Earlier this month, Asus introduced its new business laptops called the ExpertBook B5 G2 and ExpertBook B3 G2. Both machines are powered by Intel’s 3rd-generation Core Ultra chips, also known as Panther Lake, and come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. 

What’s interesting about these PCs is that they come with an operating system called “Windows 11 pure OS (not for open channel)”, next to the expected choices like Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro. 

As TechRadar notes, Asus hasn’t highlighted this in the marketing slide or press release. Instead, you see the mention directly on the specifications table. So, what is Windows 11 pure OS?

Asus ExpertBook B3 G2 and B5 G2 have a Windows 11 pure OS version

Asus hasn’t explained what makes this version of Windows 11 different. There’s no public breakdown of features removed or added. The phrase “not for open channel,” however, is telling. 

In enterprise hardware terms, that usually means the configuration isn’t sold through regular retail stores or online marketplaces. Instead, it’s likely reserved for bulk corporate purchases handled through business procurement channels (via TechRadar).

The “pure OS” likely means a cleaner installation of Windows 11. In consumer laptops, Windows often ships with extra apps, trial software, or manufacturer utilities. For large organizations, that can be a headache. IT departments typically prefer a streamlined system image that’s easier to deploy and manage across hundreds — or thousands — of devices.

A stripped-down Windows build would save time. There’s less need to remove unwanted apps, fewer background services to monitor, and potentially fewer variables when troubleshooting. For companies standardizing their fleets, simplicity matters more than flashy features.

Interestingly, the ExpertBook B5 G2 also debuts as part of Asus’ broader push into Copilot+ PCs, tying into Microsoft’s AI-focused hardware branding. Yet this quiet software option may be just as relevant to enterprise buyers.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories! 

(Source | Via)

The post Asus quietly adds a ‘Windows 11 pure OS’ option to its new ExpertBook laptops appeared first on Gizmochina.

Several Dell PCs are facing critical issues after attempting to install Microsoft’s December cumulative update KB5072033 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. The problems include failed installations, frequent system freezes, and a non-functional Start Menu.

The update, released on December 9, has been failing to install on many Dell desktops and laptops. Users report that the progress bar halts mid-way and returns error code 0x800f0983. A system administrator confirmed that a large number of new Dell systems under his management encountered the same issue. He attempted multiple troubleshooting methods, including System File Checker, Deployment Image Servicing and Management, and reinstalling Windows. None of these fixed the problem.

The situation is worse on Dell Pro Max 16250 devices. Several users reported that these systems freeze after installing the update. Initial speculation pointed to Intel Arc graphics drivers. Further investigation by users revealed that a BIOS setting caused the issue. They found that disabling the “Enable adaptive c-States for discrete graphics” option under Advanced Setup > Performance in the BIOS stopped the system crashes.

Another reported issue affects the Start Menu. On some systems running Windows 11 24H2, the Start Menu fails to open after installing KB5072033. One affected user suspects that the problem may be connected to a previously identified bug from update KB5072911, which affected File Explorer and other XAML-based apps on enterprise devices.

Microsoft has not released an official fix or statement addressing these problems. For now, Dell users are advised to delay the KB5072033 update or manually adjust BIOS settings if they face system freezes. The update continues to raise concerns across Windows forums, especially among enterprise administrators managing large fleets of Dell hardware.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories!

(Via)

The post Dell PCs face installation failures and system freezes after Windows 11 December update appeared first on Gizmochina.

It wasn’t that long ago that Windows laptops with ARM processors felt experimental—okay for basic tasks, but weaker than x86 (Intel/AMD) machines in performance and compatibility.

That narrative has largely changed thanks to the launch of Snapdragon X (and its variants) silicon from Qualcomm. Most of today’s AI-focused Windows on ARM machines now run on a Snapdragon X-series chip using ARM architecture, rather than the traditional x86 platform that has powered Windows laptops for decades.

The difference this time is that the hardware finally feels mature. The Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus offer strong performance, excellent battery life, and cool-running designs.

On the software side, Windows 11—and the broader “Windows on ARM” initiative—now includes improved emulation of x86 and x64 apps via Microsoft’s “Prism” layer, meaning most Windows programs will run even if they aren’t yet compiled natively for ARM.

So, if you’re in the market for a laptop where portability and battery life matter most, Windows on ARM machines are more compelling than ever. Here are some of the best Windows on ARM machines you can choose from.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft has been the biggest believer in Windows on ARM, and the Surface Laptop 7 might just be the device that embodies that belief best. It keeps Microsoft’s familiar minimalist aesthetic: clean, slim, and free of attention-seeking design tricks.

Inside, you can choose between the Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite chips, with up to 64GB of RAM depending on the region. Storage goes up to 2TB, but the more interesting part is that the drive is user-replaceable. If you like the idea of starting with lower storage and upgrading later, this laptop makes it easy.

The Surface Laptop 7 also offers some of the best battery life in the Windows on ARM ecosystem. If your workload involves documents, video calls, and web browsing, it easily lasts a full workday — and then some.

You can choose from four color options: Black, Silver, Blue, and Gold. However, the Blue version is limited to the 13.5-inch model.

Dell XPS 13 (9345)

The XPS series is Dell’s premium line of laptops with a futuristic aesthetic, and this one is no different.

You get an invisible haptic trackpad area, no visible key gaps, and a capacitive function row that doubles as media controls. If you like a clean, flush look, there’s likely no better option than the XPS.

The XPS 13 (9345) is available with both LCD and OLED screen options. The base model features a 1080p LCD panel, while the high-end version comes with a 3K OLED touchscreen.

The laptop utilizes either the Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus platform, and like other Windows on ARM machines, it runs most emulated apps smoothly.

Dell claims the laptop can deliver 25 hours of runtime in a single charge. While that depends on individual usage, it should still last comfortably through a full day of light workloads such as document editing and web browsing.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q

The EliteBook Ultra G1q is HP’s pitch to professionals who care as much about data security as battery life. It’s a Secured-Core PC, with hardware-level protections and HP Wolf Pro Security built in to fend off malware and phishing.

It runs a Snapdragon X Elite chip and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage, though there aren’t upgrade options or microSD expansion, which feels limiting in 2025. 

Still, the machine prioritizes durability. It has MIL-STD 810 testing means it can handle travel bumps, and the privacy shutter and IR camera help reinforce the business focus. No OLED here, but you do get a crisp 2.2K touchscreen and a balanced 16:10 aspect ratio.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

Samsung’s entry leans toward a multimedia-friendly, everyday laptop with a familiar design. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD screen (not the sharpest here), a lightweight body made with recycled materials, and the usual Samsung ecosystem ties — including Galaxy AI features and tight phone syncing.

It’s powered by the Snapdragon X chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, Wi-Fi 7, and a decent spread of ports, including HDMI and a microSD slot. Battery life should be strong thanks to the 61Wh battery and the efficiency of ARM silicon.

This laptop feels geared toward users who want Windows plus the convenience Samsung offers across devices. If you carry a Galaxy phone, it will feel familiar and connected right away.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch

If you want Windows on ARM in a portable 2-in-1 form factor, the Surface Pro 12-inch is the most balanced option right now. It’s a slim tablet first, but with a detachable keyboard and pen (sold separately), it easily becomes a lightweight laptop for work or study.

Microsoft hasn’t changed the Surface formula much here, and that’s not a bad thing. The built-in kickstand still makes it easy to set the device up at any angle, whether you’re typing on a desk or watching a video on a flight tray table.

Inside, the Snapdragon X Plus powers the device alongside 16GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. As a result, performance is strong enough for office work, streaming, and creative apps that support ARM. It also includes Windows Hello face unlock, which is quick and reliable for everyday use.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories.

The post The best Windows on ARM laptops you can buy right now appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft‘s controversial Recall feature, intended to track user activity on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs, has been delayed again. Initially set to launch with these new laptops in June, Recall faced significant privacy concerns due to its extensive tracking capabilities.

In response to backlash, Microsoft decided to change Recall from a default setting to an opt-in feature with added security measures. However, this move wasn’t enough. On June 13th, the company announced that Recall would be removed from the initial Copilot+ PC launch and instead released as a preview within the Windows Insider Program (WIP).

Today’s update extends the wait for public access to Recall even further. Originally expected to be available “in the coming weeks” for WIP users, the preview is now pushed back to October. This delay suggests that Microsoft is still working on addressing security issues and refining the feature with input from the Insider community.

Microsoft’s statement reads, “With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience, we’re sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October.”

This approach aligns with Microsoft’s previous strategy of using the Insider program to test potentially risky features. Data miners have reportedly found new hidden Recall features in a Canary Channel build of Windows 11 in June, indicating ongoing development. These early insights suggest further iterations—potentially with more privacy and security enhancements—before Recall is available to WIP users.

The official release of Recall to the general Copilot+ user base remains uncertain. With the October preview for Insiders, it may be several more months before the feature becomes widely available for Windows 11. This extended delay reflects Microsoft’s cautious approach, as the company aims to address privacy concerns and ensure a secure implementation before broader deployment.

The post Windows Recall feature delayed until October appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple is a company that usually keeps its glorious software exclusive to its own Apple devices. However, Apple Music is available on both Android and Windows, and the client for both platforms has a quite sleek design. Apple’s video call app, FaceTime was also exclusive to Apple devices in the past. And then Apple let people to make a call with Android users with the introduction of iOS 15. After a long wait, Apple Maps is finally available on non-Apple devices. Apple Maps Beta has been released platform-independently for everyone, it’s a website for now.

You can now use Apple Maps on your computer with a Windows or Linux operating system. We specify Windows or Linux because Apple Maps is not yet active for Android. In fact, Apple has not released a client for Windows or Linux. You can access Apple Maps through the Beta website. We also tried using it on an Android device, but unfortunately, Apple set the Maps to be only available for desktop web browsers.

The newly released website is not working smoothly as it does on Apple devices, but it is still worth to try. You can visit Apple Maps Beta from the given link.

The post Apple Maps is now available for Windows and Linux appeared first on Gizmochina.

When discussing PDF readers, Adobe Acrobat often comes to mind. It’s the world’s most widely used PDF reader, with over 1 billion subscribers. However, as good as Acrobat is, it is not suitable for all users, including its high price (up to $240 per year). Its feature-rich and complex user interface is also suitable only for professional users. For these reasons and many more, we want to introduce you to the perfect Adobe Acrobat alternative, Afirstsoft PDF. It’s a beginner-friendly and AI-powered PDF reader that doesn’t sacrifice functionality and practicality. Keep reading this review to find out why you should start using this PDF management tool.

How Afirstsoft PDF Fixes Chaos

Managing documents can be challenging and time-consuming. You can face obstacles like incompatible files, unsigned documents, and disorganized pages. Thankfully, Afirstsoft PDF has a list of user-friendly features to help you tackle common PDF problems. Here are some PDF struggles you can handle with this tool:

PDF Editing:

Editing and sharing documents can be a nightmare. Sometimes you may want to edit PDF texts and update information or correct errors. Afirstsoft PDF can edit, delete, and add PDF texts with stylish fonts and colors. The OCR feature lets you convert PDFs and scanned images into searchable and editable texts. It supports 20+ OCR languages.

Organizating Chaos:

Organizing documents ensures uniformity and professionalism. Unfortunately, dealing with a pile of documents can be a struggle. Afirstsoft PDF provides an intuitive interface to manage PDF pages and avoid duplication or confusion. You can extract, delete, and reorder pages. It also lets you split and merge PDFs for easier document management.

