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Windows 10 gets a fresh lock screen weather widget and bug fixes in new update
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Microsoft has dropped a new preview update (KB5034203), bringing an updated lock screen weather widget to Windows 10 alongside regular bug fixes. The update also comes with changes to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act – however, these changes are set to roll out gradually rather than all at once.

The update will bring more life to the weather experience on Windows 10, including more interactive weather updates, allowing you to hover your cursor over the widget on your lock screen to see more information about current weather conditions in your area. Clicking on the weather ‘card’ will then sign you into your device and open up Microsoft Edge with a full weather broadcast.

Alongside the updated widget, update KB5034203 comes with other fixes such as addressing issues that affect BitLocker data-only encryption, the failure of some apps in Windows 10 to respond to changed keyboard language, and a fix for an annoying bug that caused the Internet Explorer shortcut to become unresponsive for some users.

Optional, but still worth an update

In terms of compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Microsoft released a blog post directed to Windows Insiders back in November addressing plans to ensure Windows 11 and Windows 10 follow the set obligations.

The Digital Markets Act includes a wide range of requirements that Microsoft will have to adhere to within the EU – most notably, the ability for users to uninstall any Windows app, including Cortana and Edge. According to the blog post, Microsoft will “be updating Windows 10, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2 PCs in the EEA to be compliant by March 6th, 2024.”

So, we can expect more of these smaller-scale updates in the coming months to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. I'm pleased to see Microsoft continuing the effort to keep Windows 10 updated, considering many people are still quite hesitant to jump ship to Windows 11.

KB5034203 is an optional preview update at the moment, so you’ll have to install it manually if you’d like to check these features out yourself right now. Head over to the ‘Update and Security’ section of your setting and click the ‘Windows Update’ tab. There you’ll see a list of optional updates available and a link to download and install the update. Enjoy!

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Microsoft forges ahead with adding new features to Windows 10 as the OS gets another Windows 11 capability
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Remember when Microsoft said Windows 10 wouldn’t get any more features, and was effectively on ice, with the exception of minor tweaks? Well, the reversal of that policy is clear enough now, as another inbound feature for Windows 11 is also coming to its predecessor OS.

Namely a ‘richer weather experience’ – including dynamic, interactive weather updates – on the lock screen.

This is something that’s already been spotted in testing for Windows 11, and is now in the latest preview build for Windows 10 (version 19045.3992).

It means that when you hover over the weather on the lock screen, further info is revealed. On top of that, if you click the weather card, you get the MSN website weather forecast popping up (in Microsoft’s Edge browser, as you might guess).

This will be the default setup for the lock screen if its status is set to ‘none’ Microsoft explains, but you will be able to turn it off if you wish.

Analysis: Thawing the feature freeze

Okay, so this is no big deal as a feature, but nonetheless it is a new piece of functionality, and not a minor tweak. Of course, the other addition since Microsoft announced that feature freeze for Windows 10 was the introduction of Copilot – and you couldn’t get a more major move than that.

As Windows Central (Zac Bowden), which spotted this latest development, points out, late last year, when Copilot was announced for Windows 10, Microsoft did say it was revisiting its decision to halt features for the older OS, and planned to make ‘additional investments’ in the operating system. It appears that this is happening, then, and we can likely expect further features to be bolted on to Windows 10 as 2024 rolls onwards.

Furthermore, Bowden has heard on the grapevine that Microsoft will be reopening the Windows 10 Beta channel for testers, which is a clear suggestion that more features will be on the way for the operating system – as they’ll need to go through a full testing process.

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Windows 10 gets security boost and bug fixes in Microsoft’s first big update of 2024
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Microsoft might be pushing forward with integrating AI into as many aspects of Windows 11 as possible, but it’s not totally forgotten about Windows 10 users. The older version of Windows continues to be very popular among Windows’ user base, and fortunately for them, Microsoft has just released update KB5034122 for Windows 10 that brings an array of bug fixes and serious security upgrades. 

Two of the bugs that the update addresses are to do with smart card usage and an issue with scroll bars. Maybe not the most thrilling updates, but this is pretty in line with Microsoft’s messaging about Windows 10. 

According to the tech titan, it’s more or less closed up shop when it comes to working on significant new features for Windows 10 and users shouldn’t expect to see any major changes in the future. Update KB5034122 serves as evidence of this with it being mostly maintenance and fixes from Microsoft, but let’s not forget that Microsoft’s shiny new all-in-one AI assistant, Windows Copilot, was made available to Windows 10 users last year. We’ll have to see if Copilot will see upgrades and improvements in Windows 10 considering that its current functionality is fairly limited.

