Release Preview Channel

Winsage
March 31, 2025
Microsoft has redesigned the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows, making it "more streamlined" and aligned with Windows 11 design principles. The new BSOD will not be blue; it has appeared green during testing and will transition to black upon public release. The familiar frowny-face emoticon has been removed, replaced by a message stating, "Your device ran into a problem, and needs to restart," along with a progress percentage and stop code details. Users can experience the new BSOD by enrolling in the Windows Insider program, specifically through the Canary, Dev, or Beta Channels, with the Beta channel recommended for a more stable experience.
Winsage
March 27, 2025
The transition to cloud-native endpoint management is changing Windows device management, particularly regarding Windows Update. IT administrators are increasingly relying on Windows Update services for security patches and features. Microsoft has introduced Windows Update for Business to give IT administrators better control over update policies through Group Policy or Mobile Device Management (MDM). Effective management requires understanding which policies to implement for specific desktops. The best approach for managing monthly updates is through servicing rings, which group Windows devices and assign specific update cadences and policies. This method allows controlled rollouts of updates, enabling administrators to prioritize stability and minimize disruption by testing updates on pilot groups before wider deployment. Windows Update for Business manages three update channels: the General Availability Channel for immediate feature updates, the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for stability-focused devices, and the Windows Insider Program for testing updates. Administrators can control these channels using specific Group Policy Object (GPO) settings. Two primary update release types are managed: quality updates, which are released monthly and can be deferred for up to 30 days, and feature updates, which are annual and can be deferred for up to 365 days. Administrators can pause the deployment of updates temporarily for up to 35 days. Driver updates are also managed through Windows Update, with options to include or exclude them in monthly quality updates. Optional updates, available monthly, can be controlled using specific GPO and MDM settings.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
The Photos app on Windows 11 is undergoing significant updates, currently available for Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Key features include Optical Character Recognition (OCR) supporting over 160 languages, allowing users to extract and search text from images. A new "Search in Web" function enables users to find online results for selected text. The update also introduces a Copilot button within the Photos app for image enhancement tips, insights, and framing suggestions. Additionally, new shortcuts in File Explorer provide direct access to AI editing and Visual Search, allowing users to create with Designer and erase unwanted elements. The app now supports JXL files and includes bug fixes for improved performance. Users can enable the "Show subfolders" option to view images and videos from subfolders in the Gallery.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
Microsoft Photos has received a significant update that enhances its capabilities, including improved Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the ability to conduct web searches for extracted text directly within the app. The update also integrates AI-driven photo editing tools, allowing users to start an AI editing session from the Windows context menu and introducing a new Copilot button with features such as photo editing tips, image insights, and framing suggestions. This update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders on Windows 11 and to Windows 10 users in the Release Preview Channel.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
Copilot+ PCs will receive an upgrade to the Windows Search feature, which uses AI and dedicated hardware for improved document, image, and settings search capabilities. This enhanced feature is currently exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel devices expected soon. The new search allows natural language queries and integrates semantic indexing, enabling users to find content without exact file names. Users can also search for cloud-stored photos using personalized phrases, with results from OneDrive. The improved Windows Search will be available through the Windows Insider Program by early 2025, with a consumer-focused AI event planned for April 4, 2025, where new features will be unveiled.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
The Microsoft Photos app is rolling out updates for Windows Insiders on Windows 11 and Windows 10 within the Release Preview Channel. Key enhancements include: - An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature that supports over 160 languages, allowing users to extract text from images and search the web for selected text. - New shortcuts in File Explorer for AI editing and Visual Search, enabling users to edit images and search for similar images directly from the desktop. - A "Show subfolders" option that allows images and videos from subfolders to appear in the Photos Gallery. - Introduction of a Copilot button in the Photos app for AI assistance, offering photo editing tips, image insights, and framing suggestions. - Support for JXL files and bug fixes for the Image Creator and Restyle Image features. Users should update to version 2025.11030.20006.0 or higher to access these features.
Winsage
March 21, 2025
Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 with new features, including: - A dynamic emoji panel button on the Taskbar that appears when typing in a text field. - A reintroduced gamepad keyboard for easier typing with a controller. - Customizable widgets on the lock screen through the Windows Settings app. - A real-time language translation feature for Intel and AMD-powered devices, translating over 44 languages into English during video calls. - A natural language feature in voice access for Snapdragon PCs. - Live captions and real-time translation capabilities for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. - Real-time translation support for Chinese (Simplified) on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. - A new Settings homepage for commercial customers with relevant cards for enterprise-managed PCs. - An overview of key PC specifications under Settings > System > About. - Natural Language Commanding in voice access for more fluid command issuance. - Voice access support for commands in Simplified and Traditional Chinese. - An icon in the system tray to enhance the discoverability of the emoji panel. - Adjustments to Task Manager's CPU utilization calculations and a new optional column for backward compatibility. - The ability for web developers to create dynamic and interactive widgets using existing web content. - Extended support for lock screen widgets in the European Economic Area (EEA). - A Gamepad keyboard layout for the touch keyboard for Xbox controller users. These features are currently being tested in the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, with a broader rollout expected in the coming weeks.
Winsage
March 19, 2025
Microsoft has rolled out an update to Windows 11, specifically Build 26100.3613, available on the Release Preview channel. The update enhances the Task Manager by revamping how CPU utilization is calculated and includes an optional column for the previous CPU value. It improves the Live Captions feature of Copilot+, allowing real-time translation of over 44 languages into English and plans to extend this to Simplified Chinese. New features include a redesigned Settings homepage for commercial customers, a gamepad keyboard layout for touch keyboards, and improved voice access with natural language commanding and Chinese language support. The update also addresses various system reliability issues, including fixes for ctfmon.exe, sleep and wake cycle bugs, and HDR content playback display issues.
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