https://www.xda-developers.com Founded in 2002, XDA is the world’s largest smartphone and electronics community. Looking for the latest tech news and reviews? Want to do more with your Android phone, Windows PC, iPhone, iPad, or MacBook? Look no further than XDA. Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:45:18 GMT en-US hourly 60 Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a handy utility present in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that allows developers to run GNU/Linux environments directly inside the operating system without requiring virtual machines (VMs) or dual-boot configurations. The implementation became generally available via the Microsoft Store about a year ago, making it easier for interested users to install it quickly. Now, Microsoft has rolled out a new pre-release version of WSL with a lot of interesting, experimental features.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:45:18 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/wsl-update-vhd-shrinking-mirrored-networking/ Less than a month ago, Microsoft finally announced support for Python in Excel, allowing customers to use the powerful programming language in tandem with conventional Excel formulas to analyze and manipulate data. The move was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm and to capitalize on this excitement, Microsoft has released a Python editor for its Office application.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 01:46:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-python-editor-excel/ Windows 11 has been out for nearly two years, and for many of us, it's already old news, but it's still a great operating system. The initial release of Windows 11 brought a brand-new design language, a new Start menu, and other changes, and newer updates have come out to add even more. With releases like version 22H2 and the upcoming version 23H2, Windows 11 keeps getting better. But even though it's getting more popular, many of us are still installing Windows 11 for the first time.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:00:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/download-windows-11/ The Windows 11 Paint app is moving closer to replacing Photoshop for your photo editing needs. Microsoft is apparently testing a new layers feature in the Paint app, letting you use the app as an actual canvas for all your creation needs. The feature is currently rolling out to Dev and Canary Channel Windows Insiders.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:21:30 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-paint-app-layer-support/ Microsoft 365 is the best productivity software out on the market, and while there are plenty of alternatives, you just can't be the tools offered in the company's Office suite. While 365 is great, there is a catch, and it's that you need to a subscription to access all the great tools, which means you'll keep paying for it, but will never own it. With that said, if you're tired of paying for a subscription to 365, there is a solution.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:49:52 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-office-professional-35-deal/ Microsoft has announced that Panos Panay, leader of the Windows and Devices division at the company, is leaving, after spending nearly 20 years at Microsoft. He will be succeeded by Pavan Davuluri and others who will be taking on different responsibilities. Panos was responsible for developing and growing the Surface brand prior to also taking the reins of Windows itself.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:16:55 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/panos-panay-leaving-microsoft-20-years/ Windows 11 is a great operating system for productivity, thanks to features like Snap Layouts, Android apps, and WSL. The best laptops and desktop computers out there let you do all kinds of work with Windows 11. But if it's gaming that you're planning on doing, then we have some suggestions for how you can make your PC even better. You can turn on Windows 11's dedicated Game Mode to optimize performance for digital gaming, tweak Windows 11's security measures to free up your CPU and RAM for gaming, and so much more.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-optimize-windows-11-for-gaming/ Microsoft gave its famous operating system a facelift when it redesigned Windows 11, so you might find the feel to be both familiar and different. One area where Microsoft made a few changes was the taskbar, where the design and positioning of items are slightly different from what you'd find on Windows 10.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 22:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-hide-taskbar-windows-11/ The Surface Laptop 5 is an excellent flagship laptop from Microsoft. In our review, we found it offered more power, and we enjoyed the fresh color options. But, like when you buy any of the best laptops, no Surface Laptop 5 purchase is complete without accessories, which is why we put together this guide for the best accessories for the device. We looked at monitors, GPU enclosures, docks, mice, and more to determine our top picks. Whether you want to take your Surface Laptop 5 on the go or just want to add more to your desk setup, there's something that can enhance that experience.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 09:00:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-surface-laptop-5-accessories/ Windows 11 first showed its face on June 24, 2021, and became officially available on Oct. 5 of that same year. Today, most laptops sold come with Windows 11 installed out of the box, but the Windows development cycle never stops, and there's always something to look forward to. That's where the Windows Insider Program comes into play, as it lets fans try out new Windows 11 features in preview before anybody else.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-features-in-preview/ Microsoft is expected to announce a slew of new Surface devices at its upcoming event next week, and the star of the show is likely to be the Surface Laptop Studio 2. It has long been rumored to feature a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor alongside RTX 40-series GPUs and 64GB of memory, which would be a first in a Surface product. A massive leak has now seemingly confirmed some of these specifications, as well as revealed the display specs and some other details about the upcoming device.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:45:18 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-specifications-leak/ Microsoft is rolling out two big updates for some core Windows 11 apps. Windows Insiders in the Canary and the Dev Channels can now test background blur in the Windows 11 Photos app. Also up for testing are new updates for the Snipping Tool, which now can allow you to copy text from your screen captures.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:39:21 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-photos-app-background-blur/ Microsoft today rolled out a new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23545 to the Dev Channel. This build is yet again a small one, but it comes with a few changes and one improvement in it is notable. The best example is a tweak to Nearby Share, which makes it easier to quickly give your device a friendly name for sharing. Other than that, it's the usual bug fixes.