Microsoft today announced that it will officially retire Skype on May 5, 2025, concluding its 14-year tenure as the owner of the once-dominant internet calling and messaging service (via Bloomberg). Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion in what was then its largest-ever acquisition. At its peak, Skype had more than 300 million monthly active users and was synonymous with internet-based voice and video calling. The service steadily declined in relevance in recent years, with its active user base shrinking to approximately 36 million by 2023 as competitors such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft's own Teams platform gained traction. Teams has since grown to 320 million monthly users, far surpassing Skype's remaining user base. The company's decision to discontinue…

Microsoft is releasing a native Copilot app for macOS today. Much like the Windows app, the Copilot version for Mac will provide access to the web-based version of Microsoft’s AI assistant, where you can upload images and generate images or text. The macOS version of Copilot also includes a dark mode and a shortcut command to activate the AI assistant by using Command + Space — much like the Alt + Space on the Windows version. Microsoft is launching this new Copilot Mac app in the US, UK, and Canada today, and the iPad version is also being updated with a split screen mode. You’ll also now be able to log into Copilot on an iPhone or iPad with an…

Microsoft today introduced a new Copilot app designed for Macs, letting Copilot users access the AI companion with a native macOS app. Copilot is Microsoft's generative AI product, built on OpenAI technology. Copilot is similar to ChatGPT, and users can have questions answered, get coding help, upload images for context, generate images and text, summarize content, conduct research, launch shortcuts, and more. Your AI companion is now available on macOS. You can upload images, generate images and text, use the shortcut launcher, dark mode, and try Think Deeper. Microsoft Copilot is the AI companion for everyday life. Talking with Copilot is an easy way to learn, grow and gain confidence, all with the help of OpenAI and Microsoft AI models.…

Many of us work from home, and so one of the most important places in those homes is our workspaces — in other words, our desks. Everyone’s workspace is different. What kind of desk — and desk chair — do you use? Is your workspace neat and organized or filled with tchotchkes and toys? Do you have an old-fashioned wooden desk or a mechanized standing desk? Are you sitting on a stool or the latest Herman Miller desk chair? Is your workspace filled with this year’s high-end tech for working and gaming, or are you happy with a five-year-old laptop and a pair of headphones? In our “What’s on your desk?” series, we look into how people organize and use…

Microsoft has announced an update to Windows 11 that allows iPhone users to access their devices directly from the Start menu, bringing feature parity with its existing Android phone integration. The new functionality lets you view your device's battery status, cellular connectivity, and recent activities without leaving the Windows environment. You can also access messages, calls, and file sharing capabilities directly from the Start menu interface. Setting up the integration is straightforward. Just open the Start menu and select "iPhone" from the right-side pane, then follow the on-screen instructions to establish the connection between your iPhone and PC. The feature is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in both Dev and Beta channels. To access the new functionality, you must…

Up $6.41 or 2.88% on the day to $229.19 Apple on Monday roared past Nvidia to once again retake the mantle of The World’s Most Valuable Company with a commanding market cap of $3.447 trillion as investors flee to the safe harbor operating out of Cupertino. China’s new AI model DeepSeek is wreaking havoc in stocks focused on artificial intelligence, especially in Generative AI (GenAI). Nvidia plummeted $22.83, off 15.96% to $119.79 for a market cap of $2.937 trillion. Microsoft, which today has currently shed $16.83 (-3.79%) is now a distant No.2 in market value at $3.177 trillion. Jasmine Wu and Deirdre Bosa for CNBC: ‎ A little-known artificial intelligence lab out of China has ignited panic throughout Silicon Valley…