that the Surface Book 3 felt a bit stalled. Its wow-factor has worn off during five years and three generations, and design limitations compared to competing laptops at that price point led to a lukewarm reception (Neowin gave the Surface Book a 7/10 rating). After one year, Microsoft ditched the Surface Book paradigm entirely and introduced the original Surface Laptop Studio, a still quirky but more modern and up-to-times laptop. Launched on May 26, 2020, the Surface Book 3 computer received nearly five years of active support. While you can continue using the device if it works well for you (it can still update to Windows 11 and receive feature updates and security fixes for the operating system), keep in mind that you will not get firmware updates with security improvements, bug fixes, and new drivers. With the Surface Book 3 out of support, the next device on the chopping block is the Surface Pro X SQ1, Microsoft's first modern Windows on ARM device (we are not talking about the Surface RT and RT 2). The Surface Pro X SQ1 will be out of support on August 10, 2025. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of March): 1,357 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Canonical has issued a warning to users of Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It said that anyone using it still should look to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which is supported until 2029. For users who need to continue using that particular version of Ubuntu, there is also another option that will let you use it until April 2030. The second option is Expanded Security Maintenance and it's available as part of the Ubuntu Pro subscription. While businesses with many machines will need to pay, individual users who want to enable ESM can do so on up to five machines by following the instructions on the Ubuntu Advantage website. Businesses also have the option to buy the Legacy Support add-on which extends support until April 2032. It's important to note that Expanded Security Maintenance will stick to the stated expiration date and there won't be a repeat of what happened with Windows XP where support kept getting extended because businesses were not ready to upgrade. For this reason, customers who use Ubuntu should be looking to upgrade to the latest version as soon as possible. In its statement, Canonical said: Canonical provides instructions for upgrading Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server here and here, respectively. As the end-of-life deadline approaches (Q2 2024), we will likely hear from Canonical again urging people to upgrade. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of October): 4,832 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

After launching Office 2024 earlier this month, Microsoft has a Word (get it?) for those still using Office 2016 and Office 2019. These productivity app suites entered their last year of support and are currently on track to reach the end of life on October 14, 2025. Here are the products that will soon be out of support: Office Suites Office 2016, Office 2019 Office Applications Access 2016, Access 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, OneNote 2016, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2019, Project 2016, Project 2019, Publisher 2016, Publisher 2019, Skype for Business 2016, Skype for Business 2019, Visio 2016, Visio 2019, Word 2016, Word 2019 Productivity Servers Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Skype for Business Server 2015, Skype for Business Server 2019 The end of support means no more security updates that can patch critical vulnerabilities, limited or non-existent technical support, no fixes for bugs, and more. Microsoft says using unsupported products can negatively impact organizational security, compliance, and productivity. That applies not just to corporate but also to regular customers. To help users figure out what to do before their apps run out of support, Microsoft made the following table: Office Exchange Server Visio Project Skype for Business Recommended path Microsoft 365 E3, Office 365 E3, or Microsoft 365 Business Standard Visio Plan 2 Planner and Project Plan 3 Microsoft Teams Alternative path Microsoft 365 Apps Exchange Online Microsoft 365 plan with Visio Microsoft 365 - On-premises options Office LTSC 2024 Exchange Server Subscription Edition Visio 2024 Project 2024 Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition (coming in Q3 2025) Microsoft has also published more in-depth articles, which can help you decide on your upgrade path: Office 2016 and 2019 suites and applications Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 Skype for Business 2016 and 2019 Project 2016 and 2019 Visio 2016 and 2019 You can read more about Microsoft's productivity apps that will be out of support by October 14, 2025, in a post on the Tech Community forums. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of September): 4,292 news posts

