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Google has announced that it will no longer be bringing new Nest Thermostats to Europe due to the "unique" requirements of heating systems in the region. The company launched its redesigned fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat in 2024.
"Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," Google says. "Therefore moving forward we'll no longer launch new Nest thermostats in Europe." The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E will continue to function, receive security updates and be sold while supplies last. If you're in the market for a new thermostat that works with Google Home, though, you'll have to turn to a third-party option.
Besides leaving behind a whole continent's worth of customers, Google announced that it's also ending software support for a few older Nest devices. The first and second generation Nest Learning Thermostats, along with the second generation model released in Europe, will no longer receive software updates or connect to the Google Home app starting October 25, 2025. Google says any routines you've programmed will still work and you can manually adjust the temperature on the Nest Thermostat themselves, they'll just otherwise become a bit less "smart" after October.
As a consolation, Google is offering $130 off a new fourth-generation Nest Thermostat to affected customers in t
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Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. For my part, I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite VPNs, and below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
If you're looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories, as well.
NordVPN - Best VPN overall for Netflix
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In an ongoing calendar of deprecated features within Windows, Microsoft has targeted Maps for deprecation by April. It will be removed from the Windows Store by July and will no longer be supported, the company said. In July, a new update will turn the Maps app off.
"Any personal data or files you have saved, such as guided navigation or URLs to maps, won't be removed, but they'll no longer function in the Maps app past July 2025," Microsoft said. The Maps app won't come preinstalled on new PCs past the current Windows 11 24H2 release, either.
Maps will still be supported within Windows, however. You'll simply have to visit Bing's own maps page to access them.
Maps is a legacy app that was invaluable on Windows Phones, though that platform died years ago. Now, there's no real reason to hold on to Maps, or to add those few kilobytes to the install size of Windows.
Maps, whose data is credited to both TomTom and Microsoft itself, also previously agreed to change the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America." So if that riles you up, you'll be glad to see Maps go.
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Original story from April 16, 2025: If you're still using Microsoft's classic Outlook app for your emailing needs, you may have noticed that your computer hardware behaves a bit strangely when using the app—most notably when typing.
Earlier this week, Microsoft issued a warning and confirmed that the classic Outlook app can cause your computer's CPU usage to skyrocket. Processor usage can spike by 30 to 50 percent when writing an email, and also increase your computer's power consumption. It's implied that this is a bug, but the root cause isn't yet known.
The company says there isn't yet a direct solution to the problem, but notes that the issue only affects versions of classic Outlook on the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Insider channels, after updating to Version 2406 Build 17726.20126 or later.
If this issue is causing you significant trouble, you can work around it by switching your classic Outlook app to the Semi Annual Channel. Instructions on how to do that can be found in
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It can be hard to let go of old tech, but there are ways to make money and help the planet. Plus, Apple has a recycling promotion with discounts on accessories.
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