As we close the year of patching, I’m surprised to see that our vendors are facing many of the same issues they faced years ago — governments looking over their actions.

But this time, instead of scrutinizing monopolies for on-premises software, they are looking at how Microsoft is making monopolizing cloud services as well as coercing governments to use more of their services. Recently, a ProPublica investigation questioned how much Microsoft’s free government outreach to enhance the security of its products was designed to lock government customers into these subscription services.

Then the Department of Justice asked a judge to break up Google and force it to sell off the Chrome browser and restrict their use of artificial intelligence and the Android mobile operating system. I still remember the lengthy monopoly trials against Microsoft. It seems like the more things change, the more things in technology stay the same. We constantly have a push-pull relationship with our vendors.

My push-pull relationship is intensely focused on patching. I am a proponent of patching on your schedule, not that of the vendor. It’s always wise to ensure that you are not part of the beta-testing platform of any vendor unless you explicitly want to be one.

Next Tuesday, updates will be out for the Microsoft platform. As usual — and because I always recommend that we test and confirm patches before installing them — I recommend you defer, block, and generally ignore the upcoming December updates until such time as we fully understand both the benefits and any side effects that may result from their installation.

In the Apple category, I’m still considering iOS 18.1.1 an optional update, needed only if you have a specific use case. If you have an older phone and are a heavy user of the native photos application, I consider iOS 17.7.2 ideal. That’s due to problems with the Photos app in iOS 18.

If you have — or are planning to purchase — Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, they can be used as hearing aids after you go through an audio test routine. On Thanksgiving, Apple launched a touching ad for the AirPods Pro 2 called Heartstrings, which as of this writing has been viewed 11 million times on YouTube.

Forum manager PKCano recently posted about the results during an important testing event: Thanksgiving. Remember: You must be on the latest firmware version for the AirPods, and this may take some time.

As usual, and always with informed caution, I am raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

Consumers

I’m still tracking too many concerning issues with the Windows 11 24H2 platform for me to make a recommendation to install it. Many of you may have already updated without problems but there are too many nagging issues, especially surrounding games. In fact, some Ubisoft games are now documented as not responding. Ubisoft has posted temporary workarounds for some of the issues and is working on long-term fixes for the performance problems.

Microsoft is once again spending energy fixing things that I don’t think need fixing. Case in point: a shortened visual date and time in the system tray. Instead of the full time of day followed by AM or PM, followed by the full date (in the format for your locale), the AM/PM designator and the year have been dropped (left). You will see just the time, with no AM or PM designation, and then just 12/5 — with no year.

This change will be rolled out in the December updates next week for both Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2. Unfortunately, it’s another one of those annoying dribbled changes.

If you don’t like this new look, you can roll it back. Go to Settings | Time & language | Date & time and scroll down to Show time and date in the System tray. There is a new option (Figure 1), which you can set as desired.

Figure 1. You can toggle the abbreviated date/time in Settings.

The abbreviated form clearly takes a little less horizontal space on the Taskbar. I suppose that might help if you are short for space down there, but it still seems like a frivolous change.

The December updates for 23H2 also include two fixes for File Explorer:

These fixes will arrive gradually.

The December update for Windows 10 22H2 includes a few remedies, including fixing a bug encountered when you drag and drop files from a cloud files provider folder. This might result in a move instead of a copy.

I’ll be monitoring for any side effects and report later on in the month.

Businesses

24H2 is also triggering issues with certain scanners — in particular, Ricoh Fujitsu models. The vendors are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. Epson scanners appear to be working fine, but Brother scanners may be affected as well.

Microsoft finally rereleased the Exchange updates originally released on November 12. The v2 versions include fixes for the original bug that caused Exchange transport rules to stop after a certain amount of time. Microsoft has released full info on what you should do if you did — or did not — install the original Exchange updates.

Microsoft recommends you install the revised updates as soon as possible.

Resources

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@PhantomOfEarth on X discovered that the recent Windows 11 Canary builds contain a hidden feature ID that, when enabled, adds the option to change the webcam image resolution. You will be able to let Windows 11 decide the best possible resolution or select the preferred option and frame rate from the list of available variants.

If you are on Windows 11 build 27744 and newer and your system has a webcam, you can try the change yourself using the ViVeTool app:

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, CD C:\Vive.
3. Type vivetool /enable /id:52142480 and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.

After booting back to the desktop, go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras. Select your webcam and click "Edit." The list of available resolutions will be next to the "Media type" option below the two other recently introduced settings that let multiple apps simultaneously use the webcam and the basic camera mode for troubleshooting.

In case you missed it, earlier this week, Microsoft released a new Canary build with a few improvements for File Explorer, Task Manager, taskbar, and other parts. Also, the company updated the Microsoft Store with a new feature that makes it easier to update Win32 applications.

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Here are the release highlights:

This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games supporting DLSS 3 technology including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Marvel Rivals. Further support for new titles leveraging DLSS technology includes Path of Exile 2, Forza Motorsport, and Delta Force.

Driver 566.36 also adds one-click optimal settings for Farming Simulator 25, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

There is also one lonesome fix for Forza Horizon 5 and God of War Ragnarok:

[Forza Horizon 5/God of War: Ragnarok] Game may crash during gameplay after updating to R565 release drivers.

The list of known issues is also pretty slim, and it is not even related to gaming:

For notebook computers, issues can be system-specific and may not be seen on your particular notebook:

 

• [Evernote/QQ] displays higher than normal CPU usage

You can download Nvidia's latest driver from the official website or the GeForce Experience/Nvidia App. It supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 with the following graphics cards:

Full release notes are available here (PDF). The announcement article with more detailed FPS metrics in the mentioned games is available on the official Nvidia website here.

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What you need to know

• WSL 2 on Windows 11 already has significant support from Linux distro makers such as Ubuntu, but another big name looks to be throwing their hat in the ring.
• Fedora, the consumer version of Linux sponsored by IBM's Red Hat, is exploring having an official release for WSL.
• Currently you can use Fedora through unofficial channels, but official support would be another feather in the cap.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is one of my favorite tools on Windows 11, despite being in no way a software developer. I just like Linux. My favorite distro is Fedora, so imagine my delight at learning that an official release of it for WSL could be on the way.

Reported by OSTechnix, Fedora is currently exploring the idea of creating official releases for WSL beginning with Fedora 42. It's by no means guaranteed, as it still needs to be approved by the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee. But as the current release is Fedora 41, it won't be far away if it does get approved.

If approved, however, work will begin on creating the images, and we could soon have an official release of Fedora on WSL.

Currently, you can already use Fedora through WSL 2, but not from official channels. One of the best ways to do so is to use the Fedora Remix release by Whitewater Foundry. However, for average joe's, there's no support available beyond the collective hive mind of the community. An official Fedora release would benefit from having the team that makes the distro behind it.

You can also build your own Fedora-based images if you like, but the same applies. You have no official support, so you're on your own. There is no official documentation going this route, and some non-essential tools are missing.

What you need to know

• A bug caused weather widgets and graphics powered by Microsoft to show temperatures as high as 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The issue seems to affect the Windows 11 weather widget and other displays powered by Microsoft's weather information.
• Generally speaking, the earth stays cooler than 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

For much of the world, Christmas and the holiday season is about landscapes covered in snow. In other regions, it's summertime, so this time of year is quite warm. But in a hypothetical world described by the Windows 11 weather widget, the end of 2024 will include melting roads and the world as we know it on fire. A strange bug has caused weather graphics powered by Microsoft to display temperature as high as 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's not exactly clear what's caused the Windows 11 weather widgets and other Microsoft-powered weather displays to claim the world will be hotter than the surface of the sun. For reference, the surface of the Sun is around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit while the inside of that star is roughly 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. At least it won't hit temperatures in the millions in Microsoft's imaginary nightmare of a fiery hellscape. What we do know is that the bug is relatively widespread.

Reddit user Guilty_Parking made a post about their PC showing 30,014 degrees Fahrenheit in the Windows 11 weather widget. Another user, darkfae83, shared a similar post.

Perhaps the bug is actually an homage to Doom Eternal. It could also be a not-so-subtle reminder about Microsoft's commitment to combat climate change. In actuality, it's likely just a programing bug. I don't see the bug on my PC and haven't been able to replicate it but our Zachary Boddy ran into the issue on one of their devices.

I imagine the bug will be fixed soon. But it's caused some funny photos and gives me an excuse to share one of the funniest videos on the web.

Thus more systems running versions 22H2 and 23H2 will be receiving the update. Microsoft writes:

Current status as of December 4, 2024

 

Windows 11, version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, is now available.

 

This latest version of Windows is being rolled out in phases, and it has now entered a new stage of availability. Version 24H2 is being offered to a wider range of eligible devices running Windows 11, versions 22H2 and 23H2.

If you are wondering how you will know whether your device is ready to upgrade or not, the company has also explained that too:

To check if the update is available for your device, simply select Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If your device is ready for the update, you’ll see the option to Download and install.

In case you run into issues after performing the upgrade, you can perform an in-place repair using the new "Fix problems using the Windows Update" option which Microsoft recently explained in detail, though, bear in mind that it is not for everyone.

If Windows Update is not offering it, you can also try a forced one using Group Policy and Registy hacks.

If you are not receiving the update still, there may be a block in place to prevent the upgrade. Most of these have to do with incompatibility issues. If you have certain Ubisoft titles, the update is blocked. Also, there are problems with USB scanners, printers, and network devices, and so version 24H2 won't be available. Aside from these, some Asus PCs are also not receiving the update.

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Microsoft understands that repair and recovery of Windows is essential as users can run into issues. This is also why the company recently added a handy shortcut link that goes straight to the recovery settings menu in its official guidance about installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

Since it is a new feature, Neowin noticed that Microsoft recently published a support article about 'Fix problems using Windows Update' explaining how it works. It writes:

Windows Update can help fix problems with your PC. Fix problems using Windows Update is a recovery tool that can help resolve issues related to updates. Using this tool will reinstall the current version of Windows on your device. This tool preserves all your apps, documents, and settings. Make sure to keep your PC connected to a power source and the internet during reinstallation.

Thus, it essentially performs an in-place repair of Windows system files and components by reinstalling the OS via the Windows Update. We have already covered it in a dedicated guide on how to use it.

The company too has also shared its own step-by-step guide. It says:

In the Settings app on your Windows device, select System > Recovery or use the following shortcut:
Open Recovery settings

 

• Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now

   

  

   

• In the Fix problems using Windows Update window, choose if you want to allow the PC to automatically restart 15 minutes after the installation completes

   

  

   

• Select OK when you’re ready to start the installation

• The reinstall will take you to the Windows Update page in Settings. It will start downloading a repair version of the last operating system update that was successfully installed on your PC. Once the download is complete, the repair version of the update installs

• Once the reinstall is complete, restart your PC if you didn’t choose to allow it to restart automatically

Microsoft adds that the "Fix problems using Windows Update" option also comes up when a Windows update fails to install. In this case, a " Reinstall your current version of Windows to repair system files and components" message is displayed alongside Reinstall now option which triggers the Fix problems using Windows Update repair tool.

However, while this feature is helpful, it is not for everyone. Microsoft has confirmed that it is only available on Windows 11 and that too on versions 22H2 and newer with the February 2024 optional update or later installed. Besides that, managed PCs, like those for work and school won't have it.

You can find more details about it here on the official support article on Microsoft's site.