Windows 10's support lifecycle ends on October 14, 2025. It's time to migrate. What you need to know Windows 10's support lifecycle will end on October 14, 2025. Users have just one year left of free support and security updates for Windows 10. Microsoft recommends that all Windows 10 users upgrade to Windows 11, or they will have to pay for security updates on Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support date. The death of Windows 10 is now fast approaching. We have just one year left of free support and security updates before Microsoft pulls the plug, meaning everyone still running Windows 10 should now be thinking about an exit strategy ahead of October 14, 2025. Whether you're a business managing hundreds of Windows PCs or a home user with just one computer, it's time to consider your options for what's next. But why is Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, and is there anything you can do to stay on it beyond its end-of-support date? This article will explain everything you need to know about the end of the support life cycle for Windows 10 and the many options you have as an end user to remain secure and supported beyond October 14, 2025. Why is Microsoft ending support for Windows 10? Windows 10 is getting old. (Image credit: Windows Central) Windows 10 is now a legacy operating system in Microsoft's eyes. It was originally released in July 2015, making it over a decade old when support will finally end. While it's true that Microsoft kept Windows 10's core platform up to date for many years post-2015, it actually stopped with Windows 10's May 2020 Update, which was the last to deliver core platform updates before Windows 11. That means even if you're running the latest version of Windows 10, you're running a core Windows platform release that's coming up to half a decade old. Microsoft has released three new versions of the Windows platform since then, all based on Windows 11. That means there are security and performance improvements under the hood that Windows 10 users are not benefitting from today. What does end of support mean? Apps like Google Chrome will eventually stop supporting Windows 10, like it did with Windows XP and Windows 7. End of support means Microsoft will no longer support users running the Windows 10 operating system with technical help or security updates. This means Windows Update will no longer receive a monthly patch to address surface-level bugs or vulnerabilities found in the Windows kernel. It also means apps, drivers, and peripherals will stop supporting Windows 10 over time. This won't happen right away, but as time progresses and new apps and peripherals launch, you will start to notice Windows 10 is no longer officially supported, and you might find some of these things stop working over time. What are my options? Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 Windows 11 upgrade is one option. (Image credit: @PhantomOfEarth on Twitter) This is the simplest and cheapest option for you to choose. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for all Windows 10 users, as long as you're using a PC with supported hardware. Windows 11's system requirements are quite strict, but if your PC is modern enough, you should be able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free and remain supported with security updates and new features for free for many years to come. An easy way to check if your PC is supported is to run the Windows PC Health Check app, which will tell you if Windows 11 is supported on your machine. If it is, you should go ahead and initiate the upgrade. If it's not, there are some things you can do. If you're using a custom PC build, you may just need to upgrade one or two components or enable support for the TPM in the UEFI/BIOS. Check out our guide for more information. To simplify things, if you're using a PC that was purchased before 2018, it's unlikely that your PC is supported on Windows 11. If your PC was purchased between 2018 and 2021, there's a high chance it is eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade. Tip: Depending on your PC, you can likely force the Windows 11 upgrade even on unsupported hardware. This is not recommended as things aren't guaranteed to work in this state, but it will allow you to remain secure with the latest security updates that are delivered to Windows 11. Option 2: Buy a new Windows 11 PC Copilot+ PCs should be what you are aiming to buy. (Image credit: Windows Central) Option 2 is a much more expensive endeavour which will require you to purchase a new Windows 11 PC. If your existing PC is old and unsupported on Windows 11, this is your only "legitimate" choice if you intend to move on from Windows 10. Windows 11 PCs come in all shapes, sizes, and price points, so you can shop around for the best Windows 11 PCs that fit your criteria. If you are looking to buy a new Windows 11 PC, I would recommend a new Copilot+ PC as they only launched this year and support new AI features and experiences that non Copilot+ PCs don't. If you're looking to buy a PC for longevity, get a Copilot+ PC. Option 3: Pay for Windows 10 updates You can pay for continued support. (Image credit: Future) If you simply don't like Windows 11 and want to stay on Windows 10 for as long as possible, there is a third option for you: Pay for support. Microsoft has announced that it will allow both commercial and consumer users to pay for continued support on Windows 10 for three additional years beyond October 14, 2025. Microsoft is yet to announce pricing for consumers, but commercial customers can expect to pay a varied amount every year for each device they want to continue to support on Windows 10 beyond 2025. Microsoft only intends to offer this support for three years, meaning after 2028, users will have no choice but to upgrade to a newer version of Windows. Option 4: Move to Linux or Mac Linux is always an option. (Image credit: Future) It's an extreme choice for sure, but if you simply can't stomach Windows 11 or can't afford to upgrade your PC, there are alternatives out there. You could move to Linux on your existing PC or buy a Mac. Moving to Linux on an existing PC is the cheapest of the two options, and there are many different Linux distributions to choose from. Linux can be quite complex, so this isn't an option I'd recommend for your average Windows PC user. However, it is an option if you're willing to put in the time to learn how to do it. Ubuntu is probably the easiest Linux distribution to dip your toe into, and so that's the one I'd recommend trying if you've never used Linux before. You can create a live install USB, which will let you poke around Ubuntu before even installing it, so give that a go if Windows 11 really isn't for you. If Linux isn't for you and you have the money, you can also buy a Mac. Whether that's a desktop Mac or a MacBook is up to you, but the latest Macs will be supported with macOS for many years to come. Apple usually supports a Mac for around 7-10 years, depending on the configuration you choose. Both of these choices will be quite the learning curve if you've never used either before. Linux and macOS are very different from Windows, so you may need to give yourself time to learn the ropes of a new operating system. What if I stay on Windows 10? Windows 11 will appear in Windows Update if you're eligible. (Image credit: Windows Central) Strictly speaking, you don't have to do anything. If you're feeling lucky, you can absolutely take your chances and remain on Windows 10 without support. Not much will change in the initial months beyond October 2025, but as time progresses Windows 10 will become more and more insecure as new kernel and security vulnerabilities are discovered. Antivirus software will help to a certain degree, but if a vulnerability in the core Windows platform has been discovered, and viruses and malware are built to take advantage of it, antivirus can only go so far as to protect you. There may be clever ways for malicious software to sneak past antivirus software, and so you'll need to be vigilant and careful once Windows 10 is unsupported. Over time, many of your favorite Windows apps will stop working on Windows 10 as developers move to target more recent versions of Windows. This won't happen right away; it took years for apps to stop supporting Windows XP and Windows 7, and I suspect the same will happen for Windows 10. But it's something to expect to start happening in the years post-2025. What about Windows 10 LTSC? You may have heard about a special edition of Windows 10 that will remain supported beyond October 2025. That edition is known as LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) and will be supported until 2029. However, Windows 10 LTSC is not a version of Windows that you can buy and use. It's a commercial product designed for "special purpose" devices such as point-of-service machines, medical equipment, factory management devices, and more. This means to legitimately run Windows 10 LTSC, you need to buy licenses in bulk from an authorized Microsoft Partner, and even then, the license agreement does not allow for use on personal computing devices. Windows 10 LTSC is only a viable option for businesses and commercial customers. End of support is fast approaching At this point, it's clear that Microsoft fully intends to end free support on Windows 10 next year. If that changes between now and then, we will be sure to let you know. However, it's safer to assume that Microsoft will not deviate from this plan, so it's time to start looking for a way off of Windows 10. It happened with Windows XP, it happened with Windows 7, and it will happen with Windows 10. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of September): 4,292 news posts

In addition to shipping this month's Patch Tuesday updates for all supported Windows releases, Microsoft dropped support for two Windows 11 versions: 21H2 and 22H2. If your computer is still on one of those releases, it is time to upgrade to something more recent. Starting with Windows 11 version 21H2, it is now completely unsupported. For those unaware of Windows 11 support policies, Microsoft has two lifecycles for each Windows release: one 24-month for Home and Pro editions and one 36-month for Enterprise and Education editions. The software giant stopped updating Windows 11 version 21H2 for "regular consumers" in October 2023. Now, it is dropping corporate and education users who are still on the original Windows 11 release from late 2021. Enterprise customers can upgrade to Windows 11 version 22H2, which has one more year of active support ahead of it. Other options include version 23H2 (two more years of support) and the just-released version 24H2 (three years of support from now). As for Windows 11 version 22H2 for Home and Pro SKUs, they will not receive any updates starting from today. Microsoft usually does not rush forced upgrades between Windows versions as long as they remain supported. However, as a particular release gets closer to its end of life, Microsoft gradually starts updating users to newer versions whether they like it or not. If you have a PC that is still on Windows 11 version 22H2, check out this guide about updating to the latest version. You can update even if your hardware is not officially supported—all you need is this handy guide. To check your Windows 11 version, head to Settings > System > About and check the "Windows Specifications" box. If it says 21H2 or 22H2, you better prepare to update to continue receiving critical security updates and quality improvements. For reference, here is what the current Windows 11 lifecycle looks like: Home and Professional Editions Enterprise and Education Editions Windows 11 21H2 No longer supported No longer supported Windows 11 22H2 No longer supported Supported until October 14, 2025 Windows 11 23H2 Supported until November 11, 2025 Supported until November 10, 2026 Windows 11 24H2 Supported until October 13, 2026 Supported until October 17, 2026 You can read more about Windows 11 support policies here. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of September): 4,292 news posts

Today marks the end of support for the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft's flagship 2-in-1 computer, released in October 2019. It no longer receives firmware and driver updates with fixes, performance enhancements, and other maintenance improvements. Microsoft announced the seventh-generation Surface Pro 7 during a special event in New York on October 2, 2019. The tablet retained its original design with thick display bezels, the signature kickstand, a 3:2 display, and other design elements. The biggest change on the outside was the addition of a USB-C port. The Surface Pro 7 received newer Intel processors. It jumped from 8th-generation chips found in the Surface Pro 6 to 10th-generation Ice Lake processors. Besides refreshing the hardware and adding a USB-C port, Microsoft made the Surface Pro 7 more affordable than its predecessor by introducing a new entry-level Core i3 model with a puny and, to be honest, completely laughable even by 2019 standards, 4GB of RAM. The price tag of that variant was set at $750, which was only $150 cheaper than the one with a Core i5 and 8GB of RAM. Other memory and storage options remained the same, with Microsoft allowing users to spec the computer with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of non-user-removable SSD. The Surface Pro 7 received favorable reviews, mostly due to its unchanged formula of an already solid Windows device. Reviewers, including Neowin, praised its performance, fantastic display, portability, and overall value. However, most users agreed that the Surface Pro 7's design was dated with its thick bezels. The Surface Pro X, released alongside its Intel-based sibling, made the situation even worse thanks to its significantly more modern design. Interestingly, despite launching only one month later than the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X has a notably longer lifecycle. Microsoft plans to end its support on August 10, 2025. In early 2021, Microsoft released the Surface Pro 7+, a business-focused version with newer processors, LTE, and some notable design changes, such as the ability to replace the built-in SSD. The Surface Pro 7+ kicked off Microsoft's attempts to make its computers much more repair-friendly. In September 2021, Microsoft replaced the Surface Pro 7 with the much sleeker Surface Pro 8. Surface Pro 8 Although Microsoft no longer releases firmware updates for the Surface Pro 7, you can continue using it if you are happy with it. Also, your tablet will continue receiving Windows 10 and 11 security and feature updates, which do not depend on firmware updates and have separate lifecycles. Source

