The ESRB rating lists blood and gore, intense violence, mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and use of drugs and alcohol. The listing also carries an "in-game purchases" notice.

GTA 6 Rating Details and the In-Game Purchases Label

The Australian and New Zealand descriptions are the first to mention sex scenes explicitly. GTA 5's short rating description on the same store only lists "Sex", even though the game includes at least one scripted scene of that kind, so the different wording does not by itself confirm how GTA 6 handles the content. Trailers for GTA 6 have shown intimate scenes between the two protagonists, Jason and Lucia.

Sexual content has a history with ratings boards in the series. In the mid 2000s, the ESRB re-rated Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to Adults Only after modders restored a cut sex minigame from the game files, which led to a brief recall.

The in-game purchases label stands out because Rockstar said earlier this summer that there are "no monetizations in this game". Rockstar has not explained the label.

GTA 6 does offer an upgrade from the standard edition to the Ultimate Edition, which adds cosmetics, stores, and missions. Rockstar has not said anything about an online mode, and one is not expected to launch alongside the game.

The ESRB has not yet posted its longer rating summary for GTA 6. Those summaries usually reference specific scenes and gameplay content, and they give parents more detail than the short list of descriptors on a store page.

What Buyers and Parents Should Check Before Launch

For parents deciding whether GTA 6 is suitable, the current descriptors already cover the full range of adult content, from drug use to strong sexual content.

Buyers who want to avoid extra spending should note that the in-game purchases label applies to the listing, even though Rockstar's earlier statement rules out monetization in the main game. Steps worth taking before launch:

1. Read the rating descriptors on the PlayStation Store or ESRB listing for the local region, since wording differs between markets.
2. Check the ESRB website for the detailed rating summary once it goes live.
3. Set up console parental controls for age ratings and purchases on accounts used by younger players.

Rockstar's marketing push continues with GTA 6 less than 50 days from launch. The company has placed advertising on Miami's Kaseya Center, started ads in New York, sent promotional boxes to influencers, and opened pre-orders for a $400 GTA 6 collector's set.

The ESRB has not announced when the detailed GTA 6 rating summary will be published.

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According to Google, Argon is rolling out first to vetted cyber defenders through the company's Fairwind Program, with paid API tiers for developers and Google AI Ultra subscribers next in line.

Gemini 4 Argon is not currently available to free Gemini users, and Google has not given dates for the later rollout stages.

Gemini 4 Argon Raises the Output Limit to 1 Million Tokens

The main technical change is the output ceiling. Gemini 4 Argon can generate up to 1 million tokens in a single run, compared with the 64,000 token limit of previous Gemini generations.

Output capacity sets how much a model can write and reason through in one response; smaller limits force it to shorten answers or split large jobs into fragments.

Google positions Argon for long horizon work where the model has to keep context across a long chain of steps, such as auditing an entire codebase or carrying a migration project through to completion, rather than answering single prompts quickly.

How Google Is Already Using Argon Internally

Google says it has been running Argon across its own engineering and infrastructure teams. The company lists these deployments:

• migrating legacy C and C++ code to Rust, including core media libraries and more than 800,000 lines of the Fuchsia Zircon kernel
• optimizing the Rust version of libgav1, Google's open source video decoder, which the company claims now runs 2.7 times faster with identical output
• analyzing server fleet telemetry, where teams of Argon agents found memory optimizations that freed more than 300 terabytes, with projected savings of up to 1 petabyte

On the security side, Google says Argon found a severe vulnerability exposing sensitive data in hospital software used worldwide, while working with security firm Wiz through its Scan for Good initiative. Earlier frontier models missed the flaw entirely, according to the company.

The phased rollout is tied to the compute requirements and strict safeguards that a model with this level of autonomy needs. Cyber defenders in the Fairwind Program get access before the wider developer market does.

Developers who want to build on Argon will need a paid Gemini API tier once access opens there. Consumers will need a Google AI Ultra subscription, as cheaper Gemini plans are not part of the announced rollout.

The launch follows OpenAI's GPT-6 Sol and Luna release in September. Google has not published API pricing for Gemini 4 Argon or a date for availability in Google AI Ultra.

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The Android flagships launched in late February at prices that were already $100 above the previous generation.

New Galaxy S26 Prices on Samsung's US Store

The base Galaxy S26 now costs $999, up from its $899 launch price. Because that launch price was already $100 higher than the Galaxy S25, Samsung's entry level Galaxy S flagship is now $200 more expensive than its predecessor within a single generation.

The updated US pricing by model and storage tier:

• Galaxy S26: $999 for the base model, $1,199 for 512GB
• Galaxy S26 Plus: $1,199 for 256GB, $1,399 for 512GB
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,399 for 256GB (previously $1,299), $1,599 for 512GB (previously $1,499)
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB: $1,999 after a $200 increase

With the change, the Galaxy S26 Ultra now costs more in the US than Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max, which starts at $1,299. Apple faces the same memory shortage but raised the price of its flagship iPhone by $100 this year.

The recently launched Galaxy S26 FE is not part of the increase. It still starts at $699.

Galaxy S26 Price Increases Outside the US

The US is not the only market affected. Samsung is also raising Galaxy S26 prices in South Korea, and it recently increased the price of the S26 family in India. Last year's Galaxy S25 has received price increases in some markets as well.

For now, only Samsung's own US online store shows the higher prices. Amazon was still selling the phones at their original MSRP when the change appeared, which gives buyers a short window to compare:

1. Check the current price of the chosen model on Samsung's US store.
2. Compare it with the listing at Amazon and other large retailers, which may still show the launch MSRP.
3. Pay attention to the storage tier, since the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra carries the largest increase at $200.
4. Consider the Galaxy S26 FE at $699 if the price gap to the main S26 models matters more than the hardware differences.

Buyers who were waiting for a holiday discount on the Galaxy S26 now start from a higher baseline at Samsung's store. The earlier $100 increase at launch was also attributed to the ongoing DRAM and NAND pricing crisis, which has worsened since February.

There are no signs of the DRAM and NAND shortage ending soon, and the price increase is currently visible only on Samsung's US store, in South Korea, and in India.

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According to a Microsoft known issues support page, the problem affects Microsoft 365 for Windows version 2609, build 16.0.20430.x, and Word shows no error when it happens.

Microsoft says the bug only triggers in one workflow: using Save or Save As, choosing the PDF file type, and selecting a SharePoint location. The issue status is listed as "Workaround", which means no fix is available yet.

Where Word 2609 Puts the Missing PDFs

Instead of landing in the chosen SharePoint folder, the PDF is written to C:\Users [username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.MSO. The file name is randomized as well. One affected user reported files named 1f10f000 and 458d72b7 instead of the original document name, so searching for the document title will not find them.

Word behaves as though the save succeeded. Colleagues who open the SharePoint folder later simply find nothing there.

The original user report did not involve SharePoint at all. It came from someone saving a PDF of a document stored on a network drive, running Version 2609 Build 16.0.20430.20032.

Anyone who saves PDFs to a location other than a local drive should treat the bug as relevant. There is a privacy side too, since documents meant for a secured SharePoint site end up as copies in an unprotected local cache folder.

How to Recover Lost PDFs and Avoid the Word Bug

To check whether a PC is affected, open File, then Account in Word, and look under About Word. Version 2609 with a build number starting with 20430 is in the affected group. PDFs that already went missing can be recovered from the cache folder:

1. Open File Explorer and click in the address bar.
2. Paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.MSO and press Enter.
3. Sort the folder by Date modified so recent files appear at the top.
4. Open the randomly named PDFs created around the time of the save, rename the correct ones, and move them to their intended location.
5. Delete leftover copies of confidential documents from the cache folder.

Recovery should not wait. INetCache is a temporary folder, and Windows or cleanup tools can empty it at any time.

Microsoft's official workaround is to save to an alternative location or to use File, Export, Create PDF/XPS Document, which produces the same PDF output without hitting the bug.

Saving the PDF to the local PC first and uploading it to SharePoint afterwards also works. Printing to Microsoft Print to PDF still functions normally, though printed PDFs typically lose clickable links, bookmarks, and accessibility tags.

Affected users report that rolling back to version 2608 build 20326.20072 resolves the problem, but a rollback requires a command line tool and pausing Office updates. Administrators can instead check which devices run 16.0.20430.x builds and point users who export PDFs to SharePoint toward the Export option.

The Word bug follows a separate update that deactivated Office 2016 and Office 2019 licenses in September. Microsoft has not said when a fix for version 2609 will ship.

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The company added the notice to the Windows 11 Home and Pro page on its lifecycle website, which now states that "Windows 11, version 26H2 is the last version that will support devices with Snapdragon 850 processors."

Snapdragon 850 devices remain eligible for the new release, which Microsoft started rolling out on September 29, 2026. Those PCs will not be offered version 27H2, the feature update planned for next year.

Snapdragon 850 Support Timeline on Windows 11

Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 850 in 2018 as its second-generation chip for Windows on Arm. It was the first processor Qualcomm built specifically for Windows PCs, since the earlier Snapdragon 835 was a reused smartphone chip. Windows 11 support for the Snapdragon 835 was dropped some time ago.

Microsoft's lifecycle table lists these servicing dates for Windows 11 Home and Pro:

• Version 24H2 reaches its end date on October 14, 2026.
• Version 25H2 reaches its end date on October 13, 2027.
• Version 26H2, released on September 29, 2026, reaches its end date on October 10, 2028.

Version 26H2 receives 24 months of servicing on Home and Pro editions, so Snapdragon 850 owners have roughly two years of security updates left once they install it. The release itself is the Windows 11 26H2 enablement package release that Microsoft shipped this week.

Microsoft has not given a reason for ending support for the chip. The lifecycle notice also does not say whether version 27H2 will be technically incompatible with Snapdragon 850 hardware or whether the cut-off is a requirements check that could be bypassed.

What Snapdragon 850 Owners Should Do Now

PCs still running version 24H2 have the shortest window. Servicing for that release ends on October 14, 2026, and moving to 26H2 gives these devices the longest support period they will receive.

1. Open Settings, go to System and then About, and confirm the processor listed under Device specifications.
2. Check the installed Windows version on the same page under Windows specifications.
3. If the device runs version 24H2 or 25H2, open Windows Update and install the Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2, once it is offered.
4. Plan to replace the device before October 10, 2028, when servicing for version 26H2 ends.

Users have run Windows 11 on unsupported processors for years by bypassing the system requirements, though such installs fall outside Microsoft's official support.

Microsoft has not said whether Windows Update will simply stop offering feature updates to Snapdragon 850 PCs or whether newer versions will refuse to install on them.

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Both models go on sale on October 7 in Gray and Silver, and Samsung says the new generation brings better performance, longer battery life, and its latest Galaxy AI features.

The two tablets run on MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chipset and ship with One UI 9 based on Android 17. That is the same software version Samsung has been delivering to its phones, including the recent stable One UI 9 rollout for Galaxy S25 devices.

Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12 Plus Specifications

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2960 x 1848 resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The Plus model uses a 12.6-inch panel at 2800 x 1752.

Both screens reach up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness and support the S Pen, which Samsung includes in the box. The fingerprint sensor now sits inside the display on both tablets, a change from the previous Galaxy Tab generation.

Samsung says the Ultra is 5.1mm thin, which makes it the thinnest Galaxy Tab so far, and it still fits an 11,600mAh battery and a 3D vapor chamber for cooling.

The Plus measures 5.3mm and carries a 10,600mAh battery. The company claims up to 23 hours of battery life for the Ultra and up to 21 hours for the Plus, with 45W wired charging on both.

• Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: 12GB or 16GB of RAM, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage, 13MP main and 8MP ultrawide rear cameras, Wi-Fi 7, 692g.
• Galaxy Tab S12 Plus: 12GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of storage, 13MP main rear camera, 5G with dual SIM (physical SIM plus eSIM), Wi-Fi 6E, 553g for Wi-Fi and 555g for 5G.

Both tablets have a 12MP ultrawide front camera, Bluetooth 6.0, microSD support up to 2TB, and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating.

Software, Bundled Apps, and Buying Considerations

Multi Window on the new tablets can run three apps on screen at once, such as Samsung Notes, YouTube, and an AI chatbot. Samsung has partnered with Adobe to preload Photoshop on the Galaxy Tab S12 series, and buyers get discounts and free trials for Goodnotes, LumaFusion, and Notion.

Buyers comparing the two models should check a few points before ordering:

1. Pick the Plus if mobile data matters, since 5G and dual SIM appear in the Plus specifications while the Ultra listing shows Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth only.
2. Choose the Ultra for 16GB of RAM or 1TB of storage, as the Plus tops out at 12GB and 512GB.
3. Factor in microSD expansion up to 2TB on both models before paying for a higher storage tier.

Samsung has listed US pricing and the October 7 availability date, but the starting prices cover the base configurations only, and pricing for other markets and higher storage tiers was not detailed in the announcement.

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Xbox announced the rollout on September 29, 2026, after Xbox Insiders tested the feature for about a month, and says it works with most Xbox Series X and Xbox One physical discs.

The program creates a digital license for a disc as if the game had been bought on the digital Xbox Store. Once that license exists, the game can be installed and played on the console without the disc in the drive.

How Xbox Disc-to-Digital Licenses Work

A converted license is not limited to the console that read the disc. According to Xbox, the digital license allows the game to be played on any platform within the Xbox ecosystem, streamed through Xbox Cloud Gaming, or played on compatible handhelds such as the Xbox Ally when the title supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

Each license stays tied to the physical disc. If an owner sells or lends a disc, the new holder claims the digital license after installing the game, and the original owner's digital rights are revoked until the disc comes back or the game is bought again.

Not every game qualifies. Microsoft's support page states that eligibility may change over time because of "technical, licensing, publishing, manufacturing, and other factors."

Sega and Ubisoft have added their games to the program, and a community-run Disc-to-Digital database on XCT.live lists 1,578 Xbox games as fully compatible.

The program also covers some delisted titles. Deadpool, Transformers: Devastation, and Minecraft: Story Mode, which were removed from the Xbox digital store years ago, can be played digitally again with a physical copy. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark did not receive a digital license during Insider testing.

Storage Needs and What Xbox Owners Should Check

Converting a disc collection means the games still have to be installed or backed up somewhere. The Xbox Series X model with a disc drive has 802GB of usable storage, while Xbox install sizes range from about 30GB to 170 to 190GB for larger releases. Gears of War E-Day needs 120GB, Baldur's Gate 3 about 150GB, and The Witcher 3 Remastered 50GB.

1. Check whether each disc is eligible before relying on the program, using Microsoft's support page or the community compatibility list.
2. Keep the physical disc after conversion, since selling or lending it moves the digital license to the new holder.
3. Plan extra storage for a large collection; the Series X accepts USB 3.0 external hard drives for storing games, but a game kept there has to be moved to system storage before it can be played.

Microsoft has not published a full list of eligible discs, and titles that are not supported today may be added or excluded later depending on licensing and publisher decisions.

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The verdict in State of New Mexico v. Facebook, Inc. concludes that Meta's social network made misleading statements to consumers in the state about its data practices, and the company now faces civil penalties that could reach billions of dollars.

The case is tied to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, one of the largest privacy cases involving a social network. Meta settled the Cambridge Analytica class action years ago, and the British consulting firm went bankrupt almost a decade ago.

What the New Mexico Jury Found Against Facebook

The jury concluded that Facebook misled New Mexico users about how it handled their personal data. The findings cover these areas:

• misleading statements about how Facebook managed users' personal data
• misrepresenting its business practices with third-party companies, through unfair and deceptive practices that gave advertisers easy access to user data
• profiting from misinformation and hate speech while stating that it was actively removing or combating that content
• statements made after Facebook's internal Cambridge Analytica investigation, including promises to probe third-party apps about their data practices and to conduct forensic audits, which the company failed to fulfill

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the verdict shows that the rules apply to everyone, including Facebook and other large technology companies. The New Mexico Department of Justice described the jury decision as a landmark verdict.

Meta rejected the outcome. A company spokesperson said Meta's platforms are protected by First Amendment rights covering free speech and users' rights over their data, and that the company will defend itself "against efforts to distort our record."

Penalty Phase and What Comes Next for Meta

The jury verdict does not set the amount Facebook must pay. A judge will now decide the penalty for the 43 million UPA violations. State authorities are seeking the maximum civil penalty, which under the UPA can be as high as $5,000 per violation, so the final figure could run into billions of dollars payable to the State of New Mexico.

The ruling follows another loss for Facebook in New Mexico a few months ago. In that earlier case, a jury found that the company operated a service designed to hook younger users on the platform.

For Facebook users, the verdict does not create a claims process or change any account settings. The New Mexico Department of Justice has not announced individual payments, since the penalties sought are civil penalties owed to the state.

New Mexico residents do not need to take any action at this stage, and the outcome of the penalty phase will determine how much Facebook pays the state. The judge has not yet ruled on the penalty amount, and Meta has not said whether it will appeal the jury's verdict.

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Rockstar developers shared the information in a cover story interview published on September 29, less than two months before Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19.

The reveal includes new screenshots and comments from Rockstar North co-studio head Aaron Garbut, vice president of art for lighting and rendering Owen Shepherd, and vice president of dynamic art Michael Kane.

GTA 6 Weather System and Map Regions

Owen Shepherd says Rockstar has "re-engineered our weather system to make everything much more localized and persistent," with fully dynamic cloudscapes that roll across the map.

Players can stand in sunshine while watching a rainstorm in the distance. Rain creates rainbows under the right lighting, and recently showered areas keep persistent puddles after a storm passes. Wind ripples water, moves hair, and pushes debris.

Hurricanes and tropical storms are also confirmed. Shepherd describes heavy clouds, strong winds, and rain that leaves "everything dripping wet." Rockstar declined to say how often hurricanes occur or whether they affect the story.

Leonida is split into six regions: Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park. Ambrosia is a rural area with factories and refineries controlled by a biker gang.

Aaron Garbut says the team pushed detail, scope, scale, interaction, and density at the same time. "I don't think we have ever created anything close to this before," Garbut said.

Animals, Activities, and Story Choices in GTA 6

GTA 6 includes more than 170 animal species, among them over 60 birds and over 30 land mammals, plus fish and reptiles. Sharks, jellyfish, whales, turtles, and rays can be found while scuba diving. Animal tracking returns, and Rockstar confirmed rare animals without naming them.

Confirmed side activities include:

• base jumping, kayaking, jet skiing, and air boating
• scuba diving and street and off-road racing
• billiards, mini golf, gyms, and zoos

Fast travel works through ride share cars, where passengers can hold conversations. Players can scroll Snapmatic, the in-game social app, but Jason and Lucia cannot post to it because they are on the run.

Robberies can be done as a duo or alone, loud or quiet, and those choices affect the police response. If either protagonist is overwhelmed by police, the game ends.

High end cars need special tools to steal and may carry trackers, and an app called WAiNK shows a car's resale value and security system. Choices also shape the relationship between Jason and Lucia and the wider story, which Rockstar says encourages replays.

Rockstar recently told GTA 6 voice actors to stay quiet until launch. No gameplay video of the weather system was released with the reveal, and Rockstar has not said whether storms cause flooding or damage to buildings.

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Mozilla describes the update as the biggest visual refresh in years, with a modernized look across toolbars, the sidebar, menus, and individual features.

Testers have been using the new design in Firefox Nightly for the past few months. Mozilla says the refreshed colors, icons, and themes now cover the whole browser, from tabs and toolbars to the New Tab page and Private Browsing, "with no cost to your browser performance."

New Firefox 157 Design Options and Returning Compact Mode

The redesign comes with more control over how Firefox looks. Compact Mode is back after requests from users who wanted more room for web content. It reduces toolbar and tab spacing, and Mozilla added an auto compact option for smaller screens. The release notes say the mode also helps in split screen layouts.

Other additions in Firefox 157 include:

• a new theme picker with built in themes in light and dark versions, plus new wallpapers
• a dedicated New Tab area to pin and organize frequently used shortcuts
• the updated sidebar, now enabled for everyone, with the panel switcher at the top for users of the previous sidebar
• page dialogs, color and date pickers, and form autocomplete menus that follow the site's light or dark scheme

Firefox users who prefer the old sidebar can restore it for now. Doing so also turns off vertical tabs:

1. Type about:config in the address bar and accept the warning.
2. Search for sidebar.revamp.
3. Set the preference to false.

Mozilla says the preference will remain available until the end of 2027. The "Show sidebar" option has been removed from Settings.

Search, Video, and Privacy Changes in Firefox 157

Amazon is no longer included as a built in search engine in Firefox 157. Users who still want it can add Amazon as a custom search engine in the search settings.

Firefox Suggest now offers address bar suggestions in 16 additional European countries, including Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland, and can be controlled in the Firefox Suggest settings.

WebRTC video calls can now use hardware AV1 decoding on supported devices instead of always decoding AV1 in software. The release also fixes some 8 bit HDR videos looking dull and gray on Windows, the Windows taskbar staying visible over full screen video, and phone or tablet video appearing sideways or upside down in calls.

A new privacy warning appears in the site information panel and in Settings when Firefox has been set up to record its encryption keys, a configuration that could let other software on the computer read encrypted web traffic.

Firefox 157 is rolling out through the browser's regular update channel. Mozilla says it continues to refine the new design, and the old sidebar fallback ends with 2027.

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With this release, Signal says its secure backups feature is available on every supported platform, completing the first phase of a project that started on Android nearly a year ago.

Secure backups let users create end-to-end encrypted copies of their chats and restore them on another device, for example after losing a phone. Android backups are also being revamped in 8.30 to use the same cross platform format as iOS and desktop.

