Canary build Archives

Winsage

June 19, 2025

Microsoft Drops New Windows 11 Builds for Canary and Release Preview Testers

Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 preview builds for Insiders on the Canary and Release Preview Channels. The Canary build 27881 includes features such as: - Speech recap in Narrator for monitoring spoken content and live transcriptions. - A profanity filter setting for voice typing that can be disabled. - A redesigned needy state pill UI for taskbar icons. - An accessibility flyout in quick settings categorized by assistive technology types. - Enhanced Windows Share allowing image editing and sharing through the context menu. - A new FAQs section in Settings addressing common system questions. - Updated touch input visual design with "animating bubbles." ISOs for the Canary build 27881 are available for clean installs, and an updated Snipping Tool with GIF export is accessible for Insiders. The Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.4482 for the Release Preview Channel includes: - An option for the taskbar to automatically resize icons. - Enhanced Windows Share with visual previews and three image compression levels. - A Screen Curtain feature in Narrator for privacy. - A settings homepage tailored for managed PCs with enterprise features. - Updated app defaults in the EEA for selecting new default browsers. - A new PC-to-PC migration experience for transferring files and settings during setup. Additionally, Microsoft has released the Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.5548, which addresses issues from a previous build, and Windows 10 Insiders can access build 19045.6033 to rectify issues from an earlier release.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

You Might Have Just a Few Months to Use Android Instant Apps

Google will discontinue its Instant Apps feature for Android by the end of 2025 due to limited adoption and usage. Support for Instant Apps will cease in December 2025, including the discontinuation of publishing capabilities and associated Google Play Instant APIs. Tooling support within Android Studio will also be removed. The feature, which debuted in 2017, allowed users to run lightweight versions of applications without installation. Users needed to enable the feature through Google Play to access app-like interfaces instantly when tapping links.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Another Day, Another Google Feature Bites the Dust

Google will discontinue Instant Apps in December 2025. Instant Apps, introduced in 2017, allowed users to access parts of an app without full installation but struggled to gain popularity due to limitations on developers, such as a 15 MB size cap for streamlined versions. The announcement of the discontinuation was made indirectly through a notice in Android Studio, rather than a formal blog post.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Google Play Store to Drop Android Instant Apps in December 2025

The Google Play Store will phase out support for Android Instant apps, with official support concluding in December 2025. This includes the removal of publishing and all Google Play Instant APIs, as well as tooling support in Android Studio. Consumer interest in Instant apps has decreased, leading Google to focus on other app discovery tools.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Google to Shut Down Android Instant Apps by December 2025

Google has announced it will phase out Android Instant Apps by December 2025. Launched in 2017, Instant Apps allowed users to access parts of applications without full installation but struggled with developer adoption due to technical limitations and a maximum size constraint of 15MB. Participation was limited, with few developers like Vimeo and Wish adopting the feature. The shutdown was revealed in the latest Android Studio canary build, which indicated that all Google Play Instant APIs and publishing capabilities will be discontinued by the end of the year. There has been minimal investment in Instant Apps over recent years, leading to a decline in user interest and signaling the feature's end. Google is expected to focus on enhancing web-based app discovery and developing alternatives similar to Play Store App Clips.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Google is killing Android Instant Apps, but you probably won’t miss them

Google's Android Instant Apps feature will be discontinued by December 2025 due to limited adoption among developers. Launched in 2016, it allowed users to access parts of mobile applications without full installation. However, developers faced challenges in creating lightweight app versions, leading to its limited implementation. A notice in the latest canary build of Android Studio confirmed that support for Instant Apps will be removed, with all related Google Play Instant APIs ceasing to function. Further details are expected to be released soon. The impact on users is anticipated to be minimal.

Winsage

May 26, 2025

Windows 11 gets quantum-hardened cryptography technology

Microsoft has integrated post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into Windows 11, starting with the Canary build 27852, to protect against quantum computer threats. The upgrade to SymCrypt, Microsoft's cryptographic library, now supports two PQC algorithms: ML-KEM and ML-DSA. This enhancement aims to improve security, performance, and compatibility across platforms. PQC is also being adopted in industry standards such as TLS, SSH, and IPSec. SymCrypt underpins various Microsoft services and operating systems, including Microsoft 365, Azure, and Windows 11. Microsoft is preparing its ecosystem for future quantum attacks, with PQC currently trialed in Windows 11 and expected to reach Linux soon. There are no specific timelines for updates to BitLocker. Recent research demonstrated a D-Wave quantum computer's ability to crack military-grade encryption, highlighting the increasing threat of quantum computing to classical cryptography.

Winsage

May 12, 2025

Windows Insider release blocked by OS-busting bug

The Windows team at Microsoft has discovered a significant bug affecting the Canary build, which has led to the delay of several Insider builds. This bug impacts essential functionalities such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, USB accessory connections, and the onboard camera for Windows Hello. Brandon LeBlanc from the Windows Insider program described the bug as "really bad" and noted that it arose from a specific code change in newer builds not yet released to Insiders. Microsoft is currently working on a fix and hopes to deliver a new build to the Canary channel by the end of the week. The situation emphasizes the company's focus on quality control to prevent flawed releases from reaching users.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

I tried the Windows Snipping Tool’s new text extraction feature and here’s how it went

A recent update to the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 has introduced an OCR feature, currently available only to beta channel users. This feature allows users to extract text from images and standard web pages easily, with a straightforward activation process. Users can draw a box around the desired text, and once recognized, a button appears to copy the text to the clipboard. The tool successfully retains formatting when extracting text from web pages. It performs well with clear printed text in images but struggles with handwritten text, producing numerous errors. The Snipping Tool is effective for recognizing simple fonts, enhancing productivity in text extraction.

Winsage

March 7, 2025

Windows 11 Canary build 27808 is out with better CPU monitoring in Task Manager and more

Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel can download build 27808, which includes enhancements to CPU monitoring in Task Manager and various fixes for gaming, printing, search, graphics, BitLocker, and more. Notable updates include a change in how Task Manager calculates CPU utilization, aligning it with industry standards, and the introduction of an optional CPU Utility column on the Details tab. Fixes include: - Resolved a bug causing games like Roblox to crash upon launch. - Corrected a printing issue that triggered crashes in certain applications. - Fixed a glitch resulting in a blank search window in the taskbar. - Addressed a crash issue in Settings when adding a color profile. - Rectified inaccurate color displays in the battery icon. - Improved performance for loading BitLocker UI elements and fixed a looping issue with BitLocker. - Resolved an error with the Get-BitLockerVolume command. Known bugs include issues with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for users transitioning from other channels, and ongoing investigations into a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches.