You sit down to tackle a big project, and within minutes, your inbox pings. A Slack message follows. By the time youve responded to those, another four have hit your inbox. Before you know it, your mornings derailed, and your deep work window is gone.Email alone consumes over a quarter of the average professionals workweek. But its not just the volume that hurts. Its how email fragments your attention, blocks deep work, and subtly sabotages your success. The average knowledge worker gets hit with 117 emails and 153 chat messages a day. And they check email on average 15 times daily, often reacting instead of prioritizing.At Lifehack Method, we coach busy professionals on how to reclaim their time and do meaningful, fulfilling work. Ive interviewed hundreds of managers and executives about how they manage email. Some are still drowning. But others have found simple, powerful systems that have changed the game (and no, its not necessary to aspire to Inbox Zero).With just a few key shifts, you can, too. Here are five proven strategies to stop letting email run your day.1. Force yourself to close your email inboxMost professionals work with their email inbox open, just in case an urgent request comes through. But that hypervigilance crushes your focus and can cause you to be less effective as a manager.The fix is batching. Check all your communication channelsemail, Slack, Teamsin short, focused windows. Outside those windows, you close your inbox and turn off notifications. If the idea makes you nervous, start small. Try five mini batch sessions spaced throughout the day. Eventually, youll find that three 30-minute sessions are plenty, even for high-volume inboxes.What do you do during these batching sessions? Enter strategy #2:2. Replace your folders with the Stack MethodThe Stack Method is a popular email folder system that professionals use to categorize each email that comes into their inbox. Instead of creating dozens of folders based on your unique workflow, every email goes to one of five folders based on the action it needs.These are the five folders:Reply: Needs a thoughtful response, but will take you more than two minutesDo: Small tasks to complete (under 15 minutes)Meetings: Scheduling or prep-related itemsWaiting On: Youve responded, but need follow-upReview: FYIs, CCs, or anything to skim laterDuring your email batch sessions, your job is to clear your main inbox by sorting everything into these folders. Once sorted, take action on each folder during dedicated time blocks. This is how overwhelmed professionals regain control over their email inbox quickly, without worrying that something is falling through the cracks.3. Use AI to prioritize, conserve mental energy, and go fasterEver left responding to an email for later only to spend more time remembering, flagging, or reopening it? Its often because we dont have the mental bandwidth to carefully type out a reply right then and there.But with voice dictation, which is three times faster than typing, layered with AI, youll find that email responses that used to take 510 minutes can now be done in under two. You can even use an AI writer (such as Chat GPT Writer, which plugs directly into Gmail) to draft a first pass, which you then review and edit.Heres a voice-dictation prompt to use on the go: Draft an email response from me [Your Name]. Tell them: [ramble your message here]. Keep it [short, informal, professional, etc.]. The AI turns your verbal mess into a polished email draft thats 80% ready to go.Executives are also using AI Agent tools like Fyxer.ai for AI-generated replies and inbox prioritization. Kara Brown is the CEO of LeadCoverage, the largest go-to-market agency that focuses on supply chain. She shares, Im sort of obsessed with [Fyxer], mostly because of the prioritization. It tells me when I get a one-to-one email versus when Im on a list serve . . . which is very handy in my very full inbox. It [also] drafts a response for me based on all the other emails that Ive written. Frankly, Fyxer is much nicer than I am! While I might write a three-word reply, like OK, thank you, it will write four or five sentences and make me sound so much nicer and polite. Its making it a lot easier to be more personal in my insanely overwhelming inbox.Jeff Smith, PhD, is the founder of QuantumIOT and a serial technology entrepreneur. He is quick to note that the best AI agent features currently offered by third parties will likely become native to your email platform of choice very soon. So, if youre not an early adopter of new tech, you have nothing to worry about. The real win really isnt inbox zero, its more like finally having the kind of assistant that weve only really ever seen on TV, he says.This isnt about outsourcing your voice. Its about expressing what you already know, but faster, cleaner, and more professionally.4. Buy time with placeholder repliesWhen someone emails you, theyre not usually expecting an immediate answer. What they really want is certainty that you saw it, and a clear timeline for your reply. Send a placeholder reply like this: Thanksthis is on my radar. Ill get back to you by tomorrow afternoon. Let me know if its more urgent. That one line calms the sender and gives you breathing room to craft a well-thought out response later.Another variation: If someones message is vague, dont try to decode it yourself. Reply with a quick clarifying question: Quick qare you looking for input on X, or a final decision on Y? This avoids the dread that you might erroneously interpret what they need from you, and end up needing to re-do the work anyway.5. Replace long collaborative threads entirelyWhen collaboration happens inside email threads, workers feel pressured to constantly check their inbox, just in case someones waiting on them. Even the best batching system can break down when your colleagues are unknowingly using your inbox as a live chat tool.Cal Newport, computer science professor and author of A World Without Email, calls this constant back-and-forth the hyperactive hive minda work style where problems are solved through an endless string of ad hoc, unscheduled messages. He calls this workflow a misery-making machine. With AI, this problem will accelerate. If youre sending more emails, faster, youd better believe that everyone else will, too. The hive mind will become even more hyperactive.The fix is to move collaborative work to shared hubs like Google Docs (for coauthoring and commenting) and Asana or ClickUp (for task-based back-and-forth).This shift creates two clear benefits. First, it protects your inbox for what its meant forannouncements, logistics, and brief 1:1 communications. Second, it protects your time by shifting multi-person conversations into tools designed for asynchronous collaboration (such as Asana, which is what we use at Lifehack Method).If youre leading a team, make this an explicit policy. If youre an individual contributor, start by modeling the behaviorcommenting in docs, tagging teammates in project tools, and replying to email threads with Lets move this over to Asana. The more collaborative conversations you remove from email, the easier it becomes to manage your inbox and maintain your focus.Email doesnt have to be your biggest productivity leakThese strategies arent about zeroing out your inbox for bragging rights. Theyre about protecting your focus and getting your time back. With a few small shifts, you can take back hours of time and massive amounts of cognitive energy from processing email, and reinvest it in the work that really drives you forward. Thats the kind of ROI your week needs.

Most outdoor gear container systems, whether bins, bags or hybrids, are rather tall; they appear to be sized using pickup truck bed walls as a height guide. RUX, the outdoor gear brand started by industrial designer Tony Richardson, produces a flexible, fold-flat outdoor gear container system. They're a hit with overlanders and travelers, particularly their 70L model, which falls into the tall category of containers. User feedback, however, prompted Richardson to design an alternative; not everything is going into the bed of a pickup. Thus the company has rolled out the RUX 40L Gear Box. "Designed with a shorter, carry-on-friendly form factor, it fits where others can't from under-seat truck drawers to overhead bins, boat decks, van builds, and ATV racks." It also, Richardson reckons, makes a good case for quick access to just a single layer of goods, rather than having to dig through a deeper tote or box. Like its bigger 70L sibling, it's completely watertight, and collapses flat when it's not needed. Check out all of its features below:It runs $250.

The Torii Bench began with a simple question asked every day at Placyle: what if plastic waste could be turned into something beautiful? The idea was to show the true value of plastic, not as garbage but as possibility. While walking beneath the red gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, the designer was struck by the pure, elemental form of the torii gatea threshold that invites movement yet offers moments of stillness. That feeling of entering a calmer space became the soul of the benchs design.Translating that emotion into outdoor furniture produced a minimal silhouette: two upright pillars and a floating lintel, abstracted into a light, architectural profile. The rhythm of the bench is defined by parallel recycledplastic lumbers that cast subtle shadows, have soft edges, and provide reassuring solidity under the hand. The result feels both familiar and newceremonial in line, everyday in use.Designer: Aliasgar AboojiwalaEvery Torii Bench is made from 100% recycled plastic recovered from postconsumer and industrial waste streams. The material is UVstable, weatherproof, splinterfree, and tactile, speckled with tiny hints of its past life that are preserved rather than hidden. Stainlesssteel fixtures add longterm rigidity and remain rustfree.Designing for real life meant designing for logistics. The bench ships flatpack: legs fold inward with adjusted hole placements and hardware that makes assembly toolsimple and intuitive. This reduces shipping volume and carbon cost, and makes installation painless for individuals and communities. For those seeking added comfort, the Torii Bench offers three expressions within the same design language: a pure architectural seat, a quietly cushioned version for longer pauses, and a loungestyle option with a soft armrest bolster for unhurried conversations. One core frame supports multiple expressions without reengineering.The bench is available in calm neutrals, earthy naturals, and bold statement hues, each plank acting as a quiet archive of waste plastic given a second life. Field tests rate the bench at a 300kg load capacity, with finishes designed to withstand sun, rain, and public use. Every unit carries a story that helps clients communicate sustainability in ways people can touch.Placed along a pathway, in a residential courtyard, on a patio, or beside a museum path, the Torii Bench serves as a threshold between movement and pausea piece of architecture scaled for the body and a small, everyday reminder that circular design can be beautiful, durable, and human. By turning discarded plastic into a functional work of art, the Torii Bench demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform waste into value, inviting users to sit, reflect, and appreciate the possibilities hidden in the materials we often overlook.The post Bench turns plastic waste into beautiful outdoor furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.