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:34:57 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-nearby-share-easier-use-in-windows-11/ Microsoft is working on a new Bing Chat-powered AI feature for its Edge web browser to tweak your writing to help you express yourself better. While it sounds the same as what Bing Chat can do in the Edge sidebar, the upcoming writing assistance tool will make it even easier to rewrite text.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:12:00 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-edge-rewrite-text-with-ai/ OneNote on Windows is a bit of an odd duckling. Depending upon your desktop configuration and use, you may have access to two OneNote apps. The first is the OneNote for Windows 10 - which is based on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) - and has been delisted from the Microsoft Store. The second is the newer unified version based on the classic OneNote desktop app that comes with Microsoft 365. Now, the Redmond tech firm has announced that it is ending support for translation capabilities in the old OneNote app.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:12:19 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-killing-translation-onenote-windows/ Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 Beta channel builds, and the one that's usually all about bringing new features actually removes one. Indeed, Windows Insiders running Windows 11 build 22631.2338 with new features rolling out, should now notice that Microsoft is going one step closer to ditching Teams in Windows 11. In that build, the Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free. As for Windows 11 Beta Channel build 22621.2338, it's a smaller release with just bug fixes. Both builds are getting a new focus widget.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 22:50:40 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/chat-in-windows-11-is-being-replaced-in-the-beta-channel/ For the longest time, the only way to change the RGB lighting effects for the peripherals on your Windows 11 PC has been to use the dedicated software from the brand that makes those peripherals. Each of the companies making some of the best gaming keyboards — whether that's Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, and so on — has its own app, and if you end up buying equipment from different companies, it means you'll also need multiple pieces of software bloating up your device. Thankfully, Windows 11 is finally introducing Dynamic Lighting, a feature that brings together RGB lighting controls to a native Windows 11 interface, so you no longer need all of these apps.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-configure-rgb-lighting-windows-11/ Drivers are one of the most critical parts of Windows 11. They are what power your laptop and basically any PC. A driver is part of the software on Windows that helps your PC communicate with something that might be connected to it. That could be the display, a USB drive, a keyboard, or even the trackpad.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-update-drivers-in-windows-11/ Microsoft has major plans for OneDrive, with the company announcing many AI features in a dedicated event, set to take place next month. However, the software giant has one more feature in the works for OneDrive to make its cloud storage service more accessible even when you're not connected to the internet.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:46:14 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-onedrive-will-soon-work-offline/ At one point or another, you might need to find the specifications — or specs — of your Windows 11 PC. It can be useful for troubleshooting if you're having issues, or maybe you just want to know if your laptop is compatible with a certain app or able to run a specific game. If you're more tech-savvy, of course, you probably already purchased your PC based on the specs, but that's not the case for everyone.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 22:01:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-find-specs-windows-11-pc/ As laptops get thinner and lighter, features tend to get sacrificed along the way. The best premium laptops we see these days are often tiny and only have Thunderbolt 4 ports in order to save space inside the chassis, for example. Another thing that's fallen by the wayside over the years is the inclusion of number pads, which many of those best laptops don't have. Those dedicated keys can be hugely important if you work with numbers. All the keys are easily accessible in one position, so number-crunching becomes a lot more efficient and convenient. If you want this convenience, though, you have to look at larger laptops, starting at around 15 inches, and even then, not a lot of models have them. But there are some options if this is a must-have for you.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 19:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-windows-laptops-number-pads/ These days, you might be used to diving into the Windows 11 Settings app or the Task Manager for things like checking on your disks and even killing unresponsive apps. But, before we had fancy graphical user interfaces on Windows, you had to use the Command Prompt and a command-line environment.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 17:00:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/10-useful-windows-command-line-prompts/ Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that gives you access to Microsoft's suite of apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. While these apps let you make the most out of the best laptops on the market, web apps are available for many of these, and you may want to cancel your membership if you don't need the more advanced capabilities of the desktop apps. Here's how to do it.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 18:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-cancel-microsoft-365/ Back when it was announced in 2009, Microsoft’s Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360 seemed like a worthy rival to Sony’s Move controller and the Wii Remote. Unlike its competitors, Kinect wasn’t just a game controller that could sense your wrist movements; it was a full-blown camera with infrared sensors that was capable of capturing the movements of your entire body. This would enable all kinds of cool ways to interact with games.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 17:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/slow-death-xbox-kinect/ Out of the box, Windows 11 and 10 give you a way to record and share your games, as well as chat with your Xbox friends, manage system resources, and do all kinds of things thanks to plug-ins. All of this is available through the Xbox Game Bar, but what if you don't care about any of these features and they're just using up resources on your laptop? Thankfully, you can disable the Xbox Game Bar so it doesn't bother you. Here's how.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-disable-xbox-game-bar-windows/ Microsoft announced the Surface Duo and Surface Neo back in October 2019 and while the latter device was canceled ahead of release, the Duo became available in September 2020. We reviewed the dual-screen Android handset and praised its hardware while still acknowledging its limitations, high price tag, and the very specific market niche that it targets. Today, Microsoft has ended support for the Surface Duo.