Information Overload:

Reading PDFs word-by-word can be tedious, especially when dealing with long texts like essays or newsletters. White at it, you can find hard-to-understand texts and slangs. Afirstsoft AI can do all the dirty work by summarizing and explaining PDFs. You can also ask the AI chat feature any question regarding your PDF document.

As you can see, Afirstsoft PDF can help you solve multiple PDF problems. Other solutions that this program offers include:

• Losslessly convert PDFs to and from dozens of document, web, and image formats.

• Upload PDFs to Afirstsoft Cloud for remote document access. This enables collaborative PDF editing using features like comments and feedback.

• Afirstsoft PDF also lets you create interactive documents from scratch. You can create PDFs from Office files like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

>Afirstsoft PDF is currently offering a 30% discount to all new subscribers, and subscribers will have the opportunity to receive a free license.

Power of Affordability: Slash Costs, Boost Productivity

Many people would choose Adobe Acrobat when searching for a PDF editor. After all, this program houses several innovative features, including cloud-based editing and AI support. It’s also worth mentioning that Adobe invented the PDF format in 1993, making Acrobat one of the best options for viewing and managing documents.

However, as mentioned earlier, Adobe Acrobat isn’t cheap. The monthly and yearly subscriptions can be backbreaking for a casual user. The good news is that Afirstsoft PDF offers similar functions to Acrobat at a pocket-friendly cost. The Afirstsoft PDF’s price is only 25% of Acrobat. This easy-to-use program offers AI support, OCR scanning, PDF conversion, and other Adobe Acrobat features.

The deal gets sweeter if you choose Afirstsoft PDF. This all-in-one PDF reader currently offers 30% off for all new subscribers. Afirstsoft also provides free licenses for all new website users. You can use a single license across platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Web and Android.

Beyond Affordability: Unveiling Afirstsoft’s Advantages

Choosing the best PDF editor involves looking beyond the price point. A good PDF viewer must pack enough features to allow you to accomplish important goals more conveniently. Therefore, we want to list some of the four advantages that Afirstsoft PDF brings to the table.

Cross-Platform Powerhouse

Are you looking for a PDF reader to view and annotate documents on any platform? Afirstsoft PDF Creator is the best choice, thanks to its convenient cloud service. This program offers excellent compatibility with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android systems and Web. You can access all Afirstsoft PDF services on two desktops and two mobile phones with a single account.

Below are some possible configurations:

• 2 Mac/Windows + 2 iOS
• 2 Mac/Windows + 2 Android
• 1 Mac and 1 Windows + 2 Android
• 1 Mac and 1 Windows + 2 iOS
• 2 Windows/Mac + 1 Android and 1 iOS

AI for the Win

Another advantage of using Afirstsoft PDF over Adobe Acrobat is the AI Assistant. In Acrobat, the AI service comes with a separate subscription plan. Conversely, Afirstsoft PDF offers you a free AI Assistant to make PDF management quicker and more convenient. It can summarize long PDF texts and explain hard-to-understand vocabularies or sentences. You can also chat with the AI and ask questions about your PDF. In short, it saves time and enhances productivity.

User-Centric Design: PDF Made Easy

Afirstsoft PDF is one of the most basic and beginner-friendly PDF readers. The user interface is exceptionally minimalistic without sacrificing this program’s functionality. Navigating this program using the ribbon-style menu resembling Microsoft Office is quick and straightforward. Beginners can easily find tools for editing, converting, highlighting, and more. You don’t need prior PDF editing experience to use this program.

Focus on Efficiency

Afirstsoft PDF can help streamline your workflow with its collection of user-centric features. First, the Afirstsoft Cloud feature ensures collaborative PDF editing and annotation across various devices, making PDF handling more efficient. Afirstsoft PDF also provides a well-organized layout with multiple reading modes. The PDF navigation tools give you more control over your document as you scroll the pages using your preferred layout style.

You can arrange and navigate the PDF pages as follows:

• Single page
• Single-page scrolling
• Two page
• Two-page scrolling

Conclusion

You now have every reason to include Afirstsoft PDF in your document management workflow. The robust set of features makes it perfect for PDF creation and editing. It’s a pretty versatile document management system for personal and business use. Overall, it does everything Adobe Acrobat can do at a lower subscription price. Don’t forget to claim the special offer and enjoy editing PDFs anywhere, any time.

The post Afirstsoft PDF Review: Likely to Be The Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative appeared first on Gizmochina.

We know that Microsoft is working hard to enhance user’s Windows experience with the Snapdragon X Elite chipset. Devices with ARM chipsets offer long battery life without compromising performance. Windows on ARM isn’t actually something new; Microsoft started optimizing Windows for ARM processors a long time ago. However, there’s a challenge. It takes time for app developers to create software for ARM architecture.

A new software that runs natively on Windows on ARM is Opera’s web browser. Having software running natively on ARM is quite important because, without native support, software must run through an x86 to arm64 translation layer, which results in a performance loss. Apple also uses a translation layer named “Rosetta” to make possible to run x86 software on ARM processors.

In a recent blog post, Opera announced that the Opera One browser now natively supports Windows on ARM. If you have a Windows device with an ARM processor, you can download the new Opera One and see the new blog post from the given link.

Related:

• Arm vs. Qualcomm Clash is Threatening Windows on Arm’s Big Moment
• Windows Recall can run on Snapdragon-powered notebook with no NPU and just 3.4GB of…
• Microsoft Windows 10 Updates will Get Smaller in Size, Company is Streamlining the Update…
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus may give Windows laptops a feature every MacBook lacks
• Microsoft confirms upcoming release — it’s Windows 11 24H2, not Windows 12

The post Opera One now runs natively for Windows on ARM appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft recently rolled out a fresh update (KB5037000) for Windows 11 Insiders in the Beta Channel. Alongside introducing new interactive elements for Windows Spotlight, the update also comes with a not-so-welcome tweak: more app recommendations (that essentially are ads) in the Start menu.

These recommendations pop up in the Start menu’s “Recommended” section and will show apps from the Microsoft Store based on your recent app usage. This means you might encounter app suggestions that don’t quite match your interests.

Currently, the Start menu organizes apps into “Pinned” and “Recommendations” sections. The latter usually includes recently used files or apps, newly installed applications, and even tips for utilizing new Windows features.

Now, with the latest update, recommendations from the Microsoft Store have been added, giving off an ad-like vibe.

While these recommended apps might not directly come from app developers paying for placement, Microsoft does earn revenue from apps distributed through its store. Thus, from a user’s perspective, it can still feel like advertising.

There is some good news, however. You can disable the feature entirely. Simply head to Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the toggle for “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.”

Additionally, this change currently only affects Insiders in the Beta Channel and on personal devices, meaning work computers (often managed by organizations) are not impacted for now.

Most importantly, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed if this feature will make it to the final release of Windows 11. The company is using the Insider program to gather feedback, and based on user response, they may decide to scrap the idea altogether.

Related:

• Microsoft Launches Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with NPU AI Boost
• Microsoft Employee Discovers Critical Flaw in Linux Utility, Prevents Widespread Global Impact
• Tongue Gestures? Microsoft’s Future Products may Redefine Gesture Control (Or Not)
• Microsoft & OpenAI planning $100 billion supercomputer Stargate AI
• Get Redmi K70 Pro for discounted price of $499
• Xiaomi Band 8 Genshin Impact custom edion get a huge discount.
• Unlock Savings: Discount on Every Giztop Product under the New Year Sale 
• Best of MWC 2024: AI Phone, Transparent Laptop, 3D Tablet & More

The post Microsoft is testing ads disguised as “Recommendations” in Windows 11 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft has released the recent build of Windows 11 for 2023 in the Beta Channel. Although voice access has undergone several adjustments and modifications, Windows 11 Build 22635.2915 is a rather minor upgrade.

Numerous changes have been made available to Insiders over the past few weeks, as this is a Beta Build. Should you have been paying attention, you have already noticed several changes, such as the addition of a character counter to Notepad in Windows 11.

Earlier this month, Microsoft declared that Windows Speech Recognition will no longer be supported, making voice access an increasingly crucial capability.

It is past due that Microsoft discontinued Windows Speech Recognition, a feature that was initially introduced with Windows Vista. Much more powerful, voice access is updated frequently with new capabilities.

The final Beta Channel trip for Windows 11 Insider will take place in January 2024. Scroll down to see the full details of the update:

Windows 11 Beta Build — New features

1. Extended languages, multi-display support, and custom commands for voice access

Extended language support: Windows has expanded speech capability for additional languages, including German, French (France), Spanish (Spain), and Spanish (Mexico).

Multi-display support: Now, you may utilize all of the voice access capabilities across displays, including the number and grid overlays that were only accessible on the primary display.

Voice shortcuts: Microsoft is going to start offering voice shortcuts and custom commands so you may make your instructions. If you utilize voice access in English, you can now get this.

2. Improved discoverability of screencasting

You may wirelessly expand your display to a nearby PC, TV, or other external displays by using Casting on your Windows PC. They are rolling out updates that emphasize Cast’s discoverability in Windows 11 and educating people about it. It includes:

• Windows will provide the option to Cast via a notification toast while you are multitasking on your PC, such as often navigating between windows to finish a job or using Snap Assist to arrange your screen real estate.
• Added more support to the Cast flyout in Quick Settings so you won’t have to worry about connecting issues, finding adjacent displays, or anything else.

3. Windows 365 Boot New Features and Improvements

Dedicated mode for Windows 365 Boot: Windows is now introducing dedicated mode, a new option for Windows 365 Boot.

You may now use your assigned company-owned device to boot up to your Windows 365 Cloud PC. With password-less authentication techniques like Windows Hello for Business, you may easily log in to your Windows 365 Cloud PC from the Windows 11 login screen.

The new dedicated mode also includes features like remembering your username, displaying a photo on the lock and login screens, and a quick account switcher experience that lets you swap accounts to log in with ease.

Early in 2024, a private preview of the functionality will be made available to Windows 365 users.

Customized company logo and name for Windows 365 Boot: Organizations may now personalize the login page in shared mode to include their Intune business logo. Early in 2024, Windows 365 users will be able to access the functionality in a private preview.

Fail fast mechanism for Windows 365 Boot: You no longer have to wait for the Cloud PC sign-in procedure to finish before discovering that Windows 365 Boot failed because of a network problem or an unfinished setup.

To ensure a seamless login experience for users to their Cloud PC, the intelligent logic alerts users in advance to fix network problems or finish app setup.

Manage local PC settings through Windows 365 Boot: You may now more easily view and control the sound, display, and other device-specific settings of your local PC from your cloud PC when using Windows 365 Boot.

4. Windows 365 Switch New features and enhancements

Improved disconnect experience for Windows 365 Switch: You may disconnect straight from your local PC to their Cloud PC.

To disconnect, navigate to Local PC > Task view > Right-click the Cloud PC button. To help you distinguish between these features, they have also included tooltips for the Cloud PC Start menu’s disconnect and sign-out choices.

Desktop indicators to differentiate between Cloud PC and local PC for Windows 365 Switch: Now, when you move between your own PCs, the terms “Cloud PC” and “Local PC” will appear on the desktop indication.

Windows 365 Switch to Frontline Cloud PC: While you wait on the connection page, you will now get updates on the Cloud PC connection status and the connection timeout indicator.

If there is a mistake, you can now quickly fix it by copying the correlation ID from the error screen by utilizing the newly included copy button.

5. General

• Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) replaced with voice access: WSR is no longer supported. When you launch WSR, a dialog box will appear encouraging you to test voice access.

Additionally, we’ve put a banner under Settings > Accessibility > Speech. With Windows 11, we’ve added voice access—a new assistive technology that employs on-device speech recognition to let you create text and manage your computer—without requiring an internet connection.

