What you need to know

• Mozilla announced its plans to extend Firefox support on unsupported operating systems until March 2025.
•  The company will offer two ESR (Extended Support Release) releases, including 115 for unsupported operating systems and 128 for Windows 10 and newer. 
• Mozilla argues "enough" Firefox users are still running unsupported operating systems, including Windows 7, prompting its decision to extend support for Firefox on old devices. 

While it's apparent Microsoft is moving forward with its plans to cut support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, users can continue running Firefox 115 on unsupported devices, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, and macOS 10.12 to 10.14 as Mozilla has extended its support and will continue pushing important updates until April 1, 2025. Firefox 115.21 will also continue receiving updates until March 4, 2025.

For context, Firefox 115 is the last version of the browser that will run on the highlighted unsupported operating systems. This means attempting to install Firefox 116 on these unsupported operating systems will be futile.

In case you missed it, Mozilla announced its plans to extend Firefox's support on these unsupported operating systems in July. Before Mozilla announced the extended support, the company shipped Firefox 115 without mentioning whether it would run on unsupported operating systems, leaving concerned users in limbo about updating the browser. 

Mozilla planned to cut support for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 in September 2024, but it changed its plans. The company offers two ESR (Extended Support Release) releases, including 115 for unsupported operating systems and 128 for Windows 10 and newer. 

Cutting support for Windows 7 would have allowed Mozilla to clean up the code base and relieved it of the responsibility of maintaining newer libraries that aren't necessarily supported on pre-Windows 10 releases. Interestingly, Mozilla claims enough Firefox users are running Windows 7, prompting it to extend support for the operating system. Microsoft's Edge browser and Google Chrome already cut support for Windows 7, perhaps giving Mozilla a competitive edge with an untapped market share. 

According to Mozilla:

"Continuing to support it past October isn't going to be free (backporting security fixes is already getting increasingly painful due to the divergence which naturally happens over time as an ESR goes further into its lifecycle), but there's still enough users there that we felt it was worth doing for now at least."

To this end, it remains unclear whether Mozilla will extend Firefox's support for these unsupported operating systems beyond the highlighted dates.

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What you need to know

• Valve officially ended Steam support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 this week.
• The Steam clients on those versions of Windows will no longer receive updates, including security updates.
• Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 have all been out of support for at least one year, and in the case of Windows 7 several years.

If you use a PC that's woefully out of date to play your favorite PC games, there's bad news for you. Valve officially dropped Steam support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 this week. Steam clients running on those operating systems will no longer receive updates of any kind. Most notably, those clients won't receive security updates, giving any gamers on Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 a major reason to upgrade.

Valve announced the cutoff this week:

"As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. After that date, existing Steam Client installations on these operating systems will no longer receive updates of any kind including security updates. Steam Support will be unable to offer users technical support for issues related to the old operating systems, and Steam will be unable to guarantee continued functionality of Steam on the unsupported operating system versions."

Windows 7 stopped receiving technical support in January 2020, while support for Windows 8.1 ended in January 2023. In the future, Steam will require security updates that will only ship to Windows 10 and newer versions of the OS.

While Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 have been out of support for a while, Valve had to cut off support this week because of an update to Google Chrome.

"This change is required as core features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows," said Valve. "In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above."

No one should use Windows 7, 8, or 8.1

Steam dropping support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 is hardly surprising. We knew the cutoff date was on the way, but Valve officially dropped support for older version of Windows yesterday. None of those operating systems are supported anymore, making them insecure in addition to being out of date.

PCs with those older operating systems have received warnings about end of support and prompts to update for years. Microsoft went as far as to show full-screen warnings about the end of Windows 8.1 support in July 2022. Windows 8.1 officially reached the end of support on January 10, 2023.

Without security updates, PCs running older versions of Windows are not safe to use, especially for those who use the internet. Performance can also worsen if your PC is the victim of an attack. Valve emphasized these facts in its post about the end of support.

"Computers running these operating systems, when connected to the internet, are susceptible to new malware and other exploits which will not be patched," said Valve. "That malware can cause your PC, Steam and games to perform poorly or crash. That malware can also be used to steal the credentials for your Steam account or other services."

• Related: The next Windows 11 feature drop is coming in early 2024

If you for some reason can't move on from those old versions of Windows, you certainly shouldn't use them for connecting to the web, which could result in your PC being attacked using methods it's not patched to prevent. An online service dropping support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 makes sense given the security risks those operating systems present.

Almost no one uses Windows 7, 8, or 8.1

Systems with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 combined make up less than 1% of Steam users as of December 2023. The popular service has a large user base, so there are still some people that will be affected by this change, but that group is relatively small.

Users still running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 need to get with the times and update their systems. Even if they can't update to Windows 11 due to the operating system's requirements, Windows 10 will continue to receive support until next year. Those who wish to stay on Windows 10 will also have the option to pay to receive extended support.

Do you still play your Steam games on a PC running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1? Let us know in the comments below.

What you need to know

• UPDATE: Microsoft recently announced that admins will get three additional years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows Server 2012.
• Microsoft is ending support for Windows Server 2012 on October 10, 2023.
• Recommended next steps include transitioning to Windows Server 2022 or purchasing Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows Server 2012.
• ESUs include three additional years of security updates, renewable annually until October 13, 2026.
• Admins that transition their databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines will access free ESUs for three years after the end of the support date.

UPDATE NOV. 11, 2023: A couple of months ago, Microsoft announced that it would cut support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on October 10, 2023. However, the company recently announced that admins can get three additional years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs).

According to Microsoft:

"You can now get three additional years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs) if you need more time to upgrade and modernize your Windows Server 2012, Windows Server R2, or Windows Embedded Server 2012 R2 on Azure. This also applies to Azure Stack HCI, Azure Stach Hub, and other Azure products. A new article provides details and step-by-step instructions to extending limited protection for up to three consecutive 12-month increments."

The company is now providing users ample time to transition to Windows Server 2022. Microsoft's Poornima Priyadarshini cited, "If you've already moved to Azure to protect your Windows Server 2012 and R2 workloads, you might be enjoying free Extended Security Updates. If your organization is unable to migrate, you can purchase and seamlessly deploy Windows Server 2012 Extended Security Updates enabled by Azure Arc on premises and in hosted environments without keys, directly from the Azure portal".

The original article continues below.

October is fast approaching, which will mark Microsoft ending its support for Windows Server 2012. This shouldn't be a surprise, as Microsoft had already issued a reminder at the beginning of this year. The statement explains that extended support for all Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 editions is set to end on October 10, 2023.

Windows Server 2012 ended its mainstream support date in 2018. Still, Microsoft decided to carry the date forward to provide users ample time to transition to supported Windows Server versions.

Microsoft will no longer provide security or non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates for these Windows Server versions after October 10. If you continue using these unsupported versions well beyond this point, you'll no longer receive technical support from Microsoft, which may have a negative impact on the stability of any outdated servers.

Windows Server 2008/R2 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) hit its end-of-support date earlier this year, on January 10, 2023.

Advice for server admins

Following this change, Microsoft recommends transitioning to Windows Server 2022 or purchasing Extended Security Updates (ESUs). This will help admins keep their on-premises Windows Server 2012 servers running and ensure that they continue receiving technical support. 

Those who follow the Extended Security Updates route will get three more years of security updates support, renewable every year until October 13, 2026. Alternatively, users can transition their databases and applications to Azure Virtual Machines. This will allow the admins to access free ESUs for three years after the end of the support date.

What you need to know

• Windows 10's market share increased significantly in February 2023.
• The shift in OS usage coincided with many users leaving Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
• PCs that shipped with Windows 7 are unlikely to meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11, which may explain the surge in Windows 10 usage.

Windows 11 may be the newest operating system from Microsoft, but it's far from the most used. Windows 10 has hovered around a 70% market share for well over a year, according to Statcounter (via Neowin). Interestingly, the latest stats showed a large increase in Windows 10 users in February 2023.

Windows 10 market share increased from 68.86% to 73.31% between January and February of this year. That spike brings the operating system to its highest share since June 2022.

Windows 7 market share in February plummeted from 9.55% to 5.33%. Notably, Windows 7 extended support ended in January 2023.

Windows 8.1 saw a significant drop as well, falling from 2.28% to 1.14%. Windows 8.1 also reached end of support in January of this year and will not receive extended support.

With Windows 7 and 8.1 reaching end of support in the same month, it's not surprising to see people move to newer versions of Windows. What may be surprising to some is that many are not shifting to the newest OS from Microsoft.

Windows 11 did see an increase in market share from 18.12% to 19.13% in February, but that's significantly smaller than the gain seen by Windows 10.

While other factors may be at play. Users are likely moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 because their systems do not meet the strict hardware requirements of Windows 11. PCs that originally shipped with Windows 7 are unlikely to have the components necessary to upgrade to Windows 11, such as a TPM 2.0 chip.

Windows 10 will still be supported until October 2025, so anyone running the operating system has a while before worrying about finding a system that can run Windows 11.

What you need to know

• Windows 8.1 officially reached its end of support today.
• The operating system aimed to fix many of the issues introduced with Windows 8 but was ultimately received poorly by general users.
• Those with PCs running Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 for free and Windows 11 if their system meets the minimum requirements of Microsoft's latest operating system.

Today is the final day of support for Windows 8.1. Going forward, the operating system will not receive security updates or other forms of support. Those with systems still running Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Some also have the option to upgrade their PCs to Windows 11, though their computers will have to meet the minimum requirements of the new OS.

Windows 8.1 reached the end of mainstream support on January 9, 2018, but the operating system has now reached the end of extended support as well. Microsoft explained the effects of that cutoff in a support document:

"As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach end of support on January 10, 2023, at which point technical assistance and software updates will no longer be provided. If you have devices running Windows 8.1, we recommend upgrading them to a more current, in-service, and supported Windows release. If devices do not meet the technical requirements to run a more current release of Windows, we recommend that you replace the device with one that supports Windows 11."

Microsoft clarified that it will not offer an Extended Security Update program for Windows 8.1.

Computers running Windows 8.1 will continue to work after today, but they will no longer receive security updates or technical support.

Windows Central take

Windows 8.1 was disliked by many, but the OS had its fans. Many pointed to its tablet-focused features as a strong point and for those that liked Live Tiles, the Start menu was impressive and versatile. Windows 8.1 was the second iteration of a new look that aimed to bring more life to Windows. It didn't exactly work, at least in the eyes of the general public, but at least Microsoft tried.

Windows 8 was such a departure from Windows 7 that it was doomed from the start, pun intended. Forcing tablets, laptops, and desktops into the same interface proved controversial and Microsoft has spent years refining Windows to look good and perform well across different form factors.

I'd argue that elements of Windows 8.1 would have been more loved if they were parts of Windows 10 rather than core aspects of a separate OS. For example, the charms bar and swipe gestures of Windows 8.1's tablet mode were ahead of what Windows 11 and Windows 10 have to offer in some ways. 

What you need to know

• Microsoft Edge and WebView2 will reach end of support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 in January 2023.
• Microsoft Edge version 109 and WebView2 Runtime version 109 will be the final respective versions to support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
• Edge 109 and WebView2 Runtime 109 will ship on January 12, 2023, which is two days after Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 reach end of support.

Microsoft announced the end of support date for Edge on both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Since those older operating systems will reach end of support in January 2023, it makes sense that Microsoft would cut off support for its browser running on those operating systems. Google is also ending support for Chrome on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, so people looking to browse the web will want to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Microsoft Edge version 109 and WebView2 Runtime version 109 will be the last respective versions to support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Those are both currently scheduled to ship on January 12, 2023, which is just two days after Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 reach end of support.

The timeline was shared by Microsoft in a recent blog post:

"This end of support timeline applies to both the Evergreen and Fixed versions of the WebView2 Runtime.

Previously installed Evergreen WebView2 Runtimes will update as normal to version 109 but will not continue updating after that. After end of support, future attempts to install the Evergreen WebView2 Runtime on Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 will install version 109.

Fixed versions of the WebView2 Runtime higher than 109 will fail to start on Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 and should not be used on those operating systems."

To continue to receive support, people should upgrade their system to Windows 10 or later. Windows 10 will still be supported until 2025, so people don't need to jump all the way to Windows 11 yet.

What you need to know

• Windows 8.1 reaches end of support on January 10, 2023.
• Following a recent update, PCs running Windows 8.1 will show a full-screen warning about Windows 8.1's impending support cutoff date.
• Microsoft recommends that people upgrade their PCs to a supported OS or purchase a machine that is compatible with a supported version of Windows.

Windows 8.1 is far in the rearview mirror of most PC users. Fewer than 3% of Windows PCs run the older operating system, according to Statcounter. Windows 8.1 reaches its end of support on January 10, 2023, giving any holdovers roughly half a year to update to a more modern version of Windows. Following a recent cumulative update, systems running Windows 8.1 will show a full-screen alert about the upcoming end-of-support date.

"January 10, 2023 is the last day Microsoft will offer security updates and technical support for PCs that run Windows 8.1. We are reaching out now to thank you for your loyalty and help you prepare for what's next," states the warning (via BleepingComputer).

Users can elect to be reminded in 35 days or when Windows 8.1 reaches its end of support.

Windows 8.1 reached its end of mainstream support on January 9, 2018, but extended support has been available since then. On January 10, 2023, Microsoft will end all support for the out-of-date operating system.

"As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach the end of support on January 10, 2023. After this date, this product will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates," states a Microsoft support document.

"If devices do not meet the technical requirements to run a more current release of Windows, Microsoft recommends replacing the device with one that supports Windows 11."

Microsoft also has a dedicated webpage to the end of support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

What you need to know

• Microsoft will soon start warning Windows 8.1 users that support is ending
• The warnings will consist of popups that the user can dismiss.
• Windows 8.1 support ends in January 2023.

Windows 8.1's life support cycle is coming to an end very soon. Starting shortly, Microsoft will begin warning users who are still running Windows 8.1 that the OS they're using will be out of support in less than six months. Additionally, Microsoft has already pulled support for many apps on Windows 8.1, including the entire Microsoft 365 suite of applications.

Microsoft recommends users who are still running Windows 8.1 to go out and buy a new PC with Windows 11 pre-installed. The company notes that most (if not all) PCs that shipped with Windows 8.x won't officially support Windows 11 due to its CPU requirements being so strict. 

Alternatively, Microsoft says that users could pay for an upgrade to Windows 10 that will tide them over until 2025, which is when support for Windows 10 is set to expire. We should note that the upgrade to Windows 10 is technically still free, and will automatically activate if you apply the upgrade to a Windows 8.1 device.

Once Windows 8.1 support comes to an end, PCs with Windows 8.1 installed won't just stop working. Users will be able to continue using the OS, but Microsoft will no longer service the product with security updates or bug fixes, and users won't be able to call Microsoft for technical support if required.

Microsoft is set to drop support for its Windows 8.1 MSN apps next month. In a message spotted by Twitter user Brawl345 (via Dr Windows), Microsoft has begun alerting users, through messages in MSN News and MSN Weather, that the apps will be discontinued as of June 3, 2019.

The alert reads (translated from German):

Given that Microsoft's focus is now on the Microsoft News and Weather apps for Windows 10, it's not entirely surprising to see that the Windows 8.1 apps will be discontinued soon.

Microsoft has already stopped accepting new app submissions for Windows 8 and 8.1, and it is set to stop distributing app updates to Windows 8 as of July 1, according to a blog post from last August. The same fate awaits app updates for Windows 8.1 devices starting July 1, 2023.

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Microsoft has announced that it will soon add support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Previously only available as a threat-detection service for Windows 10, Windows Defender ATP will support Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) functionality on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices.

Windows Defender ATP is expected to be available for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 starting this summer, but a public preview will be available starting this spring. However, Windows Defender ATP will onyl be available for Windows 7 and 8.1 for customers who are in the process of moving to Windows 10. The goal, Microsoft says, is to give security teams a way to keep an eye on all of their systems even if some are still waiting to be upgraded.

According to Microsoft, Windows Defender ATP can be run alongside third-party antivirus solutions, but the company recommends using it alongside Windows Defender Antivirus.

As businesses continue their Migration to Windows 10, the expansion of Windows Defender ATP to Windows 7 and 8.1 is sure to be welcome. The move should make the transition simpler by providing administrators with a single point to keep an eye on security threats across their environment. This also comes jsut a few months after Microsoft announced that Windows Defender ATP will soon be able to monitor threats across macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Windows 7 and 8.1 users are open to a newly discovered bug that allows websites to crash their machines with little effort. Initially reported by Ars Technica, the bug is being described as a throwback to the Windows 95 and 98 era due to the way it takes advantage of special file names to cause the crash — something that occurred in a slightly different manner at the time.

The main thrust of the issue lies in the filename $MFT, the name of a hidden metadata file used in the NTFS filesystem. Essentially, if a bad actor uses $MFT as a directory name on a website, a browser trying to load a file in that directory will cause the PC to hang. Ars Technica explains:

With the fallout from this month's massive WannaCry ransomware attack still settling, the timing of this particular bug's discovery is likely to cause some extra concern. Microsoft has already been informed of the issue, but it's unclear when a potential fix may be rolled out.

If you're hoping to start running Windows 7 or 8.1 on a shiny new AMD Ryzen or Intel Kaby Lake processor, you might want to rethink those plans. According to a report by ZDNet, Microsoft has started blocking updates to Windows 7 and 8.1 machines using either of AMD or Intel's latest chips, following through on plans it announced over a year ago.

As noted by ZDNet, those trying to install the latest cumulative updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 on the newer hardware were greeted with this message:

A support article on the issue reinforces plans that Microsoft announced last January, noting that Windows 10 is the only supported version of windows on Intel 7th-generation processors, AMD "Bristol Ridge" (Ryzen), and Qualcomm's "8996" series. This was also originally intended to target Intel's 6th-gen Skylake processors, but Microsoft later made an exception for supported systems.

If you have a Windows 7 or 8.1 machine on older hardware, you should be unaffected and continue to receive updates through each OS's support end date of January 14, 2020 and January 10, 2023, respectively. As for anyone trying to run the older OS versions on newer hardware, it looks like your only choice is to make the jump to Windows 10.

Starting with Windows 8, your Microsoft Account carries a lot of data that Windows uses to personalize and make switching between devices easier. Things such as your wallpaper, accent color, saved passwords, bookmarks and a whole lot more are saved to the Microsoft cloud for syncing between devices whenever you sign into a new Windows PC.

This functionality is still apart of Windows even today with Windows 10, and up until recently users could go and delete that data from the cloud if they wished to do so. The webpage that allowed users to delete sync data from the cloud has been down for several days now, causing problems for many users looking to clear sync data from their Microsoft Account.

This tool was most handy when wanting to reset your Microsoft Account back to defaults, if you didn't want Windows to continue syncing old bookmarks, passwords and wallpapers. I used this tool very often when clean installing Windows, as it meant I could login to my new Windows 10 install without having my Microsoft Account sync a load of data that I didn't want it to.

You can attempt to access the tool at this link. We asked Microsoft what's going on with the tool, and if it would be back. Here's what they said:

So in short, Microsoft hasn't yet told us why the webpage is down, and it's not clear when it'll be back online. We're hoping it'll be back sooner rather than later, as I'm sure many users are gearing up to clean install the Windows 10 Creators Update and would like to be able to start afresh with their Microsoft Account at the same time by deleting sync data from the cloud. We'll update this post once we know more.

Microsoft has officially stopped selling licenses for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to PC manufacturers. With this move, partners like Dell and HP will no longer be able to sell new PCs running either previous version on Windows, having instead moved fully to selling PCs pre-loaded Windows 10.

The end date for sales to OEM partners has been known for a while, having been listed on Microsoft's Windows lifecycle page (via VentureBeat). While Microsoft had previously ceased selling licenses for Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate to manufacturers in 2014, Windows 7 Professional continued to be available alongside Windows 8.1.

It should be noted that mainstream support — which includes patches for vulnerabilities and the like — for Windows 8.1 is still set to continue through January 9 2018, while mainstream support for Windows 7 ended in January of 2015.

In any case, if you're planning to buy a PC in the near future, it's now a near certainty that it will be packing Windows 10.

