Windows app Archives

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

On this day: Microsoft’s 2016 Android‑Windows app port plan predicted today’s AI ecosystem

Microsoft has been working on bridging the gap between Android and Windows 10 for over a decade, initially encouraging developers to port applications and integrate notifications through Cortana. As of 2026, Microsoft's AI strategy continues to focus on cross-platform compatibility, evolving from earlier projects like Astoria and Cortana. Recently, Microsoft introduced a "request app" functionality in Windows 10 that allows users to suggest apps for the Windows Store directly from notifications on their Android smartphones. This feature was first identified by a Reddit user and directs users to a UserVoice page for app recommendations. Notification syncing between Android and Windows 10 is currently limited to Insider builds of 'Redstone', and the request feature has shown some inconsistencies.

Winsage

June 12, 2026

Microsoft tests Windows AI features on RTX GPUs, not just NPUs

Microsoft is expanding the availability of its Copilot+ features to users with Nvidia RTX GPUs, allowing older PCs to utilize advanced AI tools such as text summarization, image upscaling, and code generation. This change is facilitated by the experimental release of the Windows App SDK 2.2, which enables AI functionalities to run on dedicated Nvidia RTX GPUs. Features include text rewriting, editing, and advanced capabilities in the Microsoft Photos app. Users must download the experimental version of WinAppSDK 2.2, have an Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series GPU with at least 6GB of VRAM, and enable Developer Mode on their PC. This shift reflects a broader strategy to leverage local AI models while still using cloud resources, aiming to democratize access to AI capabilities across a wider range of devices.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Microsoft is bringing AI features to more Windows 11 PCs — just in case you were under the impression that AI was being cut back

Microsoft is testing a new feature that allows developers to implement local language models on non-Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11. The Language Model APIs can now operate on any Windows 11 device with a compatible Nvidia GPU, specifically targeting GeForce RTX 30 series and newer models with at least 6 GB of video RAM. This initiative aims to democratize access to AI capabilities across a broader range of Windows 11 PCs, although not all PCs will gain access to exclusive Copilot+ AI functionalities.

Winsage

June 9, 2026

Hybrid AI Agents, Orchestration, and the Real Reason Microsoft is Fixing Windows 11 ⭐

Over the past weekend, the author reviewed session videos from Build 2026, focusing on Windows 11. The sessions were categorized into three areas: Windows app development, developer productivity, and agentic AI. The introduction of hybrid agents, which combine local AI sub-agents, was a notable development. Microsoft's partnership with Qualcomm led to the launch of Windows 10 on Arm-based PCs branded as Always Connected PCs, which evolved into Copilot+ PCs with Nuvia-powered chips for Windows 11. The Copilot+ PCs emphasize on-device AI experiences through powerful neural processing units (NPUs). The introduction of second-generation Snapdragon X2-based PCs is underway, although adoption is slower than expected. Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 will integrate AI agents, including local AI agents and hybrid agents. The capabilities of local AI models are being enhanced, and Windows AI APIs will now support CPUs and GPUs. New Nvidia chipsets will enable large language models to run locally on PCs. The orchestration of local and cloud AI components is essential for efficient AI workload management. Microsoft is addressing user pain points to support a robust local foundation for hybrid AI, aiming to improve Windows 11 overall.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

RetroPad is a ‘full-feature-parity version of Notepad from XP’ in just 2,749 bytes — x86 assembly coded apps comes from Windows legend Dave W Plummer

Dave W. Plummer has developed a full-feature-parity version of Notepad called RetroPad, written in x86 assembly language, which is 2,749 bytes in size. RetroPad replicates the functionality of the original Notepad from Windows XP and is available on Plummer's GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. Initially, he managed to reduce RetroPad to 2,686 bytes before adding features like keyboard shortcuts, which increased the size to 2,794 bytes. The original Notepad from Windows XP was approximately 65KB, while later versions of Notepad in Windows 7 to 10 reached sizes of around 190KB to 200KB.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Microsoft is rewriting Windows 11 shell in native code, killing the web slop slowing your PC

