Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson

It is about six months since Microsoft acquired the video editor Clipchamp, and many people hoped that this could signal the return of the much-missed Windows Movie Maker. And this is -- almost -- what is happening.

In the latest preview build of Windows 11, Microsoft has integrated the video editor into the operating system, taking the unfortunate decision to retain the terrible name. Appalling moniker aside, the arrival of Clipchamp is something to be welcomed as it's a great, user-friendly editor that will keep beginners (and beyond) more than happy.

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There are lots of ways that people think Microsoft could improve Windows, and one request that has cropped up for years is that Explorer be given a tabbed interface. So popular has the idea been, that over the years there have been numerous third-party tools that bring tabs to Explorer.

But now Windows 11 users can look forward to something more official. Microsoft has, at long, long last, decided that it is time to give Explorer users the tabs they have been requesting for so long. Signs that the feature is on the way have been spotted hidden in Windows 11. More importantly, while not officially launched yet, you can enable the feature now.

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Last month, Microsoft confirmed an issue affecting Windows 10 and Windows 11 that means data was left behind after a system wipe. With the Patch Tuesday updates for March, the company has addressed this problem and more.

The fix comes in the KB5011493 update which also includes a number of other fixes as well as new features and options. The new features -- including multiple monitor support for taskbar clocks, weather widget updates and more -- were seen last month, and this time around it is a mandatory update thanks to the inclusion of security patches.

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There have been a lot of updates for PowerToys released so far this year, and the pace shows no sign of slowing. It is only a week or so since the last release, but already there is another update to install.

While PowerToys v0.56.2 does not yet include any of the new utilities we have seen glimpses of, it is an important bug-fixing release. But more than just addressing problems with the likes of FancyZones this latest release also introduces new settings for other PowerToys utilities.

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The system requirements for Windows 11 include the need for TPM 2.0, and this has prevented many people from upgrading -- unless they are willing to try a TPM-bypass workaround. While the release of the latest version of Microsoft's operating system brought TPM into the spotlight, it is not exclusive to Windows 11 by any means, and nor are the problems it can cause.

Illustrating this, AMD has acknowledged an issue affecting Windows 10 and Windows 11 Ryzen systems. With Firmware Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) enabled, owners of such systems have experienced intermittent performance stutters. In a support article entitled "Intermittent System Stutter Experienced with fTPM Enabled on Windows 10 and 11", AMD has now not only confirmed the existence of the problem, but offered a workaround while it produces a fix which will be released soon.

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Microsoft is increasing the support it offers to startups by reducing the eligibility criteria for the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub as the platform is made generally available. With the move, the company is looking to eliminate the boundaries that stand in the way of getting ideas off the ground.

Now billed as being "open to anyone with an idea", the Founders Hub is a startup ecosystem can be used by innovators regardless of whether they have funding or not. The platform gives users access to up to $150,000 in free Azure credits, free access to GitHub and Microsoft 365 as well as potential for mentorship and guidance from experts. There is also $1,000 of credit and more available with OpenAI.

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We are, slowly but surely, moving towards the release of Windows 11 Version 22H2, also known as Sun Valley 2, and this is very evident to Windows Insiders. We very recently saw the release of Windows 11 Preview Build 22567 to Insiders and then there was the KB5012427 update for testing the servicing pipeline.

Now Microsoft has released a second Cumulative Update Build of Windows 11 for Windows Insiders signed up for the Dev Channel. The KB5012432 update takes Windows 11 up to build 22567.200, but this time Microsoft is not making it available to everyone -- not even all Insiders.

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While there have been dozens of PowerToys releases since Microsoft revived the much-loved utilities collection for the Windows 11 era, the software is still in preview.

Usually, it is the new sub-1.x versions that Microsoft pushes out which give cause for excitement, but there is also much to be learned about the future direction of the software from data on GitHub. Recent Pull Requests in the repository shows that Microsoft is working on not only new add-ons for existing PowerToys, but also completely new utilities. So, what can we expect to see? Is TweakUI for Windows 11 on the horizon?

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It would appear that the current build of Windows 11 available to Insiders on the Dev Channel is the feature complete version of the upcoming Sun Valley 2 update -- also known as Windows 11 Version 22H2.

Last week, Microsoft released Windows 11 Preview Build 22567 to Insiders, and this was followed shortly after by the KB5012427 update. Billed as an update to "test our servicing pipeline", Microsoft did not add any new features, but it did confirm that the update will be called Version 22H2 -- and this also serves as an indication of the release date.

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Smallpdf, the online PDF editing and management toolbox, has announced that it is acquiring document processing technology provider PDF Tools for $30 million.

Both companies are based in Switzerland and have a history of working together -- PDF Tools products have been used by Smallpdf for a number of years -- so the acquisition is not a complete surprise. It sees Smallpdf spreading further into the document management market, boosting its professional offerings thanks in part to the PDF and PDF/A arciving support provided by PDF Tools.

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Samsung appears to have fallen victim to a serious security breach if the leaks from data extortion group Lapsus$ are anything to go by.

Amounting to a colossal 190GB of data, the group says it has in its possession Samsung source code and other confidential company data. It is just days since the Lapsus$ claimed responsibility for a hack that resulted in data being stolen and leaked from data stolen from GPU chipmaker NVIDIA.

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It is only a few days since Microsoft released a new build of Windows 11 in the form of Preview Build 22567, and already the company has pushed out a cumulative update for it.

With the release of the KB5012427 update, Microsoft takes the current build of the operating system available to Insiders signed up for the Dev channel to Windows 11 build 22567.100. So, what can you expect from this update?

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Some laptop owners upgrading to Windows 11 are reporting that a utility from HP is consuming huge amounts of RAM, to the point that systems are rendered unusable.

The utility in question is the HP Hotkey UWP Service which is used to control the Fn key on HP laptops. While the software functioned well under Windows 10, upgrading to Windows 11 results in huge resource usage. Affected users are asking whether there is a problem with Windows 11, or with their laptop, but it would seem more likely that a memory leak is to blame.

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Four of the biggest browser developers have joined forces to participate in the Interop 2022 initiative. Apple, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla are working together to improve interoperability between web platforms, make lives easier for developers, and enhance the experience of internet users.  

Interop 2022 is a series of tests, a set of benchmarks that are at heart a way to measure whether individual browsers meet various web standards, working with web developers to discover problems and find solutions. The ultimate aim is to eliminate inconsistencies between browsers, and it gives a reason for companies who are usually competitors to work together on a shared vision.

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Microsoft has reminded business and enterprise users about its App Assure program and how it can help with the process of upgrading to Windows 11.

The program has been running for a while, and was expanded to cover Windows 11 back in October to coincide with the release of the latest version of the operating system. Available at no cost, App Assure gives users a chance to work with Microsoft engineers to ensure app compatibility, and to gain assistance in addressing issues.

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