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 10:22:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-surface-duo-end-of-life/ Microsoft is in the process of introducing the AI-based Bing Chat feature to many of its apps and services and is also putting effort into improving the AI experience across its different platforms. The latest app to get massive AI improvements is Skype, which now helps you to be more creative with your messages.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 17:56:43 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-skype-bing-ai-tone-suggestions/ Microsoft has been going all in on its AI endeavors recently. The company has been integrating its AI Copilot services across its Microsoft 365 suite of products and even Windows. However, as the Redmond tech firm expands services in this field of generative AI (GAI), there are natural concerns regarding the potential legal and regulatory hurdles, due to the technology being at a stage of relative infancy. Now, Microsoft has addressed some of the questions in this area in an attempt to assure commercial customers that they should use its GAI technologies without worrying about the legalities.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:52:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-ai-copilot-copyright/ The Paint app in Windows 11 just got a lot more useful, helping you avoid using Photoshop for one more thing. Now rolling out in beta to Canary and Dev Channel Windows Insiders is a new update for Paint, bringing the option to remove the background in an image in a few simple clicks.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:58:51 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-paint-app-background-removal/ If you just purchased a new printer or want to hook up an old one to your new laptop, then you're in luck. Windows 11 makes the setup process really easy. Most printers are plug-and-play, so once you connect it to your USB port (or USB dock) on your laptop, you'll be good to go. But just in case that doesn't go as planned, or you run into issues, we have a look at how you can add a printer on Windows 11.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:00:29 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-add-printer-windows-11/ With the general availability of Windows 10 version 21H2 back in April 2022, Microsoft also began offering built-in support for Mopria-compliant printer drivers interfacing through USB and internet connectivity via the Microsoft IPP Class Driver. Although this particular version of the operating system is no longer supported for most users, the change in driver implementation has carried over to newer versions of Windows too, including the upcoming Windows 11 version 23H2 too. As such, Microsoft has announced that it is winding down support for third-party printer drivers offered via Windows Update.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 11:34:17 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-printer-drivers-windows-update/ The latest iteration of Microsoft's budget-oriented laptop, the Surface Laptop Go 2, is just over a year old, and while we found it pretty good in our review, it's starting to feel a little long in the tooth. It does offer a premium-feeling design with the clean Surface design language and a tall 3:2 display, but as new hardware comes out, the need for improved specs is starting to show. So while this is still a great laptop in its own right, we're eagerly anticipating a successor, presumably to be called the Surface Laptop Go 3.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:00:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/surface-laptop-go-3/ The more you use your Windows 11 PC, the more important files and memories you gather. Whether you have photos, documents, videos, or even favorite apps, it's natural to want to back things up in the event something goes wrong with your PC. Thankfully, Windows 11 offers three different ways to back up your system. You can back up individual files with File History, copy folders to the cloud with OneDrive PC folder backup, or create a system image of your PC. We have a look at all three for you right here.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:01:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-back-up-windows-11-pc/ Microsoft's Bing made a lot of headlines when OpenAI's generative AI technology was introduced earlier this year. To take the whole AI chat experience to a different level, the company keeps adding new features to Bing, the latest being the ability to start the chat on a desktop and continue it on a phone.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 12:59:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/bing-chat-working-on-continue-chatting-on-your-phone/ A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft documented an issue affecting several Windows 10 and 11 customers who were reporting instances of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with error messages of "UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR". This problem was seemingly impacting MSI customers who had installed the optional preview Windows update in August 2023, but after conducting an initial investigation, Microsoft emphasized that it was not to blame for these BSODs. Now, MSI has taken ownership for the issue and rolled out BIOS updates for affected motherboards.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:52:38 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/msi-bios-fix-unsupported-processor-bsod-windows/ Microsoft has recently posted a video on its Microsoft 365 YouTube channel, revealing a lot of information about what's next for the new Outlook app on Windows. Towards the end of the video, Microsoft also confirmed that it would take at least a couple of years to replace the classic or Win32-based Outlook app with the new Outlook.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:29:18 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/classic-outlook-app-could-be-killed-in-two-years/ There might come a time when you have to share your laptop, or your Windows 11 PC with someone. In the old days of Windows, there was a dedicated guest mode for these situations, but Windows 11 and Windows 10 have since removed this. It doesn't mean you can't manually add a guest account, though.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 22:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-create-guest-account-windows-11/ OneDrive is one of the best cloud storage services out there, especially because of its cost and how tightly it integrates with Microsoft Office applications. The service is due to receive some AI features next month if the latest rumors are to be believed, but ahead of that, Microsoft has announced a change in policy that may be deemed controversial by many.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 13:03:37 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/photos-onedrive-space/ Microsoft already has some big news lined up for a Surface event later this month, but it looks like the company may have a few more surprises in the works beyond hardware. A leaked video shared by X (Twitter) user WalkingCat shows that the company is unveiling new features for OneDrive on October 3rd.

