email communication Archives

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Microsoft gets into the spam game by again emailing Windows 10 users to prod them to upgrade to Windows 11 – is the nagging going too far now?

Microsoft is emailing Windows 10 users to encourage them to upgrade to Windows 11 before support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. The email includes suggestions for trading in or recycling old PCs and a link to check eligibility for the Windows 11 upgrade. While Microsoft states that PCs will still function after support ends, it warns that software updates will cease, leaving systems vulnerable to security threats. Users can pay for extended support if they choose to remain on Windows 10. The email has received scrutiny for not adequately warning about the risks of using an unsupported operating system and for promoting other Microsoft products.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

7 Android widgets to make your phone or tablet more useful

Widgets on Android devices enhance the home screen by providing quick access to information and functionalities from apps. - Google Calendar: Allows users to view the entire month or daily events, with easy event addition through a + button. Separate widgets are needed for multiple calendars. - Email Widget: Displays incoming messages and enables quick email composition. It can be used with Gmail or other email apps like Thunderbird. - Keep Notes: Offers options for scrolling through existing notes or quickly creating new notes via text, voice, or images. Widget size can be adjusted for tablets or phones. - Arc Search: Enables users to initiate searches directly through Arc Search instead of the Google search bar. - Battery Widget: Provides real-time updates on charge levels for connected devices, including smartwatches and headphones. - Pixel Weather: Exclusive to Pixel devices, it presents weather information in an accessible format, allowing quick checks without switching apps. - Spotify: Grants access to playlists and current tracks, allowing users to launch playlists and control playback easily. To add a widget, long-press on a blank area of the home screen, select Widgets, browse for the desired widget, and drag it onto the screen. Widgets can be resized and repositioned.

Winsage

December 6, 2024

Best Windows apps this week

Microsoft has reiterated its non-negotiable requirement for TPM 2.0 for Windows 11, which poses challenges for Windows 10 users with unsupported devices. The Microsoft Store has been enhanced for a better user experience, now offering improved organization and support for Win32 applications. New or notably improved Windows apps include Handbrake 1.9.0, which adds support for lossless VP9 encoding and Intel QSV VVC video decoding; Media Squeeze, which optimizes storage through compression of image and video files; and PixTidy, a free app for photo organization that helps create folders based on location and time, and identifies redundant photos and videos.

Winsage

November 10, 2024

Microsoft Windows Mail and Calendar Apps to Stop Working After This Date..

Microsoft has announced that its Windows Mail, Calendar, and People applications will stop functioning after December 31, 2024, as part of a strategy to encourage users to transition to the new Outlook for Windows. The Windows Mail apps will no longer support email communication after this date. Microsoft is providing a migration pathway for users to export their emails, contacts, and calendar events to Outlook before the deadline. Users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Outlook, which is being promoted as a free solution, although some users have expressed concerns about its performance.

AppWizard

October 9, 2024

Thunderbird for Android finally reaches beta

MZLA has launched the beta version of the Thunderbird email client for Android, available for download from the Google Play Store, with a release on the FOSS F-Droid store anticipated soon. The app, developed over nearly two and a half years under lead developer Christian Ketterer, is based on the K9 Mail application, which has been in use since October 2008. The beta version is identified as version 8.0b2 and retains features of K9 Mail while introducing modern enhancements. K9 Mail is utilized in de-Googled Android devices like the Murena One and Punkt MC02. Testing on an Android 14 device showed smooth performance, with easy setup for Hotmail and Yahoo accounts. Thunderbird for Android supports professional email communication, managing multiple accounts in a unified inbox with color-coding for account distinction.

Winsage

September 26, 2024

Buy a Microsoft Office for Windows license for $35 in this deal

Many users are reconsidering Microsoft 365 subscriptions due to accumulating costs. StackSocial offers a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 202 for Windows for a one-time payment of .97, down from 9.99. For Mac users, a Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 license is available for .97, though at a smaller discount. Microsoft Office 2021 includes applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, and allows installation on a single computer without ongoing subscription fees. The software is compatible with Windows 10 and 11. While marketed as a "Lifetime License," the software is tied to the specific device, and access will be lost if that device fails. Microsoft can also terminate licenses or discontinue products. Feedback from past purchasers indicates continued use without issues for over two years. Prices are subject to change.

AppWizard

April 8, 2024

The Gmail App Will Be Getting A “Summarize” Button Soon – Talk Android

Gmail's Android app is preparing to introduce a new feature called "Summarize this email" button that will provide users with a quick summary of their emails, saving time in today's fast-paced world.

AppWizard

April 6, 2024

A ‘summarize this email’ button is coming to the Gmail app

Google is reportedly developing a new feature for the Gmail app on Android that will allow users to quickly summarize their emails using generative AI technology.

Winsage

April 6, 2024

Microsoft is facing an investigation by a South African antitrust watchdog for alleged “anti-competitive” practices in its cloud computing business.

- South African agency to scrutinize Microsoft's cloud computing licensing practices, similar to ongoing investigation in the EU - Microsoft recently decoupled Teams from Office 365 suite globally following complaints of anticompetitive behavior - Cloud computing disputes involving Microsoft include accusations of market dominance and inflating costs in Europe - Microsoft and Amazon's hyper-scale cloud services under investigation by UK's Competition and Markets Authority for stifling competition - Google has urged UK's Competition and Markets Authority to address Microsoft's competitive practices in the cloud computing sector

AppWizard

April 5, 2024

Google Testing AI-Powered Reply Suggestions for Gmail Android App

Google is testing a new feature in its Gmail Android app called "Reply Suggestions from Gemini," which uses AI to provide users with contextually appropriate response options for their incoming emails.