Best of Microsoft — October 2025
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DevBlogs·32w
PowerToys 0.95 is here: new Light Switch utility, faster Command Palette, and Peek with Spacebar
PowerToys 0.95 introduces Light Switch, a new utility for automatic light/dark mode switching based on time or location. Command Palette receives major performance improvements with a new fuzzy matcher, reducing search times by up to 95% in some cases. Peek now opens with the spacebar by default, Find My Mouse supports transparency, and shortcut conflicts can be ignored or unassigned. Additional updates include Mouse Pointer Crosshairs customization, DSC v3 support, and ZoomIt smooth zooming.
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Tech World With Milan·31w
What is a Principal Engineer at Microsoft?
Dejan Dundjerski, Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft's Belgrade Development Center, shares his 20-year journey from building POCs for Azure SQL's first open-source database to replatforming Azure SQL Managed Instance at 10x scale. He explains that principal engineers differ from seniors by not just identifying problems but implementing solutions and leading others to join. Key advice includes focusing on simplicity in architectural decisions, understanding technical details deeply in your domain, avoiding short-term workarounds, and making changes at the right level of the tech stack. He emphasizes problem-solving mindset over titles, recommends blocking time for deep focus while handling 30-second tasks immediately, and treats LLMs as queryable libraries rather than requiring comprehensive study.
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Hacker News·33w
As Microsoft lays off thousands and jacks up Game Pass prices, former FTC chair says I told you so: The Activision-Blizzard buyout is 'harming both gamers and developers'
Former FTC chair Lina Khan criticized Microsoft's post-acquisition actions following its 2023 Activision Blizzard purchase, pointing to massive layoffs (over 11,000 employees), studio closures, game cancellations, and multiple Game Pass price increases as evidence the merger harmed both gamers and developers. Khan's comments vindicate the FTC's original concerns that the acquisition would reduce competition and lead to worse outcomes for consumers, despite Microsoft's promises that the deal would benefit the industry.
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The Verge·30w
Meet Mico, Microsoft’s AI version of Clippy
Microsoft introduces Mico, a new AI-powered virtual character for Copilot's voice mode that responds with real-time expressions during conversations. The bouncing orb assistant includes memory features, a Learn Live tutoring mode with interactive whiteboards, and Easter eggs reminiscent of Clippy. Available initially in the US, UK, and Canada, Mico represents Microsoft's renewed effort to encourage voice interaction with computers, following previous attempts with Clippy and Cortana.
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Visual Studio Blog·31w
Modernizing Visual Studio Extension Compatibility: Effortless Migration for Extension Developers and Users
Visual Studio 2026 introduces a new extension compatibility model that eliminates the need for developers to update version ranges with each major release. Extensions built for Visual Studio 2022 will automatically work in 2026 without modifications. The new model shifts from version-based to API-based compatibility, with Visual Studio committing to minimize breaking changes to stable APIs while introducing new features through preview APIs first. Extension developers no longer need to publish updates for compatibility, and users will have their extensions automatically installed when upgrading.
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These are the Office icons Microsoft rejected
Microsoft shares rejected design concepts for its new Office icons, revealing experimental approaches that included notepad-style Word icons and designs resembling older Office for Mac versions. The concepts explored various ways to visualize documents, spreadsheet cells, and presentation slides before Microsoft settled on the curvy, colorful icons now rolling out across Windows and iOS platforms.
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Windows Blogs·31w
Restyle in Paint begins rolling out to Windows Insiders
Microsoft is rolling out Restyle, an AI-powered feature in Paint for Windows 11 Insiders. The feature transforms images into different art styles using preset options. Currently available only on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, users must sign in with a Microsoft account to access the functionality. The update is being distributed to Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels.
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Announcing the .NET Security Group
Microsoft is expanding the .NET Security Group, previously a private collaboration with Red Hat, Canonical, and IBM, to allow any organization distributing .NET to apply for membership. Members receive CVE information and source patches approximately one week before public disclosure, enabling them to release security updates simultaneously with Microsoft. The program requires vetting, signing agreements, and demonstrating active participation in the .NET upstream project by publishing builds for supported versions.
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SD Times·30w
Microsoft announces public preview for planning to improve how Copilot in Visual Studio handles complex tasks
Microsoft released a public preview of planning capabilities for Copilot in Visual Studio's Agent Mode. The feature breaks down complex coding tasks into smaller, manageable steps by researching the codebase and creating structured execution plans. Initial testing shows 15% higher success rates and 20% more resolved tasks with GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet 4. The planning feature automatically activates for multi-step prompts while simple queries receive direct responses. Available in Visual Studio 2022 17.14 and Visual Studio 2026 Insiders.
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The Register·32w
Microsoft 'illegally' tracked students via 365 Education
Austria's data protection authority ruled that Microsoft illegally tracked students through its 365 Education platform and violated GDPR by failing to provide complete information about data processing. Microsoft attempted to shift GDPR compliance responsibility to schools and education authorities, who lacked control over student data. When a complainant requested access to their data, Microsoft redirected them to their school, which couldn't provide complete information. The authority ordered Microsoft to disclose full details about data transmission, explain vague terms like 'business modelling,' and reveal any third-party data transfers. Microsoft must also stop deflecting data protection obligations to educational institutions.
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.NET Blog·32w
.NET and .NET Framework October 2025 servicing releases updates
.NET 8.0.21 and 9.0.10 servicing releases are now available with security fixes for three CVEs (CVE-2025-55315, CVE-2025-55247, CVE-2025-21176) and non-security improvements. The October 2025 updates also include .NET Framework security and non-security patches. Updates are available for download with release notes, container images, and Linux installation guides provided for both versions.
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Where's Your Ed At·29w
Big Tech Needs $2 Trillion In AI Revenue By 2030 or They Wasted Their Capex
Major tech companies have spent over $776 billion on AI infrastructure between 2023-2025, yet none are showing meaningful revenue from AI services. Microsoft reports only $13 billion annual recurring revenue from AI, with much of Azure's AI revenue coming from OpenAI's discounted compute costs. Analysis suggests these companies need to generate $2 trillion in AI revenue by 2030 to justify their capital expenditures, while currently every AI service provider except GPU manufacturers is losing money. The high costs of GPUs, data centers, and rapid hardware depreciation compound the challenge of achieving profitability.
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Good News! Germany's Schleswig-Holstein Completes Massive Migration to Open Source Email Systems
Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state successfully migrated 30,000 government employees from Microsoft Exchange and Outlook to open source alternatives Open-Xchange and Thunderbird. The six-month transition, completed in October 2025, moved over 40,000 mailboxes containing more than 100 million emails and calendar entries. Despite some initial challenges including downtime and delays, the migration represents a major step in the state's broader open source strategy, which previously included replacing Microsoft Office with LibreOffice across all state computers.
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TechLinked·30w
Ryzen, Not Again…
AMD rebrands older Zen 2 and Zen 3 Plus chips as Ryzen 10 and 100 series without hardware changes. Hackers exploit a Red Tiger fork to steal Discord user data through fake game mods. Microsoft faces Australian lawsuit for allegedly forcing customers to pay for Copilot in Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Tesla's Mad Max driving mode draws federal scrutiny for exceeding speed limits. Microsoft's financial filings reveal $4.7 billion in losses tied to OpenAI investment. Researchers develop biodegradable memory chips using mushroom tissue as potential silicon alternatives.
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What Has Valve Done??
Valve's Counter-Strike 2 update crashed the in-game economy by $1.75 billion by changing trade-up contracts. Microsoft released Copilot updates for Edge browser with AI-assisted multi-step tasks and introduced Mo, a new visual assistant. Xbox faces pressure for 30% profit margins, leading to price hikes and the announcement of Halo coming to PlayStation 5 in 2026. Apple may disable app tracking transparency in Europe due to regulatory pressure and is developing tools to help users migrate from iOS to Android. Memory prices are rising up to 30% due to AI demand affecting RAM and SSD costs.
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Microsoft warns of the dangers of Shadow AI
Microsoft published a report warning about Shadow AI, where 71% of UK employees use unapproved consumer AI tools at work, potentially exposing organizations to security risks and data leaks. Despite these warnings, Microsoft recently encouraged users to bring personal Copilot subscriptions to work. The report reveals employees primarily use unauthorized AI for drafting communications (49%), creating reports (40%), and finance tasks (22%), with 32% concerned about data privacy but only 29% worried about IT security.
