Robotics

ZDNETHere we go again. A zombie news story that should have been laid to rest last January has risen from the grave and is walking among us again.The original storyIn case you missed the original story, here’s a recap: Last January, dozens of tech-focused news sites reported that the free upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 was “for a limited time only.” In a quote from the same source, they warned that Microsoft had decreed you would need to upgrade to Windows 11 to continue using Microsoft 365 apps on your PC after the Oct. 14, 2025, end-of-support deadline for Windows 10. Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 – 2 free optionsThe problem with all those reports is that they were based on an article by a very junior Microsoft employee posted on an obscure blog for Microsoft nonprofit customers. It wasn’t an official announcement, and the post was deleted that same day. A Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNET’s sister publication PCMag that the blog post “contained inaccurate information and a misleading headline.” Microsoft’s official support document, “What Windows end of support means for Office and Microsoft 365,” had been published a month earlier and was much less alarming. It begins: “Microsoft 365 apps will no longer be supported on Windows 10 after it reaches end of support on October 14, 2025.” That statement is repeated in bold later in the document: Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After that date, if you’re running Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows 10 device, the applications will continue to function as before. However, we strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability issues over time. Back in the newsSo why did this zombie story start appearing in my news feeds today? I blame Forbes. They’re the ones standing there, shovel in hand, shouting about “Microsoft’s surprise deadline u-turn” while continuing to quote from the inaccurate, long-since-deleted zombie blog post. Also: Is your Microsoft account passwordless yet? Why it (probably) should be and how to do it rightThis week’s fuss is based on a newly published page at Microsoft’s product documentation site, Microsoft Learn: “Windows 10 end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps,” which contains this note: To help maintain security while you transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support. These updates will be delivered through the standard update channels, ending on October 10, 2028. That shouldn’t be a surprise. The three-year continuation in security updates for Microsoft 365 matches the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates available to Microsoft’s enterprise customers. It would be a nightmare to rebuild the Microsoft 365 update servers so they delivered updates only to PCs running Windows 10 with an ESU subscription while blocking other Windows 10 devices. So everyone gets those updates. More

Petri Oeschger/Getty Images With LastPass’s browser extension for password management already well-positioned to observe — and even restrict — employee web usage, the security company has announced that it’s diversifying into SaaS monitoring for small to midsize enterprises (SMEs).  SaaS monitoring is part of a larger technology category known as SaaS Identity and Access Management, or SaaS […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Shokz OpenDots One are the company’s first clip-on earbuds, available in Black and Grey for $199. They sport a comfortable, nondescript design with Shokz’s industry-leading bone conduction audio technology. However, the earbuds’ touch controls are unreliable and awkward to use. –> I used to not be a Shokz believer; the […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The LG C5 OLED boosts dazzling brightness and color. It features an ultra-slim body, with material choices that evoke premium. It’s priced relatively high for the nominal upgrades over last year’s model. more buying choices I would argue that the most crucial aspect of any television set is its picture quality. […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETGemini is hitting the road.According to Google, there are over 250 million cars that support Android Auto today, and more than 50 car models with Google built directly into the infotainment system. Those vehicles are about to get a lot smarter, as Gemini is coming to Android Auto. Also: Finally, I found an Android Auto adapter that’s highly functional, lag-free, and priced wellGemini for Android Auto will work the same as it does everywhere else, meaning you’ll have access to conversations, insight, helpful advice, and more. Here’s a look at just a few of the unique ways you can use Gemini on the go in Android Auto.1. Find the perfect restaurantIf hunger hits while you’re driving, Gemini can help you find what you’re looking for. Just ask Gemini to “find great burger places along the way,” and you’ll get a list of restaurants that specialize in them. You can ask for insight from reviews or ask common questions like what the hours are. Once you’ve decided, Gemini can connect to Google Maps to get you there. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETAndroid 16 is coming, and with it, we’ll see a considerable refresh on the UI front. It’s been four years since Material You was first released, and the latest iteration (version 3) looks to include some features and improvements that many have been hoping for.Also: Your Android devices are getting a major Gemini upgrade – cars and watches includedFrom animations to notifications, everything in the Android UI looks like it will see serious improvement. Here’s what’s coming to this refreshed UI.1. Animations with a little more pepFrom the demos I’ve seen, animations (across the board) are springier and more responsive. What’s really nice about this change is that it almost feels more organic. For example, when you drag an animation, the adjoining animations subtly react to the movement. This will also help make Android components more responsive, at least visually so.2. Blurs and shading More

Evgeny Ostroushko / Getty Images Will artificial intelligence (AI) help smash through the technical debt that has been growing in recent years? Or will emerging technology add a new layer of issues? Or, looking at it another way, could the overhang of technical debt slow down efforts to adopt AI? The good news is that […] More

NurPhoto / Getty Images Would you believe Microsoft has announced a new Linux distribution service for its Azure cloud service? You should.  For many years, the most popular operating system on Azure has not been Windows Server, it’s been Linux. Last time I checked, in 2024, Azure Linux Platforms Group Program Manager Jack Aboutboul told […] More