According to the latest data from Statcounter, Windows XP is still installed on roughly 0.57% of PCs, which is a lot of outdated hardware and software with regular access to the internet. Most developers dropped Windows XP shortly after Microsoft ended its extended support in 2014, forcing users to switch to Windows 7 or 10. However, there are still some apps that continue working and receiving updates on Windows XP. MSI Afterburner, though, is no longer among them. MSI Afterburner has been updated to version 4.6.6 with a few notable changes, such as voltage control for the Radeon RX 7800XT, support for future Nvidia graphics cards, Unicode UTF-8, and various bug fixes. More importantly, it now uses VC++ 2022 compiler, which renders the app unable to run on Windows XP. With that said, it is not the end of the world for Windows XP users. They can still use previous MSI Afterburner versions to overclock and monitor their GeForce FX 5900, ATI Radeon 9000, and other true-to-era graphics cards. As for Riva Tuner Statistics Server, its latest update packs "more than 90 compatibility enhancements, changes and new features, including programmable conditional layers support, PresentMon, and Nvidia Relex." Here is the complete changelog for Version 4.6.6: You can download MSI Afterburner from Guru3D and the official MSI website. Source

Microsoft has published some big news for its Office users. Microsoft Publisher, a program for designing brochures, flyers, newsletters, posters, and other print materials, will soon reach its end of life. The company plans to end Publisher support in October 2026 and remove it from the Microsoft 365 subscription afterward. The announcement was quietly published on the official Microsoft Support website. The company says that the reason behind the decision was to "focus on new benefits" and "provide customers with the tools they need to achieve what matters." However, no tools for you if you are a Microsoft Publisher user. The company will kill the software in less than two years. According to the support document, most of the Publisher features for creating professionally branded templates, envelops, and label printing are already available in other Microsoft 365 applications. Therefore, you can use Word or PowerPoint as a replacement for the outgoing app. Microsoft also promises to share more as it is "exploring modern ways to achieve common Publisher scenarios" in Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. Existing Publisher users can continue working with the app until October 2026. In that month, Microsoft will end Office 2021 LTSC support, including Publisher. As for Microsoft 365 users, the company will remove Publisher from their systems once it reaches the end of life. Microsoft decided to announce the end of Publisher in advance so that users could prepare for it and have enough time to plan their migration to other tools, either inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem or from third parties. Source

We are about 18 months away from the end of mainstream Windows 10 support, but Microsoft thinks it is time to start nagging warning Windows 10 users about the inevitable. Users on Reddit report spotting a new full-screen ad with a notification that Windows 10 is about to reach its end of life in October 2025, even though it is still getting new features (there are even rumors about Microsoft re-opening the Windows Insider Program for Windows 10). Ironically, there is no escape from Microsoft's latest ad, even for those using PCs that technically do not support Windows 11. It seems that the new banner is specifically designed and targeted for Windows 10 customers who cannot upgrade due to Windows 11's steep hardware requirements. It thanks Windows 10 users for their loyalty and suggests learning more about the end of Windows 10 support and the benefits of Windows 11. Typically, there is no apparent decline button: you can either postpone the ad or click "Learn more." Still, it is worth noting that Microsoft should warn Windows 10 users about the upcoming end of support, considering the operating system's massive market share. It is just a bit odd to see Microsoft starting the campaign this early and without a single word about the ability to pay for the Extended Security Program, which, this time, also applies to regular consumers, not just commercial users. With that said, Microsoft has yet to announce the ESU policies for home users, so we will most likely see a few more iterations of this banner. The approach itself is not new—Microsoft used the same tactic with Windows 7 before it reached the end of mainstream support in early 2020. Source

Software developers who are still using Microsoft .NET 7 need to think about updating soon. The company has announced an "end of support" date for the older version of the open-source dev tool. In a blog post today, Microsoft said that official support for .NET 7 will end after May 14, 2024. That gives that version of the tool 18 months of official support. Microsoft has given the odd number versions of .NET that amount of support time, which is known as Standard Term Support (STS). Microsoft notes that May 14 is also the same day as the company's monthly event known as Patch Tuesday. As a result, .NET 7 may get one final update on that date. After May 14, here is what happens to apps made with .NET 7: In addition, Microsoft says that the .NET 7 component in Visual Studio will be changed to out of support and optional for Visual Studio 2022 17.6 and Visual Studio 2022 17.4 with the June 2024 servicing updates for those versions. Microsoft says that if you know you are using an app made with .NET 7 app, you should ask the app's developer or render to see if there is a version with the more recent .NET 8. Speaking of which, .NET 8, which officially launched in November 2023, is currently not scheduled to reach its end of service date until November 2026. In February 2024, the company launched the first preview version of the next developer tool update. .NET 9. It is not currently scheduled to become official until November 2024. Source

Windows 10 version 21H2 is about to reach its end of life. Microsoft published a new support document notifying that June 11, 2024, will mark the end of support for the remaining editions of Windows 10 version 21H2, including Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise. The end of support means Microsoft will no longer release security updates and critical patches to keep Windows 10 version 21H2 customers safe from vulnerabilities and other threats. Also, the official Microsoft Support will direct users to update to the latest Windows 10 version before assisting. Microsoft quit supporting consumer editions of Windows 10 version 21H2 in June 2023. However, commercial editions usually get one extra year of additional patches, which gives businesses more time to upgrade to something more recent. After June 11, 2024, Windows 10 will only have one supported version, 22H2, which is scheduled to reach its end of life in October 2025. However, Microsoft plans to allow everyone to get two years of additional support via the paid Extended Security Program. It used to be enterprise-only, but now, Microsoft is willing to let regular customers make use of it, which is probably because Windows 10 is still the dominant operating system, with over 60% on the market. As for Windows 11, its latest version recently entered a new rollout phase, which means Microsoft is now force-upgrading supported devices to version 23H2. Currently, Microsoft supports both Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2. However, in June 2024, Microsoft will end optional updates for version 22H2. Every Windows 11 version has a two-year lifecycle, so Home and Pro editions of version 22H2 will reach their end of life on October 8, 2024. Source

Microsoft has announced the upcoming end of support (EOS) date for Office 2016 and Office 2019 apps, along with related productivity servers. All of those apps will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025. In a blog post, Microsoft stated: The blog post listed the many Office 2016 and 2019 apps this new EOS date will affect, along with the server products; Access 2016 Access 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2019 OneNote 2016 Outlook 2016 Outlook 2019 PowerPoint 2016 PowerPoint 2019 Project 2016 Project 2019 Publisher 2016 Publisher 2019 Skype for Business 2016 Skype for Business 2019 Visio 2016 Visio 2019 Word 2016 Word 2019 Exchange Server 2016 Exchange Server 2019 Skype for Business Server 2015 Skype for Business Server 2019 Microsoft is recommending that organizations who have these apps installed instead sign up for a Microsoft 365 E3 cloud-based subscription. If those groups still need to keep their PCs disconnected from the internet and are not yet ready to switch to Microsoft 365, the company does offer the Office Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) solution. However, the EOS date for Office LTSC 2021 is October 13, 2026, so customers get just under a year of additional support beyond Office 2016 and 2019. Microsoft has already announced plans to retire the Publisher app completely and will remove it from Microsoft 365 subscriptions in October 2026. The company has revealed it plans to release a preview of Office LTSC 2024 for businesses and organizations sometime later in April. It plans to offer five years of support for the stand-alone Office 2024 apps. A consumer version will launch sometime later in the fall of 2024. Source

Microsoft has issued a reminder that Windows 10 version 21H2 is reaching its complete end of support in less than 30 days. On June 11, 2024, Windows 10 21H2 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise will receive their final security update. After that, 22H2 will be the only supported Windows 10 version for regular and business consumers. As a reminder, consumer editions of Windows 10 version 21H2 reached their end of life in June 2023. It received 8 years of active support, with 12 more months for enterprise SKUs. The end of support means Microsoft will no longer release security updates and bug fixes. Therefore, customers and businesses should plan to upgrade their systems to keep them protected from potential security vulnerabilities. Non-managed systems will update to version 22H2 automatically. From the official documentation: Of course, Microsoft also took the opportunity to remind users that Windows 11 exists and eligible devices can jump-ship to the latest operating system, which struggles to maintain its customer base as of recently: It is worth noting that the end of Windows 10 version 21H2 support does not affect the LTSC 2021 release. Lont-Term Servicing Channel versions have a much longer lifecycle (hence the name), and Microsoft plans to continue providing support for Windows 10 Enterprise and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 until January 12, 2027. Source

Valve published a support document detailing the end of Steam support on two old macOS versions: High Sierra (10.13) and Mojave (10.14). On February 15, 2024, Valve will stop issuing updates (including security updates) for its game client and will stop providing technical support. According to Valve, the main reason behind the decision is the end of Google Chrome support on macOS High Sierra and Mojave. Several parts of the Steam client rely on embedded Chrome, which will soon stop working on Apple's old operating system. In addition, Valve says future Steam versions will depend on features and security updates available only in macOS Catalina (10.15) and newer. The end of support does not mean Steam and downloaded games will stop working on February 15, 2024. Customers will be able to continue using the platform and play games for some time, but Valve cannot guarantee continued functionality after the specified date. In addition, the lack of security updates may expose old operating systems to additional security risks. The latest Hardware & Software Survey from Valve indicates that 1.19% of all Steam customers use macOS to access the platform. Over 98% of them use macOS 10.15 and newer. Therefore, the change is unlikely to upset a large number of Steam users. Still, there is one notable problem with Steam dropping macOS 10.13 and 10.14: 32-bit games. macOS 10.14 Mojave was the last operating system with support for 32-bit applications and games. macOS 10.15 Catalina removed 32-bit app support, rendering plenty of games unusable on macOS. Those playing games on Mac now have to make a tough choice: continue using an unsupported OS or abandon 32-bit games. Valve says Steam will stop accepting 32-bit-only games at the end of 2023. As a reminder, Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will lose access to Steam on January 1, 2024. Unlike macOS High Sierra and Mojave, Steam will not run on old and now-unsupported Windows versions starting next year. Source

