The Windows 10 upgrade that cost big money, Windows 10 gets a Start Menu Repair Tool, Kobo prepares to launch new hardware, Sony isn't a fan of Jihad, and the forgotten emoji take revenge.

Microsoft Pays For Unwanted Upgrade

Microsoft has paid $10,000 in compensation to a woman called Teri Goldstein. Why? Because it allegedly upgraded her PC from Windows 7 to Windows 10 without warning. We're all patently aware of the reports of people having their PCs upgraded against their will, but this is the first time Microsoft has paid compensation for it having happened.

The story goes that Goldstein runs a travel agency in California, and found her computer unusable after the automatic upgrade. So, after unsuccessfully trying to resolve the issue through customer support, she sued Microsoft over lost wages and the cost of a new computer. Microsoft eventually dropped the appeal and agreed to pay her $10,000 in compensation.

Goldstein told The Seattle Times, "I had never heard of Windows 10" and claimed "Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to update." While Goldstein was successful in her compensation claim, it's unlikely to lead to a rush of people pleading similar cases. However, if you have had your PC upgraded to Windows 10 against your will, there's nothing to stop you trying your luck.

Microsoft Repairs the Start Menu

Microsoft has launched a Start Menu Repair Tool to help Windows 10 users troubleshoot the Start Menu. While the Start Menu made a welcome return with Windows 10, it's far from perfect, with many people experiencing problems with it. This includes it losing core elements, popping up at random intervals, or even failing to appear at all. All of which is very annoying.

The Start Menu Repair Tool is a free utility designed to help users troubleshoot these bugs and glitches. To accomplish this it "checks if required applications such as Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost and Microsoft.Windows.Cortana applications are installed correctly, and checks permission issues with registry keys, checks if the tile database is corrupt and finally, checks if the application manifest is corrupt".

While there is no guarantee the Start Menu Repair Tool will fix the issues you are experiencing, and that the fix will stick, it is at least a start. You can try the troubleshooter by visiting the relevant Microsoft support page and clicking "Try the troubleshooter". After downloading and running it, you should restart your computer to find all will be well with your system once again. Hopefully.

Kobo Makes New E-Readers

Kobo, a company which seemed to have disappeared off the map, is preparing to release two new e-readers. According to Mobile Scout, these e-readers will be called the Aura One, and come in two different sizes: 7.8-inches and 6-inches.

We only know about the Kobo Aura One because of an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) listing outing the hardware. However, no specs are outlined apart from a microUSB port, support for WiFi, and the size of the displays.

Still, it's good to know Kobo is still in the game, as no matter how in love with your Kindle you may be, competition is always good. The new Kobo e-readers will have to go some to beat the current crop of Kindles, but there's always hope.

Sony Bans a Gamer Named Jihad

Sony banned a gamer after someone reported his name as being offensive. The gamer's PSN name was "iJihaD," based on his real name, Jihad Al-Mofadda. Al-Mofadda had been using "iJihaD" without any problem since 2010, but after someone complained to Sony about it, he was banned from the PlayStation Network.

After being told his ban would remain in place, Al-Mofadda even sent a photo of his passport to PlayStation Support. Unfortunately, a representative rejected that approach by saying, "I can appreciate that your name has many meanings but it has one meaning that a lot of users find offensive."

After the story was discussed on Reddit and beyond, Sony relented, offering Al-Mofadda the chance to return to PSN if he changes his handle. Which is an option not open to any other users. However, that means using something other than his real name, which seems pretty ridiculous.

The Forgotten Emojis

And finally, many of us now use emoji on a daily basis. They offer a quick, simple way to express an emotion, or add a little flavor to a conversation. However, not all emoji are created equal, with some being much more popular than others. And the others are suffering as a result.

This short animated film shows what life is like for emoji such as the barrel or the clipboard, which are rarely used. It means they're broke, and likely to have their house taken away from them. So he does something appalling, and the world of emoji is never the same again. [H/T Reddit]

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

Should more people sue Microsoft over Windows 10? Should Microsoft be doing more than just troubleshooting the Start Menu? Do you own a Kobo e-reader? Should Sony let everyone change their PSN name? Which emoji do you use the most?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.

Tech News Digest is a daily column paring the technology news of the day down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to read and perfect for sharing.

Image Credit: Matti Mattila via Flickr