Microsoft outage hits cloud services; users face app install failures and Windows update time-outs.
Microsoft says recovery continues after weekend disruptions.

Azure, Microsoft 365 Affected By Power Outage

The global outage that created chaos in industries from airline to broadcasting brought daily operations to a standstill and affected nearly 8.5 million devices. The Friday outage impacted less than 1% of all Windows machines worldwide

Microsoft: Global tech outage by CrowdStrike affected 8.5mn devices globally

Seven people were injured and two went missing after a gas explosion took place in downtown Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday (May 28), said officials.

The blast took place on the first floor of a 13-storey building on E Federal Street which has the office of Chase Bank at around 2:45 pm local time,&nbsp;reported WFMJ.

The explosion took place near Central Square on Tuesday afternoon (May 28) as people were appealed by the police to avoid the area.

According to Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley, the blast was a natural gas explosion and added that the crews were determined to find if there was a gas leak.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-23-dead-as-tornadoes-severe-storms-ravage-central-us-726103">At least 23 dead as tornadoes, severe storms ravage central US</a>

"All I know for sure is that there was an explosion," said Finley, while speaking to reporters in a press conference.&nbsp;

On Tuesday (May 28), Mercy Health said that they are treating seven people who suffered injuries in the blast, which included one person who was in critical condition.

After searching the building, a man and woman remained missing, said Finley. The fire chief said that the man was an employee of the bank.

After the blast, the floor collapsed in the basement which was flooded and search crews tried to send a mini-drone into the basement to help in the search effort, Finley said.

“The floor collapsed in on itself, there’s nothing to see, it’s full of water, so honestly, we don’t know if that person is down there or not. When we get clearance to go into the building… until then, I will not put any of my firefighters down there to do a search for any reason right now,” he added.

<h2>Dramatic video emerges of the incident</h2>

Dramatic footage of the explosion was recorded in a security camera in which windows were seen shattering and debris flying across the street after the violent blast.

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Here is the dramatic security video of the explosion at the Chase Bank Building in downtown Youngstown. <a href="https://t.co/QdapO52uME">pic.twitter.com/QdapO52uME</a>
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The city block was engulfed in a cloud of thick smoke. The residents of the area reported hearing a deafening boom after the smell of gas.

Watch:&nbsp;US: Deadly storms leave trail of destruction

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“I heard the boom, and I looked up and I could see dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was such a really strong, strong boom, you know, I blurted out, ‘Oh my God,’” said Debora Flora, who is an executive director of Mahoning County&nbsp;Land Bank&nbsp;while speaking to WKBN.

Meanwhile, &nbsp;a resident Justin Reynolds said, “When I got to the lobby, there was kind of like a metal gate door that had been bowed in and the rubble from the lobby… the broken-up rock and marble had jammed itself so I was there with my cat in a carrier kind of trying to push the door open."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Seven people were injured and two went missing after a gas explosion took place in downtown Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday (May 28), said officials. The blast took place on the first floor of a 13-storey building on E Federal Street which has the office of Chase Bank at around 2:45 pm local time, reported WFMJ.

Seven people were injured and two went missing after a gas explosion took place in downtown Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday (May 28), said officials. The blast took place on the first floor of a 13-storey building on E Federal Street which has the office of Chase Bank at around 2:45 pm local time, reported WFMJ. The explosion took place near Central Square on Tuesday afternoon (May 28) as people were appealed by the police to avoid the area. According to Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley, the blast was a natural gas explosion and added that the crews were determined to find if there was a gas leak. Also Read: At least 23 dead as tornadoes, severe storms ravage central US "All I know for sure is that there was an explosion," said Finley, while speaking to reporters in a press conference. On Tuesday (May 28), Mercy Health said that they are treating seven people who suffered injuries in the blast, which included one person who was in critical condition. After searching the building, a man and woman remained missing, said Finley. The fire chief said that the man was an employee of the bank. After the blast, the floor collapsed in the basement which was flooded and search crews tried to send a mini-drone into the basement to help in the search effort, Finley said. “The floor collapsed in on itself, there’s nothing to see, it’s full of water, so honestly, we don’t know if that person is down there or not. When we get clearance to go into the building… until then, I will not put any of my firefighters down there to do a search for any reason right now,” he added. Dramatic video emerges of the incident Dramatic footage of the explosion was recorded in a security camera in which windows were seen shattering and debris flying across the street after the violent blast. Here is the dramatic security video of the explosion at the Chase Bank Building in downtown Youngstown. pic.twitter.com/QdapO52uME — 21 WFMJ (@21WFMJ) May 28, 2024 × The city block was engulfed in a cloud of thick smoke. The residents of the area reported hearing a deafening boom after the smell of gas. Watch: US: Deadly storms leave trail of destruction “I heard the boom, and I looked up and I could see dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was such a really strong, strong boom, you know, I blurted out, ‘Oh my God,’” said Debora Flora, who is an executive director of Mahoning County Land Bank while speaking to WKBN. Meanwhile, a resident Justin Reynolds said, “When I got to the lobby, there was kind of like a metal gate door that had been bowed in and the rubble from the lobby… the broken-up rock and marble had jammed itself so I was there with my cat in a carrier kind of trying to push the door open." (With inputs from agencies)

Massive explosion rocks Ohio building as windows shatter and debris fly across street: Video

Typhoon-like winds sucked out three people from their apartments in southeastern China while they were sleeping. At least seven people lost their lives in the violent rain and hailstorms that struck southeastern China.

Typhoon-like winds sucked out three people from their apartments in southeastern China while they were sleeping. At least seven people lost their lives in the violent rain and hailstorms that struck southeastern China. The extreme weather started on March 31 and affected nine cities, including Nanchang and Jiujiang. According to the Jiangxi provincial emergency flood control headquarters, the harsh weather has impacted over 93,000 people in 54 counties. Three people, including an 11-year-old boy, fell from a residential building during the storm and died on Sunday, reports said. The strong winds pulled the door-size windows off frames in two apartments in the building in Nanchang. The winds reportedly swept the residents from their beds through the gaps. The extreme weather, which started Sunday and continued into Tuesday, damaged dozens of homes, reported AP. ALSO READ | BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink's pay slides by 18 per cent in 2023 Authorities are investigating the conditions surrounding the fall of the three victims. A man named Xu, who lives on the 20th floor of the same building, told the South China Morning Post that the wind also pulled his 64-year-old mother and 11-year-old son out of the apartment. The harsh storm blew out all his living room and bedroom windows. Another man, named Wan, lost her 60-year-old wife as the winds ripped out their 11th-floor bedroom window. He said he survived because he slept in a room undamaged by the storm. Later, he discovered that a floor-to-ceiling room window was devastated. A viral video showed his wife's bed next to a glass window. Details about how the wind swept Wan's wife out of the building remain unclear. However, Wan later found her body at the base of the building. "I am totally at a loss," he said. The assessment of the entire damage is still in progress. (With inputs from agencies)

Strong winds sucked out three people from their homes in China while they slept

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets.

The tech giant uses the term mixed reality to refer to software that blends both augmented and virtual reality. There is however, slight difference between the two.

Augmented reality overlays text, sounds, graphics and video on real-world images that users see. Virtual reality provides an immersive experience to users in an artificial world by creating computer-generated experiences.

"Windows mixed reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows," Microsoft said.

Last year, Business Insider reported that Microsoft junked plans for HoloLens 3. The move by the tech giant was seen to spell the end of augmented reality headsets in that form.

Previously, when Microsoft was seen to be taking interest in augmented and virtual reality space, companies like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and Samsung, began making their mixed reality headsets compatible with Microsoft's platform.

However, Microsoft later began to downsize its virtual reality division. Last year, HoloLens head Alex Kipman left the company after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him. Later on, Microsoft cut 10,000 jobs. This had an effect on the company's mixed reality projects including AltspaceVR app which is now discontinued.

Microsoft does not appear to have pulled the plug on mixed reality completely as the company continues to work on other applications of VR like Microsoft Mesh app. The app will soon let co-workers in a company meet each other in a virtual space without the need of a headset.

In addition to this, Microsoft has also started allowing Quest users access to Office apps and Xbox Cloud Gaming platform.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets.

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets. The tech giant uses the term mixed reality to refer to software that blends both augmented and virtual reality. There is however, slight difference between the two. Augmented reality overlays text, sounds, graphics and video on real-world images that users see. Virtual reality provides an immersive experience to users in an artificial world by creating computer-generated experiences. "Windows mixed reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows," Microsoft said. Last year, Business Insider reported that Microsoft junked plans for HoloLens 3. The move by the tech giant was seen to spell the end of augmented reality headsets in that form. Previously, when Microsoft was seen to be taking interest in augmented and virtual reality space, companies like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and Samsung, began making their mixed reality headsets compatible with Microsoft's platform. However, Microsoft later began to downsize its virtual reality division. Last year, HoloLens head Alex Kipman left the company after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him. Later on, Microsoft cut 10,000 jobs. This had an effect on the company's mixed reality projects including AltspaceVR app which is now discontinued. Microsoft does not appear to have pulled the plug on mixed reality completely as the company continues to work on other applications of VR like Microsoft Mesh app. The app will soon let co-workers in a company meet each other in a virtual space without the need of a headset. In addition to this, Microsoft has also started allowing Quest users access to Office apps and Xbox Cloud Gaming platform. (With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft junks 'mixed reality' feature from Windows

A plane departed from Stansted Airport in London, destined for Florida, with two missing window glasses.

The Airbus A321 jet, previously used by the government, had an unsettling return journey to the Essex airport after a crew member spotted the missing windows&nbsp;while the aircraft was in mid-flight.&nbsp;

The aircraft had reached an altitude of 14,500 feet.

During the flight, all passengers were seated in the middle of the aircraft. After takeoff and the deactivation of the seatbelt sign, a crew member at the rear of the plane noticed that the seal around one of the windows was "flapping".

The mishap was attributed to high-powered lights used during a filming event that took place the day before.

As per&nbsp;a report in The Independent, these lights had been positioned near the aircraft to create a sunrise illusion for the filming. While it was meant to be a controlled operation, it ultimately had serious consequences.

Also watch | Gravitas |&nbsp;Plane takes off without windows

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<h2>Close call for passengers and crew</h2>

The plane, which had 11 crew members and nine passengers on board, experienced a potentially catastrophic situation.

Had it not been the presence of mind&nbsp;of a crew member, the outcome could have been much more dire.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) stated that this incident had the potential for "more serious consequences."

Upon examination of the aircraft, investigators in their preliminary report found that not only were two of the cabin windowpanes missing, but others&nbsp;were misaligned.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-hostage-incident-at-hamburg-airport-involving-child-ends-father-arrested-655440">Also read |&nbsp;Germany: Hostage incident at Hamburg airport involving child ends, father arrested</a>

The aircraft, which was used by the luxury travel business TCS World Travel in the United States, was operated by Titan Airways.

The preliminary&nbsp;report also indicated&nbsp;that this crew member promptly informed others, leading to the decision to return to the airport.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A plane departed from Stansted Airport in London, destined for Florida, with two missing window glasses. The Airbus A321 jet, previously used by the government, had an unsettling return journey to the Essex airport after a crew member spotted the missing windows while the aircraft was in mid-flight.

A plane departed from Stansted Airport in London, destined for Florida, with two missing window glasses. The Airbus A321 jet, previously used by the government, had an unsettling return journey to the Essex airport after a crew member spotted the missing windows while the aircraft was in mid-flight. The aircraft had reached an altitude of 14,500 feet. During the flight, all passengers were seated in the middle of the aircraft. After takeoff and the deactivation of the seatbelt sign, a crew member at the rear of the plane noticed that the seal around one of the windows was "flapping". The mishap was attributed to high-powered lights used during a filming event that took place the day before. As per a report in The Independent, these lights had been positioned near the aircraft to create a sunrise illusion for the filming. While it was meant to be a controlled operation, it ultimately had serious consequences. Also watch | Gravitas | Plane takes off without windows Close call for passengers and crew The plane, which had 11 crew members and nine passengers on board, experienced a potentially catastrophic situation. Had it not been the presence of mind of a crew member, the outcome could have been much more dire. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) stated that this incident had the potential for "more serious consequences." Upon examination of the aircraft, investigators in their preliminary report found that not only were two of the cabin windowpanes missing, but others were misaligned. Also read | Germany: Hostage incident at Hamburg airport involving child ends, father arrested The aircraft, which was used by the luxury travel business TCS World Travel in the United States, was operated by Titan Airways. The preliminary report also indicated that this crew member promptly informed others, leading to the decision to return to the airport. (With inputs from agencies)

This plane took off without windows and the crew only noticed 14,500 feet in the air

The idea of Maya OS was conceived in 2021 after India faced several cyberattacks from foreign actors that targeted its critical infrastructure and defence systems. The Defence Ministry decided to create its own operating system that would be more secure and reliable than Microsoft Windows.

