A lot can happen in a week. Seven days might not seem like much, but it can be an eternity in the tech news cycle.
Between Windows news, hardware and software developments and Microsoft's fast-paced movements throughout the technology landscape, it's never easy to keep your hand on the pulse of technology. Not to mention everything that's going on right here at Windows Central!
Every week we're going to compile the biggest stories into one post, so you never fall behind – In Case You Missed It (ICYMI).
Windows
Season's greetings, everybody!
This week, Microsoft rolled out the Windows 10 PC 'Redstone' preview build 11082 to Fast Ring Windows Insiders. While it doesn't bring any significant new features and contains a few known issues, it is the first build to bring us past the Threshold build.
Don't expect any more new Windows 10 Insider Preview builds for PC or Mobile until January 2016, but know that new releases will arrive more often once they start up again.
It was a banner week for Windows 10 apps, as we saw some big names showing up in the Store. Firefox finally released the 64-bit version of their browser for Windows.
Pandora put out an app to match the one they already had for smartphones.
Netflix also launched a Windows 10 PC and tablet app. The video streaming service also assured us that a Windows 10 Mobile app is due out in the "near future."
American Express not only redesigned their mobile app, rebranding from Amex to American Express, but they also made the jump to PC.
And the massively popular game World of Tanks Blitz rolled its way onto Windows 10 as well.
Ever wonder why, despite Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP), some apps are only available for either PC or smartphone and not both? We did you a solid to explain what the UWP is precisely and what it means for developers, apps, and end users.
Other notable items:
- Microsoft continues to push Windows 7 and 8 users to upgrade to Windows 10
- The Windows Store has seen 2.5 billion visits since Windows 10 launched
- How to set up a kid-friendly Windows 10 device with a child account
- Windows 10 gets cumulative update, bringing it up to Insider build 10586.36
- 27 essential apps you should install on your Windows 10 computer
- How to disconnect Skype from Messaging in Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile
- Windows 10 family settings updates lets parents give more screen time to kids
- Windows 10 gets better protection against 'drive-by attacks' in IE11 and Microsoft Edge
- Tech support call center accused of fraudulently charging $80 for free Windows 10 upgrades
- How to disable Action Center in Windows 10
Microsoft
Microsoft has implemented some more changes to their OneDrive service; this time, for the better. Even though they recently cut the amount of storage for users with free accounts, those who had previously been given a 10GB "Loyalty Bonus" will continue to retain it.
Certain enterprise, government, and education organizations who have Office 365 Enterprise plans will now be given unlimited OneDrive storage. The additional space will start rolling out at the end of the month.
Windows 10 users who previously enjoyed the OneDrive placeholder feature that was removed from the OS may be happy to hear that Windows 10's Redstone update is expected to bring it back.
Microsoft is looking for your input to help improve other services as well. In their support forums, they have asked users some questions about how they can improve Continuum on Windows smartphones.
They've also launched their first global survey of Windows Insiders to help plan for 2016.
Both the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 receive stability improvements for the Type Cover, touchpad and typing. And now you can customize your Surface Pen to work with any apps you want.
With Santa Claus soon to be taking flight to deliver gifts around the world, Cortana, Edge, and Microsoft Maps have teamed up with NORAD to track Santa on Christmas Eve. While you wait for Santa, you can also enjoy crackling fireplace on your Bing homepage.
Other notable items:
- Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book promo videos put them to work
- Microsoft's Project Oxford has released previews of its Speaker Recognition and Video APIs
- Microsoft India's research wing sees 30 percent profit hike in 2015
- Xbox Fitness now lets you shed calories without a Kinect sensor
- Microsoft Philanthropies hopes to improve the world through technology
- Bing Pulse real-time polling tools are now Microsoft Pulse real-time polling tools
- Microsoft launches new partnership to bring Windows 10 to Chinese government
- The HoloLens Experience: Microsoft's developer introduction to the holographic headset
- HoloLens video clips show how the holographic headset works from the user's perspective
- Hacker group claims it brought down Xbox Live this week, pledges to do it again
- Microsoft posts official Surface Hub user guide ahead of Jan. 1 ship date
- Microsoft acquires data analytics start up Metanautix
- Microsoft uses your usage data to personalize ads; here's how to opt out
- Office 365 Outlook web mail will soon automatically add flights to your calendar
Miscellaneous
Get ready to fuel your travels through the wasteland with Fallout 4's Nuka Cola Quantum. The choice of a nuked generation was restocked and just went on sale at Target yesterday.
Intel updated their RealSense SDK with improvements in facial tracking and recognition.
Just ahead of CES, LG announced some new goodies, including a super-lightweight 15" laptop and a trio of new 4K monitors.
Rdio is shutting down after "key assets" of the company were sold off to Pandora. But the company is making good with its soon-to-be-former customers by giving them a chance to download archives of their Rdio history. Users have until December 22 to take them up on their offer.
Other notable items:
- 'Assassin's Creed Collection' domain registered by Ubisoft
- Twitter brings Moments to the UK to help you see what's trending
- Scale new VR heights with The Climb for Oculus Rift, from the makers of Crysis
- Turn your virtual Minecraft avatar into a real-life USB flash drive with Minetoys
- NVIDIA's latest GeForce Experience Beta adds in-game screenshot capture, editing and 4K upload
- Tobii adds support for Windows Hello to its eye-tracking cameras
- EE recalls every Power Bar USB battery due to overheating complaints
- Dell unveils refreshed Latitude 5000 Series notebooks with improved design and security
- Evernote discontinues Evernote for Pebble, Skitch and Clearly
Share your thoughts on this past week of news! And we'll be back again next week to do it all over again.
