Tag: Microsoft 365

  • Windows 11 25H2 Update: New AI Features and Emojis Available Now

    Windows 11 25H2 Update: New AI Features and Emojis Available Now

    Key Takeaways

    1. The KB5065789 update is a preview for Windows 11 25H2, available in the Release Preview Channel, with a final release expected in October 2025.
    2. Click to Do now supports recognizing tables and allows content export to Excel, with some features requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription.
    3. Users can customize system popups and pin applications to the taskbar without restarting Explorer; new AI-driven features are coming to File Explorer.
    4. Accessibility improvements include enhanced Narrator functionality and a Braille Viewer for users with visual impairments, along with gaming performance enhancements.
    5. New emojis and reorganized settings improve user experience, with added passkey integration and a plugin manager for easier management.

    According to Microsoft, the KB5065789 update is now present in the Release Preview Channel. This update is a preview, allowing users who are interested to test out features of the forthcoming Windows 11 25H2 version before it officially launches. Alongside many bug fixes, Microsoft has revealed improved AI-driven actions, more emojis, and enhancements to File Explorer and the desktop. The final version of this feature update is anticipated to be released to all users in October 2025.

    New Features for Click to Do

    The update broadens the capabilities of Click to Do, enabling it to recognize tables and directly export, copy, or share selected content to Excel. However, for some actions like converting to Excel files, a Microsoft 365 subscription is necessary. The context menu now features new action tags that highlight commonly used functions. Additionally, the summary function has been improved to deliver more concise and accurate results, increasing the efficiency of working with AI tools.

    Enhanced User Experience

    Users can now relocate system popups for volume, brightness, or airplane mode at their discretion. Furthermore, applications can be pinned to the taskbar without needing to restart Explorer. File Explorer will also introduce AI-driven features such as document editing or summarization, although these functions are currently unavailable in the European Economic Area. Apps can be pinned in the Share dialog, and various settings for time, language, and keyboard have been transitioned from the traditional Control Panel to the modern Windows Settings interface.

    Accessibility and Gaming Improvements

    The Narrator feature now provides smoother reading experiences in Word, making navigation through tables and lists easier, which is designed to enhance the enjoyment of viewing text documents. Additionally, a Braille Viewer has been added to improve accessibility for users with visual impairments, allowing screen content to be presented in Braille, thus making complex documents more navigable.

    Gamers will find performance enhancements in the Game Bar and for multi-monitor setups. On Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon chips, this update introduces Auto Super Resolution, boosting the image quality of compatible games. Xbox controller functionalities have been refined, and new actions can be executed with either a short or long press of the Xbox button.

    New Emoji and Settings Changes

    Support for emojis has been expanded to version 16.0, featuring new icons such as a face with dark circles under its eyes, a fingerprint, a bare tree, and a harp. The advanced settings page has been reorganized for clearer grouping of developer options. Microsoft has also reinforced passkey integration and launched a plugin manager for easier management. New administrator protection is introduced to grant elevated rights only on a “just-in-time” basis.

    The Windows 11 25H2 Preview Update KB5065789 provides an early look at planned features and enhancements. It is mainly targeted at users eager to explore upcoming functionalities ahead of time. Nonetheless, Microsoft suggests using the stable version, which is expected to be ready for general use starting October 2025.

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  • Microsoft 365 Copilot Back-to-School: Summarize Books, Create Quizzes, Track Budget

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Back-to-School: Summarize Books, Create Quizzes, Track Budget

    Key Takeaways

    1. Microsoft is launching a new upgrade for 365 Copilot tailored specifically for students to simplify academic tasks and campus life.
    2. Copilot can provide quick academic support, such as summarizing literature and creating practice quizzes for subjects like math and literature.
    3. The upgrade includes lifestyle assistant features, offering dorm decor ideas, microwave meal suggestions, and help with budgeting.
    4. Students can manage their finances by inputting income and expenses, allowing Copilot to create a financial plan.
    5. This development reflects Microsoft’s vision to evolve Copilot into a versatile assistant for students, combining academic and everyday support.

    Microsoft is launching a new upgrade for 365 Copilot that is designed specifically for students, just in time for the start of the semester. This upgrade introduces tools that aim to simplify both academic tasks and life on campus, as stated in a recent blog entry by the company.

    Academic Support

    With this upgrade, students can utilize Copilot for quick refreshers on various subjects, such as summarizing literature or creating practice quizzes. For instance, Microsoft used Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a case study: Copilot can outline the play’s key themes and generate a quiz with 10 questions to evaluate understanding. This method can also be applied to math and other subjects where learners might need a quick review.

    Lifestyle Assistant Features

    In addition to academic help, Copilot is also functioning as a personal assistant. It can suggest decor ideas for dorms or lockers based on a student’s tastes and budget, offer ideas for microwave meals, and even locate nearby grocery stores. Furthermore, Microsoft presented Copilot as a tool for managing budgets.

    Students are able to input their income, subscriptions, and travel plans, and Copilot will provide a financial plan that helps balance expenses with savings. This update also suggests various task management applications, indicating that Copilot is evolving into a more comprehensive digital assistant.

    Vision for the Future

    This development demonstrates Microsoft’s broader vision of transforming Copilot from a simple work tool into a versatile assistant tailored for students and young individuals who seek AI support for both their academic and everyday needs.

    The new features are currently accessible to Microsoft 365 Insider testers on platforms including Windows, Mac, web, iOS, and Android. A wider release will take place after the testing phase concludes.

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    Microsoft 365 Copilot Back-to-School: Summarize Books, Create Quizzes, Track Budget

     

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  • Microsoft Apps Get Security Updates Until 2028 Despite Windows 10 Phaseout

    Microsoft Apps Get Security Updates Until 2028 Despite Windows 10 Phaseout

    Key Takeaways

    1. Windows 10 support will officially end on October 14, 2025, but Microsoft 365 Apps will continue to work on Windows 10 after this date.
    2. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid potential performance and reliability issues.
    3. Security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 will be provided for three years after end of support, until October 10, 2028.
    4. Businesses are advised to upgrade to Windows 11 or consider alternative operating systems to protect sensitive data.
    5. Alternatives to Windows 11 include Linux distributions like Mint and ChromeOS Flex, which offer different features and security updates.

    The end of support for Windows 10 is coming up quickly. While it’s obvious that some users will need to update to Windows 11, Microsoft keeps surprising us with little changes regarding the end of support for the operating system. Recently, they added a new note about Microsoft 365 on their support webpage.

    Updates to Microsoft 365 Support

    Previously, the support page indicated that Microsoft 365 apps would be unsupported from October 14, 2025, meaning users would need to switch to Windows 11 to keep using them. Microsoft has now modified this message and included a new note that eases this restriction a bit:

    Support for Windows 10 will officially cease on October 14, 2025. Following this date, if you have Microsoft 365 Apps installed on a Windows 10 device, they will keep working as they did before. Still, Microsoft highly recommends upgrading to Windows 11 to prevent potential performance and reliability problems in the future.

    Security Updates After Support Ends

    To help ensure your security while moving to Windows 11, Microsoft will provide security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 for three years after the end of support, wrapping up on October 10, 2028.

    Businesses should not let their guard down, as it is wise to upgrade to Windows 11 or consider installing a different operating system due to the importance of company data. For personal users who don’t use their Windows 10 PC for sensitive tasks like online banking, but rather for gaming or basic office work, this might give them some extra time before they need to make the switch.

    Alternatives to Windows 11

    If you really prefer not to upgrade to Windows 11, you might want to consider Linux alternatives like Mint. It has a similar aesthetic to MacOS or Windows and is considered secure thanks to regular updates. Another option is switching to ChromeOS Flex, although this operating system is primarily web-based and resembles the Chrome browser with all its extension features.

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  • Microsoft 365 Introduces AI Features for Additional Cost

    Microsoft 365 Introduces AI Features for Additional Cost

    Microsoft is enhancing its online office suite, but users will need to pay more for these improvements.

    The tech giant revealed that it will integrate its Copilot AI into the Office applications that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription. This includes popular programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Copilot is the AI feature that Microsoft has been gradually introducing into its different software, such as Windows 11.

    Pricing Changes

    Before this update, Windows users had to subscribe to Copilot Pro to use it in the Office suite, which cost $20 each month. Microsoft is keeping this subscription option, but now anyone can add Copilot to their Microsoft 365 plan.

    However, there is a slight downside. Adding Copilot to Microsoft 365 will increase the subscription fee by 30-42%. For individual users, the monthly cost will rise from $6.99 to $9.99 (or from $69.99 to $99.99 annually). For families, the price will go up from $9.99 to $12.99 per month, and yearly subscriptions will increase from $99.99 to $129.99.

    Additional Tools

    Copilot isn’t alone when it comes to AI features in Microsoft 365. The company is also introducing Microsoft Designer, which serves as an AI image editing tool.

    Copilot is already deeply integrated into Windows 11, and many new laptops, like the 2024 Surface Laptop, which currently costs $833 on Amazon, come equipped with a special button for Copilot on their keyboards.

    AI technology has been swiftly integrated into various consumer products, receiving a mixed reaction from users. Copilot, in particular, has faced significant backlash, with much of it focusing on its inadequate response quality (including alarming threats to users) and Microsoft’s aggressive application of the feature.

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