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
Another week, another batch of Windows 10 Insider Preview updates. Preview Build 10074 received multiple patches that included the typical bug fixes, as well as some new tweaks and features. One addition was support for the Dolby Digital Plus codec.
A bit more exciting was a new Dark Theme, which is easily enabled using a 15-second registry hack. The new theme gives the operating system a completely different feel, like night and day.
This week's patches also brought with them tweaks to the Windows 10 Store. The latest version of the store looks slightly different, with a download icon for checking the status of your installs and a new "My Library" section that gives you a look at all of the purchases you have made from the store. There is also an option to enable automatic updates for your apps.
We also got a look at what's coming to Windows 10 in the future. Microsoft showed off the upcoming Jump Lists in the Start menu. And Windows Insider leader, Gabriel Aul, assured us that although Windows 10 will no longer support Windows Media Center](/windows-media-center-gets-laid-rest-wont-appear-windows-10), there will still be native software that can play DVDs.
A lucky few got their hands on Build 10108, which likely won't be pushed out to Insiders, and posted some of their findings. While there wasn't anything monumentally different, there were several UI changes, some new context menus, and the 3D Builder app for 3D printing.
Microsoft also boldly declared Windows 10 'the last version of Windows', as they move away from their operating system as solely a product, in favor of shaping it into an ever-changing service. The times, they are a-changing for Windows as we know it.
Other notable items:
- Microsoft to offer Windows Update for Business as a free service for enterprise devices
- Audible for Windows 8 is gone, but it's not all bad news
- Cortana to offer tech support and business data answers in Windows 10
- Here are the features from IE that Microsoft Edge won't be using
- Microsoft Edge: Hands-on with features you can use today and a glimpse into the future
Microsoft
Microsoft's news of the week was the launch of the Surface 3 On Tuesday, the 10-inch tablet hit the shelves in the US and it's been making its way around the globe. If you are a Surface RT or Surface 2 owner in the US feeling like you are missing out, you can get up to $150 off the Surface 3 with trade-in offer
Following in the footsteps of the Windows Insider Preview Program, Microsoft also released Office 2016 as a public preview for people to check out. The preview is risk-free and easy to install.
Speaking of Office, it was also announced that Outlook.com users will be migrated over to Office 365 later this year. The move is allegedly an attempt to prepare the Outlook.com, Outlook on the Desktop, and Office 365 platforms for the development of third-party apps that will work across all three.
Skype saw its share of ups and downs. Microsoft revealed that their Skype for Business service would be capable of broadcasting meetings for up to 10,000 people. It will use Azure Media Services to stream audio, video, and PowerPoint presentations and will also work with Bing Pulse for sentiment tracking and Yammer for audience interaction.
The bad news is that an EU court shot down Microsoft's bid to trademark the Skype name According to the court, the name is too similar that of the Sky broadcasting network, and thus, a trademark would lead to confusion. Microsoft has already said that they will appeal the decision.
Other notable items
- Microsoft Sway presentation tools to be added to Office 365 for business and education users
- Unity Technologies details its partnership with Microsoft HoloLens
- New Microsoft Edge Dev site replaces Modern.IE for web developers
- The lead designer of Microsoft's Surface tablets gets the spotlight in new Microsoft video
- These are the messages hidden in Belfiore's Windows binary shirt
Miscellaneous
An even bigger court decision came from the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. A judge ruled that the controversial bulk collection of phone call data by the NSA was illegal. While this is huge news for proponents of personal privacy, the battle is far from over. The decision neither ends the program nor even temporarily halts it, as federal courts review it, and Congress mulls over changing the NSA program itself.
Facebook announced its intent to host entire articles from major publications directly, rather than linking to them externally. The initiative is an attempt to help speed up load times of articles from such companies as BuzzFeed, The New York Times, and National Geographic.
Facebook also bowed to pressure from net neutrality advocates and opened up access to their Internet.org platform to everyone. Initially, it was found that Facebook favored certain carriers and media outlets, raising the ire of many.
On the lighter side of things, we gave a video tour of the new HP Spectre x360 Ultrabook, a pretty impressive device.
We also unboxed the Surface 3, giving your impressions of the Microsoft's latest tablet along the way, and showed you our 10 Must-have apps for the first-time Surface owner.
Other notable items:
- T-Mobile hands out free phones to existing Verizon customers to test-drive its network
- Watch Jimmy Kimmel joke about new middle-finger emoji in Windows 10
- Windows Central photo contest: Clouds
- Highs and Lows Part II: Microsoft's smartphone strategy and the seeds of success
- Have questions about the new Surface 3? Dive into our dedicated forums!
- Uber reportedly makes a $3 billion bid for Nokia's HERE Maps division
Share your thoughts on this past week of news! And we'll be back again next week to do it all again.
