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Winsage

August 21, 2025

Microsoft quietly updated Windows 10 — here’s what’s new in 2025

Microsoft has continued to enhance Windows 10 with cumulative updates since the release of version 22H2 in October 2022. Notable updates include: 1. A redesigned "About" page in the Settings app that displays key technical specifications and includes a FAQ section. 2. Introduction of a System Components page that consolidates essential OS components. 3. Relocation of the Optional features page for better accessibility. 4. A new Manage devices feature that enhances connectivity with mobile devices. 5. Updates to the Taskbar Calendar, including the display of seconds and expanded calendar views. 6. Enhancements to the Windows Backup app that allow file transfer to a new PC during setup. 7. Updates to the File Explorer context menu, including an Ask Copilot option. 8. Redesign of icons on the Settings home page to feature solid colors. 9. Improvements to Windows Search for European users, allowing changes to the default web search provider. 10. Changes to the default browser configuration process for European users, allowing broader link types and the option to uninstall Microsoft Edge. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, with an option for users to enroll in the Extended Security Update program until October 2026.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Microsoft Stock Gains as Edge Promotes Over Chrome Browser Use

Microsoft's stock price has risen on the Nasdaq exchange as the company encourages users to switch from Google's Chrome browser to its Edge browser. On Tuesday, shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) saw a modest increase as the company reiterated its recommendation for Windows users to abandon Chrome, promoting Edge as a more secure alternative. Users attempting to close Chrome receive a notification encouraging them to switch to Edge. Chrome users outnumber Edge users by a ratio of approximately six to one. In the latest pre-release version of Edge, new flags prompt users to pin Edge to their taskbar and make it their default browser if Chrome usage exceeds 90%. Microsoft is also transitioning users from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and is facing criticism and a class action lawsuit regarding the discontinuation of security support for Windows 10. Despite these challenges, Microsoft continues to support popular gaming titles and maintains a "Strong Buy" consensus rating from analysts, with a 26.03% increase in share price over the past year and an average price target indicating an 18% upside potential.

Winsage

July 31, 2025

Opera complains over Microsoft Edge persuasion tactics

Opera has filed a complaint with Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) against Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive practices that favor the Edge browser. The complaint claims that Microsoft uses "all-or-nothing" bundled rebates to ensure PC manufacturers pre-install Edge as the default browser and employs "dark pattern tactics" that disregard users' browser choices and restrict switching from Edge in Windows "S mode." In Brazil, Opera's market share is 6.78%, compared to Edge's 11.52% and Chrome's 74.95%. Opera's General Counsel, Aaron McParlan, advocates for a browser choice screen similar to one previously mandated by the EU. Additionally, Opera has filed an appeal with the EU General Court regarding the European Commission's decision not to classify Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. Microsoft has not yet commented on the complaint.

Winsage

July 31, 2025

Opera Accuses Microsoft Of Dirty Tactics To Thwart Competition In Browser Wars

Opera has lodged a formal complaint against Microsoft with Brazil's anti-trust authority, CADE, alleging unfair practices that favor Microsoft's Edge browser over competitors. The complaint claims Microsoft influences PC manufacturers to pre-install Edge as the default browser and employs "manipulative design tactics" that make it difficult for users to switch to other browsers. Opera highlights issues such as intrusive banners discouraging downloads of alternative browsers and automatic redirection to Edge for PDFs and email links. Opera is urging regulators to stop these practices and implement a fair browser selection screen. Previous attempts to classify Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act were unsuccessful.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Opera Files Antitrust Complaint Against Microsoft in Brazil Over Browser Practices

Opera has filed a formal antitrust complaint against Microsoft with Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), alleging that Microsoft uses its dominant position in the operating system market to unfairly promote Microsoft Edge. The complaint claims that pre-installing Edge on Windows devices prevents rival browsers from gaining preinstallation opportunities, creating an uneven competitive landscape. Opera also criticizes Microsoft for employing user interface design tactics, referred to as "dark patterns," that discourage users from downloading alternative browsers. Additionally, Opera highlights persistent prompts in Windows 11 that encourage users to adopt Edge, infringing on user autonomy. Opera is urging CADE to investigate Microsoft’s practices and has previously filed a lawsuit against the European Commission regarding the Digital Markets Act exemption for Edge. Microsoft has announced changes in response to regulatory scrutiny but Opera believes more comprehensive measures are needed globally.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Opera throws Microsoft to Brazil’s watchdogs for promoting Edge as your default browser — “Microsoft thwarts‬‭ browser‬‭ competition‬‭‬‭ at‬‭ every‬‭ turn”

A 2024 report commissioned by Mozilla alleges that Microsoft employs misleading user interfaces and advertising tactics to promote its Edge browser, disadvantaging third-party browsers like Firefox. Mozilla has called for regulatory intervention against these practices. The European Commission designated Microsoft's services—Bing, Windows, LinkedIn, and Edge—as "gatekeeper services" in 2024, giving Microsoft six months to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) or face fines. Microsoft contends that Edge and Bing do not qualify as gatekeepers and were exempted from DMA regulation after an investigation. Opera has filed a complaint against Microsoft in the EU Courts, which may prompt a reevaluation of Edge’s status under the DMA. In response to regulatory changes, Microsoft announced measures in June to align Windows 11 with DMA requirements, including reducing the emphasis on its own applications like Edge.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Opera files complaint against Microsoft’s tricks to make you use Edge

Opera has filed a complaint against Microsoft in Brazil, accusing the company of using "manipulative design tactics" to dominate the browser market and hinder competition. Opera's general counsel, Aaron McParlan, stated that Microsoft creates barriers for other browsers, such as excluding them from preinstallation opportunities and complicating the download process. The complaint highlights Microsoft's practices of overriding users' default browser preferences and using Windows features to promote Edge. Opera seeks remedies to allow PC manufacturers to preload alternative browsers and stop blocking downloads. Additionally, the complaint criticizes Microsoft's requirement for OEMs to deliver devices in S mode to receive rebates on Windows OS licenses. This action is part of Opera's broader strategy to challenge Microsoft's practices globally, including an appeal to EU courts regarding the classification of Edge under the Digital Markets Act. Opera has a history of raising concerns about Microsoft's browser practices, including a 2007 antitrust complaint that led to the creation of a browser ballot screen.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Revamped Task Manager, second-monitor notifications coming soon to Windows 11

Microsoft is rolling out its Copilot+ features, primarily for PCs with Intel and AMD processors, which receive updates later than Qualcomm Snapdragon+ devices. The new "agent-powered search" feature allows users to ask natural-language questions to simplify the Settings app. This functionality is supported by a neural processing unit (NPU) that processes information locally for improved speed and privacy. A tutorial for the "Click to Do" feature has also been introduced, providing action suggestions based on on-screen content. The "Second Chance Out of Box Experience" (SCOOBE) window has received negative feedback for being intrusive, prompting users to enroll in Windows Backup and switch to Microsoft Edge. Users can disable the SCOOBE screen by adjusting settings in the Notifications section. These features are being introduced across the Dev and Beta channels of the Windows Insider program, with a public release expected soon. Additionally, Microsoft is preparing for the Windows 11 25H2 update, which will introduce more features currently being deployed to version 24H2 devices.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Microsoft trials redesigned Windows 11 Widgets Board with new Copilot Discover feed — AI curated stories right on your desktop

Microsoft is piloting a new widgets panel for Windows 11 called Copilot Discover, which replaces the traditional MSN feed with a personalized AI-curated experience. The updated design enhances speed, reduces lag, and presents stories in a less cluttered format with improved readability. A new Notifications button at the top of the feed provides essential updates, and users can customize these notifications. Microsoft is testing a feature that allows users to read stories directly within the widgets panel instead of being redirected to a browser. The layout separates widgets from the main feed, with a dedicated tab for widgets and a fixed weather widget on the main page. The widgets panel can no longer be viewed in full-screen mode and appears as a narrow slide-out feature. The Copilot Discover feed is currently in testing with a select group of users, with a broader rollout expected if feedback is positive.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

Windows 11 Build 27898 introduces taskbar icon scaling and system recovery improvements

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898 to the Canary Channel, introducing several new features aimed at enhancing usability and recovery. Key features include: - Taskbar Icon Scaling: The taskbar will automatically reduce icon sizes when it reaches capacity, with three customizable options for users regarding icon size. - Quick Machine Recovery: This feature allows automatic recovery from boot issues using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), connecting to the internet for targeted fixes from Windows Update. - Accessibility Enhancements: Users can add custom words to the voice access dictionary, and a new Screen Curtain feature for the Narrator screen reader enhances privacy by blacking out the display. - Energy Saver Feature: An adaptive energy saver mode is being rolled out for battery-powered devices, managing energy saver settings based on power state and system load. - Sharing Features: The Windows share window now shows visual previews of shared content and allows users to select compression settings for images. - Performance Improvements: Enhancements have been made to file extraction for large archives, and the Snipping Tool now has a shortcut for launching the text extractor. - Default Browser Management: Users can set their default browser to handle PDFs and pin it to the Start menu and taskbar. The build also addresses various issues within File Explorer and Settings, although some known problems remain, such as display distortion in Remote Desktop on Arm64 PCs.