A rash of planned feature and application retirements within the Microsoft 365 environment is the result of Microsoft wanting to centralize, modernize, operationalize customer spend, and ultimately economize by simplifying product offerings where it can, an industry analyst said Monday.Jeremy Roberts, senior workshop director at Info-Tech Research Group, said the fact that a number of Microsoft 365 (M365) services have been or will soon be mothballed does not come as a surprise, as Microsoft has been making quite a few changes to the product. He described those changes as the nature of SaaS [software-as-a-service]. You get with it, or you get left behind.The retirements will precede the end of support for Windows 10, which happens on October 14 of this year, and is a move that Roberts said has resulted in Microsoft facing quite a bit of resistance.I think the AI thing [in Windows 11] plays better with investors than with enterprise consumers, and features like Recall that have been hyped are maybe more exciting to Microsoft internal folks than to real people, he said.He added that he also thinks that an aggressive effort to get people to upgrade PCs probably has left a bitter taste in some folks mouths. That said, for the enterprise, most in my circle have already made the transition. I dont talk about it much anymore. Besides, if you care that much, you can get extended [Windows 10] support for three more years.On the Microsoft 365 front, a blog from Microsoft partner AdminDroid, sourced from the Microsoft software lifecycle reporting site, outlines the following scheduled feature retirements. These include:Retirement of Tag Feature in Microsoft 365 Apps: Microsoft retired the Tags feature in Microsoft 365 apps between Jan. 6, 2025, and Jan. 10, 2025. Users can no longer view or apply tags.Office 365 Connectors Retirement from Microsoft Teams: Owners of webhook-based Office 365 connectors in Teams must update their URLs to a new structure by January 31, 2025 to avoid service disruptions; all webhook-based connectors must be updated to continue posting messages in Teams. Microsoft recommends migrating webhooks to the Teams Workflow app.The O365 Connectors service will be retired at the end of 2025. Microsoft Viva Engage: Retirement of Private Unlisted Groups in External Networks as of Monday, Jan. 13. After this date, users will no longer be able to create, export, access, or participate in unlisted groups within external networks, the blog noted.As of Tuesday, Jan. 14, The PowerPoint QuickStarter Feature will be completely retired.Alert notifications feature in Microsoft Defender for Identity will be retired this week.Viva topics, the blog said, will be discontinued on Feb. 22 and Microsoft will no longer pursue new feature enhancements for the platform.Microsoft officially deprecated the Azure AD and MSOnline PowerShell modules in March 2024. However, they will remain functional until March 30, 2025, with support limited to critical security fixes.Starting inlate January 2025, any OneDrive accounts left unlicensed for more than 90 days will be automatically archived, hitting customers with extra costs to regain access in Microsoft Archive. They will be charged $0.05 per GB per month to store unlicensed OneDrive content and $0.60 per GB to reactivate the account in the Microsoft 365 archive. Microsoft recommends either deleting these accounts or assigning them a license.Starting next month, the blog said, Microsoft will remove the Monitor action in the Safe Attachments policy. Any existing policies set to Monitor will be automatically changed to Block. The recipients, status, or priority configured in the policy will remain unchanged.These moves followed the deprecation of the legacy Teams client in March 2024 (with its end of availability scheduled for July 1, 2025), which Roberts said had more to do with efficiency than with aesthetics. Theyve moved off of Electron and AngularJS [development platforms] to WebView2 and React. This is meant to improve performance, responsiveness, and optimization. Basically, this is Microsoft cleaning up its technical debt.That is, he said, one of the benefits of a SaaS environment, and while it might be a bit of a pain for users to make the transition, the old and new Teams are similar enough that the change management exercise shouldnt be overwhelming. They have to cut over at some point; otherwise, theyre left maintaining a fractured environment, which is ultimately not really beneficial to anyone in the long term.The march to the cloud, said Roberts, continues with the end of support for M365 Apps support on Windows Server 2016/2019 and the end of support for the legacy Office 2016 and 2019 products [which takes effect in October of this year]. I dont think anyone is surprised that they would make this choice. Microsoft loves recurring revenue. I imagine most corporate clients are already M365 customers, but for those who are holding out, this could complicate things from a security and feature perspective.Another strategy Microsoft is pursuing, he said, involves pushing people towards Graph. I see this as an attempt to standardize on a central environment. Instead of multiple standards and pathways into the ecosystem, a bit of upfront learning in the form of new cmdlets and some familiarity with the Graph architecture could introduce efficiencies at the cost of some upfront learning for administrators.Roberts noted that not all of these changes will please IT. Sysadmins will be grumpy about this because it is more work in the short term, he said. Many of the benefits will only be clear after a few years, more than likely.