In a later version, it will allow various languages and custom commands (as previously mentioned, Windows Insiders may now test these capabilities in the Beta Channel). Windows advises WSR users to give voice access a try right now.

• Nearby Sharing: Added nearby sharing, navigate under Settings > System > Nearby sharing. This feature allows you to rapidly give your device a more amiable name to distinguish sharing to and from.

• Narrator: Narrator users may now dictate text, utilize voice interaction with screen components, and utilize voice access to launch programs. Users of Narrator can provide voice instructions to Narrator by utilizing voice access.

Take “read next line,” “speak faster,” etc. as examples. Start by typing “voice access” into Windows search and configuring it.

• Task Manager: You will now be able to choose the dump file location when generating one for a process, allowing you to transfer it out.
• Desktops: A bug where the backdrop would bounce when a user switched between desktops was fixed with a few changes.

6. Notepad Update

Windows is now distributing a Notepad update (version 11.2311.33.0) via the Beta Channel to Windows Insiders, bringing with it the following enhancements:

• Edit with Notepad: You may quickly open Notepad from File Explorer and make changes to files. To open and edit files in Notepad quickly and efficiently, simply right-click on any file or many files in File Explorer to bring up the [Edit with Notepad] option in the context menu.

• Character Count: The new character count display in the status bar allows you to keep track of how long your document is. When a text selection is made, the character count for the selected text and the full document are displayed in the status bar. You can always clearly see how long your document is if you know how many characters it is without having to choose any content.

Note: Through an enablement package, every Windows Insider in the Beta Channel will now be running the same build, 22635.xxxx.

If you’re a Windows Insider in the Beta Channel and would want to be the first to receive features gradually, you can switch on the option to receive the most recent updates as soon as they become available by going to Settings > Windows Update.

Related:

• Asus ROG Phone 8, ROG Phone 8 full specifications, renders leaked well before launch
• Intel Core Ultra mobile processors announced with up to 16 cores, 5.1 GHz clock speed & AI acceleration
• Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 with Intel Core Ultra CPUs & RTX 4070 GPU unveiled
• Vivo X100, and X100 Pro debuts in the global market, configurations, and color options confirmed
• Leaked renders show the design, and color options of the upcoming Moto G24 Power and G34

(Source)

The post Microsoft releases Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2915 with several exciting features to the Beta Channel appeared first on Gizmochina.

Notepad, the ubiquitous text editor on Windows devices, has finally received a much-needed update: a character count feature. This feature, while seemingly basic, has been absent from the app since its inception.

Notepad gets a character count feature

The new feature arrives in the latest Canary channel test build of Windows 11. It adds a character count display to the bottom left corner of the Notepad window. This mimics the behavior of other text editors like Microsoft Word, offering a convenient way to track the length of your text. 

By default, it displays the total number of characters in the entire document. But if you select a specific line, the application will show the character count for that section. I’m sure the character count feature on Windows Notepad will come in handy for all who work with any text-based content. 

The character count feature is one of several improvements Microsoft has made to Notepad this year. Recently, they added an autosave option that automatically saves your work at regular intervals, eliminating the worry of losing progress. 

Additionally, they’ve added tabs for managing multiple documents and a dark mode for comfortable nighttime use. And if you need to fidget, there’s even a virtual fidget spinner now. These changes make Notepad a more user-friendly experience overall.

Apart from this, Windows 11 itself has received some updates in the latest Canary channel build. Users can now choose to display only widgets on the dedicated Widget page, hiding the feed of news and articles if they so desire. This feature wasn’t really clicking with me either, so I’m glad Microsoft is offering more options.

However, it’s important to remember that all these features are currently in beta testing and should be available to all users in future updates.

Related:

• Windows 12 is likely to debut in the second half of 2024 with AI-focused features
• Microsoft’s Link to Windows app could turn your smartphone camera into a webcam 
• OnePlus 12 Flagship Phone is now available for Pre-Order
• Giztop’s Christmas Holiday Savings: Unwrap Joy with Exclusive Discount
• Xiaomi 13 Ultra Premium Camera Phone is now only $799
• December Pixel Feature drop brings Video Boost, Night Sight & AI features to Pixel 8 Pro
• Download the best GCam APK for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The post Notepad finally gains a character count feature after years of waiting appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft is adding new capabilities to the Windows Photos app, such as the ability to instantly remove backgrounds from images. Version 2023.11110.8002.0 of the Photos app for Windows is currently available to Windows Insiders and enhances several aspects of the current experience.

The main attraction here is background removal, which was brought to Microsoft Paint a few weeks ago and is now available in Windows Photos. Windows Photos has the same one-click automated background removal feature as other photo editing programs.

Background Remove and Replace

The generated photos may be saved or copied to the clipboard, and the backdrop can be changed to a solid colour. Most of the time, the results won’t be flawless, but it’s always a good idea to have as many features as possible in Microsoft programs that are pre-configured for common daily chores like browsing the internet or viewing images.

Using a solid colour in place of the chosen backdrop is an additional choice. To choose the appropriate colour, use the colour picker. You may specify the RGB values, click on the palette, or input a hex colour code.

Filmstrip

Windows has also redesigned the Filmstrap. Now, each photo has a Filmstrip of thumbnails at the bottom that you can use to quickly examine other images in the same folder and quickly choose numerous images for inspection and comparison. Your suggestions have led us to revamp the Filmstrip user experience:

• Filmstrip is turned off when opening a photo, by default.
• To turn on Filmstrip, you must press the “F” key or click on the icon in the bottom left corner.
• To enable the best viewing experience and improve usability, Microsoft has moved the Filmstrip below the photo, enlarged the thumbnails, and added a larger scrollbar at the bottom so it’s easier to navigate and select the photo you’re looking for.

Timeline Scrollbar

To make it easier for you to find the photo you’re searching for, the latest Windows introduced the Timeline Scrollbar to all folders and made it dynamically based on the time range of your photo collection.

Share Individual Photos with OneDrive

Another feature that Windows implemented is the option to share a OneDrive-backed photo. All you have to do is right-click an image and choose Share, Using OneDrive. The URL can be copied to the clipboard or sent via email.

Other Fixes & Improvements

Windows has now made it simpler than ever to print your images by adding a 7:5 aspect ratio to the Resize tool and moving the Print button to the top command bar when viewing a single image, in response to user input. Moreover, Numerous stability and speed improvements to enhance tab switching, opening photos, and the Slideshow function.

Note: You must Update to version 2023.11110.8002.0 or higher for the Photos app to gain these new capabilities. Through all available routes, Windows Insiders are receiving this update.

Related:

• Microsoft takes a leap in AI with Custom-Designed Chips Maia and Cobalt
• Microsoft reverses course, plans to release standalone Office 2024
• Microsoft appears to quietly close Windows 10 Mobile App Store
• Microsoft briefly restricted its employees from using ChatGPT due to security issues

The post Microsoft Updates Windows Photos app with Background Remover and Replace, with other Improvements appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft is reportedly working on a new web-focused variant of Windows 12, according to multiple sources close to the company. The new variant is said to be a “true” answer to Chrome OS, and it will be tailored for specific markets, such as the educational sector.

The web-focused Windows 12 will not replace the traditional Win32 desktop experience, but it will offer a more modern, modular, and lightweight version of Windows for low-end educational devices.

Microsoft has already confirmed that in an internal memo that it is forming a new team, “Windows and Web Experience”, to develop the next generations of Windows and web products. Job listings for the team also confirm that Microsoft is planning to “define and deliver the next generation of Windows experiences and applications that span across Client and Cloud”.

Moreover, according to Windows Latest, the web-focused variant of Windows 12 is expected to rely heavily on Microsoft Edge and AI. For example, Microsoft is reportedly exploring ways to use AI to make Microsoft Edge more intelligent and to understand web content and user behaviors. This integration is expected to significantly influence the development of Windows 12.

Microsoft has been working on modernizing Windows and decoupling its component layers in recent years, in an effort to create a more lightweight version of the operating system. One example of this work is Windows 10X, which was intended to be a competitor to Chrome OS. However, Windows 10X never made it to market, remaining in the experimental stage.

However, the web-focused Windows 12 is expected to arrive in 2024. It remains to be seen what other features and improvements Microsoft will include in the new variant, but it is clear that the company is serious about competing with Chrome OS in the education market.

Related:

• Microsoft Copilot to Roll Out for Windows on September 26
• Microsoft Surface Go 4 2-in-1 with Intel N200 processor & 10.5″ FHD display launched
• Xbox Handheld console in the works; court documents reveal
• Microsoft’s next Xbox console could launch in 2028, court docs show
• Microsoft’s New Surface Laptop Studio 2 Features RTX 40 Series GPUs & Up To 64GB of RAM
• Best logitech gaming mice 2023 – Lightspeed, Superlight series & more
• Best logitech gaming mice 2023 – Lightspeed, Superlight series & more

(Via)

The post Microsoft reportedly working on web-focused variant of Windows 12 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft regularly updates the list of supported processors for Windows 11. In the previous change, which happened sometime in May, the company added several new Intel chips to the list, including the new Raptor Lake (13th Gen) processors. However, in a new list published on July 25, Microsoft removed support for several Intel CPUs from the official Windows 11 22H2 support that were previously eligible for the update.

It is important to understand that each version of Windows 11 (21H2 and 22H2) has its own specific list of supported processors. The recent change log from Microsoft applies to the Windows 11 22H2 version.

List of Intel CPUs removed from Microsoft Windows 11 support

The list of removed processors includes Xeons, which are part of Intel’s server processor lineup. The Intel CPUs that Microsoft removes from the official Windows 11 support list are:

• Intel Xeon E-2104G
• Intel Xeon E-2124
• Intel Xeon E-2124G
• Intel Xeon E-2126G
• Intel Xeon E-2134
• Intel Xeon E-2136
• Intel Xeon E-2144G
• Intel Xeon E-2146G
• Intel Xeon E-2174G
• Intel Xeon E-2176G
• Intel Xeon E-2176M
• Intel Xeon E-2186G
• Intel Xeon E-2186M
• Intel Xeon E-2224
• Intel Xeon E-2224G
• Intel Xeon E-2226G
• Intel Xeon E-2226GE
• Intel Xeon E-2234
• Intel Xeon E-2236
• Intel Xeon E-2244G
• Intel Xeon E-2246G
• Intel Xeon E-2254ME
• Intel Xeon E-2254ML
• Intel Xeon E-2274G
• Intel Xeon E-2276G
• Intel Xeon E-2276M
• Intel Xeon E-2276ME
• Intel Xeon E-2276ML
• Intel Xeon E-2278G
• Intel Xeon E-2278GE
• Intel Xeon E-2278GEL
• Intel Xeon E-2286G
• Intel Xeon E-2286M
• Intel Xeon E-2288G
• Intel Xeon E-2314
• Intel Xeon E-2324G
• Intel Xeon E-2334
• Intel Xeon E-2336
• Intel Xeon E-2356G
• Intel Xeon E-2374G
• Intel Xeon E-2378
• Intel Xeon E-2378G
• Intel Xeon E-2386G
• Intel Xeon E-2388G

The above list of unsupported Xeon CPUs includes all of Intel’s Coffee Lake (8th Gen) Core processors. This means that Microsoft has completely removed support for these server-based CPUs, even though their desktop counterparts are still supported. However, almost all Xeon CPUs released after the Coffee Lake generation are still eligible for an upgrade.

