Latest news with #MicrosoftLearn
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Hans India
Microsoft Retires Windows 11 SE: What It Means for Users and Schools
Microsoft is officially phasing out Windows 11 SE, its education-focused operating system tailored for low-cost laptops and classroom environments. Launched in 2021 as a direct response to Google's Chrome OS, Windows 11 SE was designed to simplify computing in schools by offering a cloud-first, streamlined Windows experience. However, this effort is now winding down. Microsoft has confirmed that support for Windows 11 SE will end in October 2026. In a note published on Microsoft Learn, the company said, 'Microsoft will not release a feature update after Windows 11 SE, version 24H2. Support for Windows 11 SE, including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes, will end in October 2026. While your device will continue to work, we recommend transitioning to a device that supports another edition of Windows 11 to ensure continued support and security.' This means that while devices running Windows 11 SE will still function after support ends, they will no longer receive essential updates, leaving them vulnerable and outdated over time. The recently released 24H2 version marks the final feature update for SE. When Windows 11 25H2 rolls out later this year, SE users will remain locked in their current version. Windows 11 SE was envisioned as a simplified, student-friendly version of Windows 11. It came pre-installed on specific devices, most notably the Surface Laptop SE. Despite Microsoft's hopes, the OS didn't gain wide traction and struggled to match Chrome OS's efficiency and reach in schools globally. Though it promised a lighter experience, SE was essentially Windows 11 under the hood. This led to inconsistent performance on budget hardware, defeating its core purpose. The system also featured strict app limitations and restricted multitasking—frustrating both students and educators. On the flip side, Microsoft still offers Windows 11 Education, a more robust edition intended for academic institutions. Unlike SE, it doesn't come with app or multitasking limitations, making it more suitable for broader educational needs. However, it does carry a higher cost and requires hardware capable of running full Windows 11. Microsoft's attempt to challenge Chromebooks in the education sector has faced repeated hurdles. An earlier venture, Windows 10X, was more promising as a true lightweight OS but was shelved before its official launch. Windows 11 SE stepped in to fill the gap, but ultimately failed to deliver a compelling alternative to Chrome OS. With Windows 11 SE nearing the end of its lifecycle, Microsoft advises users and institutions to transition to standard Windows 11 editions if supported by their hardware. This ensures continued access to security patches and features, crucial for maintaining safe digital learning environments. In summary, Windows 11 SE will soon join the list of Microsoft's short-lived experiments. While the devices will still boot up, the lack of updates post-October 2026 makes it essential for users to plan an upgrade or switch—before they're left behind.
India Today
02-08-2025
- India Today
Microsoft is killing off this Windows 11 version: Will your PC stop working? All details here
Microsoft's experiment with a 'school-friendly' version of Windows 11 is officially coming to an end. Windows 11 SE, the cut-down edition aimed squarely at classrooms and low-cost laptops, is being sent to the recycling bin just a few years after it first launched. Originally unveiled in 2021, Windows 11 SE was billed as Microsoft's answer to Chrome OS, a streamlined, cloud-first operating system designed to run on cheap education-focused laptops. The pitch was simple: make Windows less complicated, less resource-hungry and more now the company has confirmed that the curtain is closing. Support for Windows 11 SE, including security updates, technical assistance and feature fixes, will end in October 2026. In other words, the clock is also dropped another little bombshell: Windows 11 SE has already had its last big update. The 24H2 version is its final feature release; when the broader 25H2 update ships later this year, SE users will be stuck on what they've got. In a note published on Microsoft Learn, the company said, 'Microsoft will not release a feature update after Windows 11 SE, version 24H2. Support for Windows 11 SE, including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes, will end in October 2026. While your device will continue to work, we recommend transitioning to a device that supports another edition of Windows 11 to ensure continued support and security.'When Windows 11 SE launched, Microsoft described it as 'a cloud-first operating system that offers the power and reliability of Windows 11 with a simplified design and tools specially designed for schools.' It came pre-installed on certain laptops, starting with the Surface Laptop SE, but never became widely schools and users who still rely on Windows 11 SE, the advice is simple: enjoy it while it lasts. After October 2026, those laptops will still switch on, but they won't receive security updates or new features. Microsoft recommends migrating to a full version of Windows 11 if your device supports not all doom and gloom, though. Microsoft still offers Windows 11 Education, a version tailored for academic environments, minus the app restrictions and simplified multitasking that frustrated SE users. The catch? The education edition costs the ambition, SE was never truly lightweight. Underneath, it was still Windows 11, so performance on low-end hardware was patchy at best. And while it included a few student-friendly quirks – like the ability to stick digital stickers on your wallpaper, it also came with heavy restrictions, like only running ad-approved apps and reducing multitasking isn't Microsoft's first attempt to take on Chrome OS. The company's closest brush with success was Windows 10X, a genuinely slimmed-down version of Windows that worked beautifully on cheap devices. But 10X was scrapped before launch, leaving Windows 11 SE to pick up the baton. Unfortunately, it never got close to matching the smooth, light experience of Google's Chrome OS continues to thrive in classrooms around the world. Many schools now issue Chromebooks instead of Windows machines, and students are growing up using them. Microsoft's plan to claw back this market with a stripped-back OS has once again fallen now, Windows 11 SE is headed for the history books, and Microsoft is once again left without a true Chrome OS competitor.- EndsTune In
Tahawul Tech
22-04-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Microsoft advances ‘1 million AI learners' commitment at Dubai AI Week 2025
Company rolls out AI skilling across schools and champions talent development in dedicated sessions for professionals, while advancing strategic dialogue across sectors at Dubai AI Week. Microsoft is placing AI skilling and talent enablement at the center of its agenda, underscoring its belief that empowering individuals with the right capabilities is the foundation of a successful, inclusive AI-enabled future. In line with its ongoing initiatives to advance the AI National Skills Initiative, Microsoft will conduct virtual sessions in private schools across Dubai for teachers and students aged 14 to 18. These sessions will be offered in both English and Arabic. Students will be shown how AI powers tools like Bing Chat, Minecraft, and Copilot that they already use; and they will discover paths to AI literacy that are available to all for free, such as Microsoft Learn, LinkedIn Learning, and AI for Beginners. Teachers, meanwhile, will discover resources that allow them to explore Microsoft AI tools that use AI to enhance teaching and learning, such as Reading Coach, Reflect, Copilot, and Bing Chat. They will also be taught the importance of safe and responsible AI in the classroom. Participation from schools across Dubai signals national momentum toward building a digitally fluent society, where AI literacy is a core part of the learning journey. 'Dubai AI Week is a strategic platform for collaboration and action, and we're proud to be at the forefront, supporting the UAE's ambitious AI agenda,' said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. 'At Microsoft, we believe that skilling is the single most critical investment we can make to ensure that the benefits of AI reach everyone. By investing in talent development, fostering trusted partnerships, and ensuring responsible AI adoption, we're empowering every learner, educator, and organization with the tools and knowledge to unlock AI's full potential and drive innovation at scale.' In parallel with its skilling initiatives, Microsoft is contributing to high-level conversations on AI's role in shaping future industries and economies. Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft, will represent the company at the Emirates NBD-hosted GenAI Summit, joining leaders from McKinsey and Gartner to explore how generative AI is redefining financial services. Microsoft's senior leadership will also participate in the AI Retreat, a closed-door forum hosted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The retreat convenes policymakers, technologists, and industry leaders to co-create the future of AI in government and business. Additional highlights of Microsoft's participation throughout the week include: Judging the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, spotlighting emerging AI talent. Daily AI skilling sessions at the AI Assembly, delivered in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation and open to customers and partners seeking to advance their AI literacy. Exclusive executive roundtables focused on the application of agentic AI in retail and the public sector, enabling in-depth discussions around real-world challenges and opportunities. Participation in Dubai AI Festival, where Microsoft will have a booth to showcase the latest Copilot innovations and subject-matter experts will participate in panels and roundtable discussions. Through this multi-tiered engagement, Microsoft is reinforcing its role as a trusted skilling partner, a technology leader, and a responsible innovator—helping the UAE and the broader region unlock the full potential of AI. Dubai AI Week is aimed at solidifying Dubai's role as a global hub for AI innovation, governance, and application. The five-day event brings together more than 180 thought leaders from more than 15 countries.
