Here is the changelog:

What’s New

 

• Platform reliability improvements.
• Allow .cer files to be shared to Android.
• Graphics improvements.
• Android Geocoder APIs (Geocoder | Android Developers) provide valid data for all applications. Be sure to check the terms of use for using Bing Maps data. (Microsoft Software License Terms Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Android™ – Microsoft Support).
• Android 13 Platform Updates.

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. If you’re a developer, please give feedback at our Github site.

You can check out the full blog post here.

This is almost the same version that was released a few weeks ago for people signed up for the Windows Subsystem for Android Preview program, with the exception that the "Updated Chromium WebView to version 117" feature is not available in this build.

If you would rather get the Preview versions of these Android Subsystem builds, you can sign up for the WSA Preview Program from the Microsoft Learn website. Before proceeding, ensure your computer meets device requirements that include a minimum of 8GB of RAM, a solid-state drive, and Virtual Machine Platform support.

Although there are unofficial hacks that let you run Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 10, the program is officially supported only on Windows 11.

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The encryption technology is available on Windows 11 Pro devices only and enabled automatically on devices during setup. While there are ways around this, for example by using Rufus. most Windows 11 Pro systems are protected with BitLocker automatically.

Windows 11 Home devices don't support BitLocker in the same way, which works in their favor in this case. Windows administrators may enable BitLocker after setup as well.

BitLocker encryption may use hardware or software encryption. Hardware encryption means that the SSD's chip does the heavy lifting when it comes to encryption processes. Software encryption, on the other hand, pushes the workload to the device's processor.

Tests and results

Tom's Hardware tested the performance of Bitlocker using a Samsung 990 Pro 4 TB drive on a Windows 11 Pro system. The system was powered by an Intel Core i9-12900K processor with 32 GB of DDR4 memory.

Hardware encryption and no encryption got very similar results in PCMark 10 Storage. Tom's Hardware notes that hardware encryption did even a bit better than the unencrypted drive in the tests. What's worrying is that the performance of the software encrypted drive dropped significantly during the tests.

For bandwidth, it dropped from about 620.3 to 490.6. Latency was also higher, 42/43 versus 53, and the overall performance ranking therefore dropped from about 3900 to only 3100.

Tests in other benchmarking apps, Crystal Disk Mark, DiskBench, Atto Disk Benchmark and others confirmed the issue. A file copy benchmark showed an 11% drop in performance over hardware BitLocker, but only 3% in read speeds. Tom's Hardware suggests that the read speed might have been affected more if lots of small files were selected for the test instead of a single 50 GB file. This hypothesis was not verified though.

The testers conclude that software BitLocker can impact the performance of encrypted drives significantly on Windows 11 Pro.

Find out if BitLocker is enabled

First thing that Windows 11 Pro users may want to do is check if BitLocker is enabled on their devices. This can be done with a single command from an elevated command prompt:

1. Open Start on the device.
2. Type cmd.exe.
3. Select "Run as administrator" to launch an elevated command prompt window.
4. Paste the command manage-bde -status and press the Enter-key.
5. The command returns the status for all connected volumes.

Protection Status tells you if BitLocker encryption is enabled (On) or not (Off). If it is enabled, check the encryption method used. If you see "XTS-AES" there, software encryption is used.

How to disable BitLocker encryption

Switching to hardware BitLocker encryption may be out of the question for most Windows 11 Pro users, as it requires installing Windows 11 Pro anew.

Another option is to turn off BitLocker on the device. There is still the option to switch to another encryption solution, such as the open source VeraCrypt.

To disable BitLocker on a drive, run the command manage-bde off C : (without the space between C and : ) in an elevated command prompt window. Note that you may need to replace the drive letter C in the command with another drive letter, depending on the setup.

Disabling encryption leaves the data unencrypted on the drive. It is recommended to use another encryption software to protect it again.

Now You: do you use BitLocker?

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Keep in mind Microsoft changed the way they have recently changed how it releases Beta Channel preview builds Instead of releasing two separate builds with their own build numbers at the same time., Microsoft is now allowing users who want new features to be gradually added to click on a new toggle and turn it off.

Having said that, Microsoft says that with this release there are "no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle."

Here is the chaneglog for build 22635.2486:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Start menu]

 

• Under All apps in the Start menu, Windows 11 system components will now show a “system” label.
• The Xbox Game Bar will now show as just Game Bar under the Start menu and also under Settings > System > Apps > Installed apps. This change will come through a Game Bar update via the Microsoft Store.

 

[Casting]

 

• The improved screen casting experience introduced with Build 22631.2129 has been temporarily disabled to fix some bugs. We plan to re-enable this in a future Beta Channel flight.

 

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

• Fixed an issue causing Start menu to crash on launch if the display language was set to Czech or Slovak.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon in the taskbar wasn’t appearing correctly for people using search icon and label.

You can check out the full blog post for this Beta Channel Windows 11 release here.

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The official ISO files for build 25977 helped users discover another network change, this time during the initial setup, also known as out-of-box experience or OOBE (via @WilliamLenharo on X).

Windows 11 is infamous for its internet connection requirements during the setup, and the new change will help ensure you are connected to the internet when setting up a new machine. With build 25977, the operating system suggests installing network drivers if it fails to detect a Wi-Fi network or wired connection.

That is a useful addition to the setup process, particularly if you want to restore using the new Windows Backup app integrated into Windows 11's OOBE.

In addition to displaying an "Install driver" button (clicking it opens a File Explorer window you can use to locate the needed driver), the setup screen shows a small tip for less-experienced customers:

You'll need an internet connection to continue setting up your device. Once connected, you'll get the latest features and security updates.

 

If you need a driver, you should get it from your OEM's website, or from the maker of your network card.

Sadly, there is still no apparent button to skip connecting to the internet and create an offline account. However, the famous oobe\bypassnro command still works. If you do not want to sign in with a Microsoft Account to your Windows 11 PC, press Shift + F10 to launch Command Prompt, type oobe\bypassnro, and press Enter. That will restart your computer, allowing you to create a local account and skip the "Let's connect you to a network" step.

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Starting with build 25977, applications get access to the list of Wi-Fi networks only after the user grants permission to a precise location. Windows 11 will notify you when an app tries to access location or Wi-Fi data. The OS will show a dialog window, allowing you to grant or deny permission or open privacy settings.

Besides asking you for permission, the prompt will let you know when a program unexpectedly requests access to location services. Applications with access to your location data and the available Wi-Fi network list will appear in the Recent activity list in privacy settings, giving you a better overview of which programs use your location data.

The Location section in privacy settings also received a new toggle for managing location requests. Turning it off will block location access to applications and prevent Windows 11 from displaying any prompts with location access requests. It might also break some programs relying on location data, such as maps, weather, etc.

Microsoft also published detailed documentation to help developers adjust their applications to the new system. The company says app-makers have one year to test their projects, probably indicating that the new location permissions will arrive in a Windows 11 feature update scheduled for the second half of 2024.

Other changes in Windows 11 build 25977 include Bluetooth Low Energy Audio support for hearing aids, two new keyboard layouts, animated network icons, QR codes for Wi-Fi passwords, SMB over QUIC Client Access control, and various bug fixes. You can find full details about Windows 11 build 25977 in our dedicated article.

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What is new in Microsoft Edge Dev 120.0.2165.1?

Added features:

 

• Added extension API to toggle translate on PDF toolbar.
• Added rounded border around the tab strip view in auto grouping suggestions bubble.
• Added sign in requirement for uploading from phone.
• Added share page action view to location bar.
• Added nurturing notifications to show users that import from FRE onetime import screen is successful/Failed.

 

Improved reliability:  

 

• Fixed a split tab restore related crash.
• Fixed a crash in Account transfer (calling Google Play services) and added intent support.
• Eliminated extraneous browser window when opening a workspace on startup.
• Android: Fixed discover first session cookie issue & refresh discover logic.
• WebView2 Mac: Fixed Click cmd + w on WebView2 Mac sample and the program crashes
• Mac: Fixed a crash when browser enters full screen
• iOS: Fixed a crash caused by read aloud tab helper being released before language detection tab helper.
• iOS: Fixed a crash caused by a URL that is not long enough.

 

Changed behavior:

 

• Fixed a bug when EM toggle and VPN toggle are not showing up correctly when enabled in Arabic.
• Edge chat rebranding to Copilot in FRE
• Update Wide vine to 4.10.2710.0
• Fixed a bug when cookies are getting reimported again and again.
• Fixed a bug where only the first cookie was getting imported in merge logic.
• Fixed a bug when suggestions popup inside invite dialog no longer dismisses on clicking outside the popup in workspaces.
• Fixed an issue with wrong web contents being selected when creating a new tab from fluid.
• Fixed an issue where after creating a folder with the same name, the previously created folder name disappears in favorites.

You can download Microsoft Edge Dev from the official Edge Insider website. The browser is available on Windows 11, 10, macOS, Linux, and Android. Public release for version 120 is expected in early December 2023.

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What you need to know

• Adobe announced that the latest version of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements both feature new AI editing abilities. 
• There are also additional guided edits to help make the process of adding specific effects easier for users in Photoshop Elements. 
• Premiere Elements can help match colour and tone between clips to make videos mesh together better.

It's that time of the year once more when Adobe releases the latest versions of its simplified photo and video editing programs. This time around, both Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024 offer brand-new AI-powered features to help make the creative process faster and easier for users. 

What's new in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024

• colour and tone matching: You can adjust the hue, brightness, tone, and saturation of photos and videos via presets and can even make slight adjustments to get things looking the way you want.
• Easier background swapping/enhancing: Adobe Sensei helps make selecting backgrounds and sky easier so you can swap selected areas out or add effects more easily and believably. 
• Additional Guided Edits: There are now a total of 62 guided edits to help you quickly apply cool effects to your media. 
  • Stylized text options: Make your text look better with various alignment options as well as the ability to warp text or apply textures, gradients, and patterns for an interesting effect.
  • Replace Background Guided Edit: Additional backgrounds are available to choose from when swapping out backgrounds in your photos. 

• Photo Reels: You can create quick MP4s or GIFs that showcase your photos with effects, graphics, and text to help them pop. 
• Free access to Adobe Stock photos: Thousands of professional photos, graphics, and stylized quotes can be inserted into your projects to enhance your work. 
• Additional one-Click Quick Actions: You can now smooth skin, dehaze imagery, add blur, remove backgrounds, and more with just a single click. 
• Smooth out pixelated imagery: Adobe Sensei helps remove distracting artifacts from compressed JPEGs to get photos to look smooth and beautiful. 
• New Artistic Effects: Give your projects a cool look with additional effects that are inspired by famous works and artists. This ability is also made possible with Adobe Sensei.

• Additional UI options: Users can now choose between light or dark mode and can also adjust the look of the font, icons, and other aspects.
• Overlays and patterns in the web companion app: Add a dynamic look to your photos and videos within the web companion app, which can now add overlays and patterns to your work.
• One-Click fixes on mobile: You can now apply more complicated edits to your photos from the mobile app with just the tap of a button. This includes things like removing backgrounds, fixing lighting, and more. It's also easier to stay organized as additional files and folders can be accessed from the mobile app. 
• Auto-sync photos and videos: The media you upload syncs across the mobile app, the web app, and Elements Organizer.

What's new in Adobe Premiere Elements 2024

• colour and tone matching: You can adjust the hue, brightness, tone, and saturation of photos and videos via presets and can even make slight adjustments to get things looking the way you want. 
• Automatic Highlight Reels: By utilizing the power of AI, the software can automatically zoom in or focus on parts of your videos where the most action is occurring.
• More Audio Effects: Adding the right sounds for the perfect listening experience is now easier with the addition of the Vocal Enhancer, DeHummer, and Reverb audio effects.
• New Graphics: Spicing up your videos and photos just got a whole lot easier with visuals that help draw attention to specific areas.