On the other hand, the new list of supported processors includes a few new Ryzen models, even the unannounced Ryzen 3 5380! This processor is rumored to be one of the SKUs from AMD’s “Lucienne” lineup, which is based on the Zen 2 CPU and Vega GPU microarchitectures. 

RELATED:

• Microsoft’s New Bing has Changed Online Search in the Last 6 Months, Here’s How
• Microsoft Edge getting a new ‘rewrite text’ feature powered by Bing AI
• Microsoft may launch an Xbox console without a disc drive

The post Microsoft removes support for 44 Intel CPUs on Windows 11 appeared first on Gizmochina.

A common and often overlooked feature on Windows is now causing debates as a significant number of Windows 11 and Windows 10 users are facing an unexpected issue with the “Update and Shut Down” option. Instead of powering down the system after applying updates, the operating system reboots and returns to the login screen, causing confusion and frustration among affected users.

Reports of this behavior have surfaced on various platforms, including Reddit and the Feedback Hub, indicating that the problem is not isolated to a few individuals. This inconsistency is inconvenient, especially for those trying to disconnect devices or save power overnight. The expectation that “Update and Shut Down” should lead to a complete shutdown is logical, but the current behavior leaves systems at the login screen instead.

The Role of Fast Startup Feature in ‘Update and Shut Down’ Misbehavior

A former Microsoft developer offered insights into potential reasons behind this behavior. One possible cause is the Fast Startup feature, which is meant to accelerate boot times. During the shutdown process, Fast Startup stores system data to a file, inadvertently triggering a restart during update installation instead of a full shutdown.

Additionally, if a system hasn’t been updated for a while or a previous update was incomplete, Windows 10 or 11 might require a restart to finalize the installation. Consequently, selecting “Update and Shut Down” may not deliver the expected outcome, leading to a reboot instead.

This issue isn’t exclusive to Windows 11 and 10, as users have also reported encountering it in Windows 7 and 8. While there is no official confirmation from Microsoft regarding future fixes, improvements in the command’s wording could be expected to alleviate the confusion surrounding the feature.

In the meantime, users are advised to be cautious when using the “Update and Shut Down” option and consider manual restarts if a complete shutdown is necessary.

RELATED:

• Windows Copilot: The AI Assistant That’s Changing the Way We Use Our Computers
• Latest Apple Music Update for Windows Brings Scrolling Lyrics
• Microsoft is finally bringing Windows Vista-like gadgets to Windows 11 desktop
• Best smartwatch for Running 2023 – Garmin, Apple, Polar & more
• Best Docks for Mac 2023 – Anker, Belkin, Baseus & More

(Via)

The post Windows 10 and 11 users facing inconsistent ‘Update and Shut Down’ issue appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft has announced today a major update to Windows 11 that the company claims will make the everyday routine easier for users. The update includes several new features and improvements that will roll out gradually to Windows 11 devices starting from February 28.

One of the most exciting features is the new AI-powered Bing Chat that will be integrated into the Windows taskbar. Users can simply click on the Search in the taskbar and start chatting with Bing in their preferred language. Bing can help users with various tasks such as searching the web, getting directions, booking flights, generating content and more. Users can also ask Bing questions about Windows 11 or any other topic and get informative and engaging answers. The new Bing chat is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model equipped with advanced natural language processing and machine learning technologies that enable Bing to understand and communicate fluently with Windows users.

Another feature that will surprise many users is the tabs in Notepad? Seriously? Well, Notepad is one of the oldest and most popular apps in Windows, but it lacked some more modern functionalities such as tabs, cleaner organisation and dark mode. With the update, it seems that Notepad will finally get these features and more. Users can now open multiple files in tabs within Notepad, switch between them easily, save their work automatically and choose between light or dark themes.

The Windows 11 update also brings a new screen recording feature to Snipping Tool. Snipping Tool is a handy app that lets users capture screenshots of their screen or a specific area. With the update, users can also record a video of their screen or a specific area with audio and annotations. The feature looks like it can be useful for creating tutorials, presentations or sharing feedback.

Other features that are part of the update include:

• A new power management feature that can help users save energy by adjusting their device’s performance based on their usage patterns.
• New energy recommendations in system settings to make it easier for users to control their environmental impact.
• A new design language for Windows 11 apps that will make them more consistent, modern and beautiful across devices.
• New accessibility features such as Braille display support and enhanced voice access in key apps
• New touchscreen navigation controls for touch devices such as tablets, and 2-in-1s
• Phone Link for iPhones so users can see their iPhone’s notifications on their PC’s Action Center (Windows Insiders only)

The update is expected to be available for all Windows 11 devices starting March 2023. For users who want to try out the new AI-powered Bing, you can sign up for the waitlist to join the new Bing preview here.

If you are already in the Bing preview, then you just need to update your Windows 11 build to the latest build. You can do so by opening Windows Update settings (Settings > Windows Update) and selecting Check for updates.

 RELATED:

• Windows 11 Finally Lets iPhone users Link Their Phones to their PCs
• Microsoft Updates Bing’s Friendliness and It Clearly Explains That It Is Not Sentient and Feel No Emotions
• OnePlus Ace 2 (11R) is now available on Giztop for $499
• OnePlus Ace 2 (OnePlus 11R) Full Review: Flagship Killer is Back

(Source)

The post Windows 11 Gets Major Overhaul with AI-Powered Bing, Tabs in Notepad, Screen Recording and More appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft has unveiled a new feature for Windows 11 that will let iPhone users link their phones to their Windows PCs and access various features from their devices. The feature, let’s call it Phone Link for iPhones, is currently only available for preview under the Windows Insiders program.

According to Microsoft, Phone Link works by installing a companion app on the iPhone that connects to the PC via Bluetooth. Once paired, users can see their phone’s notifications on their PC’s Action Center and manage them from there. They can also reply to text messages using the Phone Link app on their PC, which syncs with the Messages app on their iPhone. But it should be noted that Phone Link for iPhones does not support replying to group messages or sending media in messages.

However, it is not clear when Phone Link for iPhones will be available for all Windows 11 users or what other features it will offer. Microsoft says it is working on adding more functionality to Phone Link over time. For example, in Phone Link for Android phones, users can drag and drop photos from their phone to their PC using File Explorer or other apps.

Phone Link is one of the many new features that Microsoft has introduced with Windows 11, which launched in October 2021. The new operating system also features a redesigned Start menu that centers icons and shows recommended files and apps; a new Microsoft Store that offers more apps and games, including Android apps via the Amazon App Store; support for widgets that display personalized information; improved performance and security; and more.

Windows Insiders can try out Phone Link for iPhones by updating the Phone Link app to version 1.23012.169.0 or higher. To join Windows Insiders, users need to sign up with a Microsoft account and opt-in for preview builds in Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. Users should be aware that preview builds may have bugs or issues that affect their devices.

Phone Link is similar to Apple’s Continuity system, which lets users seamlessly switch between their Macs and iPhones. Continuity supports features like making phone calls, sending SMS messages, using apps like Safari or Notes, copying and pasting content, unlocking devices with Apple Watch, and more. However, Phone Link for iPhones does not support these features yet.

Phone Link is aimed at making it easier for both Android and iPhone users to work across their devices without having to switch back and forth between them. It also shows Microsoft’s efforts to make Windows 11 more compatible with different platforms and ecosystems. Whether Phone Link will be useful or popular among iPhone users remains to be seen.

RELATED:

• Android Games Now Playable on Windows 10 and 11: Here’s How
• OnePlus Ace 2 (11R) is now available on Giztop for $499
• OnePlus Ace 2 (OnePlus 11R) Full Review: Flagship Killer is Back

(Source)

The post Windows 11 Finally Lets iPhone users Link Their Phones to their PCs appeared first on Gizmochina.

Attention all PC gamers! Have you ever struggled with getting the RGB lighting on all your components to work in sync? You’re not alone! The dilemma of mismatched RGB parts from different manufacturers is a common one, and in most cases, controlling them with a single application isn’t a viable option. Furthermore, installing multiple applications such as Razer Synapse, Steelseries Engine, and ASUS Armoury can slow your PC down since these applications run in the background and sap a decent chunk of system memory. But what if we told you that Microsoft might be working on a solution?

Recently, a software developer discovered a hidden feature in the latest Insider build of Windows 11, which offers controls for RGB components. As shown in the screenshots shared by the developer, Microsoft has added lighting controls to the personalization menu within the Windows 11 Settings app. With this, you can have an overview of all your RGB components, including external peripherals, and easily adjust the brightness and color. You can even select from a variety of effects and choose the speed of repetition. Plus, the feature allows you to match your computer’s lighting with your Windows accent color.

Although Microsoft has not officially confirmed the existence of this feature in Windows 11 build 25295, the developer suggests that it could be in the works. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this information is from 2018, and references to the feature have been around for years. So, while the prospect of a native Windows 11 solution is exciting, let’s not get our hopes too high just yet.

It’s quite exciting to see that Microsoft may be working on making controlling RGB lighting a seamless experience. Fingers crossed that this feature becomes a reality soon!

RELATED:

• Microsoft’s Unskippable Microsoft 365 Trial Ad Draws Criticism from Windows Users
• Windows 11 Dev Build 25284 Adds Phone Link Widget for Easier Phone Access
• Best Smartphone Gaming Accessories in 2023

The post Windows Personalization Menu will Let You Sync RGB Lighting Across Peripherals appeared first on Gizmochina.

NFTs are no doubt one of the most famous things on social media and the internet. Literally, almost every user is aware of this. Many artists sold their original NFTs at very sky-high prices, which one couldn’t even expect. Now, a new updated version of the Windows-98 era’s music player has added support for Music NFTs. Yes, Winamp’s new update has added support for Music NFTs along with some bug fixes and newly added features.

“The most recent version of Winamp enables music lovers to connect their Metamask wallet to Winamp using Brave, Chrome, or Firefox. Then, it links their preferred music NFTs to their dependable player “The business stated in a press statement that was given to Ars. “Winamp is introducing this new capability for Ethereum and Polygon/Matic protocols, and allows audio and video content distributed under both the ERC-721 and ERC-1155 specifications.”

Winamp’s current goals (creator platform, NFT marketplace) come into conflict with its actual shipping product during this circumstantial phase (a music player whose cultural relevance peaked during the George W. Bush administration). According to the release notes, an updated rendering engine for Winamp’s in-app browser would be necessary in order to immediately display webpages required to download these NFT playlists since the existing rendering engine is based on Internet Explorer 10.

Fans of the original Winamp will still find a lot to enjoy here, and it’s wonderful to see that the modernising efforts made in the 5.9 version are paying off in the form of quicker updates. A “memory footprint decrease,” an increase in streaming audio bandwidth, an upgrade to OpenSSL 3.0.5, and a few more upgrades for the essential codecs and other programmes that Winamp depends on are among the numerous changes included in the new edition. NFT support can be disabled either during the installation process or after Winamp is set up, according to a post by Winamp developer Eddy Richman (also known as “DJ Egg” on the Winamp forums).

Related

• LG floats a new NFT marketplace for its smart TVs called Art Lab
• Apple is advertising on Twitter again: Elon Musk
• Huawei and Universal Music China join forces for spatial audio

The post New Update of Winamp Adds New Features, Fixed Known Bugs and Add Support for Music NFTs appeared first on Gizmochina.

Orange Pi, a software company with headquarters in Shenzhen Xulong, has just unveiled its brand-new laptop operating system, which is based on Android. The recently unveiled OS is very much like a hybrid of Windows and Android since, although being based on Android, it has more of a Windows-like appearance and feel. It provides every fundamental functionality a desktop-oriented operating system should have.

The Orange Pi 800 keyboard PC is compatible with the most recent OS version. Soon, support for the Orange Pi 5 SBC will be introduced. The OS is reportedly based on Android 12. We don’t know of any Android 12 SDK available for the RK3399 chipset, therefore that might be a brand error. Next year, the company plans to develop Orange Pi OS (OH), an Open Harmony variant, as well as Orange Pi OS (Arch), an Arm version of Arch Linux.

The company asserts that its primary goal in creating the Orange Pi OS was to give customers, particularly those who were experienced with Windows and macOS—two of the most well-known desktop operating systems—a comfortable and seamless user experience. Due to the fact that it is built on top of the Android OS, its users may also benefit from the wide variety of apps available. We really don’t know a lot right now regarding the OS’s overall device support.

Speaking of the Orange Pi OS’s highlights, it provides a Windows-like experience with a UI that has a similar overall appearance. The OS also has sophisticated and unique privacy management capabilities. It already has Google Play Store loaded, enabling users to easily access a wide range of applications. The company has also stated that they would soon offer a feature that will allow users to quickly switch between styles and themes inspired by Windows and macOS.

Related

• MediaTek Sets Its Sights On The Windows On ARM PC Market
• Newly Launched USB Adapter Enables Quad Monitor Support on M1 & M2 Macs
• Microsoft Edge ‘Drop’ feature will allow seamless file sharing between Windows 11, Android & Mac

The post A New Orange Pi OS Announced for Laptops; Based on Android appeared first on Gizmochina.

Smartphone processors using ARM architecture are getting better and better every day. In fact, they have recently become powerful enough to defy computers. In particular, Apple has launched very powerful laptop and PC models with the M series processors. The company’s success convinced other chip manufacturers to enter the ARM PC market. MediaTek, one of the manufacturers in question, has set its sights on the Windows on ARM PC market.

MediaTek still plans to enter the Windows on ARM PC market

MediaTek, one of the most popular processor manufacturers in the world, continues its leadership in the smartphone market. However, the company wants to carry its success to the PC market. At an event hosted by the company, future plans were revealed. One of the MediaTek executives said that they see a $40 billion opportunity for the PC market.

The first target of MediaTek will be the Chromebook market. The company recently launched the new Kompanio 520 and 528, entry-level chipsets for Chromebooks. Both processors stand out with their efficiency and being sufficient for daily use. Unfortunately, the details of the tech giant’s future plans are unknown.

Still, MediaTek vice president Vince Hu said, “In CPU and GPU we are having to make some bigger investments as a foundational capability. Based on this sentence, it can be said that the company has serious goals for the Windows on ARM market.

Also, MediaTek will design improved CPUs and GPUs in-house rather than acquire them from third-party manufacturers as Qualcomm did. The new Kompanio 520 and 528, entry-level chipsets for Chromebooks, have been released today. MediaTek’s PC operations will be led by Adam King, MediaTek’s vice president and general manager of customer computing. King previously worked at Intel for ten years and held key positions.

• Sony PlayStation VR2 Will Use Mediatek’s Upcoming VR Chipset
• MediaTek Announces Pentonic 1000 Chip for TVs With 4K 120HZ Support
• MediaTek T800 5G modem announced; delivers download speed of 7.9Gbps
• MediaTek Kompanio 520 and 528 announced for entry-level Chromebooks
• MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC launched: key specifications, compatible smartphones, and more

(Source)

The post MediaTek Sets Its Sights On The Windows On ARM PC Market appeared first on Gizmochina.

It will be mandatory for PC makers to switch from hard disk drives to solid-state drives for all Windows 11 PCs launching in 2023. The information comes from publication Tom’s Hardware which reported that the Redmond-based tech giant is pushing OEMs to drop HDDs as their primary storage and instead shift to SSD. 

Currently, a large number of Windows laptops come with hybrid storage systems that include a HDD as well as SSD. The former is used for bulk storage whereas the latter offers performance enhancements like fast loading times, data transfers etc. The report adds that the exact date of shifting from HDDs to SSD is not clear yet but Microsoft had plans of making it a requirement this year. The switch to SSDs is now likely pushed to the second half of 2023. 

PCs with hybrid storage systems and only SSDs are quite costly. Apart from this, leading brands including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and more also offer affordable models with only HDD as the storage option. There are also models with eMMC storage for those on a tight budget.

The move to switch to SSD from HDD would result in increased prices of PCs as SSDs are expensive compared to the traditional spinning drives. The additional costs are likely to be transferred to the customers by raising the prices of the laptops and PCs. 

Microsoft’s rival Apple already uses SSDs in its MacBook and Mac range of computers. 

Related:

• Samsung’s T7 Shield SSD is a more durable version of the T7, starts at $143.99
• Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 desktop with 27-inch 4K display, Ryzen 7 5800H launched in India
• Windows 11 Android app support to soon expand to these countries

The post PC makers will be required to mandatorily switch to SSD from HDDs by 2023: Report appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last year, Microsoft announced Windows Subsystem for Android which will allow Android apps to run on Windows 11. The service has been made available to Windows users in the United States, and now, Microsoft has announced that the service will extend to more regions before the end of 2022.

These regions will include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom (Via XDA Developers). For those unaware, this feature was announced in June 2021 and made its way to the live version of Windows earlier this year. Microsoft has partnered with Amazon for this service and provides the Android apps via the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.

If you live outside of these above-mentioned regions and can’t wait for the update to make its way to your country, you can easily access the feature from the Microsoft store after changing your region settings in Windows. The more challenging part is getting access to the apps themselves as Amazon Appstore currently works only with US-based Amazon accounts. There is still a way to sideload the Android apps on Windows 11, however, it would require a bit of tinkering and technical know-how.

RELATED:

• Microsoft Windows 11 is running on almost 20% of all PCs: AdDuplex
• Microsoft Edge browser to soon get a free inbuilt VPN
• Microsoft finally brings Android app support on Windows 11 via Amazon AppStore

The post Windows 11 Android app support to soon expand to these countries appeared first on Gizmochina.

A developer was able to boot Windows 11 ARM on the Android-running Xiaomi Pad 5 earlier in November 2021. And fast forward to now, another dev has taken advantage of the previous project and has seemingly made some improvements to get it running better. While a couple of kinks still remain to be ironed out, that hasn’t stopped them from running Geekbench on the tablet and flexing its scores.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 running Win11 ARM64 has managed to score 465 and 1,992 points in the single-core and multi-core tests respectively. This is well under the tablet’s 780 and 2800 scores when it’s running stock software but is still a start nevertheless.

The developer behind the feat goes by the username @PaluRookie on Weibo (via IT Home) and has said that there’s currently a problem with the PEPs (Platform Extension Plug-ins) driver. The GPU is also non-functional due to its driver being missing, but we hope that to see both issues resolved soon.

The entire thing appears to make use of the WOA (Windows on ARM) project — a community initiative to get newer versions of Windows to work on older Lumia and new Android devices since the OS no longer supports mobile phones. It was earlier based on Windows 10 for ARM, but with better ARM support on Windows 11, devs are now rushing to get more mobile devices to run the desktop OS.

RELATED:

• Xiaomi 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22+: Specs Comparison
• Baseus GaN3 Pro 100W Desktop Power Strip launched on Xiaomi Youpin
• Xiaomi working on a Foldable Phone with a Pop up selfie camera
• Xiaomi launches Anti-Viral Performance T-shirt for sports enthusiast in India
• Xiaomi 12 Pro launch timeframe for India tipped, enticing pricing expected

The post Xiaomi Pad 5 running Windows 11 ARM shows off its Geekbench scores appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft is expected to kick off the launch of its upcoming Surface Laptop 5 lineup this year. Ahead of any official announcement, the Surface Laptop 5’s full specs sheet has been leaked. The upcoming Surface laptop will have two sizes and come in AMD as well as Intel models.

This time around, Microsoft will offer 13.5-inch and 15-inch Surface 5 models. The 13.5-inch notebook will have a 2256 x 1504 pixels resolution, whereas, the 15-inch one will get a 2496 x 1664 resolution. Both will sport a 120Hz PixelSense Flow refresh rate, 3:2 aspect ratio, and Dolby Vision.

As for the internals, the 13.5-inch device will arrive in three chipset models – Intel Core i5-1240P, Intel Core i7-1280P, and AMD Ryzen 5 6680U. On the other hand, the 15-inch notebook will have two chipset options – AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7-1280P.

Both laptops will come in 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM. On the storage side, both will have 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB SSD storage options.

The Intel models will have Iris Xe iGPU, while the AMD models will come with the new RDNA 2 powered Radeon GPU. The Ryzen models will offer up to 21 hours of battery, whereas, the Intel models will provide 19 hours of the total battery. The nominal battery capacity will be 58WH and the minimum will be 56.3WH.

WiFi6, Bluetooth v5.1, Thunderbolt 4, USB 4, USB-A, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the Surface connect port will be some of the connectivity options. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 will boot on Windows 11 OS and will have a 30-days free trial of Microsoft Office 365. The laptops will have a 1-year limited warranty and come in Matte Black, Sandstone, Platinum, and Ice Blue colors.

RELATED:

• Microsoft Your Phone will soon show recent apps used on your Samsung phone
• Microsoft Surface Duo gets work-in-progress Windows 11
• Microsoft Surface Pro 8 starts at Rs. 104,499 (~$1,412) in India
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio launched in Europe & UK

(source)

The post Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 to arrive in two sizes and have AMD and Intel models appeared first on Gizmochina.

Yesterday, Samsung unveiled their new devices at the Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event, which included the Samsung Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. However, one announcement that might’ve slipped under the radar among all the hype is the upcoming improvement to the Microsoft “Your Phone” app for Samsung smartphones.

At yesterday’s launch event, Samsung briefly announced the Your Phone app will get a new quality of life feature for Galaxy smartphones which will now show the recent apps used on the smartphone. As we know, Samsung smartphones are the only device other than Microsoft Surface Duo that can open mobile apps onto Windows using the Your Phone app.

The new functionality will enable users to pick up anything they were doing on their smartphone and continue on their Windows desktop or laptop.

As seen in the image, the Your Phone application will appear in the Taskbar of your Windows PC which can be clicked to reveal the list of recently used apps on the phone. Users can also view all apps on the phone from this popup to access and open any apps they want.

As mentioned above, currently Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Microsoft Surface Duo are the only devices that allow users to use the mobile apps on their Windows-powered PC. But if you use a smartphone of any other brand, you won’t be left out for long as Windows is working on bringing dedicated functionality that will be able to run Android apps on PC. The functionality is said to come to both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and is currently in a limited beta testing phase.

RELATED:

• Samsung’s Exynos 2200 only 5% faster than Exynos 2100, GPU uninspiring too
• Samsung promises to offer four generations of Android OS updates for its devices
• Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ unveiled with 120Hz display, 30X Space Zoom, and SD 8 Gen 1
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with S Pen deals a death blow to the Note series
• Qualcomm pushes for Snapdragon 8 Gen1+ launch to replace Samsung made 8 Gen1 chips: Report

(Via)

The post Microsoft Your Phone will soon show recent apps used on your Samsung phone appeared first on Gizmochina.

On October 5, 2021, Microsoft released Windows 11 to the masses. Although Early adopters of the operating system faced multiple bugs and difficulties, new data has surfaced revealing that more and more people are upgrading to Windows 11.

According to XDA Developers, the January usage report published by AdDuplex shows that Windows 11 has almost doubled its userbase since November 2021. For those unaware, AdDuplex is a company that provides an advertising framework for apps on the Microsoft store.

