and 8.1 Archives

Winsage

May 1, 2025

4 Windows versions Windows 12 should shamelessly imitate

Windows 12 is speculated to potentially launch in two to three years, following the end of support for Windows 10. It may draw inspiration from previous successful versions like Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 10, focusing on user customization, performance, and reducing bloatware. Windows 11, launched six years after Windows 10, introduced a new visual style and features but faced criticism over hardware requirements. Windows 12 is expected to build on Windows 11's foundation with incremental improvements and enhanced support for ARM processors.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

When Microsoft made the Windows as a Service pivot

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer discussed the company's shift from paid upgrades to a Windows as a Service model, highlighting the challenges faced after the success of Windows 7 and the disappointing reception of Windows 8. He noted that Microsoft made Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for users of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, which allowed the company to gather valuable telemetry data while introducing users to subscription services. However, the telemetry raised privacy concerns among users, as it included advertising and upsell mechanisms. Plummer expressed a desire for a version of Windows Pro without telemetry and advertising, indicating he would pay for such a product. He also mentioned that the transition to a service model helped address piracy by offering free upgrades to users with non-genuine copies of Windows.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Windows 11 market share grows rapidly with the end of Windows 10 approaching

As of March 2025, Windows 10 has a market share of 54.23%, down 4.43 percentage points from the previous month, while Windows 11's market share has risen to 42.66%, an increase of 4.53 percentage points. Windows 11's adoption has surged by 15.98 percentage points since March 2024, while Windows 10 has declined by 14.84 percentage points during the same period. Regular support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, with only the Extended Security Updates program available for continued security updates. Windows 7 has a market share of 2.22%, Windows XP is at 0.33%, and Windows 8.1 stands at 0.28%.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

How has the Windows Start menu evolved? Looking back in time as Microsoft turns 50

In 2025, Microsoft will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Start menu was first introduced in Windows 95 on August 24, 1995, replacing the "Program Manager" and providing a more intuitive user experience. Subsequent versions included refinements in Windows 98, minimal changes in Windows ME, a redesigned two-column layout in Windows XP, enhanced search functionality in Windows Vista, and updates in Windows 7 that included "Jump Lists." Windows 8 replaced the traditional Start menu with a full-screen Start screen, while Windows 10 reintroduced the Start menu with a hybrid design. Windows 11 featured a centered Taskbar and a simplified Start menu layout with static icons. Each iteration has aimed to balance innovation with user familiarity.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

It’s possible to run Windows XP on an Apple TV — and it works like a dream!

Windows XP holds a 0.27 percent share of the Windows market, surpassing Windows 8 and 8.1. A Linux variant of Windows XP is available for those seeking a nostalgic experience. Windows XP has been successfully run on Apple's Vision Pro and ported to the original Apple TV. Only the original Apple TV, which has an Intel Pentium M processor and 256 MB of RAM, can support Windows XP. This porting was documented by Nobel Tech, showcasing DistroHopper39B's efforts using ReactOS. The original Apple TV used in the experiment was provided by the Australian Computer Museum Society (ACMS). Windows XP operates on the Apple TV, but graphics acceleration is unsupported.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Windows 7 is not forgotten

Mozilla has extended support for Firefox 115 ESR on unsupported versions of Windows, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, until March 2025. Initially set to end support in September 2024, Mozilla reassessed the situation due to the continued presence of users on Windows 7 and decided to extend support for an additional six months. Mozilla plans to reassess its support strategy in August of this year. Meanwhile, the latest versions of Firefox, including version 135 on the Release Channel and version 128 on the Extended Support Release Channel, are available for users on newer operating systems.

Winsage

February 20, 2025

Firefox extends Windows 7 support for at least another six months

Mozilla has extended support for Firefox on older Windows operating systems, with the new deadline for Firefox Old ESR set to August 19, 2025. Official support for Firefox on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will continue until September 2025, with a reassessment of this timeline planned for August. The extended support applies to Firefox 115 (Old ESR) and Firefox 128 (ESR), which will be deprecated on September 16, 2025. After this date, users must upgrade to a newer version of Windows and transition to Firefox 140 ESR to continue using the browser.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

Mozilla is not ready to give up on Windows 7 just yet

Mozilla has extended support for its Firefox browser on Windows 7 and 8.1 until September 2025. This follows the introduction of its Extended Support Release (ESR) branch in May 2023, which initially promised 15 months of security updates after Microsoft's cessation of support for these operating systems. The ESR release calendar now indicates that support for Firefox 115 ESR will continue for Windows 7 and 8.1, as well as macOS versions 10.12 to 10.14. Mozilla will re-evaluate this decision in August 2025. While security updates will continue for the ESR releases, new features will only be available on currently supported operating systems. Users are encouraged to consider upgrading to Windows 11 for enhanced security and functionality.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Someone ported Discord to Windows 95, because why wouldn’t you

Users of Windows 95 can now access Discord Messenger through a new client developed by @iProgramInCpp, which also supports Windows XP. While Discord no longer supports older operating systems, this client allows users to engage with the platform, albeit with limited functionality, missing features like emojis and Slash Commands. The developer is working on enhancing the application, but using this unofficial software may pose risks, including potential account bans, although no such reports have been made yet. The client is available for download on GitHub.

Winsage

December 11, 2024

Microsoft fixes zero-day security flaw in latest Windows update

Microsoft addressed 71 vulnerabilities in its December Patch Tuesday update, including a critical zero-day flaw. Of these, 59 vulnerabilities affect various versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. CVE-2024-49138 is a high-risk buffer overflow issue that allows privilege escalation and could enable full control over affected systems. Microsoft classified 16 Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities as critical, with nine related to the Remote Desktop service. CVE-2024-49112 affects the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and could allow code injection without user login. CVE-2024-49117 affects Hyper-V, allowing code execution from a guest system on the host system. Additionally, eight security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office were resolved, including three RCE vulnerabilities. CVE-2024-49063 is the first identified security flaw in Microsoft's open-source AI project, Muzic. The next Patch Tuesday is scheduled for January 14, 2025.