Microsoft updates Notepad app with new features after decades
After years of remaining a plain text editor, Microsoft's decades-old Notepad application is receiving a significant update, with a suite of new formatting capabilities. This aims to provide users greater flexibility in structuring their content, moving beyond its traditional minimalist approach.
In a blog post, senior executive at Windows Inbox Apps Dave Grochocki said that Notepad will now have "lightweight formatting," which includes support for Markdown-style input. Users will now find a new formatting toolbar allowing them to easily apply bold and italic styling, create hyperlinks, and incorporate simple lists and headings directly within their files. This update caters particularly to those who prefer working with lightweight markup languages.
Users who wish to revert to the simple Notepad can avail options to clear all formatting. The update also allows switching between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views, offering control over content display. For those who prefer the classic, unformatted Notepad, the formatting support can be entirely disabled within the app settings.Notepad was launched in 1983, not as a standalone Windows app, but as "Multi-Tool Notepad". Richard Brodie created it as a stripped-down version of Microsoft's Multi-Tool Word. Its primary purpose at the time was to help commercialise the newly introduced Microsoft Mouse in MS-DOS environments. It was bundled with the mouse, often alongside Word.It started in MS-DOS but became an integral part of Windows from its early versions, including Windows 1.0 (released in 1985). For decades, Notepad was defined by its commitment to plain text.
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Europe's growing fear: How Trump might use US tech dominance against it
When President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February against the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for investigating Israel for war crimes, Microsoft was suddenly thrust into the middle of a geopolitical fight. For years, Microsoft had supplied the court — which is based in The Hague in the Netherlands and investigates and prosecutes human rights breaches, genocides and other crimes of international concern — with digital services such as email. Trump's order abruptly threw that relationship into disarray by barring U.S. companies from providing services to the prosecutor, Karim Khan. Soon after, Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, helped turn off Khan's ICC email account, freezing him out of communications with colleagues just a few months after the court had issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for his country's actions in the Gaza Strip. Microsoft's swift compliance with Trump's order, reported earlier by The Associated Press, shocked policymakers across Europe. It was a wake-up call for a problem far bigger than just one email account, stoking fears that the Trump administration would leverage America's tech dominance to penalize opponents, even in allied countries like the Netherlands. 'The ICC showed this can happen,' said Bart Groothuis, a former head of cybersecurity for the Dutch Ministry of Defense who is now a member of the European Parliament. 'It's not just fantasy.' Groothuis once supported U.S. tech firms but has done a '180-degree flip-flop,' he said. 'We have to take steps as Europe to do more for our sovereignty.' Some at the ICC are now using Proton, a Swiss company that provides encrypted email services, three people with knowledge of the communications said. Microsoft said the decision to suspend Khan's email had been made in consultation with the ICC. The company said it had since enacted policy changes that had been in the works before the episode to protect customers in similar geopolitical situations in the future. When the Trump administration sanctioned four additional ICC judges this month, their email accounts were not suspended, the company said. Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, said concerns raised by the ICC episode were a 'symptom' of a larger erosion of trust between the United States and Europe. 'The ICC issue added fuel to a fire that was already burning,' he said. Khan has been on leave from the ICC since last month, pending a sexual misconduct investigation. He has denied the allegations. An ICC spokesperson said it was taking steps to 'mitigate risks which may affect the court's personnel' and 'taking extensive measures to ensure the continuity of all relevant operations and services in the face of sanctions.' The episode has set off alarms across Europe about how dependent European governments, businesses and citizens are on U.S. tech companies like Microsoft for essential digital infrastructure — and how hard it will be to disentangle themselves. Concerns about how else Trump might leverage technology for political advantage has jump-started efforts across the region to develop alternatives. Casper Klynge, a former Danish and European Union diplomat who worked for Microsoft, said the episode was in many ways the 'smoking gun that many Europeans had been looking for.' 'If the U.S. administration goes after certain organizations, countries or individuals, the fear is American companies are obligated to comply,' said Klynge, who now works for a cybersecurity company. 'It's had a profound impact.' The tech debate adds to an increasingly fractious U.S.-European relationship over trade, tariffs and the war in Ukraine. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have criticized how Europe regulates U.S. tech companies, and U.S. officials have made digital oversight and taxation part of ongoing trade negotiations. European regulators have argued that they need to be able to police the biggest digital platforms in their own countries without worrying that they will face political pressure and punishment from a foreign government. 