Microsoft Teams copilot

(Image credit: Microsoft Teams)

What's new in update KB5034122

This update tackles security issues, as well as a quality upgrade to Windows 10’s servicing stack, the Windows component that enables users to install Windows updates. Microsoft also gives more details about the bug fixes that are included in this update: 

You can find a full rundown of what this update addresses on Microsoft’s Support blog, and it does make note of some known issues that still exist in this version of Windows 10 and gives suggested workarounds with instructions. It follows up each workaround for each presently-existing problem with the following statement to reassure Windows 10 users: 

We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

KB5034122 should be prompted for install on Windows 10 devices automatically because it’s a security update, but if for whatever reason your Windows 10 device has not downloaded it already, you can download it manually. You should definitely do this as it’s important to have the most up to date security fixes no matter what Windows version you use, and you can get it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. 

Good for Microsoft for keeping an eye on Windows 10 and recognizing that it remains a fan favorite. However, it’s clearly determined to get as much use out of its investment and collaboration with OpenAI, utilising GPT technology however it can.

Recently, Windows watchers have spotted that Notepad is getting a ChatGPT-powered writing assistant and text editing AI tool, with some users expressing that they’d rather Notepad stayed the simple, straightforward app that it came to be known as. Perhaps as Microsoft goes down the path of ramping up AI integration, Windows 10 will be a refuge option for those that want their operating system and apps to be a little less intelligent. 

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ChatGPT gets its equivalent of the App Store – here are the best early GPTs
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OpenAI has officially launched its GPT Store, allowing a select group of users and official partners to share customized chatbots with the community.

The platform won't be available to the wider public, according to the company You must have a subscription to ChatGPT Plus ($ 20 / £16 a month), Enterprise, or the newly formed Teams plan. Once you buy the subscription, you’ll be given access to a variety of GPTs across multiple categories. These include writing, programming, and art generation – some will even provide lifestyle advice. One, in particular, can help you refine designs for a tattoo you’re thinking of getting. 

The GPT Store was originally announced this past November during the company’s first DevDay conference. It was shown alongside OpenAI’s then-new create-a-chatbot service. The store was supposed to open later that month but was delayed multiple times, most likely as a consequence of the sudden ousting and reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman.  

Curated chatbot

Although the average person can’t try out chatbots, you can head over to the store’s page right now to see what’s available. Make sure you’re not logged into your account: if you are, you’ll get a message telling you to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus. OpenAI will highlight four GPTs at the top of the page every week. At the time of writing, AllTrails, Consensus, Code Tutor, and Books are being recommended.

The first one, AllTrails, will suggest nature trails for you to explore. Consensus, formerly known as ResearchGPT, has access to 200 million academic papers and can answer your tough science questions. Code Tutor, developed by the education platform Khan Academy, will look over your recently made computer code and make suggestions on how to improve it. Finally, there’s Books, the most mysterious of the bunch. Its description is rather vague, however, if we had to guess what it does, we'd say it provides book recommendations.

GPT Store front page

(Image credit: Future)

Below that are a couple of other lists highlighting chatbots currently trending among the community and those made by OpenAI’s internal team. There are plans to implement a revenue program that will allow people to make money from their creations. Creators will “be paid based on user engagement” with their chatbots. Details are light at the moment. All that’s known currently is it’ll launch sometime in Q1 2024 in the United States.

Follow the rules

Anybody with a subscription can create a GPT. OpenAI states you don’t need any coding skills, although you will need to follow usage policies and brand guidelines. It wants to keep things clean. 

You can read the rules on the official website, but just to give you an idea, users cannot A) compromise people’s privacy, B) create an AI that may impair the well-being of others, or C) use the platform to spread misinformation. Break the rules, and the company will restrict your ability to share or monetize your work. If you run into any of these rogues on the GPT Store, OpenAI asks that you report them.

If you have a creation, you can share it by first saving your GPT and then selecting Everyone in the process. This gives all people on the platform access. Once done, you’ll need to “verify your Builder Profile” in the Settings menu. After you do all that, you should see your chatbot on the storefront.

While we have you check out TechRadar's list of seven tips for ChatGPT beginners. That generative AI can be a little tricky to use.

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The Oculus Quest 2 gets another price cut, and it’s the beginning of the end for the Meta VR headset
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To ring in 2024 Meta has announced permanent price cuts for the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset and its accessories. The 128GB model now costs $ 249.99 / £249.99 / AU$ 439.99, while the 256GB version is $ 299.99 / $ 299.99 /AU$ 499.99 – saving you $ 50 / £50 on either model in the UK and US, or AU$ 70 and AU$ 80 respectively in Australia.

