A year ago, Microsoft revealed that Windows 10 would be the only Windows platform to support nextgen processors like Intel's Kaby Lake, AMD's Bristol Ridge, and Qualcomm’s 8996. The message then -- as now -- was clear: If you want to run a nextgen processor, you'll need Windows 10.

Last week, Microsoft published KB 4012982, with the title "'Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows' error when you scan or download Windows updates", suggesting that the restriction was now being enforced.

You probably know Sling TV, one of the darlings for "cord cutters", and you certainly know Xbox, a favorite of gamers. The latter is also great for media with countless apps and HDMI pass-through. Microsoft hopes that is enough to make you remain on its platform and never change systems.

In conjunction with Microsoft, Sling is today introducing two big new updates -- a new interface on Xbox One, and Sling TV pre-loaded on Windows 10.

In the latest Insider build of Windows 10 Creators Update, there has been an interesting change to the way updates are handled. Build 15058 of Microsoft's operating system now handles updates over metered connections differently -- and it could mean that you incur charges.

If you pay for your internet bandwidth by the gigabyte (that is, you use a metered connection), you may well be concerned about Windows automatically installing updates and costing you money. In previous builds of Windows 10 it was possible to block automatic updates on a metered connection so you were placed in full control of when the downloads took place. Now this has changed.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is set to arrive next month, and Microsoft is rolling out new builds to Windows Insiders at a rate of two a week at the moment. Build 15058 was released yesterday, and Microsoft intends to push out a second update by the end of the week.

As with all big new updates to Windows 10, you won’t simply be able to get it on the day of release. The rollout will be staggered, and that might mean you waiting days or even weeks to get your hands on the Creators Update. But there is a way to be first in line.

If you’re thinking of joining the Windows 10 Insider program, or you just want to do a clean install with an up to date version of Windows 10, the good news is Microsoft has released a new ISO image.

The image, for Build 15048, is available to all, and you can download it now. This build rolled out to Insiders on the Fast ring twelve days ago so it's not the latest release -- that would be Build 15058, which Microsoft released yesterday -- but it includes a lot of important bug fixes, and a Windows Mixed Reality demo you can try.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is only a matter of weeks away from launch now, and Microsoft is working hard to get the OS ready for release.

Preview Build 15055 rolled out to Insiders on the Fast ring last Friday, and today we have another new build for PC (a new Mobile build is expected to arrive later in the week).

Windows Vista is probably the least-liked version of Windows that Microsoft has ever released, but, fact of the matter is, the 10 year old operating system has its fans, as it still runs on many PCs today. And that's a problem if you're part of the crowd, because next month it will stop receiving any kind of official support, leaving you exposed.

Mainstream support for Windows Vista actually ended on April 10, 2012, but Microsoft has since continued to offer support options and updates as part of its extended support phase. That will come to an end in less than 30 days from now -- on April 11. Here's what happens after that.

Don't believe what Microsoft tells you -- Windows 10 is not an operating system. Oh, sure, it has many features that make it look like an operating system, but in reality it is nothing more than a vehicle for advertisements. Since the launch of Windows 10, there have been numerous complaints about ads in various forms. They appear in the Start menu, in the taskbar, in the Action Center, in Explorer, in the Ink Workspace, on the Lock Screen, in the Share tool, in the Windows Store and even in File Explorer.

Microsoft has lost its grip on what is acceptable, and even goes as far as pretending that these ads serve users more than the company -- "these are suggestions", "this is a promoted app", "we thought you'd like to know that Edge uses less battery than Chrome", "playable ads let you try out apps without installing". But if we're honest, the company is doing nothing more than abusing its position, using Windows 10 to promote its own tools and services, or those with which it has marketing arrangements. Does Microsoft think we're stupid?

Last week, Microsoft pushed out multiple Windows 10 Insider Preview updates -- Builds 15046 and 15048 for PC, and 15047 for Mobile. Yesterday, Mobile users got Build 15051, and today the software giant announces Build 15055 for both PC and Mobile.

The flurry of new builds shows we’re getting ever closer to the launch of the Creators Update which is due next month.

Microsoft pushed out a mysterious driver to Windows users on Wednesday that caused big problems for some.

The driver, listed as "Microsoft -- WPD -- 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM -- 5.2.5326.4762," wasn’t accompanied by any details, although we knew from the name that it related to Windows Portable Devices and affected users who had phones and tablets connected to the OS.

Two-hundred-and-twenty-two in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.

This week saw the release of several good paid games, and only a handful of apps.

Playable ads -- that is ads that mimic an app and let you interact with it -- aren’t new. I see them from time to time on my iPhone, and never interact with any of them. Because, why would you? However, Microsoft says that playable ads are not only better than regular ads, they are more profitable.

And now they are arriving on Windows 10. The Playable Ads preview goes live in the Windows Dev Center today, allowing developers to offer their own interactive adverts.

If you’ve been experiencing weird problems with Windows over the past couple of days, the problem could be down to a mysterious driver that Microsoft has pushed out for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

The driver, called "Microsoft -- WPD -- 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM -- 5.2.5326.4762" is causing a couple of problems for users, including failed installations, and Windows Phones and Android devices failing to connect to the target PC.

If you've been an avid installer of Insider builds of Windows 10 (or you're reading this after the release of Windows 10 Creators Update) you'll no doubt be aware of Paint 3D. Microsoft's foray into 3D design is interesting, but it's certainly not for everyone.

In reality very few people are likely to actually make serious use of Paint 3D, but despite this Microsoft has chosen to throw an Edit with Paint 3D option into the context menu that appears when you right click on an image file. You probably don’t want or need this, so here's how to get rid of it.

With the Windows 10 Creators Update edging ever nearer to being ready for release, Microsoft is working hard to fix bugs and tidy things up.

Today sees a new build for Mobile (a new build for PC is expected in a day or so). Build 15051 offers a lot of changes, improvements and fixes including: