consumer support

Winsage
May 20, 2025
Microsoft is integrating AI shortcuts, called AI actions, into the File Explorer of Windows 11, allowing users to right-click on files for quick access to various AI features. Four image-related actions currently being tested include Bing visual search, background blurring, object erasure from the Photos app, and a remove background option in Paint. Microsoft plans to introduce AI actions for Office files, enabling document summarization and AI-driven list generation for Microsoft 365 commercial subscribers with a Copilot license. An "Ask Copilot" option will also be added to the right-click menu. Additionally, Microsoft is experimenting with visual updates to the widgets feature and has introduced a new power management feature that reduces energy consumption on laptops and tablets after periods of inactivity.
Winsage
May 17, 2025
In this week's roundup of applications for Windows 10 and 11, it is noted that consumer support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, but users can purchase a year of extended support and receive three years of security updates for Microsoft 365 apps. New applications highlighted include: - DiskCopy: Free disk and partition cloning software for backing up partitions or entire disks, facilitating data migration. - IrfanView: An image viewer that now includes batch file multithreading and new hotkeys in its latest version. - Registry Finder: A freeware tool for managing the Windows Registry, with improved search capabilities and usability.
Winsage
November 1, 2024
Microsoft has announced its pricing strategy for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10, effective October 14, 2025. Consumers can purchase one additional year of security updates for a fee, while businesses will pay a higher price for a single year and have options to extend coverage at escalating costs. Enrolled PCs will receive critical and important security updates, but new features, bug fixes, and technical support will not be provided. Enrollment in the ESU program will be available closer to the end of support in 2025. Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, which has stricter hardware requirements, including compatibility with CPUs released from 2018 onward and TPM security chips. Windows 11 briefly became the most popular OS for PC gaming among Steam users in August but fell behind Windows 10 in September. Microsoft initially announced it would cease major updates for Windows 10 in 2023 but later reversed this decision and reopened its beta program for Windows 10 users.
Winsage
October 31, 2024
Microsoft is introducing an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 10 users, allowing them to receive essential security updates until October 2026, as support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025. This is the first time the ESU program is available for individual consumers, previously reserved for enterprise and educational users. Enrollment for the program will be available closer to the end of support in 2025. The program focuses solely on delivering security patches without new features or technical support, and while existing bugs in Windows 10 will not be fixed, no new bugs will be introduced. Users have options to upgrade to Windows 11, use workarounds for installation, or explore Linux distributions, though each choice comes with its own challenges. The ESU program is a response to concerns about environmental sustainability, as the end of Windows 10 support could lead to millions of PCs being discarded, with reports suggesting up to 240 million PCs could end up in landfills.
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