Alongside the 2023 update, Microsoft also released dynamic updates to improve the Windows Recovery (WinRE), as well as the Setup files. Speaking of which, the OOBE was updated as well.

Perhaps coincidentally if not actively planned for, popular third-party Windows customization and modding tool, Windhawk, received its latest update yesterday following the Windows 11 2023 update. The new version is a significant release as the application is no longer in beta.

Aside from that, the new version brings fixes related to 32-bit processes, lowered network usage, and an offline installer, among other things.

You can find the full changelog for the latest Windhawk version 1.4 release below:

For users

 

• After almost two years since the first release, Windhawk is no longer beta.
• The Windhawk installer now comes in two variants, an online installer and an offline installer. The new online installer is much smaller (around 10 MB instead of around 120 MB), and it downloads the required dependencies only when needed.
• Added an advanced option to control when mods are loaded for critical system processes.
• Added an advanced mod option to ignore the original mod inclusion/exclusion lists.
• Reduced Windhawk network activity (discussion #91).
• Mod tasks in progress popup no longer stays open for suspended processes (issue #102).
• Added Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian translations.
• Updated existing translations.

 

For developers

 

• Changed Wh_GetBinaryValue, Wh_SetBinaryValue API signatures.
• Updated the Wh_FindFirstSymbol API to allow enumerating only decorated symbols for better performance.
• Added Wh_SetFunctionHookT to windhawk_utils.h (issue #85).
• Added StringSetting to windhawk_utils.h, a RAII wrapper for string settings.
• Added support for quotes in @compilerOptions.
• The underscore symbol is now allowed in mod settings identifiers.
• Added windows.ui.xaml.hosting.desktopwindowxamlsource.h, xamlom.h to the Windhawk compiler.

 

Bug fixes

 

• Fixed symbol loading for 32-bit processes.
• Fixed forking a local mod.
• Fixed incorrect folder permissions for installations outside of the Program Files folder. This could cause several mods to fail to load.
• Fixed compatibility with SentinelOne Antivirus (issue #79).

To download the update, both the online as well as the offline installers, you can head over to GitHub or the app's official website.

Source

What is new in the Files app v3?

• New icons. Files v3 features brand-new icons for stable and preview builds, each featuring its distinct colour. The public version is yellow (to retain familiarity with the stock File Explorer), while the developer and preview are purple and blue.

• 

•  

• New design. The Files app now has a more modern user interface with a rounded files area, adjusted background opacity, and a reworked from the ground-up sidebar. In addition, files pinned to the sidebar have a distinct icon.
• Modern copy-paste dialogs. This change will delight those unhappy with the outdated copy-paste progress dialogs in the stock File Explorer. You can click the progress icon in the upper-right corner of the app to check out the status of your current procedure.

  

   

• Office files preview. You can preview Office documents in the preview pane. Select a file, open the pane, and tap "Preview." The Files app can also preview other file formats with registered shell preview handlers.

  

   

• Command Palette. The Files app v3 has a built-in command system that lets you execute various actions using quick commands. Press Ctrl + Shift + P and type the action you need, such as "Create new folder," "Group items by date created," "Create a ZIP archive," etc.

  

   

• Keep in the background. With the latest update, you can keep the File app running in the background to reduce its launch time.

Here are other changes in the Files app v3:

• Added support for renaming network drives
• Theme names are now localized in the settings dialog
• Keyboard shortcuts are now displayed in the right click menu
• Added support for opening shortcut files as another user
• Added support for additional archive formats including gz, mcpack, mcworld, jar, lzh, and appxbundle
• Added support for elevated file operations
• Folders in special locations that don’t have a directory watcher will now refresh when changes are made
• Display error message when transferring files that are too large for FAT32
• Removed the margin when using the compact spacing option
• Added a “What’s new” popup that can be viewed after an update
• Files will now display a custom thumbnail when it’s the registered handler for viewing archives.
• Automatically update items when the date changes
• Added support for canceling tab tear off by pressing the esc key
• Added support for copying the paths of multiple items together
• Improved the design and performance of the startup options in settings
• Added ctrl + shift + n shortcut to create a new folder
• Added support for unblocking downloaded folders from the properties window
• Improved the icon resolution on tabs
• Added support for Proton Drive
• Added file operation support for FTP
• Added support for formatting drives from the properties window
• Added support to switch between items using arrow keys in the conflicts dialog

You can download the Files app v3 for free from the official website. Alternatively, you can purchase it in the Microsoft Store to support developers.

Source

So, I decided to make things easier for you and compiled a list of the most efficient removal tools. I’ve tested 15 of the most recommended apps to see if they’re worth their salt. You can find out more about my research parameters and testing process below.

Testing Process

I’ve used over 15 uninstaller premium and free tools on Windows to find the best ones. For this, I’ve established the following parameters:

• Removing three types of apps: Using each software, I’ve tried to remove a basic and a complex standalone desktop app as well as a Microsoft Store app.
• Batch uninstaller: I’ve checked whether the software can uninstall multiple programs at once or not.
• Recovery point: I’ve determined whether the remover creates a working restore point while uninstalling.
• Windows 11 compatibility: I’ve installed and tested the apps on the latest version of Windows 11 and checked for performance issues.
• User-friendliness: Most importantly, I’ve verified whether the software is easy to use and navigate.

Which Are the Best Uninstaller Software?

Here are my top 10 uninstallers for Windows, based on my research:

1. Revo Uninstaller

Revo Uninstaller is one of the most popular and oldest uninstaller tools available for Windows. I’ve used this program for a few years, and it’s consistently efficient.

Hunter Mode, robust uninstaller, junk cleaner, unrecoverable delete, and many more features make this tool stand out from the rest. The UI is also very user-friendly. As a result, you can easily navigate to your desired option and do what you need.

This freemium uninstallation tool scans and detects all files and registry entries related to the program you’re trying to remove from your PC. It deletes all the leftovers, too. The whole thing happens automatically.

Furthermore, Hunter Mode lets you immediately select and uninstall what you need.

