Category: 4. Technology

Windows 11 has finally overtaken the market share of its predecessor, with just three months remaining until Microsoft discontinues support for Windows 10.

As of today, July’s StatCounter figures show the market share of Windows 11 at 50.24 percent, with Windows 10 at 46.84 percent. It’s a far cry from a year ago, when Windows 10 stood at 66.04 percent and Windows 11 languished at 29.75 percent.

The impending end of support for many versions of Windows 10 on Oxctober 14, 2025, has doubtless focused minds.

Daniel Bowker, Cloud Endpoint Solutions Lead at Microsoft reseller Phoenix, told The Register that while the company had been very proactive with its customers and Windows 11 readiness, with three months to go, the conversations were more along the lines of “Look, we’re 1000s of devices. We’re 80 percent there. We have a handle on the 20 percent; we’re either going to pay for the ESU [Extended Security Updates] or we’re going to look at leveraging something else.”

That something else includes a jump to Windows 365, which brings with it free ESU access.

In June, Keiren Jessop, a research manager at industry watcher Canalys, told El Reg: “Enterprises often migrate in waves. Lots of fiscal years are starting in July or October, so I think we’ll see some big bumps then.”

Jessop’s prediction appears to be on the money, much to the doubtless relief within Redmond. The question now is by how much the market share of Windows 11 will surpass that of its predecessor in the next three months.

The sudden spike is likely to be driven by enterprises rather than consumer uptake. Canalys noted that despite stockpiling in the channel in response to a threatened hike in tariffs on imports, hardware sales were likely “to be constrained.”

Big-ticket items like AI PCs have hardly been selling like hotcakes, with precious little in the way of a killer app to justify their higher prices.

The belated rise in Windows 11’s market share is more likely to be down to administrators pressing the upgrade button or a long-planned enterprise replacement wave rather than a sudden surge of new purchases (much to the doubtless disappointment of hardware vendors now pinning their hopes to generative AI.)

Still, with three months to go until its self-imposed support deadline, Microsoft has finally turned a corner with Windows 11. Just in time for Windows 12? ®

Dive into our brand-new Microbiome Knowledge Hub—a curated collection of trusted, expert-led resources tailored for healthcare professionals. Access free our resources, all focused on the intersection of the microbiome, nutrition, and metabolic health.

Our list with impactful, evidence-based, clinically relevant and easy to access content includes:

• New Supplement in Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism
• Books on Nutrition & Microbiome
• Accredited eLearning Courses
• Featured Articles

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your expertise and stay ahead in the evolving microbiome space.

Visit Now: https://go.karger.com/microbiome_knowledge_hub?utm_source=article&utm_medium=external&utm_campaign=microbiome_day25_azo

Norqain, the young, independent Swiss brand, produces contemporary, adventure-oriented watches. Many of the brand’s most popular models belong to the Independence collection, including the high-tech carbon fibre Wild One, conceived in collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver, the Skeleton Flyback Chrono featuring a proprietary manufacture calibre, and Norqain’s first skeletonised model. In line with current market watch trends, Norqain releases a compact 40mm version of its Independence Skeleton in two case finishes.

Skeletonised movements are delicate, and fitting one inside a case designed for rugged outdoor action requires secure anchoring. Introduced in 2021, the first skeletonised Independence 21 model was a teaser of sorts, presented in a limited edition of 100 pieces in a 42mm black DLC-coated case and bracelet, powered by a skeletonised, robust, and shock-resistant Sellita SW200-1S automatic. The following year, Norqain unveiled the Independence 22 Skeleton, an unlimited model featuring the same 42mm case diameter and movement, with a black flange, followed by a grey model in 2024.

Representing more than a simple colour change, the new Independence models have a more compact 40mm diameter but are thicker (12.05mm vs. 11.80mm) than their 42mm counterparts, although the lug-to-lug is more contained at 46.3mm. Living up to its sports watch reputation, the solid case is water-resistant to 100 metres with a screw-down crown protected by guards, balanced by the protruding and engraved plate on the left side of the case. Available in stainless steel or steel with a black DLC coating, the case flanks have sporty recessed areas with a sandblasted finish. The case is decorated with a predominance of brushed finishes and polished highlights.

