News: Software News

Windows 11 will move to an annual update cadence, gets a new support lifecycle

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:39:51 +0000

Microsoft finally took the wraps off Windows 11 today, showing off the work it’s been doing to revamp the UI and bring about new experiences for touch-based devices, productivity, and more. The company also surprised everyone by announcing that it will support Android apps on Windows 11 through a dedicated Amazon Store. Additionally, the company detailed the minimum system requirements for the OS.

In addition to these announcements for consumers, the firm also announced what the update cadence would be for IT admins who deploy and manage updates for the OS in a separate blog post. As part of these details, the firm revealed that Windows 11 will follow an annual update cadence, meaning it will receive major updates just once a year, unlike Windows 10 that has been updated twice a year – albeit with the last year only bringing enablement packages.

In addition to the change in the number of updates, the Redmond giant is also tweaking the support lifecycle for the product. Users running Home and Pro SKUs will be supported for 24 months, while Enterprise and Education users will be supported for 36 months. This contrasts with the confusing support timelines for Windows 10 versions that varied based on when the version was released.

The change to an annual update cadence will be a welcome one for consumers and enterprises alike, and the extended support timelines for businesses – up from the 30 months for Windows 10 H2 releases – might push more admins to consider the move to Windows 11 sooner rather than later.

Source: Windows 11 will move to an annual update cadence, gets a new support lifecycle (via Neowin)

How to get Windows 11 if your PC does not meet minimum requirements

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:38:34 +0000

Earlier today, Microsoft officially announced Windows 11 and with it updated minimum hardware requirements. On Twitter many people have already complained that their relatively new hardware isn't compatible, including Microsoft hardware like the Surface Book 2 (released in 2017) and even newer hardware. This can be blamed on the fact that Microsoft is now requiring a TPM 2.0 module be present in the device, as helpfully explained by the Twitter handle @KorokuGaming below:

You can check if your device has the compatible TPM by opening Windows Powershell and giving the command get-tpm, here's one from one of our recently built gaming rigs:

In a nutshell, if you are planning to try out Windows 11 then you'll need the minimum specs below:

1Ghz 64-bit dual-core processor
4GB RAM
64GB storage
9-inch display (1366x768 resolution)
UEFI, Secure Boot
TPM 2.0
DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x

If you're seeing the above message when running the Windows PC Health Check app, then there is a way to still get Windows 11 next week when it is released to Insiders, you'll need to opt into the Dev channel of Windows Insiders within Windows 10, and you'll automatically get the build when it is released, minimum specs be damned.

To opt into Windows Insiders, go to All settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program (you may be promoted to turn on Optional Diagnostic & Feedback) and then click on Get started, and when available pick the Dev channel (you may have to restart Windows in order to switch channels).

The entire process is outlined in this post at the Windows Insider Blog:

Quote

All Windows Insiders who have already been installing builds from the Dev Channel on their PCs up through June 24, 2021 will be allowed to continue installing Windows 11 Insider Preview builds even if their PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements.

Microsoft does warn that people who opt into getting Windows 11 Insider builds despite the device not being eligible may experience bugs that will never be fixed, which may mean that those people will be flagged as running an incompatible device when submitting bugs to Microsoft.

In addition if you run in to problems and decide to reinstall Windows by resetting the PC, those devices will be immediately opted out of Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, and will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft notes that these devices will be treated like a new PC and the minimum hardware requirements will be enforced.

Finally, when Windows 11 becomes generally available, meaning when the final build ships, those PCs will be opted out of flighting and will need to clean install back to Windows 10.

Source: How to get Windows 11 if your PC does not meet minimum requirements (via Neowin)

How to download a preview of Windows 11

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:05:53 +0000

How to download a preview of Windows 11

If you’re a member of the Windows Insider Program, you can install it next week

Windows 11 was announced today with a load of new features, and if you’re a Windows enthusiast, you are no doubt eager to give it a try. If you want to install a real version, rather than the leaked version that hit the internet on June 15th), Microsoft says it is going to share an early build of Windows 11 through its Windows Insider Program starting next week.

If you want to play with early versions of Windows (and we strongly suggest you do it on a machine that you are not using for your day-to-day computing), you can join the Windows Insider program here — just click the Register button and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Get an early download of Windows 11 via Windows Insider.

You can check if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11 by going to Windows.com to download the PC Health Check app.

Note that some people who have tried it out have complained on Twitter that systems which otherwise meet the requirements are tagged as not eligible. According to The Verge’s Tom Warren, if you are told you can’t install Windows 11, you may have to check your BIOS:

If you’re willing to wait, Microsoft says that the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin to roll out to eligible Windows 10 PCs this coming holiday season.

How to download a preview of Windows 11

Windows 11 Home will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection at setup

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:59:17 +0000

Windows 11 Home will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection at setup

The new version will be delivered via Windows Update

Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 on Thursday, and its least expensive version Windows 11 Home will now require an internet connection at setup — and a Microsoft account. Previous versions would let you opt out of Microsoft accounts by creating a local account instead, though the company didn’t necessarily make it easy to find and pushed you to use Microsoft’s login instead. It’s possible you’ll still be able to use a local account afterwards.

The internet requirement may make sense since Windows 11 will largely be delivered via a Windows Update, like many of the updates to Windows 10, so you’d need an internet connection to install it on your PC. You’ll need to make sure your machine has enough free storage space to install the updates, Microsoft notes in its spec sheet for Windows 11.

The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 are a PC with a dual-core 64-bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It will be a free upgrade for existing Windows 10 users.

Here’s how Microsoft describes these requirements:

Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use.

Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity.

For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features.

Windows 11 Home will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection at setup

Windows 11 is a free upgrade

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:57:31 +0000

Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 11 today, and the software maker is committing to make it a free upgrade for Windows 10 users. Much like how Windows 10 was free for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users, this new Windows 11 version will be free for existing Windows 10 users.

All you’ll need is a PC that meets the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, which is now a 64-bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Windows 11 will be delivered through Windows Update in much the same way as Windows 10 updates have been made available previously.

Windows 11 will include a new UI, with a Start menu overhaul, performance improvements, and updates to improve multitasking. It even includes access to Android apps through Amazon’s Appstore.

We weren’t expecting Microsoft to charge people to update to Windows 11, particularly as the company makes most of its Windows revenue through commercial and OEM licenses. Still, it’s good news for consumers with Windows 10 devices that the next version of Windows 11 will be available free of charge.

While Microsoft hasn’t shared an exact release date, the company says “Windows 11 will be available through a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs beginning this holiday.”

Source: Windows 11 is a free upgrade (via The Verge)

Microsoft Teams will be directly integrated as part of Windows 11

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:52:58 +0000

Microsoft Teams will be deeply woven into the upcoming Windows 11 update. During its preview of the new version of Windows, Microsoft’s Panos Panay detailed how it’ll be easier and quicker to create and join Teams meetings. The app will get prominent placement on the Windows 11 Start menu, and it’ll also be integrated throughout the system.

Teams reached 145 million daily active users back in April. The service has had occasional stumbles and outages, thanks in part to that massive growth. Microsoft launched the free consumer version of Teams in May. Earlier this month, the company previewed a new “front row” layout that will come to the app later this year. It’s designed to help improve hybrid work situations where some people are at the office and others are joining meetings remotely.

Source: Microsoft Teams will be directly integrated as part of Windows 11 (via The Verge)

Microsoft kicks Cortana out of the boot experience for Windows 11

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:51:09 +0000

My job requires me to set up several Windows PCs per week. That means several times per week, I have to hear the following:

“Hi there! I’m Cortana, and I’m here to help. A little sign-in here, a touch of Wi-Fi there, and we’ll have your PC ready for all you plan to do.”

I typed that from memory because it is constantly echoing in my head. I cannot escape it. It’s the bane of my existence. I do not want to use Cortana. I do not want Cortana to help me boot up several PCs a week. Please, Cortana, leave me alone. But for years, my complaints have been shouts into the void that Microsoft has not heard.

That’s why I’m a bit too excited about one of the tiny announcements that Microsoft just made. If you dig into the company’s Windows 11 Specifications page, you will see one beautiful, glorious line: “Cortana will no longer be included in the first boot experience or pinned to the Taskbar.”

Yes, Windows 11 has all kinds of other new stuff, too. You can tip creators now, Android apps are coming, snap layouts look kind of cool, etc. But if previous Windows releases are any indication, these features will take quite a while to sort out. The end of the Cortana Boot is actually coming. Day 1. I can’t wait. It is the most celebration-worthy announcement of the day.

Source: Microsoft kicks Cortana out of the boot experience for Windows 11 (via The Verge)

Windows 11: The new features coming to Microsoft's next-gen OS

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:47:07 +0000

Windows 11: The new features coming to Microsoft's next-gen OS

Microsoft has released the next version of Windows called "Windows 11" and it is coming later this year. Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10 and it's a big update with tons of new features, redesigned Start Menu, and more.

Here's a list of all some noticeable new features in feature update.

Windows 11 Start Menu and taskbar

Unlike Windows 10 or Windows 8, Windows 11 comes with centered Start Menu and taskbar, similar to ChromeOS.

Start Menu doesn't come with traditional live tiles. It comes with a new interface that uses static icons for Microsoft Store apps, Microsoft Edge-powered Progressive Web Apps and other programs, similar to Windows 10X and Chrome.

Centered Start Menu

By default, the Start Menu will include pinned apps and services like Calculator, Microsoft Edge, and Settings. Like Windows 10, Windows 11's Start Menu will show apps and websites only. However, users won’t be able to group apps to create a folder, a feature that is currently offered on Windows 10's live tile interface.

You can still right-click on any icon to access the app’s settings and pin it to the taskbar

Left-aligned Start Menu

You can always restore the left-aligned taskbar and switch between three different sizes – small, medium and large. The small size is aimed at desktops with mouse support and medium or large size appears to be very touch-friendly.

At the moment, users need to modify their Registry to change the size of the taskbar. It's likely that taskbar customization options will be offered via Windows Settings to switch between different sizes of Windows taskbar.

Floating Windows Search

The same modern Settings app is offered, which can be used to customize Start Menu with additional shortcuts. You can also use it to customize the Action Center, desktop wallpaper, system accent, and enable transparency effect for the taskbar, and more.

Some Windows features are now maintained outside the usual Windows updates using experience packs.

Windows 11 user interface overhaul and legacy components

Windows 11 looks a lot like Windows 10 and it is essentially a Windows 10X shell for Windows 10. Microsoft has introduced new colorful icons, rounded corners, and new animations.

Fortunately, if you don't like modern alternatives, legacy features are still included on Windows 11.

Users can launch and operate Control Panel, Device Manager, Disk Management and all other legacy tools. Microsoft is not modernizing the interface of these legacy features and components, but there's one visible change - Microsoft has enabled rounded corners and shadow effects.

Control Panel

Icons within the Control Panel and other pages have been revamped with a touch of Microsoft’s modern Fluent Design.

File Explorer

Windows 11 still comes with the same File Explorer, but it's getting some much-needed improvements. For instance, the Explorer now sports new icons, rounded corners, and dark mode improvements.

Microsoft has optimized the interface of the Explorer for both mouse and touch users. As Windows 11 doesn't come with a tablet mode, these changes will help users with touchscreen, so they can easily interact rename, select or delete files.

At the moment, it looks like the tablet experience will be enabled by default, but users can always switch back to the old layout by configuring the "Folder Options" in File Explorer.

In addition, there'll be some quality improvements. For example, the Extract All option for OneDrive files is being introduced. This option shows up when you right-click on a zipped OneDrive file that was set to online-only.

We're also getting support for CTRL + Left / Right arrow when changing the name of the files. This lets you move the cursor between words in the file name, as well as CTRL + Delete and CTRL + Backspace to delete words at a time, like other apps and tools.

Windows Camera

A new Camera Settings page is being introduced for advanced users to help them manage the existing cameras, add/remove cameras and configure the default image settings of each one.

Currently, you can customize your camera experience third-party apps only. However, Windows 11 comes with a new settings page that can be found at Settings > Devices > Camera, and users can use it to configure the default image settings,

Display Settings

Microsoft is introducing a new feature that allows users to turn off the content-adaptive brightness control (CABC) feature. This feature is offered on laptops to improve battery performance on PCs, but apparently, it comes at the cost of image quality.

Starting with the next generation of Windows, we can turn off the feature by navigating to the Display Settings page.

Battery usage

Windows 11 finally comes with a redesigned 'Battery' settings page. This features detailed graphs to help anyone understand how their laptop/notebook uses the battery.

The graphs will appear within the modern settings app and users can monitor their laptop's battery level throughout the day. You can also open the bar graph view to better understand the battery usage over the past seven days.

Device Manager

Device Manager has been updated with rounded corners and new icon, but there are a few minor additions too. The first new feature is a new filter for 'Devices by driver', which is being introduced to help users get a list of devices using a particular driver.

The second option 'Drivers by type' lets you view the .inf driver files by the type of device. And there's a third new option 'Drivers by device' that will display the .inf files under the name of the device using it.

HDR support for colour managed apps

Microsoft is enabling support for HDR mode in apps creative and artistic apps that use International Color Consortium (ICC) display color profiles.

Virtual desktops

Microsoft is redesigning the virtual desktops screen with some much-needed multitasking improvements. In addition to the new design, Microsoft is introducing three new features - the ability to change the position of each virtual desktop. customize the backgrounds for all your virtual desktops, and support for multi-monitor setup.

To reorder the desktops, follow these steps:

Create multiple new Virtual Desktops.
Drag and drop a Virtual Desktop to another position.
Right-click a Virtual Desktop thumbnail in task view and select “Move left” or “Move right” in the context menu. This will change the order of all virtual desktops.

If you want to change the background of the virtual desktops, follow these steps:

Open Settings > Personalization > Background.
Right-click a background and apply it to a specific Virtual Desktop.

Once you’ve selected the background, changes will apply instantly, and you’ll see your new background when you switch to the virtual desktop.

New Clipboard

Clipboard history manager (Win + V) has been redesigned with rounded corners and a few new features, including a new way to insert emojis and GIFs.

In addition to these changes, Microsoft has also enabled a new “Paste as plain text” option alongside pin and delete. This will allow you to paste the text content of the clipboard without its original formatting (font, color, size etc.),

New DNS over HTTPS (DoH) feature

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) is a new feature that will allow DNS resolution over encrypted HTTPS connections, and it aims to protect your browsing privacy from outsiders.

"If you haven’t been waiting for it, and are wondering what DoH is all about, then be aware this feature will change how your device connects to the Internet and is in an early testing stage so only proceed if you’re sure you’re ready," Microsoft explained DoH in a blog post published last year.

In preview, you can test the feature and configure DoH for ethernet connections by following these steps:

Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
Click Properties.
Select Edit IP assignment or Edit DNS server assignment.
Enable DoH in the popup.

To configure DoH for Wi-Fi connections, follow these steps:

Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
Click the adapter properties link.
Select Edit IP assignment or Edit DNS server assignment.
Enable DoH in the popup.

Modern disk management

As part of the Windows revamp, the Settings app is getting the new Disk Management tool, which aims to simplify the disk management process and manage your disks and volumes without using the legacy tool.

'Manage Disks and Volumes' utility supports better integration with the Storage Spaces and Storage Settings. The disk management tool has been rewritten, and it will initially allow you to view disk information, create and format volumes, and assign drive letters.

To access this new tool, you need to go to Settings > System > Storage and click Manage Disks and Volumes.

Improved GPU controls

Microsoft is giving users greater control over multiple GPUs when running apps in Windows.

On devices with two GPUs, Windows will use integrated one as a power-saving GPU and the discrete graphics card as a high-performance GPU. This setting will be configured automatically based on your device.

You can also go to the Graphics settings under Settings > Display > Graphics Settings and specify whether an app should use the high-performance or power-saving GPU.

Improved Sound Device Settings

You can now set default speakers by navigating to Settings > System > Sound. The same page has been updated with a link to the per-app sound screen in the classic Volume Mixer

Windows 11: The new features coming to Microsoft's next-gen OS

Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11 with Amazon’s Appstore

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:44:57 +0000

Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11. The software giant revealed its surprise Windows 11 addition during its special Windows event today. Android apps will run natively on Windows 11 and will be downloadable from Amazon’s Appstore, via the new Windows store that’s included in the operating system.

Microsoft says it’s using Amazon’s Appstore to bring Android apps to Windows 11. Apps will be listed in the new Windows store, and Microsoft is also partnering with Intel to use its Intel Bridge technology to make this a reality. Android apps on Windows 11 can be pinned to the taskbar or snapped alongside traditional Windows apps.

Android apps on Windows 11 are an obvious answer to Apple’s progress with its M1 chips and running iOS apps on macOS. While there are many web equivalents to mobile apps, they’re often lackluster, and certain apps like Snapchat, Ring, Venmo, Roomba, and the majority of home automation apps aren’t available on the web.

Microsoft demonstrated apps like TikTok running on Windows 11 today. The Windows store that Microsoft showed lists Ring, Yahoo, Uber, and others, so we’ll likely see full access to Amazon’s Appstore. It’s not immediately clear how many existing devices will support Android apps with Windows 11, as hardware will need to support Intel Bridge technology.

This surprise announcement follows Microsoft’s original plans to let Windows developers rework their existing Android apps for Windows in 2015. Project Astoria, as Microsoft labeled it, was a method to try to convince developers to port apps and make it easier to do so. The plan eventually fell apart less than a year later, with Microsoft admitting that having “two bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary.”

Microsoft has been toying with the idea of running Android apps on Windows natively for years, and the company had been experimenting with the idea of listing Android apps in the Windows store just ahead of the Windows 10 launch. Instead, Microsoft pushed ahead trying to convince developers to adopt its failed Universal Windows Platform.

Android app integration directly into Windows is a significant shift, especially as the company has been favoring Your Phone as the method to bridge the gap between Android and Windows. Microsoft has been embracing Android as the mobile version of Windows for years, and now those same mobile apps will run directly in Windows 11.

Source: Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11 with Amazon’s Appstore (via The Verge)

Microsoft announces Windows 11: Here is what you need to know

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:44:04 +0000

Microsoft announces Windows 11: Here is what you need to know

Microsoft has officially unveiled the eagerly anticipated next version of Windows, and it is called Windows 11.

The name comes as no surprise after a preview build of Windows 11 was leaked last week, giving us a brief glimpse of the new features.

However, the leak was an early preview build, and Microsoft has announced today a slew of new features that are sure to excite people.

As part of the release of Windows 11, Microsoft plans to split Windows development into two branches - a Windows 10 branch for the enterprise that doesn't want to rush into a new OS and Windows 11 for consumers.

Microsoft will continue to develop Windows 10 and will release build 19044 in the fall, with likely cumulative updates from then on allowing the enterprise to slowly get used to Windows 11.

For those who are ready to install Windows 11, Microsoft is making it available to Windows Insiders on the 'Dev' channel early next week, with an eventual public release in the fall.

What's new in Windows 11

Windows 11 is the most significant upgrade to the operating system since Windows 10 and contains numerous improvements in both the features and the user interface.

The user interface refresh, codenamed Sun Valley, brings rounded windows, updated colorful icons based on Microsoft's Fluent Design, new animations, and updated user interface controls.

Rounded windows and dialogs

In addition to the user interface refresh, Windows 11 also introduces many new features, including a redesigned floating and centered Start Menu, a revamped windows snapping feature called Snap Groups, DNS-over-HTTPS, a new and improved Windows Clipboard, modern disk management, redesigned settings screen, and much more.

Windows 11 Start Menu

As the new features coming to Windows 11 deserve their own article, our dedicated 'Windows 11: The new features coming to Microsoft's next-gen OS' article does into depth on what what's new in Windows 11.

What if I don't like Windows 11?

Windows 11 has made some significant changes to the operating systems, especially to the Start Menu and Taskbar, which is bound to make users unhappy.

The good news is that if you do not like the new Start Menu, you can switch back to the 'Classic' Windows 10 Start Menu and left-align the taskbar, so it looks pretty much like Windows 10.

Windows 11 using the left-aligned Classic Start Menu

To learn more about how you can switch back to the Windows 10 'Classic' Start Menu, you can read our 'Windows 11 lets you enable the classic Windows 10 Start Menu, here's how' article.

Once you switch back to the 'Classic' Start Menu, it will feel like Windows 10 with just a few new colorful icons and a more feature-rich experience.

Microsoft announces Windows 11: Here is what you need to know

Microsoft officially announces Windows 11, the next major Windows version

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:40:28 +0000

After numerous leaks and reports, it’s official. Microsoft today announced Windows 11, the next major version of Windows that brings with it a major overhaul of the UI, getting rid of components like live tiles that first debuted with Windows 8 in 2012. While bits of the upcoming version of Windows leaked thanks to the leaked ISO for a pre-release build, the company has a lot to show off today.

The UI refresh – codenamed Sun Valley – has been in the works for a while. The changes were originally thought to be part of an update to Windows 10, which included updated in-box apps, including the Microsoft Store – which was said to introduce new policies to expand the types of apps that can be housed in it. However, the magnitude of changes seems to have warranted a major OS rebranding itself. The firm is also adding support for web widgets, it adds, along with the new policies for the store.

Windows 11 debuts a new Start menu design that houses app icons, instead of live tiles. The taskbar icons are now centered by default, and the flyouts for the Start menu and Action Center now float above the taskbar. There are new animations across the board, which is always a welcome addition when it comes to user experience improvements.

The Action Center that houses the quick actions’ toggles and notifications is also receiving a major update. Just as with other bits in the OS, the firm is borrowing heavily from the now defunct Windows 10X. The quick actions and notifications are now separate sections, allowing for a cleaner design.

That’s not all though, as the firm is also bringing a bunch of enhancements to those using the OS on devices with a touchscreen. There are new gestures to switch between apps, improvements to resizing using a stylus or a finger, and more. These new gestures are coupled with the improved touch keyboard to enhance the experience of using Windows on a tablet or touch-enabled device.

There are improvements to virtual desktops and multitasking, including the window snap feature that was spotted in the earlier build. Virtual desktops can now have separate wallpapers for personalization, and the dedicated icon in the taskbar is now used for virtual desktops alone, replacing Timeline from Windows 10.

When it comes to productivity, the OS will have deep Teams integration, bringing easy and useful ways to quickly access recent chats, set up a meeting, and more.

Windows 11 also brings improvements to performance. Panos Panay says Windows Updates will be 40% smaller, and technologies like Direct Storage will bring better gaming performance. Windows Hello, app launches, and more will also be faster, the firm says.

Next up is the Microsoft Store, which is gaining a huge new capability in the way of support for Android apps, along with a massive visual refresh. The firm is adding an Amazon store to allow users to download Android apps such as TikTok directly into Windows 11 through that store. The apps run similar to how Your Phone displays apps, and is a huge deal. In the past, the company worked on a project - called Astoria - to run Android apps on Windows using the bridge technologies it was building.

As expected, the first ones to receive the official build of Windows 11 will be Windows Insiders. The firm will be releasing updates to the OS to gradually to polish the rough edges and add features before it releases the OS to users later this holiday. The OS will ship with new devices and for existing Windows 10 users, the firm has launched a PC Health Check app that you can find here for users to check for compatibility.

Source: Microsoft officially announces Windows 11, the next major Windows version (via Neowin)

p/s: More photos of Windows 11 screenshots are available on the source link.

Here are the official minimum system requirements for Windows 11

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:35:08 +0000

At their special event, Microsoft announced the all new Windows 11. The new operating system comes with a visual overhaul, multi-tasking improvements and more. Microsoft is expected to roll out Windows 11 to users later this year but not every device will be able to run Windows 11.

If you are planning to try out Windows 11 then you can check out the minimum specs below:

1Ghz 64-bit dual-core processor
4GB RAM
64GB storage
9-inch display (1366x768 resolution)
UEFI, Secure Boot & TPM 2.0 compatible
DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x

The biggest change with Windows 11 is the 64-bit only operating system. Microsoft does not plan to release a 32-bit version of Windows 11, but the OS will continue to support 32-bit software. Apart from that, Microsoft will now need a 9-inch display as well as 64GB storage to run. These changes should make the Windows 11 experience better on all devices but will also increase the specification requirements for budget devices.

If you are worried about Windows 11 requirements, then you can download the Windows PC Health Check (via WalkingCat) app to see if your PC meets the requirements.

Source: Here are the official minimum system requirements for Windows 11 (via Neowin)

The Microsoft Edge browser is getting a new Share sheet

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 03:38:36 +0000

The Microsoft Edge browser is getting a new Share sheet

Microsoft is testing a new Share sheet in the latest Edge Canary builds.

The new Share Sheet replaces the native Windows 10 share sheet, though this is still accessible via a link.

The new sheet behaves like other Edge menu pop-ups and includes specific links to social networks, and also allows you to email links to yourself.

When you want to invoke the native Windows 10 Share sheet, you can click on the Windows Share Options button.

The new sheet does not appear to be available to everyone yet, but will presumable come to dev builds in a few weeks if it passes its tests.

Source: Leo Varela

The Microsoft Edge browser is getting a new Share sheet

How to Watch Microsoft's Windows 11 Event—and What to Expect

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 03:34:52 +0000

How to Watch Microsoft's Windows 11 Event—and What to Expect

The next version of Windows will finally be unveiled—officially, at least. Here's how to watch live, and the features that will be on their way to your PC soon.

There’s not a lot of mystery left to Windows 11, thanks to a comprehensive leak last week. But there are still some outlines left to be shaded in, particularly any improvements to Microsoft’s home-grown apps, like Office and Game Pass. And any time an operating system with well over a billion users gets an upgrade, even small changes can have a big impact. Here’s how to watch along for yourself on Thursday, and what you can expect to see.

How to Watch

The how to watch part is easy enough. The event starts on Thursday, June 24, at 11 am ET at the Microsoft Events page, or you can presumably park it over at the company’s YouTube channel.

But what might you see! Well, that’s also not hard to figure, given that an early build has leaked online in its entirety. Which is not to say that all of Windows 11’s secrets have been revealed, especially since the changes so far appear largely aesthetic. But Microsoft likely has a few surprises still in store.

Windows to the Future

In the meantime, though, the visual overhaul has some interesting nuggets. It appears to streamline a lot of what you’re used to from Windows 10, particularly around the Start menu and task bar. They’ve been relocated to the bottom-center of your screen, rather than the left-hand side. (You can move them back if you prefer the current placement.) You also won’t find a dedicated Cortana icon in the taskbar anymore, which is just as well, because it was hogging some valuable real estate without much payoff.

Once you open the Start menu, you’ll find plain app icons rather than the dynamic Live Tiles of Windows 10. It’s a cleaner, more minimal layout, albeit one that hides most of the menu under a separate button click. In a (dare we say) Apple-y touch, file menus and applications in Windows 11 will have more rounded corners. The maximize button in application windows has been reworked to allow you to instantly snap windows side by side or into corners. According to Tom Warren at The Verge, Windows 11 also comes with a new bloopy startup sound and some pretty default wallpapers.

The Microsoft Store is expected to get a rework as well, though details on that are fuzzier. Rumors from earlier this year indicate that Microsoft’s goal is to make the Store more enticing for developers. On the heels of the legal scrum between Apple and Epic Games over app store policies, Microsoft is keen to position itself as the good guy and encourage devs onto its platform. At any rate, it’s clear that there’s more Microsoft news to come, both at its Windows 11 event and beyond.

How to Watch Microsoft's Windows 11 Event—and What to Expect (May require free registration to view)

Latest Edge Dev build adds dark mode for form controls, new Kids Mode themes, and more

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 23:24:52 +0000

Latest Edge Dev build adds dark mode for form controls, new Kids Mode themes, and more

Microsoft has released this week’s Edge Dev build, bumping the version to 93.0.926.0. The release comes a day later than the usual Tuesday timeline and brings with it a few new features, including the “much requested” dark mode support for HTML form controls.

The firm detailed the feature in a separate blog post last week and said that that it worked with Google to improve support for automatic theme switching for forms. Developers can choose to restrict dark mode to certain form controls alone – such as just the dropdown box –, as well. The feature will also make it to Chrome on Android starting with version 91, and eventually to Edge on Android as well.

There is also a new Efficiency Mode feature that is rolling out to users, which the firm is currently tight-lipped about. While the first-load screen after the update will mention the feature, the company says that it will provide more details “soon”. Other newly added features include a keyboard shortcut for switching between vertical and horizontal tabs, new Kids Mode themes, and more.

Here is the complete list of features added with this build:

Enabled by default the ability to import passwords from a CSV file.

Enabled by default the ability to change the font in Immersive Reader.

Enabled Kids Mode by default.

Added more themes in Kids Mode.

Added a keyboard shortcut for toggling between vertical and horizontal tabs layouts.

Added a message on the update Settings page to warn when the browser can’t be restarted to install an update because another user on the device has it open.

Added a confirmation the first time F12 is pressed that allows users to disable it as an entry point for the Dev Tools. Note that it can be re-enabled or disabled at any time in Settings.

Enabled support for management policies from Chromium to control if Insecure Private Network Requests are Allowed, Chromium to control the list of what Insecure Private Network Requests are Allowed For which Urls, and to control if Triple DES is Enabled, which allows/disallows the use of 3DES cipher suites in TLS.

As usual, the build comes with a bunch of bug fixes and reliability improvements. These include reliability improvements that fix random crashes and installation issues. Here’s the list of fixes that have been made to address reliability issues:

Fixed a crash on launch.

Fixed a crash on shutdown.

Fixed an issue where certain webpages crash with a STATUS_BREAKPOINT error.

Fixed a hang when opening new tabs or windows.

Fixed a crash when sending feedback.

Fixed a crash when navigating using certain protocols in IE mode tabs.

Fixed an issue where one installation of the browser can sometimes cause another on the same machine to be unable to update.

Fixed an issue where the Web Widget is sometimes blank or doesn’t load.

There are also fixes to problems that cause unexpected behavior, such as visual glitches in PWAs, Web Capture tool anomalies. Here is the complete list of what’s improved:

Increased the number of PDFs that can be open at once.

Fixed an issue where middle-clicking on a folder inside a folder on the favorites bar doesn’t open all of the favorites in that sub-folder in new tabs.

Fixed an issue where shortcuts to PWAs are sometimes broken after the browser is updated.

Fixed an issue where a sign-in prompt repeatedly appears when opening certain PDFs, and then keeps reappearing, even after the PDF is closed.

Fixed an issue where Guided Switch preferences sometimes can’t be edited or deleted.

Fixed an issue where dragged vertical tabs don’t follow the mouse cursor properly.

Fixed an issue where extensions that were hidden unexpectedly become visible.

Fixed an issue where the --start-minimized command line flag doesn’t work.

Fixed an issue where Office file downloads sometimes fail.

Fixed an issue where Office documents can’t be opened in Kids mode.

Fixed an issue where printing multiple pages per sheet sometimes rotates the page unexpectedly.

Fixed an issue where the Web Capture toolbar sometimes stays onscreen unexpectedly.

Fixed an issue where the browser profile picture sometimes isn’t shown in places it should be.

Fixed a visual glitch with extensions in PWAs.

Fixed an issue where app info for PWAs or websites installed as apps sometimes is incorrect or gone.

Fixed an issue where prices aren’t visible on Collections items that come from shopping sites.

Fixed an issue where multiple files can’t be downloaded from a single website while in IE mode.

Deprecated the management policy to control if Legacy Same Site Cookie Behavior is Enabled.

Obsoleted the management policy to control how the New Tab Page Set the Feed Type.

Lastly, as with every release, the firm has detailed the known issues that users should be aware of. Some of these issues, such as the one with Microsoft Editor, have been present for a while. There are a couple of bugs that are caused by specific security software. Here are all the known issues in this build:

Certain extensions such as the Microsoft Editor extension don’t work on Linux. As soon as they’re installed, they crash and are disabled. We’re currently investigating.

Users of certain ad blocking extensions may experience playback errors on Youtube. As a workaround, temporarily disabling the extension should allow playback to proceed. See this help article for more details.

Some users are still running into an issue where all tabs and extensions immediately crash with a STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error. The most common cause of this error is outdated security or antivirus software from vendors like Symantec, and in those cases, updating that software will fix it.

Users of the Kaspersky Internet Suite who have the associated extension installed may sometimes see webpages like Gmail fail to load. This failure is due to the main Kaspersky software being out of date, and is thus fixed by making sure the latest version is installed.

Some users are still seeing favorites get duplicated. This issue should be reduced now that automatic deduplication has been introduced into Insider channels, but we’re still rolling that out in Stable. We’ve also seen duplication happen when running the manual deduplicator on multiple machines before either machine has a chance to fully sync its changes, so make sure to leave plenty of time in between runs of the deduplicator.

Some users are seeing “wobbling” behavior when scrolling using trackpad gestures or touchscreens, where scrolling in one dimension also causes the page to subtly scroll back and forth in the other. Note that this only affects certain websites and seems to be worse on certain devices. This is most likely related to our ongoing work to bring scrolling back to parity with Edge Legacy’s behavior, so if this behavior is undesirable, you can temporarily turn it off by disabling the edge://flags/#edge-experimental-scrolling flag.

Today’s update has just begun rolling out to users, so it could be a while till the release propagates to all systems. When it is available, it should be automatically downloaded and installed by the browser. Alternatively, you can force check for updates through the About Microsoft Edge settings page.

Latest Edge Dev build adds dark mode for form controls, new Kids Mode themes, and more

Microsoft Outlook extension is now available in preview for Edge

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 23:22:18 +0000

Microsoft Outlook extension is now available in preview for Edge

Outlook is available on multiple platforms already including the web, iOS, and Android. But today, without much fanfare, Microsoft seems to have made its new Outlook extension for Edge available for the public, albeit with a "preview" tag. The name of the extension is "Microsoft Outlook" but the "preview" iconography can be seen its store listing.

The extension, which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store here, essentially allows you to use Outlook directly in any tab of the browser without opening a new window. After you download it, an icon for Outlook will be visible on the address bar, and when you sign in, you'll be able to get a view of your emails, calendar, contacts, and tasks, among other things. The features mentioned in the store listing are as follows:

Access work or personal accounts
Read, send, and manage email and get new email notifications
Create events, view upcoming ones, and join online meetings
Create, track, and manage tasks
Manage contacts

It is important to note that the extension can only be downloaded on Microsoft Edge and is not compatible with other browsers like Google Chrome.

The store listing indicates that the extension was last updated on June 14, 2021, so it's currently unclear whether it has just been made available to the public or if it's only been discovered now. Given the lack of an official announcement from Microsoft as well as the fact that it doesn't pop up in search results, any possibility is equally likely. Although some users have reported they have already started seeing ads for the extension in their Outlook clients. We'll let you know when Microsoft officially announces the extension but in the meantime, you can take it for a spin on Edge here.

Microsoft Outlook extension is now available in preview for Edge

You may replace Windows Search with EverythingToolbar now

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 23:19:02 +0000

You may replace Windows Search with EverythingToolbar now

The latest beta of the Windows search tool Everything Toolbar supports replacing Windows Search with Everything Search.

Everything Search is a popular third-party search tool for Windows devices that comes with everything that you might want in a search tool. It is very fast, supports fast sorting, content searches, previews, thumbnails, and a lot more.

Everything Toolbar is a third-party project that uses Everything but adds its own toolbar search option to Windows. You get Everything, but with a toolbar search option added to the experience.

The latest beta version of EverythingToolbar, version 0.7.0 beta 1, includes an experimental option to remap the Start menu search option to Everything. Considering that you get two experimental features, the build and the remapping of the Windows Start Menu search, it is clear that this is not ready yet for use in production environments. Everything worked fine during tests though.

First thing you need to do is enable the option. Open Everything Toolbar and select the settings option in its interface. Hover over Preferences and check "Replace Start Menu Search (Experimental)".

The change takes effect immediately. The Start Menu opens just like it always does, but once you start typing, input is redirected to the Everything Toolbar interface and the Start Menu is closed.

The process is fluent and there is no delay between starting your searches and the search results being displayed by Everything Toolbar in its interface.

The latest beta version introduces several new features that improve Everything Toolbar further. You may use Ctrl-up and Ctrl-down to browse the search history, search results navigations with PageUp , PageDown, Home or End, support for basic search macros such as "video:" or "pic:", and an option to show the number of results.

Closing Words

If you do use EverythingToolbar for all searches on your Windows devices, then you may find the new option to replace Windows Search with Everything Search useful. Some users may prefer the flexibility of selecting one or the other search option for searches, and nothing changes for them as the remapping needs to be enabled.

You may replace Windows Search with EverythingToolbar now

Microsoft fixes high-pitched noise bug in Windows 10

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 21:37:59 +0000

Microsoft fixes high-pitched noise bug in Windows 10

Microsoft has fixed a known issue causing applications to play high-pitched or squeaking noises while using certain apps in Windows 10 2004, Windows 10 20H2, and Windows 10 21H1.

This issue was first introduced in the March 2021 KB5000842 preview cumulative update but continued through cumulative updates released afterward.

Microsoft states that the issue only affected some Windows 10 users using 5.1 and only affected certain apps.

"After installing KB5000842 or later updates, 5.1 Dolby Digital audio may play containing a high-pitched noise or squeak in certain apps when using certain audio devices and Windows settings," explains Microsoft on their Windows 10 Known issues and notifications center.

For Windows 10 users with stereo audio configuration, the issue does not occur.

This week, Microsoft released the Windows 10 KB5003690 preview cumulative update, which now fixes this audio bug for affected users.

Windows 10 KB5003690 update

As the KB5003690 update is an optional update, Windows 10 users will only receive the fix if they manually perform a 'Check for updates' in Windows Update and install the update.

Those who do not wish to install the preview update can wait until the mandatory July 2021 Patch Tuesday updates to receive the fix.

Last month, Microsoft also removed the final compatibility holds preventing customers from upgrading to Windows 10 2004, 20H2, and 21H1. This hold was related to Conexant and Synaptics audio driver issues that caused issues installing Windows 10 updates.

Microsoft fixes high-pitched noise bug in Windows 10

Microsoft Store is crashing worldwide on Windows 10 PCs

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 21:36:04 +0000

Microsoft Store is crashing worldwide on Windows 10 PCs

Windows 10 users are currently experiencing issues with the Microsoft Store, with the app unable to download and install apps and crashing after repeated attempts.

When attempting to download apps from the Microsoft Store, users are seeing a loading or frozen page. Specifically, nothing happens when users click on the "Get" button to download apps or games.

When attempting to access various Microsoft Store features, such as the downloads section, the program will sit at a screen with a spinning loading symbol.

Microsoft Store loading forever

Eventually, the Microsoft Store will hang completely and can only be closed via Task Manager or by using ALT+F4 if the window is active.

When crashing, an error message is recorded to Event Viewer, which states that Windows Store is unable to interact with the operating system.

Event viewer showing the Windows Store hanging

This outage started within the last four hours, according to reports seen by BleepingComputer.

It is not known if this is planned maintenance activity, a problem due to Windows 10 cumulative update, or if Microsoft Azure networks is having issues.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Microsoft Store is crashing worldwide on Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft release Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0 to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 05:51:42 +0000

Microsoft release Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0 to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels

Today Microsoft released Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0 to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels.

This update only applies to Windows PCs that are on the latest 21H1 release in the Beta Channel and Release Preview Channel or the latest 20H2 release on the Release Preview Channel currently.

The update includes the following improvement:

Fixed an issue that would cause the touch keyboard to not display when invoked.

Windows Feature Experience Pack updates are delivered to Insiders through Windows Update just like builds and cumulative updates are. This update will NOT be offered to commercial devices (which are AAD-joined and/or running the Windows 10 Enterprise edition) in the Release Preview Channel. For Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, this will be an optional update.

As a reminder – Microsoft is testing this new Feature Pack process out with Insiders to deliver new feature improvements to customers outside of major Windows 10 feature updates. Right now, Microsoft is starting out with a really scoped set of features and improvements. Over time, they hope to expand the scope and the frequency of releases in the future. Eventually, these Windows Feature Experience Pack updates will get folded into the already existing servicing process for Windows 10 and delivered to customers that way through Windows Update.

Microsoft release Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0 to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels

Microsoft teases Windows 11 event with an interesting desktop animation reflection

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:56:28 +0000

Microsoft teases Windows 11 event with an interesting desktop animation reflection

Microsoft’s Windows event is just a couple of days away, and the firm has been posting teasers on Twitter to generate hype about the upcoming Windows 11 announcement. While the first one likely hints at the return of the startup sound, today’s teaser seems to show a glimpse of the new default wallpaper, one of the many that were found in the leaked build. These wallpapers are expected to be tied to the in-built themes in Windows 11.

As is the case always, such teasers are scrutinized for any possible easter eggs, and while the possibilities of finding something significant are thin, we observed something interesting in the teaser. The reflection of the desktop in the eye of the individual in the reel seems to feature subtle animation, with the background image’s contrast varying slightly along with the lighting. While we might be splitting hairs here, it is not clear if the movement is a reveal animation for just the teaser or if the OS will feature some animation effects at boot.

The new default image does seem to bear some significance, as the official Twitter account for Windows too features what looks to be a blurred image of the new wallpaper. While the leaked Windows 11 build did provide a look at the upcoming UI changes, such as the new centered taskbar icons and the windows snapping feature, there could be a lot that is yet to be unveiled. The firm is rumored to be readying Feature Experience Packs that deliver UI elements and other improvements that are decoupled from the underlying OS updates.

It is anybody’s guess what new features and capabilities are in store for the “next generation of Windows” and if there are any hidden surprises that will be unveiled during the event. It is also not sure if the teaser animation is similar to the Windows 10 one that the company hyped. All will be known on June 24 at 11 AM ET.

Microsoft teases Windows 11 event with an interesting desktop animation reflection

Windows 10 version 21H1 is now available to all seekers, rolls out to more 2004 users

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:51:54 +0000

Windows 10 version 21H1 is now available to all seekers, rolls out to more 2004 users

Microsoft began rolling out Windows 10 version 21H1 to users earlier in May, bringing just a small set of features, thanks to the update being nothing but another enablement package, just like version 20H2. Though the release was a minor one, the rollout was staggered and was only being served to select devices, which is why many users might have not seen it show up on Windows Update.

Today, the firm announced that it is making version 21H1 completely available for those who manually check for updates – or seekers, as the firm called them in the past – through Windows Update. The Redmond company has posted more about this on the release information page for Windows 10 as well, hinting that all upgrade blocks from version 20H2 have been removed for those who wish to install the latest version.

In addition to serving the May 2021 Update to seekers, the company will begin automatically upgrading more users running version 2004 to the latest offering based on its machine learning algorithms. This is because some SKUs of Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) reach the end of support in December this year. Unlike in the past, feature updates (which 21H1 is treated as despite it being an enablement package) are no longer automatically installed on users’ devices unless the version they are running on nears the end of its support.

Those upgrading from 2004 will notice a few differences, such as the new Start menu design for tiles and other touch-focused UI improvements. These features are hidden in version 2004 and are lit up via the enablement package that also bumps the version number.

It must be noted that those running Windows 10 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise SKUs have an additional year of support, so those users will not be updated to version 21H1 automatically. Additionally, with Windows 11 expected to be announced soon, there is no information on what the plan is for Windows 10 and if version 21H2 is to be expected in the fall.

Windows 10 version 21H1 is now available to all seekers, rolls out to more 2004 users

First look at the improved Window Snap feature of Windows 11

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:48:35 +0000

First look at the improved Window Snap feature of Windows 11

A development build of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 operating system leaked last week. One feature that looks like it is going to be improved is the window snapping functionality of the operating system.

Microsoft introduced snap functionality for Windows when it released Windows 7. It kept the functionality in Windows 8 and Windows 10, and plans to improve it in Windows 11. Vista and XP users could introduce the functionality with third-party tools such as AquaSnap.

Basically, what snap does is allow users to snap Windows to the left or right side of the screen, so that they take up half of the screen size. You can also snap to the top to make it go fullscreen.

New functionality is mapped to the maximize button of windows in Windows 11. When you hover the mouse cursor over the maximize button, a list of window layouts is presented to you. The selection depends on the monitor resolution. Four different layouts are presented on low resolutions and six on higher resolutions.

The two-windows side-by-side layout is still there, but so are several others:

Two windows side-by-side taking up the same amount of space.
Two windows side-by-side with a ratio of 66.6% to 33.3%.
Three windows side-by-side all taking up the same amount of space.
Three windows, one taking up half the screen, the other two sharing the remaining screen vertically.
Four windows all taking up a quarter of the screen.
Three windows side-by-side, with the middle one taking up more space than the windows on the left and right of it.

Ashwin created the following animated gif to visualize the functionality in Windows 11.

Move the mouse cursor over a window field in one of the layouts and activate it with a click. The window is resized and moved automatically to fit the new position. Other windows may be presented to fill out the space for the other windows of the layout.

The new functionality resembles the FanzyZones tool of Microsoft's PowerToys tools collection, as it features similar layouts. The program separates the desktop into zones that Windows can be placed in. Holding down Shift while moving windows displays the zones, and you can snap them to one to automatically resize and position them.

The new snap layout functionality of Windows 11 improves snap by expanding the available layouts. Whether it will be possible to make use of those using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts remains to be seen.

First look at the improved Window Snap feature of Windows 11

Nvidia 471.11 WHQL driver brings support for Doom Eternal ray tracing and more

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:44:58 +0000

Nvidia 471.11 WHQL driver brings support for Doom Eternal ray tracing and more

Nvidia's latest driver release is primarily focused on bringing technologies like ray tracing and DLSS support to even more games including Doom Eternal, Rust, LEGO Builder’s Journey, and Escape From Tarkov, but there are some other features attached too. The WHQL-certified 471.11 Game Ready driver also has support for the Windows 10 May 2021 Update, and comes recommended for anyone picking up EA's upcoming racer F1 2021.

The Doom Eternal update carrying ray tracing capabilities alongside Nvidia DLSS for added performance will be landing on June 29. Meanwhile, Escape From Tarkov will be seeing Nvidia Reflex being implemented soon for reduced system latency. LEGO Builder’s Journey launches with ray-traced effects and DLSS later today on Steam.

Rust already received Reflex support in a previous update, and on July 1, DLSS will be enabled as the latest Nvidia technology to reach it. DLSS support has also reached games running the Vulkan API on Linux via Proton, with DirectX support planned to arrive this fall.

The GeForce Experience app has undergone some overhauls as well according to the company, improving the "FPS Counter, One-Click Automatic GPU Tuning, Freestyle filters, and HDR Screenshot Capture features." Lastly, the G-Sync compatible displays list has increased by four monitors with the driver, bringing support for the AOC AG274US4R6B and AG254FWG8R4, the ASUS VG28UQL1A, and the LG 32GN650/32GN63T.

Below are the bug fixes included in this release, and VR fans should be happy to see that the longstanding stuttering problem seems to have finally been tracked down:

[World of Warcraft: Shadowlands]: Random flicker may occur in certain locations in the game [3206341]

[SLI][GeForce GTX 980M]: The system locks with a black screen upon booting into Windows. no repro with 457.51. [3266090]

[Surround][GeForce RTX 3090]: With Surround active, setting Bezel Correction disables Surround. [3286449]

[Crossfire][GeForce Experience][FreeStyle]: Freestyle might not work on Crossfire after the game is updated. [200736765]

[HDR]: Some specific HDMI displays might show some flickering in HDR mode. [200729987]

[Steam VR game]: Stuttering and lagging occur upon launching a game while any GPU hardware monitoring tool is running in the background. [3152190]

[NVIDIA Ampere GPU]: Colors may appear incorrect in games if sharpen Freestyle filter is used with HDR enabled. [200658208]

Display may flicker or lose signal when launching a game on an adaptive-sync VRR monitor in multi-monitor configuration when sharing the same display mode [3314055]

DisplayPort monitor may not wake from sleep when connected in extended mode with an HDMI 2.1 display that is powered off. [3281998]

Here are the open issues to keep an eye out for:

[Batman Arkham Knight]: The game crashes when turbulence smoke is enabled. [3202250]

[YouTube]: Video playback stutters while scrolling down the YouTube page. [3129705]

DPC latency is higher when color mode is set to 8-bit color compared to 10-bit color. [3316424]

Keep in mind that come this October, Nvidia will be dropping support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 as well as its classic Kepler architecture products — GTX 600 and 700 series.

The new 471.11 Game Ready driver is available for download on the GeForce Experience app and via the links below for standalone installations. The release notes are here.

Desktop GPUs:

Download: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 | Windows 10 – Standard / DCH

Notebook GPUs:

Download: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 | Windows 10 - Standard / DCH

Nvidia 471.11 WHQL driver brings support for Doom Eternal ray tracing and more

AMD 21.6.1 driver drops support for Windows 7/8/8.1 and pre-Polaris GPUs

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:07:26 +0000

AMD 21.6.1 driver drops support for Windows 7/8/8.1 and pre-Polaris GPUs

AMD today released its first display driver update for the month of June in the form of the new Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.6.1 driver. The update is significant in both good and bad ways.

We start with the good news first which says the new Radeon Software 21.6.1 driver adds support for the company's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) image upscaling technology that also launches today as announced earlier by AMD.

AMD has stated that FSR support is coming to select titles today and while the company hasn't specified anything, it did show off Godfall at its Computex presentation running the FSR demos confirming at least one of the games. Besides Godfall, a report says that are six more games planned with FSR support at launch, and many more coming soon after. You can find all those details here.

In terms of game support, the driver is optimized for Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance which lands today on PC. Support for the recently launched RDNA 2-based RX 6800M laptop GPU has also been added. The driver however does not indicate support for the slightly cut down 6700M part even though they are built using the same chip.

Moving on to the list of fixes that the release brings, there are a few of them, to say the least. The annoyance caused by AMD's Cleanup utility also removing the chipset drivers, and such should finally be over to Radeon users as the problem has supposedly been fixed with this release.

Here's the full list of bug fixes:

Radeon FreeSync™ may intermittently become locked while on desktop after performing task switching between extended and primary displays upon closing a game, causing poor performance or stuttering.

Anno 1800™ may crash upon launching this game when running DirectX®12.

AMD cleanup utility may clean up chipset/RAID installer related folders/registries from the system.

Some Radeon Graphics products may experience lower than expected performance in Destiny 2™ when compared to previous Radeon Software versions.

Upon joining the AMD User Experience Program, the AMD User Experience Program Master service may have higher than expected CPU utilization.

Enabling Ray Tracing while running Ring of Elysium™ on DirectX®12 may cause this game to crash.

And here are those issues that still remain:

Resident Evil Village™ may experience an intermittent application hang or TDR on AMD Radeon VII graphics products in the first mission of the game.

Enhanced Sync may cause a black screen to occur when enabled on some games and system configurations. Any users who may be experiencing issues with Enhanced Sync enabled should disable it as a temporary workaround.

Connecting two displays with large differences in resolution/refresh rates may cause flickering on Radeon RX Vega series graphics products.

An Oculus service error may be received on Radeon RX 5000 & 6000 series graphics products which prevents the Oculus Link setup software from running.

Radeon performance metrics and logging features may intermittently report extremely high and incorrect memory clock values.

If Ryzen Master is not detected in Adrenalin software after installation, a system restart may be required.

If Blue or Black screen is observed in mobile systems, temporarily disable Enhanced sign-in

A driver mismatch error may appear when two versions of Radeon software (Windows Store & AMD Support versions) are installed on your system. As a temporary workaround, launch the Windows Store version of Radeon software.

AMD is investigating an issue that may cause a small impact to battery life on AMD Ryzen 5000 notebooks.

A Blue or Black screen may be observed after updating to the latest Radeon Software. A workaround is to disable core isolation.

AMD is investigating a D3 error code that may be seen in some motherboard after updating to the latest Radeon Software.

Lower than expected performance may be observed on select AMD Athlon™ mobile systems.

There's also a problem persisting with AMD Link for Windows:

Intermittent grey frame corruption might be observed when streaming with HEVC on certain configurations via an Internet connection. A workaround is to use the AVC encoding setting instead.

Compatibility-wise however there is a major shift with this driver compared to earlier releases and a lot of Radeon users who run older setups will be affected. The 21.6.1 driver ends support for Windows 8.1 and earlier versions of Windows, and also won't be supporting pre-Polaris cards. This means the driver is only compatible with Windows 10 64-bit OS and Radeon RX 400 series or newer graphics cards. The move is similar to what Nvidia pulled for pre-Windows 10 and also with its legacy 700 series Kepler GPUs.

So if you have a compatible setup and wish to download the Radeon Software 21.6.1 driver, head over to the official release notes page here.

AMD 21.6.1 driver drops support for Windows 7/8/8.1 and pre-Polaris GPUs