On this special episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, your host talks through all the smart home releases coming out of CES 2025.HomeKit Insider PodcastCES 2025 has wrapped and we have a ton of new smart home announcements to cover, which is what this entire episode is dedicated to. We walk through more than a dozen new smart home products.Joining this episode, is your host's better half, Faith O'Hara. She details the pros and cons of the smart home while Andrew was away, before learning about all the new announcements and what she's excited to try. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Super Evil Megacorp names studio head Ian Fielding to the role of CEO, succeeding Kristian Segerstrale, who will become executive chair.Read More

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 has concluded, raising just over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Every Games Done Quick event is worth tuning in to either live or later via VODs, but this AGDQ was uniquely fantastic, filled with runs thatll go down as some of the best GDQ has to offer. Here are some of our favorites: New Super Mario Bros. WiiThe great thing about the speedrunning community is that its often not enough to be the fastest runner of a particular game. Thats boring. For Wes, simply running New Super Mario Bros. Wii wasnt enough to satisfy him. He had to get creative with it, deciding to master playing the game as fast as possible while playing the piano. But how can someone play a video game if both their hands are occupied, you ask? The answer is obvious: by controlling the game with your head and feet. I dont know what inspires a human to do this kind of thing, and I dont care. All that matters is that Wes put the depth of human ability (and multitasking) on display, and it was brain-breaking to watch.Elden Ring bonus showcaseSpeaking of incredible human talent, how about playing Elden Ring a game known for its punishing difficulty with a saxophone. I was looking forward to this run all week, and Dr. Doot did not disappoint, but not for the reason I expected. Its one thing to beat the likes of Malenia, Blade of Miquella with a specially programmed aerophone. But nothing could have prepared me for every input, from landing an attack to using consumables, sounding a hilarious doot noise. I cried laughing it was so funny. Super MetroidSuper Metroid is a GDQ staple, often anchoring the events last day in a weeks worth of programming. But lately, GDQ has gotten away from featuring a mere run of the game to instead showcase all the work the Super Metroid modding community has put into keeping this game from 1994 fresh and interesting. This four-way race of Super Metroid included a map randomizer, meaning the games normal layout had been shuffled around and put together in an all-new configuration.Map randomizers for a Metroid game are uniquely dangerous because all of the abilities you need to progress are no longer laid out in a logical fashion. Samus might run into the fiery pits of Lower Norfair long before finding the heat-shielding Varia suit. And with the map randomized, its now way harder (and takes way longer) to find where the suit is. Now add an element of competition, and youve got one of the finest races in AGDQ history.Crazy Taxi with live backing bandIt used to be that if you wanted to avoid DMCA strikes for playing a game on Twitch with licensed music, you just turned the music off. But AGDQ has come up with a novel way to get around this old problem. For this run of Crazy Taxi, every song was played by a cover band that transformed AGDQ from a speedrunning video game event into an impromptu punk rock show mini-mosh pit and all and it ruled. Im not gonna share any details. Just go watch it for yourself.GDQ is a uniquely special event for more reasons than featuring cool, creative, or crazy-ass runs. In a world where cowardly corporations have decided its okay to call women and LGBTQ+ people slurs, and one where gamers have a unique reputation for being awful to each other for differences beyond our control, Games Done Quick has been very vocal in its support of marginalized people. Whether it be its diverse programming with Frame Fatales or Black in a Flash or the mere fact that every other donation featured a message of Trans Rights, which was enthusiastically read aloud and enthusiastically cheered by the live crowd.Games Done Quick has been a shining example of how intentionally curated communities can foster acceptance and be a source of joy and goodness in a climate that needs it, and AGDQ 2025 was one of the best.

