ggolcher

Hi! My wife and I were looking to replace our aging Pixel 3s with Pixel 6s and stumbled upon this promotion for Google Fi: https://www.laptopmag.com/news/get-the-galaxy-s21-or-pixel-5a-for-just-dollar299-with-google-fi You can get the Galaxy S21 for $500 off (starting at $299) or the Pixel 5a for $150 off (also starting at 299). Other phones are likewise discounted (except the Pixel 6) This changed the value equation for us, and we decided to get one of the discounted phones. While we would have gotten the Galaxy S21 since it's a steal now, it's lack of e-sim support on Fi means it doesn't support dual networks, and that is a deal-breaker for us. We then got the Pixel 5a. If you're on Google Fi and looking to change phones, it's a good time to do so right now.

Hi everybody! I distinctly remember how Windows 8 started adding ads to Windows, first innocuously and then more egregiously in Windows 10 and 11. This is what Paul very brilliantly labeled the "slippery slope". Well, today I noticed the following button in the new UI for my paid subscription to Microsoft 365: Clicking on it opened a series of screens with ads for Office products I may or may not have: While this is not super concerning right now, as it's out-of-the-way and innocuous, it's easy to imagine how this can eventually become abused. This seems to me like the beginning of that slippery slope in Office where a product I pay for monthly is serving me ads and that scares me. What do you all think?

Hi everybody!

I wanted to share some information to y'all so you're ready and aware: Band refunds are happening. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read this: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4467073/end-of-support-for-the-microsoft-health-dashboard-applications).

I know this because I got my refund recently. I don't know if it is happening gradually or all at once, but it's happening.

Anyway, I got notification from Microsoft at all, so it's easy to miss what is happening. Basically it'll occur over three steps:

1. You'll get an email inviting you to Microsoft Payment Central.
2. Once you fill out your information, you'll get an approval email.
3. Finally, you'll get a deposit to the bank account you provided Payment Central

So yeah, terrible communication from Microsoft as no info was shared about process or timelines. Initially I thought it was a phishing attempt, except the links were clean and it mentioned me by name. For several days I was confused and had no idea why Microsoft would invite me to Payment Central. Eventually I figured it out. Nonetheless, I got bonus money I wasn't expecting before their announcement relatively quickly, so I'll give Microsoft a pass. ;)

I hope this helps!

Thanks,

Gabriel

PS: For the site admins, I'd love to upload photos of the process, but the site does not let me attach photos. That's an opportunity for a good feature in the future.

Hi!

One thing I have always admired about this site is that you guys don't provide fluff to inflate the number of articles you post. Some other sites upload up to 3 articles with a copy-paste of a Windows 10 Insider build announcement. That's ridiculous and you rightfully call it out.

Well, I think there has to be a better way to present all the CES hardware articles you're posting. Maybe a daily hardware announcement wrap-up article or live blog or something. They are all essentially related and not all do merit their own separate article, right?

Just my two cents. :)

In Ask Paul y asked Paul what he thought Microsoft's next bombshell announcement may be. He thoughtfully offered Windows. That woould indeed be game-changing!

AnOldAmigaUser expressed the potential security challenges of open-sourcing Windows. Heck, even Paul says that the magnitude of doing this would be well nigh impossible. I agree.

But this got me thinking: what is Microsoft were to open source their rumored OS Lite? It won't be called Windows and will be substantially scaled back. Would that be more of a possibility?

Paul or Brad, would you have any information about this?