Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Xbox's Next Decade: Handhelds and Next-Gen Consoles

2025-03-10

Microsoft's Xbox strategy is shifting. While console sales have declined, its active user base has skyrocketed thanks to the Activision-Blizzard acquisition. Microsoft is focusing on a multi-platform strategy, including a planned 2025 release of an Xbox-branded handheld, codenamed "Keenan," running Windows and deeply integrated with PC Game Pass. More excitingly, Microsoft has greenlit next-gen Xbox consoles, slated for 2027, which will be closer to Windows, improving developer efficiency and continuing backward compatibility. This move aims to solidify its core user base and maintain competitiveness through more powerful hardware and tighter Windows integration.

(www.windowscentral.com)

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Microsoft to Shutter Skype? The End of an Era?

2025-02-28

Reports suggest Microsoft is preparing to shut down its long-standing communication app, Skype, in the coming months. A hidden string in the latest Skype for Windows preview hints at a May shutdown, prompting users to switch to Teams. Once a dominant VoIP platform, Skype has faced stiff competition from newer apps like Telegram and WhatsApp. Despite integration attempts within the Microsoft ecosystem, Skype has struggled to maintain relevance. The move appears to be a strategic shift towards consolidating users on the Teams platform.

(www.windowscentral.com)

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Microsoft's Secret Free Office: Ads for Access

2025-02-24

Microsoft has quietly released a free version of Microsoft Office for Windows, allowing document editing without a Microsoft 365 subscription or license key. This free version, based on the full desktop apps, locks most features behind a Microsoft 365 paywall. It includes persistent in-document ads in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and only saves files to OneDrive. To access it, skip the sign-in prompt. While you can open, view, and edit documents, advanced features like add-ins, dictation, and advanced formatting are unavailable. This free Office appears to be in limited testing.

(www.windowscentral.com)

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Notepad's AI Rewrite Feature: A Freemium Trojan Horse?

2025-02-19

Microsoft's venerable Notepad, a staple for decades, now features an AI-powered 'Rewrite' tool. However, accessing this feature requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, sparking debate. While Notepad remains free and usable without an account, the prominent prompts for the Rewrite function feel like a subtle push towards a paid model. Though the core functionality remains free, the persistent ads for a premium service raise questions about Microsoft's long-term strategy for its classic applications.

(www.windowscentral.com)

Tech

Microsoft Kills Free VPN in Defender After Price Hike

2025-02-02

Microsoft's free VPN feature in Microsoft Defender, included with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions since 2023, is being discontinued on February 28, 2025. This announcement follows a recent price increase for Microsoft 365 subscriptions, leaving users feeling shortchanged. While the price hike includes the new AI-powered Copilot, many consider the loss of the convenient VPN a significant drawback.

(www.windowscentral.com)

Tech

Leaked: Microsoft's Scrapped Dynamic Wallpapers for Windows 11

2025-01-03

Former Microsoft designer Sergey Kisselev revealed designs for dynamic wallpapers intended for Windows 11. These wallpapers, featuring various animations and still images, were designed to complement the centered Start Menu and Taskbar, primarily targeting educational users. However, the feature never shipped, suggesting cancellation or postponement. While early hints appeared in Insider builds, it didn't make it into the 23H2 release, and its future remains uncertain.

(www.windowscentral.com)

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