How Signal Backups Work on iOS, Android, and Desktop

Signal offers two backup options. Signal hosted backups are stored on the company's servers and, for free users, are limited to 45 days of media and 128 KB per message. Paid plans raise the limit to 100 GB. On-device backups are stored locally and have no size restrictions.

Both options are encrypted and need a recovery key to decrypt. Hosted backups add a supplemental key that rotates daily inside a Trusted Execution Environment for extra protection and forward secrecy.

According to Signal, a single on-device recovery key can decrypt all past backup files it encrypted, no matter where the files are stored. Attackers have already targeted Signal backup recovery keys, so users should treat the key like a password and keep it out of screenshots, notes apps, and shared folders.

Signal 8.30 also changes how backup data is handled:

• media is stored separately from the backup archive, and duplicate files are saved only once
• newly linked devices retrieve older attachments missing from the chat history
• paying users can remove old media from local storage, keep thumbnails, and download full files from hosted backups on demand
• disappearing messages set to vanish within 24 hours are left out of both backup types

Hosted backups do not delete existing on-device backups. During a restore, expired disappearing messages from local backups are skipped.

iPhone users also get direct iPhone to iPhone transfer in 8.30. Signal says the transfer runs over a local, end-to-end encrypted Wi-Fi Aware link to improve speed and reliability.

Users who want a copy of their chats that survives a lost or replaced device can act now:

1. Update Signal to version 8.30 on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, or Linux.
2. Create an on-device backup, which has no size limit, or a Signal hosted backup, which is capped at 45 days of media for free accounts.
3. Store the recovery key in a password manager or another secure offline location, since that key decrypts every backup file it created.

Users who run both backup types keep both archives, so a local copy remains available even when hosted backups are active.

Signal says its engineers will now shift focus to improving non-backup systems. The company has not announced further changes to the backup limits for free accounts.

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The update is available now for eligible devices running Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2, and Microsoft is shipping it through a controlled feature rollout rather than to every PC at once.

For most users, the move to 26H2 is small. Microsoft delivers the release as an enablement package, a lightweight update that switches on features already placed on the system through previous monthly updates.

Versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 share a common servicing branch and codebase, so installation is similar to a monthly cumulative update, with a small download and a single restart.

What Windows 11 Version 26H2 Changes for Home and Business Users

Windows 11 26H2 does not add a separate set of exclusive features. Microsoft says the release brings together the Windows improvements, security fixes, and enhancements delivered over the past year to version 25H2, and most of them have already reached up-to-date PCs through monthly updates. Devices that are still missing recent additions, such as the new Start menu or File Explorer improvements, get them enabled once 26H2 is installed.

Some features that Microsoft released as disabled by default in 25H2 are turned on by default in 26H2. For commercial PCs, those include Windows settings backup, app specific taskbar actions, and some File Explorer improvements.

The more important change is the support clock. Installing 26H2 resets the Windows 11 support lifecycle, which means 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions. With Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions reaching end of support on October 13, the update is the direct path to stay on a supported release.

Users who do not want to wait for the gradual rollout can request the update manually:

1. Open Settings and select Windows Update.
2. Turn on the option to get the latest updates as soon as they are available.
3. Select download and install when Windows 11 version 26H2 appears as an option for the device.

Organizations can deploy 26H2 through Windows Autopatch, the Microsoft 365 admin center, and existing management tools, update rings, and policies.

Microsoft recommends targeted deployments first to validate applications, devices, and business critical workflows before a broad rollout. Downloads in the Microsoft 365 admin center and similar channels may be delayed, according to the company.

One group is excluded. PCs that shipped with Windows 11 version 26H1 cannot update to 26H2, because 26H1 is built on a different Windows core. Microsoft says those devices will get an upgrade path to a future Windows release instead.

Microsoft may also place safeguard holds on devices where it detects a known compatibility issue, and those PCs will not be offered 26H2 until the hold is lifted. The company says it will share known issues, safeguards, and rollout progress through the Windows release health hub.

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The "o" entry sat alongside the other benefits of the $100 Pro tier: more Work and Codex usage, maximum memory, 100GB of file storage, and early access to new features. OpenAI has not said whether "o" will stay exclusive to the Pro tier or reach other ChatGPT plans.

ChatGPT "o" Configuration Hints at an Email Identity

References to the assistant also appear in a dynamic configuration used by ChatGPT. The entry includes display_name: "o" together with email_suffix: "-o," which indicates that the assistant is set up with some form of email identity or email capability. OpenAI has not explained what the email suffix does or whether "o" will send, read, or sort messages for users.

The "always-on" label points to an assistant that keeps helping with tasks while the user is not actively using ChatGPT. OpenAI has not described what that means in practice, or which apps, accounts, or services "o" would connect to.

Separate references mention an internal system called "Aeon," which relates to custom agents for ChatGPT workspaces. The "o" assistant is a different product aimed at consumers, based on where it surfaced in the Pro plan listing.

OpenAI has already confirmed that DevDay 2026 takes place on September 29 in San Francisco, with technical sessions, demos, and new tools on the schedule. The company announced its GPT-6 Sol and Luna models earlier this month, and DevDay is the next scheduled OpenAI event where product news is expected.

ChatGPT Pro subscribers have nothing to enable at this point. Users interested in the assistant can:

1. Watch the ChatGPT Pro plan page and OpenAI's DevDay announcements for an official description of "o."
2. Read the permissions OpenAI lists for the assistant before granting it access to an inbox.

OpenAI has not announced a release date, supported platforms, or regional availability for "o," and the listing that revealed the name has already been taken down.

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The preview adds lists, arrays in cells, and nested arrays, according to a Microsoft 365 Insider blog post by Jake Armstrong, senior product manager for Excel. The feature is opt-in and currently limited to Microsoft 365 Insiders in the Excel Beta Channel on Windows and Mac.

How Lists and Arrays Work Inside a Single Excel Cell

Lists are the simplest part of the change. Users create one through Insert > List or with the Ctrl+J shortcut, then type items separated by commas or semicolons, depending on regional settings.

The values stay grouped in one cell, but Excel treats them as separate items instead of one text string. Filtering and calculations can use the individual entries, and a formula that references the list, such as =B2, spills its items into separate cells.

Microsoft's example is a project tracker where one row holds a list of owners without extra columns or a helper table. A list opens from the cell icon, and double-clicking the cell or pressing F2 edits it. "One of the oldest rules of spreadsheets: one cell, one value," Armstrong wrote. "No longer!"

Arrays go further. Excel can now store an array inside one cell, whether it is typed in as a value or returned by a formula, and those arrays can have different dimensions or contain other arrays. A formula such as ={1;2;3} normally spills into three worksheet cells. Wrapping the formula body in braces keeps the output inside one cell instead.

Nested arrays previously produced a shortened result or a #CALC! error. Microsoft says supported formulas now return the full nested result, which stays available for later calculations.

The company's sample is a running log in which each row stores an array of split times, so runs with different numbers of splits sit in the same table while Excel still calculates total time, average split, average speed, and fastest kilometer.

Four new functions handle the new structures:

• FLATTEN removes levels of nesting from an array.
• HAS checks whether an array contains a specified value.
• HASANY looks for any one of a set of supplied values.
• HASALL confirms that all supplied values are present.

Excel Preview Requirements and Current Limitations

Testers need Excel for Windows Version 2610 (Build 20520.20000) or later, or Excel for Mac Version 16.114 (Build 26092111) or later. To try the feature:

1. Join the Microsoft 365 Insider program and switch Excel to the Beta Channel.
2. Update Excel to the build listed for Windows or Mac.
3. Select a cell and use Insert > List or press Ctrl+J to create a list.

Parts of Excel do not work with the new cell types yet. PivotTables cannot use array values as source data, Power Query cannot load or emit array-valued columns, and charts do not turn array entries into individual data points. Data validation cannot use lists or arrays as dropdown values, and Find & Replace cannot change a single item inside a list or array.

Most nested array calculations also require a new workbook setting called Compatibility Version 3. Microsoft warns that this setting can change results in some existing formulas, and workbooks can stay on Compatibility Version 1 or 2 if Version 3 causes problems.

The company has not explained how lists and arrays will be stored in the .xlsx XML format, which matters for applications and libraries that expect a cell to hold a string, number, date, or Boolean value.

Microsoft says the rollout is gradual, that the features may change, be paused, or be removed during testing, and that users should not rely on them in important workbooks until general availability.

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For beta testers on all three device lines, the final firmware is a download of about 535MB. Some Galaxy S25 owners who were not part of the beta program also report receiving the stable build, which weighs in at around 3.8GB for them. Besides the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S25 Edge are included in the update.

Samsung is still in the middle of the stable One UI 9 rollout for the Galaxy S26. That release began in South Korea in mid-September, and owners in most other regions are still waiting for it.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Features Coming to Samsung's 2025 Flagships

One UI 9 brings more than the Android 17 base. Samsung is moving some of the Galaxy Z Fold 8's software features to the Galaxy S25, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7, including:

• My FanCam, which uses AI to reframe a video after recording so a selected person stays in the frame.
• An enhanced Now Nudge, which offers proactive suggestions based on what is on the screen, such as a prompt to save a location someone shares in a conversation.
• A customizable Quick Settings panel that can move the brightness and volume controls to the bottom for one-handed use.
• An option to place the search bar at the bottom of the home screen.

The update also improves privacy alerts and document scanning and adds Motion Assist.

Devices enrolled in the beta receive the smaller incremental package, while phones on the public firmware download the full build. Owners of a supported Galaxy phone can check for the update manually:

1. Open Settings on the Galaxy phone.
2. Tap Software update.
3. Select Check for updates and install the One UI 9 build if it is offered.

Users outside the beta should keep enough free storage for a download of roughly 3.8GB before installing. Samsung has not published a rollout schedule for markets outside South Korea, and Galaxy S25, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7 owners in Europe, the US, and other regions have no confirmed date for the stable build yet.

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Ahead of launch, the studio published an official list of every change in the remaster, grouped into visual, combat, quality of life, and miscellaneous improvements. The update is about 45GB, and the existing expansions are bundled with the Remastered edition.

"Remastered is the first release of its kind for The Witcher 3," CD Projekt said in its note to the media, adding that the skill tree has been entirely rebuilt.

The Witcher 3 Remastered Release Times and Download Size

The update unlocks on a rolling schedule that is the same for PC and consoles:

• West Coast US: 3 am PDT
• East Coast US: 6 am EDT
• UK: 11 am BST
• Central Europe: 12 pm CEST
• Australia: 8 pm AEST
• New Zealand: 11 pm NZDT

Because the remaster is an update to the existing game, there is no preload on most platforms. Battle.net is the exception, since The Witcher 3 is arriving on that platform for the first time. Players should prepare before September 29:

1. Free up at least 45GB of storage on the drive or console where The Witcher 3 is installed.
2. Make sure automatic updates are enabled, or check the game page manually once the unlock time passes in the region.
3. On Battle.net, start the preload ahead of release.

