Windows devices Archives

Winsage

June 15, 2026

Microsoft is reportedly testing Copilot+ AI features with discrete GPUs instead of NPUs — a feature available on Windows App SDK with a Windows Insider Experimental Channel build and Developer Mode turned on

Copilot PCs were introduced by Microsoft in 2024 to integrate advanced AI capabilities into personal computing. An experimental Windows App SDK is now available on GitHub, allowing users to run Language Model APIs on supported Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs with a minimum of 6GB of VRAM. This capability requires a Windows Insider Experimental Channel and Developer Mode activation, enabling local AI inferencing on devices without dedicated NPU hardware. Microsoft's shift from promoting Copilot+ PCs may be influenced by fluctuating RAM prices and aims to make AI functionalities more accessible to a broader user base. In 2024, a research firm noted that consumer interest in AI PCs was driven by the need to upgrade to available models, a trend continuing into 2026 due to a shortage of memory and storage chips, resulting in rising computer prices and declining sales of PCs and components. Projections indicate that entry-level laptops may disappear by 2028. The lack of consumer interest in NPU-equipped PCs could impede the adoption of Copilot+ features, prompting Microsoft to expand AI functionalities to non-Copilot+ devices to enhance its user base and differentiate Windows 11 from competitors like macOS and Linux.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Computex 2026: Empowering a billion users with Windows across the ecosystem

Computex has been a significant event for the PC industry, showcasing innovations in hardware, silicon, and user experiences. This year, partners revealed a variety of Windows 11 PCs aimed at diverse user needs. Acer introduced several laptops, including the Aspire X 16 AI for prosumers, the Aspire 18 AI for creative tasks, and the Swift Spin 14 AI, which features both Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and Snapdragon X2 Series processors. ASUS launched its AI PC portfolio with the ProArt P16 and P14 laptops powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark, and the Zenbook 14 for everyday consumers. The ROG Strix SCAR 18 gaming laptop features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. Dell unveiled the XPS 13, which is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop, offering up to 17 hours of battery life and a 2.5K touchscreen. The XPS 16 Creator Edition is designed for creative tasks with NVIDIA RTX Spark technology. HP plans to integrate RTX Spark into its OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 laptops and will expand its offerings with a compact desktop for creators and AI enthusiasts. MSI introduced the Prestige N16 Flip AI+, a laptop developed with NVIDIA, featuring a 16-inch UHD+ display and a 2-in-1 design. They also announced the Claw 8 EX AI+, a handheld gaming device powered by Intel Arc G3 Extreme processors. The Surface Laptop Ultra is the most powerful Surface Laptop to date, featuring an NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip and a 15-inch mini-LED touchscreen. Intel introduced the Intel Arc G-Series processors for handheld gaming systems, while NVIDIA unveiled the RTX Spark superchip for personal AI agents on Windows devices. Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon C Platform, aimed at providing efficient performance for students and small businesses, with Acer and ASUS already adopting this technology.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Microsoft wants to end printer driver headaches with Windows Ready Print

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Experimental build 26300.8553, which includes customizable Start menus, enhanced search functionalities, and a refined Taskbar. A significant upgrade is the rebranding of the Modern Print Platform to Windows Ready Print, aimed at modernizing and securing the printing process. Microsoft is phasing out support for third-party printer drivers via Windows Update, transitioning to the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and the native Windows IPP printer driver. Starting July 2026, new printer installations on eligible devices will default to Windows Ready Print, though users can choose between Windows Ready Print and the traditional OEM process. This setting can be adjusted through the printer preferences in Settings and modified via Group Policy. Users can also enable Windows protected print mode to default to Windows Ready Print.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

Microsoft: Some Windows PCs fail to install latest monthly updates

Microsoft has warned customers about potential installation complications with the latest monthly updates on certain Windows devices upgraded to Windows 11 versions 24H2 or 25H2. Users may encounter error codes 0x80073712 or 0x800f0993 when attempting to install cumulative updates for June 2026. Affected devices include a small fraction of those running Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, as well as Windows 11 version 23H2. Users may find that updates have failed, and the specified error codes will appear in the Windows Update log files. Microsoft plans to deploy a resolution for unmanaged enterprise devices and personal PCs after a system restart, with no new devices in these categories affected starting from May 19, 2026. For impacted devices, Microsoft has released specific updates as part of its June 2026 Patch Tuesday to prevent the issue. However, the problem will not be fixed for systems already upgraded to Windows 11 versions 24H2 or 25H2, and users are advised to remove the affected package using a command in an elevated Command Prompt. If this does not resolve the issue, users may need to perform a Windows 11 in-place upgrade. Microsoft has previously addressed similar challenges related to Windows update installations, including issues from the March 2026 non-security preview update and the January 2026 optional non-security preview updates.

