Inside the overpacked Microsoft 365 app

MICROSOFT 365

By Peter Deegan

The Microsoft 365 app — formerly known as the Office 365 app — is what I call the Office “all-in-one” app.

It’s available for Apple (iPhone/iPad) and Android devices and combines the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint mobile apps into a single app — with elements of OneDrive, the Lens app, and many other Microsoft features thrown in for good measure. Anyone can use the app, though there are some extras for Microsoft 365 customers.

Because the “all-new” Microsoft 365 mobile app is being pushed heavily, let’s take a closer look.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

Ten top forum topics — Newsletter and blog

FROM THE FORUMS

As you all know, a forum topic is associated with every post on our blog (the site’s home page) and every article published in our newsletter.

Almost every one of those topics generates some interest, so almost all have at least a few replies from the readership. The replies may be compliments on our articles, complaints about what we have written, disagreement with our conclusions, corrections of errors, further information about the topic, or in-depth commentary about specific points.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

How to get the most out of Google Bard and Bing Chat

PUBLIC DEFENDER

By Brian Livingston

Whether you like it or not, generative artificial intelligence — gen AI — is making its way into Google’s search engine, Gmail, and Docs. Its Redmond competitor is building OpenAI’s GPT-4 into Microsoft 365, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Other tech companies don’t want to go down the tubes like buggy whips, slide rules, and Silicon Valley Bank. So they’re all racing against the two software giants to bolt gen AI into their apps and gadgets. Who knows, you might get AI-driven responses from holographic humanoids in Facebook’s failed virtual metaverse.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).

Large or small? Old or new? Borrowed and blue?

HARDWARE

By Ben Myers

Decade-long trends in computer hardware make for more expansive and perplexing choices.

So you need to buy another computer, or two, or more? What do you buy — large or small, mainstream brand, traditional or custom, new or used?

Running a cradle-to-grave computer business including the repair and resale of gently used computers, I originally expected to portray the various tradeoffs between buying new and buying used computers. Then I realized that the trends that have swept over the computer industry in the past decade can, and do, have great influence over what to buy. Trends first, new vs. used later.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).

Firmware and drivers

PATCH WATCH

By Susan Bradley

Why are drivers and firmware so important?

Once upon a time, you would set up a computer and any display adapter driver or firmware would be automatically installed to match the hardware. More than likely, you would not install new drivers for a long, long time.

But now with both Windows 10 and 11, I annually review drivers and firmware as the Windows feature releases come out. I go through certain steps and processes to rule out issues that might have been triggered by out-of-date drivers, especially if I’ve encountered side effects that I can’t otherwise explain.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).

Are you checking your backup tonight?

As Alex pointed out …. today is World Backup day.

Just a reminder, issues like ransomware can be thwarted by having a backup. Specifically, something that the bad guys can’t touch. So rotate out those hard drives. Have a cloud backup with versioning that is protected from access. Make sure you are protected.

Now while this is a marketing session that demands you sign up and register – I still enjoy Jessica Payne and her talks how how we can do better against ransomware. From the recent Microsoft Secure session.

MS-DEFCON 4: Win11 22H2 not ready for prime time

By Susan Bradley

March updates are ready. Windows 11 22H2, not so much.

It’s time to install the updates for the March releases, and that’s why I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. There are a few issues out there, but most appear to be plain old low-risk bugs — things that used to be caught in Microsoft’s beta testing. As usual, it seems we’re the beta testers.

I have several Windows 11 22H2 deployments in active use. If you are not an advanced user, are relatively new to the Windows platform, or are really into rounded corners and having to click several times to build shortcuts on your desktop, you might be tempted to forgive Microsoft for some of these cosmetic bugs.

Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.13.1, 2023-03-28).

Apple zero days fixed today

💻 macOS Ventura 13.3 – 58 bugs fixed
📱 iOS and iPadOS 16.4 – 33 bugs fixed
💻 macOS Monterey 12.6.4 – 27 bugs fixed
💻 macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 – 25 bugs fixed
⌚ watchOS 9.4 – 16 bugs fixed

📱 iOS and iPadOS 15.7.4 – 16 bugs fixed
📺 tvOS 16.4 – 14 bugs fixed
🌐 Safari 16.4 – 2 bugs fixed
🛠️ Studio Display Firmware Update 16.4 – 1 bug fixed

Several bugs may have been actively exploited. So far I’m only seeing targeted attacks, not widespread.

You’re fired if you don’t know how to use GPT-4

PUBLIC DEFENDER

By Brian Livingston

Mainstream media outlets are ablaze with news about GPT-4, OpenAI’s enormously powerful artificial-intelligence engine that will soon be shoehorned into every nook and cranny of Microsoft 365. Suddenly, knowing how to “prompt” (program) a generative AI app has become an essential requirement for your job or your life. God help us.

We’ve all been instantly transported into the 25th-century world of Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard. You may think we’re still in the year 2023. But now — by entering just a few words — you can propel your personal starship through the galaxy at Warp 9. Or you can remain stuck in place and be assimilated by the Borg. Resistance is futile.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.13.0, 2023-03-27).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

Microsoft 365 Copilot announced

MICROSOFT NEWS

By Will Fastie

Another shoe has dropped in Microsoft’s quest to build generative AI into just about everything.

On March 16, Microsoft announced a new feature named Copilot, which will be provided with Microsoft 365 accounts. Copilot uses generative artificial intelligence, a large language model (LLM), and the Microsoft Graph to provide services based on natural language prompts. Examples of such prompting are evident in the controversial BingAI, but Microsoft emphasized its commitment to “responsible AI” for Copilot.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.13.0, 2023-03-27).

What’s wrong with OneNote — and what you can fix

ONENOTE

By Mary Branscombe

OneNote is one of my favorite applications — but one that frustrates me far too often.

It’s not me or you — it’s OneNote. Here’s a quick rundown of the annoying things that are just too hard (or downright impossible) to use, and some tips about how you can make those annoyances less so.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.13.0, 2023-03-27).

Temp_Cleaner GUI — Just what I was looking for

FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT

By Deanna McElveen

When I go looking for a piece of free software for a particular need, I usually have a checklist in my mind.

In this case, I was looking for a program that we could put on customers’ computers after a tune-up to help them in two ways. First is having a way to keep things cleaned out. Second is discouraging the client from downloading bundleware contained in other cleanup programs.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.13.0, 2023-03-27).