Microsoft apps news

Microsoft’s October Patch Tuesday includes 1,408 CVEs and one already exploited Windows flaw. The exploited issue is a Windows Shell bug that can bypass Mark of the Web, and Microsoft says customers need to take action. The release also includes fixes for critical issues and a SharePoint Server flaw that was attacked before the update.

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Nano controller, a smaller and cheaper controller for Xbox players. It is designed for people who want something portable, including younger players, people with smaller hands, or anyone who wants to play on the go. The controller is meant for Windows and Xbox users who want a compact option. Readers who want one can look for Microsoft’s new controller announcement and pricing.

Microsoft says it has dismantled a criminal marketplace behind 1 billion malicious messages. The action affects people targeted by phishing campaigns, including Windows and Microsoft account users, because the network sold ready-made phishing kits that were used to steal data. Microsoft worked with international authorities and other tech and cybersecurity companies to take down Yam Store. Users should stay alert for phishing emails and avoid entering account details through suspicious links.

Microsoft says it helped dismantle a scam message network with Japan’s National Police Agency. The operation targeted a marketplace used by scammers to send phishing texts around the world, which may mean fewer fake parking ticket and package delivery messages for Windows users and other people. There is no action needed from readers.

Microsoft is rolling out a new in-house AI chip for its cloud products and services. The Maia 300 is designed to improve the cost and efficiency of running AI workloads and to handle newer reasoning models and agentic tasks. This matters for Windows users who rely on Microsoft 365, Edge, Xbox, OneDrive, or other Microsoft services that depend on Microsoft’s cloud. The change is behind the scenes, so there is nothing users need to do now.

Microsoft is trying to give Windows a fresh push. The story says Windows 11 is still the main focus, and Microsoft is building on it instead of moving on to Windows 12. This matters to Windows PC users because it points to more changes in the operating system they already use.

Microsoft is testing a redesigned Windows Search for Windows 11. The new experience is meant to be faster, more capable, and more modern, which should matter to people who use Search to find apps, files and settings on their PCs.

Microsoft 365 shared plans are about to get less OneDrive storage. The change affects family members on shared Microsoft 365 subscriptions, so if you use that cloud space for files, you may need to review what is stored and how much space you have left.

Microsoft is expanding Copilot on Windows PCs so it can act on local files, organize them, make changes and run certain tasks using on-device AI models. The change affects Copilot+ PC users and is due in the coming months. If you use a Copilot+ PC, expect Copilot to have more control over files on your device. Microsoft says the aim is to combine local and cloud AI processing.

Microsoft is adding remote PC connections to the Windows App on Windows. People who use the app for Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, or Microsoft Dev Box, and also need direct access to traditional Windows PCs, can now use one app instead of separate remote access tools.

Microsoft has opened pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. The new hardware is aimed at developers, AI engineers, and technical professionals who want to run AI and development workloads on local Windows PCs.

Microsoft is ending support and updates for Office 2021 on October 13. People still using Office 2021 on Windows PCs will need to plan an alternative, since the software will no longer get updates after support ends. The summary says there are five options to consider.

Google Wallet tap-to-pay is not working for some Pixel users. Google has not provided a fix yet, but the summary says there are a few things that have helped other users. If you are affected, try the suggested workarounds in the article.

Microsoft is rolling out Excel Canvas through October, adding Copilot-generated reports to Excel. The feature turns workbook data into reports with visualizations, metrics and insights, and the reports refresh automatically when the data changes. It is for users who have access to Copilot in Excel, and they can adjust reports with natural language prompts. The article does not mention any Windows-specific issue or fix.