In todays fast-paced world of software development, artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in simplifying workflows, speeding up coding tasks, and ensuring quality. But despite its promise, efficient AI-driven code generation remains elusive. Many models struggle to deliver quick responses, support a wide range of programming languages, or handle specialized tasks like fill-in-the-middle (FIM) code editing and automated test generation. These shortcomings often slow down projects, especially for teams working on real-time applications where speed and precision are essential.Mistral AI has introduced Codestral 25.01, a coding model designed to tackle these challenges head-on. Lightweight and highly efficient, Codestral 25.01 is already ranked as the top coding model on LMSYS benchmarks, a testament to its advanced capabilities.This model supports over 80 programming languages, making it a go-to tool for developers across various domains. Its optimized for low-latency, high-frequency use cases, ensuring it integrates seamlessly into workflows requiring quick, reliable results. Whether its debugging existing code, generating test cases, or handling FIM tasks, Codestral 25.01 aims to simplify and enhance the coding process.Technical Details and Benefits of Codestral 25.01At the heart of Codestral 25.01 is an improved transformer-based architecture, allowing it to process and generate code at twice the speed of its predecessor. This optimization is particularly useful for developers working on time-sensitive projects, as it reduces waiting time without compromising the quality of the output.One of the models standout features is its support for over 80 programming languages, catering to a diverse range of developers, from web developers to data scientists. Key capabilities include:Fill-in-the-middle (FIM): The model is adept at completing or modifying code snippets within an existing script, a task that can be tricky for traditional tools.Code Correction: With built-in mechanisms for detecting and fixing bugs or syntax errors, Codestral 25.01 saves time during debugging.Test Generation: It automates the creation of test cases, helping teams build more robust and reliable software with less effort.Additionally, its lightweight design ensures minimal computational overhead, making it suitable for use in cloud environments or on systems with limited resources.Results and Performance InsightsCodestral 25.01 has earned its place as a top-tier coding model, excelling in both speed and accuracy. Benchmarks show it is twice as fast as its predecessor, delivering noticeable productivity gains for developers. Its low-latency performance makes it ideal for teams working on projects that require quick iterations.Real-world use cases highlight its adaptability. Companies using Codestral 25.01 have reported significant reductions in debugging time, thanks to its advanced code correction features. The broad programming language support has proven invaluable for teams working across multiple platforms or switching between programming styles.Ease of use is another area where Codestral 25.01 shines. Its intuitive API and thorough documentation make it accessible even to those new to AI-driven tools, reducing the time needed to get up and running.Data based on Jan 13 2025 updateData based on Jan 13 2025 updateConclusionCodestral 25.01 by Mistral AI is a thoughtfully designed solution to many of the challenges developers face in code generation. With support for over 80 programming languages and standout features like FIM, code correction, and test generation, it provides a reliable and efficient tool for a wide range of coding tasks.As AI continues to evolve, tools like Codestral 25.01 illustrate how technology can enhance software development by making it faster, more accurate, and accessible. Mistral AIs focus on practical, user-friendly solutions sets a strong example for the future of AI in programming.Check out the Details and Model. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our65k+ ML SubReddit.(Promoted) Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. Meet 'Height':The only autonomous project management tool (Sponsored)

Pokmon Trading Card Game Pocket players have gushed over its card art for months, but many are just now realizing that some of its monsters have been hiding details that connect them to the Game Boy games.Investigations into some Pokmon cards clues began over the weekend when Reddit user asch_win pointed out that Spearow features a few familiar landmarks. The Normal/Flying type is surrounded by grass, a fence, a few trees, and, most notably, two buildings. These are not just any buildings, however, as asch_win clarifies that the purple and yellow background building actually appears to be Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreens Celadon City Department Store. Just off to the left of Celadon City is the Kanto regions Route 16, which just so happens to include a fenced-in patch of grass where players have a chance to catch Spearow.It seems undeniable that developers Creatures Inc. and DeNA intentionally created the card to reference the iconic games that helped launch Pokmon into the phenomenon it is today, but Pokmon TCG Pockets fun details dont stop there. Reddit user jteede spotted even more connections to early titles, including a full-art Diglett card set just East of Vermillion City, a Haunter card located next to the infamous Lavender Town tower, and more. Asch_win also brought a magnifying glass up to a few of the Supporter cards, revealing that they, too, reference specific locations from Pokmon history.Most card illustrations settings show monsters living their lives in dreamlike areas, seemingly without ties to Pokmon lore. Some, including one Pikachu variant, can even be recognized as cards that can be collected in the real world. Others, however, exist only within Pokmon TCG Pocket, which is where many players are finding these well-hidden Easter Eggs.The Pokmon TCG Pocket community has now spent the weekend picking apart other cards in search of additional references. Highlights include what appears to be the S.S. Anne cruise liner tucked away in a Gyarados full art card as well as Oddish, Venonat, and Bellsprout cards that all come together to tell a story set by FireRed and LeafGreens seaside Snorlax.Only one additional booster expansion set, titled Mythical Island, has been released for Pokmon TCG Pocket since it came to mobile gaming fans in October, bringing its total to four packs to choose from. More are, of course, expected to launch in the future, with additional cards occasionally worming their way into collections via Wonder Pick Events and other updates. As Creatures and DeNA continue to deliver more cards from across the series many generations, players should be sure to keep an eye out for any other references.In the meantime, you can read up on the current Wonder Pick event, which puts Charmander and Squirtle center stage. Be sure to also check out why the developers are playing coy about whether pack choice matters or not.Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