'If we don't build adequate capacity within Europe, then we won't be able to make political choices anymore,' said Alexandra Geese, a member of the European Parliament. Since Edward Snowden's leak of scores of documents in 2013 detailing widespread U.S. surveillance of digital communications, Europeans have sought to diminish their reliance on U.S. tech. Lawmakers and regulators have targeted Apple, Meta, Google and others for anticompetitive business practices, privacy-invading services, and the spread of disinformation and other divisive content. Yet without viable alternatives, institutions across the region have turned to U.S. digital services. Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other U.S. firms control more than 70% of the cloud computing market in Europe, which is the essential way for storing files, retrieving data and running other programs, according to Synergy Research Group. The ICC has been a longtime customer of Microsoft, which provides the court with services including the Office software suite and software for evidence analysis and file storage, according to an ICC lawyer who declined to be identified discussing internal procedures. Microsoft has also provided cybersecurity software to help the court withstand digital attacks from adversaries like Russia, which is being investigated for war crimes in Ukraine. In February, after Trump issued penalties against Khan, Microsoft met with ICC officials to decide how to respond. They concluded that Microsoft's broader work for the court could continue but that Khan's email should be suspended. He switched his correspondence to another email account, said a person who has communicated with him. Sara Elizabeth Dill, a lawyer who specializes in sanctions compliance, said the Trump administration was increasingly using sanctions and executive orders to target international institutions, universities and other organizations, forcing companies to make hard choices about how to comply. 'This is a quagmire and places these corporations in a very difficult position,' she said. How tech companies with global services respond is especially important, she added, 'as the broad repercussions are what people and organizations are primarily worried about.' Microsoft and other U.S. companies have sought to reassure European customers. On Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited the Netherlands and announced new 'sovereign solutions' for European institutions, including legal and data security protections for 'a time of geopolitical volatility.' Amazon and Google have also announced policies aimed at European customers. Still, many institutions are exploring alternatives. In the Netherlands, the 'subject of digital autonomy and sovereignty has the full attention of the central government,' Eddie van Marum, the state secretary of digitalization in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, said in a statement. The country is working with European providers on new solutions, he said. In Denmark, the digital ministry is testing alternatives to Microsoft Office. In Germany, the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein is also taking steps to cut its use of Microsoft. In the European Union, officials have announced plans to spend billions of euros on new artificial intelligence data centers and cloud computing infrastructure that rely less on U.S. companies. Groothuis, the Dutch member of the European Parliament, said lawmakers in Brussels were discussing policy changes that would encourage governments to favor buying tech services from EU-based companies. 'The situation is not tenable, and we see a big push from European governments to become more independent and more resilient,' said Andy Yen, CEO of Proton. European tech companies see an opportunity to win customers from their U.S. rivals. Cloud service providers like Intermax Group, based in the Netherlands, and Exoscale, based in Switzerland, said they had seen a jump in new business. 'A few years ago, everyone was saying, 'They're our trusted partners,'' Ludo Baauw, Intermax's CEO, said of U.S. tech companies. 'There's been a radical change.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Why and how Europe's growing fear of Donald Trump is bad news for Microsoft, Google, Apple and others
European governments and institutions are accelerating efforts to reduce their dependence on American tech giants after President Trump used executive powers to force Microsoft to suspend the email account of an International Criminal Court prosecutor investigating Israel for war crimes, according to a New York Times report. The February incident involving ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has become a watershed moment for European policymakers, who now view America's tech dominance as a potential weapon that could be wielded against them even in allied nations like the Netherlands. Microsoft's swift compliance with Trump's sanctions order shocked European officials and crystallized long-standing concerns about digital sovereignty . "The I.C.C. showed this can happen," Dutch cybersecurity expert and European Parliament member Bart Groothuis told the Times. "It's not just fantasy." Groothuis, who previously supported U.S. tech firms, said he has done a "180-degree flip-flop" and now believes Europe must take steps toward greater technological independence. European institutions scramble for alternatives The ICC incident has prompted immediate changes across European institutions. Some ICC officials have switched to Proton, a Swiss encrypted email provider, while the court has implemented extensive measures to ensure operational continuity despite ongoing U.S. sanctions, three sources familiar with the communications revealed to the Times. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo American tech companies control over 70 percent of Europe's cloud computing market, making the region heavily dependent on services from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft for essential digital infrastructure including file storage, data retrieval, and software operations. Tech giants offer reassurances but damage spreads Microsoft President Brad Smith acknowledged that the ICC episode was a "symptom" of eroding U.S.-Europe trust, telling the Times that "the I.C.C. issue added fuel to a fire that was already burning." The company has since enacted policy changes to protect customers in similar geopolitical situations, and when Trump sanctioned four additional ICC judges this month, their email accounts remained active. CEO Satya Nadella recently visited the Netherlands to announce new "sovereign solutions" for European institutions, including enhanced legal and data security protections. Amazon and Google have launched similar initiatives targeting European customers concerned about geopolitical volatility. European governments pivot toward digital independence Despite corporate reassurances, European nations are pursuing concrete alternatives. Denmark's digital ministry is testing Microsoft Office replacements, while Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state is reducing Microsoft usage. The Netherlands government has made digital autonomy a central priority, exploring partnerships with European providers. The European Union has announced billion-euro investments in AI data centers and cloud infrastructure designed to reduce American tech dependence. European Parliament lawmakers are discussing policies favoring EU-based tech services for government procurement. European cloud providers like Netherlands-based Intermax Group and Switzerland's Exoscale report significant increases in new business. "A few years ago, everyone was saying, 'They're our trusted partners,'" Intermax CEO Ludo Baauw told the Times, referring to U.S. tech companies. "There's been a radical change." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
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Cover letters are dead: Ex-LinkedIn recruiter says this one document can land you a job faster
Former Microsoft recruiter Maddie Machado urges job seekers to ditch traditional cover letters in favour of a 'brag doc'—a curated document of career wins. Highlighting impact, achievements, and alignment with company goals, it helps candidates stand out to hiring managers. Machado says it's more effective than a resume for showcasing what makes you truly valuable. Career strategist and former Microsoft recruiter Maddie Machado says cover letters are dead and recommends a 'brag doc' instead. This slide-style document showcases your key wins, personal strengths, and real impact at work. (Inage: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What Makes a 'Brag Doc' So Powerful? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What Hiring Managers Actually Want to Know More Than Just an Interview Tool In the ever-evolving job market , traditional cover letters may no longer be the golden ticket to your dream job. Career strategist Maddie Machado , a former recruiter for Microsoft Meta , and LinkedIn , is flipping the script on outdated hiring norms with a single piece of advice: keep a 'brag doc.' This isn't your average resume—it's a personalised playbook of your professional journey that showcases not just what you've done, but how well you did it.'Even when I was a recruiter for so many years, I can count on maybe one hand how many times I actually read a cover letter,' Machado revealed while talking with CNBC Make It. Her solution? A self-curated document that highlights real results and career wins in a way hiring managers can't brag doc, according to Machado, is a live record of every career milestone: from simple kudos to major contributions. It has helped her ace interviews for over a decade. First created in a Microsoft document, then maintained in a running email draft, she now keeps it as a dynamic slide presentation—ready to send or discuss at a moment's method is built around four core areas: identifying your natural strengths, showcasing the impact of your work, highlighting standout accomplishments, and tailoring your value to align with potential employers. Machado calls these your 'corporate superpowers.''It's a time to toot your own horn,' she explains, noting that a resume often fails to capture the real substance of a candidate's work. 'It's hard to see on your resume the amount of impact and the things that you actually owned and are actually proud of.'Based on her experience working with top tech giants, Machado shares that recruiters already understand the tasks tied to your current role. What they want to know is the value you can bring into their organisation. 'What is something that wouldn't have happened if you weren't there?' she prompts. The brag doc answers that question with confidence and you're reaching out on LinkedIn, applying directly, or preparing for salary negotiations, the brag doc becomes a strategic asset. It helps cut through the noise, makes your personal brand clear, and offers hiring managers a glimpse of your potential impact.'It's nice to be able to remind yourself what you've accomplished so far, whether it's big or small,' Machado says, adding that it can be a morale boost as much as a networking about writing generic introductions and buzzword-filled summaries. If you're serious about standing out, consider building a brag doc that reflects your true professional story. As Machado puts it, 'This is how you show them what you can do—not just tell them.'