Overall, it’s a neat and clean, very easy-to-use, and robust uninstaller program. You can check out our Revo Uninstaller review to learn more details.

2. IObit Uninstaller

The IObit Uninstaller is another excellent looking and feature-rich uninstaller software for Windows 11 and 10.

Unlike Revo, this app looks very modern. The UI is also very simple, clean, and straightforward to use.

Moreover, it has both free and premium versions. The free one has some restrictions in terms of features and functionalities, but it’ll satisfy basic users.

IObit also offers a Bundleware remover, Software Health monitoring, Browser Extensions remover, and built-in software updater features.

Like Revo’s Hunter Mode, it has a similar feature called Easy Uninstall. Plus, there’s Force Uninstall+ which can remove even programs that can’t be uninstalled in a standard way. Furthermore, IObit can remove Windows Updates, too.

3. Ashampoo Uninstaller

Ashampoo Uninstaller is another superb software remover tool that offers both free and paid versions. Like Revo and IObit, it provides a wide range of helpful features.

Ashampoo allows you to remove Windows apps, Win32 applications, browser extensions, plugins, etc. Besides, it offers additional tools like Drive Cleaner, Registry Optimizer, File Wiper, and more.

I’ve found no major downsides during my tests. However, it doesn’t have a select-to-uninstall feature like Revo’s Hunter Mode.

Overall, anyone with basic computer knowledge can use this software because of its simple and minimalistic UI. Finding and using your desired options is really straightforward.

4. Absolute Uninstaller

Glarysoft’s Absolute Uninstaller is a fantastic software remover tool for Windows OS. This application comes with both free and paid options.

Besides basic program uninstallation features, it offers a few more things that are very helpful. Absolute Uninstaller groups the apps on your PC into different categories such as Recently Installed, Large Programs, Rare Used Programs, etc. It can also completely remove some programs to save disk space more effectively.

When I used it on my PC, the features I found the most useful were Windows Updates uninstaller, MS Store Apps remover, and Batch Uninstall. However, it doesn’t have a select-to-uninstall-like tool.

Still, one of the best features is AutoFix Invalid Entries. If you’ve uninstalled any programs previously but you can still see them on the program list, this tool will solve this problem.

5. Wise Program Uninstaller

Wise Program Uninstaller is completely free software that you can use on your Windows 11 or 10 PC. There’s no premium version available of this tool. Wise Cleaner, on the other hand, is a paid PC optimization tool, but the two shouldn’t be mixed up.

It’s a decent choice, considering it’s free and somewhat basic. You can remove multiple programs at once, which means it supports batch-removing features.

Wise Uninstaller works for both Desktop and Store apps. You can also use it to uninstall browser extensions and add-ons. It can also automatically create system restore points.

Moreover, I immediately noticed its simple UI with a modern vibe. Still, it’s not the most feature-rich tool, but it does the job just fine.

6. Advanced Uninstaller Pro

If you’re looking for a simple yet capable app, Advanced Uninstaller Pro stands out as an excellent choice. The basic version is completely free. But you can upgrade for additional functionalities.

Even the free version includes extra features like Startup Manager, Start Menu Cleaner, Service Manager, Duplicate Files Fixer, Registry Cleaner, and more.

The premium version extends the offer with StartUp Virus Detection, Application Leftover Files, and other cleaning tools.

All in all, it worked decently for me in most parts. I must admit that for any regular users, it’s a good choice. However, a more modern UI and select-to-uninstall feature could make it a top choice. It also can’t remove Microsoft Store apps.

7. Geek Uninstaller

 If you want a very simple but powerful free software remover, try Geek Uninstaller. It also has a pro version with additional benefits.

You can uninstall both Win32 and Windows Store apps completely. The whole process only takes a few clicks.

In addition to the primary uninstallation functionality, you can manage startup items, force uninstall a stubborn program, trace a program, remove multiple apps at once, etc.

I’ve used it on my Windows 11 PC and was impressed by its simplicity. The performance was great. But, compared to the other best uninstaller software, it has a limited number of features.

8. ZSoft Uninstaller

ZSoft Uninstaller is free software that you can use to completely remove any programs from your PC. This app is very simple and lightweight and puts no pressure even on low-end PCs.

Along with the essential uninstallation feature, it has a Temp File Finder and Analyze an Installation tool.

During my testing, I wasn’t entirely impressed because of the very mediocre and old-fashioned UI. It’s easy to use but doesn’t look all too pleasing.

Besides, there was no batch uninstaller and it doesn’t create restore points. It’s still a worthy choice for those who have a very old PC with an old version of Windows.

9. CCleaner

CCleaner is one of the most popular PC optimization software, but it also has an uninstallation feature. Although it’s very basic, it does the job.

I’m a long-term CCleaner user and I’ve used its software removal tool quite a few times. It also comes with valuable features like Startup Manager, Browser Plugins Manager, Duplicate Finder, and System Restore.

However, as it’s not a dedicated removal tool, you’ll miss out on some useful features like Batch uninstaller and Force uninstaller.

10. CleanGenius

EaseUS CleanGenius is a free program uninstaller with extra features like Cleanup, Privacy Protection, Optimization, etc. However, none of them are as robust as premium tools.

The uninstallation functionality is also very basic. It doesn’t support batch uninstalling, for example. Still, it reliably does the job.

Also, during some of my tests, the app was a bit sluggish. Overall, its biggest strengths are that it’s completely free and simple to use, if somewhat limited.

 How To Uninstall Software Manually?

You also can uninstall programs manually from your PC. Still, some leftovers may remain if you do it this way.

Simply follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I on the keyboard to open the Windows Settings.
2. Navigate to Apps and then go to Installed Apps.

    

   
3. Click on the three horizontal dots next to the program you want to remove and click on Uninstall.

    

   
4. Follow the on-screen steps to finish the process.
5. Restart your PC if needed.

After uninstalling, you should visit the program’s folder and other possible places to see if there’s anything still left. If there is, you should remove the leftovers.

