Microsoft updated its Design Lab with new top case options, allowing gamers to customize their controllers with new shimmering variants.
Microsoft Weekly Update: In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we examine the most recent feature update for Windows 11, questionable File Explorer changes, the end of Windows 11 activation with old credentials, new Windows Insider builds, an abundance of Surface updates, gaming-related news, and more.
The Moment 4 update for Windows 11 is now available (KB5030310 or 22621.2361), and it includes a multitude of beneficial adjustments and additions. Check out our guide for information on how to upgrade to the latest feature update without waiting for Microsoft to automatically install Moment 4 on your computer. Only manual installation is available for the update, which will become mandatory in November.
Windows 11 version 23H2 will be released later this year as an enablement product with unchanged hardware requirements.
Copilot, Microsoft’s latest AI-powered assistant incorporated into the Windows 11 Moment 4 update, may entice European Union residents. Unfortunately, it is not yet available to EU residents. As it came out, Microsoft has restricted access to Copilot owing to the Digital Markets Act. Those who are dissatisfied with this can circumvent the restriction with one straightforward technique. According to the meme, the EU detests it!
Moreover, if you dislike Copilot and wish to remove it from your system, see this guide for information on how to disable Windows Copilot in Windows 11.
File Explorer’s address bar is an additional peculiar feature of the Moment 4 update. Users observed that the redesigned application no longer permits dragging files and folders onto the address bar. Microsoft stated that few individuals actually utilized this utility, so it is no longer accessible.
Microsoft released a few optional non-security updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10 in addition to the Moment 4 update, which was this week’s largest Windows development:
Following the release of the Moment 4 update, it was reported that Microsoft would close a vulnerability that allowed Windows 11 to be activated with Windows 7/8/8.1 keys. Old license keys are no longer acceptable for activating Canary builds (version 24H2 and later), even though they still function with the current Windows 11 version from the Stable Channel. In addition, those who are still using Windows 7 and Windows 8 cannot update to Windows 10; after eight lengthy years, this route has been closed.
Here are the most recent Windows 11 Insider evaluation builds:
Windows Insiders on the Dev and Canary Channels can now obtain an additional significant update to Paint. The application acquired the rumored generative AI support known as “Cocreator.” The United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Germany offer access.
This week, additional details regarding Wi-Fi 7 support in Microsoft’s operating systems became available. Contrary to what was previously believed, Wi-Fi 7 and 6GHz network support may be exclusive to Windows 11 and subsequent versions. Intel and Netgear support articles disclosed that you may need to abandon Windows 10 in order to take advantage of the most recent Wi-Fi standard.
On the contentious side, KB5030211 installs the new Windows Backup application on Windows 10 LTSC systems. Obviously, IT administrators are unhappy about this. Although they do not mind Microsoft bringing the app to “regular” consumers with home PCs, the fact that Windows Backup cannot be easily removed from managed devices is mildly annoying.
To conclude the Windows 11 section, we present the LG Gram Fold, a novel and unconventional laptop. It’s a 17-inch Windows 11 tablet with a foldable screen that can transform into a 12-inch laptop. The LG Gram Fold will be priced similarly to the recently announced HP Spectre Foldable. Unfortunately, the LG Gram Fold will only be available in South Korea, and its price of 4.99 million won (approximately $3,700) is hardly alarming given that the foldable PC market is still in its infancy.
The Mozilla Foundation has updated its desktop browser with new features. Version 118 is now available on the Release Channel, featuring automated web content translation (local processing), font enhancements, support for video effects in Google Meet, and other enhancements to non-Chromium browsing.
In addition to a substantial feature update for Windows 11, Microsoft announced several enhancements for OneDrive. Customers at work and school will soon have access to new tools for preventing accidental file deletions, improving shortcut administration, and updating sync settings, among others.
New official virtual devices with Windows 11 and numerous developer tools are also available. Version 2309 is now available for download from the official website, allowing anyone to test the most recent Windows 11 updates (Moment 4 is not yet available) without having to purchase a license key or install the operating system locally. Microsoft’s virtual machines can be used without activation for 90 days.
Microsoft continues to add new features and technologies to Bing Chat and its components (after failed negotiations with Apple to sell Bing to Cupertino). This week, the company released DALL-E 3 support, providing consumers with the most recent version of OpenAI’s image generator.
It is important to note, however, that modern AI chatbots are still exceedingly flawed. According to a report by Malwarebytes, Bing Chat occasionally serves malicious advertisements to its users. A service providing a link to a malicious website instead of the legitimate website for the requested software is an example of such behavior.
Other noteworthy enhancements released this week include:
The following is a weekly summary of upcoming Microsoft 365 features, including dictation support in Outlook for the web, offline support for the new Outlook for Windows, support for branded launcher screens for Teams Premium users, SharePoint List templates, and more. We have also compiled a list of the Microsoft Teams features introduced in September 2023.
