October 2024
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Windows 11 24H2 has been released. As usual, it will show as an optional update. It is being gradually released, so you may not see it immediately. We recommend not installing it yet unless one of the new features directly affect you. Let others work out the bugs.
Most changes are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which became available only a few months ago. Copilot+ features require a Copilot+ computer with specific hardware (See below). New features: enhanced battery saver, Bluetooth LE audio, HDR background support, changes to File Explorer, 7-Zip support, “voice clarity”, a new remote desktop client, and support for Wi-Fi 7 (which requires Wi-Fi 7 hardware). Technical details. The version upgrade is a full reinstall, unlike other recent updates.
Windows 11 versions are named after the year (22, 23, 24), then which half year – H1 or H2. New Window 11 versions are released annually in the second half of the year.
Microsoft Recall is also included in Windows 11 24H2. It is turned off by default. Recall is a tool to track your computer activity, making it easier to review. The security and privacy architecture has changed to address negative feedback. It can now be uninstalled.
The ability to share content to your Android device is part of Windows 11 24H2 and is coming to Windows 11 23H2 in the September security update.
On October 8, 2024, Microsoft releases the last round of security updates for Windows 11 version 22H2. Be sure to upgrade if you have not already done so.
Support for Windows 10 ends in one year. Plan your upgrades. If you want CoPilot capable hardware, see below. As you can see, all new development is now in Windows 11.
Recently released Microsoft Copilot+ machines with ARM processors are incompatible with many online games and some Adobe products. The ARM chip — which includes an NPU (neural processing unit) in addition to the usual CPU and GPU —differs significantly from Intel and AMD processors.
If you want a PC with local AI capabilities, consider waiting until hardware comes out with Intel or AMD processors, which should be fully compatible with existing software. They are expected in early 2025. Check software compatibility with ARM processors at worksonwoa.com.
OneNote for Windows 10 will end support in October 2025. You can recognize OneNote for Windows 10 because it is missing the “File” menu. OneNote Versions.
To learn more about the different versions of OneNote, check out this helpful article.
Beginning October 15th, 2024, the Teams desktop client may present a banner notifying users if they are on an unsupported Windows OS version with a link to this page.
For those using QuickBooks to process credit cards:
If you get emails from Quickbooks regarding SecurityMetrics for PCI compliance, you can ignore them. It is a shady marketing ploy to get you to sign up with SecurityMetrics. QuickBooks provides you with their credit card payment portal to take credit card payments, which is PCI compliant. Your computer doesn’t need to be “PCI compliant” if you don’t store Credit Card or other PCI data locally on your computer.
If you use QuickBooks Online, take a look at righttool. It’s a Chrome and Edge browser extension that provides a customizable toolbar for QBO, which is more flexible than the built-in menu.
If you are moving from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, consider changing payroll services – QBO only offers fully managed payroll and has a bad reputation (more from Reddit). Gusto.com for payroll integrates with QBO and is getting good reviews. (More from Reddit).
ActiveX will be disabled by default in Office 2024, affecting Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio. This change occurs in October 2024 for Office 2024 and begins in April 2025 for Microsoft 365 apps. Users can re-enable ActiveX by adjusting Trust Center Settings, the registry, or group policy settings.
iPhone 16 and 16 Pro announced, along with iOS 18.
Consider waiting to install iOS 18. Let others work out the bugs, and wait for the iOS 18.x with Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence was announced but is not yet available. It is supported on an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16, iPadPro M1 or later, and Macbook with M1 or later.
MacOS 15 Sequoia supporting Apple Intelligence- details and review.
Intel has spent most of 2024 investigating and trying to fix problems that caused crashes and instability for owners of its high-end 13th- and 14th-generation Core desktop processors.
Intel finds the root cause of CPU crashing and instability errors and prepares a new and final microcode update.
AI
Copilot in Excel helps analyze and display data. It includes support for Python. More.
Copilot in Outlook helps manage your inbox.
Microsoft PowerPoint has a “narrative builder.”
Copilot in Teams can now reason over both the meeting transcript and the meeting chat to give you a complete picture of what was discussed. More.
Copilot in OneDrive can reason over all your files quickly to find the information you need.
Copilot in Word helps compose documents – coming this Month.
Copilot pages build on Microsoft Loop for collaboration.
Agents are AI assistants designed to automate and execute business processes, working with or for humans. They range in capability from simple, prompt-and-response agents to agents that replace repetitive tasks to more advanced, fully autonomous agents.
To build Copilot agents, use agent builder, powered by Copilot Studio.
Copilot agents and agent builder in SharePoint will enter preview in early October.
Licensing requirements for Microsoft 365 Copilot: It is an add-on plan for most MS 365 bundled licenses, such as MS 365 Business. $20/Month for Personal use, $30/Month for business.
AI bots now beat 100% of those traffic-image CAPTCHAs.
LinkedIn admitted that it has been training its own AI on many users’ data without seeking consent.
As AI deepfakes sow doubt in legitimate media, anyone can claim something didn’t happen.
Fact-checking services face existential challenges worldwide.
Cops lure pedophiles with AI pics of a teen girl on Snapchat. New Mexico then sued Snapchat.
SECURITY
Keyless systems in cars in 2024 are still easy to hack. Under ten percent of the cars tested could not be outwitted.
Electronic payment gateway Slim CD has been hit by a cyber-attack, potentially exposing the credit card details of 1.7 million individuals.
U.S. govt agency CMS data breach impacted 3.1 million people
CMS is a federal agency within the HHS that administers the nation’s major healthcare programs, including Medicaid and CHIP.
Hackers can plant false memories in ChatGPT to steal user data in perpetuity.
Massive China-state IoT botnet went undetected for four years.
75% of infected devices were located in homes and offices in North America and Europe.
HUMOR
TORIAN GROUP
Tim Torian