All things considered, IObit and Revo Uninstaller rise above the rest of the apps thanks to the Select-to-Uninstall feature. Still, depending on your needs, you might find that simpler apps will serve you better.

Hopefully, this list will help you find the best uninstaller software for you. If you’ve used any of these tools, feel free to share your experiences in the comments below!

Source

Bing Chat users can now ask the chatbot to create tablets that can then be imported and edited into the web version of Excel.

The new feature was first reported last week on X (formerly Twitter) by Paul Couvert, and we have independently confirmed his report. If you have Bing Chat working on your Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari web browser, you can ask the chatbot to create a table for you. Couvert's text prompt example was, "Create a table comparing the evolution of smartphone and laptop sales in value in the US from 2015 to 2022."

Once Bing Chat has made the table, you should see an "Edit to Excel" icon in the right corner. Click on it and it should take you to the web version of Excel, where you can then import the table data from Bing Chat into the Excel spreadsheet.

Microsoft quietly admitted the new feature was indeed live by responding to Couvert's X post, writing, "Bing Chat + Excel = the perfect MATCH."

Businesses who have signed up for Microsoft 365 Copilot can also use Excel with the new Copilot generative AI feature, although it's still in public preview with that particular Office app.

Hopefully, the Bing Chat team will be able to add some more promised features to the chatbot soon including plug-in support, which was first announced in May at Build 2023.

Source

Mikhail Parakhin, now the head of Microsoft's Windows and Web Experiences Team, is also still helping to develop Bing Chat. In a new poll that he posted on X (formerly Twitter) Parakhin stated that Microsoft wanted some feedback on the Bing Chat team's "capacity prioritization discussions". The poll has two choices; "I want faster Bing Chat." and "I want faster DALL-E 3.0".

Of course, a lot of people would like faster anything when it comes to Bing Chat. However, ever since the company added OpenAI's DALL-E 3.0 support for Bing Image Creator in late September, it has suffered a bit in terms of slowdowns in making AI art due to a big increase in users. Microsoft stated at the time it was adding more GPUs to deal with the demand.

Microsoft has also had issues with its AI guardrails keeping people from using Bing Image Creator for inoffensive test prompts.

Since the poll launched on X earlier this evening, it's a bit too early to see which choice will eventually come out on top. The poll will keep taking responses until early Monday evening, Eastern time.

We are also still waiting for some promised features for Bing Chat to become generally available. That includes third-party plug-in support, which Microsoft first announced in May. It's been in testing for a limited number of users but so far Microsoft has not yet pulled the trigger on this new additions. That may also be affecting the launch of the promised "No Search" feature, which was announced in August, and will now be one of those additions that will launch as a plug-in.

Source

Before Microsoft Edge 119, you could turn the sidebar on or off using the "Always Show Sidebar" option on the edge://settings/sidebar page. In Edge 119, the toggle is now situated in the Copilot settings section. Moreover, turning it on or off requires enabling the Show Copilot option. Although you can keep the sidebar and toggle off the Copilot icon, doing so will remove the "Auto-hide Sidebar" option, and the browser will prevent you from turning off the sidebar in settings. The toggle description makes it clear:

Always show sidebar

 

This setting is not available when Copilot in Edge is off

This rather odd behavior might confuse some customers, especially those who prefer not to use Copilot (you still cannot turn off open on hover). Many people consider the sidebar a useful and convenient productivity tool, and welding it to Copilot feels like a strange artificial way to boost engagement with the latter.

Regardless of Microsoft's reasoning, you now know how to toggle the sidebar on or off in Edge 119. Just head to Settings > Sidebar > Copilot > Always Show Sidebar. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + / shortcut.

The sidebar toggle change is not the only weird behavior in Microsoft's browser. In October, we reported a new stop-gap the company implemented to prevent users from downloading another browser. Getting Google Chrome from the official website would result in Edge showing not only a massive and intrusive ad but also a poll asking customers to explain why they decided to jump-ship another browser.

Source

Alongside the 2023 update, Microsoft also released dynamic updates to improve the Windows Recovery (WinRE), as well as the Setup files, speaking of which, the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) was updated as well, though we are not sure if it applies 23H2 as well, or if it was just to improve the 22H2 one.

The March OOBE update, for example, added a Shim to improve compatibility with Component Object Model (COM) objects. Meanwhile, the April OOBE update also addressed compatibility issues, but this time it was related to the registry.

With this month's OOBE update release though, Microsoft hasn't gone into any detail about what the new update brings as it has only mentioned that this is meant to improve the Windows 22H2 Out of box experience.

Summary

 

This update improves the Windows 11, version 22H2 out-of-box experience (OOBE). This update applies only to the Windows 11 OOBE process and is available only when OOBE updates are installed.

 

How to get this update

 

Windows OOBE

 

This update is installed during the Windows OOBE process if an Internet connection is available.

 

Prerequisites

 

There are no prerequisites for installing this update.

 

Restart information

 

Your device requires a restart after applying this update.

 

Update replacement information

 

This update does not replace a previously released update.

The official support article from Microsoft is linked here: KB5032381. The OOBE update is downloaded automatically so you need not worry.

Source

Microsoft Outlook - A new feature to explore your organization and more.

Microsoft announced and then started quickly rolling out a new feature for the new Outlook for Windows and Outlook for the web. The feature is designed to give people a quicker way to exploretheir organization.

Org Explorer for Outlook helps you to visualize and explore your company’s internal structure, work teams, and individual roles.

In addition, the roadmap added posts for updates to the settings pages for both the iOS and Android versions of Outlook. Microsoft says the Settings pages for both Outlook mobile apps are being "updated to be better organized so that you can find the settings you need more efficiently." That will roll out to both apps later in November.

Microsoft Teams - A new Walkie Talkie feature for iOS and Android apps and more

The Microsoft Teams apps for iOS and Android will be getting a new Walkie Talkie feature sometime in December. Here's what that new feature will add to those apps:

Walkie Talkie, a push-to-talk experience that enables clear and secure voice communication over the cloud, enables teams to communicate instantly on a channel. Through this new functionality, users can now connect to, up to 5 favorite channels in multi-channel mode, automatically listen to incoming transmission from these favorited channels and initiate easily initiate PTT transmission on these channels.