• Additional UI options: Users can now choose between light or dark mode and can also adjust the look of the font, icons, and other aspects.
• Browser access: You can access Premiere Elements 2024 via the web companion app from any laptop or desktop to make edits or share with other users. 
• Mobile app update: Interact with the software by uploading images and videos right from your phone and then editing them. This also works between the web companion app and the mobile version. 
• Auto-sync photos and videos: The media you upload syncs across the mobile app, the web app, and Elements Organizer.

Photoshop Elements 2024 and Premiere Elements 2024: System requirements

Photoshop Elements 2024 System Requirements (Windows)

• Intel 6th Generation or newer processor or AMD equivalent with SSE4.1 support
• Microsoft Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2), 64-bit versions only; Windows 7, Windows 8.1 not supported
• 8GB of RAM
• 8GB of available hard-disk space to install application; additional space required for downloading online content and for temporary files during product installation and usage (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices)
• 1280x800 display resolution (at 100% scale factor)
• Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible display driver
• Internet connection required for product activation and download of features and online content

Premiere Elements 2024 System Requirements (Windows)

• Intel 6th Generation or newer processor or AMD equivalent with SSE4.1 support
• Microsoft Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2), 64-bit versions only; Windows 7,Windows 8.1 not supported
• 8GB of RAM
• 5GB of available hard-disk space to install application; additional space required for downloading onlinecontent and for temporary files during product installation and usage (cannot install on a volume thatuses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices)
• 1280x800 display resolution (at 100% scale factor)
• Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible sound and display driver
• Windows Media Player (required if importing Windows Media files)

Windows Central's take

You can match the tone of any image or video with another image in Photoshop Elements 2024 and

Premiere Elements 2024. (Image credit: Adobe )

When software gets released once a year like clockwork, it's hard to know if the improvements made to the latest version warrant a new purchase. Whether or not you should pull the trigger and grab the latest Photoshop Elements 2024 and/or Premiere Elements 2024 depends on what programs you're currently using and what you use them for. 

This year's addition of more AI abilities does make for a compelling case to purchase the latest 2024 programs, but only if these features are something you'll be using. If your current versions of these programs are a few years old then it could definitely be a great time to upgrade. 

Adobe has always been at the forefront of AI features with its powerful Adobe Sensei software, however, this year the company's focus on generative AI via Firefly has really helped propel its various programs into the future. Of course, Adobe will continue to add AI features into its software as time goes on, especially as Adobe Sensei and Firefly continue to improve even further. So, if not this year, it will probably be a good idea to upgrade or purchase upcoming versions of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements if you want to stay current and with the most convenient editing options.

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Daniel, with the nickname @kid_jenius, a Microsoft engineer from the Microsoft Store team, announced Microsoft Store version 22309 on its Twitter X account (via XDA Developers). According to the developer, the latest update optimizes the store to open in only two seconds.

Our testing showed that the claim is not baseless. Here is the Microsoft Store v22308 launching on my computer with a Ryzen 5 5600, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 4060:

And here is the Microsoft Store opening after updating to version 22309. You can spot the difference with the naked eye. Indeed, seems faster!

The Microsoft Store app on your Windows PC will update itself automatically. However, you can force the latest update by launching the Microsoft Store, clicking Library, and then hitting the Check for Update button. To check your Microsoft Store version, click your profile icon in the upper-right corner, select Settings, and scroll down to the About section.

In case you missed it, the software giant is working on other Microsoft Store features, such as instant games. One may rightfully question the latter, but at least the app now launches significantly faster than before.

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"How to view a Wi-Fi password in Windows" is a popular request that often leads users to articles detailing where to get the info in the old Control Panel. However, modern Windows 11 versions let you do that faster and easier from the Settings app. Now, in addition to displaying just the password, Windows 11 generates a QR code for the select network, allowing you to connect a new device without selecting the network and typing its complicated password.

Here is how Microsoft describes the change:

In Settings, when looking at your Wi-Fi password under the Wi-Fi properties, we now show a QR code so you can more easily share it with others. We also show a QR code when you set up a mobile hotspot to share your network connection.

How to view a Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 build 25977 and newer?

1. Open the Settings app and navigate to the Network & internet section.
2. Click Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
3. Select the network you need, then click View next to "View Wi-Fi security key." Windows 11 will display a rather old-school-looking window with your Wi-Fi password and a QR code.

    

   

In addition to QR codes for Wi-Fi passwords, Windows 11 build 25977 displays a neat little animation when connecting to a Wi-Fi network or initializing a wired connection, as shown by the @XenoPanther on X (Twitter).

You can find other changes in Windows 11 build 25977 in our dedicated article.

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There is a dedicated blog post for this new release. Here are the main details:

What's New

 

These new features are specific to Windows Server with Desktop Experience only. Some of these will require running the OS on physical systems AND having the right drivers on hand.

 

• Additions to Settings>Accounts: Email & Accounts is now consistent with Windows 11. Please note, that domain join will still be necessary for most scenarios.
• Increased coverage for Bluetooth devices. Many of you want to use BT to connect mice, keyboards, and audio devices at the Edge. Please try out your favorite keyboard, mouse, headphones, or other BT peripheral!
  • Wi-Fi present by default. Many of you want to connect servers to Wi-Fi networks at the Edge. While Wireless LAN service has been present in Windows Server, it was disabled by default. Wi-Fi support is now currently enabled by default for Edge scenarios. You will need the appropriate hardware and drivers handy. Please verify that your wireless devices work properly. When hardware and the correct drivers are present, see the corresponding Settings and Taskbar experiences. Let us know what you think!
• First login privacy settings: this is not the final version, but you will notice a Windows 11 like first login “OOBE” experience, albeit limited to user privacy settings.

 

Known Issues

 

• If you are validating upgrades from Windows Server 2019 or 2022, we do not recommend that you use this build as intermittent upgrade failures have been identified for this build.
• This build has an issue where archiving eventlogs with "wevetutil al" command causes the Windows Event Log service to crash, and the archive operation to fail. The service must be restarted by executing "Start-Service EventLog" from an administrative command line prompt.
• If you have Secure Launch/DRTM code path enabled, we do not recommend that you install this build.

The Windows Server Preview currently is on the same build number as the current Windows 11 Insider Canary channel, which might indicate we won't see a new Server version until 2024 when Windows 12 is expected to be released.

Here's some more important info on this release:

Available Downloads

 

• Downloads to certain countries may not be available. See Microsoft suspends new sales in Russia - Microsoft On the Issues
• Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel Preview in ISO format in 18 languages, and in VHDX format in English only.
• Windows Server Datacenter Azure Edition Preview in ISO and VHDX format, English only.
• Microsoft Server Languages and Optional Features Preview

 

Keys: Keys are valid for preview builds only

 

• Server Standard: MFY9F-XBN2F-TYFMP-CCV49-RMYVH
• Datacenter: 2KNJJ-33Y9H-2GXGX-KMQWH-G6H67
• Azure Edition does not accept a key

 

Symbols: available on the public symbol server – see Using the Microsoft Symbol Server.

 

Expiration: This Windows Server Preview will expire on September 15, 2024.

You can download the build here, and find the official announcement here.

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What is new in Windows 11 build 25977?

Here is the official changelog:

Improving accessibility with Bluetooth® LE Audio

 

We’re excited to announce that Windows has taken a significant step forward in accessibility by supporting the use of hearing aids equipped with the latest Bluetooth® Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) technology. Customers who use these new hearing aids are now able to directly pair, stream audio, and take calls on their Windows PCs with LE Audio support.

 

This feature is available on Windows devices with our recently announced Bluetooth® LE Audio support, which will be a growing market of devices in the coming months. In upcoming flights, we will be introducing additional capabilities to the hearing aids experience on Windows, such as controlling audio presets directly within Windows settings. Stay tuned for more details about these new capabilities as they roll out.

 

Windows Location Improvements

 

We’re adding new controls to help you manage which apps have access to the list of Wi-Fi networks around you, which could be used to determine your location. You can view and modify which apps can access the list of Wi-Fi networks by navigating to Settings > Privacy & security > Location.

 

 

To simplify the process of sharing your location with trusted apps, we have also added a new prompt that will appear the first time an app attempts to access your location or Wi-Fi information. This prompt will enable location services and allow the app to access your location, helping you complete tasks such as finding directions or checking the weather without navigating to Settings. Additionally, the prompt will notify when an app unexpectedly requests access to location services so that you can deny it. If you never want apps to access your location, you can turn off ‘Notify when apps request location’ on the Location Settings page to hide these prompts when location has been turned off.

 

 

Once you have granted permission, apps that use location or Wi-Fi information will now appear in Recent activity on the Location page, and the location icon will show in the taskbar while the app is in-use. This will help you better monitor when apps are using this information.

 

App developers can learn about changes to the API permissions and actions they can take to improve app experiences by reviewing https://aka.ms/WifiAccessChange

 

SMB over QUIC Client Access Control

 

Starting with this build (Build 25977), SMB over QUIC now supports additional access control options for clients. This improves the existing SMB over QUIC feature, which introduced an alternative to the TCP network transport, providing secure, reliable connectivity to edge file servers over untrusted networks like the Internet.

 

With this new option, administrators can restrict which clients can access SMB over QUIC servers. This option gives organizations additional SMB over QUIC connection protections but does not change the Windows authentication used to make the SMB connection or the end user experience.

 

This new feature requires both the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25977 as well as a Windows Server Insider Preview Build 25967 or higher running in a VM.

 

For more information on configuring SMB over QUIC client access control, review https://aka.ms/SmbOverQuicCAC.

 

Changes and Improvements

 

[General]

 

• Starting with this build, Mail and Calendar will no longer be installed after doing a clean install using the provided ISOs here. This ONLY applies for clean installs of Build 25977 and higher in the Canary Channel today. Mail and Calendar will not be removed on upgrade for Insiders in the Canary Channel. You can click here to learn more about the future of Mail and Calendar in Windows.

 

[Start menu]

 

• The Xbox Game Bar will now show as just Game Bar under the Start menu and also under Settings > System > System Components. This change will come through a Game Bar update via the Microsoft Store.

 

[Settings]

 

• In Settings, when looking at your Wi-Fi password under the Wi-Fi properties, we now show a QR code so you can more easily share it with others. We also show a QR code when you set up a mobile hotspot to share your network connection.

 

Fixes for known issues

 

• Fixed an underlying issue believed to be the root cause of various games having issues launching (citing graphics issues) or changing resolution in Build 25967.
• Did some work to help improve performance when expanding the navigation pane in Task Manager.
• Fixed an issue where certain .rar files would open blank or with an unexpected message saying there was insufficient memory to open the file.

And here is the list of known bugs and issues:

• [NEW] Using dictation in voice access makes voice access crash.
• We’re working on the fix for an issue causing the print queue to no longer be accessible and showing an error when you try to open it.
• Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.

You can find more information about the latest Windows 11 Canary build in the official Windows Insider blog. Official ISO files for build 25977 are available via this link.

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Changes and Improvements

[Copilot in Windows*]

 

• Copilot in Windows can now be used across multiple monitors. Simply press the Copilot button on the taskbar on whichever monitor you want Copilot to show on or use the WIN + C shortcut to show Copilot on the last monitor that it was visible on. If you are using a keyboard, you can use the WIN + T keyboard shortcut to put the keyboard focus on the taskbar and navigate to the Copilot taskbar button to show Copilot on any monitor.

 

[Start menu]

 

• The Xbox Game Bar will now show as just Game Bar under the Start menu and also under Settings > System > Apps > Installed apps. This change will come through a Game Bar update via the Microsoft Store.

 

Fixes

 

[File Explorer]

 

• Fixed a few issues which could lead to hangs when launching File Explorer.

 

[Start menu]

 

• Fixed an issue where apps sometimes weren’t sorted into the correct location in the Start menu all apps list when using the Japanese display language.

 

[Search on the Taskbar]

 

• Fixed an underlying search crash in the last few builds.

 

[Settings]

 

• Fixed an issue where Home was unexpectedly showing some users that there was NaN% storage left.

 

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

 

Known issues

 

[Copilot in Windows]

 

• Some Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel in global markets where Copilot in Windows is available* in preview who are on the Home edition of Windows 11 Insider Preview builds may notice that Copilot in Windows has disappeared from the taskbar. We’re working to resolve this issue in a future flight.
• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you’ll need to use “Show grid” commands to click in the “Ask me anything” box for the first time.

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

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Data from September 2021, back when Windows 11 was not even generally available (G.A.), showed that Linux had a big lead in certain workloads and was also faster on average. Windows 11 got one back with Intel's 12th Gen chips thanks to special optimization. A newer kernel version did not help either as Linux was often seen lagging behind.

However, things started to shift around the middle of 2022 as Linux was finally getting specific optimizations related to the Big-Bigger design on 12th Gen Intel. And it was not just Team Blue as the same was holding true for AMD's Ryzen as well.

Speaking of Ryzen, the latest testing conducted on a Zen 4 APU shows that not only has Linux caught up to Windows 11, it has even surpassed it and by a very large margin in some cases. This is two years since the Windows 11 was out and the next OS is apparently launching in another in 2024.

In case you are wondering which model was tested, it was a Ryzen 7 PRO 7840U. As mentioned above, it's part of the Phoenix lineup, which is Zen 4 mobile and has RDNA 3 graphics on-board. The previous Ryzen test was also with an APU but that was in the form of a Ryzen PRO 6850U, which was Zen 3+ and had RDNA 2 iGP (integrated graphics).

The testing was conducted by Phoronix and although Windows 11 did win in several instances, the margins when it lost were generally far wider.

First up we have a couple of benchmarks measuring path tracing and ambient occlusion (AO) using Intel's OSPRay. As you can see below, Ubuntu is nearly twice as fast especially in the AO test.

In vkpeak FP16 Vulkan performance, Ubuntu 23.10 shows its prowess in terms of compute throughput.

The biggest performance gap is seen in CPU mining performance with Onecoin as Ubuntu shows around two and a half times or roughly 150% better hash rate.

The geometric mean of all the results are given below and the Linux distro is seen to be roughly 10.5% faster than Windows 11:

You can find the full test results on Phoronix's website at the source link below.

Source and images: Phoronix

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The new version that's available for download in the Microsoft Store includes two changes to the app's machine configuration summary. The feature now shows more detailed info than previous versions of the app, along with any errors that might have happened. There's also a list of bug fixes in version 0.6.

The Dev Home GitHub page has the info on the version 0.6 update:

Accessibility fixes

 

• Buttons should no longer be clipped or hidden when increasing scaling.

Changes

 

• The machine configuration summary now shows more detailed information
• The machine configuration summary should now show errors that occurred.

Bug fixes

 

• The dashboard should now be more responsive when rendering widgets.
• Entering a relative path for cloning a repo via URL should no longer crash Dev Home.
• The machine configuration banner should no longer return after it's been dismissed
• Custom widgets should no longer need a Microsoft package ID in order to appear in Dev Home.
• The margins should now be fixed on the extensions page
• Adding a repository should now be more reliable.
• The machine configuration summary errors should now follow the proper theme
• The machine configuration errors are now selectable

Developers can get more info on the Dev Home app on Microsoft's documents site. They can also provide ideas for new features for the app, or report any bugs, to Microsoft's GitHub repository.

At the moment, there's no word on when the Dev Home app will come out of its preview stage and become generally available for Windows developers.

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Microsoft "resolved" the issue using known issue rollback (KIR). It also provided steps to manually fix the problem by using Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Windows image repair. We covered that in this article which lists the steps to carry out the manual fix.

Today, Microsoft has again updated its Windows health dashboard website to add an additional way to carry out the KIR that involves Group Policy (GPO) changes. Microsoft has released this especially for enterprised-managed devices such that system admins and IT admins can deploy the known issue rollback easily and conveniently on such managed devices.

The tech giant has explained how to deploy the new group policy and has also provided the necessary download:

For enterprise-managed devices that have installed an affected update and encountered this issue, it can be resolved by installing and configuring a special Group Policy. The special Group Policy can be found in Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> . For information on deploying and configuring these special Group Policy, please see How to use Group Policy to deploy a Known Issue Rollback.

 

Group Policy downloads with Group Policy name:

 

• Download for Windows 10, version 22H2 and Windows 10, version 21H2 - Windows 10 20H2, 21H1, 21H2 and 22H2 KB5026879 230627_173533 Known Issue Rollback.msi

You may find additional details on the Microsoft health dashboard website which documents the topic.

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Here is the changelog:

• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Syria. To learn more, see Interim guidance for Syria DST changes 2022.
• This update addresses a memory leak in ctfmon.exe.
• This update addresses a memory leak in TextInputHost.exe.
• This update addresses an issue that affects touchscreens. They do not work properly when you use more than one display.
• This update addresses an error that occurs when you print using v4 print drivers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Outlook. It stops responding. This occurs when you print to an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer that has a slow response time.
• This update addresses an issue that affects connectivity. It is lost. This occurs when you add a second network interface card (NIC) that has no default gateway.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). Its “allow” policies might block some binaries from running.
• This update addresses an issue that affects robocopy. The /efsraw switch stops it from copying data properly.

You can find the full blog post here.

Last week, Microsoft dropped the latest Release Preview build for Windows 11, version 22H2. It had many of the same bug fixes that are found in today's Windows 10 Release Preview build, plus a few additions. The main one was a new daily search highlight that will be rolled out to other Windows 11 users over the next several months.

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AMD has received reports of some games triggering anti-cheat bans on gamers when AMD Anti-Lag+ technology is enabled on Radeon graphics. To address this, we have released the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.10.2 driver that disables Anti-Lag+ technology in all supported games, and we recommend gamers use the new driver. AMD is actively working with game developers on a resolution to re-enable Anti-Lag+ and to help reinstate gamers who were impacted by the anti-cheat bans. We will provide more information when available.

For those unfamiliar, AMD Radeon Anti-Lag+ is a technology that ensures your processor is not getting "far ahead" of the graphics card to reduce the amount of CPU work queued up. AMD claims the feature allows for better frame syncing and lower input latency.

Here are other changes Radeon Software version 23.10.2 brings:

New Feature Highlights

 

New Game Support:

 

• Assassin's Creed Mirage
• The Lords of the Fallen
• Forza Motorsport

 

Fixed Issues

 

• Intermittent app crash while playing Starfield on Radeon™ RX 7000 Series Graphics Products.
• Intermittent driver crash while playing Counter Strike 2 with MSAA or FSR enabled on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 7900 XTX.
• Improvements to stutter experienced while playing Counter Strike 2.
• EA SPORTS FC™ 24 may fail to open on some AMD Graphics Products, such as the Radeon™ RX 7800 XT.
• System freeze or black screen when playing video files on Radeon™ RX 6000 Series Graphics Products.
• The display may intermittently freeze after changing the encode format while streaming select games with AMD Link.
• Intermittent app crash in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II when Radeon Anti-Lag is enabled.

 

Known Issues

 

• Performance Metrics Overlay may report N/A for FPS on various games.
• Audio may intermittently become out of sync with video when recording from AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition with AV1 codec.
• Corruption may be observed in Forza Motorsport when RT is enabled.
• Intermittent flickering may be briefly observed in Total War: Pharaoh’s menus after changing graphics settings.

 

Important Notes

 

• Factory Reset has been temporarily disabled as a precautionary measure while we address isolated installation issues that have been reported during PC upgrades. Users may use AMD Cleanup Utility as a temporary option.
• For users who previously installed an AMD Software insider preview driver, running AMD Cleanup Utility is recommended before installing this driver.

AMD Radeon Software 23.10.2 is available for systems with 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 paired with the following graphics cards:

You can download AMD's latest Radeon Software from the official website. Full release notes are available on the same page.

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SpiralLinux isn't the most popular kid in school. It's also not the prettiest, the smartest, or the one that always gets noticed. If you're a fan of The Middle, consider it the "Sue Heck" of Linux distributions. It's there, always there, and always positive, always trying, and always being its genuine self.

But why would you want to work with a distribution that isn't showy or offers features to make it stand out in any way?

• Because it's reliable. 
• Because it's stable.
• Because it's secure.
• Because it's simple. 

SpiralLinux is that operating system. It's one you can use without ever worrying you'll spiral out of control because your computer isn't doing what it should.

Now, ask yourself this question, "Why wouldn't you want to use such an operating system?"

There are two things about SpiralLinux that make it such an average but highly dependable operating system. First, it's based on Debian, which happens to be one of the more stable OSes on the market. One of the reasons for that is it only ships with stable software. You won't find bleeding-edge releases here. Case in point, LibreOffice. On my daily OS (Ubuntu Budgie), I'm running LibreOffice version 7.6.2.1. The latest release of SpiralLinux ships with version 7.4.2.7, which is still supported and very stable.

The next reason is that it ships without tweaking or customizing the desktops. For example, this time around, I downloaded and installed the KDE Plasma version of SpiralLinux and found the desktop environment to be a very default take. The developers of SpiralLinux didn't add any changes to KDE Plasma… it just is, and it just works. Sometimes, when a development team adds its own twist on a desktop environment, it can render the UI a bit less than stable. I've experienced this a few times over the years, and it can be quite frustrating (especially when a desktop is known to be highly stable).

So, you have a desktop operating system that shipped with stable software and without a bunch of customizations to the UI. Those two items alone help make SpiralLinux an outstanding choice for anyone who depends on their operating system to not lose its mind in the middle of important work, communication, or just when trying to let slip the bonds of reality for a moment.

SpiralLinux won't blow you away with its beauty, its modernity, or its uniqueness, but it will have you singing its praises as it never lets you down.

That's the mark of an outstanding operating system, and SpiralLinux is as good at being an OS as Sue Heck was at making me laugh. SpiralLinux might live in the middle, but it does so with pride in knowing it will not falter.

What about the included software?

The software that ships with SpiralLinux includes:

• The afore-mentioned LibreOffice.
• Okula (document viewer).
• Clementine (one of my favorite audio players).
• VLC (media player).
• Firefox (web browser).
• Pidgin (chat app).
• Firmware (a utility for updating firmware).
• Transmission (BitTorrent client).
• Thunderbird (email client).

Of course, you can always install all the applications you want from KDE Plasma's Discover app. SpiralLinux also includes Flatpak support, so there's a host of software that can be installed (including third-party proprietary software). Even better, Flatpak support has been rolled into KDE Plasma's Discover app, so those third-party apps can be installed without having to open the terminal window.

The KDE Plasma Discover app includes Flatpak support in SpiralLinux.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET

SprialLinux does, however, ship with kernel 6.4.0-0, which means it'll include support for more modern hardware.

Who is SpiralLinux for?

If I had to define the ideal user for SpiralLinux, I would say it's someone who depends on their operating system to never flake out on them -- to always be there and be ready for whatever is thrown its way. SpiralLinux is the working person's Linux. 

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According to my sources who are familiar with the matter, Windows 11 is now in use on over 400 million monthly active devices. Internal Microsoft data seen by Windows Central reveals that Windows 11’s active device usage just recently surpassed 400 million and is steadily climbing to reach half a billion by early 2024.  

As noted in our Windows 11 review, the OS has been on the market since October 2021, meaning it’s taken Microsoft around two years to reach 400 million monthly active devices with Windows 11. This is a significantly slower rate than Windows 10, which reached the same number in just over a year (and eventually 1 billion users by early 2020). Still, factoring in both platforms' very different launch parameters is essential.

When Windows 10 launched, it was a free update for all Windows 8.1 and most Windows 7 PCs. It was advertised as a free upgrade, limited to just a year, which pressured users to upgrade sooner to avoid missing out on the free upgrade period. Microsoft was also very heavy-handed in getting users upgraded from Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Compare that to the launch of Windows 11, which was pretty tame. Right out of the gate, Windows 11 was only officially supported on PCs made in 2018 onwards (due to TPM), which cut out all those older Windows 7 and 8 PCs that upgraded to Windows 10 and the first three years of new Windows 10 PCs. This immediately limited the growth Windows 11 could sustain, and Microsoft knew this. Indeed, in our readers' poll, nearly 25% couldn't upgrade to Windows 11 due to the requirements. 