According to the September 2016 PC operating system market share figures from Net Applications, the share held by Windows 10 actually went down slightly that month.

In August 2016, the first month after Microsoft ended its offer to let consumers update their old PC to Windows 10 for free, its market share was 22.99%. The numbers for September 2016 from Net Applications show that share dropped to 22.53%. While that is a tiny decrease, it's still a bit surprising, especially since there is evidence that Microsoft is still allowing owners of Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs to update to Windows 10 for free even if the offer has officially stopped.

Windows 7 stayed in first place in September's OS market share numbers with 48.27%, up from 47.25% in August. Windows 10 is in second place, and Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, still remains in third place with 9.11%, down from 9.36% in August. Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 7.83%, down from 7.92% in August. Windows 8, which Microsoft also no longer supports, had a PC OS share of 1.78% down from 1.82% in August.

In September, Microsoft stated that versions of Windows 10 were running on over 400 million active devices a month. However, the company did not break down how many of those devices were Windows 10 PCs and tablets.

Microsoft is rolling out an update today to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PC users, which finally gets rid of the "Get Windows 10" app that was encouraging those people to download the free update to the OS until July 29.

While the notifications from that app finally stopped after the official "free upgrade" deadline passed on July 29, Microsoft pushed out an update today to Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs with the support number KB3184143 (via ZDNet). The description states:

The "Get Windows 10" app has been the source of some controversy for Microsoft, with many Windows 7 and 8.1 users complaining that the app was trying too hard to make them upgrade to Windows 10.

While officially, the free upgrade offer has ended, there is evidence that people with valid Windows 7 and 8.1 keys can still get Windows 10 for free, which could mean Microsoft is giving those users a bit longer to make their decision. Also, Microsoft is giving people who use assistive technology on their PCs a way to get the free upgrade to Windows 10 for an indefinite period of time.

Windows 10 was used by 22.99% of all PCs worldwide in August 2016, according to the latest data from Net Applications. That's yet another big month-to-month increase compared to 21.13% in July, June's 19.14% and May's 18.43% share for the OS.

This large market share rise for Windows 10 comes even as Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 7 and 8.1 PC owners officially ended in late July, although the free offer is still available for PC owners who use assistive technologies.

The new PC OS market share numbers showed Windows 7 staying in first place with 47.25% in August, which is actually up slightly from 47.01% in July. Windows 10 is in second place, and Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, still remains in third place with 9.36% in August, down from 10.34% in July.

Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 7.92% in August, up slightly from 7.80% in July. Windows 8, which Microsoft also no longer supports, had a PC OS share of 1.82% in August, down from 2.09% in July.

Microsoft has announced that it will be shifting to monthly rollup updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8 as of October 2016. The company also announced that this monthly patch model would apply to Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 as well.

In simple terms, this change means that what would have been delivered as multiple individual patches before will now be rolled out once a month in a single package. According to Microsoft's explanation, this should reduce fragmentation brought about by the current model, through which different PCs could have different sets of updates installed.

The new model also has the added benefit of always only requiring one update to be downloaded. Microsoft explains:

Microsoft also notes that its goal is for the updates to become eventually "fully cumulative," containing all of the patches shipped "since the last baseline." That process will take place over the course of the next year. In a broader sense, this could be seen as direct a move by Microsoft to push those organizations still on an older OS towards upgrading by removing the unique ability to cherry-pick updates.

Lastly, Microsoft says that it will also push a monthly "Security-only" update that will only contain security patches for that month. This will be released separately from Windows Update via WSUS, SCCM, and the Microsoft Update Catalog.

A new report revealed that London's Metropolitan Police still has 27,000 of its PCs running Windows XP. Microsoft officially ended support for the OS over two years ago to the general public.

According to the BBC (via Neowin), the "Met" signed a special agreement with Microsoft that allows the department to keep getting support and updates for their many Windows XP PCs. That agreement, which cost the Met and London taxpayers £1.65 million, is due to end in April 2017.

The force will be updating 6,000 Windows XP PCs by the end of September, but only to Windows 8.1. London Assembly member Andrew Boff says he would like to see the Met move to the current version of the OS.

Even though official support for Windows XP ended in April 2014, the latest OS market share numbers from Net Applications showed that it is still being used by 10.34% of all PCs worldwide.

Windows 10 was used by 19.14% of all PCs worldwide in June 2016, according to the latest data from Net Applications. That's another big month-to-month increase compared to May's 18.43% and April's 14.35% share for the OS.

The new PC OS market share numbers showed Windows 7 on top with 49.05% in June, which is actually up compared to 48.57% in May. Windows 10 is in second place, and Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, remains in third place with 9.78% in June, down from 10.09% in May. Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 8.01% in June, down from 8.77% in May.

Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 was in active use by over 350 million devices since it officially launched in late July 2015. The company will release a free Anniversary Update for the OS on August 2 with a number of new features and improvements. However, consumers who still have Windows 7 or 8.1 on their PCs have less than a month to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer to Windows 10. It will end on July 29 and after that date they will have to pay $119 to get a copy of Windows 10 Home.

Businesses with PCs that have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 installed can check out some improvements in today's cumulative updates for those operating systems. The changes are specifically for users of the Internet Explorer 11 browser.

In a blog post, Microsoft stated:

Windows 10 was used by 17.43% of all PCs worldwide in May 2016, according to the latest data from Net Applications. That's a big increase compared to April's 14.35% share for the OS.

The new PC OS market share numbers showed Windows 7 on top with 48.57% in May, a slight drop from 48.79% in April. Windows 10 is in second place, and Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, remains in third place with 10.09% in May. That's actually higher than its 9.66% share in April. Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 8.77% in May, down from 9.16% in April.

Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 was in active use by over 300 million devices since it officially launched in late July 2015. The company will release a free Anniversary Update for the OS sometime later this summer with a number of new features and improvements. However, consumers who still have Windows 7 or 8.1 on their PCs have less than two months to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer to Windows 10. It will end on July 29 and after that date they will have to pay $119 to get a copy of Windows 10 Home.

Microsoft has announced that from now on, non-security patches for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be released in one rollup update that will be issued monthly.

Microsoft said this will also apply for updates to Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2:

Windows 7 SP1 users can now also download a new convenience rollup update that contains all of the security and non-security patches released since the release of the service pack until April 2016:

Finally, Microsoft has announced that in the next few months, updates for all versions of Windows will no longer be available in the Microsoft Download Center:

Windows 10 was used by 14.35% of all PCs worldwide in April 2016, according to the latest data from Net Applications. Meanwhile, the share held by Windows 7 dropped below the 50% mark.

The newly posted market share numbers showed that while Windows 7 remains at the top of the OS chain, it's share dropped to 48.79% in April, well below its 51.89% share in March. Windows 10 is in second place, but only made a slight gain in April with 14.35%, compared to 14.15% in March.

Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, remains in third place with 9.66% in April, compared to 10.90% in March. Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 9.16%, down from 9.56% in March.

Microsoft stated in late March that Windows 10 was in active use by over 270 million devices since it officially launched in late July 2015. The company will release a free Anniversary Update for the OS sometime later this summer. Meanwhile, consumers who own Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs have less than three months to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10; it will expire on July 29.

The worldwide install base on Windows 10 for the PC continued its steady climb. The latest numbers from Net Applications show Microsoft's latest OS was used by 14.15% of all PCs worldwide in March 2016. That puts it in second place on the list and shows a rise of over a full percentage point compared to February 2016, where it had a 12.82% market share.

The market share numbers continue to show that Windows 7 remains at the top of the OS chain, with a 51.89% share in March, but that's down compared to its 52.34% share in February. Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, remains in third place with 10.90% in March, down from 11.24% in February. Windows 8.1 is in fourth place with 9.56% in March, down from 9.83% in February.

This week, Microsoft stated that Windows 10 was in active use by over 270 million devices since it officially launched in late July 2015. The company will release a free Anniversary Update for the OS sometime later this summer.

As promised last week, Microsoft has now issued the first official list of PCs that have Intel's six-generation Core processors, also known as "Skylake", that will support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 until July 17, 2017. After that date, those PCs must be updated to Windows 10 to continue receiving OS support.

The list of over 100 supported Skylake PCs are being made by four PC OEMs: Dell, HP. Lenovo and NEC. Microsoft says it will update this list with new OEMs on a regular basis, and each PC maker will also update its list of supported Skylake PCs.

As previously announced, Microsoft is making this move primarily for its business customers, who might need some extra time in updating their apps orPC systems for Windows 10. Microsoft's Windows and Devices head Terry Myerson said at the time:

As far as future processors beyond Skylake, Myerson said last week:

Source: Microsoft

While a number of business and enterprise organizations are upgrading their PCs to Windows 10, Microsoft is also offerings customers who may not be ready to update a way to get new PCs with Intel's sixth-generation Skylake chips that can run on the older Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 operating systems.

Microsoft's Windows and Devices head Terry Myerson explained why Microsoft is making this move, stating that it knows many businesses continue to use Windows 7 based on its reliability and compatibility with older apps and systems:

Microsoft plans to release a list of PCs with Skylake processors that will officially support Windows 7 and 8.1 for those businesses:

Myerson also offered an update on its support dates and policies for Windows 7, 8.1 and 10:

• "Windows 7 will continue to be supported for security, reliability, and compatibility through January 14, 2020 on previous generation silicon. Windows 8.1 will receive the same support through January 10, 2023. This includes most of the devices available for purchase today by consumers or enterprises.
• Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support. This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon. For example, Windows 10 will be the only supported Windows platform on Intel's upcoming "Kaby Lake" silicon, Qualcomm's upcoming "8996" silicon, and AMD's upcoming "Bristol Ridge" silicon.
• Through July 17, 2017, Skylake devices on the supported list will also be supported with Windows 7 and 8.1. During the 18-month support period, these systems should be upgraded to Windows 10 to continue receiving support after the period ends. After July 2017, the most critical Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 security updates will be addressed for these configurations, and will be released if the update does not risk the reliability or compatibility of the Windows 7/8.1 platform on other devices.

Source: Microsoft

There is no doubt that Microsoft eagerly wants you to upgrade your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 machine to Windows 10. With the goal of reaching 1 billion devices running the new operating system within the first two to three years, the company began its campaign to push Windows 10 to the masses using its "Get Windows 10" app before the OS had even launched.