This announcement, made via an official blog post, follows a brief period around Black Friday just over a month ago when the Quest 2 headsets were reduced to the same price – though many stores also gave you gift cards, free accessories, or cashback on top of the price reduction. It follows the permanent price cut the Quest 2 headset got in June 2023, and amounts to a $ 150 / £150 / AU$ 190 total price reduction in less than a year

As for the Quest 2 accessories, the new prices are as follows:

  • Elite Strap: $ 49.99 / £49.99 / AU$ 89.99 – down from $ 59.99 / £59.99 / AU$ 84.99
  • Carrying Case: $ 44.99 / £44.99 / AU$ 79.99 – down from $ 59.99 / £59.99 / $ 89.99
  • Elite Strap with Battery: $ 89.99 / £84.99 / AU$ 154.99 – down from $ 119.99 / £109.99 / AU$ 189.99
  • Active Pack: $ 59.99 / £59.99 / AU$ 109.99 – down from $ 69.99 / £69.99 / AU$ 99.99
  • Fit Pack: $ 39.99 / £39.99 / AU$ 69.99 – down from $ 49.99 / £49.99 / AU$ 69.99

While a carrying case is useful, the Elite Strap with Battery is the best upgrade if you’re looking for recommendations. It not only extends the battery life of your headset but also provides a more secure and comfortable fit, thanks in part to the battery acting as a counterweight to the headset. 

The Oculus Quest 2 outfitted with an elite strap seen from the side and behind. A cable connects the strap to the headset so that the battery can keep the headset powered on for longer.

Oculus Quest 2 and Elite Strap with Battery (Image credit: Meta)

That said, some third-party accessories are just as good, if not better, and cheaper to boot, so you might want to consider those instead, even after these price cuts. Also, you should note that these accessories won’t fit the Meta Quest 3 – so don’t pick them up thinking you can get cut-price add-ons for your new VR headset.

Meta hasn’t said why the Quest 2 and its add-ons have had a price drop, though our guess is that it's to enable Meta to clear out stock and make room for the newer Meta Quest 3, and a first step towards phasing out the old VR headset.

The Quest 2’s twilight years

VR gadgets becoming cheaper and more accessible is a great thing in our book – it means more people than ever can experience what the best virtual reality software has to offer. But this announcement is bittersweet.

As great as the Quest 2 has been – single-handedly making VR mainstream for a start – its time eventually had to come to an end. With the Meta Quest 3 now here, and replacing the Quest 2 as our favorite affordable VR headset, it makes sense that Meta would make 2024 the year it starts to sunset the older model.

The Meta Quest 3 in its carrying case on a bed in front of a fabric tote bag

The Meta Quest 3 is here, and the Quest 2 is on its way out (Image credit: Meta)

That said, we shouldn’t get too carried away with eulogizing the Quest 2. It is still in production, and new VR software is still launching for the hardware – and likely will be for a while yet given how popular the gadget has been. 

But this price cut is a sign that the headset is on the way out. We’d be surprised if many (or even any) Quest 2s were being made in 2025, and as time goes on the flow of new software will slow to a trickle before stopping completely – we’re seeing the beginning of this already, with new mixed-reality software being produced with the Quest 3 in mind.

So, as enticing as these price cuts are, be aware that the Quest 2’s expiration date is approaching. If you buy one now it’ll likely serve you well for a couple more years; but if you want a gadget that will receive full support for longer – and will deliver far better performance – then the Quest 3 is the Meta headset you want to buy in 2024, even if it is pricier.

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Facebook Messenger gets its biggest ever update – including a major privacy boost
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Big changes are coming to Facebook Messenger, covering everything from photo and video sharing to user privacy. The changes are rolling out from today, although it may take some time for everyone's account to be updated.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the switch to end-to-end encryption as the default option for conversations – this had previously been available as an option in individual chats, but will now be automatically applied to all conversations and audio and video calls.

As on other similarly secured messaging apps like WhatsApp, end-to-end encryption means only you and the person or people you're chatting to can see the conversations – so no one else can intercept or unlock your communications, including staff at Meta, malicious actors, and law enforcement agencies.

The existing disappearing messages feature is getting tweaked, too: all messages now vanish after 24 hours (previously you could customize this), and Meta is making it easier for users to see when disappearing messages are enabled. You'll be alerted if anyone tries to take a screenshot of a disappearing message, too.

More upgrades

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Message editing in the Facebook Messenger app

Message editing is coming to the Messenger app (Image credit: Meta)
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Photo layouts in the Facebook Messenger app

Get ready for new photo and video layouts (Image credit: Meta)

In addition, Messenger is now joining Apple's iMessage in letting you edit messages after you've sent them. You get a 15-minute window after a message has been sent to revise it, if you've made a glaring typo or want to change the tone of your latest communication.

