Welcome to the Tech Mem Right Home for Friday, February 18th, 2022. I'm Brian McCullough today.

Windows 11 now requires a Microsoft account just to load.

Intel's roadmap comes into view.

Is Meta's Metaverse play already getting traction?

Next week might be the biggest regulatory week ever for crypto.

And of course, the weekend long read suggestions here's what you

miss today in the world of tech.

Software as a service has been the way of the world for a while now so this is not

entirely shocking but it does make me double take nonetheless. Windows 11

Pro's initial setup phase will now require a Microsoft account and an internet

connection as it currently does for Windows 11 home, quoting Arse Technica.

In the current version of Windows 11, you could still create a local user account during

setup by not connecting your PC to the internet, something that has worked in the home version of

Windows 10, but was removed in 11.

That work around will no longer be available in either edition going forward, barring a change in Microsoft's plans.

While most devices do require a sign-in to fully enable App Store, cloud storage, and cross- device sharing and

sinking. Windows 11 will soon stand alone as the only major consumer OS that

requires account sign-in to enable even basic functionality.

Apple's max still allow for local account

creation during setup and you can skip signing in when you set up iPhones and

iPads.

An internet connection is sometimes required for device activation though.

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