Initially, the prompts on older Windows machines weren't very intrusive, but over time, Microsoft has updated its "Get Windows 10" (GWX) app to be more aggressive trying to convince you to upgrade your computer to Windows 10. As such, if you're not yet on board with the Windows 10 train, you probably want to stop those nagging alerts.

Thankfully, we also have a free tool called GWX Control Panel to help you control Microsoft's approach to upgrading to Windows 10.

GWX Control Panel offers some options to help control your Windows 10 upgrade. For example, it can help you remove the "Get Windows 10" icon that sits in the notification area, and you can prevent Windows Update from downloading and installing the new operating system. It can also detect and remove the installation files if they have already been downloaded on your computer. You can activate a monitor to alert you on future Windows 10-related settings changes, and optionally, it can delete some program files that are known to cause your computer to upgrade to Windows 10.

Protecting your system from the Windows 10 upgrade

In the steps below, we'll walk you through the process to prevent the upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 while putting a stop to the "Get Windows 10" app.

Warning: Before proceeding it's important to note that while GWX Control Panel has worked for many users, it's a third-party tool that is offered "AS IS" without warranty. As such, it's always recommended that you perform a full back of your computer before modifying anything in case you need a way to recover. Download and use the software at your own risk.

1. Visit the Ultimate Outsider web page and click GWX Control Panel link to download the tool. (Also note that site offers a stand-alone version of the tool if you don't feel comfortable installing the third-party software.)
2. Once the download completes, double-click the GWXControlPanelSetup.exe, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

3. Right-click the GWX Control Panel icon sitting on the Desktop and select Run as Administrator, read carefully, accept the End User License Agreement, and click Continue to install the tool.

4. You will now be presented with the tool. You will see that GWX Control Panel shows various pieces of useful information, including whether or not the Windows 10 installation files are already downloaded on your system, if your PC is currently set to allow the Windows 10 upgrade, and status of the "Get Windows 10" app, among other pieces of information. Then GWX Control Panel offers many different options to combat the upgrade, including:
   • Delete "Get Windows 10" app: Removes the "Get Windows 10" icon from the Taskbar in the notification area.
   • Delete Windows 10 Download Folders: Deletes any downloaded Windows 10 installation files to free-up space.
   • Prevent Automatic Windows 10 upgrades: Changes your system settings to block Windows 10 upgrades.
   • Delete Windows 10 Programs: Removes the program files that will get your computer ready for Windows 10.
   • Enable Monitor Mode: Installs a monitor process that will alert you if any settings modifications are made to your system regarding Windows 10.
   • Delete Windows 10 Programs: This is perhaps the only option you cannot undo using the free tool. If you are sure that you want to delete all Windows 10-related programs and settings, make sure to understand that you will have to download manually the Windows 10 installation files using the Media Creation Tool to do the upgrade.
   As you can see, you can configure various settings for this tool, but you only need to click and enable the Delete "Get Windows 10" app and Prevent Automatic Windows 10 upgrades to stop the annoying GWX app and protect your computer from automatically upgrading to Windows 10.

It's important to point out that once you set the new configuration settings on your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 machine, you will need to close and reopen GWX Control Panel to revert any of the changes.

In the tool, you will also notice the Clear Windows Update Cache option. This option is there to help you in case there are still some Windows Update issues after using the "Prevent Windows 10 Upgrades" feature. You can click the button to get more information about the feature and to proceed to clear the Windows Update cache.

While Microsoft has made available more information on how to opt-out the Windows 10 free upgrade, GWX Control Panel has been designed to be a simple tool that anyone can use. Furthermore, non-technical users can benefit from this tool as they can easily control the Windows 10 upgrade without having to modify manually Group Policy settings or any entry in the Windows Registry, which can go catastrophically wrong if you don't make changes correctly.

Also, GWX Control Panel allows you to revert (almost) any change you apply to your computer. This ability means that if you don't want to upgrade to Windows 10 today, in the future, when you feel the operating system is good enough, you can undo the changes and proceed to upgrade your PC. Finally, if you come across any issues using this tool, you can refer to the GWX Control Panel troubleshooting guide at the official site.

Keep in mind that we're not saying you shouldn't install the new operating system. Microsoft has done a tremendous work with Windows 10 by making it more secure than Windows 7, addressing users complaints with Windows 8.x, and adding many new features and changes. However, many users may have their own valid reasons to skip the upgrade, and they should have an easy way to stay in their current version.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft's marketing methods to push Windows 10 to the masses? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

If you don't feel comfortable installing a third-party tool to modify settings in your system, we have also published Microsoft's recommended instructions to permanently disable the "Get Windows 10" app and stop the Windows 10 upgrade through Windows Update using the Registry and Group Policy. You can find all the steps here.

More resources

For more tips and tricks on Windows 10, and get the latest news, you can visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks

Microsoft has ceased support for Windows 8, with today's Patch Tuesday delivering the last batch of security fixes for the operating system. Operating systems get a support lifecycle of ten years, but Microsoft has deemed that Windows 8.1 is a service pack to Windows 8. You can defer installation of service packs by two years, but after that, you'll either have to upgrade or run the risk of not receiving updates.

After today, those on Windows 8 will have to upgrade to either Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to continue getting security updates from Microsoft.

Says Microsoft:

The Extended Support cycle for Windows 8.1 lasts until January 10, 2023, with Windows 10 extending that date to October 14, 2025.

If you're running Windows 8, you can make the switch to Windows 8.1 with ease. Make sure you have 4GB of free disk space to install the update, then head to the Windows Store to download the Windows 8.1 update. Once you click on the download button, the update starts downloading and installing automatically in the background, requiring no intervention from your side.

If you're interested in upgrading to Windows 10 after making the switch to 8.1, all you need to do is download the install tool, select the version of Windows 10 you want to install (32- or 64-bit), and run the installer.

Source: Microsoft; Via: ZDNet

If you are using Windows 7, but are also still using Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10 as your main web browser, Microsoft wants to let you know that you should really switch over to IE 11. The company has revealed it will be sending notifications to those users on Tuesday, January 12 to upgrade to IE 11.

The notifications are part of Microsoft's previously announced plans to end support for IE 8, 9 and 10 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 on January 12. If you are still using Windows Vista, IE 9 will continue to be supported until official support for Vista itself ends in mid-2017. Business and enterprise users who really want to keep using the older browsers can get rid of the notifications to upgrade via a registry change.

Windows 10 users still have IE 11 for backwards compatibility with older web apps, but Microsoft seems determined to slowly end the IE brand in favor of its new Microsoft Edge browser which was introduced with Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile.

Source: Microsoft; Via: The Next Web

Haier has launched two budget Windows 8.1 tablets at CES 2016. First up is the HaierPad W800, which offers an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1GB of RAM, Intel's quad-core 1.8GHz Bay Trail T CPU, 16GB storage, microSD slot, 2MP camera at the back, 0.3MP front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, micro-HDMI, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and a 4000mAh battery. Buying the will give you one year's worth of Office 365 for free.

Then there's the HaierPad W203, which offers a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, 2GB of RAM, quad-core 1.33GHz Intel Z3735F CPU, 16GB storage, microSD slot, 2MP front and rear shooters, micro-HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and an 8000mAh battery. A stylus is integrated with the device, allowing you to quickly jot down notes.

Not the most powerful hardware around, but if you're looking for budget tablets, Haier's offerings seem like a decent choice. No word as yet on pricing or availability in the U.S. market, but we'll let you know once we hear more.

Windows 10 increased its share of the total worldwide PC operating system market to 9.96% during December 2015. It shows a steady adoption rate compared to 9% in November, 7.94% in October and 6.63% in September 2015. The numbers were revealed today by research firm Net Applications, who monitors operating system usage from tens of thousands of websites.

Although its share keeps going up, Windows 10 is still in fourth place among all PC operating systems worldwide, according to Net Applications. Windows 7 still has a solid lock on the number one spot with 56.65% in December, up from 56.11% in November and its 55.77% share in October. Windows XP, which Microsoft no longer supports, was listed in second in December with 10.93% up slightly from November with 10.58%, but down from 11.68% in October. Windows 8.1 was third with 10.30% in December, down from 11.15% in November.

Microsoft's last official update on Windows 10 was nearly three months ago in early October, when it said it had been installed on over 110 million PCs and tablets in the first three months since it launched. It's likely that number is much higher now. A more recent, but unconfirmed, report claims Windows 10 has now been installed on over 200 million devices.

Source: Net Applications

If you are running a PC with either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you have already seen the prompts to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Now Microsoft is pushing even harder for those users to upgrade to the latest OS with new messages that, on the surface at least, don't appear to offer much in the way of options.

As noted by PC World, at least some users who click on the Windows 10 upgrade icon on the taskbar are seeing messages that show either an "Upgrade Now" or a "Download now, upgrade later" button. Windows 7 and 8.1 users can still simply click on the close window button to banish the prompt back to the taskbar, but Microsoft's message is clear: It really, really wants those people to upgrade to Windows 10.

In October, Microsoft's Windows and Devices head Terry Myerson stated that the Windows Update feature in Windows 7 and 8.1 would begin to label the Windows 10 download as an "Optional Update". In early 2016, that label will change to a "Recommended Update". He added:

If users have a metered connection to the Internet, Myerson indicated they would have the option of turning off the automatic updates, but added that that in those cases users should manually check Windows Update on a frequent basis.

Source: PCWorld

Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PC gamers can now play games with the Xbox One controller wirelessly. Microsoft has revealed the previously released Xbox Wireless Adapter, which only supported Windows 10 PCs when it was first launched, now supports the two older Windows operating systems as well.

The news was revealed by Microsoft's Xbox Live programming head Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb via his Twitter feed. Hryb didn't mention how this new support was added, but we would assume it's via a firmware update for the adapter. In any case, this should open up the Xbox Wireless Adapter to a much bigger audience of PC gamers who have yet to make the upgrade to Windows 10.

Buy the Xbox Wireless Adapter at Amazon

Source: Larry Hryb (Twitter)

Microsoft has rolled out an update to those on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2012 R2, making it easier for those on the older operating systems to switch to Windows 10.

