Visual Studio Archives

Winsage

August 23, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5761 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5761 (KB5064093) is being released to the Dev Channel. New features include the ability to resume apps from an Android phone on a Windows 11 PC, specifically for Spotify, which allows users to continue playback seamlessly. Users need to enable access to their phone and set up the Link to Windows app to use this feature. Improvements to battery iconography on the lock screen have been made. New features for Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs include a touch-friendly invocation method. The agent in Settings now provides direct navigation links from search results. Automatic Super Resolution settings have been simplified for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. A new keyboard shortcut has been introduced for inserting En dashes and Em dashes. The Windows share window now allows pinning favorite apps. Fixes include performance enhancements for loading the apps list in Settings, resolving Windows Hello recognition issues, and improving gaming performance with overlays. Known issues involve Recall functionality in the EEA, visibility of the Shared section in File Explorer, unresponsiveness in Storage settings, and issues with Xbox Controllers via Bluetooth. Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are rolled out gradually using Controlled Feature Rollout technology.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

For August, a ‘complex’ Patch Tuesday with 111 updates

Microsoft Exchange Server received five critical patches classified as important, necessitating immediate attention from IT professionals due to the active exploitation of CVE-2025-53786, which threatens hybrid Exchange environments, especially in government settings. Microsoft also released two updates for vulnerabilities CVE-2025-53772 and CVE-2025-53773 affecting Visual Studio and Microsoft’s Web Deploy tools. There were no new releases from Microsoft for Adobe products, and the only third-party updates noted were for Chromium.

Winsage

August 12, 2025

InstallAware Launches Setup Virtualization Technology “Project OS/3,” Running Windows Binaries Directly on Linux and macOS.

InstallAware Software has launched "Project OS/3," a solution that simplifies running Windows applications on Linux and macOS by using Wine. Users can install Wine through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) setup wizard, eliminating the need for command-line interactions. The installation process is initiated with a single click, and once Wine is set up, "Project OS/3" injects the Windows application along with necessary files and registry keys into the Wine instance, ensuring the application is operational with original shortcuts recreated on the host system. Developers can provide a Windows setup file, and the tool will create a ready-to-run native code installation for both Linux and macOS, addressing compatibility issues typically encountered with Wine. The ease of use is facilitated by InstallAware Studio Admin's PackageAware setup capture technology and InstallAware Multi Platform's native code setup engines, which automatically retarget captured Windows installations onto designated Wine instances. "Project OS/3" also offers a graphical method for installing Wine, providing a quicker alternative for compatible setups. InstallAware Software, founded in 2003, specializes in cloud infrastructure and enterprise software deployment, and offers InstallAware 2025 for free for open-source projects, with paid editions available.

Winsage

August 6, 2025

Available today: gpt-oss-20B Model on Windows with GPU Acceleration – further pushing the boundaries on the edge

OpenAI has launched its gpt-oss models for Windows devices, featuring GPU-optimized gpt-oss-20B model variants. These models enable local inference for developers, enhancing application development efficiency. The models can be accessed through platforms like Foundry Local and the AI Toolkit for Visual Studio Code (AITK).

Tech Optimizer

June 30, 2025

Supercharging AWS database development with AWS MCP servers

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) facilitates integration between AI systems and various data sources, including databases, APIs, and business applications. AWS has released open-source MCP servers for Amazon Aurora, Amazon DynamoDB, and Amazon ElastiCache to enhance developer productivity by allowing AI-assisted tools to access structured metadata. MCP standardizes connections between AI assistants and external environments, enabling intelligent suggestions and context-aware query assistance. Traditional development challenges include time spent on boilerplate queries and context switching between different database technologies, which MCP aims to alleviate. The MCP servers provide secure access to structured metadata and streamline the development process by integrating database context directly into development environments. Developers can utilize these servers to generate tests based on live metadata, monitor database performance, and troubleshoot issues efficiently. The MCP servers are available for local deployment using Docker and can be configured for various AWS database services.

Winsage

June 5, 2025

Microsoft is adding a simpler text editor than Notepad to Windows 11 soon

Microsoft is enhancing Notepad following the discontinuation of WordPad and is introducing a new text editor called Edit for Windows 11, which operates within the Command Prompt. Edit is a compact tool that resembles the classic MS-DOS Editor and has a contemporary interface similar to Visual Studio Code, occupying 230KB of disk space. Users can launch Edit by typing "edit" in the Command Prompt, allowing basic text file editing without advanced features like text formatting or AI summaries. Currently, files cannot be saved directly in Edit; users must copy text to other applications for finalization. Edit is in development and can only be accessed through manual installation from GitHub, with plans to make it the default text editor for command line use in the future.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft unveils “centralized” software update tool for Windows

Microsoft is developing a Windows-native update orchestration platform to improve the software updating experience for IT administrators and end-users. This platform aims to streamline the management of updates across various applications and components within the Windows ecosystem, reducing confusion caused by independent updates for different products. Currently in private preview, developers can access the platform through Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs and PowerShell commands by registering as update providers. The orchestrator will intelligently defer updates based on user activity and system performance, and it will automatically reschedule failed attempts. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing Windows Backup for Organizations to assist with the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11. This feature simplifies the backup and restoration of settings for Windows 10 and 11 devices. To use this functionality, devices must be Microsoft Entra hybrid joined or Microsoft Entra joined and running a supported version of Windows. The restore feature is compatible only with Microsoft Entra joined devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 and later. The Windows Backup for Organizations feature is currently in a limited public preview for select members of the Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program.

Winsage

May 24, 2025

Get A Trio Of Microsoft License Keys For As Low As $10 This Weekend

PC users can purchase Microsoft lifetime licenses at discounted prices during Memorial Day weekend through StackSocial, a Microsoft Verified Partner. Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 and Project Professional 2021 are available for a reduced price when using the promo code WINDOWS, which also applies to Windows 11 Home. The promo code is valid until May 27, and activation for Project and Windows 11 licenses must occur within 30 days, while Visio licenses must be redeemed within a week. Without the promo code, all three applications are still discounted, but using the code provides further savings. Visio and Project incur a handling fee, while Windows 11 Home does not. StackSocial is also offering discounts on Microsoft Office 2019, Visual Studio Professional 2022, and other licenses, all of which are lifetime licenses.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Can Microsoft Turn PC And Cloud Dominance Into AI Supremacy?

Microsoft is advancing an "agentic" future in enterprise computing by leveraging its strengths in Windows PCs and Azure cloud. At Build 2025, executives presented a vision of an "open agentic web" where intelligent software agents operate across devices and applications. Currently, 15 million developers use GitHub Copilot, and 90% of Fortune 500 firms have developed AI agents using Microsoft tools. GitHub Copilot is evolving into a proactive coding agent capable of performing complex development tasks autonomously. Azure AI Foundry is introduced as a unified environment for AI applications, hosting over 1,900 AI models and enabling enterprises to select optimal models for their needs. Windows is transforming into an AI platform with features like AI-driven shortcuts and local AI model access. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) and NLWeb are central to Microsoft's strategy, promoting openness and interoperability among AI agents. Copilot Tuning allows organizations to customize AI agents for specific business contexts, while Copilot Studio supports multi-agent orchestration. Microsoft's integrated AI approach contrasts with competitors like Google and Amazon, positioning it as a leader in providing comprehensive AI solutions.

Winsage

May 21, 2025

Windows 11 Introduces Enhanced Administrator Protection to Strengthen Security Against Elevated Privilege Attacks

Microsoft has launched Administrator Protection for Windows 11, a feature designed to enhance cybersecurity by preventing privilege escalation attacks. This feature creates a security boundary around administrative operations, reducing the attack surface for cybercriminals. It introduces a hidden, system-managed local user account that generates isolated admin tokens, preventing user-level malware from compromising elevated processes. Administrator Protection eliminates auto-elevation functionality, requiring users to explicitly authorize administrative actions. It utilizes a System Managed Administrator Account (SMAA) that generates non-persistent admin tokens for specific tasks, which are discarded after use. The feature is currently available to Windows Insiders in the Canary channel and will expand to the Dev channel, with broader deployment expected in the 24H2 release. Compatibility challenges may arise in complex development environments, such as with Visual Studio.