On this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we take a look at Copilot updates, PowerToys updates, Home windows 11 preview construct updates, browser updates… A variety of updates! We even have some {hardware} critiques, helpful guides for Chrome customers, and extra.

Desk of contents:

1. Home windows 10 and 11 information
2. Home windows Insider Program
3. Updates can be found
4. Critiques are in
5. Gaming information
6. Nice offers to test

Home windows 11 and 10

Right here we speak about every little thing taking place round Microsoft’s newest working system within the Steady channel and preview builds: new options, eliminated options, controversies, bugs, attention-grabbing findings, and extra. And naturally, you might discover a phrase or two about older however nonetheless supported variations.

Home windows 11 24H2 points simply maintain coming. This time, customers found that the working system was quietly throttling and slowing down. Upon minimizing an app or window, Home windows 11 24H2 reportedly goes right into a kind of power-saving mode with an aggressive discount of processor clock velocity.

On the brilliant aspect, we lastly have a repair for a really previous pre-Home windows 11 0x80131500 Retailer error.

Valve has some contemporary stats for avid gamers and builders to take a look at. The outcomes of the Steam {Hardware} and Software program Survey for February 2025 at the moment are out, giving us a better take a look at the most well-liked {hardware} and software program picks amongst PC avid gamers. Curiously, final month, Home windows 11 skilled a notable lower on Steam, letting Home windows 10 declare first place as soon as once more.

Home windows Insider Program

Here’s what Microsoft Launched this week for testing within the Home windows Insider Program:

	Home windows 11	Home windows 10
Canary Channel	27808	Not Relevant
Dev Channel	–	Not Relevant
Beta Channel	22635.5025	Not Relevant
Launch Preview Channel	–	–

In a considerably sudden transfer, Microsoft introduced a really native Copilot app for Home windows 11 and 10. It’s now out there for testing within the Insider program (take a look at our article to learn to set up it outdoors this system), providing clients XAML-based UI and a few new options (some are nonetheless lacking, although).

Updates can be found

This part covers software program, firmware, and different notable updates (launched and coming quickly) delivering new options, safety fixes, enhancements, patches, and extra from Microsoft and third events.

This week, we had a number of PowerToys updates. For one, Microsoft launched model 0.89 with enhancements to present instruments, resembling Superior Paste, FancyZones, Picture Resizer, and extra. Along with that, Microsoft needs to listen to your suggestions concerning the upcoming redesign for the Keyboard Supervisor.

On the browser aspect, we’ve an enormous announcement from Opera. The corporate introduced the AI Browser Operator, which, because the title suggests, can take over management for you and execute varied duties following your instructions. The Operator might be out there for Opera clients in a future replace.

Microsoft launched Edge 134 within the Steady channel, bringing improved Groups hyperlink dealing with on macOS, efficiency enhancements in Settings (due to WebUI 2.0), and all kinds of bug fixes throughout the browser. The Sport Help (a separate model of Edge for Sport Bar in Home windows) additionally acquired an replace with new sport help and numerous contemporary options.

Within the Edge Insider program, Microsoft launched Edge Dev 135.0.3168.2 with an improved replace menu and fixes for varied bugs that have been inflicting crashes.

Mozilla additionally dropped an enormous launch. Firefox 136 landed within the Launch channel with long-anticipated vertical tabs, sidebar enhancements, hardware-accelerated HEVC video help on Linux with AMD GPUs (macOS included) and different modifications.

Lastly, we’ve a few helpful guides for Chrome customers. Try this text to learn to pressure darkish mode on all web sites and this information to learn to set up uBlock Origin and different Manifest V2-based extensions, which at the moment are turned off by default.

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You would possibly do not forget that in 2024, Microsoft introduced the top of Writer, a as soon as in style app from the Workplace suite. Now, we’ve a brand new help web page detailing what is going to quickly occur to the app and what alternate options customers can think about.

Talking of Workplace apps, Microsoft shared extra details about OneDrive backup prompts in Workplace purposes and an replace to OneDrive shared folders turning into hyperlinks.

Microsoft additionally launched yet one more replace for Copilot. Following the discharge of Assume Deeper and Copilot Voice for all customers, Microsoft upgraded its service to the o3-mini excessive mannequin, providing customers higher AI at no cost with limitless entry.

Different notable updates embrace the next:

• Microsoft launched Dragon Copilot, a unified voice AI assistant for clinicians.

• DeepSeek 7B and 14B AI fashions at the moment are out there on Copilot+ PCs.

• VMware launched a brand new model of Workstation Professional with fixes for Home windows 11 freezes and extra.

• Logitech Choices+ has been up to date with help for extra webcams, new options, and so forth.

• Microsoft invests in South Africa to spice up its infrastructure footprint and schooling.

• Microsoft provides the power to edit show names in Groups conferences for Preview customers.

• Microsoft Planner will get customizable backgrounds to make plans look higher.

And listed here are the most recent drivers launched this week:

• AMD launched a brand new chipset driver with improved app compatibility.
• Intel launched new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers with improved Wi-Fi sensing and extra.
• Intel 32.0.101.6647 WHQL with Rise of the Ronin help.
• Nvidia 572.70 WHQL with RTX 5070 help and extra.
• AMD 25.3.1 WHQL with help for brand spanking new GPUs, AFMF 2.1, FSR 4, and extra.

Along with a brand new chipset driver, AMD posted a notification that UEFI programs are required for its new graphics playing cards. UEFI is likely one of the Home windows 11 {hardware} necessities, and now, AMD is making it clear that its RX 9000 GPUs will not work on PCs with legacy BIOS.

Critiques are in

Right here is {hardware} and software program we reviewed this week

This week, we’ve a contemporary smartphone assessment from Robbe Khan. The brand new Xiaomi 15 visited his testing labs, exhibiting its glorious construct high quality, fast-charging capabilities, beautiful show, highly effective processor, and extra. Nonetheless, the cellphone is just not flawless, so be careful for some firmware quirks, occasional stutters, and so forth.

Subsequent, we’ve a assessment of the RX 9070 XT, AMD’s newest high-end graphics card. Steven Parker reviewed a variant from Sapphire, which scored an ideal 10 out of 10 rating for providing higher ray tracing, stable AI efficiency (you may test a devoted comparability right here), no questionable energy connectors, and good efficiency in gaming.

On the gaming aspect

Find out about upcoming sport releases, Xbox rumors, new {hardware}, software program updates, freebies, offers, reductions and extra.

In case you are a Sport Go subscriber, look out for brand spanking new video games coming quickly to the catalog. Monster Prepare, Galacticare, Enter the Gungeon, Balatro, and different indies might be out there to play on Xbox, PC, and Cloud very quickly.

Sport Go is just not the one service getting new video games. Amazon Prime Gaming is providing 20 PC video games as a part of this month’s provide. They embrace Saints Row: The Third Remastered, Mafia II: Definitive Version, Beholder 3, Wolfenstein: The Outdated Blood, Deus Ex: Invisible Battle, Session: Skate Sim, and extra.

Subsequent, we’ve GeForce NOW, Nvidia’s cloud-based gaming service that permits you to stream video games from the cloud. It now helps Monster Hunter Wilds, Break up Fiction, FragPunk, and extra video games. Simply understand that that you must personal these video games to play them on GeForce NOW.

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Microsoft has some excellent news for followers of the Tony Hawk’s Professional Staker franchise. The corporate introduced a remake of the third and fourth installments. They’re approaching July 11 for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Swap. The sport may also land in Sport Go as a day-on launch.

Offers and freebies

If you wish to play one thing new in your PC with out spending loads, take a look at this week’s Weekend PC Sport Offers article that includes a contemporary giveaway from the Epic Video games Shops, varied demos of technique video games, fighters, and extra.

Different notable gaming tales embrace the next:

• Rockstar introduced a brand new studio acquisition and shaped Rockstar Australia.

• Bethesda says it is planning “thrilling issues” for Starfield in 2025.

• Murderer’s Creed Shadows will provide 30, 40, and 60FPS modes on Xbox Sequence X and PS5.

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s DRM-free GOG launch will get a late March launch date.

Nice offers to test

Each week, we cowl many offers on completely different {hardware} and software program. The next reductions are nonetheless out there, so test them out. You would possibly discover one thing you need or want.

• NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router (RS700S): $549.99 | 8% off
• YAMAHA RX-A4A AVENTAGE 7.2-Channel AV Receiver: $779 | 18% off
• Oyen Digital Sprint Professional 8TB NVMe PCIe – $705.30 | 15% off

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