Windows 10 patch KB 3081444 and the future of 'service packs'
Microsoft's latest fix holds some surprises under the hood -- and could make us rethink the company's plans for updates and release schedules
Stories by Woody Leonhard
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Windows 10 Start menus: Start10 vs. Classic Shell
The best Windows 8 Start menu replacements bring their Win7-inspired magic to Windows 10. Which should you choose?
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Microsoft releases MS15-093/KB 3088903 patch for IE
Details for the out-of-band patch are scarce, but it’s in the wild. If you use IE, you better get patched
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Windows 10 SP1 beta -- aka Threshold 2 -- is now available
As anticipated, the beta builds are back and should be rolling out in the Fast ring even as we speak
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Windows 10 review: Hold off if you use Windows 7
After the truly wretched Windows 8 and marginally less wretched Windows 8.1, Windows 10 comes as a breath of fresh air.
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Windows 10: Fact vs. fiction
It's a few days before Windows 10 is officially slated to drop, and still, confusion abounds. Worse, many fallacies regarding Microsoft's plans around upgrades and support for Win10 remain in circulation, despite efforts to dispel them.
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Windows 10 reality check: Separating fact from fiction
With the world officially on a collision course with Windows 10 on July 29, it's time to clear up common misconceptions about Microsoft's latest, evolving version of its flagship OS. Perhaps not surprising, there's quite a bit of misinformation floating around, some of it harmless, but some of it potentially damaging to any decisions you make about Windows 10.
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How to make shortcuts to Windows 10 settings on your Desktop
Want to see Windows 10's log of your I/O usage -- the Data Usage app in Settings -- by simply clicking or tapping on the Desktop? Enable or disable your microphone with two clicks? Turn off your webcam? Manage your Wi-Fi settings? It's easy.
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Where Windows 10 stands right now
With beta builds arriving at an ever-increasing pace, Windows 10 testing proceeds full speed ahead, with new features unveiled at every turn. If you don't have the time -- or the interest -- to keep up with the details, this report will keep you posted on how things stand. Like, right now. And we'll update it as Microsoft fleshes out more of Windows 10.
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Widespread outages hit Windows 8/8.1 Metro Mail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Phone 8.1 mail
Last night at about 12:30 a.m. EDT, Microsoft <a href="https://status.live.com/detail/outlook">issued a bulletin</a> warning of widespread outages for Windows 8 and 8.1 Metro Mail, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Phone 8.1 mail. The bulletin stated:
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Leaked Windows 10 build 10051 finally shows new Mail, Calendar apps
Over the weekend, Russian leaker(s) WZor once again proved their mettle by posting a new leaked Windows 10 build, the 64-bit only 10051, on the mail.ru website. Others rapidly took the leaked WIM file (stuffed in a RAR!) and turned it into an ISO for general consumption.
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Inside the new Windows 10 Technical Preview tools, SDK
Most of us were expecting a new Windows 10 SDK and assorted tools to arrive in time for Microsoft's Build Developer Conference next month. Instead, the company surprised by releasing an enormous SDK and Visual Studio Tools for Windows 10 package on Monday, five weeks ahead of the annual gathering of the Windows faithful. Microsoft clearly aims to give developers a head start on building Windows apps.
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First look: Windows 10 preview for smartphones is off to a slow start
Last Thursday, Microsoft released its long-anticipated Windows 10 Technical Preview for smartphones. This first public release of Windows 10 for smartphones improves on many Windows Phone 8.1 features, but it offers few compelling new capabilities. Also, while Win10 TP for smartphones is supposed to run universal-style apps (the latest incarnation of what have been called Metro, Modern, and Windows Store apps), there's still little congruence between the new universal smartphone apps and their big-screen universal namesakes.
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Satya Nadella at one year: Grading Microsoft's CEO
Make no mistake: A year after he succeeded Steve Ballmer in the job, CEO Satya Nadella firmly controls Microsoft's fate.
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In Pictures: Secrets of Office for iPad masters
Tips, tricks, tweaks, and twerks for Office gurus looking to make the most of the iPad variant
