Gates, in an emotionally reflective blog post that starts with "Before there was Office or Windows 95 or Xbox or AI, there was Altair BASIC", described the code as “the coolest” he has ever written.

The story of Altair BASIC began in 1975 when Gates, then a Harvard freshman, and his friend Paul Allen were inspired by an article in Popular Electronics magazine about the Altair 8800, a computer powered by Intel’s 8080 chip.

Personal computing was nowhere near as big back then, but the duo recognized the potential and decided to contact the Altair’s manufacturer, Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), and proposed software that would enable users to control the hardware.

After over two months of development, Bill Gates and Paul Allen created Altair BASIC using the BASIC programming language developed at Dartmouth College in 1964.

Thus, Altair BASIC became Microsoft’s first product, initially licensed to MITS (As a fun trivia, back then Microsoft was actually "Micro-Soft."). The software’s success showed Microsoft the way forward, towards profit and growth, as well as technological innovation, and this led to the development of iconic products like Windows, Office, and more, something which our Neowin readers and countless other folks rely on daily.

Reflecting on Microsoft’s five-decade-long journey, Gates also acknowledged the contributions of the leaders that came after him, the likes of Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, as well as the many employees who shaped the company over five decades.

You can view the blog post here on Bill Gates' The Gates Notes website.

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Here are the update highlights:

Intel Game On Driver support on Intel Arc B-series, A-series Graphics GPUs and Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs for:

 

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered

 

Game performance improvements on Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs versus Intel 32.0.101.6653 software driver for:

 

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12)
  • Up to 15% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Balanced settings

Here is what was fixed:

Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Returnal (DX12) may experience lower than expected performance during gameplay.

 

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Returnal (DX12) may experience lower than expected performance during gameplay.

 

Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

 

• FragPunk (DX12) may experience an application crash while launching game.
• Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition (DX9) may exhibit white corruption while playing the game in windowed mode.
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (DX11) may experience intermittent crash during gameplay.

Finally, here is the list of known bugs:

Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (DX12) may experience an application crash while loading to gameplay.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit flickering corruption in certain scenes during gameplay.
• Returnal (DX12) may experience an application crash during gameplay with Ray-Tracing settings turned on.
• Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 (DX12) may exhibit corruptions on water areas in certain scenarios.
• MLPerf may exhibit intermittent errors when running on multi-GPU system configurations. It is recommended to disable integrated GPU as a workaround.
• Topaz Labs Photo AI may exhibit corruptions with certain image enhancement operations.
• SPECapc for Maya 2024 may experience intermittent application freeze during benchmark.
• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience an application crash while running the benchmark.
• Adobe Lightroom Classic may experience lower than expected performance. Workaround is to set recommended preferences in the application
  • Under Edit, Preferences, Performance options, choose Graphics Processor as “Custom”
  • Select “Use GPU for Display”, “Use GPU for Image Processing” and “Use GPU for Export” options.

 

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Returnal (DX12) may experience an application crash during gameplay with Ray-Tracing settings turned on.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit darker than expected shadows in certain campaign scenarios.
• Topaz Gigapixel AI may experience intermittent crash while exporting images.
• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience an application crash while running the benchmark.

 

Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

 

• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience errors intermittently with benchmark preset set to Extended.

 

Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel® Arc GPUs:

 

• Adobe Premiere Pro may exhibit corruption in the output video after performing 8K AV1 Encode.
• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience errors intermittently with benchmark preset set to Extended.

Intel 32.0.101.6732 non-WHQL is available on PCs with 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 with the following graphics products from Intel:

You can download the driver from the official website here. Full release notes are available here (PDF).

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The Microsoft Store page of the application confirms this as the description of the software now notes that Unison will no longer be supported after June 2025. Here is what it says:

Intel Unison will soon be discontinued. The first step in its wind-down process is ending service for most platforms at the end of June 2025. Lenovo Aura platforms will retain service through 2025.

Apple's iOS App Store and Google's Play Store also have the same message notifying users about the death of Unison. Meanwhile, HP published a support article in February with an added line about it:

Important Notice: Intel Unison will be discontinued effective June 30, 2025. After this date, the service will no longer be available.

If you are not familiar with Intel Unison and have not tried it, the application has some pretty cool features. For example, Unison can let users control their tablet using the Universal Control feature. Speaking of tablets, Unison also allows extending the PC screen by using the tablet.

Besides them, users can also make or take phone calls from their PC, send or receive text messages using the PC’s mouse and keyboard, and view their phone notifications on the PC screen. File transfer and bidirectional sharing of photos, videos and documents is also possible. And simply accessing the phone's photo gallery is also possible with the Unison app.

The app is highly rated across all storefronts with a 4.5 rating on Microsoft Store and Google Play Store, and a 4.7 rating on Apple App Store.

In terms of requirements, Intel Unison needs Windows 11 version 22H2 (SV2 or Sun Valley 2) to work. Hardware-wise, a 12th Gen Core i5 is the minimum. It also needs Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It is noteworthy that some features like the aforementioned Universal Control and display extension need a 13th Gen chip and the Premium Unison app.

Intel says that most Intel Evo-branded 13th Gen and above devices should come with the Intel Unison Premium app pre-installed and so you don't have to pay anything for it. Meanwhile, the free (mainstream) version is downloadable for everyone as long as you meet the above system requirements.

You can find more details and download links it on Intel's official website here.

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It’s time to put a pause on updates as I sort out developments from this coming Patch Tuesday.

Therefore, I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

The security updates coming next week include all supported Windows platforms, including Windows 10. Seven months may seem like a lot, but time flies. Given that time is needed to prepare for the end of Windows 10 updates, it’s better to think that a mere three months are left.

Will Windows 10 suddenly stop working on October 15, the day after Patch Tuesday? Absolutely not. Will it continue to function just as in the past? Yes. Is there any possibility that Microsoft might dribble out a Windows 10 patch or two after October?

Actually, yes. There is historical evidence that Microsoft looks at what the customer impact is, decides whether there is grave danger to its customer base, and on occasion releases patches after the end of life of a product. It’s happened several times before when there was a worm-style event and the risk from unpatched, out-of-support machines was too great to ignore.

However, I contend that the risk of using an unpatched version of Windows 10 is far lower than it was for Windows 2000 and Windows XP. We’re better protected today because our network infrastructure provided protections that did not exist 20 years ago, such as built-in firewalls and other protections in network hardware. I don’t predict events like the worms of old occurring for Windows 10. It could happen, but I consider it unlikely.

That’s why I think Microsoft’s past behavior represents a precedent for Windows 10. If Microsoft sees that a vast number of machines are at risk, it will take action and provide patches.

Nonetheless, I’m in the process of signing up for business extended support licenses for up to three years that require a volume licensing signup. Consumers will be able to purchase a one-year extension, although we’re still waiting for Microsoft to release full details about that.

Don’t panic.

Consumers

Based upon what we know about the upcoming nonsecurity changes discussed in Microsoft’s preview updates, put a pause on updating while we test and review any impact.

I do want to reiterate my advice about falling skies. Ignore the clickbait headlines. This is like seeing one rat in two months and yelling loudly that the neighborhood has a dangerous rat infestation and the plague is imminent. In many cases, very few people or organizations have reported the issue, or it affects a very small minority with complex environments — but the news reports it as if WWIII has arrived.

Always have a backup. Always remember that you can uninstall an update. Always ensure that any third-party File Explorer add-ons are up to date. Always ensure that any browser plugins are still supported and up to date. And as always, always watch and wait.

Microsoft still has not fixed the cosmetic error in Event Viewer on Windows 10 that is triggered by SgrmBroker.exe. This is the one that throws off the error message “The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker service terminated with the following error: %%3489660935.” It will occur right after booting and can be safely ignored.

The April Windows 10 update will fix the issue affecting some printers connected via USB but that supported both USB and IPP over USB protocols. Such printers would spit out an extra piece of paper every morning. My office now has a nice stack of scratch paper courtesy of our Lexmark printers. The March preview KB5053643 will then be folded into the April updates.

Businesses

Some bugs that will be fixed in the April security updates make me wince and continue to wonder why these took so long to be addressed. This is one of the reasons (besides being busy at the office) why I haven’t yet upgraded to 24H2.

An example is included in KB5053656 from March, which means it will be rolled into the April updates to Windows 11 24H2. The KB notes:

[Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)] This update addresses an issue with Windows LAPS. LAPS settings would not be preserved after an in-place upgrade.

This is mildly concerning. One of the tools often used to fix a misbehaving workstation is an in-place repair install. Many of us also want to upgrade Windows 11 from 23H2 to 24H2. Learning that LAPS might be impaired after such updates certainly caught my attention.

LAPS is a solution that allows the administrator (me) to have the computer assign a random password to the built-in administrator account and then store it in a domain setting. This allows me to ensure that attackers can’t guess or crack a local administrator password and then use that password to move laterally across a domain. You certainly don’t want an attacker to gain access to one workstation and then — merely because they have cracked the access on that computer — to be able to jump across the network and gain access to all workstations.

That’s for businesses. In a home setting, you probably want to access any and all file storage locations, and you’re very unlikely to have a domain to worry about.

Resources

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Rufus has, for the longest time, helped users workaround these problems. For example, the app, alongside others like Ventoy, allows skipping the requirements like internet connectivity and Microsoft Account (MSA) during Windows 11 installs.

So for those pissed about the recent dumping of BYPASSNRO script in Windows 11 24H2, Rufus can still do as it automatically makes the necessary Registry edits to re-create the BYPASSNRO file. Interestingly, users can also use another Registry trick for the same, and this method is actually officially endorsed by Microsoft itself.

The latest version of Rufus adds a mechanism to automatically detect and download updated Secure Boot DBXs from the official UEFI repo. Zstd compression support is now here, and in terms of bug fixes, there a quite a few too. A memory leak issue related to the user interface has been fixed, and a DLL sideloading vulnerability has been addressed. The version also drops ARM 32-bit support.

The full changelog is given below:

• Add a mechanism to detect and download updated DBXs from the official UEFI repository
• Add ztsd compression support for disk images
• Add a new exclusion feature in the settings, to ignore disks with a specific GPT GUID
• Improve detection for compressed VHD images that are too large to fit the target drive
• Fix commandline hogger not being deleted when running Rufus from a different directory
• Fix FAT filenames from embedded images being potentially truncated on image extraction
• Fix a side-loading vulnerability [CVE-2025-26624] with cfgmgr32.dll (with thanks to @EmperialX)
• Fix UI memory leaks (courtesy of @ozone10)
• Fall back to user/system default locale when getting error description (courtesy of @Wack0)
• Don't run the commandline hogger on POSIX shells
• Drop ARM 32-bit builds (Note that ARM 64-bit builds are NOT affected by this)

To download the update, head over to the Neowin software stories page or the official GitHub repo of Rufus. Keep in mind, though, that this is a beta release.

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Meanwhile, on the OS side of things, Microsoft is busy persuading folks on Windows 10 to upgrade to 11. From time to time, it keeps talking about features and things you won't have if you don't move to Windows 10. In the most recent such example, Microsoft highlighted how upgrading to Windows 11 via a clean install would improve PC security.

Ironically, Microsoft keeps making it harder to upgrade with pesky things like removing the OOBE/BYPASSNRO workaround for online Windows 11 installs, although thankfully, it still offers an official bypass for that; and third-party tools like Rufus also work.

However, not every system will be able to upgrade to 11, and Microsoft is aware of that. It does allow installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but the company does not officially recommend it. The company, in fact, actively discourages it, which is also clear from its actions. Instead, Microsoft insists users get a new PC for Windows 11.

Towards the end of last month, Microsoft published a new blog post on its website on how to deal with this issue. It is a checklist of things users must keep in mind when dealing with a Windows 10 device that can't update to 11, as it may not be eligible for the upgrade. This is relevant since the end of support date for Windows 10 is nearing.

In the article, Microsoft has once again reiterated that upgrading to a new Windows 11 PC is the best way forward, but before doing so, it is important to "responsibly" recycle the old PC, says Microsoft.

It writes:

Recycle your PC responsibly

 

When it’s time to say goodbye to your old device, make sure to recycle it responsibly. Lower the environmental impact at the end of your device’s lifecycle by mailing in your old PC to be responsibly recycled or trade it in for money you can use toward a faster, more secure, new Windows 11 PC.

 

Begin a new era with Windows 11

 

Why wait to enjoy the benefits of Windows 11? Upgrade now and experience:

 

• Enhanced security: Windows 11 offers advanced security features to protect against modern threats.
• New tools: Enjoy new features designed to improve productivity and user experience.
• Performance improvements: Experience faster performance and improved efficiency with Windows 11.
• Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with the latest software and hardware.
• Support: Receive ongoing support and updates from Microsoft.

 

Next steps: from Windows 10 to Windows 11

 

By following this checklist, you can ensure your data is safe, your device is ready for recycling, and you’re prepared for the future.

You can find the blog post here on Microsoft's official website.

Neowin's Paul Hill has already written a detailed guide on how to deal with this issue. ESET, meanwhile, recommends switching over to Linux.

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On Windows 11, Microsoft is making it more difficult to bypass the internet and Microsoft account requirements during setup, effectively preventing users from creating a local account. In my opinion, this is a mistake.

This change is rolling out with Windows 11 build 26120.3653 and build 26200.5516, where Microsoft has removed the "BypassNRO.cmd" script, a workaround that previously allowed users to skip these requirements.

According to Microsoft, the decision aims to enhance security and improve the user experience. However, as expected, users quickly began to show their frustrations over the change.

Before diving into the reasons behind this pushback, let's start by saying that it's not a secret that Microsoft strongly prefers users to set up their PCs with a Microsoft account. This approach not only integrates seamlessly with the company’s online services and apps but also translates into significant money opportunities.

A Microsoft account enables key features like file and setting synchronization across devices, parental controls, and device tracking if lost or stolen. Additionally, since Windows 11 24H2, the system now automatically enables device encryption during installation, storing the recovery key in the linked Microsoft account.

Despite these benefits, Microsoft should keep the option to create a local account, especially during setup. There are several important reasons why restricting this choice is a step in the wrong direction.

Enhanced privacy

For those unfamiliar with Windows Hotpatch, it is a feature found on server versions of the operating system. Hotpatching applies security updates to in-memory processes, thus eliminating the need for a reboot. In addition to making security updates more seamless for the end users (everyone hates those update prompts), the feature gives IT admins peace of mind that everyone within their organization can have the latest security update right here and right now, regardless of what people are doing or when they reboot their computers.

With Windows Hotpatch, computers receive a single baseline update every quarter (a restart is necessary) with two months of hotpatches that do not require restarts (other updates might still require a restart).

However, there is a catch. As of right now, Windows Hotpatch is only available for Windows 11 Enterprise version 24H2 (Windows 11 Enterprise E3, E5, F3, or Windows 11 Education A3, A5, or Windows 365 Enterprise). Windows 11 Home and Professional do not support hotpatching. Also, you need a PC with an Intel or AMD processor. ARM-based devices are also supported, but the feature currently remains in public preview. Microsoft says ARM PCs will receive Hotpatch support "at a later date."

If you are interested, you can learn more about Windows Hotpatch here (announcement post) and here (documentation). If you are a regular user and Hotpatch does not apply to you, you might be interested in Quick Machine Recovery, which will help you fix computers that cannot boot by getting necessary updates and patches within Windows RE. QMR is currently in public testing, and Microsoft will bring it to all Windows 11 editions, including Home.

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Quite stupidly perhaps, Microsoft does not seem to make this process any friendlier as it recently blocked the popular BYPASSNRO script used to get by internet and MSA requirements during Windows 11 installs. Interestingly, there is also an official way to do so that is endorsed by Microsoft itself.

Like Windows 11, Microsoft also wants users, like business owners, to consider moving on from Office to Microsoft 365. It has highlighted the various limitations of working offline, among other things. It writes:

As a leader of a small or medium-sized business, you may have invested in Microsoft Office years ago through a perpetual license or “on-premises” version to equip your team with essential productivity apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Over the years, these familiar tools have become ingrained in your daily operations—so much so that you can't imagine working without them.

 

Yet, you may have started noticing limitations. Your apps are stuck on your desktop, limiting productivity anytime you're away from your office. You can't easily access your files or collaborate when working remotely or traveling, creating unnecessary friction for your team. Perhaps you’ve seen your company’s IT expenses creep upwards as you’ve added separate solutions for email, file storage, and virtual meetings.

Microsoft thus believes that this is the "perfect time" to get Microsoft 365, and it also has "numbers to prove" why it is right, especially considering Office 2016 and 2019 reach the end of support later this year alongside Windows 10.

It explains:

Now is the perfect time to move to Microsoft 365—and we’ve got the numbers to prove it

 

To examine the potential return on investment (ROI) companies realize by implementing Microsoft 365, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a study on The Total Economic Impact™ Of Microsoft 365 For Business. The study highlights a substantial 223% ROI over three years, with a payback period of less than six months, proving that the initial investment is quickly recovered. Even more compelling, the study quantified over $500,000 in benefits over three years, driven by:

 

• Collaboration time savings of 1.5 hours weekly per user thanks to advanced communication tools, business automation, and process improvements.
• Enhanced IT specialist productivity, saving 686 hours annually by reducing help desks tickets and minimizing time spent on system updates and patching.
• Significant cost reductions, with over $297,000 in savings from retiring outdated hardware and software, along with lower IT maintenance costs.

You can find the blog post here on Microsoft's official Tech Community website.

Microsoft pulled a similar "commissioned study" stunt back in October 2024 in the case of Windows 11 vs 10. If you missed that story, the company actually compared differently-abled devices to prove Windows 11 was better.

Unfortunately for Microsoft 365, many IT admins and system admins feel that the New Outlook for Windows app is "hot garbage", and a lot of Neowin readers feel the same way too.

Not everything is bad, though, as there is some performance boost in the pipeline too. If you are on Windows 10, it is noteworthy here that users must move to Windows 11 too before November or else all Microsoft 365 updates will stop.

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According to Valve's latest Steam Hardware and Software survey results for March 2025, Windows 11 currently holds 55.34% of all Windows machines that participated in the survey (remember that participation is optional, so the final data does not represent 100% of all users). After a strange dip in February 2025, Windows 11 is back in first place with an 11.24-point increase.

Windows 10 is the second most popular operating system on Steam, with a 40.58% market share (down by 12.76 points in March 2025). This decline is hardly surprising, considering Windows 11 offers more gaming features like Auto HDR, DirectStorage, and more.

Still, do not expect Windows 10 to disappear from Steam even after the end of support in October 2025. Windows 7, a long-outdated system, still has 0.11% (+0.01 point in March 2025) even though it cannot even run the latest Steam version.

Overall, Windows has an overwhelming 96.10% share on Steam (-1.48 points). Linux is second with 2.33% (+0.88 points), and macOS is third with 1.58% (+0.61 points).

As for hardware preferences, the Nvidia RTX 3060 is once again the most popular graphics card among users, with a 4.94% market share. The RTX 4060 is second with 4.6%, and its laptop variant is third with 4.32%. The most popular AMD card is the Radeon RX 6600 with 0.86%. Other hardware picks include 16GB of RAM, a 6-core processor, 8 GB of video memory, up to 250 GB on the primary drive, and a 1080p display.

You can find more information on the official Steam website.

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Thunderbird, which already offers features like a calendar, contact book, and RSS reader, is most popular for being an email client. You can sync your various accounts, such as Gmail and Outlook, to it.

However, as Ryan Sipes, Managing Director of Product at Thunderbird, acknowledged last week, Thunderbird faces serious competition from services like Gmail and Office 365, which offer better integration with their first-party clients.

Thunderbird loses users each day to rich ecosystems that are both clients and services, such as Gmail and Office365. These ecosystems have both hard vendor lock-ins (through interoperability issues with third-party clients) and soft lock-ins (through convenience and integration between their clients and services).

That's why Thundermail, among a host of other services, was born. Thunderbird wants to offer a complete alternative that is "100% open source" and "freedom-respecting."

Starting with Thundermail, we don't have much details, and the official website is barebones, but the general idea is to provide email accounts to Thunderbird users (probably @thundermail.com).

For now, Thundermail is experimental and powered by Stalwart Mail Server, an open-source, all-in-one email server written in Rust, supporting protocols like JMAP, IMAP4, POP3, and SMTP.

According to Sipes, if the Thundermail project takes off with a strong user base, it will offer free tiers with limitations, with users having to pay to access more features like higher storage options.

Other services Thunderbird is looking to introduce include:

• Appointment: A scheduling tool developed to "make meeting with others" easier for Thunderbird users. The way it works is that you send a link to someone, and the receiver gets to pick a time on your calendar to meet.
• Send: Remember Firefox Send? It was a free, open-source, E2E encrypted service run by Mozilla from 2017 to 2020. Thunderbird Send is quite similar, albeit with the capability to allow for more "direct methods of sharing files." Although this is not the first time we're hearing of Thunderbird Send, the GitHub Lerna-powered monorepo was made public recently.
• Assist: Assist is an optional, experimental AI service, built in partnership with Flower AI, that will allow users to run language models locally.

In response to an encouraging comment from Mihovil Stanić, who wondered why Mozilla waited so long to sell services similar to Proton and Zoho, built around Thunderbird and open technologies, Sipes expressed confidence that Thunderbird had grown enough to support such offerings and encouraged users to engage with the projects.

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Microsoft has its reasons why it wants people to use a Microsoft Account instead of local accounts. The company explained in detail all about it back in 2024, and on the announcement blog post itself, it noted that the change was being made to "enhance security and user experience of Windows 11." Microsoft wrote:

We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.

Following this announcement, enthusiasts and smart Windows users started looking for ways in which they could work around and circumvent this. That is when we picked up on this newish method proposed by the user ThePineapple. We say newish since it already existed for the last six months or so, but no one had noticed it as the BYPASSNRO script has been so popular.

