The vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs indoors, mostly from the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the coronavirus. But in spite of the obvious risks posed by being inside, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, small household gatherings are driving much of the recent surge in cases.

The best way to prevent the virus from spreading in a home would be simply to keep infected people away. But this is hard to do when an estimated 40% of cases are asymptomatic and asymptomatic people can still spread the coronavirus to others. Next safest is to entertain outside, but if you cant, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

First and most important always wear masks, make sure everyone stays at least 6 feet away from other people and dont spend too much time indoors. But in addition to these precautions, making sure the air inside is as clean as possible can also help. I am an indoor air quality researcher who studies how to reduce the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Using increased ventilation or running an appropriately sized air cleaner or filter can add an extra layer of protection.

A safer home is one that constantly has lots of outside air replacing the stale air inside.

Homes are typically ventilated through open windows or doors, or from air leaking in through unintentional openings and cracks in the building itself. A typical air exchange rate for a home is around 0.5 air changes per hour. Because of the complicated way air moves, that translates into taking about two hours to replace two-thirds of the air inside an average home, and about six hours to replace all of it.

This slow air exchange is not good when you want to limit the spread of an airborne virus. The higher the ventilation rate the better so how much fresh air is ideal? While the exact exchange rate depends on the size of a room, as an example, a 10-by-10-foot room with three to four people inside should have at least three air changes an hour. In a pandemic this should be higher, and the World Health Organization recently recommended six air changes per hour.

Knowing the exact air exchange rate for your home isnt necessary; just know that more is better. Thankfully, increasing the ventilation of a house or apartment is easy.

Open as many windows as you can the larger the opening the better. Open doors to the outside. Run the exhaust fans in your bathroom and above the stove though only do this if the exhausts go to the outside and if you also have a window or door open. Additionally, you can place fans in open windows and blow the inside air out to even further boost your air flow.

I live in Colorado, and the winter cold has arrived. I still think it is worth it to have windows open, but I open them only about halfway and turn on the heaters in my house. This wastes energy, but I keep the time I have to do this to a minimum, and once visitors leave, I keep the windows open for at least an hour to completely air out the house.

All of these things add up and increase ventilation.

If you are worried that your home ventilation is still too low, air filtration can offer another layer of safety. Much the way an N95 mask works, running air in your home through a filter with small openings can capture airborne particles that could contain the coronavirus.

There are two ways to filter air in a home: using a built-in system like central heating, for example or using stand-alone air cleaners.

In my home, we use both air cleaners and our heating system to filter the air. If you have central heating, make sure your furnace filter has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of at least 11. This value describes how effective a filter is at removing airborne particles and contaminants from the recirculated air. The standard on most furnaces is a MERV 8 filter and many furnaces are not capable of running with a more efficient filter, so make sure to check your filter and ask a technician before replacing it. But a MERV 8 filter is better than no filtration at all.

You can also use a stand-alone air cleaner to remove airborne particles, but how effective they are depends on the size of the room. The bigger the room, the more air needs to be cleaned, and stand-alone cleaners are only so powerful. My home has an open floor plan, so I cant use my air cleaner in the main living space, but it can be helpful in bedrooms or any other smaller enclosed spaces. If you consider buying an air cleaner, I worked with some colleagues at Harvard to build a tool that can be used to determine how powerful an air cleaner you need for different room sizes.

And dont forget to also consider how effective an air cleaners filter is. Your best option is a cleaner that uses a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, as these remove more than 99.97% of all particle sizes.

If you decide to share your home with others in the coming months, remember that being outside is by far the safest. But if you must be inside, shorten the length of time your guests stay, wear masks and socially distance at all times. In addition to these precautions, keeping air flow high by opening windows as wide as possible, driving more air into your home with exhaust fans and using air cleaner and filters can help further reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus.

Shelly Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Open windows and doors to boost air flow and help remove airborne particles | Opinion - pennlive.com

When it comes to changing the house's windows, there is only one company that can be relied upon, and that is none other than HomeCraft Windows.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Raleigh, NC -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/19/2020 -- Windows are an essential part of the structure of one's house. In various styles and designs, windows have emerged to be a style statement for the contemporary homeowner. So when one window gets broken or damaged, you do not have to live with the same. With HomeCraft Windows available with its big repository of replacement windows, every homeowner can get the worn-out windows replaced quickly and without much hassle. The company has been around for many years, and they are happy to be at their clients' services all the time. Their options in windows range anything from Bay & Bow Windows, Casement Windows, Sliding Windows, Double-Hung Windows, Awning Windows, or Hopper Windows. All the windows are of the highest quality and extremely affordable.

