personal accounts Archives

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Google Voice adds three-way calling support alongside its interface rework

Google has introduced a new update for its Voice app that enables three-way calling for Workspace subscription holders, allowing users to create conference calls by adding another participant. The update includes a refreshed user interface with more accessible key tools for managing calls, such as prominently displayed "Add" and "Merge" options. This feature is available to Google Workspace customers on Voice Starter, Voice Standard, and Voice Premier plans, as well as SIP Link Standard and SIP Link Premier customers. The rollout began on May 1 and is expected to reach all Google Voice users within approximately 15 days. Earlier in February, Google Voice added a "call delegation" feature, allowing users to transfer calls to another person with options for immediate transfer or confirmation before proceeding, including the ability to transfer calls from personal accounts to paid enterprise accounts.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

OneDrive clients for Windows, Mac still broken 10 months on

In June 2024, OneDrive users for macOS and Windows reported that shared folders on their local drives had disappeared, replaced by .url files linking to OneDrive's web interface. This issue has persisted for ten months without a concrete solution from Microsoft, which has acknowledged it as a known bug under investigation. Users are frustrated by the lack of offline access and syncing capabilities, with complaints continuing in community forums. The problem is linked to a new "shortcut" model for shared folders, resulting from an ongoing backend migration. Small business users feel particularly abandoned, while enterprise users seem largely unaffected. Various proposed workarounds have had limited success. Microsoft has not provided further clarification beyond initial statements.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

What to know about Signal, the app used by Trump officials to text war plans

An encrypted messaging app named Signal has been used by high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, to discuss a sensitive military operation. This conversation included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who reported on the incident. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the messages. Signal, which has around 70 million users, offers end-to-end encryption and is operated by the nonprofit Signal Foundation. Despite its security features, experts warn that it is not immune to hacking, as highlighted by a National Security Agency bulletin in February 2025 regarding vulnerabilities within the app. Government officials have used Signal for sensitive communications, but there are potential legal implications for sharing classified information on nonsecure platforms, which could violate the Espionage Act. Some messages in a group chat were set to disappear after one to four weeks, raising concerns about federal record preservation laws.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

Say goodbye to Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app and get ready to move to the Windows App

On May 27, 2025, Microsoft will discontinue support for its Remote Desktop app, which will no longer be available for download or use. Users will need to transition to the Windows App, available since September 2024, which provides unified access to Windows services like Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Remote PCs. The Windows App features customizable home screens, support for multiple monitors, dynamic display resolutions, device redirection, and is optimized for Microsoft Teams. After the discontinuation date, the Windows App will be the only first-party option from Microsoft for accessing these services. Microsoft also offers the Remote Desktop Connection app, which will continue to receive support and allows connections to PCs remotely, supporting both school/work and personal accounts.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Google quietly made it easier for new developers to release apps on the Play Store

Google has updated its app testing requirements, reducing the minimum number of testers for closed tests from 20 to 12 for developers with personal accounts created after November 13, 2023. The new requirement states that these developers must conduct a closed test with at least 12 opted-in testers for a minimum of 14 consecutive days. Developers with business accounts are not affected by this change. The adjustment comes in response to criticism from indie developers who found the previous requirement challenging.

Winsage

December 5, 2024

Sticky Notes fails on Windows 11 with account has no mailbox issue

A bug in the legacy Sticky Notes application affects users on Windows 10 and 11, displaying the error message, “We couldn’t verify your sign-in info. Your account doesn’t have a mailbox, so we can’t save your notes in the cloud.” This issue has been reported by 91 users since it was highlighted on November 28, with over 1200 views on a forum post. The problem arises during the login process, preventing access to notes, particularly for users with personal accounts, while those with work or school accounts do not face issues. Users have tried troubleshooting methods without success, and although notes can be accessed through the OneNote app and Outlook Notes folder, logging out of personal accounts complicates access. A server-side patch from Microsoft is needed to resolve the issue, and users are advised to log in to their Outlook accounts or consider transitioning to the new Sticky Notes app for temporary access. It is recommended to avoid signing out of the old Sticky Notes app until the bug is fixed.

AppWizard

December 2, 2024

Google Confirms New Gmail Security Surprise—And It’s So Simple

Google has introduced a new feature in the Gmail Android app that allows users to drag and drop contacts into the addressee fields while composing emails. This feature enhances usability and improves security by reducing the risk of sending emails to unintended recipients, particularly when using CC or BCC. The rollout of this feature has begun, with full implementation expected by December 14 for all Gmail users, including personal accounts.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Microsoft is building a new Outlook People app for Windows 11 (Microsoft 365 Companion?)

A new web wrapper application, tentatively named Microsoft 365 Companion or People, is being developed for Windows 11 users, based on Microsoft Edge. This application may signal the return of the People app from Windows 10, reimagined as a web-based tool integrated with Outlook.com. The original People app consolidated various accounts into a single interface for contact management and was integrated into the Windows 10 taskbar. With the transition to Windows 11, Microsoft discontinued support for the People app, directing users to manage contacts through Mail and Calendar apps. The new People app is currently in development and may initially cater to Microsoft 365 customers with work or school accounts, allowing access to contacts stored in Outlook. Preliminary tests show it features a Microsoft 365 icon, a sign-in option, and facilitates quick communication and event scheduling. The app supports calls via Microsoft Teams or Skype and allows users to view shared files. It is lightweight, under 2MB, but lacks a comprehensive feature set. There is a toggle option for a “Whole life” experience, which may enable support for personal accounts. Microsoft needs to enhance the new Outlook, as the current version does not match the feature richness of the classic Outlook or native applications.

Tech Optimizer

October 4, 2024

Session Hijacking Is Back: MFAs No Longer Safe

Session hijacking has evolved to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) checks, with Microsoft reporting 147,000 token replay attacks in 2023, a 111% increase from the previous year. Google noted that session cookie attacks now rival traditional password-focused cyberattacks. Modern session hijacking techniques include Adversary-in-the-Middle (AitM) attacks, Browser-in-the-Middle (BitM) attacks, and infostealers. Infostealers can target all session cookies and credentials stored in a user's browser and were responsible for 43% of malware detected in 2023, according to the 2024 Sophos Threat Report. Advanced malware can evade detection by Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems. Effective prevention measures include keeping personal information private, using robust antivirus and EDR solutions, and implementing strong in-app controls.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Microsoft starts rolling out its Windows 11 2024 update with lots of useful improvements

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Windows 11 2024 update, version 24H2, which includes enhancements to the Start menu, File Explorer, Settings, and other components. The Start menu features a new side panel for Phone Link users, providing real-time phone insights. File Explorer has a redesigned home section with a tabbed view for recent, favorites, and shared files, improved context menus, and the ability to create 7z and TAR files. The system tray has a simplified time and date display, and Quick Settings now shows all actions by default with a new Energy Saver mode. The Settings interface allows users to reverse mouse scroll direction and toggle enhanced pointer precision easily. A unified Microsoft Teams app and a new Outlook client replace the Mail and Calendar applications. The update supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth LE audio, and performance enhancements for AMD desktop CPUs. Microsoft is using an OS swap method for this update to avoid compatibility issues. The rollout will begin with eligible devices running Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2.