The trick involves using a CXH URI string to trigger a hidden local account during the OOBE. We covered it in its dedicated article here. There is also a PowerShell script that can help in this regard.

Meanwhile, another user has discovered yet another way to bypass this. This is similar to the BYPASSNRO one but involves going to the Registry and tweaking it.

Upon finding this, Neowin looked around and found that Microsoft's own official documentation explains how this works. The company notes that by default, the HideOnlineAccountScreens value is set to "false" such that the sign-in page appears during the OOBE. So for the bypass to work, one has to change it to "true". Microsoft notes that this is "primarily for enterprises" for running unattended installs, but it should work for all users.

Neowin also noticed that there is also an option to hide the wireless network setup option too using HideWirelessSetupInOOBE. Again, the default value is "false" so that this page appears, but users can flip it to "true".

Source: Microsoft (link1, link2)

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My intrigue for computing started when my parents brought home our first Windows 3.1 family PC and transitioned to an offline-only Windows 95 build with its iconic Start menu, obsessed with drawing shapes in Paint and writing homework in Wordpad.

However, it significantly picked up when we graduated to Windows 98 SE with a dial-up Internet connection and a heavy investment into yearly hardware upgrades. Having access to the World Wide Web from age 10 was formative to an incredible degree, influencing me throughout my life.

Now, as Microsoft turns 50 years old, I'm looking back at three programs that played a powerful role in shaping who I am today — do you remember them all, or were you occupied with others?

Let me know in the comments while I overcome my pre-millennium nostalgia.

MSN Messenger

Fast forward a decade, in 2022, Sony engineer Yuezhang Mo found that reducing repeated traversal of directory entries improved the performance of exFAT by up to 57%. This was pushed in Linux kernel version 6.2.

Mo is back to helping exFAT again, and this time, the latest pull request contains a bunch of exFAT-related improvements, and a performance boost is one of them. He writes:

Description for this pull request:

 

• Fix the random stack corruption and incorrect error returns in exfat_get_block().
• Optimize exfat_get_block() by improving checking corner cases.
• Fix an endless loop by self-linked chain in exfat_find_last_cluster.
• Remove dead EXFAT_CLUSTERS_UNTRACKED codes.
• Add missing shutdown check.
• Improve the delete performance with discard mount option.

For those wondering, the "discard mount" option refers to the operation of informing the underlying storage device about blocks that are no longer in use. So, when a file system is mounted with the discard option, it enables real-time discard operations. These operations automatically notify the storage device whenever blocks transition from "used" to "free."

The patch explains:

If the discard mount option is enabled, the file's clusters are discarded when the clusters are freed. Discarding clusters one by one will significantly reduce performance. Poor performance may cause soft lockup when lots of clusters are freed.

This commit improves performance by discarding contiguous clusters in batches.

The performance improvement was measured using an 80 GB file, and it took 4 minutes and 46 seconds or close to 287 seconds to delete that. With the new optimization, the task was completed in under 2 seconds, which equates to an improvement of 172 times:

Measure the performance by:

 

# truncate -s 80G /mnt/file

 

# time rm /mnt/file

 

Without this commit:

 

• real 4m46.183s
• user 0m0.000s
• sys 0m12.863s

 

With this commit:

 

• real 0m1.661s
• user 0m0.000s
• sys 0m0.017s

You can view the pull request here on the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML) website.

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And hey, you can now use the address bar as a calculator—just type your expression, and Mozilla will do the job for you. Nice.

Here is the changelog:

Version 137.0, first offered to Release channel users on April 1, 2025

 

Tab groups begin rolling out today! Stay productive and organized with less effort by grouping related tabs together. One simple way to create a group is to drag a tab onto another, pause until you see a highlight, then drop to create the group. Groups can be named, color-coded, and are always saved. You can close a group and reopen it later.

 

Firefox Address Bar Refresh 2025 - new ways to search for things new, previously viewed, and more - all from the address bar:

 

• Unified Search Button: A new, easy-to-access button in the address bar helps you switch between search engines and search modes with ease. This feature brings the simplicity of mobile Firefox to your desktop experience.

  

• Search Term Persistence: Now when you refine a search in the address bar, the original term sticks around, making it easier to adjust your queries and find exactly what you're looking for.
• Secondary Action Buttons: Suggestions for common Firefox features.

  

• Contextual Search Mode: Firefox detects if you are on a page that has search capability and offers that option for you to directly search with the page engine from the address bar. Use this option at least 2 times and Firefox will suggest adding the search engine to your Firefox.

  

• Contextual Search Engine Options: Use a Contextual Search mode option at least 2 times and Firefox will suggest adding the search engine to your Firefox so that it’s always available to you.

  

• Intuitive Search Keywords: You can access various address bar search modes with convenient and descriptive keywords (e.g. @bookmarks,@tabs,@history, @actions).

  

Firefox now identifies all links in PDFs and turns them into hyperlinks.

 

Support HEVC playback on Linux.

 

Now you can sign PDFs without leaving Firefox. Save your signatures to re-use later.

 

You can now use the Firefox address bar as a calculator. Simply type an arithmetic expression and view the result in the address bar drop-down. Clicking on this result will copy it to your clipboard.

Security fixes in Firefox 137.0 are available here, and Enterprise Release notes are available here.

You can update Firefox by heading to Menu > Help > About Firefox. Alternatively, get the browser from the official website or the Microsoft Store (if you are on Windows 10 and 11).

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Dynamic updates bring improvements to the Windows Recovery in the form of Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) updates, also called Safe OS updates, as well as to the Setup binaries in the form of Setup updates. The dynamic updates for Windows 11 24H2 also apply to Server 2025 as well.

First up, we have the dynamic updates for Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025:

KB5054981: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025: March 27, 2025

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to Windows setup binaries or any files that setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025.

 

...

 

KB5054686: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025: March 27, 2025

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment in Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025.

Up next, we have the dynamic updates for Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2:

KB5056378: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2: March 25, 2025

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to Windows setup binaries or any files that setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2.

 

...

 

KB5054059: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2: March 25, 2025

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment in Windows 11, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2.

For those who may not be aware, these Dynamic Update packages are meant to be applied to existing Windows images prior to their deployment. In a Tech Community blog post about Windows 10 Dynamic Updates, Microsoft explained Dynamic Updates in more detail regarding its various components and uses. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more:

As soon as a Windows 10 feature update initiates, whether from media or a Windows Update service-connected environment, Dynamic Update is one of the first steps invoked. Windows 10 Setup reaches out to an Internet-facing URL hosted by Microsoft to fetch Dynamic Update content, then applies those updates to your OS installation media.

 

Content acquired includes:

 

• Setup Updates: Fixes to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates.
• Safe OS Updates: Fixes for the "safe OS" that are used to update Windows recovery environment (WinRE).

 

In addition to these updates, Dynamic Update will preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. These are not updates to LPs and FODs, but reacquisition to ensure the user has these elements present with the update completes.

The Setup updates are available for manual downloading from the Windows Update Catalog website. You can find them here: KB5056378/ KB5054981. You can also avail of the WinRE updates manually there at KB5054686/ KB5054059, but they are delivered automatically via the Windows Update channel.

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According to the latest data published by Statcounter, Windows 11 made a significant jump in March 2025. Windows 10, on the other hand, lost a big chunk of users in just one month. As of right now, Windows 10 holds 54.23% of all Windows PCs worldwide, which is a 4.43-point decline. Windows 11 has 42.66%, which is a new all-time high for the operating system and an increase of 4.53 points (the biggest jump in three years).

For Windows 11, the year-over-year change is +15.98 points (in March 2024, it was at 26.68%), and for Windows 10, it is -14.84 points (69.07% in March 2024).

It is quite interesting to see Windows 11 catching up with its predecessor so quickly, but Microsoft still has a lot of work to do to convert the remaining Windows 10 users. Some of them will migrate to Windows 11 naturally, while others will have to stick to the outgoing OS for some time for all sorts of reasons. Some cannot officially update due to outdated (by Microsoft's standards) hardware, while others remain skeptical about Windows 11's changes and controversial design choices.

With Windows 10, Microsoft is offering the Extended Security Update program to regular customers for the first time (previously exclusive to commercial users), which is another reason why Windows 10 is expected to hang around for a bit longer. As of right now, Microsoft plans to provide extended security updates to regular consumers for only one year.

While all the drama is happening between Windows 10 and 11, the remaining Windows versions remain relatively unchanged in terms of their market shares. Windows 7 has 2.22% (-0.08 points), Windows XP is at puny 0.33% (+0.04 points), and Windows 8.1 is at 0.28% (-0.02 points).

You can find more information about Statcounter's latest data here.

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There are also other lightweight software programs like PassMark (free), which, although not quite as modern as something like 3DMark or Procyon, allows a user to run a quick pass to gauge the system performance.

We strongly urge you to avoid UserBenchmark, which, despite appearing to be helpful at first glance, has a serious bias against AMD hardware, and that means their performance assessments for non-Intel and non-Nvidia gear are not accurate and truthful.

Instead, you can try CrystalMark Retro, from Crystal Dew World, the creators of CrystalDiskMark. The app has received its latest update, and it supports Windows OS, including Windows 10/11, all the way back to XP, 95, and 98.

The release notes state:

This is a comprehensive benchmark software that runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51 or later. It supports (x86) , 64-bit (x64/ARM64), many-core, and multiple languages (over 48 languages), and can measure CPU, disk, 2D, and 3D performance with a single click.

CrystalMark, like PassMark, is not going to be the best tool out there if you want to know how good your hardware is in modern workloads. However, it can still give you some idea. For example, the utility uses OpenGL to assess GPU performance for 3D workloads.

However, that should not matter given that CrystalMark Retro is more geared towards users who are still running really old systems, and that is not an option on its alternatives since legacy support is mostly dead elsewhere.

I ran it on my own PC consisting of an AMD Ryzen 5700G (Zen 3) and the Radeon RX 6800 XT (RDNA 2). As you can see below, it does not test memory, so my 32GB Gskill DDR4-3600 CL16 kit was not given a workout.

Aside from this, the latest version also fixes a compatibility issue with the FM (Fujitsu Micro) TOWNS 32-bit retro PC that was released back in 1989:

It has been discovered that CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 does not work properly on FM TOWNS + Windows 9x.

 

- CrystalMark Retro 2.0.1 released! https://crystalmark.info - Fixed a bug that did not work with FM TOWNS

You can download CrystalMark Retro from its official website here, where it is hosted on SourceForge.

Source: @openlibsys (X)

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With version 2.0, Wintoys received a redesigned logo with light and dark mode support, a new welcome experience, some neat animations, and more. While visual changes are nice, the most interesting part about the latest update is its features, of course, and the official changelog has a lot of them.

For starters, Wintoys 2.0 now has a settings restore button that lets you undo everything and get back to the original state with a single click (this setting also applies to system changes). Those who are discontented with the File Explorer in Windows 11 can also get the classic interface and remove the Home and Gallery sections from the navigation pane.

Another great addition is the ability to enforce Digital Markets Act changes that let you uninstall Microsoft Edge in unsupported regions by triggering official processes and without changing regional settings.

The Tweaks menu also received a new Super-user section where you can activate God mode and Developer Mode, adjust User Account Control (UAC) settings, and toggle User Choice Protection Driver (UCPD).

Other improvements include new and updated system properties cards that let you check your storage, GPU driver version, Windows activation key, system uptime, and more. Just hover the cursor over a card on the Home page, and you will get more details about each part.

In addition to new features, Wintoys 2.0 brings multiple bug fixes and improvements. You can find the complete list of changes in the official release notes. Just keep in mind that there is a known issue where Alt + Tab freezes the app due to a bug in WinUI 3, which Microsoft has yet to fix on its side.

Wintoys 2.0 is now available, and you can download it for free from the Microsoft Store using this link. The app is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you want more toys for your Windows PC, check out the latest update for PowerToys, which delivered a new launcher, Color Picker improvements, and more.

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Microsoft announced the upcoming release of Command Palette in late December 2024, promising a revamped user interface, a reworked extension model, and other changes requested or suggested by the community. Now, several months later, the promised module is finally available.

Here are the release highlights:

• New module: Command Palette ("CmdPal") - A fully extensible quick launcher with a richer display and additional capabilities without sacrificing performance, allowing you to start anything with the shortcut Win+Alt+Space!
• Enhanced the Color Picker by switching from WPFUI to .NET WPF, resulting in improved themes and visual consistency across different modes.
• Added the ability to delete files directly from Peek, enhancing file management efficiency.
• Added support for variables in template filenames, enabling dynamic elements like date components and environment variables for enhanced customization in New+.

And here is the rest of the changelog:

Color Picker

 

• Replaced WPFUI with .NET WPF for the Color Picker, enhancing compatibility and improving theme support.

 

Command Palette

 

• Introduced the Windows Command Palette ("CmdPal"), the next iteration of PowerToys Run, designed with extensibility at its core. CmdPal includes features such as searching for installed apps, shell commands, files and winget package installation. This module aims to provide a more powerful and flexible launcher experience.

 

FancyZones

 

• Fixed a bug where deleting a layout resulted in incorrect data being written to the JSON file.
• Fixed a bug where layout hotkeys were displayed incorrectly, ensuring the hotkey list does not include invalid entries.
• Fixed an issue where the "None" option was missing in the editor layout.

 

Image Resizer

 

• Fixed warnings in ImageResizer regarding the use of variables "shellItem" and "itemName" without being initialized.

 

Mouse Without Borders

 

• Enhanced the logger to properly track the file path for easier debugging.
• Refactored the "Common" class into individual classes, updating references and unit tests.

 

New+

 

• Added support for variables in template filenames, including date/time components, parent folder name, and environment variables.

 

Peek

 

• Added the ability to delete the file currently being previewed in Peek, including navigation updates and handling for deleted items.

 

PowerToys Run

 

• Fixed an issue where duplicated applications were shown by ensuring the shell link helper opens .ink files non-exclusively and correctly retrieves the "FullPath".
• Fixed an issue where applying round corners on Windows 11 build 22000 caused crashes.
• Async the OnRename method to unblock the thread.
• Added support for using sq instead of ^2 in the Unit Converter.

 

Settings

 

• Disabled the spell check feature in the text boxes of plugin settings for PowerToys Run.
• Fixed an issue where InfoBars for release notes errors were not displayed properly, and added a retry button.

 

Workspaces

 

• Fixed an issue where some minimized packaged apps (e.g., Microsoft ToDo, Settings) were not snapshotted.

You can download PowerToys 0.90 from GitHub or the Microsoft Store. If the app is already installed on your system, go to Settings > General and click "Check for updates."

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This allowed the team to expand Thunderbird to mobile platforms, for the first time in history. A suitable candidate was found in K9-Mail for Android, which has since then be renamed to Thunderbird Mobile. A version for iOS is also in the works, but not yet available.

Recently, plans were announced to create new services. The first reactivates Firefox Send, a file transfer service. The second, Thunderbird Appointment, is an entirely new service.

Thunderbird Business Development and Community Manager Ryan Sipes announced two major additions to the portfolio on Friday.

• Thundermail, an email service.
• Thunderbird Pro, a list of services (Appointment, Send, and Assist).

Here is what we know about the plans:

Thundermail

The team wants to offer email accounts to users and expand its services this way. Users can sign up for a Thundermail email account and use it in Thunderbird and also on the web.

This is another first for the Thunderbird team, as web-based email services were never offered. Unlike competitors like Gmail or Outlook, Thundermail will be "100% open source". The service is developed and built by the Thunderbird team as well as contributors.

The main goal is to provide a "better service than the other providers out there" and one core feature is the alignment of the email service with the project team's values.

Thunderbird Pro

Thunderbird Pro unifies different services under its hood. The three starting services are the following ones:

• Appointment: a scheduling service that is designed to simplify meetings. Users may send a link to someone, which the recipient may use to pick a time on the sender's calendar for the meeting.
• Send: a revived version of Firefox Send. Email is still limiting file attachments, and Send aims to go around this similarly to how Google Drive or OneDrive help Gmail and Outlook customers get around the limitations.
• Assist: an AI, powered by Flower AI, which introduces AI features. None are mentioned specifically at this point and the team is clear that this will be entirely optional to use. Processing may be done on the user's device, or online using Nvidia's confidential compute feature.

Monetization

Monetization plays a central role, as the services costs money to run and maintain. The Thunderbird team plans to give "consistent community contributors" free access to the new services. Others will have to pay a subscription for access.

Once a sustainable userbase is established, a free tier may be introduced. This may have some limitations, like less storage for Thunderbird Send.

Closing Words

The newly announced mail service and Thunderbird Pro will be completely optional. Thunderbird users do not have to use them. The creation of an email service expands Thunderbird further and helps it compete with Gmail or Outlook more directly.

Especially the ability to manage emails on the web could attract new users who do not want to install a dedicated email client. The services may help as well, but it is too early to tell how successful or niche they will be.

All in all, these plans may help the Thunderbird team establish a second revenue pillar next to donations, which will benefit the entire community, if successful.

Now you: what is your take on this? Would you sign up for a Thunderbird email service or the announced services? Let us know how you feel about it in the comment section below. (via Sören Hentzschel)

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New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

 

Introducing speech recap in Narrator

 

We are always working to make Narrator more intuitive, efficient, and helpful for users who rely on it every day. With that in mind, we are introducing a new feature—speech recap —designed to help you keep track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. With speech recap, you can quickly access spoken content, follow along with live transcription, and copy what Narrator last said—all with simple keyboard shortcuts. Speech recap also provides a history of spoken content without having to redo the task just to follow what Narrator said.

 

You can open the speech recap window with Narrator key + Alt + X and can find the last 500 strings Narrator had spoken. Note that we refresh the text in this window every time Narrator starts. You can use standard reading commands and arrow keys to read the contents in speech recap window and copy text required for reference. Need to save or share something Narrator just said last? You can copy it instantly without opening the speech recap window.

 

Use Narrator key + Control + X to copy the last spoken phrase to your clipboard.

 

Few scenarios where you can use speech recap and related shortcuts include referring to a hint you heard when opening a new window, copying an error code that was spoken or adding Narrator speech to training materials.

 

Live transcription of Narrator speech is useful for Assistive Technology (AT) trainers, teachers of visually impaired (TVIs) who support students in class or for professionals who are hard of hearing and want to use Narrator. To see live transcription of Narrator audio, use the same command Narrator key + Alt + X to open the speech recap window and snap it to the portion of the screen you want to view it. As you do tasks with Narrator, you can follow along and see the text in this window update.

 

These keyboard shortcuts follow a simple patten making it easy to learn:

 

• Control + Windows key + Enter = Turn Narrator on/Off
• Narrator key + X = Re-hear what Narrator said last
• Narrator key + control + X = Copy what Narrator said last
• Narrator key + Alt + X = Open Speech recap window for history and live transcriptions

 

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

 

[Copilot on Windows]

 

• You can now launch Copilot on Windows with Win + C. You can personalize your Copilot key and Win + C experience at any time with the existing “Customize Copilot key on keyboard” under Settings > Personalization > Text input.
• To access the press to talk feature and start a conversation with Copilot on Windows, press and hold the Copilot key for 2 seconds. For PCs without the Copilot key, press and hold Win + C for 2 seconds. To end your conversation, press the Esc key. If there is no speaking for several seconds, Copilot will automatically end the conversation. When the conversation is over, the microphone on the screen will disappear. As announced previously, you can also press and hold Alt + Spacebar to talk with Copilot on Windows. Press to talk allows you to interact with Copilot using your voice, providing instant responses while staying in your current workflow and continuing tasks without interruption. Press to talk is supported in the latest Copilot app update (version 1.25033.139.0 and higher). This update is beginning to roll out across Insider Channels via the Microsoft Store.
• Developers can get the same trigger for press to talk for their apps that support the Copilot key by using Handle Microsoft Copilot hardware key state changes. Note, the enterprise-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot app does not have this support today.
• Win + C and press to talk are gradually rolling out so not all Insiders will get the update right away. We are excited to be previewing improvements with our Insiders to ensure all our customers have a great Copilot experience for Windows.

 

[Windows Share]

 

• In the Windows share window, we are adding the ability to quickly edit and enhance images while sharing. This includes in-line image editing capabilities, such as cropping, rotating, and applying filters, as well as the ability to compress images to reduce file size for easier sharing. This ability works only for local images stored on your PC. Supported image formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .dib, .png, .tif, .tiff, and .bmp.

[Settings]

 

• We’re making it easy to find answers to common questions about your PC and Windows 11 with a dedicated FAQs section on the Settings > System > About page, providing quick and helpful insights for using your PC all in one place. Whether you’re curious about system configuration, performance, or compatibility, this experience ensures you get the information you need for the frequently asked questions for those topics. We hope these FAQs will help you make informed decisions about your PC with ease.

   

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

 

[Start menu]

 

• Fixed a delay in app icons showing sometimes in grid and category views after installing an app.

 

[Desktop icons]

 

• Updated the logic for apps pinned to the desktop, so that packaged apps no longer show an accent colored backplate (for example, if you were to drag and drop Snipping Tool from the apps list in Start to the desktop). In doing this, the icons should be bigger and easier to see now. Please note, you may need to create new shortcuts for this to take effect, if you already have something on your desktop.

Here is the list of known bugs:

[Start menu]

 

• The following are known issues for Windows Insiders with the new grid and category views on the All” page in the Start menu:
• When right-clicking on an app, the “Start settings” context menu flashes before the app’s context menu appears.

 

[Widgets]

 

• [NEW] Windows Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA) with the new Lock screen widgets experience may see the weather widget temporarily unavailable.

 

[Narrator]

 

• [NEW] If you use Narrator and experience an issue where Narrator crashes on launch, please restart your PC to get Narrator working again. If that does not resolve your issue, you can use a secondary screen reader help you file feedback in Feedback Hub or someone assist you in filing feedback”.