The report shows that the user base of Windows 11 is 16.1% of total users, which was only 8.6% back in the month of November. These numbers appear to be in line with Microsoft’s recently stated that users are adopting Windows 11 much quicker than expected, which is twice as fast as they adopted Windows 10. The company even claimed that customer satisfaction with Windows 11 has been the highest among all Windows versions released as of yet.

Though it is worth keeping in mind that this data is from a sample size of 60,000 systems which is rather small when you consider that billions of systems use some form of Windows OS. The data also leaves out systems not using Windows 10 or 11 since only the recent version can have the AdDuplex SDK. Meaning the data does not include Windows 7 and 8 users.

That aside, the growing userbase is still impressive considering that a lot of systems are incompatible with Windows 11 and can not be upgraded via normal methods. And the popularity of Windows 11 is still expected to grow as the company matures the Android apps and games support on the operating system.

RELATED:

• Google brings Android games to Windows, but its in limited beta
• Google will bring Android games to Windows 10 and 11 next year
• Microsoft Teams now features the Walkie Talkie functionality across all platforms
• Microsoft and Qualcomm partners to develop chips for AR glasses

(source)

The post Windows 11 is being adopted twice as fast as Windows 10: Report appeared first on Gizmochina.

Chromebooks‘ popularity, especially among those looking for low-cost computers, can’t be ignored. While Microsoft has tried to offer affordable computers under its Surface Go line, it hasn’t seen wide adoption. A new report says it is having another attempt with the launch of a new lightweight OS called Windows 11 SE that will make its debut on a new affordable Surface Laptop aimed at K-12 students.

Microsoft wants to take on Google’s Chrome OS with Windows 11 SE according to Windows Central. The operating system will be specially made for affordable computers starting with Microsoft’s own affordable computer which should launch as Windows SE. It is not yet known what SE stands for but this trimmed-down version of Windows will have features tailored for educational purposes. However, there are a bunch of details about the upcoming computer.

The source reports that the laptop is codenamed Tenjin and it will have a plastic body. Considering it will be designed for K-12 students, it should be able to survive kids’ not-so-careful handling.

The Surface Laptop SE (tentative name) will have an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, an Intel Celeron N4120 processor, and up to 8GB of RAM. There is no mention of the storage capacity but we won’t rule out the possibility of the base model having just 32GB of storage like many HP Stream laptops.

Other features revealed by the source are a full-sized keyboard and trackpad, a single USB-A and USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a barrel-style power port. We certainly would have preferred if it supported USB-C Power Delivery. The estimated battery life is currently unknown.

There is no mention of when Windows 11 SE and Surface Laptop SE will be announced but the latter is expected to be priced under $400 so it can compete with Chromebooks from Acer, HP, and Lenovo.

RELATED:

• Here’s a look at a prototype of the unreleased Microsoft Surface Neo
• Android Apps arrive on Windows 11 for Windows Insiders
• Surface Laptop Studio: A Surface Studio in a portable form factor

The post Microsoft is working on Windows 11 SE and an affordable Surface Laptop for younger students appeared first on Gizmochina.

Earlier this month, Microsoft had launched its highly anticipated Windows 11 OS. But soon after, AMD warned that the latest version of Windows had caused the performance of its processors to take a hit. Now, the first update of the new operating system has just gone live, however, it seems that the latest software update has further worsened this issue.

A new report from TechPowerUp found that PC systems that ran AMD Ryzen CPUs were seeing much higher latency after the first update of the new Windows went live earlier this week. Furthermore, Microsoft and AMD also found two issues with Windows 11 on Ryzen processors. This included slowing performance by up to 15 percent in certain video games along with L3 cache facing three times higher latency.

Similarly, the second issue affects Team Red’s preferred core technology that shifts threads over to the fastest core on a processor. As per the chipmaker, the second bug can potentially impact performance on CPU intensive tasks. The TechPowerUp’s report measured the L3 cache latency on a Ryzen 7 2700X at around 10ns, with Windows 11 raising this to 17ns while the October 12 Patch Update making the latency reach an even higher 31.9ns.

As of right now, patches for both of the bugs on Ryzen are set to roll out by the end of this month. However, the fact that these problems still occurring despite Microsoft severely limiting the number of processors that are eligible for the latest Windows is still surprising. Notably, the news also arrives as various Windows 10 systems are struggling to upgrade to the latest OS. As per a WccFTech report, around 55 percent of all workstations are not eligible for the new Windows, with only 44.4 percent of PCs meeting the CPU requirements while only 52.55 percent meet the TPM requirements as well.

RELATED:

• Windows 11 is not working well with AMD Ryzen SoCs, fix awaited later this month
• Windows 11 PCs with Qualcomm WiFi chips to offer Ethernet level latency and reliability
• Apple makes more money via gaming than Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Activision combined
• Windows 11 still suffers from File Explorer memory leak bug

The post Windows 11 first update worsens performance of AMD CPUs appeared first on Gizmochina.

The much-awaited and the biggest transformation that was due from Microsoft has finally rolled out officially. Windows 11 is here and is living up to the hype. But the only set of users not happy with Windows 11 are the ones using AMD Ryzen processor-powered machines. The company has reported that AMD chips could face performance drops of up to 15 percent in some cases.

Apparently, there are two issues that have troubled AMD-powered device owners with Windows 11. The first is that Windows 11 may triple L3 cache latency. AMD believes that this may lead to a 3-5 percent worsened performance and some games, specifically used for eSports, may see performance drops of up to 15 percent.

The second one targets AMD’s “preferred core” technology, which usually aims to shift threads over to the fastest core on a processor. AMD has cautioned users with more than 8 cores about TDP where performance issues are more noticeable.

Well, the good thing is that both AMD and Microsoft are already on to it and have stated that they are “actively investigating these known issues for resolution via software updates.” There are two updates, a Windows update and a software update, that are lined up for later this month to resolve the ongoing issues. In the meantime, sticking with Windows 10 appears to be the only wise option.

Related:

• Windows 11 PCs with Qualcomm WiFi chips to offer Ethernet level latency and reliability – Gizmochina
• Acer launches Aspire Vero with Windows 11, built using recycled plastic – Gizmochina
• Windows 11 still suffers from File Explorer memory leak bug – Gizmochina

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jM1gtthnDU[/embedyt]

The post Windows 11 is not working well with AMD Ryzen SoCs, fix awaited later this month appeared first on Gizmochina.

October is known to pack several tech announcements but this year may see the launch of fewer products judging by the large number of launches manufacturers squeezed into September. There are some highly anticipated announcements but they are not expected to happen until later in the month. Regardless, there are some exciting launches coming in the first week of October.

Android 12 – October 4

Google is expected to announce the stable release of Android 12 on Monday, October 4. Android 12 was first announced a few months ago but it has been in beta. The stable release for the general public is reported to be scheduled for release on October 4 and as expected it will be available first for Google’s own Pixel phones but we should see a few manufacturers also release the stable update for a few of their devices on the same day.

Windows 11 and Office 2021 – October 5

Microsoft will officially release the latest version of its operating system called Windows 11 on October 5. The OS was first unveiled a few months ago with a promise for a release to the general public on October 5. The new operating system will bring a visual overhaul, redesigned apps, improvement in performance, and Android app support to millions of Windows users across the globe.

Microsoft will also announce Office 2021, the latest version of its suite of productivity apps for consumers on the same day. The new software suite will come with features such as a new UI that goes in line with Windows 11, dark mode, new excel functions and formulas, new recording features for Powerpoint, and real-time collaboration as is available on Microsoft 365.

Nokia T20 Tablet – October 6

Come October 6, HMD Global will announce the first Nokia Android tablet since it got the license to manufacture Nokia-branded phones. The tablet is expected to launch as the Nokia T20 and according to the manufacturer, it will come with all of the features we have come to love on the current Nokia smartphones.

RELATED:

• Upcoming Smartphones in October 2021: OnePlus, Google, Honor, Realme & more
• Meizu 18 series gets Flyme 9.2 update ahead of schedule
• Alcatel 3X Plus with dual cameras and 4,000mAh battery launched for ARS 23,999(~$243)

The post Next Week in Tech: Android 12 stable, Nokia tablet, and Windows 11 stable appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft undoubtedly has some really odd set of requirements for Windows 11. A survey by IT management company Lansweeper has confirmed that only 44.44% of workstations met Microsoft CPU requirements. Out of them, only 52.55 percent had TPM 2.0 chips. This means that a large section of PC users will not be able to fulfill the TPM chip requirements and will hence not be able to upgrade to the new OS.

And it’s not just the TPM 2.0 that’s being taken into account. Microsoft has also set a threshold for the generation of processors required – at Intel’s 8th generation chips. There are a couple of 7th generation processors as well that have made the cut including the i7-7820HQ, but even 7th-gen chips are fairly recent in terms of PC years.

In short, if your PC is older than 2017, it will simply be unable to run Windows 11. Of course, four years is by no means a reasonable period, but for enterprises, it is pretty average.

The implication of this is that most enterprises will not be upgrading to Windows 11 early on considering the amount of capital investment it will require.

The excuses given for this move by Microsoft were security, compatibility, and reliability.

Moreover, servers fared worse in this regard (via: The Register). The survey showed that less than 1% of virtual machines were capable of running the OS as per Microsoft’s requirements.

Further compounding the problem is the fact that Windows 11 is radically different when compared to Windows 10. Due to this, there are concerns about retraining costs suggesting companies will not be getting on board the Windows 11 train anytime soon.

With most new PCs coming in with Windows 11, consumers are bound to make the switch. However the same cannot be said about enterprises. this might lead to an extremely fragmented market similar to when both Windows XP and Windows 7 were dominant at the same time.

Microsoft is obviously aware of this and has promised long-term support for Windows 10 until 2025. But a fragmentation problem is still quite likely.

RELATED:

• Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with LTE Advanced will be released in 2022
• Microsoft promises Android 11 update for Surface Duo before year’s end
• Microsoft Surface Go 3, Surface Slim Pen 2 & Ocean Plastic Mouse Official
• Honor partners with Microsoft to develop smart and integrated technology solutions

The post Over half of enterprises not meeting Windows 11 requirements, as per survey appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Studio launched today and it is a pretty interesting device. As the name says, this is a laptop but it packs some of the features of the Surface Studio. If you call this a portable Surface Studio, you are not off the mark.

The Surface Laptop Studio looks like a regular Surface Laptop in its default state called Laptop Mode. However, its form factor transforms when you pull the 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow touch display with a 2400 x 1600 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate forward such that it covers the keyboard but leaves the trackpad visible. This mode, which is called Stage Mode, is more convenient if you want to write on the screen or switch to a touch-based input. It is also great for playing games and watching movies.

The display can be extended further towards you until it lays flat like a tablet and is covering the keyboard and trackpad. Microsoft has dubbed this Studio Mode and is best for when you are creating such as writing, painting, or drawing. The device also has an area underneath where users can store the Surface Slim Pen 2.

The Surface Laptop Studio is different from that of the Surface Book which has a removable display so you can use the computer as a tablet. Microsoft says that the Surface Laptop Studio is a culmination of years of work and development in areas such as display, hinges, and chipset.

The Dynamic Woven Hinge is made of woven fabric with embedded cables that can bend 180 degrees.

With respect to its specs, the Surface Laptop Studio has a quad-core 11th Gen Intel processor (available in Core i5 and Core i7 variants), integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU (i7 model) with 4GB of VRAM, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of removable SSD.

For ports, there are 2 USB 4.0 ports with Thunderbolt support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port. The Surface Laptop Studio has Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, Quad Omnisionic speakers with Dolby Atmos, dual far-field microphones, Windows Hello face authentication camera, a 1080p webcam.

1 of 4

Microsoft says it will run Windows 11 Home out of the box and come preloaded with the Xbox App and a free one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Included in the box is a 60W Surface Power Supply for the Core i5 model while the Core i7 model gets a 95W charger.

The Surface Laptop Studio has a starting price of $1599.99. It is available in only one color – Platinum – and can be purchased starting October 5.

RELATED:

• Microsoft Surface Duo 2 arrives with a bigger screen, 5G & triple rear cameras
• HP unveils the Envy 34-inch All-In-One Desktop PC with Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU
• Honor to launch high-end MagicBook V 14 laptop on Sept. 26, signs new deal with Microsoft

The post Surface Laptop Studio: A Surface Studio in a portable form factor appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft has been proactive with the Windows 11 update and improvements ever since it came into existence. Microsoft is aiming to finalize things and present a seamless experience before it begins rolling out to the general public starting next month. A new Windows 11 build 22454 has been released for the Insiders in the Dev Channel that brings a modern context menu design for the Recycle Bin along with a bucketload of fixes and improvements.

Major changes:

• Right-clicking on Recycle Bin on the desktop now uses the new modern context menu.
• Added an option when right-clicking a network share in File Explorer to pin it to Quick Access without having to click Show more options.
• We have begun releasing an updated version of the Korean IME with adjustments made based on Windows Insider feedback. We believe this will provide a more reliable input experience for Korean on Windows 11. The updated version of the Korean IME follows the new visual design of Windows 11 with acrylic in the candidate window, a new selection visual, and dark mode support. It also improves improved performance and compatibility. The updated Korean IME is rolling out to a subset of Insiders in the Dev Channel first, to help us quickly identify issues that may impact performance and reliability. Over time, it will roll out to everyone in the Dev Channel. Please file feedback via Feedback Hub under Input and Language > Text Input.

Bug fixes and improvements:

• We fixed the issue that was causing PCs with Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) enabled to bug check continuously. PCs with WDAG enabled should now receive Build 22454.
• Windows Terminal is listed again when right-clicking on the Start button (WIN + X).
• The narrator should announce the Start launch more reliably now.
• The Desktops flyout should now dismiss properly for Narrator users when scanning with item navigation across the Task View button.
• Fixed an issue where the preview thumbnails for Desktops were not rendering correctly for certain aspect ratios.
• Fixed a rounding issue that was making the volume icon tooltip show the wrong number in some cases.
• The input indicator, Quick Settings, and notification center icon tooltips will no longer display behind the flyouts when they’re open.
• Addressed an underlying issue that was resulting in the volume icon in the Taskbar displaying sound was muted when that was not the case.
• Fixed an issue that could cause the Taskbar to unexpectedly get stuck on top of full-screen applications, such as PowerPoint presentations, after interacting with the Taskbar previews.
• Taskbar icons should no longer flicker when you mouse over them while using a contrasting theme.
• Fixed an issue where app icons would occasionally unexpectedly animate onto the Taskbar from somewhere other than from below.
• Shift + Click on an app icon in the Taskbar to launch a new instance of that app (for apps that support multiple instances) is now working again.
• Did some work to address an issue where app icons could get stuck in an alert state in the Taskbar even if the app in question was closed.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the text candidates to not appear after the first time the handwriting panel was invoked.
• Mitigated a stutter in the animation when tapping a text field to invoke the touch keyboard.
• Fixed a bug that was causing clipboard history to not render for some people.
• Displaying 3rd party IME icons in the input indicator should be more reliable now.
• Addressed an explorer.exe crash that could happen when changing window focus while using the touch keyboard.
• Fixed an issue for people who’d opted into the previous version of the Japanese IME that was causing certain games to crash.
• Fixed an issue where the tip for voice typing when using the touch keyboard wouldn’t be connected to the microphone button.
• Addressed an issue where the touch keyboard could get into a state where the key labels would be invisible due to the wrong background color being used.
• Mitigated an issue that was leading to the touch keyboard settings flyout having white on white text sometimes.
• Did some work to address an issue where interacting with the expressive input button in the touch keyboard could result in the candidate area having a broken layout.
• Improved the reliability of context menu invocation.
• Mitigated a couple of issues that were causing leaks when using File Explorer.
• The context menu will now not immediately dismiss when the option to open things with a single click is enabled in File Explorer.
• If you press F11 to full-screen File Explorer, then use WIN + Shift + Left/Right to change what screen the window is displaying on, pressing F11 again will no longer jump the window back to the original screen.
• Mitigated an issue when typing with certain 3rd party IMEs into the search box in Settings that could result in the candidate window being rendered elsewhere on-screen (not attached to the search box) and/or characters inserted into the search box not displaying.
• We did some work to help address an issue that was making the Windows Insider Program page in Settings appear blank sometimes.
• The mouse pointers under Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch are no longer invisible for Arabic and Hebrew display languages.
• System > Storage > Show more categories > Other should no longer always say it’s managed by group policy even when it isn’t.
• Added some links to “Find my device” in Settings to help you learn more about the privacy resources.
• Start time and end time pickers under Focus Assist > During these times are now visible when the focus is set while using a contrasting theme.
• Addressed a crash that could happen when using Sound Settings.
• Fixed an issue with the volume slider in Quick Settings that was causing the volume to sometimes save at a slightly different level than what was actually set.
• Fixed a crash that could happen when the network icon updated states on the login screen.
• Made a change to address an issue where title bar options including close, minimize, and maximize were not appearing as expected in certain apps when moving the mouse to the top of the screen while the app was maximized.
• Improved icon rendering for certain apps in the Search hover flyout.
• Addressed an issue that was causing overlapping text in the Share window for certain languages.
• Made some performance improvements when switching to the Details tab of Task Manager.
• If the Windows Security app is open when switching to dark mode, the UI elements should respond better now and not have unreadable text.
• If there are a large number of exclusions listed under Virus and Threat Protection in the Windows Security app, it will now display a progress indicator when loading them.
• Fixed some text clipping in the Windows Security app when using the option in Accessibility Settings to increase the text size.
• Mitigated an issue that was causing the WM_CTLCOLORSTATIC message used in certain apps to be ignored, so the colors in some places wouldn’t appear correctly.
• Fixed a leak when the desktop background was set to a slideshow, impacting performance over time until explorer.exe was restarted.
• Mitigated an issue that was causing some PCs to bugcheck while on modern standby.
• Fixed an issue that was causing slower Wi-Fi speeds after enabling Hyper-V and creating an External V-Switch.
• When animations are disabled in the system, there should no longer be a fade animation in UWP apps like Settings or the Feedback Hub when transitioning from the splash screen to the app content.

The list is big (more on the build 22454 can be checked out at Windows 11 blog) and mostly improves the functionality ahead of the October 5 launch.

Related:

• Huawei confirms Windows 11 support for all its MateBook Series Laptops (gizmochina.com)
• Lenovo launches Yoga Slim 7 Carbon, Slim 7 Pro laptops, with Windows 11 and Ryzen 5000 series CPU – Gizmochina
• Ineligible Windows 11 PCs being booted out of Windows Insider Program (gizmochina.com)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ib3tZdwTmg[/embedyt]

(via)

The post Windows 11 build 22454 goes live for Insiders in the Dev Channel appeared first on Gizmochina.

Being an iteration that included radical changes, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will not bring joy to the older PCs. Among the CPUs that were cut off the list are the 6th gen and 7th gen Intel processors. AMD processors were in no good shape either. But that didn’t stop enthusiasts from getting their hands on the next-gen Windows, and they went for it anyway. Previously, Microsoft allowed these older PCs to at least test out the new Windows version. But as we move closer to the stable release date, the process of kicking out unsupported PCs has begun.

Earlier, users who were already in the Dev and Beta channels with unsupported hardware were allowed to stay in the program till the stable version was out. Upon its arrival, they’d have to be turned back to Windows 10 21H2 build. But now, Microsoft has already begun to filter out ineligible devices and prompting them to go back to Windows 10 to keep the update cycle running.

Microsoft has now dropped ineligible systems from the Insider program and tells them to install Windows 10. pic.twitter.com/zfALanmcuq

— BetaWiki (@BetaWiki) August 31, 2021

Microsoft continued to air pre-release builds on unsupported CPUs, namely 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2 which eventually became the stepping stones to the big upgrade, apparently letting a big chunk of ineligible devices be part of the Windows 11 program. This explains why the company allowed Insiders and Dev channels to sneak into the new version. With the older PCs testing out the earlier builds, Microsoft used that data to formulate a conclusion that eligible PCs had negligible crashes, at around 0.2%, while ineligible PCs had 52% more crash incidents.

So now, it’s time to move back to where your older PCs belong. For the systems that are being deported back to Windows 10, you may still have a chance to run Windows 11 by installing it via ISO.

Related:

• New Microsoft Surface machines to debut ahead of Windows 11 launch (gizmochina.com)
• Windows 11’s Android app support won’t be available right away – Gizmochina
• Windows 11 gets October 5 release date as a free upgrade for eligible devices – Gizmochina

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRY-_IjDkg[/embedyt]

The post Ineligible Windows 11 PCs are being booted out of Windows Insider Program appeared first on Gizmochina.

After announcing Windows 11 in late June, Microsoft has now revealed that the new version of its operating system will be available starting on October 5.

The update will begin rolling out to eligible devices starting on that day as a free upgrade. The update will first be available for newer devices before becoming available for older ones. Depending on your device, it may take weeks or even months before the update becomes available for you. We should also see new PCs announced after the release date run Windows 11 out of the box.

General Manager of Windows Marketing, Aaron Woodman, said it is expected that all eligible devices should have received the free upgrade by the middle of 2022. Users should get a notification once the update is available.

There are lots of new features that Windows 11 will bring but it has been reported that not all of these features will be available at launch. The Verge states that support for Android apps via the Amazon store will not be available at launch. However, a future update in 2022 may bring the feature to everyone.

You can check out our post detailing 11 interesting features that Windows 11 brings. It includes UI changes, redesigned apps, and more.

RELATED:

• Microsoft will now allow Windows 11 to be installed on unsupported CPUs using ISO
• These Xiaomi and Redmi laptops will get Windows 11 update
• Windows 11 Insider Preview ISO is now available to download for everyone

The post Windows 11 gets October 5 release date as a free upgrade for eligible devices appeared first on Gizmochina.

Earlier this week, Microsoft released the insider build of Windows 11 for everyone. There are a lot of interesting features in the new update. So here are 11 new features on Windows 11 that are worth checking out, and these features make the upcoming Windows update worth looking forward to.

Expected Release Date of Windows 11

Microsoft is testing out Windows 11 and ironing out the bugs before the new iteration of Windows hits the market. Windows 11 is scheduled to release later this year during the holidays. The Windows 11 powered PCs are expected to release starting January 2022.

A new Mac inspired interface

Windows 11 brings a clean and modern interface with rounded corners and pastel shades. The biggest change you’ll notice will be the new position of the Taskbar with a revamped Start Menu. The UI is more polished and offers more functionality over the previous iterations of Windows.

Universal Media Control 

With Windows 11, you can control all the media playback on your PC from the Action Center. Everything shows up on the Action Center no matter what you’re playing. You can play a random YouTube video, your favorite song on Spotify, or a video saved on your PC, and all of them will be shown in the Action Center.

New Microsoft Store

Windows 11 comes with a new Microsoft Store. The new Microsoft Store is built from scratch, and now it supports apps built on different platforms, including Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Java, and Progressive Web Apps. It now also offers themes and extensions for the Microsoft Edge browser. The Windows 11 Microsoft Store also comes with a new and sleek user interface for easy navigation.

Android Apps Support and Amazon App Store

Yes, Windows can now run Android apps, and that too natively. Further, you can sideload the apps you want to run on your PC. The Android apps would be supported by both Intel and AMD processors. The Windows 11 will also come with an Amazon-powered App Store for Android apps so that you won’t have to sideload APK every time.

Widgets 

The new Windows 11 comes with widgets, and it’s very similar to what we’ve seen in the macOS Monterey. Now, you can check out the weather, news, stock prices, scores in the widgets section. You can also customize the widgets section and give it a personal touch.

Auto HDR and Dynamic Refresh Rate for Gaming

With Windows 11, Microsoft announced the Auto HDR feature on the new platform. Auto HDR will elevate the viewing experience while you are playing games. Further, Windows 11 also comes with support for dynamic refresh rate, so if you’ve got a display with a high refresh rate, then you’re in for a smooth viewing experience.

Redesigned File Explorer

Windows 11 comes with a new, modern-looking, redesigned File Explorer. It comes with new modern icons, a context menu, and a new command bar at the top. The new design focuses on functionality and how easy it can make file management.

Faster Windows Updates

During the announcement, Microsoft promised that Windows 11 would offer a much faster and smoother update process. The Windows 11 comes with support for background installation mechanism, making updates faster than before. Moreover, the new updates will be 40% smaller than before, saving us data and time.

Redesigned User Interface

Windows has gone through a major redesign. Windows 11 brings a lot of new elements across the platform. The Start Menu is now more functional, and Action Center is following a more mobile-UI approach. The Settings have been revamped, too, with menus and sub-menus and a static pane. The edges are more rounded than before, giving Windows 11 a modern look.

Integrated Microsoft Teams

After a year of work-from-home, Microsoft has decided to integrate the Teams app into Windows 11. Teams would be integrated directly into the Taskbar for easier access. Also, Microsoft Teams is getting a redesign with the arrival of Windows 11.

Improved Virtual Desktop Support

Windows 11 makes creating and accessing Virtual Desktop easier, something like the macOS. Now, you can access the virtual desktops created by clicking the Desktops icon on the Taskbar. You can rename or reorder the desktops on your PC. Moreover, you can also set different wallpapers on different desktops.

These features make the upcoming update very interesting, and you need to check them out if you’re installing Windows 11 on your PC. You can either update your PC to Windows 11 insider build or clean install the ISO file of the preview build.

Do let us know in the comments below which feature are you most excited about. 

RELATED:

• Microsoft makes it harder to switch default Edge browser in Windows 11
• Microsoft Windows 11 receives new Snipping tool and app updates
• Windows 11 on Microsoft’s Lumia 950 XL smartphone gets a new Dialer
• Windows 11 to arrive with redesigned Microsoft Paint and Photos app

The post 11 interesting features on Windows 11 worth checking out appeared first on Gizmochina.

Microsoft pushed the Insider’s preview build yesterday, and it has made developers go ahead and experiment with their systems. Keeping aside the usual PCs, a developer went ahead and installed the latest Windows 11 software on a half a decade old Microsoft Lumia 950 XL smartphone, a phone favorite among Windows developers. 

I got asked to make a video of Windows 11 on the Lumia 950 XL, so here you go:

A (very) quick (and rushed) look at Windows 11 running on a Lumia 950 XL after a day of workhttps://t.co/ziYixQCOZ7

— Gustave Monce (@gus33000) June 29, 2021

The developer Gustave Monce successfully installed Windows 11 preview build on the Lumia 950 XL. Not to forget that the handset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon series chipset and does have ARM-based support. In a video shared by the developer, the smartphone runs the full version of Windows 11 without major issues. 

The video further shows the smartphone did lag a bit while opening certain apps, but as compared to the older Windows 10, it had no issues running the latest software. This shows the compatibility of the latest software skin from Microsoft and also paves the way for more ARM-based devices to run the new OS. 

As of now, Microsoft has confirmed that the all-new Windows 11 can run on newer computers – those running Intel 8th generation chipsets and AMD Zen 2 chipsets or higher, and on Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series devices. It also supports ARM-based devices including smartphones and other ARM-based gadgets. 

In related news, users have also managed to run Windows 11 on ARM-based Raspberry Pi 4. It was based on a Broadcom processor, which is already compatible with Windows 10. Interestingly, users reported that the latest Windows 11 was faster than  Windows 10 OS. 

Related: 

• Microsoft clarifies Minimum System requirements for Windows 11, Removes PC Health Check tool
• Windows 10X spotted running on a Nokia Lumia 950 XL
• Microsoft brings Android apps to Windows 11 through Amazon Appstore
• Microsoft reveals Windows 10 support will end Oct. 2025, new proof Windows 11 is…
• Microsoft patents Logo shaped under-display camera tech for Surface devices

The post Windows 11 spotted running on half a decade old Microsoft Lumia 950 XL appeared first on Gizmochina.

Windows 11 leaked before its launch, OnePlus’ merger with OPPO, Apple’s new Beats earbuds for Android, and more are among the top stories from last week. Here’s your chance to get up to speed.

Beats Studio Buds – Apple’s earbuds for Android

Apple-owned Beats announced a new pair of wireless earbuds last week and they are practically targeted at Android users. The spanking new Beats Studio Earbuds with ANC are not only smaller and more affordable than its last pair of earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro, they also pack more Android features than any of Apple’s other earbuds.

Windows 11 leaks before its official launch

Microsoft is announcing a new version of Windows in a few days but just a week before the launch, it gets leaked as an ISO file available for users to download and install on their PCs. It is called Windows 11 and it brings a revamped visual interface among other upgrades.

In related news, Microsoft has also confirmed that it will be ending support for Windows 10 four years from now.

Realme GT lands in Europe alongside Realme’s first robot vacuum cleaner

The Realme GT 5G is now available in Europe, months after its launch in China. With a starting price of €449, the flagship killer does have a lot going for it. Realme also announced new smartwatches and its very first robot vacuum cleaner.

Realme has also confirmed that it has plans to launch its first tablet and laptop soon.

Honor 50 series unveiled in China, coming to global markets with GMS

The Honor 50 series launched in China last week. The Honor 50 Pro and Honor 50 marked the global debut of the Snapdragon 778G while the Honor 50 SE launched with a Dimensity 900 chipset. Honor has confirmed that the Honor 50 series will have Google Mobile Services when they launch outside China.

The manufacturer also announced a new pair of wireless earbuds, the Honor Earbuds 2 SE with ANC and a 32-hour battery life.

North America gets budget OnePlus Nord N200 with 5G support

After launching the Nord CE 5G in Europe and India almost a fortnight ago, OnePlus announced the more affordable Nord N200 for the North American market. This 5G phone is priced at $240, has a Snapdragon 480 5G processor, and packs a 5000mAh battery. It will go on sale this week.

OnePlus announced merger with sister company, OPPO

OnePlus announced last week that it has now integrated its teams with that of OPPO. While the OnePlus brand still exists, the integration is supposed to grant it access to more resources to create better products.

Chinese brands come together for a unified fast-charging standard

Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, Huawei, Honor, Rockchip, and some other Chinese companies have come together to develop a unified fast-charging standard, one that works across brands. The group’s aim is to eliminate incompatibility issues and reduce the e-waste caused by the multiple accessories buyers own/have to purchase when switching between brands.

Motorola has a new rugged phone not made by Lenovo

Motorola launched its first rugged smartphone, the Motorola Defy, last week. However, unlike other Motorola smartphones, this is not made by Lenovo but by the Bullitt Group. The mid-range phone has a Gorilla Glass Victus-protected display, triple cameras, and a 4G processor.

RELATED:

• Poll of The Week: Should international OnePlus phones ship with ColorOS or OxygenOS?
• Next Week in Tech: Mi 11 Lite and Mi Watch Revolve Active, Windows 11 is coming, Narzo 30 heads to India
• Samsung reported to have postponed the launch of its AMD GPU

The post Top stories from last week: OnePlus merges with OPPO, a unified fast-charging standard for Chinese brands, Honor 50 series, new Beats earbuds, and more appeared first on Gizmochina.

Next week is an important one for Windows users as Microsoft has a major Windows-related announcement. Realme will also be bringing its Narzo 30 phones to India, while Xiaomi has a new smartwatch scheduled to launch. Here are the key announcements for the fourth week of June.

Mi 11 Lite 4G and Mi Watch Revolve Active – June 22

Xiaomi has a launch event scheduled for June 22 in India. The tech giant plans to launch its upper mid-range phone, the Mi 11 Lite as well as a new smartwatch, the Mi Watch Revolve Active.

Realme Narzo 30 – June 24

Months after launching the Narzo 30A and the Narzo 30 Pro 5G, realme is ready to bring the Narzo 30 to India. The manufacturer has already confirmed that the phone will be available in 4G and 5G versions. Realme will also announce a 32-inch smart TV alongside the new phones.

Windows 11 – June 24

Microsoft will announce a new version of Windows on June 24. We already know it will be called Windows 11, thanks to a leaked version that is already available on the web.

Vivo V21e 5G – June 24

Vivo also has a launch scheduled for June 24 in India. The manufacturer plans to announce the Vivo V21e 5G, a mid-range 5G phone on that day. Vivo already sells a 4G version of the device powered by the Snapdragon 720G processor for a little over $400, so expect this to cost a bit more.

RELATED:

•  Realme CEO reveals Realme GT 5G, Realme Book launch plans for India
• Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 with an under-display camera to be more expensive than Mi 11 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy A02 is expected to launch in India soon as production begins

The post Next Week in Tech: Mi 11 Lite and Mi Watch Revolve Active, Windows 11 is coming, Narzo 30 heads to India appeared first on Gizmochina.

It has been six years since Microsoft first announced Windows 10. The operating system has received several updates that bring new features since then but Microsoft has stuck to the same name. Come June 24, the tech giant will announce a new version of Windows.

Yes, a new version of Windows is coming at the end of the month according to a quoted tweet by Yusuf Mehdi, the Corporate Vice President, Modern Life, Search & Devices Group, at Microsoft. The executive quoted a tweet by the official Windows account that said there will be an event on June 24. While the original tweet didn’t say what the launch is for, a teaser video included hints at it being related to the Windows operating system. However, it is Mr. Mehdi that lets the cat out of the bag when he reveals that it is for a new version of Windows.

I haven’t been this excited for a new version of @Windows since Windows 95! Although I don’t remember the box being that big. Make sure you save the date for June 24! #MicrosoftEvent https://t.co/j80Sh9rwos pic.twitter.com/XgfEI2qxqG

— Yusuf Mehdi (@yusuf_i_mehdi) June 2, 2021

It has been reported that Microsoft has also sent out invites for the event and that CEO, Satya Nadella, as well as Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay, will be presenting at the event.

There are speculations that this new version will launch as Windows 11 citing the teaser in the tweet above and the fact that the event is scheduled for 11 AM. Regardless of what it will be called, the new version is expected to come with visual changes such as new icons, an imprved file explorer, and improved Bluetooth audio support. We should also see some of the features that were said to have been taken from the now killed Windows 10X operating system.

We are excited for this new version of Windows and can’t wait to see what Microsoft has in store for us.

RELATED:

• Microsoft’s Your Phone App extends its multi-app multitasking feature to more Samsung devices
• Microsoft to finally remove Adobe Flash from Windows 10 in July 2021
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 arrives in India in AMD and Intel variants, starts at Rs 1,02,999

The post Microsoft to unveil a new version of Windows on June 24 appeared first on Gizmochina.