Those same apps will be getting a new security feature in February 2024:

Users can collaborate in a way that meets compliance standards in meetings on a mobile device by picking sensitivity labels on Teams calendar. The labels will follow all the rules that have been set by the administrators, and they will apply to the users in the tenant.

Again, it was a pretty light update week for the roadmap but come back next week to see what new Microsoft 365 features will be revealed.

Source

Leo is free to use. The AI is based on Meta's Llame2 13b model, designed for general chat tasks by default. One interesting aspect of Leo is that users may switch to different language models. These include the advanced Llama2 70b and Anthropic's Claude Instant models, but this comes at a price.

The option to switch to a different language model is provided for all users, but the functionality is locked. When you select a different model, Leo will advertise a subscription-based version to use these. For $15 per month, users get access to the additional models and higher rate limits.

It may require trial and error to find out which of the language models works best for specific use cases.

A click on the Leo icon in the sidebar of the Brave Browser opens the interface. Interaction with the AI happens via text input for the most part. Leo can summarize articles on the Web and display suggested questions to the user.

Suggested questions are based on the article and the answers may improve the understanding of the article.

A click on the "summarize this page" button displays a summary of the content quickly. This worked on all article pages, regardless of length. The summaries are short and to the point, but some information is usually not mentioned in the summary because of that. The suggested questions feature may help get the missing information.

It happened that Brave suggested the same question twice, but the feature worked reliably for the most part.

The following example demonstrates how the summary feature works. When asked to summarize the How to disable Windows Copilot in Windows guide, Leo's summary did not include actionable instructions to turn off the AI. The suggested question "How do I completely disable Windows Copilot in Windows 11" however returned the step-by-step instructions from the article.

You don't need to rely on the questions that Brave's AI suggested. You may enter questions of your own in the chat instead to get the answers you need. Brave's AI links them to the article, provided that they are related.

Closing Words

Brave Browser's AI Leo summary feature can be a useful tool. Especially the suggested questions feature is handy, as it may provide answers to questions that are left unanswered by the initial summary. One interesting feature is the ability to summarize foreign-language content.

As is the case with all AI, it is necessary to check the information, especially in areas where specifics are important. This includes finance information, cooking instructions, how-to articles, craftmanship and many other areas that rely on accurate information.

It is up to each user of Brave, and other browsers with AI baked in, to decide whether the AI is useful or not.

Now You: do you use AI tools?

Source

Regardless, the company released a dynamic update that improves the Windows 11 setup for 23H2. The update also apply to version 22H2 as well. This makes sense as the new feature update is mostly the same at the core system files level.

Microsoft writes in its support article:

KB5031656: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 22H2: October 26, 2023

 

Summary

 

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

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).
• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.
• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.
• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

 

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 updates are available from the Microsoft Update Catalog website at the following links: KB5031656.

Source

Regardless, the company released dynamic updates that improve the compatibility of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) for Windows 11 23H2. The updates also apply to 22H2 as well. This makes sense as the new feature update is mostly the same at the core system files level.

Microsoft writes in its support article:

KB5031894: Compatibility update for installing and recovering Windows 11, version 22H2: October 26, 2023

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery features for Windows 11, version 22H2.

 

KB5031476: Compatibility update for installing and recovering Windows 11, version 22H2: October 10, 2023

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery features for Windows 11, version 22H2.

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).
• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.
• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.
• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

 

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 updates are available from the Microsoft Update Catalog website at the following links: KB5031894 / KB5031476.

Source

Tech and gaming enthusiasts will swear blindly that their choice of OS is the best: wherever you look online you will find different results, on the one hand, Windows 10 is better, on the other, Windows 11 should be your choice. It's a hard question to answer with so many different variations of hardware and software being used with test results, so why not try to answer it with some of the best hardware currently at our disposal.

So to put it plainly, which is better, the eight-year-old Windows 10, or on the ongoing development of Windows 11? It is a question we, and other websites, have tried to answer before.

First up, here is a run-down of our test system, you may recognize it from the 14th gen Intel Core i5 and i9 CPUs review we did recently:

Test system

• Intel Core i9-14900K (Amazon|Newegg)
• ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI (BIOS v1402) (Amazon|Newegg)
• ASUS ROG STRIX 850W Gold (Amazon|Newegg)
• Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler (Amazon|Newegg)
• Carbonaut thermal grizzly 0.2mm (Amazon|Newegg)
• 2x 16GB Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 6000MT/s in XMP (Amazon|Newegg)
• Sabrent 1TB Rocket 4 Plus-G (PCIe 4.0) (Amazon|Newegg)
• MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Ventus 3X (Amazon|Newegg)
• Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo at 5120 x 1440 @ 240Hz on DisplayPort (Amazon|Newegg)

The ambient room temperature while testing was measured to be between 19C (66.2 °F) and 20C (68 °F), and our test rig was open plan.

In addition to the above, our Windows 10 Pro installation was clean installed, and ASUS Armoury Crate was allowed to install all the drivers that our system needed. It was also updated to the October Patch Tuesday update: build 19045.3570, and we had Nvidia driver 545.92 installed.

As you can see from the above images, we only installed the above programs, which included some benchmarks and games required for our testing. This will be important later. We felt it was important to show that the same programs were installed in the Windows 11 upgrade, which is important because different, as well as additional programs possibly running in the background, (as they do!) can affect the test results.

After running all the benchmarks on Windows 10, we did an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 22621.2428, which is the October Patch Tuesday update. Nvidia driver 545.92 remained installed.

Benchmarks

First up, the GPU bound benchmarks, where the RTX 4070 Ti was pushed to its limit.

In 3DMark, supplied to us by UL Benchmarks, Windows 11 clearly bests Windows 10 in both overall score and graphics scores. The above tests were run three times, and the highest scores were used. While Time Spy is based on the newer DirectX 12 API, Fire Strike is built on DirectX 11. Both Time Spy and Fire Strike Extreme run at 2560 x 1440.