You can find the announcement post here.

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The software contains a feature that checks for new updates on startup (if configured) and can be manually triggered by clicking Help > Software Updates. This will cause the program to connect to the software update server at https://softwareupdate.broadcom.com/cds to check for and download software updates.

However, this URL now redirects to Broadcom's generic support page, https://support.broadcom.com/, causing the application to issue certificate validation errors and rendering its built-in update mechanism unusable.

"A certificate error occurred while connecting to the update server. Check your Internet settings or contact your system administrator," reads the VMware Workstation error.

Users are now forced to log in and manually check Broadcom's website for updates, download the correct version, and install it themselves, making it frustrating for customers who expect a seamless experience.

"To update your VMware Workstation Pro, you'll need to manually download the latest installer from the Broadcom support portal. It's worth noting that this change has caused frustration among users, as it was implemented without prior notice," reads a post to the Broadcom community forums.

While VMware Workstation continues to function, this broken update system may cause users to miss important bug fixes or security patches, especially when it is not apparent that the automatic update feature is broken until you try to use it.

Broadcom has not yet issued a public statement or workaround for the issue, and BleepingComputer has confirmed it is still broken in VMware Workstation 17.6.3, the latest software version.

BleepingComputer contacted Broadcom with questions about the change but has not received a response.

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Microsoft has a big update for Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel or AMD processors. Several features previously exclusive to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chips inside are rolling out to the rest of the Copilot+ PC family.

Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator are among the features on the way to Copilot+ PCs with either AMD Ryzen AI 300 series or Intel Core Ultra 200V chips. Until recently, those experiences have been exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs like the Surface Pro 11.

Several features improve accessibility and make communication easier. Live Captions offers real-time translation for audio and video content ranging from conference calls to podcasts.

Other features, such as Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator focus on content creation. Overall, Copilot+ PCs will be more capable and accessible thanks to the new features.

Some of the experiences are already available for Copilot+ PCs with Intel or AMD processors through the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update. Microsoft will roll out the features gradually to more PCs over the coming month.

Staggered feature releases

MacOS Sequoia, also known as macOS 15, is the latest version of Apple's desktop operating system. The new OS adds a few new capabilities to the Mac, including a password management app, videoconferencing tools, and updates to Safari, as well as all the features that come with Apple Intelligence—the company’s artificial-intelligence–powered system. Below, we break down how to download it and all the latest goodies in this software update.

Be sure to check out our iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 roundup for all the new features in your iPhone and iPad, along with all the latest features on the Apple Watch with watchOS 11.

Updated March 2025: We've added details on macOS 15.4.

Is Your Mac Compatible?

MacOS Sequoia, or macOS 15, is a free update for Apple computers. But some features, like Apple Intelligence (more on this later) are exclusive to Macs with the M-series Apple silicon chip. To figure out which Mac model you have, click on the Apple icon in the menu bar in the upper-left corner of your display and click About This Mac. We've listed all the models able to run macOS Sequoia below.

 

• MacBook Air: 2020 and later
• MacBook Pro: 2018 and later
• Mac Mini: 2018 and later
• iMac: 2019 and later
• iMac Pro: 2017 and later
• Mac Pro: 2019 and later
• Mac Studio: 2022 and later

How to Install MacOS Sequoia

Before installing the new OS, we highly recommend you back up your Mac first. You can do this by backing up your files with Time Machine or storing your files in iCloud. Apple's support article has step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

 

To download the software, click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. Then click System Settings > General > Software Update. Then, click on Update Now (or Upgrade Now). From there, click Upgrade Now—your Mac will start to download and install macOS Sequoia.

New MacOS Version Updates

We've listed all the major features in macOS Sequoia below. But throughout the year, Apple will continue to release additional updates that include new capabilities (that weren't included in the initial launch), security patches, and bug fixes. To update your Mac to the latest version, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions above.

 

MacOS 15.4: This update includes new Mail app features, new emoji, Sketch style for Image Playground, lossless audio for the AirPods Max, and a Quick Start feature.

 

MacOS 15.3: This update includes Genmoji, enhanced notification summaries, temporarily disabled news app summaries, and a new minor feature on the Calculator app. Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default.

 

MacOS 15.2: This update added Image Playground, ChatGPT support in Siri and Writing Tools, Rewrite prompts in Writing Tools, AirTag shared location tracking in Find My, and minor improvements to the Photos app.

 

MacOS 15.1: This update included iPhone Mirroring, Window Tiling, Text Effects and Emoji Tapbacks in Messages, a redesigned Reader in Safari, Math Notes in the Calculator app, and access to hiking trails in Maps. It also debuted Apple Intelligence features for M-series Macs such as Writing Tools, Smart Replies and Mail Summaries, Clean Up in Photos, Summaries for Transcriptions and Call recordings in Notes, Reduce Interruptions Focus, and the new Siri. (You can type requests and move the Siri window around the screen.)

MacOS Sequoia Features

Below, you'll find all the major features included in macOS 15. Apple has more details here.

iPhone Mirroring

Photograph: Apple

 

Sometimes, your iPhone is in another room or deep in your bag. For those moments when you need to use it but don't feel like getting up to find it, you can pull it up on your computer. As part of Apple's Continuity features, iPhone Mirroring lets you access and interact with your iPhone wirelessly using your Mac.

 

When the feature is in action, you'll see your iPhone's custom home screen appear. From there, you can use the keyboard, trackpad, or mouse to drag and drop content (like photos, videos, and files) between both devices, open and use any of your apps, swipe through all the pages on your home screen, as well as view and respond to notifications. While you're doing all this, your iPhone will remain locked. It also works while your iPhone is in Standby mode, a feature from iOS 17 that turns your iPhone into a smart display while charging.

Safari Updates

Photograph: Apple

 

MacOS Sequoia offers a few new features to Safari. With Highlights, Safari will use machine intelligence to show you relevant information from the webpage like directions, links, summaries, and restaurant reviews. Apple also redesigned the Reader to minimize distractions. In addition to a sleeker view of the article, you can also see a summary and a table of contents (for longer articles). If the webpage includes a video, Viewer will bring it to the forefront while still giving you access to playback controls (Picture in Picture included).

Window Tiling

 

Video: Apple

 

Anyone who always keeps a ton of browser windows open simultaneously will appreciate the Window Tiling feature that helps organize them for a better viewing experience. When you drag a window to the edge of the screen, macOS will automatically suggest a tiled position on your screen. (It's similar to Snap on Windows.) You can then drop the window into place, arrange multiple windows side by side, or place them in any of the four corners to make room for more apps. For quicker organization, you can use keyboard and menu shortcuts too.

Videoconference Tools

Photograph: Apple

 

In 2023, Apple added new videoconference tools with macOS Sonoma including Presenter Overlay, Reactions, and various features for the Mac's built-in webcam. In macOS 15, the company is adding a few more. With apps like FaceTime and Zoom, you can access a new presenter preview capability to see what you're about to share before sharing it. Meanwhile, the built-in backgrounds feature allows you to apply system wallpapers, color gradients, or your own photos as a backdrop for video calls. This feature is available on FaceTime and third-party apps like Webex.

A New Passwords App

Photograph: Apple

 

If you never loved Keychain, now you have a better option: macOS Sequoia comes with a new Passwords app that allows you to access all your passwords (Wi-Fi passwords included), passkeys, and verification codes in one place. It keeps all your Apple devices in sync, runs on Windows machines (using the iCloud for Windows app), and supports end-to-end encryption.