The optional update — available as KB3112336 on Windows 8.1 and KB3112343 for Windows 7 users — adds improvements to the Windows Update Client, ensuring a smoother transition to Microsoft's latest offering. From Microsoft:

If you've faced issues with upgrading to Windows 10 before, grab the update from Windows Update and let us know if you're able to switch to Windows 10.

Source: Microsoft (KB3112343), (KB3112336); Via: WinBeta

After a few months of waiting, developer AgileBits has released a new alpha release of its password storage and management 1Password as a universal app for Windows 10. With this release of this new version, it is officially ditching support for Windows 8.1 devices.

Here's the rather long change log for the new update, which has the version number of 1.1511.22.

• Password for Teams (https://teams.1password.com/) support
• bugs, many bugs are squashed and removed. And yet, we believe there are many things we can (should and will) improve in the coming updates. Please have backups of your critical data when you play with edit and don't hesitate to write to support or ask in forums https://discussions.agilebits.com/categories/windows-modern-beta for help or to let us know that something isn't working well (even when it's obvious).
• Lots of changes done and more on the way, we are coming back to "release often" life style
• items can be edited and saved in .opvault format (not synced yet, we are working on it)
• items can be edited in .agilekeychanin format, but save disabled until we finish all tests
• vaults selector is also the place to manage your connections to OneDrive, Dropbox, Folders and Teams
• all open connections and vaults information is encrypted and stored in roaming profile. That's right, you just connect on one device and other Windows 10 devices, using the same Microsoft account, will have your connections shortly. Roaming speed depends on multiple factors and managed by Windows 10 itself. If you do not see connections appearing right away, give it a little time or try to force roaming profile sync by locking Windows user.
• master key protected is stored in Password Vault protected by master password (hit Windows key and type "Web Credentials" to find it, look for op:// resource). Every 1Password for Windows Modern app is reacting to change of master password by locking itself as soon as changes are detected in Password Vault.
• long awaited search of vaults everywhere in OneDrive, just like we did it with Dropbox. No more app folder requirement ;)
• settings button is now using a flyout menu instead of inline UI
• "Scan control code" command in Settings menu to use your device's camera to control 1Password (our support may send you some QR codes to get the job done) or you can use it to scan Emergency Kit from * * * * 1Password for Teams to quickly regain access to your team!
• current activities renamed to live log
• you can now copy, save to file or send email with live log
• you can now send email with crashes or open folder with crash reports. We hope you don't need that, but we know there will be bugs and crashes and we want to get them fixed as soon as possible.
• vault title and icon are part of nav button now
• removed duplicate username/password fields from login items
• advanced options are gone, they are replaced with special links and QR codes
• use op://reset in your browser or in Run dialog (Windows+R key) or type "start op://reset" in command line to initiate total wipe of application roaming and local settings and folders. You master password will not be erased, this can be done manually only at Windows Credential Manager. Note, that data on Teams, OneDrive, Dropbox or user folders is not erased or affected, to access it again you will have to open connections and vaults again. (and please, dont try to spam your friends with op://reset links - we do ask Master Password and seek cofirmation from user before we bring destruction ;)
• recognize database item type from .agilekeychain
• startup speed and speed of vaults opening are improved
• vaults refresh progress indicators are added

Thanks to MikeSo for the tip!

Download 1Passworld Alpha for Windows 10/Windows 10 Mobile

Source: AgileBits

On September 15, Microsoft quietly began rolling out the third and last major update for its Windows RT operating system. As we have been expecting, Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 brings the new Start menu and a few other improvements to the now retired OS.

The update KB3033055 is available now through Windows Update for every Windows RT devices, which mainly will include Surface RT, Surface 2, and the Nokia Lumia 2520.

The new Start menu was designed to replace the Start screen and still be able to access all your Windows RT 8.1 apps.

The Windows RT Start menu looks similar, but it's not identical to the Start menu you will find on Windows 10. As you can see in the images, the menu looks more like the one in Windows 7.

If you look closely, you will notice that the Start menu actually looks pretty similar to the menu Microsoft showed off at the Build conference in 2014 when we were expecting to see the new Start menu follow the Windows 8.1 Update. It never happened and it looks identical to the Start menu design that appeared on early builds of Windows 10 Insider Preview.

There is a good reason Windows RT is getting this version of the Start menu. The Start menu we see today on Windows 10 was written on XAML and it uses new API's which are not found in Windows 8.

Let's see more details and how to set up the new menu:

Getting the new Start menu

Getting the new Start menu involves making sure you install update KB3033055. If you don't see the update, make sure to check the Optional update section, install the update, and you are good to go.

Enabling and disabling the Windows RT Start menu

Microsoft isn't replacing the Start screen by default, as such once you have installed Windows RT 8.1 Update 3:

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and click Properties.
2. Navigate to the Start menu tab.
3. Make sure you check the option Use the Start menu instead of the Start screen. If you want to go back to the Start screen, you will need to reverse this step by clearing the Use the Start menu instead of the Start screen check box.
4. Click OK to save the changes.
5. Finally, you'll be prompted to sign out and sign back in to complete the process. Go ahead and sign out and in again to enable the Start menu.

Understanding the sections of the Start menu

Once you have disabled the Start screen, clicking the Start button will reveal the new Start menu. The new menu for Windows RT 8.1 includes six main sections:

Image credit Microsoft

Header (1): Here's where you'll see your profile picture and name, and you'll have access to the Power button options.

Pinned List (2): Like in Windows 7, this area is where you'll see all your pinned applications (traditional and modern apps) with Jump List support.

Most Frequently Used Applications lists (3): As you use applications, the once you use the most will be listed here.

All Apps (4): Similar to Windows 10, this button will get you access to all the applications installed in your system.

Search text box (5): While Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 doesn't bring Cortana to the operating system, you will get a traditional search box to look for files, folders, applications, and settings just like in Windows 7.

App grid (6): The App grid is your Windows 8 tiles section. In this area, you can easily pin Windows RT and supported traditional apps.

Managing apps on either side of the menu

Managing the Start menu on Windows RT is as easy and familiar like in Windows 7 or Windows 10:

To pin or unpin apps to the App grid:

1. Find the app that you want to pin to the App grid in the "All apps" list, do a search, or select and app from the "Most Frequently Used" list.
2. Press and hold (or right-click with your mouse) the apps and simply select Pin to Start.
3. Unpinning is as easy, simply press and hold or right-click the app with the mouse, and select Unpin from Start.

To pin or unpin apps to the Pinned List:

1. Find the app that you want to pin to the App grid in the "All apps" list, do a search, or select and app from the "Most Frequently Used" list.
2. You can drag your apps directly to the Pinned List, or you can hold down the Shift key, press and hold (or right-click with your mouse), and select Pin to Start list.
3. Unpinning is as easy, simply press and hold or right-click the app with the mouse from the Pinned List, and select Remove from this list.

App pinning to the "Most Frequently Used" list happens automatically as you use apps in Windows RT 8.1, but if there is ever app you don't want to see listed, simply press and hold, or right-click, the apps and select Remove from this list.

Remember that you're not upgrading to a new operating system, you're still running Windows RT 8.1. As such, the app tiles that you pin to the "App grid" also support different sizes, which means that you can press and hold a tile and choose one of the supported sizes (small, medium, wide, and large).

The Start menu included with Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 also allows you to rearrange apps on the App grid, Pinned List, and Most Frequently Used list. Simply find the app you want to relocate and drag it to the location you want. Also, you can drag apps between these areas.

Here're a few things worth noting

In case the apps you pin exceed the viewing area, the Start menu will provide a scroll bar to access all the apps. Also, any apps that are pinned to the Taskbar, Pinned List, or App grid won't appear in the Most Frequently Used list. Any apps you removed from this list will no longer appear.

As you know, Windows 8.x comes with two versions of Internet Explorer (desktop and modern). Now that Microsoft is changing how things work on Windows RT, it's important to know that depending from where you're launching the web browser you'll get a different version.

If you pin Internet Explorer to the Taskbar, Most Frequently Used list, or Pinned List, then the desktop version of the IE will open. Now, if you pinned the browser to the "App grid" and you click this tile, and then you will open the modern version of Internet Explorer.

Also, Windows Store apps that need to open a web page in the browser will use the modern version of Internet Explorer.

If you want to change this behavior, head over Control Panel, open Internet Options, navigate to the Programs tab, and change the settings under Opening Internet Explorer area.

Wrapping things up

Without a doubt, this is a welcome addition to the operating system and more now that Microsoft has announced that devices running Windows RT won't upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 10 Mobile. The downside is that unlike Continuum for Windows 10, you're required to sign out and sign back in to switch between the Start menu and the Start screen, which could be a little problematic when removing the keyboard from the tablet. You'll be forced to close all running applications.

While the new Start menu doesn't have the same design as the menu in Windows 10, it's still a great design, and in many cases users will feel even more comfortable using this menu.

Do you own a Windows RT device? Are planning to switch to the new Start menu? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Images credit @teroalhonen

AT&T has been selling the Surface 3 LTE tablet to consumers for over a month now, but the carrier announced it will offer a version of the 10.8-inch device to its business customers soon. However, the tablet will come with Windows 8.1 Pro installed, and not Windows 10.

AT&T does say that the tablet can be upgraded later to Windows 10, but it still seems a little odd that their Surface 3 LTE still comes with Windows 8.1 preinstalled. AT&T will sell the Surface 3 LTE with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage to business customers There's no word on when it will be made available to purchase, but AT&T will sell it for $649.99 with a two-year contract or $749.99 without a contract.

Source: AT&T

After a few tries, Microsoft hit the nail on the head with the Surface Pro 3. Today, the tablet that can replace your laptop is perhaps the best 2-in-1 device to experience Windows. Not only features a sleek design, but it's thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Also, the Surface Pro 3 is very powerful to tackle virtually any task, and you can easily connect to a 4K external monitor if you need more screen real estate.

Nonetheless, it has been over a year, since Microsoft launched the tablet to the market, which means that it's time for a refresh. While the company hasn't officially announced anything, it has been (unofficially) confirmed that Microsoft will be holding a big hardware event in October. According to the rumors, the software maker will be announcing a new flagship of Windows phones, including the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the Microsoft Band 2, and more importantly the Surface Pro 4.