Up next, we move on from synthetics to a couple of real games. The games were tested at their default settings (High preset) at our monitor's native resolution of 5120 x 1440.

It's the same story in Far Cry 6 (released 2021), with Windows 11 besting Windows 10 a touch in framerate (FPS) consistently (best score after three runs).

Shadow of the Tomb Raider's benchmark (released in 2018) does not differ in the stand-off between the two, with Windows 11 again coming out on top (best score after three runs).

Just like Far Cry 6, the Windows 11 system was consistently just a little bit faster. The differences are not perceptible, as you wouldn't notice them without a framerate monitoring overlay, but they are certainly measurable.

From gaming, we move to a bit of productivity testing next. Although not a massive difference, Windows 11 once again edges out Windows 10 by 38 points in Cinebench 2024.

If you recall, the new version of Cinebench introduces GPU rendering and uses the RedShift engine. This directly helps us compare CPU and GPU rendering as the rendering scene is the same, unlike on some earlier Cinebench versions.

It's clear that Nvidia is somehow managing to take advantage of the newer Windows 11, although the gains are uniform across the board, they are nothing to shout about, but we can at least confirm that Windows 11 is slightly better in the graphics department than Windows 10 in exactly the same testing conditions.

Next up, the CPU bound benchmarks.

As you can see, it's a different story when it comes to CPU performance between the two Windows versions. With Time Spy, Windows 10 edges out Windows 11 in the CPU score by 430 points, but Windows 11 comes out on top by 165 points on the overall score (best score after three runs).

It's the same story with Fire Strike Extreme. Windows 10 edges out Windows 11 in Physics by 2,124 points, but Windows 11 scores better overall by 272 points (best score after three runs).

If you recall, the 4070 Ti was almost consistently (slightly) faster across the board on Windows 11 so that may well explain why we see Windows 11 winning out in the Overall category (in the 3DMark tests above), which combines the CPU and GPU scores.

But it is certainly somewhat surprising, considering Intel and Microsoft have both confirmed how the newer OS is optimized for the hybrid architecture.

Moving on from synthetics, we tested Shadow of the Tomb Raider to see if the same holds true in a real game as well; and indeed, Windows 10 comes out on top, edging Windows 11 ever so slightly in CPU scoring in all but one of the test scores that were recorded, this was based off the scores of three runs of the benchmark.

In the CPU Profile test, which tries to gauge how good the scaling is across threads, Windows 10 once again takes the crown, besting Windows 11 at every stage. The highest scores were used after running the benchmark three times.

In the PCMark 10 test, Windows 11 dominates in pretty much every test but video editing and writing, but the margins here are so small that you could safely say Windows 11 wins by a comfortable margin. The biggest win for Windows 11 comes in the Rendering and Visualization test, as the system was found to be 44% faster.

Once again, the results are a bit surprising but very interesting. Although PCMark 10, released in 2017, was originally designed with Windows 10 in mind, it's possible that certain optimizations in Windows 11 are helping it beat out the older OS. Perhaps Intel's Thread Director is doing a much better job scheduling the task to the appropriate threads.

Windows 11 again beat out Windows 10 by 58 points in the Cinebench 2024 CPU benchmark. But that is nowhere near the 44% performance bump we found in the PCMark 10 rendering workload.

We also ran the default 32MB 7-Zip benchmark, which shows once again that Windows 11 gets the job done quicker than its older sibling, although once again the gains are marginal.

So what have we proven here? It seems like we have at the very least answered the question of if your PC can suffer as a result of an upgrade instead of a clean install of Windows 11. It seems that, based on these benchmarks, Windows 11 still shows improvement over Windows 10, and that is coming from a guy who is no fan of Windows 11.

Would it convince me to permanently switch to Windows 11? Not in its current state, nope. But despite this, there is no evidence based on these tests that Windows 11 is worse in gaming and productivity.

Stay tuned for another test, hopefully next week, when we pitch a clean install of Windows 10 against a clean install of Windows 11 on the same test PC.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Computer Browser

 

The Computer Browser driver and service are deprecated. The browser (browser protocol and service) is a dated and insecure device location protocol. This protocol, service, and driver were first disabled by default in Windows 10 with the removal of the SMB1 service. For more information on Computer Browser, see MS-BRWS Common Internet File System.

 

Webclient (WebDAV) Service

 

The Webclient (WebDAV) service is deprecated. The Webclient service isn't started by default in Windows. For more information on WebDAV, see WebDAV - Win32 apps.

 

Remote Mailslots

 

Remote Mailslots are deprecated. The Remote Mailslot protocol is a dated, simple, unreliable, insecure IPC method first introduced in MS DOS. This protocol was first disabled by default in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build . For more information on Remote Mailslots, see About Mailslots and [MS-MAIL]: Remote Mailslot Protocol.

For those unfamiliar, feature deprecation means Microsoft is no longer actively developing a specific part of the operating system. Therefore, customers should not expect new functionality or major changes. Still, those deprecated features and services may remain in Windows for some time before Microsoft removes them. For example, in September 2023, Microsoft deprecated WordPad, but the app is still available as a stock Windows application. Timeline for Microsoft Entra accounts and VBScript are also deprecated, effective October 2023.

The company has a dedicated document detailing removed Windows features no longer available in the latest Windows 10 and 11 updates. If you plan to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 (many do after the Moment 4 update release), check out the official website detailing features you will lose after installing Windows 11.

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One of Microsoft's promises was that Copilot would help users run tasks on Windows. Without that, Copilot would just be Bing Chat added as a sidebar to Windows.

Microsoft describes this functionality in the following way: "Whether you need help with summarizing a web page, composing an email to your daughter’s new teacher, changing your settings to dark mode or generating an image for that unique idea in your head, Copilot in Windows can assist you. Need to enable Bluetooth or connect a new pair of headphones? Copilot can help. Not sure of the best way to capture a screenshot? Ask Copilot to do it for you. Copilot in Windows can change the way you use your PC and inspire you to try new things that you may not have thought of before. It is where productivity and creativity meet."

