Technologies

‘Reimagined’ Microsoft Teams Boasts Twice the Speed Without Gobbling Device Memory

The new Teams update is available to try now in preview release. Here’s how to get it.

Microsoft released a public preview of its overhauled Teams communication app on Monday. The new Teams app will allow users to join meetings, launch and install apps, and swap between chats and channels twice as fast as previous iterations. The speed boost will also use 50% less memory and 70% less disk space, according to Microsoft.

In addition, users collaborating across multiple organizations will have added support and the ability to sign into — and receive notifications for — multiple accounts simultaneously, as well as simplified IT management and enhanced data security.

In a blog post, the tech giant said user feedback directly informed the app’s new design.

«New Teams is built on a foundation of speed, performance, and flexibility, to help you save time, and work together more efficiently,» the blog post read.

How to download the new Microsoft Teams app

According to Microsoft, if you’re part of the public preview program, you’ll have immediate access to try the new Teams app. If you’re in the Target Release program, you can try the updated Teams next month. Otherwise, your administrators will need to opt in and select which users can try the new Teams.

1. Launch Microsoft Teams on your Windows device.

2. Toggle on Try the New Teams at the top of the screen.

3. Click Get It Now when prompted to begin the download.

4. Allow Teams to reboot before use.

You can also switch back to Teams Classic by toggling off New Teams. If you swap to Classic Teams during a call or meeting, you’ll be disconnected.

To adjust your notifications, open Settings and More. Choose Settings>Notifications>Open Windows Notification Settings. To add another account to your Teams app, click your profile picture in the top right and choose Add another work account.

What’s next

Not all of the new Teams features will show up during the public preview release, according to Microsoft. Teams users can look forward to third-party apps, line-of-business apps, advanced calling features like reverse number look up and call queues, as well as advanced meeting capabilities like breakout rooms and presenter options.

For more on Windows, check out how you can get Microsoft 365 for free and where you can still buy Windows 10.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.