Unlike the 42mm models with their ruthenium-coated bridges, the transparent mainplate reveals the anthracite colour of the skeletonised bridges securing the movement. Not only do they look more robust and contemporary, but they also provide more contrast, allowing a clearer view of the movement’s components. The dark grey chapter ring hosts the faceted indices treated with white XI Super-LumiNova. The skeletonised hour and minute hands also have SLN on their tips, but the arrow-tipped seconds hand with its lumed interior varies in colour from model to model: turquoise for the steel version and orange for the black DLC.

Powered by the calibre NB08S, a Sellita SW200-1 automatic, the movement is secured by connecting arms for greater rigidity and resistance to impacts. Visible from both sides, the COSC-certified chronometer movement beats at a frequency of 28,800vph. Fitted with a personalised Norqain rotor, the barrel can store a 41-hour power reserve.

The steel model can be ordered with a grey rubber strap for EUR 3,950 or a steel bracelet for EUR 4,200. The black DLC is paired with a khaki or a black rubber strap with a Milanese texture and retails for EUR 4,160. More information at Norqain.com.

The smart glasses market is growing fast, and Apple is expected to jump into the space soon. Respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a report this week saying Apple is working on seven different types of head-mounted AR and VR products, including a pair of smart glasses and a lighter Vision Pro for 2027.

For this week’s episode of One More Thing (embedded above), I break down the timeline of what Apple could be releasing in the coming few years, based on Kuo’s recent report. 

The era of smart glasses is emerging faster than some might realize. Meta’s Ray Bans smart glasses are growing in popularity, boasting sales of over 2 million units. Earlier this year Google unveiled Android XR, and is partnering with Warby Parker for future products. 

It’s no secret tech companies see smart glasses as the next major consumer tech category — it’s the next logical step for devices that can use AI. Sensors and cameras, hidden inside frames, can collect data and give context to the world with hands-free computing. 

Normalizing these head-mounted computers would be a major shift in culture, similar to how the smartphone boom changed day-to-day interactions. These might be the final years before it’s normal to have screens floating in front of your view of the real world — and the final years before it’s normal to wear a recording device near your eyes.

If you’re looking for more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been given the thinner, sleeker glow-up we expected, if leaked hands-on photos are any indication. The trio of images posted by leaker @Jukanlosreve seemingly show what the next-gen Galaxy foldable will look like in the real world from a few different angles.

The new photographs mostly line up with what we’ve seen in previous renders, including the larger, slimmer chassis that’s reported to be around 4.5mm thick when open. That’s slimmer than its 5.6mm Galaxy Z Fold 6 predecessor and allows it to better compete against some of the slimmest foldables on the market from rivals like Google and Oppo. We won’t know its official measurements until the launch event next week, but given the SIM tray appears to occupy all available vertical space, it looks very skinny indeed. The speakers and microphone are also visible along the bottom edge of the device.

The redesigned camera array on the rear is distinct from that featured on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, replacing the chunky black rings around the camera lenses with slim silver ones. It contrasts nicely with the striking blue color option, which might be the “Blue Shadow” colorway mentioned in previous leaks.

We also have some new Galaxy Z Fold 7 specs courtesy of an EU smartphone label revealed by MysteryLupin, which lists the device as having the same battery life as its predecessor, that’s expected to last for up to 40 hours and 28 minutes on a single charge. The phone reportedly has an IP48 rating, which means it can be submerged under water for short periods of time, but it’s still susceptible to fine dust particles (like many foldables).

Cisco has released patches for a maximum-severity security flaw in Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME).

The vulnerability, CVE-2025-20309, carries a CVSS score of 10.0, the maximum severity rating. Cisco said the flaw could allow an attacker to log in to an affected device using the root account, which has default, static credentials that cannot be changed or deleted.

The new Fairphone 6 is smaller and more modular than older models in the series, but it’s just as repairable. The phone picked up a perfect score in iFixit’s teardown test, despite no longer offering tool-free battery replacements.

It helps that the only tool you do need — throughout the phone — is a T5 Torx screwdriver, and only seven screws sit between you and a battery swap. Fairphone itself has shown you can get from shutdown to reboot with a new cell in just two minutes, so it’s still a simple swap. The company says that the screws are required for the slimmer soft-pouch battery.

The only glue throughout is found on the phone’s mainboard, which is just about the only repair Fairphone doesn’t recommend you make yourself: almost everything else, from the USB-C port to the individual camera sensors, can be replaced with minimal effort. Replacement parts will be available from Fairphone and iFixit, and the phone’s replaceable backplate also enables a line of swappable accessories similar to those found on the CMF Phone Pro 2.

iFixit also rated the phone highly for its IP55 rating — not the best around, but impressive for a phone sealed with screws rather than glue — and for the company’s longterm support. Fairphone is guaranteeing seven years of Android OS updates and eight years of security patches, with a five-year warranty and a loyalty program that rewards you for hanging onto your phone and repairing it.

Despite the high score, iFixit acknowledges that you do compromise on specs by opting for the Fairphone 6. Its dual rear camera is fairly basic, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chipset is no powerhouse. Even the USB port is limited to sluggish USB 2.0, though the 6.3-inch 10-120Hz LTPO OLED display is more impressive.

This isn’t the first Fairphone to fare so well. Every model since the Fairphone 2 has received a 10/10 in iFixit’s teardown tests, a score that no other phone has ever managed. The Fairphone 6 is available now in Europe for €599 (around $705), from Fairphone and other retailers. It costs considerably more in the US, at $899, where it’s only available from Murena and ships running /e/OS, Murena’s privacy-focused and de-Googled take on Android. It’s available to preorder now, and ships in August.

With the release of Android beta 2.25.20.7, WhatsApp has unveiled a new feature that is being developed specifically for business users. A company credit system that offers monthly trial credits for broadcast messages is made possible by this update. The functionality is still hidden and inactive in the current beta release, so users won’t see it just yet.

WhatsApp has designated the capability for broadcast messages as “Trial,” and it is presently “under development.” Selected companies will get monthly broadcast credits under this method. They won’t need to sign up for a paid plan to send mass texts, thanks to these credits. WhatsApp wants to give businesses risk-free credits while testing the broadcast limit features.

The trial period for the credit system will be six months. Businesses will continuously receive the same amount of credits every month throughout this time. This enables businesses to test out the broadcast capability and assess its efficacy prior to making a payment.

No official release date has been announced; beta testers should stay alert. The 2.25.20.7 WhatsApp Android beta was pushed to the Google Play Beta Program, and the broadcast credit tool is expected in a later release.

It’s been not a great start for Call of Duty World War 2 on the Xbox Game Pass. Players have been reporting about their systems being attacked by severe RCE hacks, compromising the whole machine. Call of Duty World War 2 became a part of the highly popular subscription service on June 30, making it the fourth available CoD title in Xbox Game Pass, after Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III, and Warzone. But no CoD fan could ever imagine in their worst nightmares what would happen next.

Call of Duty World War 2 gets hit by RCE hackers after being added to Xbox Game Pass

Call of Duty World War 2 was one of the most successful titles in the entire franchise. There is no doubt that fans became immensely happy after the game became available on Xbox Game Pass. But what happened next was utterly shocking. There have been several reports from the fans that after downloading the game from Game Pass, their system got seriously exploited by Remote Code Execution (RCE) hackers. In one instance, the hackers even went on to take control of the whole computer of a user and opened up the notepad in it to communicate with him. This is actually one of the most conercing and shocking incidents in the gaming world ever. No one would imagine how serious the consequences of RCE hacking can become. This is actually a type of cyberattack where the targeted machine or server gets compromised after remotely executing some arbitrary codes on them. These malicious codes usually consist of scripts, binaries, and commands to make the system vulnerable. As Call of Duty World War 2 is an eight year old game, it needed some proper security layers before being added to Game Pass. As the time goes by, the hackers are becoming more and more advanced. So, to cope up with them, serious anti-cyber attack measures should be implemented in older titles if those are going to be made available on modern platforms. As of now, there has been no official response yet from either Activision or Microsoft regarding this RCE massacre. Until some official hotfix arrives, players are strictly advised to stay away from downloading Call of Duty World War 2 from Xbox Game Pass. Yes, players who have the original game purchased previously can play the game without any hassle. It’s still unclear how deep the hackers have dug into Xbox Game Pass and Call of Duty World War 2, so an official explanation of the whole situation is the need of the hour right now. A few days ago, some older Call of Duty titles got sudden updates, speculating a potential entry into the Xbox Game Pass. However, after this severe attack on CoD WW2, those titles seem even more unlikely to be featured in the popular subscription system.Read More: After consoles and games, Microsoft may increase price of Xbox Game Pass