Tech Trends 📰

Everything you need to know about Flashes, the Bluesky-based Instagram alternative | TechCrunch

Windows active devices dropped from 1.4 billion in 2022 to just over 1 billion in 2025, signaling a major decline in user base.. Analysts suggest the drop may be due to the rise of mobile platforms like Android and iOS, especially in emerging markets.. Slowing PC sales and a shift toward mobile-first usage are also seen as contributing factors to the decline.. User frustration over Microsoft's aggressive push to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 may have caused some to abandon the platform.. Despite the drop, Windows remains widely used, and Microsoft is focusing on cloud services like Azure and Microsoft 365 to stay competitive. Ask ChatGPT.

Windows lose ground in global market

Windows active devices dropped from 1.4 billion in 2022 to just over 1 billion in 2025, signaling a major decline in user base.. Analysts suggest the drop may be due to the rise of mobile platforms like Android and iOS, especially in emerging markets.. Slowing PC sales and a shift toward mobile-first usage are also seen as contributing factors to the decline.. User frustration over Microsoft's aggressive push to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 may have caused some to abandon the platform.. Despite the drop, Windows remains widely used, and Microsoft is focusing on cloud services like Azure and Microsoft 365 to stay competitive..

Windows 12 Delayed as Microsoft Prepares Windows 11 25H2 Update

Microsoft will not launch a separate "Windows 12" — instead, its next major update will be Windows 11 version 25H2, arriving in the second half of 2025.. The update builds on the same base as the current 24H2 version, allowing for a quick and easy upgrade using a small enablement package.. Features for 25H2 are already included in 24H2 but are inactive; they’ll be gradually unlocked through regular monthly updates.. The release aims to encourage Windows 10 users to upgrade before support ends in October 2025.. 25H2 will bring 36 months of support for enterprise and education users, and 24 months for consumers; Windows Insiders can test it now. Ask ChatGPT.

Microsoft’s Free New Windows Upgrade: How It Works And How To Get It

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. But now, users can get an extra year of free security updates through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.. Earlier, this extra year cost $30, but Microsoft now offers it for free if you link your Microsoft account and sync your PC settings to the cloud.. To enroll, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on a Windows 10 (version 22H2) Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Workstation device with the latest updates.. If eligible, you’ll see an “Enroll now” button. Once clicked, a window will guide you through the process to activate free ESU support until October 13, 2026.. If you don’t sync your settings or link your Microsoft account, you’ll still need to pay $30 for the same updates..

Microsoft kills its Windows blue screen of death

Microsoft is officially replacing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with a new Black Screen of Death in Windows 11.. The BSOD has been around for over 40 years and shows up when Windows crashes or restarts unexpectedly.. The new black screen will remove the frowning face and QR code, showing only the stop code and faulty driver info.. It will also include a fast recovery option that helps restart PCs more quickly—usually within 2 seconds.. The change will arrive later this summer in the Windows 11 24H2 update, ending an iconic era in Windows history..

Microsoft brings OpenTelemetry support to Azure Logic Apps & Functions

Microsoft has added OpenTelemetry support to Azure Logic Apps (Standard and Hybrid) and Azure Functions, now available in public preview.. OpenTelemetry standardizes collection of logs, traces, and metrics, enabling seamless observability across tools like Azure Monitor, Grafana Tempo, and Jaeger.. Developers can enable OpenTelemetry by updating the host.json file and setting environment variables like OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT and OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS.. This update aligns with Microsoft’s broader strategy to build OpenTelemetry into Azure Monitor, Azure SDKs, and tools like .NET Aspire for unified observability.. Current support includes HTTP, Service Bus, and Event Hub triggers in Logic Apps; Azure Functions support is limited and lacks portal-based log streaming in preview..

Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature

Microsoft’s Family Safety feature has been blocking Google Chrome from running on Windows since June 3, 2025, affecting users for over two weeks.. The issue only impacts Chrome, while other browsers like Firefox and Opera are unaffected; renaming Chrome.exe has been a temporary workaround.. The bug is linked to the “filter inappropriate websites” setting in Family Safety, which must be disabled to allow Chrome to run — though this removes web filters for children.. Microsoft has yet to publicly acknowledge or provide a timeline for a fix; Chrome engineers say affected users must contact Microsoft for guidance.. While likely a bug, Microsoft has a history of using aggressive tactics to push users toward its Edge browser over Chrome..

RIP Microsoft Passwords: Here's How to Set Up a Passkey Before the August Deadline

Microsoft will stop supporting passwords in the Authenticator app by August 2025 and is switching users to passkeys.. Starting June 2025, users can’t add new passwords to the app. In July, autofill password support ends. By August, saved passwords will no longer work.. Passkeys use biometric data or PINs for sign-in and are considered more secure than traditional passwords.. Passkeys don’t get stored on servers but remain on your personal device, reducing the risk of phishing or data breaches.. To set up a passkey, open Microsoft Authenticator, select your account, and follow the prompt to set up the passkey after signing in with your current credentials..

Microsoft accidentally swapped Windows 11’s startup sound with Vista’s

Microsoft accidentally replaced the Windows 11 startup sound with the Windows Vista chime in a test build.. The issue appeared in Windows 11 Dev Channel preview build 26200.5651.. The incorrect sound came from the imageres.dll file.. Microsoft acknowledged the bug and said a fix is coming soon.. A team member joked about it online, calling it a “blast from the past.”.

This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs

Microsoft introduced a new Xbox-focused full-screen experience that launches instead of the standard Windows desktop on ROG Xbox Ally devices, optimized specifically for gaming handhelds.. The handheld mode reduces background Windows processes, freeing up about 2GB of memory and cutting idle power draw by two-thirds, improving both speed and battery life.. The updated Xbox app now aggregates games from Steam, Epic, Xbox, and more, while the revamped Game Bar allows quick access to device settings, a new task switcher, and Microsoft's Gaming Copilot.. Players can navigate the entire interface using a controller, including the lockscreen and multitasking, with options like PIN login via controller.. The Xbox full-screen experience will first roll out to ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, and will later expand to other Windows handhelds starting in 2026, marking a broader push to rival SteamOS in handheld gaming..

Microsoft Bing gets a free Sora-powered AI video generator | TechCrunch

Microsoft Bing has added a new Bing Video Creator feature that uses OpenAI's Sora model to generate videos from text prompts.. This is the first time Sora's video generation is available for free — previously it was only for paying customers.. Users logged into a Microsoft account can generate 10 videos for free; after that, each video costs 100 Microsoft Rewards points.. The tool is currently only available on the Bing mobile app (not desktop), and even in “fast” mode, video generation can take hours.. Videos are limited to 5 seconds, vertical (9:16) format, and only 3 videos can be queued at a time — with horizontal format support coming soon..

Microsoft provides major revamp to Notepad, adds support for new formatting, hyperlinks and more

Microsoft Notepad now supports bold, italic, hyperlinks, and Markdown formatting. A new Format tab has been added with options like headings and list styles. Users can clear or disable formatting from the settings if they prefer plain text. Generative AI is integrated to help write or improve text within Notepad. The update is currently available for Canary and Dev Channel testers only.