Also, according to rumors, this time around the company plans to launch a new 12-inch display, just like the Surface Pro 3, and a bigger 13- to 14-inch display version of the new tablet. This larger device should have a new name too, although currently it is not yet known. Finally, we're expecting the device to pack the new Intel's Skylake processor, possibly without fans, and with up to 16GB of RAM.

While it can be sentimentally a hard thing to do, now it's a great time to sell your Surface Pro 3. This earliness will get you the most money to buy a Surface Pro 4 when it launches later this year.

Today in this guide, we'll go through a set of steps to securely get your Surface Pro 3 ready for sale without giving away any personal information and to help get the most money so you can save up to buy a new Surface Pro 4.

What you need to do to sell your Surface Pro 3 properly

Backing things up!

As always, before modifying anything in your system, you want to create a full system image backup of your tablet. If something were to go wrong during the process, you always have a way to go back and start over.

Fortunately, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 include the System Image Backup tool that allows you to create a bit-by-bit copy of your Surface. You can then use this as part of your recovery plan. You can refer to my previous guide to get this done.

Although, you can easily mount the image backup to recover files, there is no such as things as too many backups. As such, what you want to do is to make a backup of everything, making sure you copy all the files in the Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders to an external USB drive.

If you use OneDrive exclusively to store your documents, then you're set! As your files are already securely backed up in the cloud.

Note that we're doing a full image backup just as a precaution, and the file backup is what actually you're going to use to move your files temporarily to another computer or to recover when you get your Surface Pro 4.

Getting ready to reset your Surface Pro 3

Windows 8.1 comes with two recovery options -- you can refresh your PC without affecting your files, or you can remove everything and reinstall Windows.

We're getting ready to sell the Surface Pro 3 to a complete stranger, so we don't want anyone to get access to our private documents. This reason is why we'll be using the "Remove everything and reinstall Windows" option.

This option will ensure no one will be able to view or easily recover files using special tools. However, when you start the reset process, you'll get a message saying that some of the files are missing, and you'll need to insert the media with your Windows installation files to continue.

If you don't have the installation media -- it's OK, just follow these steps:

1- Head over to the Surface support page to download the Surface recovery files.

2- Sign in with your Microsoft account and follow the instructions to register your Surface Pro 3 (if you haven't done it already), and download the 5.5GB zip file.

3- Once you have downloaded the files, you'll need a USB flash drive with 6 to 8GB of storage space. You also need to reformat the drive using the FAT32 file system. To do this go to This PC, right-click the USB drive, clicking Format, choosing the FAT32 file system, ticking the Quick Format option, and clicking Start.

4- Finally, unzip the installation files and copy everything to the USB drive.

Warning: Remember that everything on the USB drive will be erased after formatting, as such make sure to backup any important content prior using the "Format" utility.

It's worth pointing out that if you have already upgraded to Windows 10, you won't have any issues with the installation files. The operating system can be reinstalled using the files already in your system. As such, you don't need a Surface recovery media for Windows 10.

Deleting files and reinstalling Windows

Now that you have already created a backup, and you have followed the steps it's time actually to reset your tablet.

Remove everything and reinstall Windows 8.1

Follow these steps to reset your Surface Pro 3 running Windows 8.1:

1- Use the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to bring the flyout menu and click Change PC settings.

2- Navigate to Update & security and go to Recovery.

3- Connect the USB drive with the Surface recovery files for Windows 8.x, and click on Remove everything and reinstall Windows.

4- On "Reset your PC", click Next.

5- You'll be given two choices: "Just remove my files" and "Fully Clean the drive". Because you're getting ready to sell your Surface Pro 3, you want to click on Fully clean the drive. This option is the one Microsoft supports when you need to recycle your PC and keep in mind that it could take several hours to complete the process.

6- On the next page click Reset to begin the process.

At this point, your Surface Pro 3 will commence the recovery process, and it will reboot to complete the reset.

After the process is complete, you'll be presented with the out-of-box experience. At this point, everything you could've done is done. You can simply power off the device and package it nicely for selling.

Remove everything and reinstall Windows 10

If you have upgraded to Windows 10, then resetting your Surface Pro 3 and getting it ready for sale should be much easier. In part, it should be easier because you no longer need to supply the installation files.

Follow these steps to reset your Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10:

1- Use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to access the Settings app.

2- Navigate to Update & security, and go to Recovery.

3- On "Reset this PC", click the Get started button.

4- From the options available click on "Remove everything", which is the Microsoft supported option that ensure all of your files, apps, and settings will be removed.

It's worth pointing out that you won't be rolling back to your previous version of the operating system. The reset process will remove everything in your Surface Pro 3 and reinstall Windows 10.

5- Click Remove files and clean drive.

6- Then click Reset to begin the process. Your computer will now reboot, and the reset process will kick in.

If you're still skeptical that your data was completely erased, then you'll need to go through the out-of-experience aka setting up the PC for the first time. To do so, you will want create a new local account instead of using a Microsoft account and verify that everything has been erased.

Furthermore, if you continue being cautious, go through the out-of-box experience, and try to reset your Surface Pro 3 one more time with the previous steps.

Here's the alternative

Today, we have seen the supported methods by Microsoft to recycle your device, in this case, a Surface Pro 3. However, if you don't feel it's enough, you can always resource to third-party software to wipe the hard drive. Afterward, you can then do a clean installation of Windows 8.1 using the Surface recovery files or Windows 10. This method would take more time and work, but it will give a piece of mind to many users.

Removing registration of your Surface Pro 3

There is one last thing you want to make sure you do before finding a new owner for your Surface Pro 3, and that is removing the registration for your Surface. Through the time you have had the tablet or at the time you needed to download the recovery image, you have registered your Surface Pro 3 with Microsoft in your name.

Now, you need to let someone else register the tablet down the road. To do so you want to remove the registration of the tablet from your Microsoft Account before sell your Surface Pro 3.

Here are the steps:

1- Go to https://support.microsoft.com/devices and sign in with the Microsoft Account you registered the device.

2- Click Manage devices and covers.

3- On the "Device Manager", you'll see a list with all the registered devices. If you have more than one Surface, make sure to match the serial number, and select the device.

4- Click the Remove button with the trash can icon, and click Confirm Removal.

5- Go back to the "Device Manager" to verify that the Surface Pro 3 unregistered successfully, and you should then be good to go.

Time to sell your Surface Pro 3

At this point, you have created a backup of the device, you have made a copy of all your files, you have securely erased everything, and you have removed the registration of your Surface Pro 3. Now, it can be hard to let go, but it's the time to find a new owner!

The first thing you need to do before putting your Surface up for sale is to identify how much you can sell it for. The price will depend on demand and condition.

The best way to understand pricing is to research what other people are currently doing. However, before you do that make sure to go to http://Amazon.com, Microsoft Store, and other online retailers, and check how much it costs for a brand new Surface Pro 3. As you can imagine pricing might have changed since you bought the device.

Next, research http://Amazon.com and eBay to see how much money sellers are asking for the same used model you're trying to sell. See the condition of those devices and if they're also offering free shipping.

You now likely have an idea on pricing. The next step is to decide where you want to sell your device. Here is where you need to be creative, while there many services where you can sell your used devices, you will probably end up with one of the two: eBay or Craigslist.

Before you decide, also consider selling the tablet to someone you know, as this can save you a lot of online hassles.

Whether you use eBay, Craigslist, or another service make sure to have a well-written description of the device with all the details of its condition, don't leave anything out, and be as clear as possible.

Take good pictures of the device and the accessories you're including. Also, make sure the images are clear and they reflect the condition of the Surface Pro 3.

If you go with eBay, a good selling practice also includes offering free shipping and use good packaging to send the device to avoid shipping damages.

Wrapping things up

While we don't yet have an official release date for the Surface Pro 4, we know something is coming soon. Also, knowing that new hardware is coming gives you an opportunity to get the most money now. Of course, you can always bookmark this guide and return when Microsoft officially launches the new tablet, but it might turn out a little more difficult to find someone to buy an older version of Surface at the price you want.

Remember that we have focused on Surface Pro 3, but you can always refer to this guide for other Surface tablets and devices as well!

Will you be selling your Surface Pro 3 when the Pro 4 comes out? Let us know in the comments below.

Microsoft released Windows 10 on July 29th, and since launch there have been over 50 million installs of the operating system. And there are good reasons. The software giant is betting on Windows 10 to be one of the best operating systems you want to use. After all, it brings familiar features from Windows 7, it improves the shortcomings from Windows 8.x, and it's a free upgrade.

Repeatedly, Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella said: "We want to go from users needing Windows to choosing Windows to loving Windows." However, while Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 10 and move forward, we're still in the early days of the new operating system. Since launch, many users has been reporting some issues, which range from upgrade problems, apps not opening, compatibility and network issues, and a lot more. So, as you can see Windows 10 seems not to be ready for a lot of people. So, today we're going to look the options you have and instructions to downgrade successfully from Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 if you decide the operating system isn't working for you at this time.

If you want to roll back, there are a number ways you can do this process. Today, we're going to look a three different ways.

Method one: Recovery by using a previous backup

If you have been following our Windows 10 coverage, you probably came across the post: "How to prepare your PC for the Windows 10 upgrade". If you followed the guide, you have created a full backup of your computer before upgrading to Windows 10.

If you did, fantastic! You can simply make a new backup of your new files since the last full backup or just make a copy of all your files to an external hard drive. Also, note any new software installation since the last full backup, as you'll need to reinstall them after rolling back.

You can do this by:

1. Searching for Control Panel with Cortana.
2. Navigating to Programs and Features.
3. Arranging the list of apps in your system by Installed On

Once you have the backup of your files, and you know the apps you need to install, reboot your computer using the "repair disc", which you're prompted to create after creating the initial full backup.

Quick Tip: If you don't have repair disc, you can also boot with the Windows 8.1 installation media to perform the recovery.

After rebooting, follow these steps:

1. While in the Setup wizard, click Next, and then Repair your computer.
2. Click Troubleshoot, and then click Advanced options, and select System Image Recovery.
3. Select the operating system you to recover from, click Next, and then Finish to begin with the recovery process.

Once the process completes, you'll be back to the previous version of your operating system, in this case, Windows 8.1.