Windows Copilot

First problem that users may run into is that there is no command reference. Microsoft listed some commands in the blog post, but no one knows what Windows Copilot can do and can't do on Windows specifically.

It is a trial and error approach. Asking Copilot to launch Notepad, for instance, results in an "I'm sorry" message. Copilot claims that it is a chat mode of Microsoft Bing and not an assistant. This alone is puzzling, as Microsoft described Windows Copilot on the blog as "the intelligent assistant at your fingertips".

Copilot needs time to process the user request, and it does so remotely on Microsoft servers. What is returned after seconds is a list of instructions on how to open Notepad on the system.

While these are useful, typing notepad in Start would have launched the text editor right away. Even things that Copilot is supposed to do, like enabling dark mode, is not really something that the AI assistant does without flaws, or at all.

The simple "enable dark mode" request is met with a huge wall of text that explains how to enable Dark Mode on Windows. Copilot, however, doesn't enable dark mode automatically on the user's request.

It gets better. While trying to find the right command to get Copilot to switch to dark mode or at least display a button that does that, it suddenly suggested to enable Do Not Disturb on the system.

No matter the instruction, Windows Copilot always replied with a "can't do, I'm not an assistant" type of message.

Interestingly enough, when asked to turn on Do not disturb mode, Copilot did display a button to turn on the feature. It still took seconds before the request was processed on Microsoft servers.

My initial assessment of Windows Copilot was that there was not enough Windows in it to justify its integration in the operating system. Microsoft's main interest seems to be to push it to as many users as possible. One reason for that is advertising, which Windows users who interact with Copilot may see for some interactions already.

Closing Words

Windows Copilot is not a useful tool to manage Windows or get actionable help. It supports only a few commands and these commands aren't listed anywhere publicly. Heck, even Copilot refuses to return the full list of commands. Could be that the list is so small that Microsoft is embarrassed to reveal it.

Copilot could have been more. Assist users when it comes to Windows. Help users with troubleshooting tasks, run commands for users or at least point users in the right direction. Why can't Copilot open Settings page when users ask to make a change to them?

For now, Copilot is nothing more than what Bing Chat offers. There is virtually no reason for its integration in Windows from a user's point of view. It is a lucrative integration for Microsoft, on the other hand. It pushes usage and also advertisement.

Now You: what is your take on Windows Copilot?

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What is new in Microsoft Edge 120.0.2186.2?

Here is the changelog Microsoft published on the official forum:

Added features:

 

• Added colour picker in the settings appearance page.
• Implemented the favorite header component and added the pin and unpin functionalities.
• Added support to clear the form after auto filling it.

 

Improved reliability:  

 

• Fixed a crash when clicking on 'Search Tabs' after opening a new window.
• Fixed a crash when closing submenu from settings.
• Fixed a crash when deleting a favorite from "Deleted Favorites" using delete key.
• Fixed a crash when clicking links in PWAs while the sidebar 'find on page' experience is active.
• Fixed a side pane crash when selecting long text for the very first time.
• Fixed a bug when the browser hangs at shutting down.
• Fixed a crash when sync is disabled.
• Fixed a crash in sidebar search view.
• Android: Fixed a crash when opening PDF link using the browser on WeChat.
• iOS:
  • Fixed codex related crash when switching account.
  • Fixed a crash in coupons manager.

 

Changed behavior:

 

• Fixed a bug when autofill shopping coupons dropdown not showing up.
• Fixed a bug where URL in address bar is not visible and showing in red colour.
• Fixed a bug when workspace name is not editable.
• Fixed a bug when 'Ready to declutter your sidebar' is cropped and popped multiple times in sidebar.
• Fixed bug for workspaces vertical tabs when normal window converts to workspace.
• MacOS: Fixed a bug where hover control button cannot be triggered when PDF file is opened in split screen.
• Android:
  • Fixed a bug when the top sites did not migrate when switching account.
  • Fixed a bug when the browser didn't have 'saved passwords' under import your browsing data from google.
  • Fixed a bug when there is no 'Import Google browser data' menu under payment in account settings page.
• iOS:
  • Fixed a bug where the saved password does not display the account name in the save password page.
  • Fixed a bug where there is no response when clicking some buttons and passwords on the Password page.

Microsoft Edge 120 is expected in the Stable Channel on the week of December 7, 2023. You can download Edge Dev from the official Edge Insider website.

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Here is the changelog, which can be read in full here:

Feature updates

 

• Compression Dictionary Transport support. A version of the Compression Dictionary Transport feature is available for sites to use by participating in the associated origin trial. If your network uses a middlebox that inspects network traffic and/or you previously encountered issues with the ZSDCH feature, review the Considerations for zstd-based Shared Dictionary Compression for HTTP page which contains updated guidance.
• Behavioral changes to the beforeunload event. The behavior of the beforeunload event has changed such that calling preventDefault in a beforeunload event handler triggers a confirmation dialog. Setting returnValue to an empty string in a beforeunload event handler no longer triggers a confirmation dialog. This behavior takes effect starting in Microsoft Edge version 119. Administrators can temporarily opt out of this functionality by disabling the BeforeunloadEventCancelByPreventDefaultEnabled policy.
• Split screen restore improvements. Split screen allows you to simultaneously work on multiple tasks across two, side-by-side screens in one browsing tab to boost your productivity and multitask more efficiently. Now after the browser is restarted and the previous session is restored, the split tab will also be restored.
• Additional capability to manage sidebar apps. Administrators can utilize the "sidebar_auto_open_blocked" ExtensionSettings policy field to control the auto-open behavior of sidebar apps. For more information, see Detailed guide to the ExtensionSettings policy.
• Updates to Microsoft Edge enterprise sync settings page. When the ForceSyncTypes and SyncTypesListDisabled polices are used concurrently, the sync settings page (edge://settings/profiles/sync) accurately show the status for each data type.

