Tag: Microsoft 365

  • 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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