Visual, Combat, and Quality of Life Changes in the Remaster

CD Projekt lists improved textures for environments, NPCs, and monsters, reworked foliage, and new lighting, rendering, and ray tracing. Path tracing is exclusive to the PC version. On PS5 Pro, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) enables 60 frames per second with ray tracing turned on.

Combat gets revamped animations, new finishers, and an adaptive camera. All five witcher signs (Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen, and Axii) have new visual effects, and common enemies such as wolves and drowners react differently thanks to updated behavior. The reimagined skill system adds new abilities and replaces the old progression tree.

Quality of life changes include new movement animations for Geralt and Roach, reworked witcher senses that reveal clues only when players focus on the right elements, a refreshed main menu and notifications, and transmog, which lets weapons and armor take on a different look without losing their stats.

The miscellaneous category covers an expanded photo mode, cross-platform mod support through mod.io, and Bard's Ballad, an accessibility option for players with cognitive limitations such as attention deficits that adjusts selected gameplay elements, for example with automatic self-healing.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version adds motion controls for signs, the crossbow, bombs, potions, and Roach, along with gyro aiming, a mouse mode, and touchscreen support for the map, menus, and Gwent.

The Battle.net version is the only edition that can be downloaded before launch. Players on every other platform start the roughly 45GB download once the update unlocks in their region.

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The reminder reportedly went out shortly after actor Stephen Root confirmed that he appears in the game. Rockstar has not commented publicly on the message.

The podcast hosts discussed the message in episode 141 and quoted it as follows: "We would like to remind everyone to please remember your NDA. The date you may announce your involvement is still November 19th."

November 19 is the scheduled launch date for Grand Theft Auto 6. If the message is accurate, the cast of the game will stay unconfirmed until players can hear the performances themselves.

Stephen Root Confirmed His GTA 6 Role Earlier This Month

Stephen Root, known for Barry, King of the Hill, and Get Out, said earlier in September that he plays a character in GTA 6. He did not say which role. Fans had already linked his voice to the drug dealer Brian Heder, who speaks in one of the first GTA 6 trailers.

Root is the first actor to confirm involvement in the game. Rockstar has kept the voice actors behind the two protagonists, Lucia and Jason, and every other character in Leonida under wraps, even as it revealed other parts of the game in recent weeks. Those reveals include a soundtrack with 34 original songs from real-world artists and a $400 collector's set without the game.

The GTAVIoclock hosts are described by followers as having long-standing contacts at Rockstar North going back to before the release of GTA 5. Rockstar has not confirmed the message, and the claim has not been independently verified.

GTA 6 Cast Remains Unconfirmed Ahead of Launch

Rockstar has cast well-known actors in earlier Grand Theft Auto games, including Samuel L. Jackson and Ray Liotta. Rockstar has not said whether GTA 6 includes similar celebrity roles, and the NDA date keeps that question open until release.

Players who want to avoid cast spoilers should treat any pre-launch cast list or social media post from an alleged performer with caution. Leaked material has been a recurring problem for the game, including the Cyberleaks leaks and a separate leak of GTA 5 and GTA 6 content.

Rockstar has not announced plans to publish an official cast list before November 19. Until then, Stephen Root remains the only GTA 6 actor to confirm a role publicly.

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Claude already allowed users to connect apps they rely on, and the marketplace goes beyond those basic integrations. Claude Marketplace groups everything into one catalog with three sections: connectors and plugins, agents and products, and service partners.

What Claude Marketplace Offers at Launch

The connectors and plugins section is not limited to Anthropic's own work. Anthropic lists integrations from Atlassian, Google, Microsoft, Notion, and Salesforce among the launch partners.

The agents and products section lets companies buy Claude-powered software from partners including CrowdStrike, Cursor, Harvey, Hebbia, Legora, Lovable, and Snowflake. Anthropic says customers can pay for these products using a portion of their committed Anthropic spend.

The third section covers consulting and systems integration partners for organizations that want help rolling Claude out across teams. Accenture, Boston Consulting Group, and Deloitte are listed at launch.

Anthropic describes the goal as making it easier for teams to find products that already work with Claude, while giving developers and partners a direct path to existing Claude customers. The marketplace is public and can be browsed on Anthropic's Claude website.

How Developers and Partners Can Get Listed

Anthropic is opening the catalog to outside builders rather than curating it only with large partners. There are three routes, depending on what is being offered:

1. Developers build connectors or plugins with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent Skills, then submit them through Anthropic's documentation.
2. Companies selling Claude-powered products apply through the marketplace application process to have those products listed.
3. Consulting and integration firms join the Claude Partner Network through a dedicated application form to appear as service partners.

For organizations already using Claude, the practical change is fewer steps between finding a tool and deploying it. Administrators evaluating a connector or agent can review what is available in one place, and paid partner products can be covered by spend the organization has already committed to Anthropic. Teams should still check which data a connector or plugin can access before enabling it, as each integration links Claude to an outside service.

The launch follows Anthropic's recent offer of free Claude Code cloud credits for subscribers, as the company expands what paying customers get from the platform.

Anthropic has not published details on how submitted connectors and plugins are reviewed, how long approval takes, or whether individual Pro and Max subscribers get the same purchasing options as enterprise customers.

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The feature launched on September 24, 2026 and is rolling out to users in the United States and France first. It is switched off by default, so users need to enable it in the browser settings before it does anything.

The addition targets a common gap in VPN use: people often forget to turn protection on when they join a network in a coffee shop, airport, or library. With the new option enabled, the browser handles that step on its own.

How Opera's Automatic Public Wi-Fi VPN Works

Opera says the browser runs a quick check each time the device joins a network to determine whether it is public or private. When Opera detects a public network, the VPN connects and the VPN button in the tab bar changes color to signal that protection is active. Switching to a private network disconnects the VPN again.

The company states that the network information is only used to decide whether a network is public or private and to trigger the VPN when needed.

The underlying service is the same free VPN Opera already bundles with the browser. According to Opera, it:

• requires no login or account
• has no data limits
• uses AES-256 bit encryption
• follows a no-log policy that was independently audited by Deloitte

How to Turn On the Automatic VPN in Opera

Users who want the browser to protect them on public networks without manual toggling can enable the option in a few steps:

1. Update Opera to the latest version.
2. Open the browser Settings.
3. Go to the VPN section.
4. Turn on the option "Always use VPN on Public WiFi".

If the toggle does not appear, the browser is either not updated yet or the user is in a region where the feature is not yet available. Some users will not see the option until the rollout reaches their area.

Opera's decision to ship the feature disabled keeps the choice with the user, but it also means that nobody receives automatic protection unless they visit the settings first. Users can disable the automatic mode again at any time from the same menu.

The initial announcement focuses on the desktop browser, and Opera has not published full availability details for its mobile apps. The company plans to extend the automatic VPN to additional regions but has not released dates for markets beyond the United States and France.

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The issue affects Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1, and Microsoft has marked it as mitigated while a permanent fix is in development.

The problem started with the August 2026 non-security preview update, KB5120998, and carries over into subsequent updates. Microsoft opened the known issue on September 24 and says it has primarily been observed on Azure Virtual Desktop hosts that use FSLogix for user profiles. The company adds that the issue appears more often with some existing user profiles.

It is the latest in a run of September update problems for Windows 11, following the File History backup failures Microsoft fixed earlier this week.

Symptoms Listed by Microsoft

Microsoft lists three signs that a device is affected:

• a black screen appears after sign-in and the desktop session does not load automatically
• users cannot reach their desktop until the session is started manually
• the Application event log records Windows Explorer crashes

Server editions of Windows are not affected, according to Microsoft. The affected platform list covers client versions of Windows 11 only, even though most reports so far come from virtual desktop environments.

Workarounds for Affected Windows 11 Devices

Two workarounds are available. The first one is a manual method that starts Windows Explorer by hand, and Microsoft describes it as a temporary mitigation.

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select Run new task.
3. Type explorer.exe and select OK.

The second option is aimed at IT administrators who manage Windows updates for their organization. Microsoft has published Known Issue Rollback (KIR) Group Policy packages that disable the change responsible for the problem.

Separate packages exist for Windows 11 version 26H1 (KB5124006 260924_20071 Known Issue Rollback) and for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 (KB5124010 260924_20021 Known Issue Rollback).

Administrators need to install the package and then configure the policy under Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, followed by the Group Policy name for their Windows version.

Microsoft notes that affected devices must be restarted before the setting takes effect. The rollback stays in place only until a resolution ships in a future Windows update.

The Group Policy packages are intended for enterprise-managed devices where IT departments control updates. Users on personal PCs who see the black screen can rely on the Task Manager method until the permanent fix arrives.

Microsoft says it is working on a resolution and will release it in a future Windows update, but it has not given a date or named the update that will carry the fix.

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The Sift joins the Overworld, the Nether, and the End as the fourth dimension players can reach in Minecraft. The Nether was added in 2010, which makes the Sift the first entirely new dimension in more than a decade.

What Mojang Revealed About the Sift

Mojang did not go deep into the mechanics of the Sift. The studio shared a short teaser trailer showing its environments and a new mob. The dimension uses a vivid mix of neon blue and pink, and Mojang describes it as beautiful, vibrant, and teeming with souls. Developers said the Sift has its own environments, inhabitants, dangers, and gameplay.

Players who want to see the Sift before it reaches the main game can find it in Minecraft Dungeons 2. The sequel has an interconnected world, expanded combat, deeper character customization, and improved multiplayer.

Players help villagers find a new home in the town of Bravehaven while dealing with a soul corruption spreading through the Overworld. Jumping is also new, including small parkour sections and jump attacks. Mojang says post-launch DLC is planned for Dungeons 2.

Jens Bergenström, Chief Creative Officer at Mojang Studios, opened the show by ruling out an update to the End. He also announced a new creator platform intended to make it easier to build experiences inside Minecraft.

Other Minecraft LIVE Announcements and Dates

The next game drop is Ice Caves, a rare underground extension of cold biomes filled with glowing ice crystals. The crystals can be placed vertically or horizontally and work as a light source.

A new hostile mob, the Frozen Zombie, applies a stacking freezing effect with melee attacks and throws ice balls that deal damage and knockback. Regular zombies turn into Frozen Zombies when exposed to powder snow. Ice balls drop from the mob, can be crafted by players, and can be brewed into a freezing potion.

The key dates and additions from the show:

• Minecraft Dungeons 2 launches on September 29 with the Sift.
• Minecraft arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026, with enhanced performance and visuals.
• Sound Effects Packs come to the Minecraft Marketplace later this year.
• The Sift reaches Java and Bedrock editions in 2027.
• A Minecraft hotel and the Escape the Nether rollercoaster open at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in 2027.

Mojang says Minecraft has sold more than 425 million copies, and that over 300,000 people play it for the first time on an average day.

Mojang has not given a release date for the Sift in Java and Bedrock beyond 2027, and has not said when Ice Caves will ship as a game drop.

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According to Anthropic, the promotion began on September 23, credits must be claimed by October 7, and any unused balance expires on November 4. The promotion covers the AI coding tool's cloud mode only, not local Claude Code sessions.

Cloud sessions run Claude Code on Anthropic's infrastructure instead of the user's computer. A task can be started, left running remotely, and reviewed later. "Cloud sessions run on Anthropic-hosted infrastructure, so the work keeps going even without your computer running," Anthropic explains.

Claude Code Cloud Credit Amounts and Eligibility

The credit amount depends on the plan:

• Pro subscribers receive $100 in promotional cloud session credits.
• Max subscribers receive $250 in promotional cloud session credits.

The offer is limited to individual Pro and Max subscribers who had an active subscription when the promotion started on September 23. Anthropic says the credits are separate from normal Claude usage limits and are applied automatically whenever a cloud session starts. "If you hit a limit locally, keep going in the cloud until your credit runs out," the company says.

Once the promotional balance is used up, cloud sessions count against the plan's normal usage limits. Anthropic does not charge separately for the cloud container itself.

Until now, cloud sessions were limited to users in the research preview. With the change, any eligible subscriber can start one from the Claude website, the Code section of the Claude mobile app, the desktop app, or the Claude Code command line tool.

How to Claim and Use the Free Credits

Subscribers who want the credits have to claim them before the deadline. The process looks like this:

1. Sign in to an individual Claude Pro or Max account that was active on September 23.
2. Claim the cloud session credit offer on the Claude website before October 7.
3. Start a cloud session from the Claude Code section on the web, the mobile app, or the desktop app, or run the command claude --cloud in the terminal.
4. Spend the balance before November 4, when any remaining credit expires.

The credits make the most sense for users who regularly hit their local Claude Code limits, since the cloud balance is drawn down separately. Long-running tasks that would otherwise require a computer to stay on are the other obvious use.

The promotion follows other recent Claude experiments, including Anthropic's Claude Money finance feature test. Anthropic has not said whether the credit offer will be extended to Team or Enterprise plans, or to subscribers who joined after September 23.

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The changes are tied to recent Google Messages builds, including version 20260910_03_RC02, and are being enabled server-side, so not every phone receives them at the same time.

The new menu was first spotted by users on Reddit, and Google has confirmed that the touch-and-hold actions work on text, images, videos, links, files, locations, and contact cards.

Google Messages Long-Press Menu and Text Selection

Long-pressing a message no longer pushes controls into a toolbar at the top of the screen. Google Messages now opens a floating menu right beside the selected bubble and blurs the rest of the conversation in the background. The menu offers Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info. Images get two extra options, Save and Remix.

Copying text also changes. Previously, the Copy action grabbed the entire message, even when only a phone number or an address was needed. With the update, pressing a second time lets users drag selection handles and copy only a specific snippet, such as a verification code or a street address. The text selection change had been discovered earlier in an APK teardown before reaching users.

New Swipe Gestures for Timestamps and Replies

The gesture changes are the part that takes the most getting used to. Swiping left anywhere in a conversation now reveals the timestamps and the RCS encryption status of every visible message at once. Replying moved to a right swipe made directly on a message bubble.

Tapping a message still shows read receipts. To help users notice the new behavior, Google Messages also displays timestamps briefly after a tap.

Users who have the update can try the new controls this way:

1. Touch and hold any message bubble to open the floating menu with Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info.
2. Press on the message text again and drag the selection handles to copy only part of a message.
3. Swipe left anywhere in the conversation to see timestamps and the RCS encryption status for all messages.
4. Swipe right on a specific bubble to reply to that message.

The left-swipe timestamp view is most useful in long threads, where it replaces opening message details one by one to check when each message was sent.

Google has not published a timeline for the server-side rollout. Users who do not see the new menu yet should keep Google Messages updated, since having the latest build alone does not guarantee that the changes are active on a device.

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The company confirmed the pause in an updated support bulletin and in a statement from a spokesperson, and says it is investigating the reports.

KB5002907 was released around September 23. According to Microsoft's release notes, the update targets only Windows PCs with Microsoft 365 Apps installations that are more than 90 days out of date and use Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel. Microsoft describes it as optional, offered through Windows Update, and not installed automatically.

How KB5002907 Broke Office 2016 and Office 2019

Problems surfaced on September 24. Christian Van Hautte, who runs a managed service provider in Belgium, says five unrelated customers contacted his company within roughly ten minutes, with dozens of PCs affected across those organizations.

Every affected installation was Office 2016 or Office 2019 Home & Business bought with a one-time purchase license, and the apps suddenly showed "Unlicensed Product." Van Hautte also says the update installed automatically on his customers' devices even though it is listed as optional.

Affected users describe in-app messages stating that normal functionality has been removed, plus yellow banners warning that five days remain before the apps stop working. One administrator needed multiple product reactivations, restarts, and account sign-ins before Office was stable again.

The update appears to remove and reinstall, or migrate, the existing Office installation. On systems that mix architectures, such as a 32-bit Office 2016 or 2019 suite alongside a 64-bit Microsoft Access Runtime, Van Hautte says the reinstall can fail because Office setup does not allow 32-bit and 64-bit products together.

In that case, the existing suite is removed but not reinstalled, leaving the PC without Office. Microsoft has not confirmed that mixed-bitness setups trigger this behavior.

"To prevent additional devices from being affected, we have paused the rollout of this update," Microsoft now states in the KB5002907 bulletin. The company lists two outcomes: Office showing as unlicensed, or, in what it calls "rare cases," Office being removed entirely.

How to Restore an Affected Office Installation

Microsoft's guidance depends on which symptom a PC shows:

1. If Office reports that it is unlicensed, reactivate the purchased product. Re-entering the original Office product key restored activation for affected users.
2. If the key alone does not work, sign in with the Microsoft account tied to the purchase and select the license there, which some users needed to do.
3. If Office is gone from the PC, download and reinstall the purchased copy of Office 2016 or Office 2019.

Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached the end of support on October 14, 2025, and Microsoft said at the time that customers could keep using both suites. It is the second September problem for Office 2016 users, following an update that broke copy and paste in Excel 2016.

Microsoft has not said when KB5002907 will resume or whether a revised version will skip perpetual Office installations. The company says additional customer guidance will be communicated through its usual channels.

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Rockstar describes the bundle as "a premium Grand Theft Auto 6 collectible set featuring all the essentials for a good time." Items carry Vice City, GTA 6, or Rockstar branding.

What the GTA 6 Vice City Collection Includes

• a 6 inch figure of Macca the Gator with a stash compartment
• matte black GTAVI Oakley Frogskins sunglasses with Prizm Sapphire lenses
• a New Era 9FORTY A-Frame snapback hat with Vice City Leonida embellishments
• a Macca the Gator magnetic mirror
• a Vice City swizzle spoon
• a Vice City razor blade keychain
• a Leonida Keys crossbody bag
• a Chunkee the Manatee shot glass
• a Leonida Keys enamel pin set in a custom metal tin
• premium stickers in a stash bag
• a double-sided souvenir poster showing the full Leonida landscape

The collection is sold only as a complete bundle. None of the items can be bought individually for now. Private store listings spotted before the announcement also point to shirts, tote bags, and additional hats.

How the Set Compares With Earlier Rockstar Collector's Editions

At $399.99, the Vice City Collection is the most expensive collector's edition Rockstar has released. Red Dead Redemption 2 had a similar collector's box without the game for $100.

GTA 5 offered a $79.99 special edition with a steelbook, a blueprint map of San Andreas, digital content, and the game itself, plus a $150 collector's edition that added a New Era 9FIFTY snapback hat, a security deposit bag with a themed key, and a premium storage box.

GTA 6 pricing is split differently. The standard edition is listed at $79.99, and the $100 Ultimate Edition adds digital content only, with no steelbook, disc, or physical items. GTA 6 will not ship on disc at all; physical copies contain a code in a box and release on November 12, one week before launch, so players can pre-load the game.

Maps are the open point. Rockstar has bundled a physical map or poster with standard editions of earlier GTA and Red Dead games, and the Vice City Collection includes a Leonida poster. Rockstar has not confirmed whether standard boxed copies of GTA 6 will include a map.

Players who only want the game do not need the set, since it contains no copy of GTA 6 and has to be paired with a separate purchase. The collection is part of a steady run of launch marketing that has included limited edition DualSense controllers, a soundtrack release on CD and vinyl, and a nearly $1 million Welcome to Vice City sign in Miami.

Rockstar has not said whether any items from the Vice City Collection will be sold separately after the bundle ships.

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The standalone ad-free rise works out to $2.50 per month, or about 13.2%. Disney cites continued investment in new technology, features, and personalization as the reason for the change.

New Disney+ and Hulu Prices for Each Plan

• Disney+ ad-free: from $18.99 to $21.49 per month
• Hulu ad-free: from $18.99 to $21.49 per month
• Disney+ and Hulu ad-free bundle: from $19.99 to $21.99 per month
• Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads: from $11.99 to $12.49 per month each
• Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads: unchanged at $12.99 per month
• Hulu + Live TV: up $10 to $99.99 per month
• Hulu + Live TV Premium: up $10 to $109.99 per month

Hulu + Live TV customers see the largest monthly increases in the lineup. At the other end, the bundles now cost just 50 cents more than a single standalone subscription on the same tier.

"While competitors have raised prices by an average of 13% this year, we are keeping the price of our most popular bundle unchanged and have increased our standalone ad-supported offerings by just 4%," a Disney spokesperson said.

Disney+ Ad-Free Price History Since 2019

This is the sixth increase to the Disney+ ad-free plan since launch, with one rise in each year from 2021 through 2026. Disney+ launched in November 2019 at $6.99 per month. The price moved to $7.99 in 2021, $10.99 in 2022, $13.99 in 2023, $15.99 in 2024, and $18.99 in 2025, before reaching $21.49 in September 2026.

That is $14.50 more per month than at launch, a 207.4% increase. The ad-free plan now costs just over three times its original price.

Subscribers who pay for Disney+ and Hulu separately are the most exposed. Compared with buying both services on their own, the bundles save about 48% on the ad-supported tier and 49% on the ad-free tier, so switching is the most direct way to limit the increase:

1. Check which Disney+ and Hulu plans are active on the account and whether they are billed separately.
2. Compare the current total with the $12.99 bundle with ads or the $21.99 ad-free bundle.
3. Move to the bundle on the same tier if both services are in use, since it costs 50 cents more than one standalone plan.

Subscribers who only use one service and can accept ads face the smallest change, a 50 cent rise to $12.49. The figures cover US plans, and Disney has not detailed matching changes for other markets.

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In a follow-up post, the GrapheneOS team said devices with the operating system preinstalled are being planned, but it did not share further details. Support for future Motorola phones had been announced a few weeks earlier without naming a model, and the Signature 27 answers which device comes first.

Why the Signature 27's Snapdragon Chip Made GrapheneOS Support Possible

GrapheneOS is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The Signature 27 is one of the first phones announced with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, a chip made on TSMC's 2nm process.