More With Messages

Photograph: Apple

 

A few new Messages features are coming to macOS Sequoia—and by extension, to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 as well. You can format your texts within Messages using bold, italic, underline, and strike-through type treatments. You can also add animated effects to a specific word within a text. For some phrases and words, suggestions appear as you type. Apple added new Tapbacks too—instead of using the traditional heart, thumbs-up, thumbs-down, question mark, or exclamation point, there are options for emojis and stickers. Another standout new feature is the option to schedule your messages ahead of time so they'll be sent later.

Other Miscellaneous Features

Photograph: Apple

 

• Apple Maps: With Maps, you'll have access to thousands of hiking trails across all 63 national parks in the US, all of which can be filtered by elevation, length, and route type. You can also save them to access later in the wilderness without a data signal.
• Calculator App: Apple gave the Calculator app an upgrade by adding new features like the ability to enter and continue to view complete expressions (with trigonometry, parentheses, and multiple operations) before pressing equals to see the final answer. If you tap the equals sign twice, you can repeat the most recent mathematical function. You're now able to see a history of your calculations as well.
• Calendar: Within the Calendar app, you can see both events and tasks from the Reminders app. There's also an updated Month View meant to make it easier to see all your appointments at a glance—all of which are color coded.
• Photos: A new Collections feature within the Photo app will automatically organize your library by topics, including Trips, Recent Days, and People & Pets. With Pinned Collections, you can quickly access certain collections and albums. You can also see your Favorites album appear under Utilities and in Pinned Collections, and clear your Recently Shared album and Recently Viewed history too.
• Game Mode: This feature was originally announced in 2023 with macOS Sonoma. With macOS Sequoia, Apple improved Game Mode with smoother frame rates and “advanced power management features” to boost performance across its Macs. It also supports Personalized Spatial Audio and reduces audio latency with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
• Home App: Apple is adding guest access that allows you to manage how and when people can enter your house. There's a new feature that shows how much electricity you're using and how much it's costing you, based on the current utility rates.
• Battery: The ability to turn on Low Power Mode was introduced with macOS Monterey. Now it's available in the Battery menu in the top-left corner of your screen so you no longer have to dig through System Settings.
• Find My: Within the Find My app, you'll now see a new Lost AirTag section that allows you to share the location of your AirTag with up to five other people, to help track it down. Soon, you can share it with airlines as well (if your luggage is lost). Simply send the specific link via Messages, Notes, Mail, AirDrop, and more. They'll have to authenticate it using their Apple account, and the link will expire after a week.
• Emoji: Apple added eight new emojis to its library, including root vegetable, leafless tree, fingerprint, face with bags under eyes, harp, a flag of Sark, splatter, and shovel.
• AirPods Max: The AirPods Max with USB-C now supports lossless audio, so it can support files with a resolution of up to 24 bits/48 kHz. It supports ultra-low latency too, for improved gaming performance, along with upgraded fidelity and response time for songwriting, beat making, and other music production use cases. Plus, these are the only headphones that allow users to record and mix using Personalized Spatial audio with head tracking via Logic Pro for Mac.
• Quick Start: You can now scan a code on your iPhone or iPad when setting up a new Mac. From there, all your settings will transfer to your computer.

Apple Intelligence Features

Photograph: Apple

 

In addition to the features above, Apple Intelligence—the company's “personal intelligence system”—is built into macOS Sequoia as well as iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. These features are only available in Sequoia 15.1 and newer. It's also worth noting that Apple Intelligence is now on by default with Sequoia 15.3. For step-by-step instructions on how to manually turn it off, read our tutorial here.

 

Apple Intelligence isn't available on all Macs that support macOS 15. You'll need a Mac running the M1 chipset or newer to take advantage of the AI newness. More specifically, this includes:

 

 

 

• MacBook Air (M1 and newer)
• MacBook Pro (M1 and newer)
• iMac (M1 and newer)
• Mac Mini (M1 and newer)
• Mac Studio (M1 Max and newer)
• Mac Pro (M2 Ultra)

 

Here's what Apple Intelligence is capable of.

Writing Tools

Apple's new tools can help you write emails.

Photograph: Apple

 

The system can also take an email you've composed and rewrite it to hit a particular tone.

Photograph: Apple

 

Apple's Writing Tools work within Notes, Pages, Mail, and third-party apps. There's Rewrite, which allows you to pick from different versions of what you've written based on several tones (you can also now type instructions for the specific type of rewrite you want); Proofread, which checks word choice, grammar, and sentence structure, while also suggesting edits (along with explanations of the edits) with the option to review or quickly accept; and Summarize, which allows you to select text and have it recapped in a paragraph, list, a table, or bulleted key points. Using the ChatGPT extension, you can also use it to compose text with Writing Tools.

 

These text-based features are also what enable Priority notifications—a feature that summarizes your notifications and places them at the top of the list. That way, you can quickly digest them at a glance.

 

 

Currently, Apple has halted summaries for news apps after it inaccurately summarized a BBC headline. As for other notification summaries, you'll now see them appear italicized.

Mail App

The Mail app comes with a similar Priority notifications feature called Priority messages, which places important emails at the top of your inbox along with summaries of long emails. Messages are also automatically organized into categories, including Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. With a Digest View, you can also see emails that come from the same email address, and an All Mail view shows you all the categories at once.

Image Playground

Photograph: Apple

 

Image Playground generates playful images based on different styles, including Illustration and Animation. Apple recently added a new style called Sketch, which gives images a hand-drawn look. It's available as a dedicated app, but you can also access it through Messages. To generate an image, you can pick from the available concepts, type a description of what you're looking for, or choose a photo of someone from your photo library.

Customize Your Memories

Photograph: Apple

 

If you're a fan of the Memories feature in the Photos app, you might be happy to see that Apple has made it more customizable. Rather than settling for the automated version, you can create specific stories you want to see by typing in a description. From there, Apple will pick out the best photos and videos that match the description, create a storyline based on themes associated with the photos, and generate a movie with its own narrative.

 

Apple also introduced a new Clean Up tool. Similar to Google's Magic Eraser, Clean Up can identify and remove unwanted or distracting objects in the background of the photo without changing the subject.

Smarter Notes

Photograph: Apple

 

The Notes app now comes equipped with the ability to transcribe audio sessions and summarize notes. There's also a new Math Notes feature that lets you type in an equation and have it solved automatically within the body of the note.

A Better Siri

Photograph: Apple

 

Apple finally gave Siri an overhaul. It's been redesigned to speak more naturally, now supports typing, and with a ChatGPT integration, you're more likely to get answers to complex questions.

 

However, Apple also promised the ability for Siri to understand context within conversations. So instead of always having to help Siri along by reminding it of what you were asking about in your last question, Siri will simply remember what the topic of the conversation is and can pull from other sources to find relevant information, like email, calendar, and messages. Apple has not yet delivered on this capability and recently delayed it.

Reduce Interruptions

There's a new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions. It uses your personal context to figure out when to hide incoming notifications that could distract you. But if you're worried you might miss something important, you can turn on Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing, which will send through any critical alerts (like important texts).

 

Photograph: Apple

Genmoji

This is one of the most fun features included with macOS 15. Also available on iOS 18/iPadOS 18, it allows you to create custom emojis from your keyboard via text prompts or a person's photo from your Photos app. For instructions on how to create your own, you can read our tutorial here.

 

Source

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