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Here is the official changelog:

[File Explorer]

 

• Did some work so the search box in File Explorer shouldn’t draw off the end of the window anymore.

 

[Taskbar]

 

• Fixed an issue where right clicking on app icons in the taskbar might crash explorer.exe in the previous flight.

 

[Input]

 

• Fixed an issue for some people where the mouse cursor would become invisible when hovering over text fields in certain apps.

 

[Desktop]

 

• Fixed an issue where your desktop background might not show correctly sometimes with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

 

[Task Manager]

 

• We are beginning to roll out a fix for the issue where if you resized Task Manager to be larger while settings was open, the Mica background wouldn’t align with the new window size.

 

[Narrator]

 

• Fixed an issue in the previous flight which caused Narrator to crash on launch if you used one of the natural voices (like Jenny).

 

[Audio]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to USB audio devices going to sleep after 1 minute of idle time, and not waking up until the PC was rebooted.
• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead you to unexpectedly hear a mute or unmute noise in certain headsets.

 

[Settings]

 

• Fixed an issue which could cause Settings to crash when selecting your default audio device.

 

[Other]

 

• Fixed an issue which could cause an unexpected black line along the top border of a window.

Here is the list of known bugs:

[General]

 

• [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COPILOT+ PCs] If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available”. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN”.
• We’re investigating reports that some Insiders are still experiencing rollbacks (with error code 0xc190010) when attempting to install the latest Canary builds.
• We’re working on the fix for an underlying issue causing accent colored window borders to not be not displayed when enabled, shadows around windows not displaying when enabled, and window launching (and other) animations to show even though the setting to show animations is turned off.
• [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing some Insiders to see a bugcheck with error PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA starting with the previous flight.

You can check out the complete changelog here.

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First, the developer says that the Windows 11 context menu will now pop up faster. This reminds of a recent Windows 11 update under KB5046756, which also improved the performance of the Windows 11 (right-click) context menu. Other than that, the compression speed also gets a boost as the new version fixes a performance bug.

The release notes also note "numerous" improvements related to the app's dark mode. You can find the full changelog for WinRAR 7.10 Beta 2 below:

• Numerous dark mode improvements and fixes.
• "Dark mode" options in "Settings/Interface" are renamed to "Color mode"
• It takes less time for WinRAR items in Windows 11 context menu to appear, when right clicking a lot of selected archives.
• Exporting settings with "Export settings to file" command of "Options/Import and export" submenu doesn't trigger User Account Control prompts anymore.
• "Bad archive" exit code 13 is returned in the command line mode, when attempting to unpack a non-RAR archive with .rar file extension.
• "External viewer name" field in "Settings/Viewer" recognizes "\", "..\" or ".\" in the beginning of path, allowing to specify paths relative to WinRAR program folder. Paths like \utils\viewer.exe, ..\viewer.exe or .\viewer.exe can be helpful for WinRAR installation on USB drive without a fixed drive letter
• Bugs fixed:
• compression speed could be lower than expected for rare specific combination of source data in a non-solid archive;
• console RAR fell into infinite loop, when trying to process user input in prompts like the overwrite prompt in Windows 7;
• running executables from archive subfolders failed with "Cannot execute" error;
• WinRAR.ini contents could be reset if "Reuse existing window" option was on and multiple archives were opened in the same WinRAR window.

WinRAR is not the only file-archiving app that has received an update. Earlier this week, 7-Zip and NanaZip also received updates.

Version 24.09 of 7-Zip gets increased default dictionary size values for LZMA/LZMA2 compression, wherein it now goes up to 256 MB for 64-bit and 64 MB for 32-bit versions, respectively. The software has also received checksum improvements and more.

The changelog is given below:

• The default dictionary size values for LZMA/LZMA2 compression methods were increased:

         dictionary size   compression level
  v24.08  v24.09  v24.09   
          32-bit  64-bit    
    8 MB   16 MB   16 MB   -mx4
   16 MB   32 MB   32 MB   -mx5 : Normal
   32 MB   64 MB   64 MB   -mx6
   32 MB   64 MB  128 MB   -mx7 : Maximum
   64 MB   64 MB  256 MB   -mx8
   64 MB   64 MB  256 MB   -mx9 : Ultra

The default dictionary size values for 32-bit versions of LZMA/LZMA2 don't exceed 64 MB.

 

• 7-Zip now can calculate the following hash checksums: SHA-512, SHA-384, SHA3-256 and MD5.
• APM and HFS support was improved.
• If an archive update operation uses a temporary archive folder and the archive is moved to the destination folder, 7-Zip shows the progress of moving the archive file, as this operation can take a long time if the archive is large.
• The bug was fixed: 7-Zip File Manager didn't propagate Zone.Identifier stream for extracted files from nested archives (if there is open archive inside another open archive).
• Some bugs were fixed

Meanwhile, the NanaZip update patches a Zstandard decompression remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability that is tracked under CVE-2024-11477 (previously ZDI-CAN-24346). It is noteworthy that 7-Zip has already fixed this in version 24.07.

The full changelog for NanaZip 5.0 Preview 0 (5.0.1188.0) is given below:

• This release includes all the improvements from NanaZip 3.1 (3.1.1080.0).
• Update Brazilian Portuguese translation. (Contributed by maisondasilva.)
• Make sure NanaZip Core (except the Self Extracting Executables) and NanaZip Classic using ucrtbase.dll with 10.0.19041.0 version or later.
• Update Mile.Windows.Helpers to 1.0.671. (https://github.com/ProjectMile/Mile.Windows.Helpers/tree/1.0.671.0)
• Move NanaZip console version to NanaZip.Core project. (Not used in NanaZip MSIX package because we need to release the next preview to contain the CVE-2024-11477 fix in NanaZip 3.1.)
• Remove C++/WinRT dependency for NanaZip.Codecs and NanaZip.Frieren.
• Add GetDpiForWindowWrapper for NanaZip.Frieren.DarkMode to fix the legacy Windows compatibility issues.
• Remove VC-LTL dependency for the Self Extracting Executables related projects.
• Adjust the compilation configurations to optimize the binary size for the Self Extracting Executables.
• Use Mile.Windows.UniCrt (https://github.com/ProjectMile/Mile.Windows.UniCrt) instead of VC-LTL.
• Update NanaZip.Specification.SevenZip header file.
• Start to simplify the NanaZip specific decoders and encoders implementation.
• Synchronize the BLAKE3 implementation to 1.5.5. (https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.5)
• Synchronize the RHash implementation to the latest master branch which is after v1.4.5. (rhash/RHash@cf2adf2)
• Enable disabling child process creation for NanaZip Self Extracting Executables. (Except installer mode of Self Extracting Executables, which compiled binaries is not provided in the NanaZip MSIX package.)

You can check it out at this link here on its official GitHub repo.

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What you need to know

• Intel's Arc Control app has been renamed to "Intel Graphics Software" as it receives a significant overhaul.
• The new software is timed perfectly with Intel's recent next-gen Battlemage GPU announcement.
• The recent overhaul of Intel's Graphics Software brings it more in line with similar offerings from NVIDIA and AMD.
• The new software is expected to be released with the new Intel Arc B580 GPU on December 13, 2024, but no official confirmation.

Intel has had a busy stretch recently, with the announcement of CEO Pat Gelsinger's retirement, the unveiling of its Arc Battlemage gaming GPUs, and now a new software suite to complement the upcoming cards.

What was previously known as "Arc Control" has been rebranded as "Graphics Software" on Intel's website, where the product page has been completely changed over to highlight the app's new features and looks. The new name isn't nearly as cool sounding as the old title, but the app has received a serious glow-up.

Intel is calling it an All-in-One hub, and like AMD and NVIDIA's similar software, it's designed to be the only stop you need to update drivers, optimize or monitor performance, and improve or tweak graphics settings.

All that Intel has released so far are some screenshots from the new app, and there's no mention of when it will make its way to PCs with an Arc GPU inside. If I'm making a guess, the update will coincide with the December 13, 2024 launch of the new Arc B580 Battlemage GPU.

What exactly is new with Intel's Graphics Software?

A look at the Performance tab in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

A look at the Performance tuning tab in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

A look at the Display tab in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

A look at the Graphics tab in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

A look at the Profiles tab in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

A look at the main screen in Intel's new Graphics Software

(Image credit: Intel)

 

Until I get my hands on the new software I won't know exactly what Intel has cooked up, but the screenshots provided do offer some insight into the notable changes.

 

Profiles appear to be configurable with individual game settings, there's a more comprehensive performance metrics page, and the performance tuning tab looks to provide straightforward overclocking for the GPU, VRAM, and fans. As spotted by Videocardz, there's even a manual toggle for XeSS Low Latency mode now included.

 

My colleagues who've used Intel's Arc Control in the past didn't have any major complaints, but it's clear that Intel wants its software appeal to match that of its new GPUs. The overall design hasn't changed that much, but it definitely appears to be more modern with the added bonus of being easier to navigate.

 

Below is a look at the Arc Control suite as it stands right now; you can compare it to the new "Graphics Software" screenshots from Intel in the gallery above.

 

A look at the old Performance tab in Intel's Arc Control software.

(Image credit: Future | Intel)

 

A look at Intel's Arc Control app that is set to be updated with Intel Graphics Software.

(Image credit: Future | Intel)

 

Intel's Arc Control software is set to be replaced soon with Intel Graphics Software.

(Image credit: Future | Intel)

 

Intel isn't the only company coming out with app rebrands. NVIDIA recently launched its new "NVIDIA App" to replace GeForce Experience. Like Intel's Graphics Software app, NVIDIA's new software comes with an updated look and streamlined controls.

 

But with the impending launch of Intel's Arc B-Series GPUs in December and January, Intel is clearly trying to give its adopters a fresh canvas with which to work. If what Intel is claiming is true regarding its new Battlemage GPUs — up to 70% improved performance per core and 50% more performance per watt compared to its previous generation of Arc cards — AMD and NVIDIA are about to get some much-needed competition in the budget market.

 

Of course, NVIDIA is also expected to reveal its RTX 5000 GPUs in the near future, which will undoubtedly shake things up even further as older cards hopefully drop in price.

Which Battlemage GPUs is Intel launching?

 

Intel plans to launch the first Battlemage GPU, the Arc B580, on December 13, 2024 priced at $249. It is expected to be followed up by the Arc B570 on January 16, 2024 with a starting price of $219.

 

Despite the budget pricing, the cards have 10GB and 12GB, respectively, of GDDR6 VRAM to better keep up with demanding games in 2024. Intel is focusing the cards on 1440p gaming, but of course, they'll also do wonders at a lower 1080p resolution. Not bad at all for under $350.

 

The addition of XeSS 2 will help the new GPUs keep up with NVIDIA's DLSS 3 and AMD's FSR 3 when it comes to super resolution, frame generation, and low latency. Intel also says the cards have second-gen ray tracing and XMX AI engines. I'm excited to see how well these cards perform when we get our hands on them.

 

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Here are the release notes:

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio may experience lower than expected performance on certain workloads.

 

Intel Core Ultra (Series 1 and 2) with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

 

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit texture corruption on water surfaces.
• Minecraft Bedrock (DX12) may exhibit texture corruption during gameplay while changing anti-aliasing settings

Keep in mind the following bugs that are still waiting for their corresponding fixes:

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

 

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit darker than expected shadows in certain campaign scenarios.
• Topaz Video AI may experience errors when exporting videos after using some models for video enhancements.
• Topaz Gigapixel AI may experience intermittent crash while exporting images.