Another change is that read receipts can now be switched off, if you don't want other people knowing when you've seen their messages. As is the case with other messaging apps, there's a trade-off: you won't be able to see read receipts from other people either.

Photo and videos will now be shared at an “upgraded” quality, Meta says – so expect files that are less compressed when you share them around. Photos and videos will be easier to access in the Messenger interface, with some “fun” layouts applied when you share them in batches, and instant reactions to photos and videos are being added too.

Lastly, voice messages are going to get controls for variable speed playback, and the app will now remember where you left off in a voice message if you come back to it later. Voice messages will also continue to play if you navigate away from the chat or the app.

All in all, it's a big range of upgrades that'll be welcome for regular Messenger users, even if it might not convince others to switch from WhatsApp or iMessage.

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Strava gets a handy direct messaging feature to make organizing rides easier
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Strava already has a lot of social features built in, so you can share your cycles, runs and walks with friends and family, but it's now adding a major new feature to make contacting fellow users even easier: direct messaging.

As per the official blog post (via Velo), the Strava apps for Android and iOS are being updated now with messaging capabilities. Both one-to-one and group chats are supported, as well as options to share activities and routes in conversations, and you don't need to pay for a subscription to use the feature. 

When it comes to group chats, you're able to set specific names for them, and message reactions, GIFs, and replies to individual messages are all supported. What doesn't seem to be live yet, according to 9to5Mac, is photo sharing – but that's due in early 2024.

Perhaps the easiest way to start messaging someone you're connected to on Strava is to head to their profile and then tap the new Message button. You can also find your conversation list by tapping the speech bubble on the Home or Groups tabs.

Safety and privacy

Strava says that it's adding direct messages after so long because “athletes perform better together”, while the press release talks about messaging “enabling seamless coordination, connectivity, and celebration of accomplishments and progress”.

In other words, you can cheer your friends on, brag about your accomplishments, and meet up for activities more easily without having to resort to another messaging app. That said, if you've already got a group chat established somewhere else, this new feature might not have enough about it to tempt you to switch over.

There is a safety and privacy aspect to this, too: you need to have entered your date of birth in the app to use messaging, so Strava can monitor for “suspicious, underage, or unsafe activity” through the new chatting mechanism.

And you can limit who is able to message you, if you're worried about people sliding into your DMs. Via messaging settings (the cog icon on the conversation list), you can choose from Following (people who follow you), Mutuals (people who follow you that you also follow back), and No one (no one can message you first, but you can still start chats).

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YouTube Premium gets new AI features to lure you into subscribing
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YouTube is offering Premium subscribers the opportunity to try out a pair of new AI features on the mobile app.

The most impressive of the two, in our opinion, has to be the conversational AI which will answer questions about a video you’re watching as well as recommend other content. On “eligible videos”, you will see an Ask button below the channel name. Tapping it opens up a chat interface where you can begin talking with it. You can ask any question you want pertaining to the video or you can choose one of the preset prompts if you can't think of any. The feature can summarize the clip for you or recommend other content. 

YouTube's conversational AI

YouTube’s conversational AI (Image credit: Future)

It works fine for the most part, however, keep in mind that this is an experimental state. In our time trying the conversational model out, it was able to summarize videos accurately and succinctly. Recommendations were solid, for the most part. If you look at the image below, you will see that the tool suggested a video by Vox on subtitles even though we watched content pertaining to Steve Jobs. For mistakes like this, people can tap either the thumbs up or thumbs down icon to provide feedback to YouTube's software. 

YouTube's conversational AI recommendation

(Image credit: Future)

The conversational AI is currently only available on the YouTube app on Android to American users aged 18 years or older. Those interested will need to act fast as it will only be available until December 15.

Comment summarizer

The second AI feature is a comment summarizer that will break down “large comment sections” on mobile into individual topics. It won’t be a widespread function as it’ll be restricted to videos in English. 

To find this tool, head over to the comments of a video. You will see a Topics tab with a star icon at the top. Opening it displays a menu highlighting all of the discussions currently being held.

We looked through videos from big channels and small-time creators to see if certain types of content are more likely to get the summarizer. As it turns out, there doesn’t seem to be a pattern of any kind. It doesn’t matter how popular the channel is or if the clip has a lot of views. YouTube appears to be rolling out the tool at random. Premium subscribers on Android and iOS have until December 5 to try out the summarizer before YouTube takes it down.

