How to Tell if Your Phone Has Been Hacked
You Can Now Look Through Your Downloaded Apps In The Microsoft Store With The New Search Box
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If you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling down through downloaded applications in the Microsoft Store, annoyed at the fact that it takes you so long to get to the one app that you need, you'll be pleased to find out that Microsoft is introducing a search box on the Library page of the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 beta testers.
This handy feature is designed for easy app management, so you can quickly find any app you have downloaded previously.
Microsoft Store has been freshening lately, bringing in things like "installers for web" to enhance users' interactions with it. However, many people found one thing puzzling about the Library page: it lacked a basic search function. In this time when we can easily locate a needle in a digital haystack, why was such an elementary feature not included?
The popular @PhantomOfEarth noticed this update on social media platform X. This game changer for people like us who enjoy maintaining order and effectiveness in their digital lives. If you are not acquainted with the Library page, it is where all your app procurements from the Microsoft Store reside. You use this to upgrade applications, add fresh ones, or reinstall the ones you already used.
But there's a twist: not everyone may see this update yet. Microsoft is doing a trial run by launching different types of OS to different user groups in the Canary channel. Thus, if you are eagerly looking at your Library page and do not observe the search box, do not worry—it could be just a matter of time before it becomes available.
Also, if you assume that a search box is a solitary surprise that Microsoft Store provides, reconsider. The Redmond-based tech giant also recently made Microsoft Store faster by an enormous 40%. Yet another reason to start using this app more frequently.
Flavius Floare
Windows 11 "Government Edition" Is Microsoft's Anti-bloatware Nightmare
In context: If you've been spending time on tech Twitter lately, you may have spotted chatter about a mysterious "Windows 11 Government Edition" that's been making the rounds. This pared-down, unofficial version of Microsoft's OS started turning heads last week after a user dropped some screenshots showing off the Windows build of our dreams.
Sadly, this Windows build has nothing to do with the government nor Microsoft. It's actually an unsanctioned, heavily modified version of Windows 11 that strips out a bunch of standard components. The storage footprint is dramatically reduced by removing bundled apps like Microsoft Edge, the Windows Security suite, multimedia tools like Camera and Media Player, and even simple utilities like Paint and Clock.
Aside from core file management with Explorer, the only pre-installed apps are Settings, Backup, and a few other WindowsTools utilities. Even the Start menu is barren, displaying no apps whatsoever. Moreover, installing new programs could prove tricky for some since there's no Microsoft Store.
Perhaps the most intriguing tweak is that the build appears to bypass Windows 11's strict hardware requirements. Microsoft's official release mandates relatively modern CPU, RAM, storage and security specs that have precluded millions of PCs from upgrading. But this unofficial version can reportedly run on older systems that fall short of those standards.
Based on screenshots, the barebones OS keeps RAM usage to around 1.2GB on a 4GB system with nothing else open – lean enough that Chrome might actually be usable with more than 3 measly tabs on such specs.
While the "Government Edition" name suggests an official distribution from Microsoft, all signs point to this being a community project along the same lines as "Tiny11" and other hacked Windows rebuilds. After all, it would be highly unlikely for the company to release an official build without Defender or Edge – two products they've been aggressively pushing on users for years.
Also, it's best to avoid these builds since downloading them would require going through unofficial channels and likely using dubious activation workarounds.
That's not to say official government builds don't exist. Back in 2017, Microsoft announced the Windows 10 China Government Edition, which was supposedly slimmer than regular Windows versions. For instance, it ditched OneDrive since it wasn't "needed by Chinese government employees."
That said, the sheer interest in such builds alone highlights rising frustrations with Windows 11's incessant advertising and bloat. Microsoft has taken an increasingly aggressive approach to monetizing its OS of late, stuffing ads into core user experiences like the Start menu and Settings apps.
It'll be interesting to see if Redmond takes any cues from the grassroots interest and offers a more spartan, official "Lean" edition down the line, maybe something like the ill-fated Windows 10X?
Microsoft Project And Visio Productivity Apps Are Only $20 Each For A Limited Time
For a limited time, you can grab a pair of pricey Microsoft productivity apps for a very low price. Microsoft Project Professional 2021 and Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 are on sale for only $20 each at StackSocial through July 5. The retail prices for both of these apps are eye-popping in comparison. Project Professional is listed for $1,130 on the Microsoft Store, and the standard edition is $680. Visio's standard version costs $310, while the Professional is listed for $580.
You're obviously getting huge discounts on both of these apps, but whether or not they will prove useful to you really depends on the type of work you're doing. As far as Microsoft software goes, Visio and Project can be considered "niche." You can find cheap or even free alternatives to both of these apps, but if you really enjoy the Microsoft productivity suite, these deals could be right up your alley.
Microsoft Visio is a brainstorming and diagramming software used to create charts, graphs, and other data visualizations like architectural layouts. It comes with dozens of templates for flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and more, and it can import data from other Microsoft programs like Excel, Exchange, and Entra ID to automatically create charts and diagrams.
Microsoft Project is a project management app similar to tools like Asana or Trello. It includes pre-built sample projects, tools for visualizing schedule timelines, and even a built-in timesheet submission form, among many other features.
Microsoft Visio and Project apps StackSocial's deals are for the 2021 Professional editions of both apps. These versions include instant, lifetime access to the programs, plus any future software updates and free customer support. Keys purchased from StackSocial must be redeemed within 30 days and allow for one installation at a time on a single computer.
StackSocial has several other notable deals on Microsoft software. All of these offers run through July 5:
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