That chip is central to the deal. The GrapheneOS team has acknowledged that the 2026 Razr Ultra and Razr Fold came close to getting support, but the new security features in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 are what made the Signature 27 partnership happen. GrapheneOS is also expected to reach Motorola's 2027 Razr foldables.

Cheaper Motorola phones are a different story. The GrapheneOS team has said it plans to support low-end devices as well, provided some existing bottlenecks are cleared, and explained the current limit this way:

"It's mostly due to how Qualcomm handles it. The latest Snapdragon flagships have the best security features. We'll also need Motorola to start paying them for longer updates below flagships."

Signature 27 Availability and Pricing in North America

Motorola did not give a US release date when it announced the Signature 27, only telling buyers to "stay tuned." The company's North American product page has since been updated to say the phone arrives in November, without a specific day.

Pricing has not been announced either, so buyers cannot yet compare the Signature 27 with the Pixel models that already run GrapheneOS.

For privacy-focused users, the change adds a second hardware option. Anyone who wants GrapheneOS today still needs a supported Pixel, while buyers who prefer to avoid Google hardware can wait for the Signature 27's November launch and the details that come with it.

The 2026 Razr Ultra and Razr Fold are not part of the plan, since the GrapheneOS team has named the Signature 27 as the first Motorola device and the 2027 Razr foldables as the next.

Neither Motorola nor the GrapheneOS team has said when phones with GrapheneOS preinstalled will go on sale, or whether that version will cost more than the standard Signature 27.

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The fix ships in the optional KB5124010 and KB5124006 cumulative updates for Windows 11, according to Microsoft, and Windows 11 users who skip those optional updates will receive it with the October 13 Patch Tuesday release.

Microsoft first warned about the problem in a Saturday service alert on its Windows release health dashboard. On affected systems, File History stops creating or updating backups, and Event Viewer records application crash events that reference FileHistory.exe and KERNELBASE.dll.

Windows Versions and Symptoms Linked to the File History Bug

The bug reaches well beyond the newest releases. Microsoft lists Windows 10 21H2 and later, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016 and 2019, and Windows 11 23H2 and later as affected.

Failed backups are not always obvious. Users see "Reconnect your drive" alerts even when a compatible backup drive is connected and working properly. Files that were backed up earlier can show "No previous version available," and the "Last Backup" timestamp stops updating.

"After installing the September 2026 Windows security update [..], some customers using File History might be unable to create or update backups," Microsoft said in the alert.

File History, found under Control Panel > System and Security > File History, copies the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders of a user profile to an external drive or a network location, and lets users restore older versions of deleted or damaged files. The feature was introduced in Windows 8 and was later replaced by Windows Backup.

How to Get the File History Fix on Windows 11

Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday that the fix is rolling out with this month's optional preview updates. According to the release notes, the update "addresses an issue where File History might fail to back up or restore files to an external drive or network location." The company recommends installing the latest update for each device.

1. Open Windows Update and check for available updates.
2. Install KB5124010 on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, or KB5124006 on Windows 11 26H1.
3. Restart the PC when the installation finishes.
4. Open Control Panel > System and Security > File History and confirm that the "Last Backup" timestamp changes after the next backup.

Optional updates are preview releases, so administrators who prefer to wait for Patch Tuesday can skip them and pick up the same fix on October 13. Until then, File History users on unpatched systems should not rely on the feature as their only backup.

File History is not the only feature hit by this month's patches. Microsoft released out-of-band updates last week for Hyper-V, Remote Desktop Services, and USB audio problems, and September updates also broke Always On VPN connections.

Microsoft's fix announcement covers Windows 11, and the company has not listed a separate fix for the affected Windows 10 releases.

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Citing Miami Herald journalist Doug Hanks, Miami-Dade County is set to collect $975,000 from Rockstar for the sign under a marketing agreement. The stunt is the first visible piece of Rockstar's Miami push ahead of the game's November 19 launch, which GamesRadar describes as the start of a wider real-life gaming marketing takeover of the city.

Fans followed the construction for days through social media posts and live city cam footage. On September 22, a helicopter lifted sections of the sign onto the roof of the arena, which is home to the Miami Heat basketball team.

The sign is complete and visible to passengers flying over the arena. GamesRadar observed that the sign lies flat and faces straight up, and it is unclear whether it will later be raised so it can be seen from the ground.

How Long the Vice City Sign Will Stay in Miami

The sign will remain on the arena until the later of two dates: one year after installation, or the last Miami Heat home game of the 2026/27 season, scheduled for April 11, 2027. The agreement also set an installation deadline of October 15. Rockstar could have terminated the deal if the sign had not been up by then.

The Miami Heat play their first regular season home game at the Kaseya Center on October 21, about four weeks before Grand Theft Auto 6 launches.

Miami's Role in the GTA 6 Marketing Campaign

The sign is only one part of the planned Miami activity. According to GamesRadar, Miami-Dade County is hosting the most elaborate displays, while Miami Beach and the City of Miami also have deals with Rockstar. Talks with the city in August included pitches for events and a takeover of the airport. Which of those plans will go ahead has not been confirmed.

The campaign did not pass without objections. Some local police members and the Miami-Dade sheriff opposed promoting a game built around crime, in which players can shoot police officers and civilians. Local officials approved the campaign anyway.

Rockstar itself has said little about GTA 6 since its Extended Look debuted on Netflix, apart from publishing modding guidelines that restrict new missions, maps, and ports. Recent news around the game has come from outside the studio, including the Twitch CEO's claim that GTA 6 multiplayer will launch in 2027.

Grand Theft Auto 6 releases on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not announced what other marketing events are planned in Miami before launch.

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The settlement covers certain iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models bought between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, and the deadline to submit a claim is December 21.

Apple agreed to the settlement in May. The lawsuit claimed that the company overhyped its Apple Intelligence tools, specifically the long-delayed Siri AI overhaul, to sell iPhones.

Apple denies any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. In a statement from May, the company said it resolved the matter "to stay focused on doing what we do best."

The revamped Siri is now available on newer iPhones through iOS 27. Buyers may still be eligible to claim money back for past purchases, since the settlement is tied to how the phones were marketed at the time of sale. The Siri overhaul is also the subject of earlier gHacks coverage on letting users replace Siri with Claude or ChatGPT.

Who Qualifies for the Apple Siri Settlement Payment

A claim has to meet all of these conditions:

• the buyer is a customer in the United States
• the device is a qualifying iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 model
• the purchase was made between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025

Claimants must also sign a statement confirming that they expected to receive a Siri Apple Intelligence feature and did not receive it. The report refers to "certain" iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models without listing each one, so the claim form itself is the final check for a specific device.

How to File a Claim Before the December 21 Deadline

Claims are submitted through the official settlement website, smartphoneaisettlement.com. The process takes a few minutes if the device details are at hand:

1. Open smartphoneaisettlement.com and select the blue File A Claim button in the top right corner of the page.
2. Enter a Claim ID and PIN if one was received. Neither is required to file.
3. On the final page, provide either the iPhone's serial number or the Apple Account ID.
4. Choose how to receive the money: PayPal, Venmo, electronic bank transfer, or paper check.

The serial number is listed on the iPhone under Settings > General > About, as a string of letters and numbers near the top of the screen.

Owners of more than one eligible iPhone need to fill out the form again for every device they want to claim. The $95 figure is a maximum per phone, and the final amount each claimant receives has not been confirmed.

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The firmware carries the build identifier BZID and weighs more than 4.1GB. It also moves the devices to the September 2026 security patch, which includes fixes for security vulnerabilities.

AT&T is expected to push One UI 9 to Galaxy S26 phones on its network within a day or two, according to the report. Owners of unlocked Galaxy S26 models may have to wait a little longer.

One UI 9 Features Coming to the Galaxy S26

One UI 9 brings features Samsung first shipped on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to its 2026 flagship slab phones, on top of the platform changes in Android 17. Additions include:

• Now Nudge
• My FanCam, which lets users select a person in an existing video and automatically reframes the clip to keep that person centered
• Call Brief
• Privacy alerts
• a Warranty and care hub that shows the warranty and Samsung Care+ coverage status of every Galaxy device linked to a Samsung account
• enhanced security controls and a more customizable Quick Settings panel

Samsung released stable One UI 9 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 in August 2026, so the S26 lineup has waited about a month longer than the new foldables. Google shipped Android 17 to Pixel phones in mid-June 2026.

Despite the three-month gap, One UI 9 is based on the initial Android 17 release rather than QPR1, which means Galaxy S26 owners do not get the most recent round of improvements Google has added to Android.

How to Install One UI 9 on a Galaxy S26 in the US

Galaxy S26 owners in the US do not have to wait for the automatic notification. The update can be requested manually:

1. Open the Settings app on the Galaxy S26.
2. Tap Software update.
3. Select Check for system update and download One UI 9 if it is offered.

Because the package is larger than 4.1GB, installing it over Wi-Fi avoids a large hit to mobile data allowances. Phones that report no update are most likely on a carrier or unlocked variant that has not received the firmware yet.

The US release arrives as a report published a day earlier said Samsung had pushed back the wider One UI 9 release by a week. The rollout follows the stable One UI 9 launch for the Galaxy S26 in South Korea last week.

Samsung has not published a release date for unlocked Galaxy S26 models or for US carriers beyond T-Mobile and AT&T.

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The company mentioned the issue in a Windows release health service alert aimed at IT administrators and has put out a temporary workaround while a permanent solution is being developed.

Microsoft states that when the September update has been installed, affected systems experience problems when attempting to connect to an organisation's enterprise network via Always On VPN.

The connection might remain in a "Connecting" state or may cause repeated retry attempts which are unsuccessful. The error message "The specified port is already in use" may also occur on later attempts.

Affected Windows 11 Versions and Updates

Microsoft lists three Windows 11 releases as affected, each tied to a specific September cumulative update:

• Windows 11, version 26H1, after installing KB5124012
• Windows 11, version 25H2, after installing KB5124008
• Windows 11, version 24H2, after installing KB5124008

The programme relies on a single configuration option; according to Microsoft, the problem occurs when the VPN is configured to attempt another connection method if the first one fails, for example when automatic protocol selection is used with IKEv2 and SSTP.

Always On VPN is the remote access solution that Microsoft is presenting as a replacement for DirectAccess; it is compatible with domain-joined, non-domain-joined, and Microsoft Entra ID joined devices and automatically sets up a tunnel to the corporate network each time a device goes online. This alert does not apply to devices that are not using an Always On VPN profile.

How Administrators Can Work Around the Always On VPN Issue

At the moment, there is no permanent solution available, so Microsoft advises that affected profiles be moved away from automatic protocol selection until one is released.

1. Open the Always On VPN profile configuration that is used by the affected Windows 11 devices.
2. Set the tunneling option to use a single protocol instead of having it automatically select the protocol.
3. Choose between SSTP alone and IKEv2 alone depending on the organization's environment, security needs, and deployment requirements.
4. Install the updated profile and make sure that the devices leave the 'Connecting' state and set up the tunnel.