]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:38:19 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-onedrive-announcement-october/ Best Buy is one of the best places to go if you want to buy any kind of electronic device, including laptops. Not only does the company offer a huge selection of products, but its Price Match Guarantee helps you get the best deal. There are some exceptions to that, but regardless, this makes Best Buy a compelling place to visit if you want to get the best deal on a new laptop. Not only are you getting them from a reputable retailer, but you can also get them at one of the lowest prices available on the market.

]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-laptops-available-at-best-buy/ Notifications can be a hugely important feature on our laptops, just like they are on our smartphones. They let us know when something needs our attention, or remind us if we need to get something done. However, as we install more and more apps, things get a bit noisy, and you may want to turn some notifications off. If you want to regain some peace, here's how to customize notification settings in Windows 11.

]]> Sun, 03 Sep 2023 16:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-customize-notification-settings-windows-11/ Windows 11 is a great iteration of Microsoft's operating system, with many streamlined design elements and new features that make it a big upgrade. As much as we like the fresh, default look of Windows 11, though, it may not be to everyone's tastes. Thankfully, Windows has always been easy to customize, and Windows 11 is no different. It keeps many of the same personalization options from Windows 10, with some new ones, too. In this article, we'll show you how to customize Windows 11 to your liking to make your great Windows laptop or Windows desktop more distinct, both by using the built-in settings and third-party apps.

]]> Sat, 02 Sep 2023 18:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-customize-windows-11/ It's seemingly the season of deprecations and removals when it comes to software developed by big tech. A few days ago, Microsoft made a surprise announcement that it is killing off Visual Studio for Mac. Prior to that, it also revealed a list of features that it is sunsetting in Microsoft Edge, around the time Google announced the end of the Pixel Pass subscription too. Now, Microsoft has decided to get rid of WordPad for Windows.

]]> Sat, 02 Sep 2023 14:13:32 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-killing-wordpad-windows/ It has been well-known for the last couple of months that Microsoft has decided to stop supporting Windows 11 21H2 Home and Pro editions after October 10, 2023. And now that we are a month away from the announced date, Microsoft is again notifying users about the Windows 11 21H2's end-of-support date.

]]> Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:15:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-21h2-to-reach-end-of-support-next-month/ Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channels are getting a Windows 11 treat. Microsoft is now shipping out an update for the Snipping Tool, which helps make it easier to start screen recordings. Also rolling out is an enhancement for the Notepad, which helps make saving a session state easier.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:26:47 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-snipping-tool-update/ Back in 2020, Slack alleged that Microsoft is engaging in anticompetitive practices by bundling Teams in Microsoft 365 subscriptions for business customers, increasing the cost of the plan for users while still making it difficult for them to opt for an alternative since they are already paying for other services and applications included in the subscription. The European Commission (EC) formally began investigating the matter last month, but prior to the regulator revealing its findings, Microsoft has proactively announced some remediations.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:19:48 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/teams-removed-microsoft-365-soon/ Yesterday, Microsoft published a comprehensive list of all the new features that it added to Excel during the month of August 2023. Now, with the month ending soon, the Redmond tech firm has detailed some new capabilities and hardware that it introduced to its Teams software too, similar to the previous month. This time around, the company added a whopping 52 features.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:26:35 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-teams-features-august-2023/ The next time you fire up the Google Chrome web browser and want to screenshot a video, there's an easier way to do it. Google is now rolling out a new option to copy a frame from a video in the Chrome web browser, helping simplify the process of grabbing important information from a recorded video, be it on YouTube, or anything else.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/google-chrome-copy-frame-from-video/ Remembering all your strong passwords for every online account is hard, unless you have a memory like an elephant. Microsoft is working on a clever solution to this problem for the Edge browser. A new Edge feature is in works to let users add notes to passwords of each of their account saved in the browser.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:33:36 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-edge-will-soon-let-you-add-passwords-notes/ It may be hard to believe, but Windows 11 is nearly two years old now, with a few updates already under its belt. Windows 11 version 22H2 was big, and with a few Moment updates released since then, plus version 23H2 on the horizon, the OS has evolved a lot. Despite that, all signs point to Microsoft shifting focus to Windows 12 in the future, with reports indicating that this entirely new version will be launching in 2024.

]]> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-12/ Microsoft has announced that Visual Studio for Mac is being retired, with support for the final release, version 17.6, ending as soon as next year.

]]> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:54:31 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-killing-visual-studio-mac/ Last week, Microsoft Excel customers got a pretty nice surprise when the Redmond tech firm announced support for the Python programming language in the software. This is meant to make it easier for data analysts and scientists to manipulate and visualize data using Python libraries and leveraging Excel formulas and PivotTables directly in the application at the same time, but only for Insiders currently. Now, the company has published its roundup of all the features that it added to its popular spreadsheet software during the month of August 2023.

]]> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:14:57 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-excel-features-august-2023/ Microsoft announced earlier this year that plugins support for Bing Chat was coming to Microsoft Edge. And now, after keeping the users waiting for months, the software giant seems to have finally started rolling out plugins for the Bing Chat web page in the Edge web browser.

]]> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:30:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/plugins-for-bing-chat-seem-to-finally-be-rolling-out/ The laptop market these days is full of awesome machines that blend power and battery life into a coherent package. Displays are no longer second-class to desktop monitors, and typing on most is a pleasant experience. One feature that's still fairly uncommon outside business-class laptops, though, is 4G connectivity. While it’s more useful on Chromebooks, 4G LTE can keep you connected and able to work from wherever a cellular signal can be found.

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:00:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-4g-lte-laptops/ Having a second monitor on your desk setup can be great for work or for photo or video editing. When set up properly, using multiple monitors can help boost your productivity since you'll have more room to spread out. Did you just buy a new monitor and are wondering how to plug it in and use it in Windows 11? It's actually a very easy process!

]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2023 18:03:13 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-use-manage-monitors-windows-11/ Microsoft is bringing Bing Chat Enterprise to the Windows Copilot preview experience. Designed for commercial customers, and rolling out today for those who have Windows 11 PCs in the Dev or Beta channel, this feature will help keep your data shared on Bing Chat for business purposes even more private.

]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:59:40 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/bing-chat-enterprise-in-windows-copilot/ Ahead of Labor Day weekend, we're starting to see some incredible deals pop up on TVs, laptops, storage devices, and more. While productivity software might not be your top priority when hunting for deals. Right now, Best Buy is having an exclusive sale for its My Best Buy members, knocking $20 off the price of Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions.

]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:20:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-365-bestbuy-members-only-sale/ Microsoft Edge may not be the most popular browser out there in terms of market share, but it's definitely a capable one. Microsoft regularly adds new features to the browser both for developers and consumers in order to gain further traction in an uphill battle against the likes of Google Chrome. Stable Channel releases are made available on a monthly basis, but Insider rollouts give some insights about what to expect. Now, the latest Edge Beta version has revealed that Microsoft is deprecating some features in its browser.

]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:03:15 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-rid-features-edge/ Bing Chat has been out for a few months now and has been attracting attention from various market segments. Seeing the popularity of its latest chatbot, Microsoft also updates it with new features - such as image creation through text - on an intermittent basis.

]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2023 11:56:16 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/bing-chat-available-google-chrome/ Despite producing products like landmark phones, excellent tablets, and some incredible GPUs, not every product is going to be worth getting. The tech industry has had no lack of epic failures over the decades. From "groundbreaking" AR/VR hardware and disastrous phones and tablets to software that simply failed to get off the ground, here are some of the 10 worst tech failures of all time, in no particular order.