 

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

 

• SPECworkstation3.1 may exhibit system instability while running certain workloads.
• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19 may experience errors intermittently with benchmark preset set to Extended.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may experience errors while rendering OpenVino test scenarios.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (DX12) may exhibit flickering corruption during gameplay.

 

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.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may experience issues while rendering certain OpenVino test scenarios.
• Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may exhibit corruption while rendering certain AI workloads.
• Star Wars Outlaws* (DX12) may experience sporadic crash during gameplay

Intel 32.0.101.6314 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 update was announced alongside Windows 11 build 27758 from the Canary Channel. Starting with version 22411.1401 and newer, Windows users can update Win32 applications that rely on outside update mechanisms directly in the Microsoft Store (marked with a "provided and updated" badge in the store). Up until now, updating those apps has required taking action within those programs.

Microsoft notes that applications that are provided and updated by their publishers will not update automatically—you have to navigate to the library section or the app's store page and click "Update." All the other apps hosted in the Microsoft Store can still update automatically in the background.

Here is the official announcement:

For Win32 apps that are “provided and updated” by their publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updating directly in the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated outside of the Microsoft Store. Insiders can head to the Downloads page and click Get Updates. If any installed apps of this type have updates, it’ll be displayed on the pending list. You can perform the update by clicking the update button; it won’t start automatically.

 

Windows Insiders across all channels running Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x and higher will see this improvement.

You can find the announcement with the rest of the changelog for Windows 11 build 27758 in a post on the official Windows Insider Blog.

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What you need to know

• A concept designer recently shared a video sharing an inspiring vision of what Microsoft's Windows 12 operating system could look like if/when it ships.
• The next-gen operating system ships with a new design language and refined user experience, featuring a centered taskbar and Start menu.
• "Windows 12" ships with Windows AI, which supports text and image inputs for an effective and efficient user experience.

Microsoft shipped Windows 11 to broad availability over 3 years ago. However, the tech giant has struggled to grow the operating system's user base despite Windows 10's imminent death slated for October 14, 2025. The company has leveraged numerous approaches to get users to upgrade, including full-screen multipage popup ads and touting the OS as a hub for celebrity gossip, stocks, and weather updates.

While Microsoft has remained tight-lipped about Windows 11's successor (possibly Windows 12), some details about the next-gen operating system have slipped through the cracks. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden's detailed report captures everything we know about Windows 12.

More interestingly, a concept designer called Nepnus recently shared a short clip envisioning Windows 12's design (via Beta News). Most of the elements shared in the clip are reminiscent of Windows 11 but with a new design language and refined user experience, including a centered taskbar featuring rounded corners.

Like Microsoft's big AI push in Windows 11, the same efforts are consistent in Nepnus' design, Windows AI. Based on the short demo, Windows AI ships with image and text support for better user interaction. Nepnus might be on to something here.

In November, references to "Windows Intelligence" surfaced in Windows 11 builds. This could mean that Microsoft has plans to rebrand its Windows 11 AI-powered features, including Windows Recall, Live Captions, Windows Studio Effects, and more to Windows Intelligence.

The video also depicts a small floating bar for Start and Search at the top. The Start menu is also centered and looks more functional and less cluttered. The video didn't detail whether the app is customizable based on the user's preference, but that would be neat. Finally, the concept features floating widgets and a revamped Settings app for easy modifications and navigation.

In a newly published support document spotted by Deskmodder, Microsoft describes backup and restore options that are available to Windows 10 and 11 users. In addition to recently introduced tools, like the Windows Backup app, Microsoft oddly recommends "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)," which was introduced over 15 years ago as part of Windows 7.

It is strange to see Microsoft still recommending this utility without any warning. The company deprecated "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" in Windows 10 version 1709 over seven years ago, and the official documentation states it plain and simple: "For full-disk backup solutions, look for a third-party product from another software publisher." Microsoft has kept it ever since so that users coming from older Windows versions can restore their systems to newer versions.

If you need a backup solution for your computer, it is better to stay away from the old Backup and Restore feature. Microsoft stopped developing it a long time ago, and its reliability and effectiveness on modern Windows versions are questionable. You know something is not very good at its job when even Microsoft itself says to look for other solutions.

Also, keep in mind that other options listed in the support document do not allow you to create a backup of your entire system. Windows Backup can only safeguard some of your files, settings, and installed apps. File History stores files on external or network drives, and System Protection can only create restore points, not full disk backups, despite having a similar name and sitting in the Control Panel.

At this point, a third-party solution is a must. As for the support document, Microsoft probably should tweak it so that it at least warns users that the "Backup and Restore" feature is deprecated and is not the best option to consider.

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For reference, TPM 2.0 could be a dedicated hardware chip (a lot of users bought them after the initial Windows 11 announcement) or firmware that is built into your PC's motherboard (the most popular option among regular consumer-grade hardware). TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module, and it is responsible for storing encryption keys, passwords, certificates, and other sensitive data.

Unlike TPM 1.2, version 2.0 works with additional features like Secure Boot (another Windows 11 requirement) and Windows Hello. However, Microsoft admits that implementing it requires "a change for your organization." In other words, buying new hardware:

It’s true that its implementation might require a change for your organization. Yet it represents an important step toward more effectively countering today’s intricate security challenges.

As for the real benefits of using TPM 2.0, Microsoft cites better cryptography standards, separation of cryptography processes and storage from the main processor, and better integration with Windows 11's additional security features, such as Credential Guard and Windows Hello for Business. TPM 2.0 is also used for BitLocker's encryption keys (with Windows 11 version 24H2, BitLocker is on by default for all users), Secure Boot, which ensures the OS you try to boot has not been tampered with, and multifactor authentication.

Microsoft says that TPM 2.0 is an essential tool in combating present-day security risks and ensuring your data is safe in the future. The company even calls its Trusted Platform Module 2.0 a "non-negotiable standard" for the future of Windows, so do not expect Microsoft to lower Windows 11's hardware requirements just to help more users upgrade their systems from Windows 10 to 11 (those can purchase 12 more months of security updates for $30).

By instituting TPM 2.0 as a non-negotiable standard for the future of Windows, we elevate the security benchmark. It allows you and us to better align with the growing need for formidable data protection in the modern digital sphere.

 

In conclusion, TPM 2.0 is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity for maintaining a secure and future-proof IT environment with Windows 11.

You can read more about the importance of TPM 2.0 in the modern world in a post on Microsoft's official Tech Community website.

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Earlier today, Intel announced that the next-generation Arc Battlemage graphics cards will debut soon to PC gamers, aiming to fight Nvidia and AMD in the $250 price range. Alongside it, the company has also unveiled the new Intel Graphics Software kit. This new toolset is replacing the entire Intel Arc Control companion suite that has been available for use with Intel graphics for a couple of years now.

Spotted by those over at the IntelArc subreddit, the new app's landing page is calling it an "all-in-one hub" to optimize games, download new Intel graphics drivers, and tweak driver settings on a game-by-game basis.

Like other offerings by Nvidia or AMD, the software will adjust driver features and settings via the profile configurator depending on the game or app in use. Global settings, such as enabling the newly announced Low Latency Mode for faster response times, FPS limiting, tweaking image sharpness, and more, will also be available via the software.

Next, display option customization is he,re too, with everything from color adjustments to scaling modes and VRR being available on a per-monitor basis.

Moreover, the performance of the Intel GPU currently in use can be easily checked by the software, offering live telemetry on "FPS, memory usage, clock speed, temperature, voltage, and more." As seen below, a comprehensive performance tuning option can be found here, too, letting Intel Arc owners overclock their graphics cards, change fan curves, and more.

Interestingly, the Studio tab from the software's previous iteration seems to be gone entirely, at least from what we can see from Intel's own screenshots of the new app. This is what held the game/screen capture and broadcasting tools for Intel graphics users.

It's unclear exactly when this new Intel Graphics Software will land for Intel graphics users. Considering it is already published on Intel's website as an offering, it is probably slated to debut with the new Battlemage GPU launch next week.

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One of the biggest changes was the reworked Library section, which is now split into two: Update and Library. The former is dedicated to app updates with proper changelogs and version numbers, while the latter lets you browse all the content you own, including apps, games, movies, and more. For those with massive libraries, the Microsoft Store made it easier to find the necessary content with a dedicated search bar.

Product listing pages also received some love. For one, there is a reworked install progress bar with the app's size and completion percentage, which is extra convenient for large apps and especially games. Speaking of games, there are now improved categories and quick links that let you jump to any genre with a single click. Also, trailers are now played automatically when you open a product page (a hero image is shown if there is no trailer).

There are also invisible but still important changes. Microsoft says that underlying optimizations improved the app's performance and reduced the launch time by up to 25%. Developers also fixed various bugs causing app downloads to hang, resulting in a 50% reduction in failed downloads.

Other Microsoft Store changes include a revamped web installation experience, Win32 app support for web installers, improved search and recommendations, and more. Also, Microsoft held its annual Microsoft Store App Awards contents (check out its winners here) and welcomed a bunch of popular apps to the Microsoft Store, such as ChatGPT, Arc, Fantastical, and others.

You can read more about the recent Microsoft Store changes in a blog post on the official website.

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Good to know: Firefox Stable users may enable tab groups in the browser already. The feature is disabled by default, but it can be activated in less than a minute and with minimal effort. This guide explains how that is done further down below.

Firefox Tab Groups Features

Firefox Nightly users were the first to test the new tab groups feature. It works similarly to that of Chromium-based browsers. You can create new tab groups and place website tabs inside. You may name each tab group and assign a color to it for improved identification.

A double-click expands or collapses the entire group. Tab groups furthermore carry over between sessions, if you select to reload the last session on start of the browser.

How to enable Tab Groups in Firefox

Note: you need to use Firefox 133 or newer, as Tab Groups were introduced in that version of the browser. Select Menu > Help > About Firefox to update the browser to the latest version.

Here is the step-by-step guide to enable Tab Groups in Mozilla's browser:

1. Load about:config in the Firefox address bar and press the Enter-key.
2. Confirm that you will be careful if the warning page is displayed.
3. Type tabs.group in the search field on the page that opens.
4. Activate the toggle button at the far right of the preference browser.tabs.groups.enabled to switch the value to true.
5. Restart Firefox.

Working with Tab Groups in Firefox

How to create a new tab group? 

To create a new tab group in Firefox, right-click on a tab and select  Add tab to group > New group.

How to add websites to an existing tab group?

Right-click on the tab and select Add tab to group > Name of existing group.

Alternative: drag & drop the website on an existing tab group.

How to create a new tab in a tab group?

Right-click on a tab in the tab group and select New tab to right.

How to remove a website from a tab group?

Right-click on the tab and select Remove from group.

Alternative: drag & drop the website from the tab group to a location outside of it.

Closing Words

Mozilla is not ready to roll out tab groups to the entire stable population at this point. It might not take that long before the rollout begins though, as the feature looks complete, even in the stable version.

The new feature should give Firefox users a productivity boost and close the feature-gap with Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers.

Do you use Firefox? Did you miss tab groups until now? Is it a feature that you use in other browsers? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

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With Microsoft Edge version 132, the edge://support page is now deprecated, and its parts are scattered across other pages, such as edge://version, edge://metrics-internals, edge://extensions, and edge://policy.

The second addition to the latest Edge 132 Beta update is a built-in AI theme generator. Microsoft Edge now lets you generate a picture with a text prompt and use it as a browser theme on the new tab page. Also, the browser will extract the picture's dominant color and apply it to other UI surfaces.

Interestingly, you do not need Edge 132 Beta to use this feature. All that the update adds is a new entry in the Appearance section. That entry redirects you to a dedicated page where you can create an AI theme, select the accent color, and apply it to your browser, even if you are on Microsoft Edge 131 (current stable release). Still, it is a nice addition that will help more users learn about the feature.

Here is the official changelog for Microsoft Edge 132.0.2957.26:

• Deprecation of Microsoft Edge Support page. To improve end user experience, edge://support is being deprecated. The information found on edge://support is available on other pages: edge://version, edge://metrics-internals, edge://extensions, and edge://policy.
• AI theme generator. Microsoft Edge includes an AI theme generator that allows users to input a text string and generate a series of images to preview as browser themes. Applying the theme includes setting the generated image on the Edge new tab page and applying the image's dominant color to the browser frame. Users can now find a new entry point in edge://settings/appearance which will direct them to AI Theme Generator: Create a Custom Browser Theme. Admins can control availability to this feature using the AIGenThemesEnabled policy. Note: This is a controlled feature rollout. If you don't see this feature, check back as we continue our rollout.

You can download Microsoft Edge Beta from the official Edge Insider website.

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The same is the case for Surface too as Microsoft has made its intention clear that it wants everyone to move on from Windows 10 and update to 11 in a new blog post. The company writes:

As we approach the End of Support (EOS) date for Windows 10, now is the time to plan your transition to Windows 11. Combining the advanced features of Windows 11 with the robust capabilities of Microsoft Surface devices provides an unparalleled user experience along with advanced security to help you succeed in this AI era.

As you may have noticed above, Microsoft specifically notes 2024 and beyond as the "AI era" and such, it is possible that the company is hinting mainly at the latest version of its OS, Windows 11 version 24H2.

In a support document, Microsoft has detailed which Surface devices are eligible for the 2024 Windows 11 update and which are out of their servicing period. In case a Surface is no longer within its servicing period, it means these systems will not receive newer driver and firmware updates.

You can find the blog post here on the official Microsoft Tech community website. You can check out the Surface update eligibility document here.

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Companies have been discussing migrating off of VMware since Broadcom’s takeover a year ago led to higher costs and other controversial changes. Now we have an inside look at one of the larger customers that recently made the move.

According to a report from The Register today, Beeks Group, a cloud operator headquartered in the United Kingdom, has moved most of its 20,000-plus virtual machines (VMs) off VMware and to OpenNebula, an open source cloud and edge computing platform. Beeks Group sells virtual private servers and bare metal servers to financial service providers. It still has some VMware VMs, but “the majority” of its machines are currently on OpenNebula, The Register reported.

Beeks’ head of production management, Matthew Cretney, said that one of the reasons for Beeks' migration was a VMware bill for “10 times the sum it previously paid for software licenses,” per The Register.

According to Beeks, OpenNebula has enabled the company to dedicate more of its 3,000 bare metal server fleet to client loads instead of to VM management, as it had to with VMware. With OpenNebula purportedly requiring less management overhead, Beeks is reporting a 200 percent increase in VM efficiency since it now has more VMs on each server.

Beeks also pointed to customers viewing VMware as non-essential and a decline in VMware support services and innovation as drivers for it migrating from VMware.

Broadcom didn't respond to Ars Technica's request for comment.

Broadcom loses VMware customers

Broadcom will likely continue seeing some of VMware's older customers decrease or abandon reliance on VMware offerings. But Broadcom has emphasized the financial success it has seen (PDF) from its VMware acquisition, suggesting that it will continue with its strategy even at the risk of losing some business.

Beeks is just one company that has moved away from Broadcom's VMware. But its story underscores the ongoing challenges Broadcom has in pacifying customers who have felt disrupted by the changes it has implemented.

Ignacio Llorente, CEO at OpenNebula Systems, told Ars that "several relevant organizations" are moving from VMware to OpenNebula but that he couldn't disclose specifics. He added:

In our experience, recent price increases have prompted these companies to explore alternative solutions. At its core, this is a matter of trust—many organizations feel they can no longer rely on VMware or other vendors that distribute proprietary components.

Like Beeks, other VMware customers have claimed costs for working with VMware skyrocketed due to Broadcom ending perpetual license sales (a move Broadcom has claimed was planned before Broadcom bought VMware) and combining VMware's previously bountiful SKUs into a small number of bundles. Ars spoke to numerous customers who have said that their VMware costs increased 300 percent under Broadcom.

Similarly to Beeks, AT&T previously claimed that Broadcom proposed new pricing that would have resulted in AT&T’s VMware costs increasing by 1,050 percent. AT&T sued Broadcom for not renewing perpetual license support, but the companies have since settled.

Broadcom sought to appease small- and medium-sized businesses with a new, more SMB-friendly subscription tier announced last month. The move came amid concerns that Broadcom was primarily interested in enterprise-size customers for VMware and was overlooking the needs of smaller firms. But Broadcom’s changes have already pushed many customers to research alternatives to VMware, including rivals like OpenNebula.

And with customers struggling to juggle new, higher costs associated with using and selling VMware, we can expect more companies to find ways to decrease dependence on VMware, just as Beeks has.

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However, Mozilla also understands that they are a small piece of the pie and the majority of Windows users are on 11 or 10 with more and more likely (perhaps forcibly) moving to Windows 11 soon as Windows 10 comes to a close. In fact, Microsoft itself seemingly wishes folks, even on unsupported PCs, will upgrade to 11.