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 by reducing reliance on web-based components, which have caused performance issues. The user interface framework WinUI will now be referred to simply as "WinUI," indicating no plans for a WinUI 4, to reassure developers. Microsoft is integrating WinUI into the Windows 11 shell more rapidly, moving away from web components. A specialized team is focused on creating "100% native" Windows applications, starting with an overhaul of the Start menu from React Native to WinUI components. Performance, memory optimization, and quality control are top priorities for the WinUI team. A new system compositor is being introduced to improve UI performance, and enterprise-focused DataGrid and Charting controls are being added to WinUI. Microsoft is expanding open-source development for WinUI, allowing public testing and contributions. Migration support between WinForms and WinUI is being enhanced for legacy applications. An experimental project called Microsoft UI Reactor is introduced to simplify native application development using C#. This shift towards native development aims to improve performance and efficiency for all Windows users.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Microsoft drives developers toward native Windows apps at Build 2026

Microsoft is focusing on increasing native applications and components in Windows 11 to improve performance and user experiences. At the Build 2026 conference, Microsoft encouraged third-party developers to create native applications through a series of sessions and provided tools and resources for this purpose. The Windows K2 initiative aims to transform key elements like the Start menu into native components. A session titled "Use agents to build WinUI 3 apps" discussed strategies for developing native applications, including the use of AI tools like the WinUI agent plugin for GitHub Copilot. Microsoft also introduced WinUI 3 templates to streamline native app creation and emphasized the modernization of applications beyond just code rewriting. The Surface Laptop Ultra, announced at Computex, is designed for AI workloads, featuring up to 128GB of RAM and built on the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform, which includes a 20-core Arm N1x CPU and an RTX GPU with up to 6,144 cores, delivering 1 petaflop of AI computing power. This device aims to attract developers to Microsoft's ecosystem.

Winsage

June 2, 2026

Microsoft outs new Windows 11 native command-line utility. Revolutionizes native app making.

Microsoft has announced the general availability of Coreutils for Windows, introducing a native suite of Linux-style command-line utilities designed to enhance cross-platform development workflows. Coreutils includes essential commands for file, shell, and text manipulation, such as ls, cp, mv, rm, cat, and pwd, and will function similarly to its GNU counterpart, allowing seamless use across Windows, Linux, macOS, containers, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Microsoft has excluded certain utilities that rely on POSIX-specific functionality to avoid disrupting Windows operations. Additionally, Microsoft introduced "Windows Development Skills," a set of AI-powered tools aimed at improving the development and maintenance of Windows applications, built on WinUI 3 and the Windows App SDK, and available through a dedicated GitHub repository.

Winsage

June 1, 2026

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang promises new ‘RTX Spark’ Windows on Arm chips will run every Windows app ever made

NVIDIA's RTX Spark System on Chip (SoC) will support every Windows application ever developed, addressing compatibility concerns for Windows on Arm applications. The SoC utilizes an emulation layer called Prism, which can run most x86 applications on Arm-based systems, although some older or complex programs may not perform optimally. A significant number of Windows applications are now natively compiled for Windows on Arm, reducing reliance on emulation. However, gaming remains a challenge as many games are not yet Arm-native. NVIDIA assures that the RTX class GPU will provide a smooth gaming experience regardless of the architecture.

Winsage

May 29, 2026

Microsoft admits modern Windows 11 apps actually resize worse than the old ones, fix coming this summer

Microsoft is working on a solution to address the black tearing issue during window resizing in WinUI 3 applications on Windows 11, with a rollout expected to begin this summer. March Rogers, Microsoft’s Partner Director of Design, confirmed that the Windows team is testing smooth resizing code on native inbox applications before extending the update to the Windows App SDK. The transition to WinUI 3 aims to replace inefficient web applications and improve user experience, with significant components like the Start menu and system-level dialog boxes being upgraded to WinUI 3. Additionally, Microsoft has launched Windows App SDK 2.0 to encourage third-party developers to adopt native app development, addressing previous issues such as bugs and lack of visual features.