Microsoft reverses decision to remove free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for employees after complaints

Microsoft

Microsoft employees have enjoyed free access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for years, but the company planned to end this benefit in January. However, after many employees objected, the company changed its mind and decided to keep the benefit.

The Verge reported that Xbox chief Phil Spencer personally intervened to reverse the decision, following employee complaints about losing the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefit in 2024. Spencer confirmed the reversal in a message to Microsoft employees on the company’s internal Viva platform: "After looking into this more with the team, I just want to confirm that no change will be made to Game Pass availability in 2024. If you have access to the Game Pass offer today you will continue to have access. I appreciate the time to get up to speed and sorry for the questions and confusion created. And thanks for supporting Xbox."

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Duracell M150: A giant battery that powers your devices

Duracell

The Duracell M150 Portable Power Station is a power bank that looks like a giant AA battery. It's a clever homage to Duracell’s legacy of making coppertop cells for various small electronics. Unlike the disposable coppertop cells, though, this power bank is rechargeable and can power up multiple devices at once.

This power bank is designed to be portable and convenient. It has a travel bottle-sized shape that fits easily in a backpack’s side pocket. It also has a large 150W 25,000 mAh battery that can fully charge a laptop, a tablet three times, a smartphone six times, or a smartwatch 50 times. Whether you need to work, play, or explore, this power bank can keep your devices running.

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A tale of two segments: Apple’s software and hardware results in the fourth quarter

Apple

Apple’s latest quarterly earnings report shows a contrast between software and hardware performance. The company announced a new record for its services revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, as well as a record for iPhone revenue in the September quarter. However, this was not enough to prevent a 1 percent year-over-year decline in overall revenue, which was $89.5 billion. This is the fourth quarter in a row that Apple has seen a drop in revenue.

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macOS Sonoma update required for the new MacBook Pro and iMac with M3

Apple

Customers who order the new MacBook Pro or iMac with the M3 series processor will have to update their macOS Sonoma as soon as they receive their devices on November 7.

Apple devices often require day one updates to fix bugs and enhance performance. However, unlike the iPhone, which Apple is trying to update remotely while still in the box, the Mac does not have such a system.

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