ARM architecture Archives

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Windows-on-Arm woes: Amazon warns customers about Surface laptop returns

Qualcomm and Microsoft are enhancing the Windows-on-Arm ecosystem, highlighted during the Microsoft Build event in May 2024. The Surface brand laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors received positive feedback for performance and battery life. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition) has been flagged by Amazon as a "frequently returned item," prompting buyers to check reviews. Customer feedback indicates that app compatibility issues are a primary reason for the returns. Intel's interim Co-CEO suggested that devices with Snapdragon chips are returned at higher rates due to unmet functionality expectations. Despite this, the market for Windows-on-Arm systems remains strong, with major manufacturers adopting Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. Other Snapdragon-powered devices, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, have not faced similar return warnings. The Surface Laptop may have higher return rates due to its popularity and specific shortcomings noted in reviews, such as display quality and keyboard comfort. Microsoft also offers Intel versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, which may confuse consumers. Qualcomm and Microsoft are working with developers to improve software support for Windows-on-Arm, with notable applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop now available. Challenges remain, including Qualcomm's discontinuation of its Snapdragon Developer Kit for Windows and limited native support for some applications. Users with specialized needs may prefer traditional x86 Windows versions. Qualcomm plans to unveil its second generation of Snapdragon X processors in late 2025.

Winsage

March 22, 2025

Amazon flags Surface Laptop 7 as a frequently returned item — warns buyers to check reviews first

The Surface Laptop 7 has been labeled as a frequently returned item on Amazon, indicated by a yellow warning beneath the product description. This designation suggests a higher-than-average return rate, although the reasons for these returns are not specified. The warning applies to specific hardware configurations of the device, potentially impacting Microsoft's reputation. The laptop has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 360 reviews, with 71% being five stars and 12% one star, indicating mixed user satisfaction. In contrast, no configurations of the Surface Pro 11 have been marked as frequently returned. The label is assigned to items with the highest return rates in their category, reflecting current market challenges for the Surface Laptop 7. The recent introduction of an Intel-powered version may be affecting interest in the Snapdragon X models.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

How to easily run Windows apps on Linux with Wine

Many users are exploring alternatives to Windows 10 as support for it ends, with Linux becoming a popular choice. Wine is a compatibility layer that allows Windows applications to run on Linux, although not all applications are compatible. A searchable database exists for users to check compatibility. The latest Wine release includes enhanced API compatibility, bug fixes for DirectX, improved graphics rendering, support for ARM architecture, new debugging tools, and multi-touch functionality. To install a Windows application on Linux using Wine, users must have a Linux distribution and sudo privileges. The process involves downloading the Windows installer, using terminal commands to run it, and potentially installing 32-bit support. Winetricks can simplify the installation of Windows applications through a GUI. Some applications may require additional configuration, especially games.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

Mythbusters: Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm

Advantech's infographic addresses myths about Microsoft Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm, distinguishing it from Windows Home or Professional editions. Myths about the operating system include: 1. Windows on Arm consumes significant power and resources, leading to poor performance. 2. The image size of Windows on Arm is greater than or equal to that of Windows on x86. 3. Desktop mode is unavailable on Windows on Arm. 4. Windows on Arm is a stripped-down version of Windows. 5. Arm architecture may face limitations with complex tasks. 6. All Windows devices are power-hungry, and switching to Arm offers no improvement. Key facts include: - Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC typically occupies about 6GB of storage, with a minimum requirement of 16GB. - Desktop mode is available on Windows on Arm. - Windows on Arm retains core functionalities, though some hardware drivers may have compatibility issues. - Arm processors are generally more efficient than x86 counterparts. Myths regarding applications and workload include: 7. Windows on Arm exclusively supports Arm64 applications. 8. Multimedia applications perform poorly on Windows on Arm devices. 9. Windows Copilot can be extended to all versions of Windows running on Arm. Key facts include: - An emulation system allows x86 applications to run on Arm hardware. - Multimedia performance depends on hardware acceleration, which is supported by major SoC manufacturers. - Cloud-based services like Windows Copilot operate effectively on Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm, but on-device Copilot+ requires specific hardware capabilities. Myths about licensing and development include: 10. The Windows license fee for x86 is expensive, and the fee for Windows on Arm is similarly high. 11. Windows on Arm has limited support for certain Windows frameworks. 12. Development and debugging on Windows for Arm architecture present challenges requiring extended transition periods. Key facts include: - Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC is priced between 0 and 0, offering a decade of security updates. - Transitioning from x86 to Arm for application development is streamlined, with common programming languages and frameworks remaining compatible. Tools like Visual Studio facilitate the development process.

BetaBeacon

December 16, 2024

BlueStacks Air is a new Android emulator that natively runs mobile games on Mac

BlueStacks Systems has released BlueStacks Air, a specialized version of the BlueStacks App Player emulator designed for Apple Silicon-powered Mac devices. This new emulator is optimized for Apple's M-series chips, promising swift performance and responsive gameplay for an authentic Android gaming experience on Mac.

Winsage

December 10, 2024

Windows Recall finally opens its doors to Intel and AMD with latest preview

Microsoft has expanded the Windows Recall preview to include a wider range of Copilot+ PCs, allowing users of Intel and AMD processors to access advanced features such as Recall, Click To Do, and Image Generation. Previously, only Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs had access to these features. Click To Do enables users to analyze content on their screens by pressing the Windows key and clicking the mouse, similar to Google’s Circle Search. Some advanced capabilities of Click To Do remain exclusive to Snapdragon X PCs. Intelligent text generation is currently available only on Arm architecture, but Intel and AMD users will gain access soon. The rollout of these features beyond the Insider Program is expected as early as early 2025, with February or March being likely timeframes.

Winsage

December 10, 2024

Renegade Project turns your Arm-powered smartphone into a Windows 11 PC

Microsoft has stepped away from the mobile arena, but a community is exploring running Windows on smartphones. It is now possible to install Windows 11 on select modern smartphones with Arm architecture through the Renegade Project, which provides specialized UEFI firmware for devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs. This firmware allows users to switch between various operating systems, including Windows. The installation process is complex and requires specific tools and configurations. Supported devices include the Nokia Lumia 950, 950 XL, Surface Duo, and Duo 2. A Reddit user successfully installed Windows 11 on a Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro, experiencing some touchscreen glitches but overall smooth performance. However, drawbacks include poor battery life of about 2.5 hours, lack of fast-charging support, and overheating issues. Microsoft’s last mobile OS, Windows 10 Mobile, was released in 2015, with official support ending on January 14, 2020.

Winsage

December 3, 2024

Microsoft’s claim that Arm-based Copilot+ PCs are “fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs” is debunked on X – and the community’s verdict isn’t wrong

Microsoft claimed its Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs are the “fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs.” However, fact-checkers disputed the speed claim, noting that these devices are outperformed by high-performance desktop PCs and even laptops with Intel or AMD chipsets. Additionally, Arm-based CPUs, like the Snapdragon X Elite, face compatibility issues with gaming. The intelligence claim refers to AI features like improved video calls and live captions, which are not exclusive to Arm-based devices, as x86-powered Copilot+ laptops also benefit from these advancements.

Winsage

November 27, 2024

AI PCs aren’t driving sales — The need to upgrade from Windows 10 drove 2025 laptop sales

The global laptop market is expected to grow by 4.9% in 2024, reaching a total of 183 million units, driven by improved political and economic conditions in the U.S. and the end-of-life for Windows 10. AI-powered laptops are projected to gradually penetrate the market, although their current impact is limited. Shipments are anticipated to increase by 3.9% to 174 million units by year-end 2024, with consumer demand primarily boosted by promotional activities for entry-level models. Chromebook sales are forecasted to rise by 8% due to Japan's GIGA School 2.0 initiative. However, uncertainty remains regarding potential tariffs under a Trump presidency, which could affect demand in the U.S. market, as East Asian countries produce about 89% of global laptops.

Winsage

November 20, 2024

Google Drive for Windows gets ARM support in beta for Snapdragon laptops and more

The Google Drive app for Windows has launched its beta version, now supporting ARM architecture for the first time. This version includes native ARM64 binaries, providing the same functionality as on other platforms, except for the unavailable Outlook Meet plugin. Users are advised to use this beta version with non-production data only, as it may contain bugs. This release follows previous hints of ARM support and coincides with the expansion of Quick Share for Windows to ARM devices.