As a result, Microsoft's internal expectations were set rather modestly, but my sources say Microsoft has consistently blown past these internal goals. Windows 11 has been more successful than the company expected from a user base standpoint. This is aided by Microsoft’s new “Moments” update schedule, which enabled the company to get new feature updates in front of Windows users faster. 

What's next and Windows 12?

As per Microsoft’s internal metrics, Windows 11 is going strong, despite what people online might suggest. Now, all eyes are on the 2024 release of Windows (which could be named Windows 12), which is expected to ship on top of a new version of the Windows platform (codenamed Germanium) and introduce revolutionary new AI and cloud features.

The upcoming release of Windows 12 is anticipated to bring an updated desktop interface, as is typical with new Windows versions. According to my sources, Microsoft's Ignite 2022 keynote revealed a glimpse of a previously unseen UI prototype, reportedly indicating the direction of the Windows 12 interface.

Mockup of what Windows 12 is supposed to look like based on a Microsoft Ignite keynote from 2022.

(Image credit: Zac Bowden)

Microsoft has also emphasized that the upcoming version of Windows will prioritize AI experiences and early functionality has already been introduced in Windows 11. Currently, Windows 11 supports AI camera and microphone effects powered by a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU). With Windows 12, this functionality is expected to expand. Windows will potentially analyze on-screen content, offering contextual prompts to initiate projects or apps based on the viewed information. Moreover, it may enable users to identify objects and text within images, allowing effortless extraction and pasting. Certain AI features may require dedicated hardware for optimal performance.

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The latest maintenance release today also has fixes related to TPM saved states. Aside from that, a black screen issue has also been fixed. There are other fixes in the release as well. The full changelog is given below:

VirtualBox 7.0.12 (released October 17 2023)

This is a maintenance release. The following items were fixed and/or added:

 

• VMM: Fixed using a debugger inside the guest under certain circumstances (bugs #21413 and #21546)
• VMM: Fixed detection of VT-x being used by other hypervisors (bug #21867)
• VMM: Introduced additional improvements in Split Lock Detection feature of recent Intel CPUs on Linux hosts (bug #20180)
• GUI: Fixed issue when the nested hardware virtualization setting was not displayed in the VM details panel (bug #21707)
• GUI: Introduced NLS update for Croatian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch and Turkish languages as well as added general look-and-feel improvements
• Devices: Fixed black screen in Windows guests with multiple guest screens when 3D is disabled (7.0.10 regression)
• Devices: Fixed PCI device identifiers for the VirtIO network interface (bug #21516)
• Devices: Fixed VLAN support for the VirtIO network interface (bug #21778)
• Devices: Fixed loading saved states when a TPM is configured (7.0.10 regression, bug #21773)
• Networking: Fixed memory leaks in the VBoxIntNetSwitch process on macOS (bug #21752)
• Networking: Fixed TCP connections with IP addresses ending on .2 when the NAT network attachment is used (bug #21513)
• Audio: Fixed switching host audio devices on Windows hosts using the WAS backend (bugs #20431, #21517, #20630 and #20723)
• VRDP: Added general improvements
• VBoxManage: Added improvements for "list usbfilters" command
• Unattended: Added kick start file support for Oracle Linux 8 and Oracle Linux 9.
• Main: Added more Linux OS subtypes
• Host Services: Fixed Guest Properties service crash under rare circumstance
• Linux Host and Guest: Fixed few "field-spanning write" kernel warnings (bugs #21410 and #21862)
• Linux Guest Additions: Added more fixes for RHEL 8.9 and 9.3 kernel
• Linux Guest Additions: Added more fixes for kernel 6.4
• Linux Guest Additions: Added initial support for OpenSUSE 15.5 kernel
• Linux Guest Additions: Added initial support for kernels 6.5 and 6.6
• Linux Guest Additions: Added version reporting for "rcvboxadd status-kernel" and "rcvboxadd status-user" commands
• BIOS: Restored support for ISA SCSI HBAs in the BIOS (bug #21736)

To download the latest VirtualBox update, head over to the official website at this link.

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In a blog post, NVIDIA states that its RTX Video Super Resolution feature is now up to version 1.5. The feature first launched earlier this year and uses AI to upscale the quality of YouTube and other online videos on PCs with GeForce GPUs. NVIDIA states:

Our new version 1.5 update, included in today’s Game Ready Driver, further improves the quality of RTX VSR, increasing the level of detail and preserving image details during the upscaling process for a sharper and crisper image overall. Plus, with expanded RTX VSR support, owners of GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs can benefit from the same AI-enhanced video as those on GeForce RTX 30 and 40 Series GPUs.

The new version even helps to get rid of compression artifacts even if a video is running at its native resolution.

The new drivers also add support for NVIDIA's TensorRT AI acceleration for Stable Diffusion Web UI, allowing people with GeForce GPUs to get images from the AI art creator faster than normal.

The new driver also adds DLSS 3 support for two games; the popular battle royale title Naraka: Bladepoint and the cooperative first-person action game Warhammer: Vermintide 2.

The GeForce Experience app has been updated with support for optimized profiles for these games:

• Counter-Strike 2
• EA SPORTS FC 24
• Forza Motorsport
• Lies of P
• Mortal Kombat 1
• NBA 2K24
• Party Animals
• PAYDAY 3
• Sunkenland
• The Crew Motorfest
• Total War: PHARAOH
• Warhaven
• We Were Here Expeditions
• Witchfire

The release notes for the driver also show these bugs have been fixed:

• Some monitors may display random black screen flicker when in Display Stream Compression mode [4034096]
• Monitor colours are incorrect after coming back from display sleep [3420257]

You can download the new desktop drivers here and the notebook drivers here.

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Microsoft has offered a resolution for widespread reports of issues from Windows 10 users attempting to install the latest cumulative update.

Users took to online discussion boards to vent their frustrations over the KB5031356 update failing to install. Many said they were presented with the 8007000D (ERROR_INVALID_DATA) error code, which indicates Windows Update requires a file but it's either damaged or missing.

Responding to the claims, Microsoft acknowledged the number of reports it received, adding that users may see initial progress after starting the update, which then fails to complete.

The suggested resolution is to use the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) feature and while this is available to enterprise users, they'll have to wait for Microsoft to release a policy to address the problem.

KIR was first introduced in 2019 and helps Windows automatically recall updates while a permanent solution is devised.

Microsoft said on Friday, October 13, that non-managed devices, as well as consumer devices, may have to wait 48 hours for the resolution to propagate automatically, while offering no timeline for when the KIR policy will be released.

Once the KIR policy is released as an MSI file, Windows admins can configure Group Policy to propagate the resolution.

Microsoft hasn't committed to a deadline for when this KIR policy will be released or even established a general timeframe for rolling out KIR policies after identifying a particular issue.

However, in the KIR case study Microsoft highlights on its website, based on an April 2020 incident involving KB4550945 and lots of angry gamers not being able to play after installing the update, Microsoft was able to release a KIR policy within 24 hours.

For those who want to speed things along, Microsoft also suggested opening Command Prompt as administrator and executing a restore command with: Dism /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth. After it's complete, close the windows, then try to search for Windows updates again.

What went wrong?

Shortly after the KB5031356 cumulative update was released on October 10, bringing with it an assortment of updates, including Patch Tuesday's security fixes and mitigations for the Rapid Reset DDoS exploit, users reported wide-ranging issues.

Some cited a general performance slowdown and inconsistent connectivity, while others reported missing drivers, and reboot loops, but much of the discontent came from those encountering 8007000D errors.

A common problem facing Windows 10 22H2 and 21H2 users was the updates "jamming" at unpredictable points throughout the completion process. 

Some reported not being able to get past 30 percent completion after waiting for longer than 24 hours, others got close to 100 percent, and those who were able to complete it often found themselves with the aforementioned performance issues. ®

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When I recently reported that the long-term support for some Linux kernels would be cut, people were upset. Mind you, the Linux kernel community knew that very few people were using these graying kernels, but it still got under people's skins. For those folks, and for those who actually need a kernel that will be supported for ten years, the Linux Foundation Civil Infrastructure Platform (CIP) project is expanding its super-long-term stable (SLTS) kernel program by introducing the 6.1-based SLTS kernel series. 

This isn't the first STLS kernel. There are already ones for 4.4, 4.19, and 5.10. What this means is that CIP will provide extensive support for at least a decade after arrival.

Now, CIP systems are not for general-purpose Linux devices. They consist of CIP kernel and Debian 11, Bullseye-based systems that provide run-time environments that work with industrial hardware using CIP reference hardware. 

To ensure the extended lifespan of these kernels, CIP adopts a streamlined approach by focusing on actively supported kernel features for its target architecture. Specifically, SLTS kernels are meant for embedded Linux systems. It comes in two versions: 

• The tiny profile is built from Debian source code and is useful for devices with storage restrictions, extreme performance and flexibility requirements, and low-complexity applications.

• The generic profile is built from Debian binary packages and covers devices that require more functionality, less performance and flexibility requirements, and more storage.

Simultaneously, the project also adopts some non-invasive backports from more recent mainline kernels. Primarily, this is to facilitate compatibility with emerging hardware. The CIP project's members define this scope's parameters.

That's because CIP's primary mission isn't the desktop or server. Instead, it's all about establishing an open-source foundation of embedded industrial-grade Linux. This foundation aims to facilitate the deployment and incorporation of software building blocks essential for civil infrastructure projects. 

This distribution is for technical systems responsible for the supervision, control, and management of infrastructure. This includes electric power generation and energy distribution, oil and gas, water and wastewater, healthcare, communications, transportation, and community management. 

The name of the CIP's game is to speed up the implementation of civil infrastructure systems by building upon existing open-source foundations and expertise without reinventing non-domain-specific technology. This, in turn, will help establish de facto open standards by providing a base layer reference implementation for mission-critical services such as electrical power grids, oil and gas pipelines, and emergency telecommunications systems.

Commenting on this development, Yoshi Kobayashi, the CIP Technical Steering Committee Chair, emphasized, "The CIP kernels receive the same meticulous attention as regular Long-Term-Stable (LTS) kernels during their development and review. Our developers actively engage in the review and testing of LTS kernels, contributing significantly to the overall quality and security of the platform. One noteworthy aspect is our ongoing work to enhance the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62443 security standard, which aims to bolster the resilience of critical infrastructure systems."

Today, most infrastructure software is made up of a hodgepodge of incompatible, proprietary software programs. If all goes well, the CIP's ultimate goal is to provide a free, universally adopted Linux that governments and countries around the world can depend on for their civil infrastructure. 

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The build has added a new separate "System Components" section in the Windows 11 Settings under the "System" menu. When one launches this System Components option, all the system applications appear under this section.

This change is set to be landing in Windows 11 23H2 which has been confirmed by Microsoft to be arriving later this quarter. The tech giant has already released several features via the Moment 4 22H2 feature update, though more such features, like the system components one we are discussing here, are set to arrive in the 23H2 feature update. If you haven't been following, the Redmond giant is currently busy ensuring the system requirements eligibility for Windows 11 23H2.

This is not the first time that Microsoft has been found trying to make it easier to separate system apps. The first such change was noticed back in July on the Dev channel where stock apps in the Start menu icons were seen bearing the "System" label which previously had a "Microsoft" label.

Just over a month after that, Microsoft added the option to easily uninstall such apps on the Windows 11 Canary channel. While somewhat unrelated, in the same month, ie, in August, on the Dev channel, Microsoft ensured that system components would launch via the default browser set by the user. This applied only to the European Economic Area (EEA) though.

Via: techosarusrex (Twitter/X)

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