Explained: Maya OS that will replace Windows on Indian Defence Ministry computers

India's nodal agency for computer security-related threats has issued a warning to citizens and organisations about the emergence of a new ransomware called 'Akira'.&nbsp;Union government's Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In) issued the critical advisory on Monday, stating that the ransomware was targeting both Windows and Linux-based operating systems.&nbsp;

The agency informed that the group responsible for the ransomware compromised the users via VPN services, particularly when the users had&nbsp;not&nbsp;enabled multi-factor authentication. It also hoodwinked the users through tools such as AnyDesk, WinRAR, and PC Hunter, to download benign-looking files.

Once inside the system, the ransomware turns itself on and encrypts all sensitive information and converts them into files with .akira extensions.&nbsp;

"The attack process begins when a sample of the Akira ransomware is executed. Upon execution, Akira deletes the Windows Shadow Volume Copies on the targeted device. The ransomware then encrypts files with a predefined set of extensions. A '.akira' extension is appended to each encrypted file's name during this encryption process," noted the agency.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ransomware-attack-on-aiims-server-is-the-world-prepared-to-fight-a-cyber-war-537227">Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | 'Ransomware' attack on AIIMS server: Is the world prepared to fight a cyber war?</a>

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Once the data is harvested, the victims are threatened to pay a ransom or else the content, explicit in some instances, will be posted on social media platforms. Meanwhile, corporate companies are threatened that their trade secrets will be sold on the dark web to the highest bidder.&nbsp;

<h2>What you can do to avoid ransomware attacks&nbsp;</h2>

The ransomware has been active in the cyber world since March 2023, most often breaching corporate networks. To avoid becoming a victim, CERT-In advises the users to follow basic internet hygiene and protection protocols,&nbsp;

Maintaining official backups of critical data is highly recommended to avoid data loss even when the bad actors get their hands on it.

To ensure hackers have no way in,&nbsp;strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enforced religiously.&nbsp;

Similarly, a strict External Device (USB drive) usage policy and data-at-rest and data-in-transit encryption should be used. Attachments with file types such as&nbsp;exe, pif, tmp, url, vb, vbe, scr, reg, cer, pst, md among others should be blocked

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinese-hackers-target-foreign-government-officials-using-a-new-malware-514835">Also read |&nbsp;Chinese hackers target foreign government officials using a new malware</a>

Additionally, conduct Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) and information security audits of critical networks/systems, especially database servers, from CERT-IN empanelled auditors. Repeat audits at regular intervals

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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India's nodal agency for computer security-related threats has issued a warning to citizens and organisations about the emergence of a new ransomware called 'Akira'.

India's nodal agency for computer security-related threats has issued a warning to citizens and organisations about the emergence of a new ransomware called 'Akira'. Union government's Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In) issued the critical advisory on Monday, stating that the ransomware was targeting both Windows and Linux-based operating systems. The agency informed that the group responsible for the ransomware compromised the users via VPN services, particularly when the users had not enabled multi-factor authentication. It also hoodwinked the users through tools such as AnyDesk, WinRAR, and PC Hunter, to download benign-looking files. Once inside the system, the ransomware turns itself on and encrypts all sensitive information and converts them into files with .akira extensions. "The attack process begins when a sample of the Akira ransomware is executed. Upon execution, Akira deletes the Windows Shadow Volume Copies on the targeted device. The ransomware then encrypts files with a predefined set of extensions. A '.akira' extension is appended to each encrypted file's name during this encryption process," noted the agency. Watch | Gravitas | 'Ransomware' attack on AIIMS server: Is the world prepared to fight a cyber war? × Once the data is harvested, the victims are threatened to pay a ransom or else the content, explicit in some instances, will be posted on social media platforms. Meanwhile, corporate companies are threatened that their trade secrets will be sold on the dark web to the highest bidder. What you can do to avoid ransomware attacks The ransomware has been active in the cyber world since March 2023, most often breaching corporate networks. To avoid becoming a victim, CERT-In advises the users to follow basic internet hygiene and protection protocols, Maintaining official backups of critical data is highly recommended to avoid data loss even when the bad actors get their hands on it. To ensure hackers have no way in, strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enforced religiously. Similarly, a strict External Device (USB drive) usage policy and data-at-rest and data-in-transit encryption should be used. Attachments with file types such as exe, pif, tmp, url, vb, vbe, scr, reg, cer, pst, md among others should be blocked Also read | Chinese hackers target foreign government officials using a new malware Additionally, conduct Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) and information security audits of critical networks/systems, especially database servers, from CERT-IN empanelled auditors. Repeat audits at regular intervals (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Government warns of 'Akira' ransomware targeting Windows and Linux users

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide.

New pre-installed Windows 11 devices have begun rolling out from partners including ASUS, HP, and Lenovo with more coming soon from partners like Acer and Dell.

"With Windows 11, we reimagined the entire user experience to bring you closer to what you love, empower you to produce, and inspire you to create. Windows 11 will provide users a sense of calm and openness while keeping everything that they do secure. We are pleased to bring the new Windows 11 to India," said Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India. He was quoted by IANS.

The company says Windows 11 features powerful new experiences whether users are working on a school project, collaborating on a presentation for work, building a new app or creating your next big idea.

The OS comes with redesigned Taskbar icons and Start menu It also adds rounded corners for all program windows and built-in Teams chat.

Windows 11 also includes support for DirectStorage, a feature first introduced on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.

Introduced in July, Windows 11 comes with a sleeker look and layouts for snapping applications to the screen, more detailed widgets, a revamped Microsoft Store, and support for Android apps.

Microsoft has already revealed basic requirements for running Windows 11 on a PC. It will need a processor that has two or more cores and a clock speed of 1GHz or higher along with 4GB RAM and at least 64GB storage.

The firm recently announced Windows 11 will officially support Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Intel Core 7820HQ.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide.

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide. New pre-installed Windows 11 devices have begun rolling out from partners including ASUS, HP, and Lenovo with more coming soon from partners like Acer and Dell. "With Windows 11, we reimagined the entire user experience to bring you closer to what you love, empower you to produce, and inspire you to create. Windows 11 will provide users a sense of calm and openness while keeping everything that they do secure. We are pleased to bring the new Windows 11 to India," said Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India. He was quoted by IANS. The company says Windows 11 features powerful new experiences whether users are working on a school project, collaborating on a presentation for work, building a new app or creating your next big idea. The OS comes with redesigned Taskbar icons and Start menu It also adds rounded corners for all program windows and built-in Teams chat. Windows 11 also includes support for DirectStorage, a feature first introduced on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. Introduced in July, Windows 11 comes with a sleeker look and layouts for snapping applications to the screen, more detailed widgets, a revamped Microsoft Store, and support for Android apps. Microsoft has already revealed basic requirements for running Windows 11 on a PC. It will need a processor that has two or more cores and a clock speed of 1GHz or higher along with 4GB RAM and at least 64GB storage. The firm recently announced Windows 11 will officially support Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Intel Core 7820HQ. (With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft starts rolling out Windows 11 to PCs across the world

Microsoft on Thursday unveiled the next generation of Windows operating system, Windows 11. With this change, Windows aims at giving its user a 'fresh perspective'.

Microsoft on Thursday unveiled the next generation of Windows operating system, Windows 11. With this change, Windows aims at giving its user a 'fresh perspective'. As per the official website, the new Windows provide a 'calm and creative' space where one can pursue passions through a fresh experience. "From a rejuvenated Start menu to new ways to connect to your favourite people, news, games, and content—Windows 11 is the place to think, express, and create in a natural way," stated the website. Maximising productivity The new version helps in being productive as the user can access all the apps and multitask with ease using tools like Snap layouts, Desktops, and a new, more intuitive redocking experience. New ways to connect There are also various new ways to socialise and connect using Microsoft teams. "Call or chat for free—no matter what device they’re on," read the website. Enhanced gaming Windows 11 gives a new gaming experience with graphic capabilities that rival reality. One can discover the next favourite game with Xbox Game Pass, which basically gives you access to over 100 high-quality games. The membership for the same is sold separately. The design is very much similar to macOS, but that is where the similarities end. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that Windows 11 is an 'open platform' where everybody is allowed to do whatever they want with their apps. He is referring to third-party payments solutions that will bolster developer’s businesses on Windows 11. When will it be available? Windows 11 will be available to download during the holiday season this year, which is somewhere around November. The rollout will move further into 2022. This way, there is going to be enough time for people to upgrade the platform. How to upgrade? The user needs to go to Settings on their PC or laptop that runs Windows 10. Navigate to Update and Security, and then click on Windows Update. Check for Updates by clicking on this button. If available, the user will see the update that says Feature update to Windows 11. Click Download and install. What will be the price? Windows 11 will be available as a 'free upgrade' to Windows 10 users. This means that the Windows 10 users will gain access to Windows 11 without having to pay anything extra. However, for fresh installations, Windows 11 may cost you.

Windows 11 is now official. Here is all you need to know

Windows operating system&nbsp;turned&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;into a household name and helped the company&nbsp;dominate&nbsp;personal computers for years,&nbsp;which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers.

Now, Windows is getting a revamp, likely to be named Windows 11.

It comes after the company&nbsp;named Chief Executive Satya Nadella as chair of its board, strengthening his grip on a pioneering US technology company he rejuvenated for a new age.

Microsoft&nbsp;built its empire on software such as Windows and Office,&nbsp;licensed to computer makers or sold in packages for installation on machines in homes or workplaces.

Under Nadella,&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;has put more focus on renting software and services hosted at data centres in the computing cloud, bulking up its Azure platform.

The era of the personal computer was rocked by the rise of smartphones and tablets but saw a revival of sorts during the pandemic as people geared up homes for remote work, school, and play.

Upgrading to a new Windows OS is always filled with questions, like which version of Windows is for me? How much does it cost? Should I even bother upgrading at all?

Here is a brief summary of the various versions of Windows:

Windows 10 S&nbsp;

Windows 10 S&nbsp;is a streamlined version of Microsoft&nbsp;Corp's popular operating system, geared toward low-cost laptops for students&nbsp;as it tried&nbsp;to take share from Google’s Chrome OS-run computers.&nbsp;The company said the Surface laptop integrated with Windows 10 S is priced from $999&nbsp;

It is compatible on mobiles and desktops, has a simple login app that allows schools to create logs on any devices in a few moments.

Windows 10

Windows 10 fixed&nbsp;most of the issues with Windows 8 and improves on Windows 7, Microsoft’s most popular OS in recent years.

It was equipped with 'Cortana', a digital assistant similar to Apple Inc's Siri and Google Inc's Now.

The launch was seen as critical for the company, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8, an ambitious redesign that confused many users by ditching the start button menu and introducing a new layout.

Windows 8

Windows 8 was designed as a flexible new system that would work equally well on desktops PCs and touchscreen tablets, but it ended up alienating many traditional users, while the company’s Surface tablet has not won over many Apple Inc iPad users.

More worryingly for Microsoft, the number of people actually using Windows 8 is persistently low. While many businesses technically have purchased Windows 8 licenses, few have installed the system on office machines.

Windows 7

It had user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all the open windows from a single application by hovering over the program’s icon.

Another new feature, called “Jump Lists,” provided&nbsp;updated lists of recently worked-on documents or often visited Web sites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser.

The company also adopted a ‘simple is better’ philosophy, looking to remove complexity from an operating system that incorporated 50 million lines of programming code in Vista.

Vista

When Vista was released, it was clear that most users were going to need a new system to handle the OS.&nbsp;

Any Windows user knows you have to watch out for viruses, spyware, and worms, but Vista’s security features were widely panned for being annoying.&nbsp;

Windows Vista was so heavily criticized due to poor compatibility with devices and slow start speeds that it became the target of an effective marketing campaign by rival Apple Inc.

Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001,&nbsp;addressed many issues of its predecessor, and added a number of other improvements as well.&nbsp;The name "XP" is short for "eXPerience", highlighting the enhanced user experience.

Windows XP was the first Windows NT kernel-based OS designed for both the business and general consumer markets, and are much more stable than the Windows 9x line of OS'&nbsp;due to the improved codebase (heavily based on Windows 2000). It was also the first version of Windows to implement product activation to prevent piracy.

Windows 2000

Also known as&nbsp;Windows 2k,&nbsp;Windows 2000&nbsp;is an operating system first released by&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;in February&nbsp;2000.

Code-named&nbsp;Janus&nbsp;during development, Windows 2000 is based on the&nbsp;Windows NT&nbsp;kernel and is sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 contains over 29 million lines of code, mainly written in C++ with over 8 million of those lines written for drivers. Windows 2000 is by far one of the largest commercial projects ever built.

Windows 98

It&nbsp;the second major release in the&nbsp;Windows 9x&nbsp;line of operating systems. It heavily relied&nbsp;on the HTML language.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most of the improvements are cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience, but there are a handful of features that enhance system functionality and capabilities. These include improved&nbsp;USB&nbsp;support and accessibility, as well as support for hardware advancements such as DVD players. It was the first Windows operating system to adopt the&nbsp;Windows Driver Model.&nbsp;

Windows 95

Windows 95 integrated Microsoft's formerly separate&nbsp;MS-DOS&nbsp;and&nbsp;Windows&nbsp;products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor,&nbsp;Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its relatively simplified "plug-n-play" features. There were also major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly 16-bit architecture to a pre-emptively multitasked 32-bit architecture.

Windows 1.0 (1985)

Upon its debut, this operating system aimed at the general public had a new graphic interface that was relatively easy to use. It was the first foundation stone in the immense Windows edifice to come.

Although it was complicated to use because it operated via command lines, MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) revolutionized computing as it was integrated into the first personal computers on the market manufactured by IBM. The system just needed to be made more accessible. And that's how Windows was born.

Initially known as Interface Manager, this new operating system was in the end called Windows, a name which describes the computing boxes which are fundamental to it. The project was announced in 1983, but it was two years before it became a reality.

Windows operating system turned Microsoft into a household name and helped the company dominate personal computers for years, which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers.

Windows operating system turned Microsoft into a household name and helped the company dominate personal computers for years, which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers. Now, Windows is getting a revamp, likely to be named Windows 11. It comes after the company named Chief Executive Satya Nadella as chair of its board, strengthening his grip on a pioneering US technology company he rejuvenated for a new age. Microsoft built its empire on software such as Windows and Office, licensed to computer makers or sold in packages for installation on machines in homes or workplaces. Under Nadella, Microsoft has put more focus on renting software and services hosted at data centres in the computing cloud, bulking up its Azure platform. The era of the personal computer was rocked by the rise of smartphones and tablets but saw a revival of sorts during the pandemic as people geared up homes for remote work, school, and play. Upgrading to a new Windows OS is always filled with questions, like which version of Windows is for me? How much does it cost? Should I even bother upgrading at all? Here is a brief summary of the various versions of Windows: Windows 10 S Windows 10 S is a streamlined version of Microsoft Corp's popular operating system, geared toward low-cost laptops for students as it tried to take share from Google’s Chrome OS-run computers. The company said the Surface laptop integrated with Windows 10 S is priced from $999 It is compatible on mobiles and desktops, has a simple login app that allows schools to create logs on any devices in a few moments. Windows 10 Windows 10 fixed most of the issues with Windows 8 and improves on Windows 7, Microsoft’s most popular OS in recent years. It was equipped with 'Cortana', a digital assistant similar to Apple Inc's Siri and Google Inc's Now. The launch was seen as critical for the company, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8, an ambitious redesign that confused many users by ditching the start button menu and introducing a new layout. Windows 8 Windows 8 was designed as a flexible new system that would work equally well on desktops PCs and touchscreen tablets, but it ended up alienating many traditional users, while the company’s Surface tablet has not won over many Apple Inc iPad users. More worryingly for Microsoft, the number of people actually using Windows 8 is persistently low. While many businesses technically have purchased Windows 8 licenses, few have installed the system on office machines. Windows 7 It had user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all the open windows from a single application by hovering over the program’s icon. Another new feature, called “Jump Lists,” provided updated lists of recently worked-on documents or often visited Web sites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser. The company also adopted a ‘simple is better’ philosophy, looking to remove complexity from an operating system that incorporated 50 million lines of programming code in Vista. Vista When Vista was released, it was clear that most users were going to need a new system to handle the OS. Any Windows user knows you have to watch out for viruses, spyware, and worms, but Vista’s security features were widely panned for being annoying. Windows Vista was so heavily criticized due to poor compatibility with devices and slow start speeds that it became the target of an effective marketing campaign by rival Apple Inc. Windows XP Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001, addressed many issues of its predecessor, and added a number of other improvements as well. The name "XP" is short for "eXPerience", highlighting the enhanced user experience. Windows XP was the first Windows NT kernel-based OS designed for both the business and general consumer markets, and are much more stable than the Windows 9x line of OS' due to the improved codebase (heavily based on Windows 2000). It was also the first version of Windows to implement product activation to prevent piracy. Windows 2000 Also known as Windows 2k, Windows 2000 is an operating system first released by Microsoft in February 2000. Code-named Janus during development, Windows 2000 is based on the Windows NT kernel and is sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 contains over 29 million lines of code, mainly written in C++ with over 8 million of those lines written for drivers. Windows 2000 is by far one of the largest commercial projects ever built. Windows 98 It the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It heavily relied on the HTML language. Most of the improvements are cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience, but there are a handful of features that enhance system functionality and capabilities. These include improved USB support and accessibility, as well as support for hardware advancements such as DVD players. It was the first Windows operating system to adopt the Windows Driver Model. Windows 95 Windows 95 integrated Microsoft's formerly separate MS-DOS and Windows products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor, Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its relatively simplified "plug-n-play" features. There were also major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly 16-bit architecture to a pre-emptively multitasked 32-bit architecture. Windows 1.0 (1985) Upon its debut, this operating system aimed at the general public had a new graphic interface that was relatively easy to use. It was the first foundation stone in the immense Windows edifice to come. Although it was complicated to use because it operated via command lines, MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) revolutionized computing as it was integrated into the first personal computers on the market manufactured by IBM. The system just needed to be made more accessible. And that's how Windows was born. Initially known as Interface Manager, this new operating system was in the end called Windows, a name which describes the computing boxes which are fundamental to it. The project was announced in 1983, but it was two years before it became a reality.

As Microsoft announces new Windows OS, let us take a look at previous versions of Windows

Microsoft Corp on Thursday said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of its Windows and devices business, will be leaving the company amid a major management reshuffle that increases the company's focus on its cloud products.

The latest transition builds on earlier efforts to unite engineers who work on software with those that oversee hardware. Microsoft is creating two new engineering teams, with one focusing on how consumers use technology and the other on how businesses use cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Microsoft said that elevates the role of Rajesh Jha, who will lead a team focused on user experience across devices that they encounter at home or work.

The move also consolidates more of Microsoft's business software efforts under Scott Guthrie, who oversees the fast-growing unit that sells cloud computing services to businesses.

Myerson has been at Microsoft for more than two decades, and his responsibilities had grown significantly through several reorganizations since 2013. He has been supervising the company's products including Surface, Xbox and HoloLens Mixed Reality and services such as Windows and Office.

Myerson will be working with Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition of the leadership changes, Nadella said in an email to all Microsoft employees.

Myerson will be working with CEO Satya Nadella in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition of the leadership changes, Nadella said in an email to all Microsoft employees

Microsoft Corp on Thursday said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of its Windows and devices business, will be leaving the company amid a major management reshuffle that increases the company's focus on its cloud products. The latest transition builds on earlier efforts to unite engineers who work on software with those that oversee hardware. Microsoft is creating two new engineering teams, with one focusing on how consumers use technology and the other on how businesses use cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Microsoft said that elevates the role of Rajesh Jha, who will lead a team focused on user experience across devices that they encounter at home or work. The move also consolidates more of Microsoft's business software efforts under Scott Guthrie, who oversees the fast-growing unit that sells cloud computing services to businesses. Myerson has been at Microsoft for more than two decades, and his responsibilities had grown significantly through several reorganizations since 2013. He has been supervising the company's products including Surface, Xbox and HoloLens Mixed Reality and services such as Windows and Office. Myerson will be working with Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition of the leadership changes, Nadella said in an email to all Microsoft employees.

Microsoft's Windows head to leave company amid reorganization

With an aim to increase its share in the PC market, Microsoft has unveiled its first-ever desktop PC - the Surface Studio. Priced at $2999, the Surface Studio is an all-in-one PC that challenges the Apple iMac. This new high-end PC from Microsoft is targeted at creative professionals, a segment dominated by arch-rival Apple.

Featuring a hinged touchscreen display, the Surface Studio is touted as &ldquo;the thinnest desktop monitor ever created.&rdquo; Its monitor can lie flat and be drawn on with a stylus.

&quot;We&#39;re creating a new category that transforms your desk into a creative studio,&quot; Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the unveiling of new devices in New York.

&nbsp;

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The Microsoft Surface Studio is claimed to be &quot;the thinnest desktop monitor ever created.&quot; (WION)
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&nbsp;

The Surface Studio has an ultra-HD 4.5K display, which is claimed to offer 63 per cent more pixels than a 4K TV. The new PC will be available in &quot;limited quantities&quot; for the upcoming holiday season, with more units available in 2017.

The new PC may look promising, but it is drawing a mixed response from analysts. &quot;Yes, this is very cool. But what&rsquo;s the market for a $3,000 computer you can draw on? How many people have that job?&quot; asked Benedict Evans of the venture firm Andreessen Horowitz in a tweet.

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Yes, this is very cool. But what&rsquo;s the market for a $3,000 computer you can draw on? How many people have that job? <a href="https://t.co/xiDrVXMgYP">https://t.co/xiDrVXMgYP</a>
&mdash; Benedict Evans (@BenedictEvans) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenedictEvans/status/791316396223279105">October 26, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Avi Greengart at the research firm Current Analysis, on the other hand, said the new Microsoft products &quot;are aimed at setting the high mark for the Windows ecosystem.&quot;

<h3>Surface Book and Surface Dial</h3>

Microsoft has also come up an updated Surface Book for people who want a mix of productivity and portability. This high-end convertible tablet-computer comes with improved graphics and computing power, and costs $2,400. It is claimed to offer a battery life of 16 hours.

&quot;It&#39;s for the people really pushing performance,&quot; said Microsoft vice president Panos Panay.

Besides, Microsoft has also introduced a new disk device called Dial which attaches to the screen and offers additional controls such as viewing the timeline of a creation.

<h3>New Windows operating system</h3>

Microsoft has announced an updated Windows operating system, called Windows 10 Creators. It showcases&nbsp;three-dimensional content and would be offered as a free update in early 2017.

The new OS enables users to create 3D content and delve into virtual and augmented reality.

The Windows 10 Creators Update will allow for a 3D capture application for mobile devices and a new version of the popular program Paint for 3D objects. It lets mobile devices scan an object on all sides so it can rotate 360 degrees in a photograph. It will also allow users to add 3D emojis.

With the new Windows system, users will be able to experience virtual reality with Microsoft&#39;s HoloLens headgear and its Edge browser. As Microsoft explains, Edge &quot;will act as the portal to display 3D content on HoloLens.&rdquo;

Sales for Microsoft&#39;s computing business have declined since 2015. But with the launch of new feature-rich devices, Microsoft is hoping to regain its market position and win over creative professionals who have long preferred products from rival Apple.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Priced at $2999, the Surface Studio is an all-in-one PC that challenges the Apple iMac

With an aim to increase its share in the PC market, Microsoft has unveiled its first-ever desktop PC - the Surface Studio. Priced at $2999, the Surface Studio is an all-in-one PC that challenges the Apple iMac. This new high-end PC from Microsoft is targeted at creative professionals, a segment dominated by arch-rival Apple. Featuring a hinged touchscreen display, the Surface Studio is touted as “the thinnest desktop monitor ever created.” Its monitor can lie flat and be drawn on with a stylus. "We're creating a new category that transforms your desk into a creative studio," Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the unveiling of new devices in New York. The Microsoft Surface Studio is claimed to be "the thinnest desktop monitor ever created." (WION) × The Surface Studio has an ultra-HD 4.5K display, which is claimed to offer 63 per cent more pixels than a 4K TV. The new PC will be available in "limited quantities" for the upcoming holiday season, with more units available in 2017. The new PC may look promising, but it is drawing a mixed response from analysts. "Yes, this is very cool. But what’s the market for a $3,000 computer you can draw on? How many people have that job?" asked Benedict Evans of the venture firm Andreessen Horowitz in a tweet. Yes, this is very cool. But what’s the market for a $3,000 computer you can draw on? How many people have that job? https://t.co/xiDrVXMgYP — Benedict Evans (@BenedictEvans) October 26, 2016 × Avi Greengart at the research firm Current Analysis, on the other hand, said the new Microsoft products "are aimed at setting the high mark for the Windows ecosystem." Surface Book and Surface Dial Microsoft has also come up an updated Surface Book for people who want a mix of productivity and portability. This high-end convertible tablet-computer comes with improved graphics and computing power, and costs $2,400. It is claimed to offer a battery life of 16 hours. "It's for the people really pushing performance," said Microsoft vice president Panos Panay. Besides, Microsoft has also introduced a new disk device called Dial which attaches to the screen and offers additional controls such as viewing the timeline of a creation. New Windows operating system Microsoft has announced an updated Windows operating system, called Windows 10 Creators. It showcases three-dimensional content and would be offered as a free update in early 2017. The new OS enables users to create 3D content and delve into virtual and augmented reality. The Windows 10 Creators Update will allow for a 3D capture application for mobile devices and a new version of the popular program Paint for 3D objects. It lets mobile devices scan an object on all sides so it can rotate 360 degrees in a photograph. It will also allow users to add 3D emojis. With the new Windows system, users will be able to experience virtual reality with Microsoft's HoloLens headgear and its Edge browser. As Microsoft explains, Edge "will act as the portal to display 3D content on HoloLens.” Sales for Microsoft's computing business have declined since 2015. But with the launch of new feature-rich devices, Microsoft is hoping to regain its market position and win over creative professionals who have long preferred products from rival Apple. (With inputs from Agencies)

Surface Studio: Microsoft unveils its first desktop PC

Software maker Microsoft Corp &lt;MSFT.O&gt; is selling about 1,500 of its patents to Chinese device maker Xiaomi [XTC.UL], a rare departure for the U.S. company and part of what the two companies say is the start of a long-term partnership.

The deal, announced on Wednesday includes a patent cross-licensing arrangement and a commitment by Xiaomi to install copies of Microsoft software, including Office and Skype, on its phones and tablets.

Both companies declined to disclose the&nbsp;financial terms of the deal.

&quot;This is a very big collaboration agreement between the two companies,&quot; said Wang Xiang, senior vice president at Xiaomi in a telephonic conversation to Reuters.

Analysts said Xiaomi&#39;s ambitions to be a major player outside China were hampered by weak patent protection and a fear of a prolonged legal battle.

&quot;This deal might just give them enough of a patent trove to move to Western markets,&quot; said Sameer Singh, a UK-based analyst. 
&nbsp;He further added that their position in China has been under constant attack from even lower-end Android vendors, so moving overseas is now a necessity.

Shipments of Xiaomi phones fell 9 percent year-on-year in China in the first quarter, according to Strategy Analytics, and its market share dipped to 12 percent from 13 percent, squeezed not only by Huawei [HWT.UL] and Samsung Electronics &lt;005930.KS&gt; but also smaller contenders including Oppo and Vivo.

Wang said the acquisition of Microsoft patents, which included voice communications, multimedia and cloud computing, on top of some 3,700 patents the Chinese company filed last year, were &quot;an important step forwards to support our expansion internationally.&quot;

Xiaomi launched its first U.S. device earlier this month, a TV set-top box it developed in cooperation with Alphabet Inc&#39;s &lt;GOOGL.O&gt; Google, which owns the Android operating system it and most Xiaomi devices run on. Xiaomi has also launched a tablet which runs a version of Microsoft&#39;s Windows operating system.

Jonathan Tinter, corporate vice president at Microsoft, said the company was keen to tap into Xiaomi&#39;s young, affluent and educated users by having its products pre-installed on their devices. He declined to go into detail about the patent deals, but said the overall deal was something &quot;we do only with a few strategic partners.&quot;

Microsoft has cut licensing deals with many Android device makers over the years, but has had less luck with Chinese manufacturers.

Florian Mueller, a patents expert who consulted for Microsoft in the past, said it was rare for Microsoft to actually sell its patents, adding &quot;it&#39;s possible Microsoft found it easier to impose its Android patent tax on Xiaomi as part of a broader deal that also involved a transfer of patents.&quot;

Software maker Microsoft Corp is selling about 1,500 of its patents to Chinese device maker Xiaomi [XTC.UL]

Software maker Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> is selling about 1,500 of its patents to Chinese device maker Xiaomi [XTC.UL], a rare departure for the U.S. company and part of what the two companies say is the start of a long-term partnership. The deal, announced on Wednesday includes a patent cross-licensing arrangement and a commitment by Xiaomi to install copies of Microsoft software, including Office and Skype, on its phones and tablets. Both companies declined to disclose the financial terms of the deal. "This is a very big collaboration agreement between the two companies," said Wang Xiang, senior vice president at Xiaomi in a telephonic conversation to Reuters. Analysts said Xiaomi's ambitions to be a major player outside China were hampered by weak patent protection and a fear of a prolonged legal battle. "This deal might just give them enough of a patent trove to move to Western markets," said Sameer Singh, a UK-based analyst. He further added that their position in China has been under constant attack from even lower-end Android vendors, so moving overseas is now a necessity. Shipments of Xiaomi phones fell 9 percent year-on-year in China in the first quarter, according to Strategy Analytics, and its market share dipped to 12 percent from 13 percent, squeezed not only by Huawei [HWT.UL] and Samsung Electronics <005930.KS> but also smaller contenders including Oppo and Vivo. Wang said the acquisition of Microsoft patents, which included voice communications, multimedia and cloud computing, on top of some 3,700 patents the Chinese company filed last year, were "an important step forwards to support our expansion internationally." Xiaomi launched its first U.S. device earlier this month, a TV set-top box it developed in cooperation with Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> Google, which owns the Android operating system it and most Xiaomi devices run on. Xiaomi has also launched a tablet which runs a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system. Jonathan Tinter, corporate vice president at Microsoft, said the company was keen to tap into Xiaomi's young, affluent and educated users by having its products pre-installed on their devices. He declined to go into detail about the patent deals, but said the overall deal was something "we do only with a few strategic partners." Microsoft has cut licensing deals with many Android device makers over the years, but has had less luck with Chinese manufacturers. Florian Mueller, a patents expert who consulted for Microsoft in the past, said it was rare for Microsoft to actually sell its patents, adding "it's possible Microsoft found it easier to impose its Android patent tax on Xiaomi as part of a broader deal that also involved a transfer of patents."

Microsoft sells 1500 patents to Xiaomi, builds partnership

In a city whose windows have been blasted from their frames, remaining residents of Syria`s war-torn Aleppo go about their daily lives behind gaping holes covered with plastic. 
 
For inhabitants of the battle-scarred and divided city, glass windows have become more of a liability than a luxury. 
 
&quot;Every window pane we have has been shattered by shelling,&quot; said Ammar Wattar, an English teacher, as he fitted a hard plastic sheet into the window frame of his home in the government-held district of Al-Midan. 
&quot;We changed it the first time, then the second time, the third time -- until this time, we decided not to change it anymore.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The windows are regularly blown out in the frequent rocket attacks and air strikes on Aleppo city, turning the shards into dangerous projectiles.&nbsp; 
 
Replacing them is also prohibitively expensive - so residents have been opting to cover the empty frames with sheets of plastic.&nbsp; 
In many neighbourhoods, children can be seen slipping behind white tarpaulin hanging like curtains from the doorways of their apartments.&nbsp; 
Abandoned apartment buildings are often identified by the partly-smashed glass windows protruding like jagged teeth from the metal frames. 
 
Clashes and bombardment have carried on in Aleppo despite a February 27 truce across parts of Syria and multiple attempts to secure a local freeze on fighting in the city. 
 
Asraa al-Masri, a teacher in a regime-held district of the city, said a shard of glass flew into her daughter`s leg during a rocket attack.&nbsp; 
She has since stopped replacing her windows with glass, but she now faces a new set of worries.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Bugs, dust, soot, loud noises, the burning smell of the generators, which are bad for your health and negatively affect our children while they`re studying,&quot; she listed.&nbsp; 
 
Perhaps no one has seen as much shattered glass as Mohammed Bouz, who used to sell it in a shop in Al-Midan. 
&quot;My stockpile has been destroyed many times during the shelling, and I haven`t been able to get new deliveries,&quot; he told AFP. 
Before Syria`s war erupted in March 2011, a square metre of glass cost 425 Syrian pounds (70 cents) -- but it now fetches about 3,300 ($6).&nbsp; 
 
Aleppo`s desperate residents -- many of whom have been left jobless since war came to their city in 2012 -- opt for the much cheaper plastic at a maximum of 500 Syrian pounds per square metre.&nbsp; 
 
But for Umm Ahmad`s conservative Muslim family, no proper windows means no privacy. 
Synthetic canvas billows in the wind, &quot;so my daughters and I can only change our clothes in the bathroom or in the hallways so our neighbours don`t see us&quot;, the 52-year-old woman said. 
 
Privacy &quot;is something really sacred for Aleppan families&quot;. 
 
Across the frontline in Aleppo`s rebel-held east, shopkeeper Ali Makansi recounts sitting in his grocery store one day &quot;when a mortar shell crashed into the roof of a nearby building&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Because the explosion was so powerful, an entire window pane fell on me and cut the main nerve in my hand,&quot; said the 32-year-old whose shop is in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood. 
&quot;All the houses and commercial buildings in Aleppo are using plastic now instead of glass,&quot; he said. &quot;Plastic is cheap and won`t hurt anyone if there`s an explosion nearby.&quot; 
 
Mohammed Jokhdar, a 29-year-old Arabic language teacher, sent his family to Turkey after his brother was killed in shelling last year.&nbsp; 
He lives alone in his apartment in Bustan al-Qasr district where he has covered the windows with sheets of transparent plastic.&nbsp; 
&quot;But the plastic doesn`t protect from the weather and sometimes water leaks through. It doesn`t block the noise either -- I feel like I`m in the street.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Abu Omar, 69, who lives in Tariq al-Bab neighbourhood, also complains about the noise and water leaks. 
But &quot;the biggest problem is the street cats... They tear the plastic and come into my home looking for food.&quot;

In a city whose windows have been blasted from their frames, remaining residents of Syria`s war-torn Aleppo go about their daily lives behind gaping holes covered with plastic. For inhabitants of the battle-scarred and divided city, glass windows have become more of a liability than a luxury.

In a city whose windows have been blasted from their frames, remaining residents of Syria`s war-torn Aleppo go about their daily lives behind gaping holes covered with plastic. For inhabitants of the battle-scarred and divided city, glass windows have become more of a liability than a luxury. "Every window pane we have has been shattered by shelling," said Ammar Wattar, an English teacher, as he fitted a hard plastic sheet into the window frame of his home in the government-held district of Al-Midan. "We changed it the first time, then the second time, the third time -- until this time, we decided not to change it anymore." The windows are regularly blown out in the frequent rocket attacks and air strikes on Aleppo city, turning the shards into dangerous projectiles. Replacing them is also prohibitively expensive - so residents have been opting to cover the empty frames with sheets of plastic. In many neighbourhoods, children can be seen slipping behind white tarpaulin hanging like curtains from the doorways of their apartments. Abandoned apartment buildings are often identified by the partly-smashed glass windows protruding like jagged teeth from the metal frames. Clashes and bombardment have carried on in Aleppo despite a February 27 truce across parts of Syria and multiple attempts to secure a local freeze on fighting in the city. Asraa al-Masri, a teacher in a regime-held district of the city, said a shard of glass flew into her daughter`s leg during a rocket attack. She has since stopped replacing her windows with glass, but she now faces a new set of worries. "Bugs, dust, soot, loud noises, the burning smell of the generators, which are bad for your health and negatively affect our children while they`re studying," she listed. Perhaps no one has seen as much shattered glass as Mohammed Bouz, who used to sell it in a shop in Al-Midan. "My stockpile has been destroyed many times during the shelling, and I haven`t been able to get new deliveries," he told AFP. Before Syria`s war erupted in March 2011, a square metre of glass cost 425 Syrian pounds (70 cents) -- but it now fetches about 3,300 ($6). Aleppo`s desperate residents -- many of whom have been left jobless since war came to their city in 2012 -- opt for the much cheaper plastic at a maximum of 500 Syrian pounds per square metre. But for Umm Ahmad`s conservative Muslim family, no proper windows means no privacy. Synthetic canvas billows in the wind, "so my daughters and I can only change our clothes in the bathroom or in the hallways so our neighbours don`t see us", the 52-year-old woman said. Privacy "is something really sacred for Aleppan families". Across the frontline in Aleppo`s rebel-held east, shopkeeper Ali Makansi recounts sitting in his grocery store one day "when a mortar shell crashed into the roof of a nearby building". "Because the explosion was so powerful, an entire window pane fell on me and cut the main nerve in my hand," said the 32-year-old whose shop is in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood. "All the houses and commercial buildings in Aleppo are using plastic now instead of glass," he said. "Plastic is cheap and won`t hurt anyone if there`s an explosion nearby." Mohammed Jokhdar, a 29-year-old Arabic language teacher, sent his family to Turkey after his brother was killed in shelling last year. He lives alone in his apartment in Bustan al-Qasr district where he has covered the windows with sheets of transparent plastic. "But the plastic doesn`t protect from the weather and sometimes water leaks through. It doesn`t block the noise either -- I feel like I`m in the street." Abu Omar, 69, who lives in Tariq al-Bab neighbourhood, also complains about the noise and water leaks. But "the biggest problem is the street cats... They tear the plastic and come into my home looking for food."

Life behind plastic in Syria`s window-less city

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