YouTube comment summarizer

(Image credit: Future)

Playable games

There is a third experimental feature that we’ve yet to mention: Playables. This is a collection of 30 games on YouTube’s homepage that you can play at any time; no download is necessary. 

You will find these on either the Home page or Explore menu on the left-hand side as its own entry. To be blunt, there aren’t any must-play titles in the collection. The library mostly consists of puzzles or easy-to-pick-up games. You have the classic solitaire, a Wordle knockoff called Hurdle, and Angry Birds just to name a few. Nothing major, but they can be a fun way to waste some time.

YouTube's playables

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to being on mobile, Playables are on the desktop. The games will also be available for a limited time although they will last longer than the AI tools. You have until March 28, 2024, to try out the collection before the plug is pulled.

No word on when any of this will see an official launch although we did ask YouTube for more details. This story will be updated at a later time. If you're thinking of becoming a creator, check out TechRadar's list of the best YouTube camera for 2023.

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Final Cut Pro gets some big time-saving boosts for iPads and Macs
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Final Cut Pro is one of the best video-editing apps you can get for both Mac and iPad, and now Apple says that a range of improvements are coming to both platforms later in November. These include new features that will streamline editing, tune up the timeline, add new in-app content, and more.

Starting with the Mac, Apple says its update focuses on “simplifying complex edits and turbocharged export speeds.” For instance, Final Cut Pro for Mac now automatically scrolls the timeline to keep up with the current playhead position while a video is playing. You can also zoom the timeline in or out during playback to suit your needs.

Clips can be assigned colors and roles to help differentiate them at a glance, which should mean less time wasted hunting for the specific clip you need. These clips can be highlighted by role with the timeline index, too.

Apple is also bringing out improved organization tools. You'll be able to quickly clean up your timeline and combine groups of connected clips into a more coherent single storyline.

The Mac tweaks are rounded off by faster exporting made possible by the media engines inside the latest Mac chips. And thanks to those Apple silicon chips, Final Cut Pro will be able to offer better object tracking for things like faces found in your clips.

What's new for the iPad?

An iPad and a MacBook, both running Final Cut Pro, against a white background.

(Image credit: Apple)

The iPad version of Final Cut Pro is also in line for a few upgrades, with one of the more notable relating to voiceover work. Soon, you will be able to record audio directly onto the timeline as it is playing, or select the moment you want recording to begin and use a countdown to perfectly time your voiceover.

Elsewhere, camera stabilization can be manually enabled or disabled according to your needs, and Apple has added several new color-grading presets, titles and generators to quickly change the look of your footage.

Like on the Mac, iPad users will benefit from the introduction of connected clips and a slate of organizational tools. And you can export your work to Final Cut Pro for Mac in order to use a few more advanced features.

Apple hasn’t said exactly when this update is coming, other than to note it will be available later this month. The update will be free if you’ve already paid for Final Cut Pro.

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ChatGPT Plus gets big upgrade that makes it more powerful and easier to use
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ChatGPT is undoubtedly one of the best artificial intelligence (AI) tools you can use right now, but a new update could make it even better by increasing the range of file types it can work with, as well as making it a little more independent when it comes to switching modes.

The changes are currently being tested in beta and are expected to come to ChatGPT Plus, the paid-for version of OpenAI’s chatbot that costs $ 20 / £16 / AU$ 28 a month. As detailed by ChatGPT user luokai on Threads (via The Verge), these changes could make a big difference to how you use the AI tool.

Specifically, ChatGPT Plus members are now able to upload various files that the chatbot can use to generate results. For instance, luokai demonstrated how ChatGPT can analyze a PDF that a user uploads, then answer a question based on the contents of that PDF.

Elsewhere, the beta version of ChatGPT can create images based on a picture uploaded by a user. That could make the chatbot much more able to generate the type of content you’re after, without just having to solely rely on your prompt or description.

Automatic mode switching

ChatGPT responding to the prompt 'is there life after death?'

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Ascannio)

That’s not all this beta update brings with it. As well as file analysis, ChatGPT could soon be able to switch modes without any user input, in a move that might make the tool much less cumbersome to use.

Right now, you need to tell ChatGPT exactly what mode you want to use, such as Browse with Bing. In the current beta, though, ChatGPT is able to determine the mode automatically based on your conversation with the chatbot.

That can extend to generating Python code or opting to use Dall-E to generate an image too, meaning you should be able to get results much closer to what you wanted without having to make an educated guess as to the best mode to use.

All of these changes could make OpenAI’s chatbot much easier to use if you’re a ChatGPT Plus subscriber. There’s no word yet on when the features will be fully rolled out, so stay tuned for more news on that front.

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