]]> Sat, 26 Aug 2023 17:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/10-worst-tech-fails/ After making its way to Google Chrome and Safari, Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing Chat is now rolling out to Microsoft Launcher, giving users more options to access the chatbot outside the Edge browser. However, if you want to test out the new feature, you'll need to be in the beta version of the Microsoft Launcher, as that's where Microsoft is rolling out Bing Chat first.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:55:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-integrates-bing-chat-into-microsoft-launcher/ The Surface Pro 8 is one of my go-to devices. Like a lot of the best Windows tablets, it's super convenient and easy to carry around and enjoy Windows 11 on the go. As of recently, though, I found myself using one of the best Android tablets instead: the Google Pixel Tablet.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:01:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/3-things-microsoft-learn-pixel-tablet/ Microsoft just released Windows 11 build 22621.2262 and build 22631.2262 (KB5029339) to Beta Channel Windows Insiders. Build 22631.2262 is for those with new features rolling out and build 22621.2262 is for those with new features off by default. This is what Microsoft calls an LCU update, meaning it's bringing lots of new features for those who have build 22631.2262 installed. Of those new features is a redesigned settings home page, and backup and restore improvements.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:34:19 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-beta-channel-new-settings-page-build/ On Aug. 24, 1995, Microsoft unleashed Windows 95 onto the world. Indeed, this massively influential OS release turns 28 years old today. Not only was it the first version of Windows to ship with Internet Explorer, but it also introduced elements that became staples of Windows for decades to come. Even to this day, you can feel the effects of Windows 95 throughout Microsoft's products.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:00:09 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/on-this-day-windows-95-release/ Windows activations are frequently tied to a digital license that's then linked to your Microsoft account. That way, you just need to sign into your desktop PC or laptop to reactivate your license when you switch devices. But if you end up making changes to a PC, like swapping hardware, or if you're building your own desktop from scratch, you might have to reactivate or activate Windows the old-fashioned way.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-activate-windows/ A couple of days ago, Microsoft released an optional preview update for Windows 10 and 11 as a precursor to the cumulative update coming on Patch Tuesday next month. Its headlining features included tweaking the hover behavior on the search box and the ability to change default apps in a more convenient manner. However, the update has also introduced an issue that Microsoft is currently investigating.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 11:26:44 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-investigating-unsupported-processor-bsod-error-windows/ For many users, a 15-inch screen is the ideal size for a laptop. This is a size where you can still strike a great balance of portability and real estate. Most 17-inch laptops tend to be heavy, and 13-inch laptops just don't give you as much screen size to comfortably multitask.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:00:28 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-15-inch-laptops/ Microsoft is rolling out the August preview update for Windows 11 version 22H2. This month's update adds several new features to the operating system. It is tweaking the hover behavior on the search box, and also adding a new functionality for app defaults that makes swapping out default apps even easier. That's on top of the usual bug fixes and improvements.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:26:42 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/august-windows-11-22h2-preview-update/ Microsoft Edge may not be the top browser in terms of market share right now, but the Redmond tech firm continually adds new features to it in order to retain its existing customers and attract new ones. Edge has had to face an uphill battle from the start because of the poor reputation of Internet Explorer in the past decade or so, its pivot to Chromium, and the fact that Chrome commands a significant majority in terms of user base, so any competitor really needs to have unique or well-polished features to entice people to completely switch from their existing browser.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:01:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/5-reasons-microsoft-edge-best-browser/ Microsoft has been all about AI for the past few months, and Windows 11 is already getting a taste of that with Copilot, which is currently in testing with Insiders in most channels and expected in version 23H2. However, there's a lot more to come, as the company is also working on other AI-powered features across Windows 11 apps, including the classic Paint, as well as the Photos and Camera apps.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:42:58 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-ocr-object-removal-generative-ai/ Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely used spreadsheet software out there with a variety of use-cases involving data storage, number-crunching, data cleaning, visualizations, and more. Microsoft regularly updates it with new features in order to attract more customers. The company has now implemented a major functionality in Excel by introducing support for the Python programming language.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:02:58 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/use-python-excel/ Windows 11 is in a constant state of flux, getting new updates on a regular basis to improve the experience. The first big Windows 11 update was version 22H2, which came around last year, and since then, we've been getting smaller Moment updates that add new features and capabilities. The latest of those is the Moment 3 update, which was released in June 2023. But we're already looking at what the future holds, because the next big update, Windows 11 version 23H2, isn't too far off.

]]> Sun, 20 Aug 2023 20:00:29 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-23h2/ In recent years, it's become more and more apparent that passwords can be insecure, and they're often very easy to guess, leaving many people unprotected. Beyond that, having to type in a password every time you want to unlock your computer can be a chore. Thankfully, a few years ago, Microsoft introduced Windows Hello, and nowadays, it's easy to find a laptop with facial recognition or a fingerprint sensor to make things easier and more secure.

]]> Sun, 20 Aug 2023 16:30:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-laptops-with-windows-hello/ Microsoft has a deep heritage in the tech world, and its Windows operating system plays an important part in that. From the very first Windows release in 1985 to modern-day Windows 11, the company has continuously innovated and added new features to Windows that have shaped the way we work, play, and interact with each other when using the best laptops or the best gaming PCs. From the Start Menu to things like Live Tiles, Windows has come a long way, but there are five features in particular that we think sum up its legacy best.