From netbooks and PDAs to ATMs, voting kiosks, and ungainly presidential phones. It was a proto-netbook, it was a palmtop, it was a PDA, it was Windows Phone 7 but not Windows Phone 8, and then it was an embedded ghost. It parents never seemed to know what to do with it after it grew up, beyond offer it up for anybody to shape in their own image. And then, earlier this month, with little notice, Windows CE was no more, at least as a supported operating system. Windows Embedded Compact 2013, better (but not popularly) known as Windows CE 8.0, reached end of support on October 10, 2023, as noted by The Register. Windows CE, which had a name that didn't stand for anything and was often compacted to an embarrassing "wince," is not survived by anything, really. Remembrances have been offered by every Microsoft CEO since its inception and one former Ars writer. A public service for the operating system will be held in the comments. The OS that fit in small spaces Windows CE was initially Microsoft Pegasus, a team working to create a very low-power, MIPS or SuperH-based reference platform for manufacturers making the smallest computers with keyboards you could make back then. Devices like the NEC MobilePro 200, Casio (Cassiopeia) A-10, and HP 300LX started appearing in late 1996 and early 1997, with tiny keyboards, more-landscape-than-landscape displays, and, by modern standards, an impressive number of ports. Windows CE 6, looking about as spacious as it was. Pegasus arrived to most consumers as Windows CE 1.0, and, by all accounts, it had a lot of problems, at least if you were expecting it to be anything like Windows. The mobile OS couldn't work with Microsoft's Outlook, then a new addition to Office 97, until an update was shipped in March 1997, and it was still resistant to work with almost any other mail or personal information management (PIM) systems. Developers likewise didn't find the platform too appealing, as it requires none-too-cheap Microsoft's Visual Studio, Visual Basic, or Visual C++ tools, along with CE-specific module purchases. By the time Ars Technica started mentioning Windows CE in 2003, it was well on its way to becoming Microsoft's "Sure, we have an OS for that" solution. It was the embedded "Windows CE for Smart Displays" OS for a ViewSonic airpanel V150p, which let you remotely control a desktop from something that you might, at an angle, call a tablet. It was modified with "Windows XP extensions" to power a $250 AMD "Personal Internet Communicator" meant for "emerging markets" in 2004. By the time it hit 5.0 in 2005, Windows CE was now also Windows Automotive 5.0, part of Bill Gates' pledge to have "30 percent of cars" running Windows CE in them by July 2006. Gates did not hit this goal. Still, in mid-2005, Windows CE was installed in nearly half the PDAs sold, with most of its share having been clawed out of Palm's clutches. Later that year, Palm announced that its newest device, the Treo 650, was running Windows Mobile. Ars writer Sean Gallagher's Windows-CE-based Vadem Clio, which focused on handwritten input, had a screen that could pivot 180 degrees, and which "saved the day for me on a regular basis," Gallagher wrote in a 2012 remembrance. Sean Gallagher iPhones, Androids, and Microsoft's more beloved child "Windows Mobile" is not "Windows CE," and if you noticed that, you were not alone. If you had a device smaller than a PC, there were now two things coming your way: Windows CE 6.0, and "its Windows Mobile variant." Meanwhile, Windows CE also became an OS layer in AccuVote, the OS on a "personal GPS," and also on an e-paper tablet (because companies have been trying this idea for a very, very long time now). If it was a mobile device and it was released in 2007, it seemed inevitable that Windows CE or Windows Mobile would be on it. Ars staff Unless it was made by Apple. After Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that the iPhone had "no chance" of gaining significant market share, the iPhone gained significant market share in 2007. By late 2008, Google's new Android OS was shipping on T-Mobile's G1, and manufacturers were eager to jump in. Windows CE seemed to pivot even harder into its "Definitely Not a Phone" identity, getting a rebrand as Windows Embedded Compact sometime in 2009, and showing up on devices like CherryPal's $99 netbook aimed at the developing world. And on ATMs that got hacked on stage at the Black Hat conference. By October 2010, Microsoft had a sliding market share in mobile devices, and a new old idea: a fully smartphone-focused OS called Windows Phone 7. It was a big departure from Windows Mobile, though it still had Windows CE kernel underlying its tech. Windows Phone 7 had strict rules around hardware specs, button arrangement, and branding. As we noted then, the phones had far more room to make their own thing with Android and Windows Mobile. "If Windows Phone 7 is anything short of an enormous success, it's easy to see them giving up on the platform." Windows Phone 8 arrived in 2012, and it swapped Windows CE's kernel for that of Windows NT. That also meant that very few of the existing Windows mobile apps out there could upgrade to it and that many phone makers would skip the upgrade from 7 to 8 entirely. Microsoft put in nearly two years of development to transition away from the low-power-minded Windows CE, at a time when it didn't really have the time to spare. You may not like it, but this is what peak Windows CE looked like in 2009: The $4,750 General Dynamics Sectéra Edge Windows CE secure PDA. General Dynamics A grim cameo, and it's still for sale Beyond this point, Windows CE still existed, just on a level so low-key you wouldn't notice it unless you saw a weird little computer doing a very specific job. It showed up in one prominent place, however. In 2016, at the height of the US presidential election, it was revealed that a fantastically complex, $4,750 Windows CE phone was the only real option for the National Security Agency's preferred secure White House phone in 2009. Then-Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton did not or could not use that, so she used her own BlackBerry and email server, and we have been hearing about it ever since. Microsoft, in its "Windows CE Migration FAQ," writes a kind of half-hearted obituary for its OS. It "powered industrial, medical, and a variety of other devices for more than 20 years," allowing companies to "modify and create their own user interfaces and experiences." While support has reached its end, Microsoft will "allow license sales" for Windows Embedded Compact until 2028. "And, of course, Windows CE devices can continue to be used indefinitely," added a technical writer at Microsoft, perhaps wistfully. Source

