Windows 11

We've reached the point of the month when Microsoft releases previews of the updates that will get a wider launch next month. As such, the company has released the KB5025305 update for Windows 11 22H2, and although this is not a security update, it includes a number of important changes and additions.

Microsoft draws attention to the arrival of animations to icons on the Widgets taskbar button when hovering over them, or when there is an announcement. This update also makes it easier to get hold of non-security updates faster, and makes a key change to Windows firewall as well as fixing numerous bugs and issues.

Valve's Steam Deck is a very popular handheld computer that allows people to play modern PC games on the go. Powered by a Zen 2-based AMD APU, Steam Deck also makes a great emulation machine. The Linux PC can play thousands of ROMs from classic consoles, such as N64, PS1, and more. Hell, it can even run modern Nintendo Switch games!

Unfortunately for Valve, the Steam Deck is about to become obsolete. You see, earlier today, AMD launched its all-new new Zen 4-based Ryzen Z1 Series processors. These chips are designed to provide a high-end gaming experience for handheld PC consoles. Make no mistake, the gaming systems powered by Z1 will make the current Steam Deck old hat.

With the taskbar in Windows 11 Microsoft not only made a lot of changes, but also a lot of mistakes. But some of the issues that irritate users could soon be a thing of the past.

In preview builds of Windows 11, there is evidence that Microsoft is working to improve the taskbar by returning features that were removed in the upgrade from Windows 10. The upcoming changes may not make Windows 11 flavor of the month overnight, but could go some way to improving the image of the operating system, improving workflow and making things easier to use.

Five-hundred-and-thirty-nine 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.

Work on future versions of Windows 11 continued this week. Microsoft added an option to hide date and time in one build, and (re)added support for Content Adaptive Brightness Control for plugged in devices in another.

Microsoft today rolled out a new Windows 11 build to Insiders in the Canary Channel that brings Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) to plugged in devices.

Insiders on the Dev Channel aren’t missing out though, as Windows 11 Build 23440 arrives today, with a decent amount of new features and fixes for testers in that channel.

Two weeks ago, Microsoft released a Windows 11 build to the Dev Channel which came with Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) -- an energy-saving feature that works by dimming areas of the screen depending on the content that is being viewed. It was supposed to be something that would benefit all, including desktop users.

Shortly afterwards, Microsoft backtracked, and said the feature wouldn’t be available to desktops after all. From today, Canary Channel Build 25346 introduces CABC support for laptops and 2-in-1’s that are plugged into a charger.

Linux live disks provide a convenient and versatile solution for trying out various distributions without the need for installation. These bootable USB drives or CD/DVDs allow users to run a fully functional operating system directly from the removable media before committing to a full installation.

If you prefer Microsoft's operating system, it is now possible to create a live disk for Windows 11 -- fantastic news for anyone uncertain about whether the new OS will suit their needs and would like to try it first.

After multiple beta releases, Binary Fortress Software has finally released DisplayFusion 10.0, a major new build of its multi-display management tool for Windows. The major release comes almost six years after DisplayFusion 9.0’s release, and its primary feature is to promise full Windows 11 compatibility.

The new build also ships with numerous changes, starting with an upgrade to .NET 7.0, which means the build is now only officially supported on machines running Windows 10 1607 or later, although it should continue to install on PCs running Windows 7 or later -- albeit at the user’s own risk.

In the latest Windows 11 Dev build, there is a new Gallery in File Explorer for browsing your photos. This is something that is likely to prove popular, but the same build also include some rather more controversial changes.

 In Windows 11 build 23435, Microsoft is tinkering further with the Start menu bringing ads to the heart of the operating system. The company likes to refer to this advertising as "badging", but the latest attempt to promote Windows 365 and Microsoft accounts is more likely to be seen as badgering.

For anyone who has made the jump from Windows 10 to Window 11, there is a lot of disappointment with the taskbar -- primarily that it is immovable. But whether you have upgraded to Windows 11 or stuck with Windows 10, there is a way to double the number of taskbars available to you. Sort of.

With the very Canary build of Microsoft Edge, there is a new optional sidebar that can be detached from the browser and pinned to the desktop. So if you feel like getting taskbar double vision, here's what you need to know.

Arriving just in time for the weekend, the latest Windows 11 flight for Insiders in the Dev Channel comes with a new feature which will be appreciated by a lot of users.

Build 23435 introduces Gallery, a new addition to File Explorer, which is designed to make it easier to browse your photo collection.

Five-hundred-and-thirty-eight 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 is working on integrating a few usability improvements into its Windows 11 operating system. There is a new End Task option when right-clicking on open apps in the Windows taskbar, and a remapped Print Screen key, which will open the Snipping Tool in the future.

For anyone looking to run Android apps and game within Windows 11, Windows Subsystem for Android is a fabulous, and free, alternative to the various emulators that are available. In a new update to the compatibility layer, Microsoft has added support for picture-in-picture mode.

P-in-P is only available in apps that explicitly support it -- the update to Windows Subsystem for Android does not add it to other apps -- and it is something that will serve as an aid to multi-tasking.

Having just added a registry editing tool to PowerToys, Microsoft is now working on the practically inevitable -- adding ChatGPT support to the utility collection.

This will not take the form of a dedicated new module, rather it will be a plugin. Specifically PowerToys' AI-driven ChatGPT functionality will come courtesy of a PowerToys Run plugin that is currently in development. It is a move that neatly integrates the power of ChatGPT into Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Microsoft has released the cumulative KB5025239 update for Windows 11 22H2, bringing with it not only security and bug fixes, but also general improvements and new features.

Among the highlights are the addition of the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as a Windows inbox feature. This update also adds new notifications about Microsoft account to the Start menu, improves Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and provides easy access to the Bing chat experience in Microsoft Edge via the taskbar.