 

Policy updates

 

New policies

 

• SwitchIntranetSitesToWorkProfile - Switch intranet sites to a work profile
• SwitchSitesOnIEModeSiteListToWorkProfile - Switch sites on the IE mode site list to a work profile
• OrganizationalBrandingOnWorkProfileUIEnabled - Allow the use of your organization's branding assets from M365 on the profile-related UI of a work profile

The change log also mentions the Edge 119 Stable update has "fixed various bugs and performance issues". You can download the update from Microsoft's site.

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Out of the four new files, we do get an idea about what the ControlCenter DLL or the ShellHost EXE files may be. If you guessed they had to do something with the Windows 11 Shell, you would be right. Twitter (X) user Albacore, who is also another Windows enthusiast and a developer, noted that these new files potentially indicate what Microsoft's plans are with UWP (Universal Windows Platform) as Albacore suggests UWP could be going away.

This follows an August finding where some Windows 10 elements from Explorer EXE were removed from 11.

Albacore adds further context about the new ControlCenter and ShellHost files in their Twitter thread:

As for why Microsoft may be looking to make such a move, it is hard to know. Earlier this year, the company did have a bit of trouble fixing UWP app bugs, though they were eventually resolved. More recently in July, Arm32 UWP support was ended.

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Nvidia often releases such hotfix drivers when there is a major bug or something that urgently needs to be optimized or improved. This latest version, 546.08, fixes a transparency issue on Windows 10 that users have been reporting about online.

One user on the Microsoft forum says they have been struggling with this display glitch for months now. They write:

I've been struggling with a strange transparency glitch for months now.

 

It's hard to describe exactly what the issue is, but the desktop apps on both my laptop and extended display highlight whatever my mouse hovers over. That highlight then doesn't go away until I click or move around a bit more. The same for menus that I open and close. Their transparent shadow stays there for a while until I click again.

 

It seems to be exclusively a problem for desktop apps (browser apps seem fine, as is gaming and going through standard Windows menus like Start and Settings) and it's especially noticeable with dark mode switched on (although it's also there in light mode; just less visible).

Aside from the Windows 10 transparency issue, the driver also fixes Alan Wake 2 performance degradation glitch, and blue screens of death (BSODs) from random bugchecks. The full release notes are given below:

GeForce Hotfix display driver version 546.08 is based on our latest Game Ready Driver 546.01.

This hotfix addresses the following issue:

 

• [Alan Wake 2] Addressing gradual stability and performance degradation over extended periods of gameplay [4334633]
• Windows 10 transparency effects are not displaying correctly after driver update [4335862]
• Random Bugcheck may be observed on certain systems [4343844]

You can download the 546.08 Hotfix driver from this page on Nvidia's official website.

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For those relying on the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool (MCT), there is bad news as you are probably already aware. Although Microsoft's website states that the "Current release" version is the Windows 11 2023 Update or 23H2, the Media Creation Tool still downloads the 22H2.

Earlier, Gabe Frost, a Senior Director and Group Product Manager at Microsoft, confirmed that the company was looking at the inconvenience. Frost responded later that the users will have to wait a while, close to a couple of weeks, as the ETA for Windows 11 23H2 on MCT was planned for November 15, which will be a day after the month's Patch Tuesday update. Currently, there is work going on regarding the "package size optimization".

The Windows 11 23H2 feature update (build 22361.2506) is built atop the previous Moment 4 update (build 22621.2506 / KB5031455) and it is enabled via an enablement package (EKB5027397).

Microsoft has confirmed that this EKB will install automatically which means users who are running Windows 11 22H2 on unsupported devices won't be offered the update. You can however download the EKB as a standalone package and upgrade your unsupported PC from Windows 11 22H2 to 23H2 as we explained in this article.

Following the installation, in case you weren't a fan of the new Copilot, users can choose to disable it using third-party apps like DoNotSpy, among other methods.

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Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is releasing for early access campaign buyers today, November 2, and this driver is a recommended install for anyone jumping in. Standard edition owners will have to wait until November 10 to get their turn.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is releasing on November 8. Meanwhile, indie walking sim The Invincible is coming on November 6. Both games are gaining official support with this driver as well. Unfortunately, no detailed stats were given out on what sort of improvements can players expect on any of these games.

Alan Wake 2 is the latest game to receive AMD's Radeon Boost support. The tech offers more FPS by dynamically lowering resolution when fast user input is detected, making for smoother gameplay when the action kicks off.

As for the AI and machine learning improvements, AMD says this driver has "DirectML improvements and optimizations for Stable Diffusion, Adobe Lightroom, DaVinci Resolve, UL Procyon AI workloads on AMD Radeon RX 600M, 700M, 6000, and 7000 series graphics."

Quite a few issues have been ironed out in this release:

• Performance Metrics Overlay may report N/A for FPS on various games.
• Lower than expected performance in Counter Stike 2 on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 7600.
• Intermittent flickering may be observed in Total War: Pharaoh’s menus after changing graphics settings.
• Intermittent flicker may be observed on some textures while playing Alan Wake 2.
• Rebuilding shader cache may be incorrectly required when relaunching Baldur’s Gate 3 using Vulkan® API.
• Rebuilding shader cache may be incorrectly required when relaunching Forza Motorsport.
• Intermittent driver crash while viewing the credits screen after finishing a race in Forza Motorsport.
• Intermittent black screen or code 31 error in device manager after reboot on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 6700 XT.

Known Issues are these:

• Audio may intermittently become out of sync with video when recording from AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition with AV1 codec.
• Intermittent corruption may be observed on the racetrack while playing EA Sports WRC.
• Stars may intermittently fail to appear while playing Crysis Remastered.
• Intermittent micro-stuttering may be experienced when running Chromium-based browsers on systems that pair a Radeon™ RX 7000 series GPU with a secondary display connected to an AMD Ryzen™ 7000 series processor.

The WHQL-certified AMD Adrenalin Edition 23.11.1 driver can now be upgraded to via the Radeon Settings app on Windows. Those looking for standalone download links can find them on the official release notes page here. Vega and Polaris generation GPU owners have a separate driver download available.

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On the official changelog, Microsft explains this in detail. Aside from that, the tech giant also confirms a Snipping Tool bug on Arm:

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package. For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

 

 

Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.

 

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel. Please note that for today’s flight to the Beta Channel, there are no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle.

 

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the setting to turn off using drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop to not work at all recently.

 

Known issues

 

[General]

 

• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where Snipping Tool may crash when taking a capture on Arm devices.

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

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The new toggle is available in Microsoft Edge Canary 120.0.2197.0 or later (head to edge://settings/help to force-install the latest update). You can find it by heading to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Security > Get the latest Microsoft Edge updates faster.

Although letting Edge restart and update itself automatically might sound sketchy, Microsoft implemented a few safeguards, such as automatic tab restore and idle detection. The latter will ensure Edge is not interrupting your work to install a new update. Besides, the new "Get the latest Microsoft Edge updates faster" option is turned off by default.

You can share your thoughts about the new feature using the feedback buttons next to the toggle. Alternatively, press Alt + Shift + I and fill in the blanks. Feedback from customers may help the company adjust the feature or ditch without releasing it to the public.

In addition to the new update tools, Microsoft is working on personalization and productivity-related changes in Edge. Those include the ability to enable the Mica material and create custom themes, new Split Screen layouts and gestures, an improved password manager, and more.

Microsoft Edge Canary is available on Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Linux, and Android. You can download the browser from the official website. Remember that Microsoft frequently updates Edge Canary two times per day, and those updates can often bring significant instabilities, crashes, and bugs.

What do you think about allowing Edge Canary to update itself automatically?

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Here is the changelog Microsoft published on the official Microsoft Community forum:

The latest Skype Insider build 8.108 was fully released and this is what we were working on.

 

What’s new?

 

Revamping Skype's Call System Messages!

 

Boost your communication efficacy with Skype's modernized call system messages! Crafted to be more actionable, dive into a sleeker, intuitive Skype! 🌟

 

• Crystal Clear Calls: With a range of refreshed call system messages UI - from Incoming Calls to Finished Calls - navigate your call experiences with ease.
• Distinct Actions: From missed calls to declined ones, call system messages now come with actionable CTAs to guide your next move.
• Time-stamped: Call system messages are time-stamped, letting you trace back interactions effortlessly, both in your conversation and in the chat-list preview.
• Versatility Redefined: Different call system message types are clearly distinguishable, streamlining your chat flow.

 

Dive into a reinvigorated Skype, where every message elevates your experience. A blend of clarity, action, and design across all platforms! 📌📱🚀

 

Stability improvements & Bug fixes:

 

• Private Media Sharing Fix: Captured images and videos in private chats now transmit flawlessly on iOS.

You can download the latest Skype Insider build from the official website. The program is open to everyone using Windows 10, 11, macOS, Linux, or Android. Skype Insider is also available on iOS, but you need an invitation to join.

In case you missed it, two previous updates introduced redesigned replies, a refreshed UI for audio messages, a new calling experience on mobile apps, camera improvements, and more changes.

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We've shipped an update for Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 to the Windows Subsystem for Android™ Preview Program. This update (2310.40000.0.0) includes improvements to platform reliability and functionality improvements.

 

Release Notes

 

• Platform reliability improvements
• Gamepad triggers are no longer reversed, a fix for In Windows Subsystem for Android, the LT and RT of the gamepad are recognized as reversed. #452

 

Giving Feedback

 

If you are having issues with Windows Subsystem for Android™ – please file feedback via Feedback Hub under Apps > Windows Subsystem for Android™. For more information about troubleshooting and submitting feedback: Troubleshooting and FAQ for mobile apps on Windows.

You can download the latest Windows Subsystem for Android Preview update from the Microsoft Store. Note that getting early WSA updates requires enrolling into the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview Program, which is separate from the Windows Insider Program. Alternatively, you can wait for Microsoft to release WSA version 2310.40000.0.0 for Windows Insiders in a few days.

If you plan to get started with Windows Subsystem for Android and Android apps on Windows 11, check out the following resources you will find helpful:

• Windows Subsystem for Android hardware requirements. Note that WSA requires Windows 11 and does not work on Windows 10, even though there are unofficial ports to the previous Windows version.
• A list of supported countries and regions.
• Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting when running Android apps on Windows 11.
• The official Windows Subsystem for Android Preview Program documentation.

As a reminder, the last WSA preview update delivered .cer files support and graphics improvements.

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Brave, the company behind the Brave web browser, has announced that its Leo AI assistant is now available for free for all Brave desktop users with the new version 1.60.

In an email press release, Brave states:

Leo, Brave’s browser AI assistant, can help with all sorts of tasks. It can create real-time summaries of webpages or videos. It can answer questions about content, or generate new content. It can even translate pages, analyze them, rewrite them, and more. Whether you're looking for information, trying to solve a problem, or creating content, Leo can help.

The company claims that Leo is also private and secure, stating that it won't record any chats you make with it or use them to train large language models. No login or account is needed to access the AI chatbot.

By default, Leo uses the Llama 2 LLM. However, Brave has announced that it has launched a subscription service for the chatbot, Leo Premium, that will give it access to other LLMs. Brave says:

Leo Premium subscribers will get access to Claude Instant, Anthropic's faster and lighter model that excels at logical reasoning and coding. The current version of Claude produces longer, more structured responses, follows instructions better than previous versions of Instant, and shows improvements in math, coding, multilingual abilities, and question answering.

Leo Premium will have other features including higher chat rate limits, and priority use during peak usage. The service will cost $15 a month and is available to purchase at Brave's site.

Brave is launching Leo in a period of some turbulence at the company. In October it announced it had laid off about 9 percent of its employees "as part of our cost management in this challenging economic environment." Later in that same month, it was discovered that the Windows version of Brave was also installing its VPN services without telling users. Brave said it will update the browser so it no longer installs the VPN apps.

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