This week, we had the opportunity to review the GEEKOM Mini IT13. It is a compact desktop computer with significant processing capacity concealed within a well-constructed aluminum case. The PC has a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage, as well as numerous interfaces for connecting your accoutrements, monitors, and external devices.
Discover forthcoming game releases, Xbox rumours, new hardware, software updates, rewards, bargains, and more.
Starfield kicks off the gaming section with an update that provides performance enhancements and problem corrections, something the game desperately needs. Version 1.7.33 addresses issues with characters, star stations, vendors, absent suns on AMD-powered systems, and stability.
Another space-exploration video game, Kerbal Space Program 2, made this week’s news headlines. However, contrary to Starfield, the headlines are negative. Gamers discovered that the early access game clogs the Windows Registry with massive amounts of useless information. The problem has already been acknowledged by developers, who have promised to release a hotfix.
This week, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud streaming service added 27 new titles. You can now play Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Quake II, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, and Amnesia: Rebirth without purchasing a modern Xbox or gaming computer.
Counter-Strike 2 is Valve’s newest first-person shooter and the successor to the critically acclaimed Counter-Striker: Global Offensive. Those who are interested in first-person shooters and have a reasonably powerful gaming computer should try it out. As it usually goes with popular new titles, be careful to install the latest graphics driver to get the most out of your PC hardware.
The imminent release of Cities: Skylines 2 is significantly less thrilling than the previous news. This week, developers unexpectedly pushed the console’s release date from October 24 to Spring 2024. Nonetheless, the PC version will be released next month. Colossal Order stated that the studio requires additional time to attain its quality goals, hence the significant delay.
Mojang additionally announced that Minecraft Dungeons would no longer receive new content or updates. In a blog post on the official Minecraft website, the studio disclosed that more than 25 million people have played Minecraft Dungeons. Mojang is prepared to terminate Minecraft Dungeons support after multiple DLCs and content updates in order to give its team “the freedom to continue exploring the types of games they are passionate about.”
Panos Panay Bids Farewell to Microsoft for Amazon: Tech Shake-Up
Microsoft updated its Design Lab with new top-case options, allowing gamers to customize their controllers with new shimmering variants. Note that the new gradient options will add $9.99 to the total cost.
In addition, Xbox owners can obtain a new console software update. The second September 2023 update delivers an improved OneDrive integration, allowing you to transfer, manage, and bulk upload captures from your Xbox to OneDrive. In addition, there is a new method to stay abreast of any new content or in-game events.
Finally, here is a strange PSA for Xbox owners: do not use Xbox 360 messaging for insider trading. The FBI has arrested a man suspected of engaging in insider trading and exchanging information via online conversation on an older Xbox 360 console manufactured by Microsoft. Even though he believed no one could record his conversations, the FBI was able to catch the criminal.
This week, the following games are available for free or with significant discounts. The Epic Games Store is giving away the action role-playing game Soulstice as well as the scale model assembly simulator Model Builder.
This week’s Weekend PC Game Deals series features indie bundles, shoot ’em up festivals, free events, and massive discounts on popular games.
The weekly “Look back” series by John Callaham describes the company’s products, partnerships, errors, and successes from many years ago.
This week, John’s “Look back” articles discuss Microsoft’s Office applications, specifically Excel and Word. The world’s most popular spreadsheet manager turned 38 on September 30, 2023. What began as a Macintosh program amid a multitude of popular alternatives evolved into one of the most successful cross-platform Office applications.
As for Word, published on September 29, 1983, Microsoft initially intended to dub the app “Multi-Tool Word.” However, the company opted for a shorter appellation and included a complimentary demo with the PC World magazine issue for November 1983. Microsoft Word was the first application to be included with print media.
Another astonishing aspect of Word from 1983 is its price. What now costs $6.99/mo and includes a few more Office applications would set you back almost $500 40 years ago.
And now, a random piece of trivia about Microsoft, Windows, and other Microsoft-made products.
Although Windows ME, which was released in 2000 and replaced by Windows XP within a year, is generally regarded as a failure, it did introduce several essential features and system components that are still in use today. For instance, we frequently advise creating a restore point prior to tampering with Windows’ internals using ViVeTool and similar applications. Windows ME was the first operating system to include the System Restore function. It also introduced System File Protection, a background process that guards against modification or corruption of protected files.
However, despite providing new utilities to safeguard your PC experience, Windows ME was infamous for its instabilities and frequent crashes, leading to a poor reputation among users and relatively fast demise compared to other, far more successful releases.
California 2025 Stimulus Payments: A few families in Sacramento County will soon start receiving monthly…
The CBO says Trump’s tariffs might help cut the U.S. deficit by trillions, but they…
The SSA has finished sending updated benefits to 91% of people affected by old rules.…
Credit One Bank settled a big lawsuit for $14 million, settling a big lawsuit alleging…
SNAP Florida Recertification June: People who get SNAP benefits in Florida need to be very…
SNAP benefits in Florida for June 2025 will be sent out based on case number…