According to the experts handling the window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina it is wise to carry out the old window replacement job at the earliest. Windows that take time to open or close, or have holes in them, or are seen to fall off the hinges are of no good. They are not only an eyesore but are a severe threat to one's safety as well. That is why no time should be lost in getting the windows replaced.

When it comes to picking the right home replacement windows from the lot, the professional window installers at HomeCraft Windows will help. With their years of expertise, it is easy for them to suggest changes and pick the windows to fit their need and budget.

HomeCraft Windows also offers patio doors in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina.

Call 919-276-5400 for more details.

About HomeCraft WindowsHomeCraft Windows is one of the reliable places to loo for quality patio doors and window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/homecraft-windows-is-the-place-to-shop-for-window-replacement-in-cary-and-holly-springs-north-carolina-1316696.htm

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HomeCraft Windows Is the Place to Shop for Window Replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina - Press Release - Digital Journal

You want to do windows and doors Edmonton replacement projects in your home but your budget is constrained. This means you have to find what replacement or repair will have a big return on your money. Some places that are mostly lucky when it comes to renovations are the kitchen and the bathroom. You want to modify your kitchen and bring in a built-in glass cooktop. Who doesnt want such a kind of a kitchen anyway? When you weigh between the built-in glass cooktop and the most beautiful bathtubs, your budget does not allow you to do all that. These two areas are essential, and after the work is done, you will look at them and feel satisfied that the work was worth your money.

But do you know that these two renovations cannot compare to a door and window replacement? Purchasing new energy-efficient windows and doors Edmonton will not only enhance your homes look but also cut your energy costs. They also give your home a more homely feeling, more lighting, and a comfort. NorthTech Windows and Doors compiled this information to help you decide.

1.How window replacements are a valuable investment

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, it might seem like you are spending a lot of money on it, but come to think of it this way. Replacing windows will increase your homes value by up to 80%. So, if you intend to sell your house, that will be a significant advantage to you. Can the built-in glass cooking top get to that value? Probably no.

The amount of money you will spend on replacing your windows will depend on the window types and materials and the kind of window frames. While aluminum is a good conductor of heat, its frames are cheap to buy and install. Fiberglass frames are good insulators and are more expensive to buy than vinyl. The cost of installing a double-hung window is more than that of installing a single-hung window. While wood frames cost more, they are more attractive than the other frames and energy-efficient.

2.How the type of window will affect the cost of replacement

The most affordable windows are the double-hung type of windows. They are also the most common types, and they are characterized by two sashes that open vertically. Single-hung windows can only be opened on one side, and many people do not consider them. This makes them uncommon, and they are also hard to clean. These windows are cheaper compared to the double-hung windows. While casement tends to be expensive, they are better at keeping cold air away. They are also commonly used by many people. Picture windows have a wide pane of glass that gives you an unobstructed view. They have a modern make, and they are expensive.

3.Energy-efficient windows

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, energy efficiency comes first. With energy-efficient windows, your energy bills will be reduced. Also, if you are looking to sell your home, most home buyers consider energy-efficient windows to save on electricity. This means that replacing your windows will add value to your home and increase the chances of getting a buyer. These are the different types of windows you will find from most window manufacturers Edmonton:

a.Single-paned window- they have one glass pane that does not offer insulation. These windows are also leaky, and they might not be suitable for areas that experience strong winds. These windows lose 20% of the heat in your home to the outside and make you spend more money on energy.

b.Double-pane windows- Unlike the single-paned windows, double paned windows have two panes, which help reduce cold leaks. This makes them more energy efficient. They are also filled with air or gas like argon between the panes, which act as heat insulators. However, their price is comparatively higher than that of single-paned windows.

4.Low-Emissivity coating

It is also called a Low-E coating. This coating maintains the heat in the room and reflects heat especially in hot areas from getting into the house. You will find this glass is more expensive compared to others thanks to this property. However if you are buying many, window manufacturers Edmonton can give you a good deal.

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Is Windows and Doors Edmonton Replacement Worthy It? - The African Exponent

The building's leasing agent said the crime shows an increasing number of vagrants and professional beggars in downtown Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Just one day after a man was arrested for busting out windows at the Brown & Williamson Tower, the senior vice president for the company leasing the office building said the destruction "points to a much larger problem" in Louisville.

LMPD charged Troy Mercer with criminal mischief after he admitted to breaking windows at the tower with a hammer, causing more than $100,000 worth of damage just days after new windows were installed.

While leasing agent Doug Owen said he was glad someone was arrested, he said the crime shows an increasing number of "vagrants and professional beggars" in the downtown area.

"I, along with many others, have been urging City officials (Metro-Council and the Mayors office) to address the problem of vagrancy and professional begging in our downtown for over a year," Owen said. "Many of the vagrants are aggressive and that is something which can be off-putting to many."

Owen said they decided to remove boards from their windows following guidance from the city, however, leaders "did not listen to the concerns of the business community."

"As downtown struggles to rebuild [following] COVID-19 shutdowns and the damage caused by the riots this summer, we simply must do all we can to create a safe and welcoming environment for all," Owen said.

The leasing agent said he was "disappointed" that the current state of downtown was not a priority, saying it was as vibrant as ever pre-pandemic. Now, Owen said businesses are looking to other locations.

"Aggressive vagrants and boarded up buildings send a poor message to visitors and potential new businesses," Owen said. "I wish the City would see this problem and treat it like the emergency it is."

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

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Man arrested in connection with damaging recently replaced windows at Brown & Williamson Tower, police say - WHAS11.com

After protests turned into riots Saturday night, downtown businesses are left salvaging through the destruction. Delaware News Journal

The morning after riots broke out in Wilmington following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, friends and business partners Jonathan Whitney and Eliza Jarvis came up with an idea as city business owners began the process of cleaning up.

Theywanted to connect young artists with businesses boardingup their windows.

"How can we respond? How can we empoweryoung artists in this moment, not so much as to heal, but to continue this energy into ways that change begins to happen?," Whitney says.

If we can get a few donors and some store owners willing to turn their storefront into a work of art, the duothought, we can transform those blank wooden monuments from painful reminders into powerful messages of justice, love and inclusion.

New Castle artist Jannah Williams, 24, works on a mixed-media piece at Nomad Bar in downtown Wilmington. A new art project is raising money for artists to paint over the boarded up windows left in the aftermath of the spring city riot, which damaged several business following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.(Photo: Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

That morning, they were on the ground on Market Street with fellow project co-founder Arden photographer Joe del Tufoasking business owners what they thought, even though the dazed ownershad only started to absorb what had just happened.

So far, a total of four artists of color have been commissioned for the project.

Spaceboy Clothing on Market Street was the first to give the OK, just a week after clean-up began. The piece was completed not too long after onJune 14 by Wilmington artist James Wyatt.

Next came Blitzen, the Christmas pop-up bar, which had two murals, recently removed for their opening. Those works were by Wilmington artistsErica Jones andJaQuanne LeRoy.

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The most recent piece, an eye-catching mixed-media work,wascompleted recently at the jazz club NomadBar on Orange Street by 24-year-old artist Jannah Williams, who goes by J the Artist.

At Nomad, Williams worked for several days, creatinga stunning mixed-media piece that usesnewspaper clips andold racist fliers as a base; on top are paintings of the faces of people who matterin this moment.

Erica Jones paints a tribute to 19-year-old Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, a 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist killed in Florida earlier this year.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

They include civil rights leaderMartin Luther King, Jr.; the first Black woman elected to theU.S.Congress, Shirley Chisholm;and former President Barack Obama.Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot to death while jogging in Georgia earlier this year,and Breonna Taylor, who killed by police in Kentucky in her home,also are included.

Taylor, wearing a wide smile, is in the center of the biggest project of William's young career. Taylor was two years older than Williams when she was shot six times in a botched policeraid earlier this year.

The piece's titleis scrawledacrossthe top in black letters dripping with red: "All We Want Is A Better World Than This." A message of "Black Lives Matter"and "You Matter" also are included.

"I wanted to show the history of what we're fighting fortoday goes back years and years and years,"says Williams, who studied art at Delaware State University. "And we're still fighting for it in different ways, but history is repeating itself as well."

COMING UP: 'Delayed seat assignments' as 2021 Delaware State Fair announces music acts early

It took about 40 hours to complete, stretched across two weeks and was completed last week.

New Castle artist Jannah Williams , 24, works on a mixed media piece at Nomad Bar in downtown Wilmington. A new art project is raising money for artists to paint over the boarded up windows left in the aftermath of the spring city riot, which damaged several business following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

Just like atthe other sites, passersby would stop and watch the artists work, getting a rare look at the process over severaldays. Some even asked artists about their work and whatit means.

"Those are important conversations," says Whitney, who co-foundedFlux Creative Consultingwith Jarvis earlier this year. "When I was at Blitzen andsaw little girls walking by that bigger-than-life painting, [it]is powerful.

"Yes, the panels are a blight. Yes, we wish they weren't there. But let's use them to push a message that we should keep moving forward because there are some great things happening."

Artist JaQuanne LeRoy works on a mural at Blitzen in downtown Wilmington earlier this fall.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

The project is so scrappy and homegrown that it doesn't even have a name, getting offthe ground withhelp of initial donors: Whitney's brother Benjamin andhis mentor at DuPont, F. Renarde Hill.

"The focus has been on finding ways to make it happen, not a name," says Whitney, also artist-in-residence at downtown'sEpiscopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew.

The artists behind the first three works at Spaceboy and Blitzen each received $500. Williams got $650 when more donors stepped up,including Wilmington non-profit Cityfest, whichsolicits sponsorship and grants to help, in part, fundarts programming.

Whitney isstill searching for donors to keep the project going. Donations can be made at Cityfest.com. Make note that it is for the storefront muralproject.

"We wanted top amplify the voices of these artists. A lot of times, finding the canvass and the funds are what keeps them from that and we wanted to take away that barrier," Whitney says. "We wanted to say, 'Go, speak!' "

When the project is complete, organizers hope it will find a home in a museum or another artistic space in or around the city.

Jonathan Whitney (left), Eliza Jarvis (right) and photographer Joe del Tufo are behind a downtown Wilmington art project transforming boarded up windows into pieces of art.(Photo: Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

But before that,Buccini/Pollin Group will partner with organizersto create a sidewalk art gallery.

It will be located atThe Residences at Midtown Park retail storefronts on NinthStreetbetween Shipley and Orange streets, Buccini/PollinVice Presidentof Design and Marketing Sarah Lamb revealed to Delawareonline/The News Journal.

The muralswill be lit and displayed inside so the public can visit the gallery safely from the outside. A completion date has not yet been announced.

Artist James Wyatt works on a mural at Spaceboy Clothing in downtown Wilmington earlier this fall.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

We recognize that June of 2020 will go down in history as an important time of civil discourse in our city, and the nation as a whole, she says. "The artwork that emerged after the nationwide protests plays an important role in this narrative, and we at BPG want to ensure that the murals, as well as the celebration of the artists themselves, can continue to engage our community.

For Whitney, theNomad Bar exhibit is especially meaningful.

As a jazz drummer, he has spent many nights with his back against the other side of that boarded up window, playing with his band,The Whitney Project.

He releases his debut album, "Life's Dimensions," on Monday with an in-person album release concert at Wilmington'sChristina Cultural Arts Center on Friday at 7 p.m. It will also be livestreamed as part of the city's Clifford Brown Year-Roundseries.

He couldn't help but think of the old days as Williams painted.

"That's the gathering spot for jazz musicians. And that special place is part of this conversation," he says. "And if Nomad was open, I'd be playing there and doing what she does, just in a different medium."

Got a tip? Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

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This is the guerrilla team behind the colorful murals covering boarded windows in downtown Wilmington - The News Journal

by Jack Russillo

When Isolynn Ice Dean, the owner of the Central Districts Cortona Cafe, made the decision to close her coffee shop, she wanted the space to continue to be a hub for the community even after she locks the doors for the final time on November 29.

