Skype Archives

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

The Messenger app for Windows and Mac will shut down on December 15, here is what to expect

Meta will discontinue its Messenger app for Windows and macOS on December 15. After this date, Mac users will be redirected to Facebook.com for messaging, while Windows users will be encouraged to use the Facebook desktop app. Access to the Messenger desktop app will be blocked, and users will need to uninstall it. The mobile version of Messenger will remain operational. Users should enable secure storage for encrypted chats to ensure successful transfer of chat history. They are also advised to back up important files and photos, check Messenger-only accounts, and prepare for workflow changes.

Winsage

November 14, 2025

Be thankful: November’s Patch Tuesday has just one zero-day

The Readiness team analyzes updates monthly, providing testing guidance based on Microsoft patches. The November release includes updates for network infrastructure, remote connectivity, and wireless components, requiring careful testing despite no high-risk flags. Key areas for testing remote connections include validating packet transmission over IPv4 and IPv6, transferring large files over IPv6, testing web browsing and workflows with Microsoft Teams and Skype, and verifying Remote Desktop connections. The updates significantly impact application communication capabilities, necessitating dedicated validation for IPv6 alongside IPv4 operations.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

These Android Apps Are Terrible For Your Phone’s Battery Life

pCloud conducted a study on battery consumption of around 100 popular Android applications, analyzing their average battery requirements while using various features. Fitbit was identified as the top battery consumer, running 14 out of 16 background processes, with four significantly draining the battery. The Verizon app ranked second, also consuming considerable battery due to its background processes related to location services. Six social media apps—Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn—were noted for their battery drain, allowing 11 processes to run in the background. Dating apps like Grindr, Tinder, and Bumble were included in the findings but do not offer dark mode options. The Google app was highlighted as a major battery drain, with Gmail and Chrome also ranking high. Users can check their apps' battery impact through the Android power menu in the Settings app.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Man’s Daughter Was Crying After Being Harassed By Boy On A Minecraft Server, So He Found The Boy’s Dad And Told Him When His Son Had Done

A father took action after discovering his eight-year-old daughter was being harassed by a player named "Little Clown" on a Minecraft server. The daughter had been targeted with threats and inappropriate language after sharing her age. The father and his fiancée found recorded evidence of the harassment and identified the boy's real identity through an online search. They contacted the boy's father, who then imposed consequences on his son, revoking his computer privileges for the summer. The incident garnered positive reactions on social media, highlighting the importance of parental involvement in online gaming.

Winsage

October 16, 2025

Windows 10 isn’t only Microsoft product at end of support

Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2023, impacting older versions of Office (2019 and 2016) and Exchange Server (2019). Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 for an additional year, but Office users must choose between transitioning to Office 2024 LTSC or subscribing to Microsoft 365. Office 2024 LTSC will not receive continuous feature updates and will be supported until 2029. Support for Exchange 2016, Exchange 2019, Skype for Business 2016, and Skype for Business 2019 also ended on October 14. Windows 11 22H2 for Enterprises and Education is no longer receiving updates, and users are encouraged to upgrade to a more recent version. The changes may pose significant challenges for organizations, particularly those focused on the end of Windows 10 support.

Winsage

October 13, 2025

Microsoft brings its iconic wallpaper, Clippy and 2000s nostalgia to Crocs

Microsoft has launched a limited edition Crocs bundle celebrating its 50th anniversary, featuring designs inspired by Windows XP's 'Bliss' wallpaper and custom Jibbitz charms representing elements of its legacy, such as Clippy and the Internet Explorer logo. The bundle is available globally following the positive response to the #MicrosoftCrocSweepstakes.

Winsage

August 28, 2025

PC Gamers Rejoice, Windows 11 Gets Super Wideband Stereo For High-Quality Bluetooth Audio

Microsoft is transitioning from Bluetooth Classic Audio profiles to Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio profiles in Windows 11, enhancing the wireless audio experience for gamers and users of video and voice calls. The new profiles will improve audio compression, fidelity, and sample rates, preserving treble frequencies and eliminating issues with audio quality during gameplay. Spatial audio will also be integrated into videoconferencing applications, allowing users to perceive voices as coming from their respective video positions. This upgraded audio experience is available for users on the latest version of Windows 11 (24H2), provided their PC and Bluetooth headset support LE Audio.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

40 years of Windows: How XP changed everything

In 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP, which combined consumer and business versions of Windows and was built on the Windows NT core. It provided a more stable platform compared to Windows 98 and Windows Me, despite initial malware issues. Windows XP featured a vibrant blue interface, the iconic green Start button, and the recognizable "Bliss" wallpaper. It introduced customization options, including user-created themes, and tools like Stardock's WindowBlinds. Key features included System Restore, USB plug-and-play support, built-in CD burning, native ZIP file support, and Windows Movie Maker. Microsoft implemented an activation system to combat software piracy. Security measures improved significantly with the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in 2004, which introduced a default firewall and a Security Center. Windows XP became popular during the rise of the internet and supported applications like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Skype. It left a lasting cultural impact, with many users expressing nostalgia for the operating system.

AppWizard

July 25, 2025

Putin’s ‘digital gulag’: Inside the Kremlin’s attempt to construct a spy app to snoop on Russians

A new messenger app named Max, developed by Russian tech company VK, will be pre-installed on all new digital devices sold in Russia starting September. Analysts express concerns that Max, which integrates messaging, video calls, government services, and mobile payments, could be used as a surveillance tool by the Kremlin due to its architecture and local server location. There are fears that it may enable the government to monitor citizens closely, with a potential ban on popular apps like WhatsApp to steer users towards Max. Russian opposition journalist Andrey Okun has described Max as part of a "digital gulag" that allows for strict government oversight of citizens. Experts suggest that the introduction of Max is part of a broader initiative to enhance state surveillance capabilities. The Russian government has previously expressed frustration with foreign apps complicating surveillance, and attempts to block platforms like Telegram have had limited success, indicating a potential increase in efforts to control messaging services in the future.

Winsage

July 10, 2025

Microsoft’s dreaded ‘Blue Screen of Death’ is going away: Here’s what’s replacing it

Microsoft is revamping the "Blue Screen of Death" error message in Windows, replacing it with a "Black Screen of Death." This change is a response to the CrowdStrike outage from the previous year and will be implemented for current Windows 11 users later this summer. Additionally, Microsoft has officially discontinued Skype, which was announced in May following a previous announcement in February about its phase-out.