As such, in the Firefox 134 beta 2 (spotted by Windows Report), the company has added a new installation menu that automatically selects Firefox as the default OS browser during its installation. As you can see in the image below, the check for "Set Firefox as default browser" is pre-selected.

The patch "Support setting Firefox as default based on installer attribution campaign" tracked under bug ID 1923868 says:

This patch adds an startup idle task that sets the browser as default if an attribution campaign id of "set_default_browser" is present on first run. This works supports an upcoming experiment where users will have the option to "download as default" via [[ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ | the stub installer marketing page ]].

Users can also see the check during the "Finish setup" progress tracking:

This update comes right after Microsoft seemingly tries to make an effort to improve default browser settings UI after it realized how important default app choices can be for users.

Aside from the new installation menu, Firefox 134 beta has also received hardware-accelerated HEVC/H.265 codec support on Windows:

New

 

• Firefox now supports touchpad hold gestures on Linux. This means that kinetic (momentum) scrolling can now be interrupted by placing two fingers on the touchpad.
• HEVC hardware support is implemented for Windows users.

 

Fixed

 

• Fixed an issue that started with macOS Sonoma where the emoji picker would open and immediately close when opened with the Cmd+Ctrl+Space shortcut.
• Fixed an issue that started with macOS Sonoma where the emoji picker would also insert the character "e" in the selected text field/box when opening the emoji picker using the Fn+e shortcut.
  
  We have also fixed this for similar shortcuts using the Fn key.

 

Changed

 

• Firefox follows now the model HTML specification for transient user activation more closely. This change makes popup blocking less strict in cases where previous versions of Firefox were overly aggressive, reducing erroneous blocking prompts.

You can find the changelog here on Mozilla's official website.

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Key notes

• Mozilla is experimenting with making Firefox the default browser during Windows 11 installation.
• The experiment is live in Firefox Beta v. 134 and 135, using a campaign link to trigger the default browser option.
• This low-risk trial is limited to users who download Firefox through the campaign.

Mozilla is currently experimenting with Firefox, its popular browser, and for it to become your default browser as you install Windows 11.

Our friends over at Windows Report test and reveal that the new “controversial” experiment is now live in Firefox Beta v. 134 and (potentially) v. 135. It relies on an attribution campaign, where downloading Firefox from a specific marketing page with a unique campaign ID triggers options during installation to set Firefox as the default browser.

Mozilla has outlined this mechanism in a bug report, explaining that if the attribution campaign ID “set_default_browser” is detected during the first run, Firefox will automatically configure itself as the default browser. The installer also includes options to pin Firefox to the taskbar and import data from other browsers—features commonly seen during browser setup on Windows 11.

The non-profit organization also mentions that this is a low-risk experiment, as it is limited to users who downloaded Firefox through the campaign link. Besides that, there are also some other works that the team has been doing, including a deepfake text detector by Fakespot, a unified button in the address bar, and more.

Last year, Firefox, which was once the highest-ranked most popular browser in the world, added support for more than 450 new extensions for its Android version.

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Windows overall, which includes Windows 11, 64-bit Windows 10, and 64-bit Windows 7, runs on 96.56% of all Steam users. 52.98% of them use Windows 11, and last month, that number increased by 4.18%. 64-bit Windows 10 dropped to 43.31% and lost 4.15%. As for Windows 7, which can no longer work with the latest version of Steam, it still has 0.21% (-0.07 points). Despite not being capable of running the most recent update, Windows 7 still has access to the platform.

Linux and macOS increased their shares on Steam last month. Linux currently has 2.03% (+0.03 points), and macOS has 1.41% (+0.02 points). The most popular Linux distro is Arch Linux, while the most popular macOS version is 15.1 Sequoia.

As for hardware, not much has changed over the last month. Your average PC running Stream still has 16GB of RAM (46.02%), a six-core processor (31.07%), the Nvidia RTX 3060 graphic card (4.89%), 8GB of VRAM (35.17%), and a monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (55.98%). Intel processors are preferred by 64.23% of users (-1.94 points), while Nvidia dominates the graphics card segment with an overwhelming 75.76% market share.

Keep in mind that the Steam Hardware and Software Survey is optional, and Valve picks participants randomly. Therefore, some fluctuations are possible. The survey's goal is to provide a platform-average situation and overall trends. You can find more data from the latest survey results on the official website.

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Statcounter claims that in November 2024, Google Chrome increased its market share by 1.09 points and reached 66.31%, which is a new record-high number for Chrome in 2024. Year-over-year growth is a 4.25 points increase.

Microsoft Edge is the closest browser to Google Chrome. However, calling it "the closest" is a bit of a stretch, considering how massive the gap between the two browsers is. Moreover, last month, Microsoft Edge went down from 13.56% to 12.87% (-0.69 points). One year ago, in November 2023, Edge was at 11.23%, and it shows how hard it is to get users to switch from Chrome and other browsers (especially by attempting to steal their data and impose Edge by force).

Safari continues holding its steady third place with a market share floating around the 9% mark. In November 2024, Apple's Safari browser went up by 0.07 points and reached 9.13%.

1. Google Chrome - 66.31% (+1.09 points)
2. Microsoft Edge - 12.87% (-0.69 points)
3. Apple Safari - 9.13% (+0.07 points)
4. Mozilla Firefox - 6.45% (+0.06 points)
5. Opera - 2.81% (-0.39 points)

Statcounter's latest data came at an interesting time. Google is currently in a clash with the United States Department of Justice, which claims Google should sell Chrome. In response, Google stated that selling its browser would harm America's technology leadership and users who might not trust the new owner. It will be interesting to see if the development will affect Google's position in the browser market.

You can learn how Statcounter gathers its data in the official FAQ section here.

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