The result is greater flexibility; when automatic selection is disabled, the device can't switch to the second protocol if the first one fails on a particular network, which is why Microsoft lets each organization decide which protocol to use rather than recommending a specific one.

The VPN issue is now part of an increasing number of problems associated with the September 2026 cumulative updates. Microsoft has already issued emergency updates to correct failures of Remote Desktop Services, problems with Hyper-V, and issues with USB audio.

The company has also provided a workaround for a bug that prevents some Windows 11 users from logging in with valid domain credentials, and is currently investigating a different issue that can cause the File History backup feature to stop working.

Microsoft has not stated when a permanent fix for the Always On VPN problem will be released or whether it will come in an out-of-band update or in a regular monthly update.

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The company is cutting the API prices for Sol and Luna by 50% when compared to the promotional rates of GPT-5.6. GPT-6 Astra, which was launched this month, is still OpenAI's best model in all respects.

The new models are now available today to paid users in ChatGPT Work and Codex, and Luna is also accessible to free users through the desktop app.

The benchmark comparisons are something that OpenAI has carried out themselves, while the figures for the competitors have been obtained from public reports.

GPT-6 Sol and Luna Pricing, Factuality, and Performance

OpenAI has stated that the improvements in caching and inference have allowed it to provide the models at a lower cost, the savings from which it is passing on to its customers. On a per million tokens basis:

• For GPT-6 Sol the cost is $2 in input and $10 in output, as compared to $4 and $20 for GPT-5.6 Sol, which represents a 50% reduction.
• For GPT-6 Luna the cost is $0.10 for input and $0.50 for output, as compared to $0.20 and $1.20 for GPT-5.6 Luna, which represents a 50% reduction.

OpenAI makes Astra the option for the most demanding types of work, while Sol and Luna are directed at ordinary tasks and at large-scale applications.

OpenAI states that GPT-6 Sol is able to carry out difficult work tasks at higher usage limits and at a lower cost. In the AutomationBench test of business workflows across various applications, OpenAI finds that GPT-6 Sol, when running at xhigh effort, outperforms Claude Opus 5 running at max effort at only 9% of Opus 5's cost per task. Furthermore, at high effort GPT-6 Luna achieves an improvement of 5.4 percentage points at a cost per task that is 58% lower than that of its predecessor.

In the final assessment of the Agents, where complex professional workflows are evaluated, GPT-6 Sol achieves a score of 56.4% at maximum effort, this being at a cost per task that is 60% lower than that of Claude Opus 5.

OpenAI states that it is still making progress in terms of factual reliability. In its internal assessment of factuality, which is based on de-identified real-world conversations in which users have pointed out errors, GPT-6 Sol commits about half as many mistakes as its predecessor and is approaching the level of reliability seen with Astra but at a much lower cost.

GPT-6 Luna also shows improvements, reaching the performance of GPT-5.6 Sol at higher effort levels but at about one hundredth of the cost. OpenAI adds that these conversations which cause errors are not typical of normal use.

OpenAI states that coding agents are now dealing with tasks that are more complex and longer in duration, which is why the cost of sustained use has become more important.

With respect to FrontierCode, which assesses whether coding agents generate changes that are ready to be merged, OpenAI finds that GPT-6 Sol shows considerable improvement upon GPT-5.6 Sol and achieves the same result as Claude Fable 5.1 at a much lower cost.

With DeepSWE v1.1, which involves complex software engineering tasks, OpenAI states that GPT-6 Sol, when giving maximum effort, achieves a score of 68.8%, being just 1.1 percentage points below the highest score obtained by Claude Fable 5 and at a cost per task that is roughly 80% lower.

GPT-6 Luna, at maximum effort, scores 66.6%, a figure comparable to that of Claude Opus 5 and Fable 5 at medium effort, and costs 93% less per task than Opus 5 and 96% less than Fable 5.

GPT-6 Sol and Luna Computer Use, Caching, Alignment, and Availability

Even though GPT-6 Astra is still OpenAI's most effective model for use with computers, the company states that Sol and Luna provide more cost-efficient performance than the earlier models.

On OSWorld 2.0 offline, OpenAI notes that GPT-6 Sol attains a score similar to that of Claude Opus 5 at medium effort—60.5% compared to 60.3%—at about 80% less cost per task.

OpenAI has also applied Astra's way of communicating to Sol and Luna, claiming that this will be especially apparent in technical and coding discussions, since these will be clearer, contain less jargon, have fewer irrelevant details, and provide slightly shorter answers.

Together with lower token prices, OpenAI has enhanced prompt caching for GPT-6 so as to achieve higher cache hit rates by default, offering a 90% discount on reads of cached input tokens.

Developers are given a Prompt Caching Dashboard, a diagnostic tool, the ability to modify the level of reasoning and tool availability without disrupting the cache, and clear breakpoints that allow them to decide which prompt prefixes should be cached.

According to OpenAI, GitHub states that these improvements have reduced the proportion of prompt tokens that need to be processed from scratch by more than 50% across billions of requests, which in turn helps Copilot to respond more quickly.

OpenAI states that Sol and Luna are based on the alignment work first introduced with Astra. In its alignment evaluations, both models demonstrate improvements when compared to their GPT-5.6 versions, with fewer instances of making misleading statements regarding coding work.

OpenAI mentions that these evaluations specifically focus on difficult situations and do not involve the measurement of failure rates under normal usage conditions, and refers to the system card for the full results.

GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna are now being made available today in ChatGPT Work and Codex for all Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu users. Free and Go users have the option of using GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app. The models have not yet been made available in Chat. Through the API they can be accessed as gpt-6-sol and gpt-6-luna.

OpenAI states that it intends to release the models through ChatGPT gradually during the day in order to maintain service stability, which means that they might not be available right away.

The various GPT evaluations were carried out in OpenAI's research environment or using its API, and this may be different from ChatGPT in a production setting; the scores of the competitors were obtained from public reports, so the figures should not be regarded as independent verification.

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The app provides complete video editing on a mobile device, with the ability to edit and export videos up to 4K, support for multi-track timelines, and optional generative AI features.

It is free to use, does not require a login, includes no upgrade prompts, and does not add any watermarks; only the AI features and cloud storage involve a cost. Adobe Premiere for iOS was launched a year ago.

More than fifty thousand downloads have been recorded for the app.

Adobe Premiere for Android Features and Premiere Rush Comparison

Adobe presents the app as being designed for "creators" and says it can be used to produce TikToks and Instagram Reels, to turn moments from video podcasts into clips, and to edit vlogs; it provides access to a full range of mobile video tools.

The application allows users to begin with templates created by other users, edit and export videos in up to 4K resolution, and deal with effects, transitions, creative assets, and music taken from Adobe Stock, their own files, or audio that has been extracted. Video, music, voiceovers, and effects can be layered on a multi-track timeline, and there is an Enhance Audio function to achieve studio-quality sound.

There are also optional features relating to generative AI, such as Generative Fill, Image-to-Video, and Generate Sound Effects. Adobe has stated that it intends to include Adobe Fonts, improved captions, keyframes, cropping, beat detection, and the ability to carry on editing in Premiere on desktop.

Adobe Premiere was represented in the Play Store between 2019 and 2025 through Premiere Rush CC, a more simplified version designed for use on mobile devices.

This app offered fewer features than the new version and carried a monthly fee of $9.99, or could be obtained as part of the complete Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, which cost more than $50 per month.

The Android Police points out that offering the full version of Adobe Premiere for free will reduce the growing competition that Adobe is facing from apps such as Canva and CapCut.

Adobe Premiere for Android Requirements, Pricing, and Availability

The app is free with no login required and no watermarks:

1. It is compatible with devices that run Android 13 or a later version and needs a minimum of 5GB of RAM.
2. Editing features, such as 4K export and the use of multiple tracks, are provided free of charge.
3. What you need to pay for are the AI features and cloud storage.

Adobe Premiere can now be found on the Google Play Store and has already received more than 50,000 downloads. The company has mentioned further features it plans to add in the future, such as Adobe Fonts, improved captions, keyframes, and beat detection, but has not stated when these features will be introduced.

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Although Internet Explorer 11 was retired many years ago, its engine is still in use via IE Mode. The company is advising organizations to start migrating the legacy applications that still need Internet Explorer at this time, since some modernization projects can take several years.

Microsoft has stated that it will give a new end-of-support notice at least one year before the actual date.

Microsoft Edge IE Mode Retirement Timeline and How It Works

Support for Internet Explorer was withdrawn by Microsoft more than ten years ago, but the browser still remains in current versions of Windows via IE Mode, and IE Mode together with the engine technology used by Internet Explorer will no longer be available by the end of 2029.

Microsoft has sent a message through the Microsoft 365 admin center (MC1473151) to remind organisations of the planned retirement. Firstly mentioned in 2021, IE Mode in Microsoft Edge will be supported "at least" until the end of 2029, and the company will publish a new end-of-support notice at least one year in advance.

The reason given for sending these regular deprecation reminders is that it can take years to migrate the legacy applets, apps, and applications which still need Internet Explorer.

IE Mode is a compatibility feature in the more recent versions of Edge and is based on Google's Chromium browser engine, allowing web pages to be displayed using the Trident engine associated with Internet Explorer 11, a engine also known as MSHTML, which is the proprietary layout engine that was first introduced with Internet Explorer 4.0.

Internet Explorer 11 is based on MSHTML 7.0 and supports WebGL applets as well as the now-discontinued SPDY web communication protocol; those organizations which do not make use of any IE-based applets need not take any action when Microsoft issues the MC1473151 alert.

How Organizations Should Prepare for IE Mode's Retirement

Even though IE Mode will likely continue working with few issues after 2029, Microsoft asks organizations to prepare now:

1. Evaluate the IT infrastructure to identify those elements which are still necessary to run in IE Mode from the point of view of the business and its missions.
2. Refresh, reupload, replace or reconstruct those applications and websites using modern web technologies.
3. The App Assure service offered by Microsoft can assist eligible customers in checking and improving the compatibility of their custom applications with the newer Windows platforms.

Microsoft cautions that "if you plan ahead your organisation will be able to identify migration risks and will manage the chance of disruption when you are moving away from dependencies on IE mode."

IE Mode will continue to be supported at least until the end of 2029, Microsoft promising a one-year advance notice before the end of support is finally reached.

Organizations that have no dependencies on IE should take no action, but those who rely on legacy IE applications are advised to start making arrangements for migration at this time since modernization can be a lengthy process.

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Rush is a queued mode that chooses its maps from a pool of 15 by using a tug-of-war scoring method, and it is the first new game mode in CS2. The previous map-ban procedure used in Premier has now been replaced by a pick-based system.

The same update features silent reloading and crosshairs that don't depend on resolution.

Counter-Strike 2 Rush Mode and New Premier Map Picks

Rush is a three-on-three format that makes use of a total of 15 maps, seven of which are employed in each game, one of them being the neutral map on which the game begins.

