Apple announced the release of several new devices and operating systems at its September 2021 event:
Category Archives: Operating Systems
Windows 365 Cloud PC now available from Microsoft
Microsoft released Windows 365, a cloud-based PC service that runs Windows 10 or Windows 11, on August 2, 2021. This new service is based on Azure Virtual Desktop. More information is available at these links:
- Windows 365 Home page
- Windows 365 FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
- Wndows 365 Pricing
- Windows 365 User Dashboard
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- Windows 365 Configuration
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center Documentation and Setup
- #Windows365
Microsoft announces upcoming release of Windows 11
Microsoft announced the upcoming release of Windows 11 on June 24, 2021. Windows 11 is set to be released on October 5, 2021.
Some of the changes include changes to the Microsoft Store and apps, as well as a new partnership with Amazon to bring their catalog of Android apps and games to Windows users.
Windows 11 will be available as an update to existing Windows 10 devices that meet its specifications. Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) chip. Processor requirements for Windows 11 and other versions may be found here. These requirements apply to physical PCs and Virtual Machines (VMs). Users can run a PC Health Check app to see if their current PC is compatible to run Windows 11.
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025.
More information can be found at microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11.
Chromebook adds new features for 10 year anniversary
Google has added new features to celebrate 10 years of Chromebooks as part of Chrome OS 89. These include:
- Phone Hub
- Clipboard
- Quick Answers
- Tote file manager
- Nearby Share
- Select-to-speak enhancements
- Screen Capture and media controls added to Quick Settings menu
Chrome OS is currently the second most popular operating system, according to Google.
A full list of Chromebook keyboard shortcuts may be found here.
Google buys Neverware and CloudReady software
Neverware, which develops CloudReady, announced in December 2020 that it will be soon be part of Google. CloudReady is an operating system based on the open-source Chromium OS that is free for home use to install on computers that meet its minimum requirements.
Android custom distributions (ROMs) for smartphones and tablets
Android custom distributions (ROMs) are replacement operating systems for Android smartphones and tablets. This allows users to customize older devices that may not have available Android updates and extend their service life. This may erase data and void your device’s warranty. Available security updates are usually based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). More information is at
Chrome OS automatic updates may not be available for older devices
Google’s Chrome OS is a secure choice for an operating system, but older devices may no longer be supported. When a Chrome device reaches its Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date, automatic updates from Google will no longer be provided.
IFixit has instructions on how to convert a working Chromebook past its expiration date to use CloudReady.
TrueNAS CORE is the new name for FreeNAS
iXsystems announced in March 2020 that TrueNAS CORE is the new name for FreeNAS, the popular open source NAS (Network Attached Storage) operating system. This was done to unify branding with its TrueNAS Enterprise product. Additional features were added to the TrueNAS CORE product as well. Documentation for TrueNAS is available at www.truenas.com/docs/hub/.
Apple announces upcoming release of iOS 14
Apple announced the upcoming releases of several new technologies at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2020, including:
FreeNAS – a free open source Network Attached Storage OS
FreeNAS is a popular and free open source NAS (Network Attached Storage) operating system. It is maintained by iXsystems and uses the OpenZFS filesystem. More information is available at: