grace period

Winsage
July 22, 2026
October 2026 will see the end of support for several Microsoft products, including Office LTSC 2021, which requires organizations to transition to LTSC 2024 or Microsoft 365 for continued support. Windows Server 2022 will exit mainstream support on October 13, 2026, while Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will also reach their end of life on the same date. The enterprise and education versions of Windows 11 23H2 will be supported until November 10, 2026. Publisher 2021 will be discontinued without a successor. Additionally, Entra ID Sign-In risk policies will be phased out on October 1, 2026, necessitating a transition to Conditional Access to maintain user and sign-in risk protection. SQL Server 2017 is scheduled for retirement in October 2027.
Winsage
July 14, 2026
Microsoft has revised its guidance on Windows updates, urging users to install them within three days due to the rise of AI-driven cyber threats. Jeremy Chapman from Microsoft 365 emphasized the need for timely updates, recommending a maximum deferral period of two days for quality updates. In June, Microsoft patched 206 vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of these updates to avoid significant risks. AI can help attackers exploit vulnerabilities quickly, making the practice of delaying updates obsolete. Microsoft has also developed an AI tool, MDASH, to identify vulnerabilities in Windows code.
Winsage
July 10, 2026
Microsoft advises organizations to expedite their Windows update deployment timelines due to advancements in artificial intelligence that allow cyber attackers to quickly exploit vulnerabilities after security updates are released. Jeremy Chapman, Director of Microsoft 365, warns that delaying critical quality updates with security fixes increases the risk of exploitation. Microsoft recommends a quality update deferral period of fewer than three days, update deadlines of zero or one day, and a grace period of no more than two days. The Windows Autopatch report within Microsoft Intune helps identify unpatched devices, allowing administrators to adjust update deferral policies. Organizations can configure update delivery settings through policy controls in Windows Autopatch and Microsoft Intune, as well as other management tools like Microsoft Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services. Microsoft also promotes the use of Hotpatch for quicker installation of security updates without rebooting and encourages Conditional Access policies to restrict access to corporate resources for devices that lack required updates.
Winsage
July 10, 2026
The intersection of artificial intelligence and cybercrime poses significant challenges for organizations, as cybercriminals can quickly exploit vulnerabilities. Microsoft suggests that traditional patching methods are inadequate, urging organizations to adopt a more agile approach to patch management with rapid update deployment. They recommend reducing the time between the release of security updates and their deployment to less than three days, with deadlines for updates set to zero or one day and a maximum grace period of two days. Additionally, Microsoft advocates for a phased deployment strategy, testing updates on select devices before wider rollout, and utilizing features like Hotpatch and Conditional Access policies to enhance security and expedite update processes.
AppWizard
June 1, 2026
Samsung Messages will cease to function in July 2026, resulting in the loss of any unmigrated text history. Users are encouraged to transition to Google Messages, which offers features like RCS-enabled texting, high-quality image sharing, AI-powered spam detection, multi-device access, and Gemini AI features. Samsung provides instructions for this migration, especially for users on Android 12 and 13. The exact date in July for the service discontinuation is unspecified, but only emergency messaging will remain functional afterward. Samsung Messages was no longer the default app since 2021 and stopped being preinstalled in 2024. Users on Android 11 or earlier are not directly affected but are advised to switch to Google Messages. Older Galaxy Watches running Tizen will have limited access to conversation histories, while newer models on WearOS will retain full access.
AppWizard
May 28, 2026
Microsoft has officially decommissioned its Outlook Lite application for Android, affecting over 10 million users globally. The lightweight email client was designed for resource-constrained smartphones and slow mobile networks but has been phased out in favor of the standard Outlook Mobile app, which requires significantly more storage and processing power. Existing user data remains secure in the cloud, but the transition raises concerns about digital inclusion, particularly for users in emerging markets with limited access to high-end smartphones and reliable internet. The standard app's increased data demands may impose financial burdens on users in regions with expensive mobile data. Microsoft aims to consolidate its software for improved security and efficiency, following a trend among other tech companies to retire similar "Lite" applications. Digital rights advocates warn that this shift could exacerbate the digital divide, particularly in rural areas lacking robust internet connectivity.
