Windows 11

There have been a number of notable updates for Windows 11 in recent weeks, not least of which is the KB5031455 update from last month. The update brought with it a higher number of new features, including the AI-powered Copilot; it also brought problems.

Microsoft acknowledges an issue that results in desktop icons moving around, and the finger of blame is being pointed at Copilot's interaction with multi-display setups.

Today, Microsoft rolls out new builds for Insiders on both the Dev and Canary channels.

Build 25987 for the Canary Channel adds an option to install previously downloaded drivers when installing Windows 11, so you won’t be stuck offline if you don’t have Wi-Fi drivers. It also does away with two Microsoft apps previously installed by default.

Microsoft began its rollout of Windows 11 2023 Update (23H2) yesterday, but development  continues apace with both Beta Channel and Canary Channel builds arriving for Insiders today.

For those in the Dev Channel, Build 23580 makes it possible for users with local accounts to access Copilot in Windows for a limited number of queries before needing to sign in. Microsoft has also “significantly” improved the nearby share transfer speed for users on same network.

Microsoft has now officially launched Windows 11 23H2, and the company is also referring to this latest release as the Windows 11 2023 Update.

This update is due to roll out as an automatic update in the coming months, but it is currently available for those who manually seek it out. If you have multiple computers to update, if you want to install the latest version of Windows 11 in a virtual machine, or you just want to make sure you have the latest installation media, here's how to download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO -- or how to download the Windows 11 2023 Update ISO if you prefer this name.

Microsoft has begun rolling out its Windows 11 2023 update (version 23H2), which makes Copilot AI available to more users, and introduces some new enhancements. This is the follow up to the AI preview release which came out last month.

Windows 11 2023 Update (23H2) is a "scoped, cumulative release" and among the changes are that "Chat" is now "Microsoft Teams (free)" and it comes pinned by default to the taskbar. There are also some changes made to the way you manage applications.

Five-hundred-and-sixty-six in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

It is still unclear when Windows 11 version 23H2, the next Windows 11 feature update, will be released. Eagle-eyed users have now spotted Windows 11 23H2 ISOs on Microsoft servers.

The time has finally come for Microsoft to unleash all of the new features of the Moment 4 update for Windows 11 to a wider audience with the release of the KB5031455 update.

Users are being treated to what is the biggest and most significant upgrade to Windows 11 since it was launched. Available for Windows 11 22H2, the KB5031455 update is a preview of the update that will be released for everyone next month and it includes all of the Moment 4 features -- such as Copilot, the new System Components section of Settings, and more -- enabled by default. There are also numerous bug fixes.

With the release of the latest Canary build of Windows 11, Microsoft has introduced welcome new security options. The first gives administrators the option of requiring encryption of all outbound SMB client connections.

The second is the arrival of support for Discovery of Network-designated Resolvers (DNR) which allows for the automatic discovery of encrypted DNA servers. Eliminating the need for manual configuration is an ease-of-use move that makes adoption more likely.

Microsoft is preparing to launch the final significant update to Windows 11 before the release of Windows 12. We already know a fair amount about the upcoming Windows 11 23H2, but the release date has not really pinned down to anything more specific than Q4 of 2023.

But ISO images for Windows 11 23H2 have now been spotted online, strongly suggesting that testing is now over and Microsoft is ready to unleash this hugely important update to Windows 11 users.

Five-hundred-and-sixty-five in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

Microsoft plans to move several native apps to a new System Components hub in Windows 11. The apps include Get Help, Microsoft Store and Windows Security. A new Systems label will be shown in the Start Menu as well and, somewhat surprisingly, for more apps.

A new report goes some way to showing that the BitLocker security feature of Windows 11 could be massively reducing the performance of SSDs.

An investigation found that the data encryption tool, which is enabled by default in Windows 11 Pro, can slow solid state drives by as much as 45 percent. While it would be reasonable to expect a bit of a performance drop overall as the software works away encrypting and decrypting files, few people would expect the hit to be quite so significant.

Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel today get a new build with multi-monitor support for Copilot AI. For those testers who prefer to live on the bleeding edge, there’s also a new Canary Channel build with numerous new features.

Additions in Windows 11 Canary Build 25977 include improved support for hearing aids equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)  Audio, new controls to manage which apps have access to the list of local Wi-Fi networks, and additional access control options for clients in SMB over QUIC.

Development continues apace on Windows 11, and today Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel get a new flight which introduces improvements to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI component.

With Build 23570, Copilot can now be used across multiple monitors and Microsoft has made this addition very easy to configure and use.

It is a number of weeks since we first learned about Windows 11's new System Components section in Windows 11. Initially discovered hidden in a Canary build of the operating system, Microsoft is now readying the new hub for a wider launch.

When it is made available to everyone, the new System Component hub will make various aspects of system management easier. It serves as a handy portal through which it is possible to change default apps, and take control of built-in apps and components without the need to hunt around in numerous places.

With the release of Slackel 7.7 "Openbox," stepping into the Linux world from Windows 11 has become a lot simpler. This new version is packed with features that will surely catch the eye of those used to Microsoft’s operating system. In fact, this Linux distribution should make you forget about the upcoming Windows 12 too!

At the core of Slackel 7.7 is the Linux Kernel 6.1.57, with the latest updates from the well-regarded Slackware "Current" tree. This solid foundation promises a stable and secure setting for all your computer tasks. Available in both 64-bit and 32-bit versions, it caters to both modern and older hardware setups alike.