For years, gray dominated the world of interiors. Cool tones were everywhere, from flooring to furniture to walls. But trends move in cycles, and now brown, the earthy neutral we once associated with the 70s and early 2000s, is making a stylish comeback. Unlike before, todays brown interior design is anything but dated.With its rich, grounding quality, brown brings warmth, sophistication, and a sense of timelessness that feels refreshing after decades of cooler palettes. If youre curious about weaving brown into your space, here are 17 sophisticated ways to style this trending neutral in your home.1. Paint a Bold Brown Feature WallImage Source: Country Living If youre not ready to commit to an all-brown room, a feature wall is the perfect way to test the waters. Painting one wall in a deep espresso or warm mocha shade creates a striking focal point that instantly changes the mood of the space. A feature wall works especially well behind a bed, sofa, or dining table, where it can frame the main piece of furniture. Balance it out with lighter tones on the surrounding walls to keep the room feeling open. The beauty of this approach is that it adds depth and drama without overwhelming the space.2. Embrace Wooden Walls for WarmthImage Source: Country Living Wood-paneled walls, once considered dated, are making a strong comeback with a modern twist. Whether you choose sleek walnut panels, rustic reclaimed wood, or vertical slats in oak, brown-toned wood walls add texture, warmth, and character to any room. They work beautifully in living rooms and bedrooms, where they create a cozy cocoon-like feel. For a lighter take, pair wooden walls with cream upholstery and airy curtains; for something moodier, balance with darker furniture and soft lighting. Wooden walls blur the line between architecture and design, adding natural beauty that makes the room feel timeless yet contemporary.3. Bring Brown into a Home OfficeImage Source: Country Living Browns grounding qualities make it an excellent choice for a home office, where focus and calm are key. A walnut desk or chocolate-toned shelving unit adds instant sophistication while anchoring the room. Pairing brown furniture with neutral walls ensures the space feels both professional and inviting. Leather office chairs in a caramel shade can strike a perfect balance between comfort and elegance. You can even go subtle with accessories, think coffee-colored desk organizers, a brown corkboard, or sepia art prints. Brown adds a warm, steady backdrop that encourages productivity while still keeping the workspace stylish.4. Pair Brown with Contemporary ColorsImage Source: Country Living Brown doesnt have to feel traditional,it pairs beautifully with contemporary colors to create a fresh, updated look. Soft blush, dusty blue, and even muted mustard work surprisingly well with warm brown tones. A camel sofa against a sage green wall, or mocha cabinetry accented with matte black hardware, feels stylish and modern. These unexpected pairings give brown a new identity beyond its retro associations. The trick is to keep the palette cohesive,choose two or three complementary colors and repeat them throughout the space in textiles, art, and accessories. Suddenly, brown feels like part of a curated, current design scheme.5. Add Subtle Brown TouchesImage Source: Country Living If youre hesitant about going all in, start small with subtle brown accents. A woven jute rug, a set of wooden bowls, or a leather-trimmed lamp can introduce warmth without overpowering your existing design. These little touches are especially effective in minimalist or modern spaces where you want to soften clean lines. Brown throw pillows, picture frames, or even pottery pieces can add texture and depth in understated ways. Over time, layering these subtle accents creates cohesion while letting you experiment with the trend. Its an easy, low-commitment way to enjoy browns natural charm.6. Combine Brown with Green for an Organic FeelImage Source: Country Living Brown and green are natural partners, echoing the harmony found in nature. When paired indoors, they create a soothing, organic vibe that feels refreshing yet grounded. Think olive-green walls with walnut shelving, or emerald velvet cushions against a caramel sofa. Even simple touches, like brown terracotta pots filled with lush greenery, can transform a space. The combination works across styles,from earthy bohemian to polished contemporary. Adding plants enhances the connection, bringing literal life to the palette. Together, brown and green create a calming sanctuary that feels effortlessly balanced and timeless.7. Create a Caramel CenterpieceImage Source: House BeautifulEvery room needs a focal point, and a caramel-toned piece of furniture can easily take center stage. A caramel leather sofa, for example, strikes the perfect balance between classic and contemporary. Unlike darker browns, caramel feels lighter and more versatile, making it easy to pair with both warm and cool tones. You can style it with ivory throws for softness, or contrast it with jewel-toned cushions for drama. Caramel also works beautifully on accent chairs, ottomans, or even statement rugs. By placing this warm shade at the heart of your design, you instantly create a space that feels inviting and chic.8. Experiment with Mocha StripesImage Source: House BeautifulStripes are a timeless pattern, and when done in mocha tones, they feel sophisticated and versatile. Whether on wallpaper, rugs, or upholstered furniture, mocha stripes add rhythm and elegance to a room. Vertical stripes can make ceilings feel taller, while horizontal ones elongate a space. In a dining room, mocha-striped curtains add subtle drama; in a bedroom, striped bedding mixes pattern with warmth. Pair with solid neutrals like cream or taupe to avoid visual overload. Mocha stripes are understated enough to act as a backdrop, yet distinctive enough to inject personality into your design.9. Brown Bathrooms for Spa-Like SerenityImage Source: Country Living Bathrooms are often thought of as bright, white spaces, but introducing brown can make them feel more grounded and inviting. Rich mocha walls or espresso-toned tiles instantly bring depth and sophistication, while wooden vanities in walnut or oak add warmth. To keep the look fresh, balance darker elements with lighter accents, think beige towels, cream countertops, or soft ambient lighting. Even small details like brown-framed mirrors, bronze fixtures, or earthy-toned accessories can elevate the space. The result is a bathroom that feels spa-like, cozy, and stylish all at once, a place where practicality meets luxurious comfort.10. Add Mid-Century StyleImage Source: The SpruceMid-century design has a timeless appeal, and brown is central to its effortless charm. Classic pieces like walnut sideboards, teak coffee tables, and low-profile leather sofas in chocolate or caramel instantly set the tone. The beauty of this style lies in its balanceclean lines, organic shapes, and functional elegance. Brown enhances that balance by adding warmth and grounding the airy, minimalist feel. To complete the look, pair with brass or matte black lighting, geometric rugs, and neutral walls for contrast. Incorporating mid-century elements in brown makes your space feel stylish yet approachable, celebrating a design era that remains relevant today.11. Use Brown in Rugs and CarpetsImage Source: PinterestFlooring sets the stage for a room, and brown rugs or carpets are a practical yet stylish way to bring in warmth. A Persian-style rug with rich brown and rust undertones can anchor a living room, while a solid mocha wool rug makes a bedroom feel instantly cozier. Brown rugs also hide wear and tear better than lighter shades, making them both beautiful and functional. Layering rugs,such as a jute base with a patterned brown accent rug,can also create texture and interest. Whether traditional or modern, brown underfoot adds a grounding quality that ties the whole room together.12. Try Brown in Kitchen CabinetryImage Source: Country Living Brown cabinetry is officially back, but this time its sleeker and more refined than the orange-hued woods of the early 2000s. Walnut, espresso, and matte chocolate cabinets create a warm, sophisticated kitchen that feels timeless. Pair with brass hardware for a modern twist, or with white quartz counters for crisp contrast. Open shelving in natural wood can also break up heavier blocks of cabinetry, adding visual interest. Brown in the kitchen feels especially cozy in contrast to the stark whites and grays weve seen dominate in recent years. Its a trend that balances functionality with warmth.13. Style with Brown AccessoriesImage Source: The SpruceIf you want to test the waters, accessories are the easiest way to experiment with brown. Throw pillows, candles, pottery, or vases in earthy shades can bring in just the right amount of warmth. A chocolate-brown lampshade or camel-colored ceramic bowl might sound minor, but collectively, these accents make a significant impact. Because theyre low-commitment, you can swap them out seasonally. Brown accessories also work well with seasonal dcor, think cinnamon-toned candles in fall or woven baskets in spring. Over time, these accents build into a cohesive look without requiring a full-scale design overhaul.14. Style Bedrooms with Brown BeddingImage Source: PinterestBedrooms are about relaxation, and brown bedding brings instant coziness. Think soft mocha duvet covers, taupe linen sheets, or chocolate knit blankets layered for texture. Unlike pure white bedding, which can feel cold and clinical, brown tones create a warm, restful retreat. Mix in lighter neutrals like cream or blush for softness, or go bold with jewel-toned pillows for contrast. Brown bedding also transitions seamlessly through seasons,light linens in summer, heavier velvets in winter. Its an effortless way to embrace the trend while keeping comfort at the forefront.15. Pair Brown with Jewel TonesImage Source: House BeautifulFor a bold, sophisticated statement, pair brown with jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, or ruby. The richness of both color families creates a luxurious feel. Picture a chocolate-brown sofa adorned with emerald-green velvet pillows, or a walnut desk set against navy blue walls. The combination feels indulgent, like something out of a boutique hotel. Jewel tones prevent brown from skewing too neutral, instead infusing personality and drama into the space. The key is balance,use jewel tones in measured accents like textiles, lighting, or rugs, so they complement rather than compete with the grounding quality of brown.16. Use Logs for Rustic WarmthImage Source: The SpruceIncorporating logs into your interior design is an easy way to bring in natural warmth and highlight brown in its rawest, most authentic form. Stacked firewood in a living room alcove, a log side table beside a sofa, or even decorative log slices used as wall art all add organic character. The varied tones of natural wood, from pale beige to deep chestnut, introduce texture and depth while staying within the brown palette. This approach works particularly well in rustic, farmhouse, or Scandinavian-inspired spaces, where simplicity meets coziness. Logs emphasize the grounding quality of brown, making your interiors feel earthy, inviting, and timeless.17. Use Brown as an Outdoor NeutralImage Source: PinterestBrown isnt just for interiors, it shines outdoors too. Patio furniture in natural teak or espresso wicker blends beautifully with greenery, grounding the space in nature. Brown outdoor cushions or rugs provide durability while still looking stylish. Even terracotta pots, with their warm reddish-brown hues, add charm to patios and balconies. Using brown outdoors ties the natural landscape to your homes design, creating a seamless flow between inside and out. Unlike stark black or bright colors, brown feels organic, making your outdoor retreat feel like an extension of the natural world.Wrap UpBrowns return to the design scene proves that trends really do come full circle, but with a modern twist. Once thought of as dated or too heavy, brown is now being embraced as the ultimate grounding neutral. From bold feature walls and caramel centerpieces to subtle accents and natural wood, this earthy shade brings warmth, sophistication, and timeless appeal to any interior. The secret lies in balance, pairing brown with the right textures, colors, and design elements to create a look that feels fresh rather than nostalgic.If youre looking for even more inspiration on how to bring brown, or any trending neutral, into your space, HomeDesigning.com is your go-to source. With guides, ideas, and expert tips, its a hub for turning design trends into livable, stylish spaces. Whether youre experimenting with subtle touches or planning a full-scale makeover, the possibilities with brown are endless,and were here to help you make them beautiful.

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MacworldEditing videos used to be time-consuming, incredibly frustrating, and pretty difficult. AI has changed that.Macxvideo AIis part of a new generation of tools designed to make video work faster, simpler, and more accessible, especially for Mac users. A lifetime subscription to Macxvideo is usually $69.95, but right now, its only $24.99.This all-in-one video toolkit combines more than 20 functions into a single desktop app. You can enhance video quality, upscale to 4K or 8K, convert formats, compress files, record your screen, and make edits without switching between programs. It runs entirely offline and uses GPU acceleration to boost performance, which is helpful when youre working with high-resolution media.The AI models in Macxvideo are trained to handle common issues like motion blur, low resolution, or poor lighting. It includes tools for frame interpolation, face recovery, colorization, and background noise removal. You can also convert videos to GIFs, apply watermarks, and correct fisheye distortion.Macxvideo is designed specifically for macOS and works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 10.15 or later. It supports a wide range of formats and settings, so it can handle quick fixes as well as more involved projects.This is a one-time purchase with no recurring costs.Right now, you can get aMacxvideo Lifetime Subscriptionfor only $25.Macxvideo AI: Lifetime SubscriptionSee DealStackSocialprices subject to change.

Microsoft released 86 patches this week with updates for Office, Windows, and SQL Server. But there were no zero-days, so theres no patch now recommendation from the Readiness team this month. This is an incredible sign of success for the Microsoft update group.To reinforce this fact, we have patches for Microsofts browser platform that have (perhaps for the first time) been rated at a much lower moderate security rating (as opposed to critical or important). More detail has been added to Septembers testing recommendations, given the reduced urgency (and therefore extra time) to deploy this months patches.To help navigate these changes, Readiness has crafted a helpfulinfographic detailing the risks of deploying updates to each platform. (More information aboutrecent Patch Tuesday releases is available here.)Known issuesMicrosoft reported an edge case affecting hot patched devices that have the September 2025 Hotpatch update (KB5065306) or the September 2025 security update (KB5065432). These devices might experience failures with PowerShell Direct (PSDirect)connections when the host and guest virtual machines (VMs) are both not fully updated. (Microsoft is investigating the problem.) Amajor issuewith last months update caused some of our clients unwarranted UAC promptson MSI Installer package repair. Thats been resolved now and our testing confirmed thatMSIInstallerrepairs work as intended. Thank you (Microsoft) for the quick fix.Major revisions and mitigationsThe following revisions to previous Microsoft updates require administrator attention and possibly additional actions on top of this months release:CVE-2025-48807: Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. To comprehensively address this vulnerability, Microsoft released September 2025 security updates for Windows Server 2016, Windows 11, and newer x64-based editions of Windows 10.CVE-2025-21293: Active Directory Domain Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability: To comprehensively address CVE-2025-21293, Microsoft has released \security update KB5065426 for Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 systems. Customers who install Microsoft (in-memory) HotPatchupdates should install KB5065474to be protected.CVE-2025-49734: PowerShell Direct Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Microsoft updated its affected products table, asPowerShell 7.4and now 7.5 are affected. Additional information can be found in thisGitHub posting.Also, this month Microsoft made two information only changes to how two vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-29833and CVE-2025-29954) were addressed in August.Windows lifecycle and enforcement updatesMicrosoft did not publish any enforcement updates. However, Secure Bootcertificates used by most Windows devices will be set to expire by Microsoft starting in June 2026. To avoid disruption, review Microsoftsguidanceand update these certificates in advance.Each month, Readiness analyzes the newest Patch Tuesday updates and provides detailed, actionable testing guidance. This guidance is based on assessing a large app portfolio and a comprehensive analysis of the Microsoft patches and their potential impact on Windows platforms and application deployments.This months updates require focused testing across network infrastructure, graphics subsystems, and authentication components. There are significant updates to core networking protocols,DirectXgraphics functionality, andBluetooth connectivity that demand immediate validation. These updates affect both client and server environments, with particular attention needed for organizations using Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS)and those with complexBluetoothdevice management requirements.Network infrastructure and connectivityMicrosoft updated core network communication components, including socket handling andIPv6functionality. These low-level network changes can significantly affect enterprise connectivity and require comprehensive validation across different network scenarios:Send and receive packets over the network using bothIPv4andIPv6protocols.Test large file transfers overIPv6networks to validate performance and stability.Validate various network traffic conditions, including file transmission, remote desktop connections, and web browsing.Test messaging applications like Microsoft Teams or Skype with connect/disconnect/reconnect cycles.Graphics, DirectX and Application GuardThis month sees substantial updates to graphics subsystems and security isolation components that require testing to ensure graphics applications render correctly without screen corruption or performance degradation:Validate the critical updates forDirectXfunctionality andWindows Defender Application Guard.Execute applications andUWPapps that useDirectCompositionfunctionality to ensuretheresno flickering or display anomalies.TestDirectXAPI usage onHyper-Vguests with GPU-PV enabled across multi-threaded scenarios.ValidateWindows Defender Application Guardfunctionality with Office apps and Microsoft Edge.Authentication and Directory ServicesCritical updates to authentication components require thorough testing of domain and workstation authentication scenarios:UseNTLMandKerberosprotocols to authenticate users on both workstation-joined and domain-joined machines.Exercise theLogonUserEx APIfrom client applications to ensure programmatic authentication works correctly.Test secondary logon (RunAs) scenarios across different user contexts.ValidateCredSSP (Credential Security Support Provider)functionality.TestActive Directorycomponents including Active Directory Certificate ServicesandLDAPoperations.Bluetooth device managementThis months updates toBluetoothrequire device pairing and management testing that includes:Simultaneous Device Management: Pair and unpair multipleBluetoothdevices (earbuds, keyboards, speakers) simultaneously viaSwiftPairor Settings to stress-test concurrent operations.Multiple Adapter Support: Connect both internal and externalBluetoothadapters and test device pairing using each adapter independently.PIN and Consent Flow: UseBluetoothkeyboards requiring PIN entry, test pairing with correct and incorrect PINs, and verify graceful error handling and retry mechanisms.Monitor for UI hangs, pairing failures, or stale device entries during intensiveBluetoothoperations.Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS)Significant updates to RRAScomponents require comprehensive testing for organizations using routing and remote access functionality:Perform configuration and viewing operations using the Routing and Remote Access management console for both local and remote installations.Test different property pages (DHCP,NAT,RIP,IGMP,and BOOTP) to ensure they display correct information for valid configurations.Ensure that invalid configurations are handled correctly by showing appropriate error dialogs or preventing access to misconfigured sections.Exercise remoteRRASserver management tasks to ensure remote administration capabilities remain functional.HTTP services and web infrastructureUpdates to core HTTP handling components require validation of modern web protocols and caching mechanisms:EnableBranch Cacheand configure HTTP server applications to cache responses.SendHTTP/2andHTTP/3requests to validate next-generation protocol support.Ensure request-response cycles complete without system crashes or bug-checks.Filesystem and storage operationsCore filesystem components that got patches and updates affecting file operations and virtual disk management will require the following tests:UsePowerShellsMount-DiskImagecmdlet to attachVHDfiles toNTFSvolumes.TestApp Silosfunctionality with applications that perform filesystem access.Additional app testingPrivacy and capability management components require testing to ensure user privacy controls work correctly:Validate that privacy permission changes take effect immediately and persist across system reboot.ValidateVPNconnection scenarios across differentVPNproviders and protocols.Test applications usingXAMLUI frameworks including Microsoft Photos and modernUWPapplications.Verify RemotePowerShellfunctionality usingInvoke-CommandandNew-PSSessioncmdlets.This months updates emphasize network reliability, graphics performance and security isolation. Organizations should prioritize testing in network-intensive environments and those with complex authentication requirements. Pay particular attention toBluetoothdevice management if your environment relies heavily on wireless peripherals, and ensure RRASfunctionality is thoroughly validated before deploying to production routing infrastructure.Each month, we break down the update cycle into product families (as defined by Microsoft) with the following basic groupings:Browsers (Microsoft IE and Edge)Microsoft Windows (both desktop and server)Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Exchange and SQL ServerMicrosoft Developer Tools (Visual Studio and .NET)Adobe (if you get this far)BrowsersMicrosoft published five internal updates (rated moderate) to its browser platform and four updates to the Chromium engineCVE-2025-9864,CVE-2025-9865,CVE-2025-9866andCVE-2025-9867). These low-profile changes can be added to your standard release calendar.Microsoft WindowsThe following areas have been updated with seven critical patches and 29 rated important. Thecritical patches update vulnerabilities found in the following features within the Windows platform:Graphics, Win32 (GRFX) and GDI and Kernel driversWindows NTLM authenticationWindows Imaging (Windows sub-system)Unusually, and given the absence of reports of public disclosure or exploits, the Readiness team recommends a standard release schedule for Windows. There is plenty to test, so use this extra time to our advantage.Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft released two critical updates to the Microsoft platform (CVE-2025-54910and CVE-2025-53799) that address vulnerabilities in Office (not specific to Word or Excel). There are also 15 patches rated important. None of these issues include preview pane attacks and can be added to your standard update release cycle.Microsoft Exchange and SQL ServerMicrosoft published two updates rated important (CVE-2025-47997and CVE-2024-21907). Neither SQL patch is reported as publicly disclosed or as exploited in the wild. As there are no Microsoft Exchange updates, add these SQL Server patches to your standard server update schedule. It goes without saying that the SQL Server patches will require a reboot.Developer ToolsThere were no updates to Microsoft developer tools and platforms (Visual Studio and Microsoft .NET) this cycle.Adobe (and third-party updates)Microsoft released a single update for third-party products. TheNewtonsoftvulnerability (CVE-2024-21907) addresses a mishandling of exceptional conditions vulnerability in Newtonsoft.Json before version 13.0.1. Crafted data that is passed to the JsonConvert.DeserializeObject method could trigger a StackOverflow exception, resulting in denial of service. Since there are no Adobe updates from Microsoft this month, I continue to promise to retire this sectionmaybe.