AppWizard
December 22, 2025
Beginning January 1, 2026, Nvidia GeForce Now will implement a monthly playtime cap of 100 hours for most users, with a surcharge of [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Nvidia GeForce Now Implements Monthly Playtime Cap for Most Users Beginning January 1, 2026, the landscape of Nvidia GeForce Now will shift as nearly all users will face a new monthly playtime cap. This cap, set at 100 hours, will be a significant change for many, with the exception of those holding a Founders Edition subscription. For the majority, exceeding this limit will incur a surcharge of up to .99 for every additional 15 hours of gameplay. The 100-hour cap was initially introduced in November 2024, but it only affected new users at that time, allowing existing subscribers to enjoy a grace period. However, that leniency is coming to an end, and starting next year, all but Founders Edition users will be subject to this new restriction. Nvidia GeForce Now is a game streaming service that enables users to play their existing games on virtually any device. The games are hosted on Nvidia's servers, where user inputs are processed, and the resulting audio and video are streamed back to the user's device. Currently, the service offers three subscription tiers, ranging from a free option to a premium plan priced at .99 per month, each with varying limits on graphical quality and session duration. When GeForce Now first launched, Founders Edition subscriptions provided unlimited playtime and other exclusive benefits. Although new sign-ups for this tier ceased a year after the service's debut, existing subscribers have retained their accounts, making them increasingly valuable as the service evolves. The newer Ultimate tier boasts enhanced resolution and frame rates but comes at a significantly higher cost compared to the now-renamed Founders for Life plan. As of January 1, 2026, users on the Performance tier will face a fee of .99 for every additional 15 hours beyond the 100-hour limit, while those on the Ultimate tier will pay .99 for the same increment. For many avid gamers, the 100-hour monthly limit may not pose a significant challenge. This threshold translates to just over three hours of gaming each day, which can easily accommodate days off from gaming. For those who engage in gaming sessions more sporadically, this allowance could equate to over four hours of daily playtime on average. A Redditor has compiled a helpful chart illustrating the potential costs associated with varying daily gaming durations, ranging from half an hour to 16 hours. For instance, if one were to game six hours daily, the monthly cost would amount to .93 for the Performance tier or .93 for the Ultimate tier. This analysis underscores the competitive value of GeForce Now, particularly for those whose primary focus is gaming. Even at six hours of daily play on the Ultimate tier, the total expenditure over ten years would be approximately ,351.60. This figure is comparable to the upfront cost of a new gaming PC equipped with an RTX 5080, especially considering the current fluctuations in DRAM prices. However, many users appreciate their PCs for more than just gaming, often valuing the flexibility to upgrade components over time. As such, potential GeForce Now users should carefully consider their gaming habits and how they align with the service's new pricing structure." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99 for every additional 15 hours of gameplay for those exceeding this limit. The cap was initially introduced in November 2024 for new users only, but will now apply to all except Founders Edition subscribers. Users on the Performance and Ultimate tiers will incur the same additional fees. The service offers three subscription tiers, with the Founders Edition providing unlimited playtime and exclusive benefits. A chart illustrates potential costs for varying daily gaming durations, indicating that gaming six hours daily would cost approximately monthly for both the Performance and Ultimate tiers. Over ten years, this expenditure could total around ,351.60, comparable to the cost of a new gaming PC with an RTX 5080.
Winsage
November 24, 2025
Microsoft has phased out Windows 10, with a deadline of October 14 now passed, leaving approximately 550 million users navigating the transition to Windows 11 amidst rising cyber threats. Windows 10 usage has declined from 880 million in January. Microsoft offers an Extended Security Update (ESU) option for users needing more time to migrate, which provides security updates until October 13, 2026, for enrolled users. Business users have a three-year extended support period, while consumers have a 12-month grace period post-October if enrolled in ESU. The November update addressing zero-day threats is only available to ESU enrollees. There are no contingency plans for users who remain on Windows 10, and uncertainty exists regarding how many users have enrolled in ESU or have eligible devices for Windows 11 upgrades. Users must act before next October to purchase new PCs if needed.
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