Now, if you have made a lot files changes, it'll be recommended you delete all of your files and restore the updated versions using the new backup you created before downgrading back to Windows 8.1. Also, don't forget reinstall any software since the last backup.

Method two: Recovery by clean installation

If you want to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 in a clean way, you'll be better off starting from scratch again. This process involves having the installation media of Windows 8.1 and performing a clean install of the operating system.

This method requires you to backup your files and to re-install all the programs on your computer. This method takes more time, but it's also the cleanest way to downgrade.

If you don't the Windows 8.1 installation media, don't worry, Microsoft now allows you to download the files from the company's servers. Follow this link and instructions.

And then follow these instructions:

1. Reboot your computer with Windows 8.1 installation files (make sure your PC is set to boot from the drive with installation files).
2. During the Windows Setup, click Next, accept the licensing, and click Next.
3. Click the option Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to do a clean installation.
4. Delete any partition created by you current operating system.
5. Select the empty drive and click Next to begin the installation process.

Important: If you have a dedicated partition to store files or a secondary hard drive, you don't have to delete these partitions.

After the installation process completes, you'll be back to your previous version of Windows. Now the only thing left to do is to restore your documents and other files from the backup, and you'll need to re-install any software you have previously installed.

Method three: Recovery by uninstalling Windows 10

Then there is the third option. Unlike Windows 8.x, Microsoft has conveniently included a roll back option in the new Settings app that allows users to go seamlessly back to their previous version of the operating system with a single button.

If you happened not to like Windows 10, or you're having issues, Microsoft is adding the "Go back to Windows 8.1" feature to make the process a lot easier. However, the downside is that you only have a month after you upgrade to Windows 10 to go back. If you're still within a month after the upgrade you can follow these steps to go back:

1- Use the Windows + I shortcut to open the Settings app.

2- Navigate to Update & security and go to Recovery.

3- If everything is set correctly in your system, you'll see the option Go back to Windows 8.1. Here simply click the Get started button.

4- At this point, you can tell Microsoft why you're going back, click Next.

5- You'll get a warning that you'll need to reinstall some apps and programs, and you'll lose any changes made after upgrading to Windows 10. A file backup is not necessary but recommended. And then click Next.

6- Make sure you know your Windows 8.1 password as you'll be locked out of the system without it, and then click Next.

7- Finally, click the Go back to Windows 8.1 and let the process complete.

The process will take some time depending on your system configuration. Once you're back on Windows 8.1, don't forget to check all your apps are installed correctly and check for new updates, as, after a few weeks, it's likely to be out-of-date.

That's all!

Wrapping this up

Remember in school when you're taught the hard way, the difficult path, to resolve an equation? Well, of the three methods, this last option should be the easiest and the one recommended by Microsoft. However, keep in mind that the Settings app option to go back to your previous operating system is only good for a month. As a result, make sure you try Windows 10 as much as possible before the month expires, that way you don't have to resort to more complex methods.

Also, no matter what you do, always remember to make a full backup first, you'll be surprised when it will come in handy!

Are you on Windows 10? How do you like the new operating system or are you planning to downgrade? Let us know your experience in the comments below.

More Resources

We already have extensive coverage of Windows 10, in case you need more information or how-to articles, make sure you check these resources:

• Our definitive review of Windows 10
• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10: Help and discussion forum at Windows Central

A few weeks after VideoLAN updated its VLC media player for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 with a revamped user interface and other new features, its main developer Thomas Nigro has released the updated 1.6 version of the app to the Windows Store.

Here's the long list of additons, improvements and bug fixes that can be found in VLC version 1.6.

Core:

• Subtitles should be display at the right position and size
• External SRT (using file picker) feature working again
• Subtitles with multiples lines may cause the app to crash
• Improved hardware decoding
• Some videos may cause the app to crash
• Volume control now working

User Interface

• Reworked Home page design
• Reworked File Explorer page design (sidebar showing different folders to explore)
• Prevent duplicated videos in ViewedVideos collection
• Minimize/Expand/Close buttons background color were'nt the same as the main part of the TitleBar => TitleBar is now fully transparent
• Add animations in the Music Now Playing view
• Bottom MiniPlayer Buttons width increased for touch devices
• Easier to access to Hardware Decoding settings

Bug Fixes

• Remove duplicate artist background picture in the MiniPlayer
• Accurately refreshing the list of audio tracks and subtitles
• Default speed rate value was wrong (0.5 instead of 1)
• Fix Background picture squaling issue in the Win2D Slideshow component
• Restore the previous window size when exiting MiniPlayer mode
• Don't resume a video when it was paused when leaving the app
• Fixed VideoPlayer controls appearing randomly
• Open Stream is no longer expanded off screen when a long link is pasted
• Prevent playing audio music file while a video is playing (WP only)
• Fix navigation bug between home pages
• Usual bug squashing

Features

• (Temporary hack) Open subtitle file in the folder if it has the same name as the video
• Users can also set "File explorer" page as their home page

If you experience any issues or want to give feedback on VLC, please use the following board to register them:

Report bugs and give feedback for VLC for Windows Store .large}

Download VLC from the Windows Store (Free)

Source: Videolan.org

In addition to developing his own Windows apps, Rudy Huyn also works on official apps for others. That includes the official Dropbox apps, and the Windows 8.1 version just got updated in the Windows Store that adds better UI support for smaller tablets.

Here's what's new in version 3.6.1:

• Improve UI for small tablets
• Add labels to application bars

Huyn also announced that the new Dropbox version makes "text selection possible in the text file viewer". Huyn recently updated the UI of the app to make it look more like a Windows 10 app, even though it's still officially a Windows 8.1 app.

Download Dropbox from the Windows Store

Source: Rudy Huyn (Twitter)

With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.

For that reason, every Friday we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.

They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.

Earth 3D

Earth 3D is an interactive globe that lets you search and navigate anywhere you want to in the world. But it's more than just a map. It contains over 1700 geographical objects and 500 wonders of the world, each with an informational write-ups and over 2000 photos to go along with them.

Furthermore, you can view different types of overlays, such as political, animal, vegetation, and star maps. You can even get real-time global weather.

Search for specific locations or let the app detect where you are, then move around using the simple point and click or touchscreen controls. There is up to 15x zoom functionality, and no internet connection is required, unless you want to view the weather.

The free trial of Earth 3D gives you the basics, but many additional maps are included in the full-price app.

• Download for Windows 8.1 ($2.99; Free trial)

Roku

If you have a Roku player at your house, you may or may not be aware that you can turn your Windows or Windows Phone device into a remote control for it.

Roku's official app will locate your player on your home network and let you use your favorite channels. Not only can you use it like a basic remote, but you can also search for movies, TV shows, actors, and directors and browse the channel store. You can also view photos and listen to music to your Roku.

If you have more than one, you can name each one and switch between them using the app.

The official Roku app is free, though it obviously requires that you own a Roku player. For the time being, it is compatible with certain models.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Requires a Roku player)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Requires a Roku player)

PBS KIDS Video

PBS KIDS Video is a phenomenal app if you have little ones scurrying around. The app gives you access to over 1000 clips and episodes of some of PBS' most popular titles, like Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Dinosaur Train, SUPER WHY!, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Sesame Street and Wild Kratts.

And the list keeps growing, as new videos are added every week.

The interface is easy for kids to use, so they can watch what they want when they want.

The parent section of the app lets you mark favorite shows, learn more about different programs, gives you access to the PBS Store, as well as other related apps.

Best of all, PBS KIDS Video is a universal app, so you it's at your fingertips on any device.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

ReadAloud

ReadAloud is a text-to-speech converter for Windows and Windows Phone. After selecting a file on your device or inputting a URL, ReadAloud will speak what it is you want to read. You can also start from scratch by typing in the blank page provided in the app.

The built-in controls let you pause/play, skip sentences, and set the pitch and rate of reading. You can also change the color scheme.

The current sentence is highlighted as it is read, with the article auto-scrolling as it goes. And anything you add to ReadAloud can be saved so you can listen to it later.

ReadAloud isn't perfect, for sure, but it is pretty handy and works well most of the time.

You can download it for free, though you can get more options by purchasing them within the app.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchases)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchases)

Dailymotion

Dailymotion's universal app has been updated with some design changes, performance improvements, and cool new features. Most notably, is the inclusion of a mini player within the app.

If you haven't used it before, Dailymotion is the official app of the popular video-watching website.

The app gives you the ability to search for and watch any number of their 50 million videos in HD, up to 4K resolution. Dailymotion lets you log in to manage your own channel and personalize your account.

You can follow channels, favorite videos, and share content with your friends. You can browse channels by category and pin them as tiles.

Dailymotion is free to install for Windows and Windows Phone.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!

Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.

With Windows 10 just around the corner we'll soon be seeing new PCs flying off the shelves pre-loaded with Microsoft's latest and greatest. HP is currently having a clear out of some of its Windows 8.1 product line on its U.S. store with some hefty savings to be had.

And with Windows 10 available as a free upgrade, you could snag yourself a bargain.

Here's some of the highlights:

• HP Envy X2 13-inch - $699.99 down from $1049.99
• HP Envy X2 15-inch - $649.99 down from $899.99
• HP Envy Phoenix 810-470 Desktop - $799.99 down from $999.99
• HP Pavilion 23-inch All-in-One - $599.99 from $829.99

With savings all the way up to $350 off HPs regular retail price, there's some decent cuts on offer. HP is marketing its products as "buy one, get '10' free." Check out the full offering at the source link below.

Source: HP

Thanks Juan for the tip!

With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.

For that reason, every weekend we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.

They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.

Training and Certification Guide

If you are an IT professional, Microsoft certifications can be pretty important, whether they are for keeping your company's partner status intact or just for your own professional development.

Microsoft's Training and certification Guide app for Windows 8.1 makes it easy to chart a path to the certifications that you are looking for. The app provides a subway map of all of their available certs, with each stop on the way being a clickable link to in-depth information about it, including training resources.

The app provides a list of requirements, test numbers, and links that take you right to the web pages to sign up. And every page can be saved as a PDF to print or reference later.

