Linux, Open Source, & anti Microsoft news

Microsoft’s annual developer conference Microsoft Ignite has just been concluded and there are a few important announcements that relate to Linux. You probably already read about Microsoft bringing its Edge web browser to Linux. The next big news is that Microsoft is bringing Microsoft Defender ATP to Linux.

Microsoft is working to bring its popular Microsoft Defender ATP antivirus to the Linux operating system. At its Ignite Conference, the Windows-maker company will give a live demo on how Linux security specialists can use the company’s homemade antivirus for protection against potential threats.

While Google dwarfs the competition in search traffic, Bing is the underlying mechanism supporting search capabilities for applications like Outlook and Microsoft 365. So rather than trying to compete with Google directly, Microsoft is perhaps wisely shifting Bing from a general-purpose engine to one focused on catering to businesses. Companies will now have the ability to create private, internal search results on Bing, so their employees can save time searching for information. Microsoft is in a good position to do all of this. It has amassed large amounts of data from being connected to multiple services and apps that contain information—such as usage trends, meeting times, and team information—from Fortune 500 companies.

The team also found that users often copy and paste content from Edge to Office products — so expect the company to do more in this area going forward. “We do a better job of integrating around collaboration with Microsoft Office properties who all have great web experiences. But, frankly, we need to meet them partway and help them do more. I’m excited for an opportunity of almost a relaunch of the Office web properties with the browser. There’s more innovative work we can do there.”

Back in 2007, Michael Dell told me that Dell was going to sell Ubuntu Linux-powered PCs. Since then, Dell has supported Linux on its desktops, laptops, and workstations. In particular, with Project Sputnik, Dell builds top-of-the-line laptops expressively for developers. Now, Dell is offering 18 different configurations of its New XPS 13 Developer Edition laptops.

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has expressed “serious concerns” over whether the contractual terms of agreements between EU institutions and Microsoft, for use of products such as Windows and Office 365, is compliant with data protection rules.

The Redmond giant confirmed on Friday an unspecified glitch prevented customers in North America from receiving the multi-factor auth (MFA) codes they need to sign into their cloud-based accounts. Obviously, those not using MFA are not affected.

Microsoft Windows 10 users, I feel for you. Following a run of frustrating, limiting, chaotic and quite bizarre update problems (and a whistleblower), one the worst updates in some time has struck again. Picked up by both TechDows and MSPoweruser, they are warning the KB4517389 update (which is already causing Start Menu, search and browser problems) is now causing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on some PCs as well.

“The operating system is no longer the most important layer for us,” was the message from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella yesterday.

Microsoft announced a bunch of stuff at its event including a dual-screen device running new Windows 10X, the Surface earbuds, and the Surface laptop 3. And then, out of nowhere, it hit us with a dual-screen device that runs Android. That’s right! Microsoft’s new Surface Duo is a dual-screen device running the Android operating system.