AYANEO has paused its Kickstarter campaign for the Pocket Play smartphone as part of its "Service Improvement Plan" to address community complaints about unfulfilled orders and delays.
CES showcased significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into the Windows ecosystem, with various companies unveiling new products. Acer introduced the Copilot+ PCs, including the Swift 16 AI laptop with a haptic touchpad and Predator Helios Neo 16S AI gaming laptop. ASUS launched the Zenbook DUO, featuring dual OLED touchscreens, and the ROG Zephyrus Duo, a dual-screen gaming laptop. Dell refreshed its XPS brand with new laptops and monitors, while HP presented the EliteBook X G2 Series and the EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC. Lenovo revealed several new Copilot+ PCs, and Samsung introduced the Galaxy Book6 series. AMD and Intel announced new processor lines, with AMD's Ryzen AI 400 Mobile Series and Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon X2 Plus for enhanced AI experiences in PCs.
The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.
Microsoft is set to launch Windows 11 version 26H1, designed specifically for PCs using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 platform. ASUS will pre-install version 26H1 on its upcoming ZenBook A14 and A16 models. In contrast, the ZenBook S14 and S16, featuring Intel and AMD processors, will come with version 25H2. Version 26H1 is built on a new platform called Bromine, offering performance and stability enhancements not present in version 25H2, which is based on the previous version 24H2. The Windows Insider Program allows users to install version 26H1 on any compatible PC, though the changes are mainly foundational.
Playing PC games on an Android device using GameHub and GameNative is legal and does not involve questionable workarounds. Game emulation for older systems and retro consoles is different and may have legality issues. GameHub and GameNative are recommended methods for playing games on Android, with GameHub being the best all-rounder. Tweaking settings may be necessary for optimal performance. Android handhelds have advantages over x86 gaming handhelds but may not be a proper replacement yet. The future for PC gaming on Android looks promising as more development is being done in this area.
Qualcomm will start shipping new PCs with the Snapdragon X2 chipset by April 2026. This coincides with Microsoft testing Windows 11 26H1, which is designed for these new CPUs and will only be available on new Arm64 PCs. Windows 11 26H1 is not an update for existing PCs and will not be accessible to Intel or AMD users. Since November 2025, Windows Insiders have been testing this version, which is based on a platform release codenamed ‘Bromine’ and includes support for Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme models. Microsoft has stated that 26H1 is aimed at supporting new processors and may involve changes to power states and scheduling. The build number for this version is 28000, and while there are minor user interface improvements, significant changes are expected in the upcoming Windows 11 26H2 release, anticipated for October 2026.
In 2026, Amazon is offering a 16% discount on the Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch laptop, reducing its price to .99 from the original .99. The laptop features a Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core) processor, 16GB of RAM, a 12-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 2196x1464, a refresh rate of 90Hz, and a brightness of 400 nits. It has 512GB of storage, a battery life averaging around 16 hours, and supports Windows on ARM. Additionally, a 256GB version is available for .99, down from .99, with various color options for the 512GB model.
- Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption was released on mobile in 2025, including the original story campaign and Undead Nightmare expansion, priced at .99 or available through a Netflix subscription.
- Subnautica also transitioned to mobile, offering a survival adventure set on an alien oceanic planet, optimized for touch controls and supporting controllers, priced at .99.
- Persona 5: The Phantom X delivered a mobile-specific RPG experience with gacha mechanics and turn-based combat, maintaining ties to the original Persona 5 storyline, and offering free-to-play mechanics.
- Where Winds Meet is an open-world wuxia title on mobile with demanding hardware requirements, featuring cross-progression support and light monetization.
- DREDGE brought its Eldritch fishing simulation to mobile, included in Google Play Pass for subscribers, priced at .99.
- Cassette Beasts is a premium turn-based RPG inspired by Pokémon on mobile, offering cassette monster collection and combat, priced at .99.
- Destiny: Rising brought the FPS MMO experience to mobile for free, with typical NetEase monetization strategies.
- Enter the Gungeon and Exit the Gungeon were released on mobile simultaneously, offering bullet hell and platforming gameplay with touchscreen and controller support.
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown combined platforming and Metroidvania elements in a 2.5D action-adventure on mobile, offering offline play and full controller support.
Microsoft is transitioning its Windows operating system to an "AI-native" platform, embedding AI capabilities directly into the Windows kernel, marking a significant architectural shift not seen in three decades. This new approach, called the "Agentic OS," allows AI to manage files, system settings, and workflows proactively. The updated kernel, partially rewritten in Rust, includes a new NPU-aware scheduler that treats the Neural Processing Unit as a primary resource. Microsoft has introduced "Agent Workspace" and "Agent Accounts" for autonomous agents, ensuring actions are logged and audited for compliance. Communication between agents and the system is facilitated by the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Hardware requirements for the new OS have increased, with benchmarks set for NPUs achieving 80 to 100 TOPS. Major PC manufacturers are adjusting their portfolios to accommodate "Agentic PCs." The competitive landscape is evolving, with companies like Alphabet and Apple developing their own AI-native platforms. The introduction of the AI-native kernel raises privacy and security concerns, with Microsoft implementing measures to restrict third-party access to the kernel. Future updates may include "self-healing" capabilities and "Cross-Device Agency," leading to a more integrated personal AI experience.
- Red Dead Redemption is a popular open-world action game set in the Wild West that can now be played on smartphones.
- The Android release includes the full game and the Undead Nightmare expansion, and is available for free with a Netflix subscription.