"An AI that can effectively be a sort of midlevel engineer."Meta NarrativeMeta-formerly-Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he intends to start automating coding jobs with AI this year.Zuckerberg announced these ambitions, which if realized would send shockwaves throughout Silicon Valley, on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, ."Probably in 2025, we at Meta, as well as the other companies that are basically working on this, are going to have an AI that can effectively be a sort of midlevel engineer that you have at your company that can write code," Zuckerberg said in the interview. A midlevel engineer at Meta, per BI, earns a salary somewhere in the mid-six figures.For the PeopleThough Zuckerberg doesn't explicitly say he'll replace his human grunts outright, putting two and two together as he explains how the AI technology will pan out or looking at literally any company that has bragged about onboarding AI models makes the implications for people's jobs pretty clear."In the beginning it'll be really expensive to run, and you can get it to be more efficient," the Meta CEO said. "And over time it'll get to the point where a lot of the code in our apps and including the AI that we generate is actually going to be built by AI engineers instead of people engineers."This, Zuckerberg argues, will actually "augment" workers."My view on this is like the future people are just going to be so much more creative and they're going to be freed up to do kind of crazy things."Pressed about whether AI will eliminate jobs, Zuckerberg doesn't offer a direct answer; he just goes into a long spiel about industrialization and how we're not all farmers anymore.Trend FollowerA model that does programming jobs fits with the latest fad in the AI industry, which is developing so-called AI agents that are autonomous enough to perform complex tasks without human intervention, thereby serving as a sort of "virtual employee."And as Zuckerberg said, Meta is far from the only one that's pushing for AI automation in the industry. In December, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said that the software giant, which is among the most valuable companies in the world, would no longer be hiring software engineers in 2025.Benioff credited this hiring freeze to productivity gains made with AI technology, including its own Agentforce AI model.Elsewhere, the CEO of the fintech company Klarna boasted that it had laid off 22 percent of its workforce as a result of embracing AI. And in the tech world at large, thousands of jobs have already been sacrificed amidst the AI arms race to develop the latest models.More on Meta: Facebook Caught Hosting AI-Powered HitlerShare This Article

The Riyadh Metro network, the worlds longest driverless transit system, opens its first lines, connecting key districts and cultural landmarks across the citySource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+Crow1/12show captionThe Riyadh Metro, the worlds longest driverless transit system, officially commenced operations in December, with the opening of its Blue, Yellow, and Purple lines (Lines 1, 4, and 6).The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), serves as a primary interchange on the new network. It links the KAFD terminus with King Khalid International Airport and provides access to the skybridge for the local KAFD monorail.The station also integrates bus and park-and-ride services, forming a multi-modal transport hub for Riyadh.Spread over four levels, the station accommodates six rail platforms and features new public plazas for the financial district.The stations anticipated rail, car, and pedestrian movements have been analysed and organised to ensure smooth internal circulation and minimise congestion. This analysis informed a three-dimensional lattice design, shaped by a series of opposing sinewaves that reflect the patterns and variations of daily traffic flows, forming the core of the buildings circulation system.The lattice extends to an exterior faade composed of perforated concrete panels. These perforations are designed to reduce solar gain and, according to ZHA, echo elements of traditional Saudi vernacular architecture. The overall form also draws inspiration from patterns created by wind on sand.Source: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+CrowSource: Hufton+Crow1/8show captionPassive design features are combined with a high-efficiency cooling system powered by renewables, which adjusts to varying passenger volumes. Sliding door panels on platforms help retain cool air, enhancing energy efficiency.The station has achieved LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.Spanning over 176 kilometres across six lines and 85 stations, the automated rapid transport system aims to encourage the use of sustainable transport in Saudi Arabias capital.The network, planned by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), has a projected capacity of 3.6 million daily passengers. It connects key districts, business hubs, and cultural landmarks, seeking to improve mobility and quality of life for Riyadhs expanding population.

Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.I usually hate it when a crossword puzzle offers a clue whose only hint is something like, "partner of 1 Across." Look, editors, if I haven't answered 1 Across yet, there's now no way I can get the new answer. But in the NYT Mini Crossword today, the two paired answers, 1 Across and 1 Down, were pretty easy. Still, if you need some help with today's Mini Crossword, read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Jan. 14, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers1A clue: "Vertically challenged"Answer: SHORT6A clue: "I am ___, hear me roar!"Answer: WOMAN7A clue: Vote into officeAnswer: ELECT8A clue: Like a bold haircut or piercingAnswer: EDGY9A clue: Org. that might make you take your laptop out of your suitcaseAnswer: TSAMini down clues and answers1D clue: Partner of 1-AcrossAnswer: SWEET2D clue: Half nelson and cobra clutch, in wrestlingAnswer: HOLDS3D clue: Lowest-ranking member of the wolfpackAnswer: ALPHA4D clue: RisquAnswer: RACY5D clue: Explosive that was originally used as a yellow dyeAnswer: TNTHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

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