Rush uses a tug-of-war scoring system built around each map's central tower. The tower starts neutral, and every round win pushes it one step toward the losing side. If the Terrorists win the first round, the tower moves toward the Counter-Terrorists and starts the next round already under CT control.

Further round wins push the tower deeper into the enemy's zone, and the first team to capture it inside the opponent's spawn wins the match. The fastest possible win is four rounds in a row, though a game can go up to 15 rounds if it stays back and forth.

To win an individual round, a team must eliminate its opponents or hold the tower when time expires. Rush's maps are small, mixing varied sightlines and verticality while still feeling like CS2. Valve has added a friends leaderboard so players can track wins and compete with people on their friends list.

The process for the premier's veto has changed considerably in that, rather than eliminating maps one by one, the teams now select the maps directly:

1. Team one chooses one map.
2. Team two picks two maps.
3. Team one picks a fourth and final map.
4. One of the four picked maps is then randomly selected for the match.

Valve said the change is designed to reward players who put time into learning specific maps, rather than letting one side ban away a team's strongest pick before the match begins.

The system is similar to the "Randomizer Map 3" pick style used at the ESL One Cologne 2014 Major in CS:GO. In casual games, it should bring more variety and reduce the chance of purely Mirage and Dust2 queues.

Counter-Strike 2 Crosshair and Gameplay Changes

Crosshairs have been overhauled to be resolution-independent, with a new Crosshair/Scopes tab in the settings menu housing the updated options, including several new crosshair styles. The default crosshair has changed to "Dynamic Quad" in white, which Valve says better reflects weapon accuracy than the previous default.

The update introduces several tactical changes:

• Reloading can now be performed silently by holding the reload key, though it takes noticeably longer than a standard reload, giving players a choice between a noisy or silent reload.
• Disengaging the sniper rifle is now completely silent, which is a quality-of-life improvement for users of the AWP.
• Valve has improved the visual clarity of the decals showing blood and bullet impacts so that gunfights are easier to read.
• The Zeus x27 is now capable of causing damage to chickens.
• Server administrators can now set the maximum number of grenades that a player is allowed to buy at the beginning of a round by using a new command (ammo_grenade_limit_total).

Clan Tags are back and allow players to show a tag from one of their Steam Community Groups alongside their name. Now players can apply stickers directly to C4, and the halftime scoreboard statistics have been corrected so as to accurately show the results from the previous round.

The Music Kit featuring the artist Starjunk95 is now available in both standard and StatTrak versions via the in-game store, and Valve has also issued a patch to stop players from dodging a kick ban while adding the option to set the music volume separately for each game mode.

The update is now active in Counter-Strike 2 and includes Rush mode, the new Premier pick system, changes to the crosshair, and various gameplay adjustments for all players.

Valve will not yet have decided whether or not it will apply the new Premier pick system to the best-of-one matches at the PGL Singapore Major at the end of the year.

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The investigation was initiated by the DPC in February 2020 following complaints from consumer rights organizations and looked at three Google features that were in operation during the GDPR period, which ran from May 25, 2018, to February 4, 2020.

The DPC concluded that Google had not fulfilled its transparency duties and had kept some location data for longer than was necessary. Google has now been given six months in which to bring its data processing into line with the requirements.

The company states that the case is concerned with policies that have been revised since then.

Google Location Features Examined and the GDPR Findings

The DPC looked at three features relating to permissions which allowed Google to handle users' web and app activity, location history, and location accuracy data.

Web and App Activity is an option available to Google Account users which enables Google to handle activity from its various services, possibly involving browsing history, search history, and location data.

Location History is a service that must be explicitly agreed to by users and which tracks people using compatible mobile devices by working out where they have been, what they have been doing, and the routes they have taken, showing this information via a private Google Maps Timeline even if the user is not currently using any Google services.

Location Accuracy is a feature on Android that aids a device in determining its position more accurately than GPS alone and is available irrespective of whether the user has a Google Account.

The DPC has found that Google processed location data via Web & App Activity and Location History in a way that did not comply with the GDPR requirements, and that the company was unable to show it had met the GDPR principles when processing personal data through Location Accuracy.

The authority also claims that Google had not fulfilled its transparency obligations with respect to all three features and that it had kept the location data gathered through Web & App Activity and Location History longer than was necessary.

As Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle pointed out, people might not have known that their location was being used, for instance, to show them advertisements or to work out their interests, and could thereby have lost control over their personal data; the keeping of users' location information for longer than was necessary worsened this loss of control.

The DPC has imposed administrative fines amounting to €403 million and is requiring Google to bring its processing of user data into compliance within the following six months; however, the DPC has not yet published its full decision but has promised to do so.

Google's Response and Unresolved Details

In a statement, Google said that it has modified its practices and policies and has introduced a mechanism which makes it easy to manage location data.

"The matter involves the historical policies which have since been updated; starting in 2019 we have made significant changes to our practices and have launched solid tools that simplify the management of location data," the spokesperson stated.

Google states that it has introduced controls enabling users to specify a particular timeline for the automatic deletion of their data from their account. Now, the information in Google Maps Timeline is stored on the device and data older than three months is automatically deleted. The company also adds that it does not save the exact device location in Web & App Activity, only an estimated general area.

The full decision of the DPC has not yet been published, so the detailed reasons for the fine are not currently available. It has not been confirmed that Google will appeal the penalty.

The company says that the issue relates to historical policies which it has already changed, and the DPC has given it six months to bring its data processing into line, though the exact changes required have not been made public.

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Upon receiving an OTP or verification code, Gmail now displays a 'Copy Code' button, which may appear within the email and, in certain instances, also shows up in the main inbox next to the message preview.

The feature is being made available through the Gmail app on both platforms. Similar functionality for codes received via the Messages app was already available on Android.

How Gmail's Copy Code Button Works and Its Limitations

When an OTP appears in the inbox, Gmail displays a small card at the top of the email, situated below the subject line, which includes the verification code together with a Copy Code button. Users are then able to tap the button and paste the code into the required place, rather than having to type it in manually or select and copy it from the email.

The Copy Code button has also begun to appear directly within the main inbox together with the email preview. The implementation doesn't appear to work each time, whereas the shortcut inside the emails works more reliably.

Gmail's version doesn't currently have direct integration with Gboard, meaning that users have to open Gmail and copy the code themselves. It is a useful improvement as it speeds up the process of handling email verification codes, even with this limitation.

The feature is now being rolled out as part of the most recent Gmail update for both Android and iOS users. Those who haven't seen it yet should make sure they have updated the Gmail app to the latest version.

The shortcut within the inbox is currently less consistent than the one inside the email itself, and Gmail has not stated that Gboard integration will be added at a later date.

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The material, which appeared last week, was said to have been acquired as a result of the 2022 hack which also led to the first leak of GTA 6 footage. The files contain cut dialogue from GTA 5, information about a Liberty City expansion for GTA 5 that was abandoned, and an extremely early version of the GTA 6 map. Since the material was obtained illegally rather than officially released, Take-Two is carrying out efforts to have it removed.

The people who post the material seem to be in danger of receiving copyright notices.

GTA Leak Contents, Take-Two's Response, and Unconfirmed Details

Last week a great many GTA 5 files were leaked onto the internet. These files were allegedly secured as a result of the 2022 hack, the same hack that led to the first leak of GTA 6 footage. Although the files have long been rumored they are only just becoming publicly available.

The material consists of dialogue excerpts from GTA 5 which appear to suggest various possible story endings, for example a more sinister ending for Franklin.

The two most significant items are information about a Liberty City expansion for GTA 5 that was abandoned and an extremely early version of the map for GTA 6.

Since the material was obtained illegally through a hack rather than being officially released by Rockstar or extracted from the game's files, Take-Two is taking steps to have the assets removed from the internet.

Videos and posts on various YouTube channels featuring visuals of the leaked material or clips from the audio have already been taken down. The company does not seem to be acting as aggressively as it did in the case of the original GTA 6 leaks, but those who post the material could still receive copyright strikes.

The release of GTA 6 is due in about two months, and Rockstar's security is probably at its peak since it has been breached by a number of leaks in the last four years.

As the game is most likely now complete, it may be vulnerable to spoilers, although the fact that there are no physical copies will make it more difficult for information to leak before the game is released. Considering the amount of footage that came to light in August, further leaks are by no means impossible.

The authenticity and source of the leaked material depend on the reports linking it to the 2022 hack rather than on any confirmation from Rockstar. Take-Two has not made a detailed public statement regarding the takedowns, and it has not been confirmed how extensively the company will carry out removals or copyright claims against creators. GTA 6 is still scheduled for release in November.

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This action follows around a year after Microsoft had started automatically installing the apps on Windows 11 enterprise devices, and the company has also ceased installing them via Microsoft 365 Apps updates.

The applications incorporated Copilot and were fixed to the Windows 11 taskbar.

Microsoft 365 Companion App Retirement and Removal Steps

The companion apps for Microsoft 365 include Copilot to provide contextual AI assistance and can be used to find people in the organisation, access both Microsoft 365 and files stored locally, and manage your schedule by using the Microsoft 365 calendar from the Windows 11 taskbar.

The apps were set to start automatically at startup by default so that users could quickly look up their contacts, locate files, and check their schedule.

However, IT administrators had the option of preventing automatic installation through the Device Configuration settings in the Apps Admin Center, and users could disable the auto-launch feature from within each app's Settings dialog by turning off the 'Start app minimized when you log in' option.

Microsoft stated that the companion apps for Microsoft 365 (Calendar, People, and Files) are apps integrated into the taskbar which are intended to simplify everyday work processes by helping users to remain focused, reducing the need to switch between tasks, and enabling them to finish their work more quickly.

"We are retiring the companion apps and they will cease to function and will no longer be supported after 16 December 2026. We recommend that administrators remove the apps from the devices in their tenant by that date."

Microsoft has already ceased the installation of the companion apps as part of the Microsoft 365 Apps updates. Although it had previously installed them automatically on compatible systems, the company now asks that administrators and users of unmanaged devices uninstall the apps themselves.

Because the apps stop functioning after December 16, admins and users should act before then:

1. The administrators must have the Calendar, People, and Files companion apps removed from the managed devices in their tenant by December 16, 2026.
2. Users should remove the apps themselves in the case of unmanaged devices, since Microsoft won't automatically remove them.
3. It should be noted that there will be no new installations since Microsoft has stopped the installation of the apps via the Microsoft 365 Apps updates.

Passkey Migration Reminder and App Retirement Timeline

Microsoft also advised administrators to migrate Entra ID users to phishing-resistant sign-in methods, such as passkeys, QR code authentication, or FIDO2 security keys, in order to avoid sign-in disruptions when it retires SMS as a first-factor sign-in starting in February 2027.

The companion apps for the Calendar, People, and Files will cease to function and will no longer be supported after December 16, 2026. Microsoft has already stopped the installation of these apps via updates to Microsoft 365 Apps, and since the company has not specified a replacement for the taskbar-integrated features that the apps offered, administrators and users should intend to remove them by the date on which they are retired.

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