Things are stable, and with the first major update about to arrive, looking up.

While much of the attention has been taken by the client release of the OS, expectedly so, Microsoft also made available other variants like the Windows 11 IoT Enterprise that same day.

This one brought in support for a selection of useful new technologies — things like Windows Subsystem for Linux GUI, USB4, WiFi 6E, and more. That’s all good, but Redmond did not release a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for Windows IoT Enterprise for one reason or another.

But that is about to change, if we go by the latest findings from prolific leakster Xeno, who seems to believe that the company is about to release one soon.

New SKU coming? I've been told that "IOTENTERPRISESK" is "Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC Subscription" pic.twitter.com/kvSUdcBfKr

— Xeno (@XenoPanther) September 13, 2022

Digging inside the ntdef.h kernel header of the Windows SDK has revealed a new potential Windows 11 SKU dubbed “IOTENTERPRISESK” which comes with “0x000000CD”.

Xeno claims that it denotes the upcoming Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC Subscription SKU.

A winver screenshot of this build lends credence to this claim, as the OS version is clearly described as Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC Subscription.

One can make a case that since Microsoft released the non-LTSC Windows 11 IoT SKU last year soon after the launch of the client 21H2 release, it is possible that the company plans to do something similar this year, too.

With version 22H2 nearly upon us, the Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC Subscription may well be on the horizon.

From September 1, 2022, the Premium version of the service will be replaced by Pro, and it will also be cheaper than currently available subscriptions.

For those unaware, Teams Rooms is a special version of the audio-video conferencing and online collaboration platform that is meant exclusively for customers who own special hardware for virtual conferencing.

Dedicated microphones, soundbars, and desk phones with screens, cameras, and other components are part of the package. Manufacturers like Bose, Poly, Lenovo, Logitech, and others offer hardware that is certified to work with the platform.

Microsoft delivers enhanced in-room meeting experiences like intelligent audio and video, multiscreen support, a full list of device management capabilities, and future differentiated value.

Redmond has been charging customers a monthly fee to access and use these virtual conference rooms, which is in addition to the Teams license.

Teams Rooms currently cost $50 a month for a Premium license or $15 a month for Standard Service. The company will now charge $40 per month for the Teams Rooms Pro, which replaces the Microsoft Teams Rooms Standard and Microsoft Teams Rooms Premium offers.

The revision also retires the Standard subscription, replacing it with Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic. This will be bundled free with every purchase when a customer buys a certified Microsoft Teams Rooms device.

Only Educational, Government, and charity customers will get a 2-month trial, the rest just 1 month.

The Basic and Pro offerings will be announced to the public on September 6, but they both will be functional and can be sold by partners from September 1.

Microsoft customers can also acquire up to 25 basic licenses.

Back then, this new service was only available with a waitlist in private preview.

It is now in public preview.

Announcing its availability, Redmond discusses how this solution not only gives developers the flexibility they need to be productive but also reduces headaches for IT admins regarding resource onboarding, hardware procurement, compliancy, and security.

These workstations integrate with Azure Development Environments, Intune, and Endpoint Manager, allowing you to get up and running in no time with existing project templates.

The company explains this new service best:

“With Microsoft Dev Box, developers can focus on writing the code only they can write instead of trying to get a working environment that can build and run the code. Dev boxes are ready-to-code and preconfigured by the team with all the tools and settings developers need for their projects and tasks. Developers can create their own dev boxes whenever they need to quickly switch between projects, experiment on a proof-of-concept, or kick off a full build in the background while they move on to the next task.

Microsoft Dev Box supports any developer IDE, SDK, or tool that runs on Windows. Developers can target any development workload that can be built from Windows including desktop, mobile, IoT, and web applications. Microsoft Dev Box even supports building cross-platform apps thanks to Windows Subsystem for Linux and Windows Subsystem for Android. Remote access gives developers the flexibility to securely access dev boxes from any device, whether it’s Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, or a web browser.”

Developers can work with virtual machines ranging from a 4 vCPU / 16GB SKU up to a 32 vCPU / 128GB SKU.

Security is also at the heart of the product since developers will be dealing with sensitive code. Dev boxes are kept up to date using expedite quality updates to deploy 0-day patches across the organization and isolate compromised devices.

Pricing for the service is based on hourly usage and is highly dependent on your resource consumption. Organizations can get the first 15 hours for free every month during the preview period.

You can learn more about Microsoft Dev Box here on this dedicated page.