Winsage

June 5, 2026

Microsoft wants AI to customize your Windows 11 entirely with one sentence, shows off a demo

At Build 2026, Microsoft announced plans to enhance Windows 11 personalization through AI agents, with API endpoints available for developers to create tailored experiences. Product Manager Samantha Song highlighted the need for a more user-friendly interface that reflects individual preferences, noting current customization options can be cumbersome. Microsoft introduced "WinUI skills," enabling developers to use AI agents like Copilot to create native applications that interact with Windows APIs. Users could instruct AI to modify themes, such as creating a cherry blossom theme, which would adjust wallpapers and accent colors automatically. AI skills could also apply accent colors to File Explorer and download themed wallpapers. The theme module can orchestrate multiple actions, allowing users to change their entire Windows theme with a single command. Microsoft is exploring a themes agent for generating new themes. While currently an open-source project, there is potential for these features to be integrated into Windows 11, enhancing user experience through personalized customization.

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

June 9 Patch Tuesday incoming as Secure Boot deadline looms

Microsoft has announced updates to Secure Boot, enhancing system security by modifying support and registry keys to streamline the boot process. These updates aim to improve the security of Windows devices by ensuring that only trusted software is loaded during startup. Collaborations with Dell and STMicroelectronics are also underway to provide tailored support and integrate advanced security features into chipsets, respectively.

Winsage

June 4, 2026

Microsoft Positions Windows as a Platform for AI Agents — THE Journal

Microsoft Build 2026 highlighted a shift in Windows strategy, positioning it as a comprehensive operating environment for AI agents rather than just a collection of AI features. Key announcements included: - Expanded Windows AI APIs utilizing CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. - New local AI models optimized for execution on Windows devices. - Enhanced Windows Terminal and developer tools for agent-driven workflows. - Increased support for Linux development, including native command-line utilities and Linux container support via the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Security measures were emphasized, with mechanisms like execution containers to regulate AI agent behavior and access permissions. The conference focused on agent orchestration, communication protocols, and tools for managing autonomous systems. Microsoft aims to establish Windows as a robust infrastructure for future collaboration between software agents and human users.

Winsage

June 3, 2026

Windows updates are already bad, but even worse when Microsoft uses my PC to update yours

Microsoft releases monthly Windows updates to enhance security and functionality, but users often encounter issues like broken printers or malfunctioning software. Windows PCs may upload update files to other computers through a feature called Delivery Optimization, which aims to speed up the update process by allowing peer-to-peer sharing of files. While this can improve efficiency, many users prefer to disable it due to concerns about bandwidth and control over their hardware and internet connection. Disabling Delivery Optimization can be done through the Settings menu in Windows 11, allowing updates to be downloaded directly from Microsoft's servers. Users can also choose to share updates only with local devices or adjust the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) for better resource management.

Winsage

June 2, 2026

Nvidia unveils DGX Station for Windows AI workstations

NVIDIA has launched the DGX Station for Windows, a deskside system designed for extensive AI workloads on Windows machines, marking a shift from traditional Linux-based systems. It features the NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, capable of executing AI models with up to 1 trillion parameters. The system supports model training, fine-tuning, inference, data science, and multi-agent development, allowing hundreds of agents to run concurrently. A key feature is the NVIDIA OpenShell on Windows, which provides a secure runtime environment for autonomous agents. The DGX Station integrates with existing enterprise management frameworks and extends Windows security and compliance tools. Its hardware architecture includes a Blackwell Ultra GPU, a 72-core Grace CPU, up to 748GB of coherent memory, and networking capabilities of up to 800Gb/s. It is designed for individual specialists or collaborative teams and can be paired with an NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Workstation GPU. The DGX Station will be available through vendors like ASUS, Dell Technologies, GIGABYTE, HP, MSI, and Supermicro.