July 2024 Office non-Security updates

Microsoft released NO non-security updates for Office on July 2, 2024.

Office 2016 reached  End of Mainstream Support on October 13, 2020. EOS for Office 2016 is October 14, 2025.

Updates are for the .msi version (perpetual). Office 365 and C2R are not included.

Security updates for all supported versions of Microsoft Office are released on the second Tuesday of the month (Patch Tuesday).

What has Microsoft done right?

EDITORIAL

By Will Fastie

We spend a lot of time here griping about Windows and, for that matter, all things Microsoft.

It’s not exactly our job to look for the bad stuff. It is our job to cast a critical eye on the matters we cover in the newsletter and to report and analyze as objectively as possible.

But it can’t be all bad. After all, if we decided not to embrace change, we’d be calling ourselves the AskWoody XP Newsletter.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

You’ll be amazed to learn how Microsoft really makes dough

PUBLIC DEFENDER

By Brian Livingston

If you think the sale of Windows software is Microsoft’s primary source of revenue, you’re in for a big surprise when you see the way the Redmond corporate giant actually earns money.

As of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024, more than 56% of the company’s revenue — easily a majority — is generated by Microsoft’s cloud services, including Azure Server, Office cloud services, and other online income streams.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Web-based Microsoft 365 is a win-win for all

BEN’S WORKSHOP

By Ben Myers

I never thought I would write a paean to a Microsoft product.

Whether I pound out an article like this one, respond to emails, prepare invoices for clients, or keep track of sets of information with spreadsheets, I am most productive at the tower computer right here — with its fast multi-core processor, lots of memory, a 27-inch monitor and, most importantly, the best-ever keyboard.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Excel Power Query

MICROSOFT 365

By Peter Deegan

Power Query is the clever multifunction tool in Excel I could not do without. It not only adds essential features to Excel but also makes other tasks a lot easier.

A part of Microsoft Office, its developers have done a great job. The dev team truly listens to customers and adds features that they need, not just the latest Redmond fad (cloud, AI, accessibility, and so on).

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Tracking protection in Edge: Going to bat for privacy

BROWSERS

By Mary Branscombe

Microsoft Edge builds in protection from tracking pixels and scripts that follow you around, and without breaking the websites you use.

Ever noticed how ads for products you’ve looked at on some shopping sites seem to follow you around the Web? Or how much Facebook and Google know about you?

That’s thanks to third-party tracking scripts and pixels embedded on the sites you visit.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Quick Assist

WINDOWS

By Will Fastie

Microsoft deserves accolades for evolving remote support into a simple, approachable app.

Remote support has been available since Windows NT 4.0. In the early days, it was technical and sometimes difficult to explain to someone needing help. It became slightly less technical in the 2000s, but it was not until Windows 10 that the aptly named Quick Assist app made it easy for everyone.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Microsoft and Apple

APPLE

By Susan Bradley

Microsoft has spent many years, and made huge investments, trying to bring the Apple ecosystem into work environments.

In 1985, it brought word processing to the Mac. It has provided the means to allow Word and Excel documents to move seamlessly from Windows to macOS. It brought affordable tools to allow small and medium businesses to control and manage iPhones, thus allowing managed service providers to control devices without needing to invest in specific, Apple-centric management tools.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).