Windows Server vNext preview build 25179 is the latest in this matter.

Available for download as an ISO from the Windows Server Insider website, this build can also be downloaded as a VHDX if you want to try this early-release version.

As per usual, Microsoft has not provided a changelog, meaning it remains unclear what is new or broken in this new build. We do, however, know that it uses the same underlying kernel as the Windows 11 Dev channel build.

But the interesting thing is that Microsoft has still not updated the branding for its server operating system, and it remains as Windows Server 2022 in the preview. This version is already in the market, which makes this a rather funny situation.

The software titan is, it merits a mention, asking Insiders to refer to these builds as vNext.

Getting back to the new features and additions, these editions will continue to sync up with the regular release of Windows 11. That is to say, with the build 25179 that made its way out to the Dev channel for Insiders and is scheduled for release in 2023.

Although Redmond does not highlight any new features, it does note a known issue that it has shared for this build.

To download this latest release, registered Insiders can head over to the Windows Server Insider Preview download page below. In case you are not registered, you can check out the Windows Insider for Business portal to do so.

There is also the Getting Started with Server page that you might be interested in.

The company also confirms that this preview will expire on September 15, 2022, so be sure to keep this date in mind as you deploy this build.

Download: Windows Server vNext Preview build 25179

The focus clearly remains on Windows 11, but the older OS is getting some love.

And now we have an idea of that love.

One of the new features coming to Windows 10 is also available on Windows 11, and it has got to do with printing. This new printing capability, Microsoft says, delivers on its promise that the experience of managing capabilities for the two operating systems will remain consistent until 2025.

That is the year until Windows 10 will officially be supported.

So, what is this new printing experience, you ask?

Windows 10 will soon get the ability to add a PIN to a print job. Doing so, the job is not printed until you enter the same code on the printer. Think of this as a way to avoid duplicate connections and incorrect printouts.

Microsoft claims that PIN integration could reduce paper and toner waste. At the same time, this capability also provides some privacy and increased security to users — especially in an environment with more than one printer.

Enterprise customers will benefit the most from this new addition, but at least both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users will be able to enjoy it.

Speaking of enterprise users, Microsoft is also adding support for the Print Support App (PSA) platform to Windows 10. This allows companies to add features and print workflows to the print experience without installing any new driver.

This new printing feature is headed to Windows 11 with build 19044.1086 (KB5014666), which is available in the Release Preview channel.

The same update also adds a new, consumer-friendly feature that lets you receive important notifications when the Focus Assist feature is turned on in Windows 10. The newer OS also delivers important notifications while the Do Not Disturb mode is active.

So, that’s another new addition that Windows 10 has in common with Windows 11.

Windows 10 is all set to get version 22H2 later this year, with the first preview build of this major update now out for testing. It will likely become available for all users in September alongside the same 22H2 version for Windows 11.

To go with product updates, of course.

These are recapped in a post on the official company blog, which you can scan for more details.

But Redmond boasts that it has more than 400,000 partners on board who employ more than 22 million people around the world. And there is a lot to like for these companies at this partner-focused annual event from the software titan.

We will start by celebrating the winners and finalists of the 2022 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, which recognize the outstanding successes and innovations by these partner firms in 100 countries worldwide.

Independent software vendors also enjoy new benefits with the ISV Success Program, which is designed to help them innovate rapidly and build well-architected applications that they can then publish to the company’s commercial marketplace and grow their sales.

The program is currently in public preview and destined for broader availability in fall 2022.

To help governments around the world accelerate their digital transformation, Redmond has unveiled the Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, a new solution that enables public sector customers to build and digitally transform their workloads in the company’s cloud platform.

Another big highlight is the enhanced focus on hybrid work, where the company is delivering new capabilities in solutions like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams that let people contribute whenever and wherever they are working.

Also in store are improvements for Windows 365, which marked its first anniversary. This service also received a whole bunch of new features and options.

The Inspire 2022 conference also hosts keynote speeches from company officials like Satya Nadella, Nick Parker, and Judson Althoff.

You can give the sessions catalog a look for the juicy stuff.

This new service was launched in public preview earlier this year, with the company promising a July launch for everyone.

Well, here we are smack in the middle of July, and Windows Autopatch is in town!

As you can gather from the name, the idea behind Autopatch is simply to help automate the process of keeping critical software updated. In addition to the Windows operating system, Autopatch will keep Edge, Office programs, and other Microsoft 365 services fresh.

This video best illustrates what Windows Autopatch is all about:

Swell.

The big idea behind this latest arrival is to help eliminate—or at the very least, reduce—the risks of bugs and security issues that pop up during patch deployment. The service not only ensures that all the newest patches and updates are installed, but it also simplifies the rollback of changes.

That is, in case a problematic update sneaks through and is rolled out.

In the company’s own words:

“Windows Autopatch automates updating of Windows 10/11, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft 365 software. Essentially, Microsoft engineers use the Windows Update for Business client policies and deployment service tools on your behalf. The service creates testing rings and monitors rollouts-pausing and even rolling back changes where possible.”

The software titan pitched this new service as a way to automate updates for its OS and software while empowering IT admins to ensure that their endpoints are healthy and compliant through ring-based, staggered deployments.

While Windows Autopatch seems like something everyone could benefit from, Microsoft is only making it available for customers with Windows Enterprise E3 and E5 licenses.

In a welcome development, Redmond has also created a dedicated Windows Autopatch community where users can ask questions and get help. Detailed documentation and a regularly updated FAQ are also at hand.

Moving forward, Microsoft confirms that it will work hard to get Windows Autopatch to update Windows 365 and Cloud PCs as well.

One of the biggest ways that HoloLens 2 is used at Novo Nordisk is with augmented instructions. This can help floor employees onboard for new procedures without having to read elaborate instructions. Instead, HoloLens 2 provides 3D instructions about turning levers, bolts, and more for lineworkers. The pharmaceutical giant also uses Remote Assist to create virtual site visits.

Alex Knudsen, a technician on the Oral Finished Product line at Novo Nordisk’s production facility:

“Instead of having to wait for the engineer to be able to gain access, we just put on the HoloLens and then accessed the program onsite. He helped us make the changes that we needed. This is a very good option.”

Despite a shakeup on the HoloLens team with Alex Kipman, Microsoft remains committed to the headset, with the HoloLens division being split with two other Microsoft businesses. The Mixed Reality Hardware division is being moved into the Windows + Devices business under Panos Panay, and the Mixed Reality Presence and Collaboration portion (software) is being moved to the Experience + Devices division at Microsoft.

Speculation quickly erupted online as many believed Microsoft would be replacing a traditional Patch Tuesday release with this new Autopatch service, effectively making June’s update the last Patch Tuesday update for users.

If Microsoft were to replace Patch Tuesday updates with a new Autopatch Service, how would it do so? How would the new Autopatch service differ from the old Patch Tuesday release, and what would be in the drop?

Fortunately, Microsoft cleared the air relatively quickly by issuing a response to Security Week, where the company pointed to an April post about Windows Autopatch.

Microsoft Dismisses False Reports About the Death of Patch Tuesday – https://t.co/p08SuCzkj5 pic.twitter.com/zxRuw7w723

— SecurityWeek (@SecurityWeek) June 17, 2022

The Autopatch FAQ covers several other details, including Intune Only and Co-Management prerequisites, licensing requirements for Education (A3) and Frontline workers (F3), and whether or not a device even has to reimage to Autopatch.

To Microsoft’s point. Autopatch is meant to live alongside Patch Tuesday with greater granular control over system admin functions for enterprise devices.

If you are one, you will be pleased to know about this welcome new addition.

As announced, Redmond has released a new software update page in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. This page is designed to give you a unified high-level overview of your installed Windows and Office software.

This page of the dashboard provides a quick overview of the update status and health of your software installations.

This panel provides system administrators with many metrics, including information about how many devices on their fleet have deployed the latest security updates for Microsoft 365 apps and a breakdown of the security vulnerabilities found.

The number of machines on the network running unsupported versions of Windows, alongside details about PCs with OS versions that are about to reach the end of servicing, is also provided.

You know, all the good stuff under one umbrella.

The feature was initially slated for release in April 2022 but has just reached preview just now.

While, as of today, the software updates webpage only provides details regarding Microsoft 365 apps and Windows, the company will expand it later this year to include on-premises Exchange Servers, too.

Exchange Server 2019 is also slated to get a similar experience early next year.

Obviously, since this new software updates dashboard is still in the preview stage, it is logical to expect some rough edges here and there. Besides, it is fed by best-effort diagnostic data, so the counts themselves could be off, not to mention the latency in updating the numbers.

Nevertheless, if you would still like to try it, you can check out the dedicated help pages available here and here.