Training and Certification Guide is incredibly easy to search and navigate. It's a fantastic resource for prospective IT workers and seasoned tech veterans alike.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)

Bine

Bine is a Windows client for the video sharing site Vine. The self-proclaimed "only full Vine client for WinRT" lets you record videos right on your Windows tablet or PC and upload them to Vine.

Your creations can then be shared directly to Twitter and Facebook.

Bine also lets you explore content on the web by searching categories, trends, hashtags, and editor's picks. You can find content and fellow users by using your location as well.

If you are a Vine user, Bine is worth a look. Plus it's free.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)

Video 360

Video 360 is one of the more interesting video apps to come out in recent memory, letting you watch movies that have been filmed in 360°.

Be it from your device's storage, SD Card, or YouTube (with help of sibling app Tubecast Pro), Video 360 lets you play the video and control the view by tilting the screen. The app uses the touchscreen, gyrometer, and accelerometer to take you inside the action and change the perspective.

Additionally, you can use a keyboard, mouse, or game controller to change views.

It's tough to describe just how cool the 360° video experience is. But if you have tried Tubecast Pro, the YouTube client by the same developer, you will understand what level of quality you are getting with Video 360.

• Download for Windows 8.1 ($1.99; Free trial; Buy once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 ($1.99; Free trial; Buy once, get everywhere)

MyTwitch

MyTwitch is an unofficial app for Twitch, the popular game-streaming site.

Log in to the app with your Twitch credentials to get access to all of your favorite channels. Watch videos and live broadcasts, follow and unfollow, and chat with fellow users.

Channels can be pinned as Live Tiles and notifications can be set for when they go live.

You can also choose the quality of the stream to accommodate whatever network speed you are running on. And since it is a universal app, it is available for Windows and Windows Phone.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

PixelDefense Free

With graphics reminiscent of the original Nintendo Game Boy, you might not think much of it at first glance. However, PixelDefense ranks up at the top of the list of tower defense games for Windows and Windows Phone.

With five different weapons to choose from, you must defend your base against increasingly difficult waves of enemies. Each enemy has different strengths and uses different attack strategies.

Despite the simple design, PixelDefense is actually quite challenging, and addictive.

There isn't too much more to say about PixelDefense, other than you should buy it. You won't regret it

• Download for Windows 8.1 ($1.99; Free trial)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 ($1.99; Free trial)

Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!

Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.

Microsoft has announced a new way for app developers to integrate Facebook functionality into their apps. The Windows SDK for Facebook will allow developers to build Facebook login, likes, and graph functions directly into their Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 apps.

Here's a list of what the SDK will allow developers to add to their apps:

Authorization

• Login
• Logout
• Login Button
• Profile Picture control

Dialogs

• Feed dialog
• Request dialog

Graph

• Custom Stories
• Post to user's feed
• Upload Photo
• Like a Page/Object

The SDK is open source, and can be found on GitHub. If you're developer interested in integrating a bit of Facebook functionality into your app, you can find out more from Microsoft at the source link below.

Source: Microsoft

Even though we are just over two weeks away from the launch of Windows 10, some PC makers are still releasing new devices with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. That includes Fujitsu, which has just launched a new 11.6-inch Windows 8.1 2-in-1 tablet, the Stylistic Q665.

This is the third such tablet that the company has released. It already offers the 10.1 inch Stylistic Q555 and the 13.3-inch Stylistic Q775. Inside there's 8GB of RAM and buyers can get the tablet with either 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. Buyers can also choose to have one of three Intel Core M processors inside with clock speeds of 0.8GHz, 0.9GHz or 1.2Ghz, respectively. It also has a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera.

Of course, the tablet is eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade which will start rolling out on July 29. Pricing for the Fujitsu Stylistic Q665 starts at $1,099. Some models include a keyboard cover that turns the tablet into a notebook. There's also an optional cradle that adds more ports for the tablet.

Check out the Fujitsu Stylistic Q665 at the Fujitsu Store

Source: Fujitsu

With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.

For that reason, every weekend we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon. They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.

Voices Admin

Voices Admin is a client app for UserVoice.com the popular website designed to let folks give their input on different products and services. You may know it as the service that Microsoft uses for customer feedback on features in Windows, Office 365, Windows Phone, and Xbox.

The app lets you log into your UserVoice account to get your account overview, manage suggestions, manage support tickets, and read/modify your articles and knowledge base.

In addition, you can read and reply to people who make suggestions on your site.

Voices Admin is a universal app, so it is available for Windows and Windows Phone. Both are free to download.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)

123D Sculpt+

123D Sculpt+ is another addition to Autodesk's many design apps on Windows 8.1. This tool gives you the ability to express your imagination by designing creatures and objects from scratch.

The skeleton builder lets you create organisms by simply dragging your finger or cursor. You can also orient and pose your object however you choose.

Then the skeleton gets a layer of skin that can be sculpted and textured the way you want it, like digital clay. And finally, you can add color using the painting tools to bring it to a life-like state.

123D Sculpt+ lets you then export your creation to an OBJ file to use in programs like Maya or Autodesk 3ds Max. There is also a built-in 3D ordering feature that can turn it into a real 3d printed object that gets delivered to you.

Whether you are just someone who wants to dabble in design, or a professional on the go, Autodesk's 123D Sculpt+ is an amazing tool.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)

VK App

VK, short for VKontakte, is the largest Russian social network in Europe. The universal app for Windows and Windows Phone is the official client for "the Russian Facebook."

Using the app, you can connect with friends and message them, as well as share photos, play games, watch movies, and listen to music.

There are also various communities to join, where you can meet people with similar interests. Virtually anything that you can do on the website you can do in the app.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)

Baseball Pro+

Sure, the baseball season is halfway over, but it's never too late to find a better way to keep track of your favorite team.

Baseball Pro+ has been redesigned and turned into a universal app for Windows and Windows Phone. It gives you real-time scores from around the league and up-to-date stats for all of your favorite players.

Check the standings and get the latest news about every team. You can even see tweets from teams and players.

There's also live sports talk to share your thoughts with fellow fans or talk smack to fans of other teams. Baseball Pro+ is about as good as it gets for baseball fans on Windows, and it's free.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)

Nest Manager

Nest is one of, if not the most popular internet-controllable thermostats out there today. But sadly, the Google-owned company does not have an app for Windows or Windows Phone.

Thankfully, third-party developers, like the makers of Nest Manager, help us, the Windows faithful, access our Nest devices with our computers and smartphones.

Nest Manager is more or less a wrapper of the official website, but it is well-designed and gives you most of the functionality that an official app would have.

And since it is a universal app, it makes heating and cooling your house easy from any device. Nest Manager may not be perfect, but for what it does, and the zero-dollar price tag, it's definitely worth checking out if you own a Nest product.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)

Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!

Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.

With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.

For that reason, every Friday we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.

They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.

Mouse Without Borders

Mouse Without Borders is a software-based KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch that enables users to control multiple Windows computers with a single keyboard and mouse.

This new app turns your Surface Pro 3 or other Windows 8.1 device into the keyboard and mouse so you can navigate using your touchscreen.

Setup is easy. Simply install the client application on the computer(s) you want to control, then connect using the Windows 8.1 app by entering the machine's IP address. Both PCs must be on the same network.

The virtual touchpad allows you navigate the cursor, click, double-click, drag, and scroll, while the on-screen keyboard lets you type when needed.

Reviews are mixed on this Microsoft Garage project, but since it is free to install, there is no reason not to give it a whirl.

Although this is not officially a universal app, there is a Windows Phone counterpart that is also free.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

Mint.com Personal Finance

This week, the popular personal finance app Mint became a universal app.

In case you aren't familiar, Intuit's Mint.com is a free online tool for helping people monitor their accounts, plan a budget, and track their spending. It also makes it easy to pay bills on time and identify unusual account activity. The app is password protected and your information syncs between devices. You can view your financial profile offline or online.

Mint's move to universal app doesn't appear to have brought with it any new features. However, it is a positive sign that large companies are embracing the universal app model for Windows.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Get once, get everywhere)

123D Catch

123D Catch is one of Autodesk's recent suite of apps that brings their engineering software applications to the masses. 123D Catch turns your photos of objects into 3D models that you can view, share, and even 3D print.

Choose any person, place, or thing that you want to turn into a digital model. The app walks you through taking pictures of it from different angles, then uploads the results to Autodesk's online rendering tool.

The resulting model is then beamed back to your device for your viewing enjoyment. 3D models can be saved or shared with the rest of the Autodesk community. You can open your creations in Autodesk Meshmixer{.nofollow}, which also allows you to 3D print them.

In order to use 123D Catch, you will need to create a free account or log in using your Facebook account. Also, be aware that it can take a while for the 3D model to render, so just be patient with it.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free)

Toonia Colorbook

Next up is one for the kids. Toonia Colorbook is packed with 128 different pages of varying complexity for the tykes to color in on your PC or tablet. The pictures are paired with music for a complete experience.

With a host of different colors, and patterns, they can be as creative as they want to be. Multi-touch support means that they can color with a friend. And each page can be colored as many times as they want.

You can print out the finished works or blank pages to color with real crayons and markers.

There is no third-party advertising and in-app purchasing is locked, so children cannot make purchases on their own. And because it is a universal app, you can get it on your Windows phone or PC.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchasing; Get once, get everywhere)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchasing; Get once, get everywhere)

CSR Racing

Zynga's CSR Racing is on Windows and Windows Phone. This racer is packed with high-octane graphics and visual effects.

Compete against the best street racers in the city, earning extra cash along the way. Use your spoils to upgrade your speedster or buy a brand new one. CSR Racing features officially licensed vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, McLaren and more, so you can get a taste of the real thing.

Less of a racing game and more geared toward testing your reflexes, CSR Racing may not be for everyone. But it still sports some of the best graphics available on the platform. It's free to try, so take it for a test drive.

• Download for Windows 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchasing)
• Download for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free, with in-app purchasing)

Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!

Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.

Over the past several months, we have seen publisher Game Troopers come out of nowhere to become one of the biggest names in Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 games, releasing a number of high quality titles for both platforms. They include games like Tiny Troopers, Overkill 3, Monster GO and many more. However, the company isn't resting on its laurels and has plans to release more games for the Windows platform, along with updates for several current games.

Games Troopers CEO Jesus Bosch offers some details on those plans to Windows Central: