Last week, a family trip to the beach in England unfolded under a steady downpour, yet the experience proved to be a delightful escape. Amidst the raindrops, a visit to a Sea Life center introduced my daughter to the mesmerizing world of jellyfish for the first time, while our dog enjoyed the sandy shores. During these moments, I found myself glancing at the Windows Central front page, intrigued by the latest developments in the tech world.
In an unexpected turn of events, Microsoft is reportedly working on a feature that allows users to move and resize the Windows 11 Taskbar—something that has been a long-standing request from the community. This change marks a significant shift, as the Taskbar was redesigned in Windows 11 without the flexibility users had enjoyed in previous iterations. The tech giant’s initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the Windows 11 experience by 2026, as shared by Senior Editor Zac Bowden. If all goes according to plan, users can anticipate this feature becoming available later this year.
The online reaction has been mixed, with some users humorously critiquing Microsoft for reinstating a feature that had been removed. One Reddit user quipped, “Oh good, crowing about bringing back standard features they arbitrarily ripped away. Should I get some balloons for the party?” This sentiment echoes a broader frustration among users who felt the removal of the option was unwarranted. However, the potential return of this feature is seen as a step in the right direction, signaling that Microsoft may be starting to heed user feedback. After all, embracing change is preferable to resisting improvement.
Weekly Windows Wrap: The Big News
In other news, Microsoft appears to be recalibrating its relationship with OpenAI. Reports indicate that the partnership has faced challenges, despite Microsoft’s substantial investment, which includes a 27% stake in OpenAI’s for-profit arm. Towards the end of last year, Microsoft restructured its agreement with OpenAI, allowing both companies greater freedom to collaborate with other tech entities.
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI Chief, discussed the company’s ambitions to develop its own foundation models in an interview with The Financial Times. While Microsoft intends to continue utilizing OpenAI’s models, Communications Chief Frank Shaw emphasized the importance of a multi-modal approach, stating that OpenAI plays a “huge role” in Microsoft’s strategy. This raises questions about the motivations behind Microsoft’s pursuit of its own models—if the partnership with OpenAI was thriving, would there be a need for such an endeavor?
Weekly Windows Wrap: How-to Guides
Sales on Windows 11 PCs
Typically, this section highlights an array of deals on Windows 11 PCs. However, with Presidents’ Day upon us, many of the best offers are currently fluctuating. Stock on discounted items is limited, and prices may shift throughout the day. Below are a few standout deals, but for a comprehensive overview, be sure to check our roundup of the best Presidents’ Day PC deals.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
