How does x86 translation work on Windows on Arm?
Lots of Windows applications were written for x86, and yet can work on Arm CPUs. Here's how it's possible.
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How Edge on Android extensions keeps me away from Chrome
I'm more impressed with its new extensions menu than I am with its Copilot integration.
Earlier this year, Microsoft renamed Edge on mobile devices to "Microsoft Edge: AI Browser." When I gave it a try, I was unimpressed with how much of an AI browser it actually was. The Copilot integration couldn't handle basic browser tasks that I threw at it, albeit it did a good job summarising content like articles and videos.
The next Windows 11 version will refuse to boot on unsupported CPUs
Your PC without this CPU feature won’t boot Windows 11 24H2.
Windows 11 24H2 is the next big update that Microsoft will roll out later this year, and it might finally put an end to the practice of running Windows unofficially on super old PCs. The software giant seems to be in the process of updating the minimum hardware requirements, making the POPCNT (stands for Population Count) CPU feature required to be able to boot Windows 11 24H2.
Windows 11 will soon include its own version of DLSS to make your games sharper
Windows 11 24H2 has a hidden feature that uses AI to upscale gaming graphics.
It's now confirmed that there'll be no Windows 12 this year. Instead, the company's "next version of Windows" will officially be called Windows 11 24H2. It's also an open secret that Microsoft will introduce a lot of AI features in the update, which might include Microsoft's own version of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to make games sharper.
Leaker shows the first look of the revamped Sticky Notes app
Microsoft's Sticky Notes app will get a new look and a host of new features. And this is how it'll look.
Microsoft teased last month that new features would be coming to Sticky Notes and that it'd soon make "biggest announcements" regarding the note-taking app. Well, it looks like part of Microsoft's effort to give the Sticky Notes app a new life is not only about adding new features but also involves revamping the UI.
If you've been keeping up with your Windows news, you'll know that Microsoft recently released its PC Manager app on the Microsoft Store for Windows 11. People have been giving it a spin to see how it fares, and as it turns out, it will delete files that will ultimately slow down your PC's performance if you ask it to do a deep clean.
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You'll be able to use Windows 11 to speak for you in an upcoming update
The latest Windows 11 build for Insiders came with some hidden goodies, including a new Speak for Me feature and improved animations.
On Thursday, Microsoft released Windows 11 build 26052 to Insiders in both the Dev and Canary channels, packing a ton of new features for both. However, the changes mentioned in Microsoft's blog post aren't all there was to be discovered, as enthusiasts have quickly spotted some more new features, including a new Speak for me capability. These features are currently hidden and unfinished, but they give us a glimpse at what Microsoft is cooking for Windows 11.
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Microsoft confirms the next version of Windows won't be called Windows 12
The latest Windows 11 preview for Insiders completely drops mixed reality support, along with confirming that we're not getting Windows 12 this year.
We've been expecting a big Windows update to be released later this year, and while there were some doubts about the name, Microsoft appears to have confirmed that it won't be called Windows 12. Instead, according to the changelog for the Windows 11 build 26052, released today for Insiders, the next big Windows update will be Windows 11 version 24H2, following the trend of the past couple of years.
Copilot will soon explain what you're reading in Notepad
The Snipping Tool will also gain the ability to annotate screenshots after you take them
With Copilot appearing in all of Microsoft's apps, it was only a matter of time before the AI assistant debuted within Windows' classic word-processing software, Notepad. Sure enough, the latest update to Windows 11's Insider branch has done just that and added Copilot functionality into the bare-bones app. Not only that, but the update brings along some welcome changes to the Windows Snipping Tool.
Microsoft's shady customer acquisition tactics won't make Edge more popular
Edge might have a shot at gaining users, but the way to get more users isn't by stealing their tabs berating them with pop-ups.
Microsoft is losing the browser war, even though it has a key advantage as the developer of Windows. Like Apple pre-installs Safari on macOS, Microsoft ships Windows with Edge already included. Yet somehow, Safari has nearly 19% of the browser market while Edge has just over 5%, according to a January 2024 report from Statcounter. There are a few reasons this might be the case, such as Chrome being more popular among PC users or Microsoft's questionable track record for browsers. The Internet Explorer days certainly aren't helping Edge, and they might be hurting it.
With Google's support, Windows on Arm is finally ready for success
Google is finally bringing Chrome to Windows on Arm, meaning the pieces are falling into place to make it a true rival to Apple Silicon Macs.
After years of holding back Windows on Arm, Google finally released a version of Chrome built natively for the platform in late January. For now, it's only in the Canary and Dev channels, but you can expect it to trickle down to the stable release in the next couple of months. One could argue it's long overdue, as many smaller developers embraced the platform sooner, but given the current context of Windows on Arm, I don't think it could have happened at a better time.
Windows 11 may soon receive the sudo command as featured in macOS and Linux
The sudo command could help you execute tasks with admin permissions
The sudo command, which is often used as shorthand for “substitute user do,” is a helpful feature that is a part of Linux and macOS. With sudo, you can leverage higher privileges on your computer to execute commands, whether you want to change settings or install software. Unlike the previously mentioned operating systems, Windows does not come with sudo capabilities right out of the box. However, new rumors suggest that it could be in the works as Microsoft prepares the next iteration of the operating system.
AMD's latest chipset driver lets your PC wake up from sleep again
AMD has fixed the issue where your PC was struggling to come out of sleep mode.
AMD has released a chipset driver package, version 6.01.25.342, to fix the issue where your Windows 11 PC was struggling to wake up after it's put into sleep mode. To be more specific, the latest installation package updated the AMD S0i3 Filter Driver to version 1.0.0.19 to fix the Windows 11 modern standby issue.
A Microsoftie thinks the Windows 11 Start Menu sucks — and I agree
Windows 11 is years old now, and the Start menu still needs a lot of work.
Are you not a fan of Windows 11's Start menu? Don't worry; you're in good company. Such good company in fact, that an employee within Microsoft agrees that Windows 11 deserves a better Start menu. Ever since its launch, Windows 11 has had a subpar Start menu, to the point where Microsoft could learn from third-party apps on how to improve it. However, Microsoft hasn't seemed too bothered to do anything to it. So, here is why I agree that the Windows 11 Start menu sucks.
Mozilla states Microsoft uses "harmful designs" to advertise Edge
The company published a full report breaking down all of Microsoft's tactics.
Have you ever tried to download Chrome or Firefox using Edge? You've likely experienced this after buying a brand-new PC and opening Edge to download your preferred browser. If you've ever been annoyed by how clingy Microsoft can get, you'll be pleased to hear that Mozilla shares your sentiment; so much so that it has published a 74-page report dissecting and analyzing Mircosoft's tactics to get people to use Edge.
Calendar Flyout comes at a small cost, but its features are worth it
Calendar Flyout comes at a small cost, but its features are worth it
Microsoft Calendar is essential to many PC users who rely on it to manage everything from work meetings to date nights. That being said, there is still room for improvement, specifically when it comes to the Windows 11 calendar flyout. For example, you can’t easily create new events or take a quick glance at your upcoming schedule. Now, a new version of a popular third-party app is helping Microsoft Calendar users get more out of the tool.
Microsoft 365 apps will be available on Apple Vision Pro from day one
Apple Vision Pro users will be able to download and install Microsoft 365 apps from the App Store right after buying the headset.
Microsoft has announced that Microsoft 365 apps will be available on the App Store for Apple Vision Pro from February 2, the day when the mixed reality headset will go on sale in the U.S. In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps, the company's Copilot AI tool will be available for Vision Pro mixed reality headsets to help users with drafts, edits, summaries, and a lot more.
Microsoft Edge is getting extension support on Android
Microsoft Edge has done what Google Chrome has yet to do.
Google Chrome for Android works great, but its users have been asking for extensions on it for a long time. Now, it seems that Microsoft is ready to step up and do the job instead. A recent preview build for Microsoft Edge for Android (which was recently renamed to Microsoft Edge: AI Browser) includes a feature that lets you download extensions onto your mobile device.
Start11 now lets you pin websites to your Windows 11 Start menu
Start11 already provided loads of customization options for your Start menu, and now you can get quick access to websites, too.
Start11 is an excellent tool to help you overcome the limitations of the Windows 11 Start menu, with customization options aplenty for how you can organize and display your apps. We reviewed Start11 v2 a while back and loved it, and recently, the team at Stardock added a new feature, making it possible to pin websites directly to your Start menu.
Microsoft's "new" installation UI is a feature it forgot to enable a decade ago
Better late than never.
If you've ever prepared something for a big event but forgot to use it, don't worry; you're in good company. Even Microsoft is subject to this kind of issue, as shown in a recent update to Windows 11. The company is boasting that the update brings in an "updated Windows setup experience," but in actuality, the UI has been sitting dormant for a decade now.
Microsoft doesn't know what it's doing with Copilot
Microsoft is putting Copilot into everything that it can, but powerful AI doesn't always mean useful AI.
When it comes to AI tools, there are few as well-known as Microsoft Copilot. It's a branding that initially started under Github Copilot back in 2021 as an AI coding tool, though it later entered the mainstream when Bing Chat was rebranded. Now, Copilot is in lots of places and coming to more, but honestly, it feels like Microsoft doesn't know exactly what to do with it.