Microsoft is reminding users of important upcoming dates in the support lifecycle for older versions of Visual Studio. Support for the widely used Visual Studio 2013 will end on April 9, 2024, meaning it will no longer receive security updates or fixes. Developers still using older versions like Visual Studio 2013 and 2015 are encouraged to upgrade as those editions will also see reduced support over the next few years. According to Microsoft, Visual Studio 2015 moves to extended support only (security fixes only) on October 14, 2025, while Visual Studio 2017 reaches that stage on April 13, 2027. Even Visual Studio 2019 will transition from mainstream to extended support on April 9, 2024. To remain supported, Microsoft emphasizes that users must be on the latest version 16.11 release of Visual Studio 2019. The preview channel of Visual Studio 2019 is also no longer receiving updates. Microsoft recommends all developers upgrade to the latest version, Visual Studio 2022. It provides a 64-bit architecture (first in the IDE), built-in Git version control, AI code completions with GitHub Copilot, and tools for .NET 8 and .NET MAUI app development. Microsoft also said that Visual Studio 2022 offers different update channels to meet different needs - from getting early previews to using long-term maintenance releases. You may find more details on Microsoft's official download page. Source

Canalys estimates that 240 million PCs could go to landfills after October 2025 when Microsoft ends free support for Windows 10. Microsoft will provide paid support until October 2028 but it’s likely that upgrading will be cheaper. When Microsoft released Windows 11, it did so with a requirement for computers to have TPM 2.0 support for added security but many pre-Windows 11 computers don’t support this so cannot upgrade to Windows 11. With the requirement to obtain new hardware, the analyst firm Canalys has estimated that as many as 240 million PCs will be thrown away - even if they otherwise work perfectly fine. This is not a great revelation for Microsoft’s green credentials. If your computer doesn’t support TPM 2.0, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the landfill issue. The first option is to switch to Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or some other Linux distribution. Linux works very well out of the box on most computers and it isn’t too difficult to write the ISO image to a USB and install it on your PC, the process should take around 30 minutes. With much of our computing being done online, the lack of Windows software for Linux is not too much of an issue now. If you absolutely need to use Windows and plan to landfill your old computer then take out anything that can be removed such as hard drives and memory (on laptops). Hard drives can be placed in external hard drive cases available on sites like Amazon, giving you a new external hard drive, and the RAM can be used with other devices to add more memory if they need it. You could also sell these parts. If you are planning to buy a new PC, have a look at Neowin’s deals page to get big discounts on PCs and other products, this helps to keep Neowin free of charge for readers. Source: Reuters Source

As we start the month of October, one of Microsoft's longest-running Windows Server versions is finally coming to the end of its official support very soon. Windows Server 2012, and its Windows Server 2012 R2 update, with both reaching the end of their lifecycles on October 10, 2023. Microsoft's lifecycle support page states: After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates. The original Windows Server 2012, which was based on Windows 8, hit the RTM stage on August 1, 2012, and it officially launched to the general public on September 4, 2012. Ironically, Windows Server 2012 will end up lasting much longer than Windows 8, which reached its end of life in 2016. It even lasted longer than Windows 8.1. Microsoft ended its official support in January 2023. Microsoft had four different SKUs for Windows Server 2012. Essentials was the cheapest at $425, followed by Standard at $882, and then there was the Datacenter SKU at $4.809. There was another SKU, Foundation, that was made for OEM businesses and had no public price tag. Just like Microsoft quickly released Windows 8.1 a year after the launch of Windows 8, it also launched Windows Server 2021 R2 in the same time frame. It went gold on August 27, 2013, and officially launched on October 14, 2013. While official support for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 is ending in a few days, businesses who still need time to transition to a more recent version of the server OS do have options. One is they can access up to three years of extended security updates on Microsoft's Azure cloud services. Businesses who need on-site access to Windows Server 2012 can also get  Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for three years, until October 13, 2026, but that will cost an undisclosed amount of money. Finally, businesses can just update to the most current version of the OS, Windows Server 2022, which launched in September 2022. Source

Back in July, Microsoft for the first time publicly announced the upcoming Windows 11 version 23H2 feature update release, also hinting at its system requirements. This came hot on the heels of another major Windows 11 announcement, one where the tech giant informed about the end-of-service date for the original Windows 11, version 21H2, which is due later this year in October 2023. Earlier today, the company published a reminder about it while also explaining how it will proceed with the major update. Microsoft says that the October 2023 Patch Tuesday will be the final security update for 21H2. It has also added that the upcoming September non-security release will be its final non-security optional update. Microsoft writes: On October 10, 2023, Home and Pro editions of Windows 11, version 21H2 will reach end of servicing. The upcoming October 2023 security update, to be released on October 10, 2023, will be the last update available for this version. After this date, devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats. [..] IMPORTANT The September 2023 non-security preview update will be the last optional release and the October 2023 security update will be the last security release for Windows 11, version 21H2. Windows 11, version 22H2 will continue to receive security and optional releases. As is usually the case with such announcements, be it for Windows 10 or 11, the Redmond firm has said that user PCs still running Windows 11 21H2 will automatically be updated to a more recent supported version, which likely means 22H2 will be offered on such devices. There is also a slight possibility of it being Windows 11 23H2 depending on the release date (we know it's Q4), and also because 23H2 is going to a minor bump via an enablement package (EKB). It says: To help keep you protected and productive, Windows Update will automatically initiate a feature update for Windows 11 consumer devices and non-managed business devices that are at, or within several months of reaching, end of servicing. This keeps your device supported and receiving monthly updates that are critical to security and ecosystem health. As always, we recommend that you update your devices to the latest version of Windows 11. You can find the announcement on Microsoft's health dashboard website in the message center section. Source

October 10 marks the end of support for the initial Windows 11 release. Version 21H2 is no longer supported, so Microsoft will not release monthly updates with fixes and security patches. If you are running Windows 11 version 21H2, it is time to move on and install the latest feature update. Microsoft released Windows 11 version 21H2 to the general public on October 5, 2021. Besides sporting much more modern looks, the operating system introduces several productivity-focused features and improvements, such as Snap Layouts, Windows Subsystem for Android, better external display support, Windows Widgets, and more. However, the reception was lukewarm and overshadowed by steep hardware requirements, rendering plenty of still capable computers unable to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11. In addition, many users openly despised the redesigned taskbar and the Start menu, which lacked numerous features due to the rushed release. It took Microsoft two years to polish Windows 11 and address the biggest stumbling blocks in its latest operating system. The latest Windows 11 version, 22H2, and its "Moment 4" feature update are much better and more user-friendly to those migrating from the soon-to-be-dead Windows 10. If your computer is still on Windows 11 version 21H2, you can update to 22H2 and the Moment 3 update. The latter will introduce you to numerous features and improvements described in our dedicated reviews: Windows 11 version 22H2 Windows 11 Moment 1 Windows 11 Moment 2 Windows 11 Moment 3 You can also pull the trigger and download Moment 4, a non-security optional update with several much-anticipated features, such as taskbar regrouping, a redesigned volume slider, native RGB controls, Copilot, and more. Microsoft will automatically update most Windows 11 users to the Moment 4 update in November 2023. Click here to learn how to install Windows 11 Moment 4. Later this year, Microsoft will release Windows 11 version 23H2 with almost zero changes. It will get two years of support like the original release and version 22H2. Source

Canonical has announced that Ubuntu 22.10 Kinetic Kudu, which came out in October, will reach its end of life on July 20 so it’s worth upgrading to Ubuntu 23.04 if you haven’t already. End of life means an Ubuntu release no longer gets important security updates. As a bit of background, Canonical releases a Long Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu every two years in April. In between these releases, it pushes out a new version of Ubuntu every six months. The LTS versions are supported for five years each but the interim releases are only supported for nine months. Ubuntu 22.10 is an interim release so July is when it reaches end of life. Upgrading your Ubuntu desktop to version 23.04 is straightforward and shouldn’t take long to complete, especially if you have a good internet connection. To perform the upgrade, follow these official instructions: Run the update-manager application. In Update Manager, click the Settings... button, and enter your password to start the Software Sources application. Select the sub menu Updates from the Software Sources application. Confirm the "Notify me of a new Ubuntu version:" option is set to "For any new version", and change it if otherwise. Close the Software Sources application and return to Update Manager. In Update Manager, click the Check button to check for new updates. If there are any updates to install, use the Install Updates button to install them. Run update-manager. A message will appear informing you of the availability of the new release. Click Upgrade. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you are on Ubuntu 22.10 and find nine months too short a period to keep performing an upgrade, you’re best sticking to an LTS release. New versions arrive every two years but you’re under no obligation to upgrade for five years; this can let you focus on just getting work done instead of doing upgrades all of the time. Ubuntu 22.10 Kinetic Kudu dies on July 20, upgrade now