➀ Microsoft now defaults to passkeys for new accounts, using email verification and biometric authentication to enhance security;

➁ Passkeys eliminate traditional passwords, reducing risks of phishing and credential theft;

➂ Microsoft aims to phase out passwords entirely, with experiments showing a 20% reduction in password usage.

➀ In 2005, Janet Jackson's song 'Rhythm Nation' was found to crash laptops by resonating with hard drive frequencies, leading Microsoft to implement a Windows XP audio filter.

➁ Despite Windows updates allowing users to disable audio filters, Microsoft made an exception for this specific filter to prevent hardware crashes, even in Windows 11.

➂ The issue is now largely obsolete due to SSD adoption, but the legacy filter remains a quirky example of software-hardware interaction.

➀ Windows 7 users with solid-color backgrounds experienced a 30-second login delay due to a system waiting for nonexistent wallpaper data;

➁ Microsoft veteran Raymond Chen revealed the code-level bug caused the system to timeout while awaiting bitmap loading confirmation;

➂ The issue persisted for four months post-Windows 7 launch until Microsoft patched it in November 2009.

➀ The market has focused on '2GW of lease cancellations', but this only covers non-binding LOIs, not firm contracts.

➁ Microsoft has ~5GW of pre-leased capacity under binding contracts set to start operations between 2025 and 2028.

➂ Microsoft walked away from significantly more than 2GW of non-binding contracts over the last two quarters.

➀ Data centres, driven by AI and cloud computing, are energy-intensive and face an environmental challenge due to their high power consumption.

➁ Current solutions like renewable energy and advanced cooling systems are insufficient to meet the growing demand for data processing and storage.

➂ Nuclear power is proposed as a potential solution for powering data centres, offering sustainable energy with benefits such as high energy density and low emissions, though challenges like safety concerns and high costs remain.

➀ In Q1'25, global venture funding reached $121 billion, driven by OpenAI's $40 billion raise, valuing the company at $300 billion;

➁ Despite a decline in deal count, AI startups remained the primary beneficiaries of this capital concentration, capturing more than half of the quarter's funding;

➂ The AI dealmaking landscape is evolving, with a shift from infrastructure investments to vertical solutions and application-layer platforms.

➀ The dilemma facing Big Tech is the cost of building AI, with estimates ranging from tens of millions to tens of billions;

➁ Some investments in cheap, effective Chinese products have raised concerns about the wisdom of some investments;

➂ Microsoft is withdrawing from data center projects in various countries, and expectations for GenAI are declining due to high failure rates and dissatisfaction with current results;

➃ OpenAI is not yet profitable and expects positive cash flow only in 2029, despite spending $644 billion on AI programs and data centers.

➀ Microsoft has announced that several Windows 11 Copilot+ AI features are graduating from Snapdragon X exclusivity to AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V PCs.

➁ Features such as Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator are now available on modern AMD and Intel systems, as well as PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X (SDX) series processors.

➂ The Live Captions feature can translate from 27 languages into Simplified Chinese and is expected to be available for Ryzen AI 300 and Ultra 200V PC users soon.

➀ The article discusses the importance of virtualization licensing in server hardware costs.

➁ It focuses on AMD's EPYC processors and their optimization for virtualization applications.

➂ The author explores how newer processors offer performance improvements, which can lead to significant cost savings in licensing.

➀ It's no secret that Xbox is expanding its reach beyond just hardware, with a move to platforms such as Sony's PlayStation console paying off. The latest title to make the move is Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, a well-reviewed game that first made a splash on the Xbox.

➁ With multiple Microsoft titles shooting to the top of the PlayStation Store's preorder page, it's a clear sign that Microsoft's cross-platform efforts are paying off.

➂ Microsoft is keenly aware of the PlayStation 5's strong sales and is making its games available on other platforms to capitalize on this.

➀ Wiz, a cybersecurity provider for cloud-based businesses, has been acquired by Google for $32 billion after rejecting a $23 billion offer last July.

➁ Wiz offers cloud-agnostic security solutions by supporting multiple cloud providers including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud.

➂ Wiz was founded by a team that previously sold a company, Adallom, to Microsoft for $320 million.

➀ Microsoft's Xbox is reportedly advancing towards a new gaming path, as indicated by an image from a recent blog post that revealed an early look at an updated Xbox app UI.

➁ The UI includes a 'Steam' tab within the game library, suggesting the potential for launching Steam games directly from the Xbox app without switching platforms.

➂ However, the feasibility of playing Steam games on Xbox is questionable due to platform-specific game purchases. The more likely explanation is that Microsoft is preparing for a partnership with ASUS for an Xbox-branded handheld, aiming to improve the software experience for this collaboration.

➀ Microsoft has sent out emails to remind Windows 10 users that support for the OS will end on October 14, 2025.

➁ After the end date, Windows 10 will no longer receive critical updates, making it more vulnerable to security threats.

➂ Users can pay $30 for an additional year of updates, but Windows 11 requires hardware upgrades for many systems.

➀ The Magnificent Seven, known for their market-moving influence, are currently experiencing losses;

➁ All seven companies closed last week at least 14.5% below their most recent three-month high;

➂ Tesla's share price has nearly halved since December 17 due to CEO Elon Musk's involvement with the Trump administration and the resulting damage to the brand.

➀ Windows 10 will stop receiving free security updates in October 2025;

➁ Many PCs cannot run Windows 11 due to hardware requirements;

➂ Charities face the challenge of what to do with these PCs, considering security risks and the need for user-friendly systems.

➀ Microsoft has lifted the compatibility hold on Windows 11 24H2 for PCs with certain versions of AutoCAD installed.

➁ A bug in 24H2 affected AutoCAD 2022, preventing it from launching.

➂ The issue is resolved by Autodesk in the software update S182.0.0 AutoCAD 2022.1.4 or higher updates.

➀ Cloud games run entirely on remote servers managed by big tech companies like Nvidia, Sony, Amazon, Microsoft, and Jio. Users don't need to download or install anything locally; they can simply log in and play.

➁ The advantages of cloud games include not needing expensive hardware, platform independence, frequent feature updates, and no piracy concerns. However, they require a stable and fast internet connection and may consume a lot of data.

➂ Major players in cloud gaming include Microsoft Xbox Gaming Pass Ultimate, Nvidia GeForce Now, PlayStation Plus, Amazon Luna, and Boosteroid. Cloud gaming is expanding globally, with opportunities for data centers, ISPs, and device manufacturers.