Meta launches new Privacy Center, leaving Facebook users the unenviable task of learning about privacy and security
TCFKAF (the company formerly known as Facebook), Meta, has launched Privacy Center, a new way for users to "learn more about our approach to privacy across our apps and technologies". Across five modules -- Security, Sharing, Collection, Use and Ads -- Meta gives users information about privacy across its services.
It also provides links to its endless and scattered collection of tools, settings and options for taking control of privacy and security. The new hub has already come in for criticism, however, as it places onus the burden of responsibility on users rather than hand-holding then through the process of locking down privacy.
Microsoft Edge for Windows 11 is getting Dynamic Refresh Rate to boost performance and reduce power consumption
While still a long way from being the most popular browser on the market, Microsoft Edge continues to be where some of the most interesting developments are to be found. A great example of this can be seen in the latest Canary build of the browser.
In Edge 99, Microsoft has added a new setting that can be configured to use higher refresh rates only when scrolling. This not only means that scrolling looks nicer, but also that the lower refresh rates used the rest of the time will help to reduce power consumption, thereby improving battery life on laptops.
Microsoft acknowledges that the KB5008212 update breaks Outlook search in Windows 10
Microsoft has acknowledged an issue following the installation of the KB5008212 update. The problem causes email searching in Outlook to break, and no fix is currently available.
To let people know about the issue, and to provide details of a workaround, Microsoft has published a support document entitled "Outlook Search not showing recent emails after Windows update KB5008212".
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.53.1 and adds new Always On Top utility
The first PowerToys release of 2022 is here, and it is a strong start to the year. With the release of PowerToys v0.53.1, Microsoft has not only added a new utility in the form of Always On Top, but has also made lots of fixes, changes, additions and improvements to the existing tools in the suite.
Among the other notable additions to this release are new supports options in the File Explorer preview pan, and the arrival of web searching from PowerToys Run. Microsoft says that "the v0.53 release cycle was designed for a maintenance sprint but with some amazing community support, it is loaded with greatness" -- and there certainly is a lot of greatness to explore.
The chronological feed is coming back to Instagram
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, has revealed details of tests that are currently underway that will change the way feeds are displayed on the platform. Among the options that are on the way is the much-requested ability to see a chronological feed.
In all, there are three feed viewing options that are undergoing testing -- something Mosseri describes as giving "you more control over your Instagram experience". Of the three views, two of them allow for chronological scrolling through posts.
Microsoft makes updated Notepad and Media Player available to more Windows 11 users
It has been suggested that Windows 11 shipped as an unfinished product. Microsoft would almost certainly disagree, but it's an idea that is backed up by the fact that bundled apps are being updated -- and not just with minor tweaks, but with major overhauls.
We've already seen a preview version of the redesigned Notepad, and now Microsoft is making this staple app available to more people, complete with a new dark mode option and more. And it doesn't end there. An updated version of Windows Media Player, which replaces Groove Music, is also available to a wider range of users.
RIP Popcorn Time -- 'Netflix of piracy' is no more
There are many names associated with piracy, some old -- think of Kazaa and Limewire -- others more current -- such as the Pirate Bay and endless sites of its ilk. One of the most recent phenomena in the world of piracy has been sites that offer movies and TV shows to stream.
One of the biggest sites of this type is Popcorn Time… or at least it was. The site dubbed the "Netflix of piracy" has passed on, it has ceased to be, it has expired and gone to meet its maker. Popcorn Time is an ex-site. It is dead.
Microsoft releases emergency KB5010196 and KB5010215 updates to fix serious remote desktop problems in Windows Server
Microsoft has issued an out-of-band update for Windows Server to address a problem with Remote Desktop that can prevent connections to a server.
There are two different updates available at the moment -- KB5010196 for Windows Server 2019, and KB5010215 for Windows Server 2012 R2 -- and Microsoft says that updates will be released for other affected platforms "in the coming days". As these are emergency, out-of-band updates, they are not currently available from Windows Update, and must instead be installed manually.
EdgeDeflector alternative MSEdgeRedirect now redirects more content to your default browser
Microsoft has been quite aggressive in pushing its Edge browser, raising the hackles of many Windows users by ignoring default browser settings. The company's approach means that regardless of which web browser is set as default in Windows 10 and Windows 11, certain types of web content will always open in Edge.
The links of EdgeDeflector and similar tools popped up to intercept such links – such as clicking links in the News widget in Windows 11 – and force them to open in the default browser, but Microsoft has been busily trying to block such activity. One tool that continue to work is MSEdgeRedirect, and it has just been updated to make it even more useful.
WSA PacMan is a new way to sideload Android apps in Windows 11
The arrival of Android app support in Windows 11 is something that has been met with mixed reactions. While many are happy to be able to use Windows Subsystem for Android to run apps and games, the fact that only the Amazon Appstore is supported has led to people seeking ways to sideload apps.
We've already seen the release of WSATools for this very purpose, and now there is a new open-source option. WSA PacMan is a delightfully accessible tool that makes it easy to sideload apps without the need to battle with ADB commands.
Microsoft releases fix for email-breaking Y2K22 bug in Exchange FIP-FS
Microsoft Exchange users were hit by a New Year bug that prevented the delivery of emails. The "year 2022" bug in the FIP-FS anti-malware scanner resulted in error messages including "The FIP-FS Scan Process failed initialization. Error: 0x8004005. Error Details: Unspecified Error" and "Error Code: 0x80004005. Error Description: Can't convert "2201010001" to long".
While the bug caused a degree of panic, Microsoft has now released an official fix. Anyone who has encountered the issue can apply the fix manually, or use an automated script to take care of things.
The first big Windows 11 update, Sun Valley 2, should be ready in mere months
Windows 11 may still have that new OS smell wafting off it, but there is still work to be done. We already know that Microsoft is only planning a single feature update each year, and it looks like the first major update for Windows 11 -- codenamed Sun Valley 2 -- could be available for testing in a matter of months.
Windows 11 22H2, as Sun Valley 2 is also known, is said to be scheduled to be completed in May. The update is expected to be finalized some time in the summer, and then be ready for a full release in the fall. But what can we look forward to in this release?
LastPass says master password leak warnings were sent in error
LastPass users around the world were thrown into a state of panic after the company issued email warning about unauthorized use of master passwords.
The password manager company advised users of suspicious login attempts using the master password associated with their account. This led to concerns that the company has been hacked or that passwords had been leaked, but LastPass says that the warnings were erroneous.
Microsoft confirms color problem in Windows 11 -- but a fix is weeks away
Windows 11 has a color rendering issue which results in some image editors showing white as yellow or other hues.
Although Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the problem and says that a fix is on the way, details are a little sparse. The problem affects certain HDR displays when using particular image editors, but the company has not revealed what combinations of hardware and software are problematic, or how widespread the issue is.
Intel releases performance-enhancing graphics driver update to fix Desktop Windows Manager problem in Windows 10 and Windows 11
There is good news for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users who have noticed high resource usage by Desktop Windows Manager.
Intel has released updated graphics driver which addresses an issue that caused DMW.exe to use more CPU time and RAM than it should. The update means that Intel's DCH drivers have now reached version 30.0.101.1191.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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