NewApp Digest
search bot

Future of Windows

Microsoft will intentionally slow OneNote for Windows 10, so you ditch it faster
Winsage
March 24, 2025

Microsoft will intentionally slow OneNote for Windows 10, so you ditch it faster

Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of "OneNote for Windows 10," encouraging users to transition to the new OneNote app designed for Windows 11. The legacy app will have its sync speed throttled starting in June 2025, with end of support set for October 2025. Microsoft has removed the older app from the Microsoft Store and advised enterprise customers to switch to the new version available through the Microsoft Store or a Microsoft 365 subscription. Users of the legacy app will receive prompts to migrate to the modern OneNote by July 2025. The new version offers enhanced security, AI capabilities, and improved performance but lacks some features of the legacy app.
Xbox Gaming Handheld details emerge as millions of soon-to-be stuck Windows 10 PCs get an unlikely savior in ChromeOS and Microsoft prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary
Winsage
March 16, 2025

Xbox Gaming Handheld details emerge as millions of soon-to-be stuck Windows 10 PCs get an unlikely savior in ChromeOS and Microsoft prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary

An upcoming Xbox gaming handheld, known as "Project Kennan," is being developed through a collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft. This device will run PC games but will not support exclusive Xbox console titles. Users will have access to a wide range of games through services like Xbox Play Anywhere, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. As Windows 11 enforces strict hardware requirements, many PCs will remain on Windows 10, prompting Google to enhance ChromeOS for Microsoft 365 compatibility, potentially attracting users to Chromebooks or allowing them to convert their existing Windows PCs to ChromeOS. Microsoft has integrated Copilot into GroupMe to enhance the messaging experience, aiming to revitalize the app among college students. This announcement coincides with Microsoft's plans to phase out Skype. Microsoft's 50th anniversary event is scheduled for April 4, 2025, where new AI and Copilot announcements are expected, although significant product launches may be unlikely. Epic Games and Qualcomm are collaborating to enhance the Easy Anti-Cheat system for Snapdragon X PCs, improving gaming experiences on these devices. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has been reviewed and described as the "Surface Pro on steroids." Windows Central has identified deals, including a bundle with a free Meta Quest 3S and discounts on WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition.
AR OS 2 is everything we want Windows 12 to be -- and more
Winsage
February 5, 2025

AR OS 2 is everything we want Windows 12 to be — and more

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 with new AI functionalities but it still has a lower market share than Windows 10. There are no formal announcements about Windows 12, which is expected after Windows 10's retirement. AR OS 2 is a conceptual operating system designed by AR 4789, featuring an elegant design, extensive customization options, superior drag-and-drop capabilities, and an AI assistant called AR Interact. A video showcasing AR OS 2 is available for viewing.
I've been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything
Winsage
December 28, 2024

I’ve been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything

The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.
Why Windows 11 requires a TPM - and how to get around it
Winsage
December 20, 2024

Why Windows 11 requires a TPM – and how to get around it

Microsoft introduced a hardware compatibility requirement for Windows 11 in 2021, mandating the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 standard. A TPM is a secure cryptoprocessor designed to manage security-related tasks and encryption keys, enhancing system security by encrypting data, generating random numbers, and validating digital signatures. The TPM architecture is defined by the ISO/IEC 11889 standard. TPM can be integrated as a chip on a motherboard or within firmware, with major companies like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm adopting this technology. TPM 2.0 is essential for Windows security features, working with Secure Boot to ensure only trusted code is executed at startup and facilitating biometric authentication through Windows Hello. It also secures BitLocker keys, making unauthorized data access difficult. Most PCs manufactured from 2016 onwards include TPM 2.0 by default, while older systems may have limited TPM capabilities or adhere to the unsupported TPM 1.2 standard. Users can check their TPM status using the System Information tool. TPM functionality is not exclusive to Windows; it is also utilized in Linux PCs and IoT devices, while Apple devices use a different architecture called Secure Enclave. Windows 10 and 11 automatically initialize the TPM during installation, and users can upgrade to Windows 11 with any version of TPM through a registry modification.
Microsoft deprecates Suggested Actions in Windows 11
Winsage
December 14, 2024

Microsoft deprecates Suggested Actions in Windows 11

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Suggested Actions feature in Windows 11, as confirmed in their Deprecated Features list. This feature, which provided contextual suggestions based on copied text, was part of the Windows Insider Dev Channel for less than three years. Despite its intended purpose to enhance user efficiency, it struggled to gain traction and faced complaints regarding its functionality, particularly in recognizing phone numbers and causing unwanted pop-ups. Microsoft is shifting focus towards its Copilot initiative, an AI-driven assistant, while other elements of the Windows 11 interface, like the right-click menu, have been modified without facing similar retirement.
Microsoft kills hope old PCs will run Windows 11 as death of world's most popular OS nears
Winsage
December 5, 2024

Microsoft kills hope old PCs will run Windows 11 as death of world’s most popular OS nears

Microsoft has announced stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11, mandating TPM 2.0, which has barred many older systems from upgrading. This decision creates a divide between modern and outdated hardware and raises concerns for Windows 10 users, as support for that operating system will end in October 2025. Windows 11 has a slower adoption rate, with Windows 10 holding a 61.8% market share compared to Windows 11's 34.9%. The transition may result in approximately 240 million PCs being discarded, raising sustainability concerns. Microsoft is expected to increase promotions for Windows 11 within the Windows 10 interface to encourage upgrades.
Microsoft says having a TPM is "non-negotiable" for Windows 11
Winsage
December 5, 2024

Microsoft says having a TPM is “non-negotiable” for Windows 11

Microsoft requires TPM 2.0 support as a non-negotiable prerequisite for upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 to enhance security. TPM 2.0 is a specialized processor that provides hardware-based security functions, such as storing sensitive information securely. As of October 2023, over 61% of Windows systems globally still run Windows 10, while less than 35% have upgraded to Windows 11 since its launch in October 2021. Microsoft will offer an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for home users to postpone their upgrade to Windows 11 for an additional year, with enrollment opening closer to the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Specialized versions of Windows, like LTSB and LTSC, will continue to receive updates beyond this date. Windows 11 24H2 has begun rolling out to eligible devices running Windows 11, versions 22H2 and 23H2.
Microsoft reiterates that it will not lower Windows 11 requirements — A TPM 2.0 compatible CPU remains "non-negotiable" for all future Windows versions
Winsage
December 4, 2024

Microsoft reiterates that it will not lower Windows 11 requirements — A TPM 2.0 compatible CPU remains “non-negotiable” for all future Windows versions

Users with processors older than Intel's 8th Generation CPUs or AMD's Ryzen 2000 series will need to pay an annual fee for Extended Security Upgrades (ESUs) as Microsoft approaches the end of support for Windows 10. Windows 11 requires the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 for security, and PCs that do not meet this requirement will be ineligible for the new operating system. Currently, 61.82% of Windows desktop users are still on Windows 10. Users have options to either invest in new hardware, upgrade existing systems, pay for continued support, or consider switching to Linux.
Search