PERSONAL TECH

Redmond manages to break replying to an email on Outlook for macOS, one of the most basic functions

Microsoft has managed to break a very basic Outlook function – the ability to include the previous email in a reply.

The issue, which afflicts Outlook for Mac, was introduced in version 16.110, build 26061317, which rolled out to users last week. Before the update, the original message appeared in the reply window. After the update, nothing.

One affected user said: “It makes it impossible to have a proper email thread because the recipient can’t see the conversation history.”

Another remarked: “This is an extremely frustrating bug in this last update, and I hope a fix is on the way. This is frankly quite disappointing that something major like this completely evaded the software testing process before it was being rolled out.”

The solution, according to one of Microsoft’s forum moderators, is to roll back to a previous version and turn off auto-updating until a fix is released. Great for users in full control of their devices – not so good for anyone with a managed device. Administrators with fleets of Macs running Outlook should brace for helpdesk tickets.

In some instances, having a user copy and paste the salient bits of the email they are responding to might not be such a bad thing. We’ve all had emails that required epic amounts of scrolling to find what started the conversation, so forcing users to think about what they actually need to include is no bad thing. However, disrupting user workflows without warning – well, that is undoubtedly a bad thing.

This is, after all, one of the most basic things an email client needs to do, so shipping a product with a bug that breaks this functionality says more about Microsoft’s approach to quality than anything else.

The Register asked Microsoft for its take on the matter, but the tech behemoth has yet to respond.

Microsoft has already delivered a kicking to Apple hardware users in recent weeks. Office 2019 will cease to be useful on the platform in July, or enter a “reduced functionality mode” in Microspeak, with the only option available to users keen to remain Office customers being an upgrade.

However, as this latest bug demonstrates, running Microsoft’s latest and greatest carries its own risks. ®

Engineers have watched robots master welding seams and pallet stacking for decades. Success on those jobs rarely translates when the task involves something fragile and slightly different every time. An egg in a carton or on a counter represents the exact kind of object that exposes the limits. Too much force cracks the shell. Too little lets it slip. Slight variations in shape, weight distribution, or surface texture throw off systems built around fixed gripper designs or basic vision.

ABB Robotics and PSYONIC, the companies behind the Ability Hand prosthetic, have now taken a different approach. This partnership begins in the very real world, where lab models and scripted demonstrations simply cannot compete. Many people already utilize the Ability Hand in their daily lives, over 100s to be exact. These devices really capture real-world touch, pressure changes, and grip alterations as users go about their regular tasks, such as washing dishes, sifting through clothes, or simply playing with a sensitive object.

The Ability Hand is practically packed with pressure sensors in the right places on the fingers, as well as a full vibration feedback system that tells the user when they’re in contact and how much pressure is being applied. It’s not just about having the right grip; you also need to feel it, so if you’re juggling a coffee mug and a raspberry, you’ll know exactly how much pressure you need to keep the mug safe without squishing the raspberry. Don’t even get me started on slippery objects, which is exactly what prosthesis users have contributed to the discussion: real-world data on time, force levels, finger placements, and movement speed.

Researchers typically teach robots using gloves, virtual reality sets, or simply watching video after video, to mention a few standard training methods. They’re okay, I suppose, but they mostly just tell you where the fingers ended up, and that’s the point, because it’s the little details that really matter, such as the sensation of exactly how much pressure you’re applying and how different textures feel under your fingers. That’s what these prosthetic users have provided…the missing layer of understanding,

ABB has put an Ability Hand on their GoFa robot arm to allow for unlimited testing and improvement. The GoFa side provides the industrial accuracy and accurate measurement of forces and positions that they require, and all of the data from human use is then fed back in to tell them how the robot version should behave. The really clever part is that it’s the same hand design on both sides, so transferring this learned behavior is simple, and engineers can take the knowledge from all those real interactions and incorporate it into new control approaches that should work much better with new objects or minor changes in conditions.

According to Marc Segura, president of ABB robots, one of the most difficult elements of industrial robots has always been obtaining human dexterity and intrinsic knowledge of how to handle diverse products, which is exactly what this alliance is seeking to address. It’s all part of a bigger effort to create robots that can detect, think, and manage objects with more autonomy in changing environments.

Security

IT thought a fake offer of extra time off for hard-pressed Canadian medical workers was the way to go

A Canadian healthcare organization has apologized after its IT team carried out a phishing test falsely offering staff an additional paid day off work.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services said the phishing test was sent to employees and physicians, acknowledging the theme was inappropriate. 

“We acknowledge the approach taken in this particular exercise was not appropriate, and we sincerely apologize to employees, physicians, and union representatives,” said Ron Johnson, interim CEO at NL Health Services. 

“We value the feedback and are reviewing how future awareness exercises are developed and communicated. It is important they reflect employee and physician perspectives, as well as our organizational values, to foster a respectful and supportive workplace culture.”

The test came during an already fractious period for healthcare staff, who had recently worked long hours to launch the new software system CorCare across the organization.

NL Health Services referenced CorCare in the test email, thanking staff for their hard work on the launch. The email contained a button to click to redeem an additional paid vacation day, but clicking the button resulted in a fail mark.

The Registered Nurses Union (RNU) in Newfoundland and Labrador said the test was especially insensitive since nurses and other healthcare professionals were already struggling to secure paid time off.

Burnout and staffing shortages are rife in the healthcare sector – two factors referenced by RNU president Yvette Coffey in her response to the news.

“Yes, we have heard concerns from members about this, and frankly, I understand why they are upset,” she said. 

“Nurses and other healthcare professionals have worked through enormous pressure over the last number of years, including ongoing staffing shortages, burnout, organizational restructuring, and the challenges connected to the rollout of CorCare. To use the promise of an additional paid day off as the hook for a phishing exercise was in very poor taste.”

Coffey added: “Cybersecurity education is important, but it needs to be done with judgment and respect. There are many ways to test phishing awareness without exploiting the very real stress, fatigue, and frustration healthcare workers are experiencing.”

Johnson told reporters at a press conference that the test “missed a mark,” and promised to investigate how it was allowed to be sent.

“What happened here, obviously, is that all the lenses that were required to review the scenario weren’t placed on it,” he said. “It’s not reflective of how we value our employees.”

With cybersecurity awareness being incredibly important in critical infrastructure organizations, some IT experts would argue that these kinds of tests are valuable.

Cyberattacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities can lead to devastating consequences, including vital procedures being canceled, service downtime, and in the rarest cases, death.

However, as others have previously pointed out, there isn’t much evidence linking fire-drill-style tests to improvements in organizational security. ®

After selling out last week, Amazon has replenished AirPods Pro 3 inventory, while retaining the record low price of $169.

Amazon’s best AirPods Pro 3 deal has returned as Prime Day approaches. Grab an $80 discount, which matches the lowest price on record for the earbuds. Considering inventory sold out when the deal was last available, it’s worth snapping up the savings now to avoid a possible stockout when Prime Day starts on June 23.

Buy AirPods Pro 3 for $169

If you’re looking for over-ear headphones, you can also pick up Apple’s 2026 release, the AirPods Max 2, for $449 with Amazon’s early Prime Day deal.

Today’s best AirPods deals

If you’ve got another device on your wish list, be sure to check out our Apple Price Guides for the latest discounts on hundreds of Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch models.

Recent video renders from a well known Apple leaker along with strings found in the first iOS 27 developer beta have supplied the clearest picture so far of the foldable iPhone Ultra that Apple has in development. Multiple reports now refer to this model as the iPhone Ultra and describe it as the new flagship that will sit above the regular Pro versions in the fall lineup.

Jon Prosser shared a video and detailed renders of the device on Front Page Tech (FPT), showing it both closed and completely open. Closed, it has a bulky profile, thicker than today’s iPhones, but when you open it, it turns into a larger size that begs to be used as a little tablet. The titanium edges provide the robustness that allows many users to bypass the case altogether.

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When you open it up, the smartphone is only 4.5 millimeters thick, which is thinner than the current iPhone Air, and the outer screen measures roughly 5.4 inches with a larger aspect ratio for quick glances and basic interactivity while folded up. According to the renders, the internal display can reach 7.7 inches and has a form similar to an iPad mini, which is ideal for supporting more expanded app layouts. Apparently, the main screen will be crease-free thanks to some sophisticated hinge design work.

In terms of camera controls, there is a large physical button that is easy to reach no matter how you hold the device. The back optics consist of two 48 megapixel lenses for standard and extra wide photos, but there is no telephoto module in this design. The front cameras are paired, with hole punch positions on each display allowing you to take selfies from either side.

Touch ID is returning, via the power button, since, let’s be honest, there isn’t enough place for Face ID in this slim design. Power comes from an A20 Pro processor built on a 2 nanometer process, along with a large 12GB of RAM to handle any demanding tasks or future software features you may throw at it. Apple has also included its own C2 cellular modem into the gadget to manage communications, including satellite hookups.

Looking at the iOS 27 beta code, you can see that Apple has planned for fold state and angle degrees, allowing the program to change the interface when the phone opens and closes. During WWDC, Apple advised developers to prepare their programs for shifting screen sizes and orientations, rather than set layout. Split screen multitasking will make its debut on this model, and it will be limited to this model at first, as it will provide owners a productivity advantage over other iPhone users.

Pricing wise, reports suggest that the smallest storage option will cost $1999, making it the most costly iPhone yet. Right now, it appears like we may expect a September announcement alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max variants, however availability may be limited at initially due to manufacturing difficulties. According to reports, Apple has finalized the specifications and is now in the production ramp up stage, so the autumn release date remains on track, despite early fears about delays.

• Significant skill shortages have more than tripled since last year
• Workers are even lacking in basic digital literacy and skills
• Four in five London companies are increasing training investment

In a survey of more than 2,000 London business leaders, one in two believe their workforce doesn’t currently have the skills required to meet their AI adoption needs.

Though this is a decrease compared with 63% last year, it still leaves half of companies struggling to keep pace with AI.