Since November 2009, the cafe has offered more than just Herkimer Coffee and homemade waffles. When Dean took over the cafe from her brother-in-law in 2013, she started filling the space with different gatherings rooted in the community, from open-mic nights to meetings of Africatown and Seattle Neighborhood Greenways. On the corner of 25th Avenue East and East Union Street, the space has been a part of the Central Districts heartbeat, and Dean didnt want to disrupt that when she moves to Georgia in the spring to pursue her agricultural dream of farming mushrooms.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic affected Cortona, but Dean believes that the cafe could have made it through the winter. Doors were shut in March and havent opened to customers since. Among other adjustments, Dean began serving customers through a streetside window and business was doing well enough to remain open.

My customers are phenomenal, said Dean. My customers, my neighbors, my friends, my family, whatever you want to call them, they are phenomenal. They just showed up and they really pushed us through those first couple of months.

Even with steady numbers, Dean eventually felt the time was right to move on from Cortona and Seattle. In wanting to preserve the character of the space that Cortona had represented for years, Dean specifically chose the replacement for the coffee shop to be Hanan Hassan Diriye and Ambrosia Austin, the founders of Melo Juice and the future operators of Melo Cafe, the next occupant of the coffee shop.

I didnt want to sell it off to whomever, said Dean. The Central District is already gentrified. I was very adamant that I wanted to keep it woman-owned also. I just wanted to leave it in a good space Hanan is the thinker and the creator and Ambrosia is the one that really pushes things along. She provides the space and Hanan fills the space and its really a beautiful combo.

In March, Hassan Diriye started making juices to boost her immune system. Then she started taking orders and Austin helped Dean become one of the earliest customers, consistently buying the first Melo Juice combination, a ginger-flavored beverage with locally-sourced ingredients like echinacea and honey.

The trajectories of the two cafes paired well. The owners believed in each others missions, behind the coffee bar but also around the community.

Ive known [Dean] for years, in various circles, said Hassan Diriye. Shes really well connected and I guess I could say Im well connected in the community from community-building work [Dean] is one of those people that I was really lucky to get to know because shes so great at making people feel warm and at home. And she definitely did that with her space and how she really drives to put community first.

Both of them are deeply involved in the community, said Dean. What [Hassan Diriye] does for the community and just her energy in general draws people in You feel safe around her, so automatically she is creating a safe space. And I think that is my main goal. I just want Cortona to be a safe [space], whatever safety means for you.

From now until the time Cortona closes its doors for good on the final Sunday of November, Austin and Hassan Diriye will be at Cortona on Wednesdays and Sundays to familiarize themselves with the space and the shops regular customers. After Cortonas last day, Dean will help oversee renovations for a few weeks before Melo Cafe opens in early 2021.

Were just so grateful beyond grateful, honestly to have the support and the thought of Isolynn to move forward with the space, said Austin. If you read her Instagram post, shes not selling the business or the space off to the highest bidder. This is a vision for her to build up women, Women of Color, and give it a community feel. It really does tie into the vision of what she sees when shes passing this torch. I honestly couldnt be more grateful.

Once open, Melo Cafe will offer pre-bottled juices, Herkimer coffee, the same homemade waffles currently served at Cortona, and other pastries. New Melo Juice flavors will be released around the time of the cafes opening and any updates will be posted on the Melo Juice Instagram page. Long-term goals for the juice company include adding a covered and heated seating area, sourcing more ingredients from Black-woman-owned farms, providing an outlet for local artists to showcase their work, and hosting community events once health guidelines permit them to do so.

People dont like change nine times out of ten and we just want to continue the feeling of excitement, Austin said. Even though Ice is moving on and pursuing her dream, we want the community to know were here. Were here to honor her legacy, were here to give you something thats going to make you feel good as far as Melo Juice goes, and were also going to maintain the familiarity of what Ice provided for the community.

Jack Russillo has been reporting in Western Washington since 2013. He covers the environment, social justice, and other topics that affect a sustainable and equitable future. He currently lives in Seattles Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Featured image by Jack Russillo.

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Cortona Cafe Will Close at the End of November, to Be Replaced by Melo Cafe - southseattleemerald.com

NEW YORK CITY Classrooms across the city may be under an automatic coronavirus shutdown, but they'll return with 35,000 new students.

That's the number of students who opted into blended learning during a two-week enrollment period, according to city Department of Education data.

The city initially gave parents a rolling chance to opt in, but eventually set a hard deadline to help teachers better schedule classes. The definite in-person enrollment numbers which tally at about 300,000 citywide will give educators a chance to roll out classes in buildings up to five days a week, officials said.

"We know that nothing can replace in-person instruction and blended learning families deserve as much time in the classroom inside their schools as possible," said Katie O'Hanlon, a DOE spokesperson, in a statement. "We will be working with schools to increase the number of days blended learning students are in buildings, and we're excited for these students to join their peers when we reopen."

The new blended learning enrollment numbers follow the closure Thursday of public school buildings citywide.

The shutdown was triggered once the city's average coronavirus positivity rate hit 3 percent.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials are crafting a reopening plan in the next few days and hope to get students back to classrooms soon after Thanksgiving.

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35K NYC Students Opt For In-Person Classes, Whenever They Return - Patch.com

Windows 10 October 2020 Update, which is only a service pack fashion improve, was launched in October. This replace is a minor launch, however it comes with two new options theme-aware Start Menu and new Alt-Tab expertise.

As you could know already, Alt+Tab is a well-liked multitasking keyboard shortcut that has been in Windows since Windows 2.0 and it was final up to date in model 20H2 with a brand new function.

Windows 10 20H2 modifies the best way Alt-Tabbing works in relation to Microsoft Edge by permitting browser tabs to look as a separate app window within the Alt-Tab display screen.

Alt+Tab enables you to swap between open home windows on Windows 10 and you may also navigate between apps utilizing the arrow keys. With Windows 10 October 2020 Update, Microsoft stated it has improved the multitasking expertise by together with Microsoft Edge tabs within the Alt-Tab interface.

Microsoft believes that commonplace Alt+Tab is fairly fundamental and Edge tabs inclusion may help you navigate by your operating duties extra simply.

Unfortunately, Alt+Tab interface is now damaged for some customers after they utilized the Windows 10 October 2020 Update. According to reviews and our personal testing, a bug within the replace may lead to your Alt+Tab order altering unexpectedly and itll open the mistaken window if you attempt to swap between apps.

For instance, when you have three app home windows open (A, B, C) and also youre making an attempt to change to the primary window A, Alt-Tab interface will as a substitute give attention to the window after the meant one.When this occurs, it may be noticed that the choice on the Alt + Tab menu just isnt on the entry A, appropriately, however on the second entry B.

Several customers confirmed the difficulty within the Feedback Hub and it seems like Microsoft is conscious of the reviews.

Alt-Tab has started acting very inconsistent. For example, if I am quickly switching between windows A and B using Alt-Tab, it will be fine 9 out of 10 times. Then on the 10th time Im using Alt-Tab, it will randomly switch to window C which I havent opened in a while, one person noted within the Feedback Hub.

In one Feedback Hub publish, Microsoft stated that theyre investigating the reviews they usuallyve already mounted the difficulty in preview builds.

Its seemingly that Microsoft will repair the Alt-Tab issues in a future replace to Windows 10 October 2020 Update, however it could not arrive this 12 months because the tech big plans to launch fewer updates till January.

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Microsoft admits Windows 10 multitasking function damaged by replace - Enter21st

The Historic District Commission met on Nov. 17, with another meeting set for Nov. 19, to clear an agenda that dates back six months.

On Nov. 17, the HDC denied in a 4-3 vote the petition of Kevin Rinaldi-Young, 5 Russo Court, to elevate his house off the foundation and onto a new foundation to provide a garage at grade and a variety of changes to the structure.

Several neighborhood residents opposed the house being elevated above the rooflines of other historic houses along the street. However, there were several letters of support, including resident Erin Mulry, who spoke of the applicants regard for historic districts in the plan.

The HDC approved the following petitions:

. George Oliver, 29 Greenough Place, to demolish a garage and rebuild with new foundation walls and footings, to remove an exterior stairway to the third floor, a shed dormer and a kitchen addition, and to repair and replace rotted wood trim where necessary;

. Jeffrey Lipshires, 45 Kay St., to make various changes to the secondary structure;

. Elijah Duckworth-Schachter, 6 Greenough Place, to add a firstfloor deck;

. Earl and Nancy Powell, 1 Highland Place, to construct a two-story accessory structure;

. Zalo One LLC, 16 Barney St., to replace the siding, roof and chimney, to remove rear decks, to repair the stone foundation and to reconfigure the rear elevation;

. John and Jeanie Shufelt, 1 Cliff Ave., to construct an exterior elevator shaft and remove an historic window;

. Helen Hadley Johnstone, 13 Mount Vernon St., to replace wooden stairs and a handrail with stone stairs and an iron handrail;

. William and Kathleen S. Wallace, 86 Beacon Hill Road, to extend a dormer east to accommodate an elevator;

. Deborah Cloaniger, 11 Harrison Ave., to install a dryer vent in an exterior masonry wall;

. Eoin Howlett, 16 Poplar St., to replace aluminum windows with double hung insert windows, to restore two original wood windows on the front elevation, and other repairs.

A dozen petitions were continued to Nov. 19 and to December.

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HDC Holds Two Meetings to Hear Petitions - Newport This Week

Microsoft is creating a new security chip thats designed to protect future Windows PCs. Microsoft Pluton is a security processor that is built directly into future CPUs and will replace the existing Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a chip thats currently used to secure hardware and cryptographic keys. Pluton is based on the same security technologies used to protect Xbox consoles, and Microsoft is working with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm to combine it into future CPUs.

This new chip is designed to block new and emerging attack vectors that are being used to compromise PCs, including CPU security flaws like Spectre and Meltdown. Intel revealed back in 2018 that it was redesigning its processors to protect against future attacks, and Pluton is an even bigger step in securing CPUs and Windows PCs in general.

Existing TPMs are separated from CPUs, and attackers have also been developing methods to steal the data and information that flows between a TPM and CPU when they have physical access to a device. Just like you cant easily hack into an Xbox One to run pirated games, the hope is that it will be a lot more difficult to physically hack into a Windows PC in the future by integrating Pluton into the CPU.

We shipped the Xbox which has this physical attack protection, so people cant just hack it for games etc, explains David Weston, director of enterprise and OS security at Microsoft. We learned principles of effective engineering strategies from that, and so were taking those learnings and partnering with Intel to build something for the PC that will stand up to that emerging attack vector.

A number of firms sell kits, or 0-day vulnerabilities, that let attackers gain access to machines and literally crack open PCs to steal critical data that can unlock other ways to get into company systems or access personal information. Our dream for the future is thats just not possible on the PC platform, says Weston.

Pluton is essentially the evolution of the TPM, baked directly into a CPU. This is a better, stronger, faster, more consistent TPM, explains Weston. We provide the same APIs as TPM today, so the idea is that anything that can use a TPM could use this. That means features like BitLocker encryption or Windows Hello authentication will transition over to using Pluton in the future.

Microsofts work with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm also means that Pluton will be updated from the cloud. Updates will be issued monthly on the same Patch Tuesday that regular Windows fixes arrive. The hope is that this should improve system firmware updates for both consumers and businesses that run Windows PCs.

Its not clear when PCs with Pluton chips will start shipping, but Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are all committing to build this functionality into their future CPUs. Youll still be able to build custom PCs with Pluton chips embedded inside, and there should even be support for Linux in the future, too.

This is a future thing were going to build in, says Mike Nordquist, director of strategic planning and architecture at Intel. The idea is that you dont have to look for a motherboard with a TPM chip... so you just get it. Nordquist says Intel also supports choice for operating systems, and that it doesnt want to start doing different things for a bunch of different OS vendors. There are no firm details on Linux support just yet, but Microsoft already uses Linux with Pluton in its Azure Sphere devices, so its likely to be available whenever these chips ship.

New chips and security do mean new fears about DRM, and the fact that processors will now call back to Microsofts cloud infrastructure for updates. This is about security, its not about DRM, explains Weston. The reality is well create an API where people can leverage it, its definitely possible for folks to use that for protection of content, but this is really about mainstream security and protecting identify and encryption keys.

Microsoft, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm all clearly believe that processors that are continually updated with security built into them is the future for Windows PCs. Spectre and Meltdown were a wake up call for the entire industry, and Pluton is a significant response to the complex security threats that modern PCs now face.

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Microsoft Pluton is a new processor with Xbox-like security for Windows PCs - The Verge