]]> Sun, 20 Aug 2023 15:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-windows-features/ The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 packs a high-resolution display 3:2 aspect ratio display on both the 15-inch and the 13-inch models. This is great for basic multitasking, but if you're looking to expand your productivity beyond the built-in screen, though, you'd probably need to invest in a new monitor. This can give you more space to multitask and open windows when you're at home, or in your office. Whether you want a 4K monitor, an ultrawide monitor, or something more affordable we have a selection of some of the best monitors you can buy for your new Surface Laptop 5 or other great Surface PC.

]]> Sat, 19 Aug 2023 19:00:23 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-monitors-surface-laptop-5/ Microsoft is getting ready for its annual Fall Surface product releases. The company has just emailed out a Save the Date to media and other influencers, confirming it will be holding an event in New York City on September 21.

]]> Thu, 17 Aug 2023 17:28:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-announces-september-21-surface-event/ The Android flagship space has already seen some good smartphones in 2023 so far. Samsung and OnePlus kicked things off with their respective flagships, and we've also received some solid mid-rangers in the form of Galaxy A54 5G and Pixel 7a. Samsung's foldable lineup also has some new entries for 2023, so there's no shortage of reliable Android phones in 2023. So if you are in the market to buy a new Android flagship and can't figure out which one's better, then you've landed on the right page. I have highlighted some of the best phones in each category in the roundup below, so check out the listings to find the one that suits your needs and budget.

]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:00:17 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-android-phones/ Microsoft is finding new ways to try and get you to use Microsoft Teams. In the latest, there's now the "Microsoft Teams Play Together" widget that you can download on Windows 11. This is basically a new way to unite you with your friends through Teams, instead of a competing service like Discord when gaming on your Windows PC.

]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:11:18 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-teams-xbox-gamebar-integration/ After months of testing with Windows Insiders, Microsoft has finally brought dark theme support to the Paint app for all Windows 11 users. However, as Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc pointed out, this is a phased rollout, meaning not everyone running Windows 11 will immediately see it on the Paint app.

]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:48:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-paint-app-dark-mode-improved-zoom-controls/ You probably already know that Microsoft has the Windows Insider Program, so you can beta-test early versions of Windows 11 on a great laptop or a great Windows desktop, or even in a virtual machine. Each of the channels of the program gets you access to the various versions of Windows. Unfortunately, though, Microsoft often likes to A/B test Windows features in the Windows Insider program.

]]> Tue, 15 Aug 2023 22:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-use-vivetool-enable-features-windows-11/ It's true that smartphones are getting bigger and better with larger displays, especially when you consider the excellent foldable phones out now, but they're not quite ready to replace tablets just yet. Tablets are still the perfect companions to have alongside your smartphone, laptop, or PC, as they let you work on things more effectively. The best tablets are the ones that are big enough to keep you entertained when you fire up your favorite apps and games, but not so much that it becomes a hassle to carry them around. You should also pick the ones with a wealth of productivity apps and features to help you get some light work done when you are away from your desk. Choosing the right tablet, however, can be tricky because there are a lot of options that fit the bill.

]]> Tue, 15 Aug 2023 18:01:23 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/best-tablets/ There comes a time when you might need to scan a document on Windows 11. It could be an important document you signed that you need to email or just something you might want to digitize for later. Well, if you're using a great Windows tablet or an external webcam, you can scan documents pretty easily. The Windows 11 camera app offers the option to scan a document, and then save it as a photo on your device. You also can use a third-party app like HP Scan and Capture to turn your photos into scans. And though it takes a little extra work, you also can use an OCR tool to capture text from images, helping avoid the need to scan.

]]> Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:31:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-scan-documents-windows-11/ Most of us now consider it common practice for a vendor to bundle a web browser in its operating system; Windows ships with Microsoft Edge, ChromeOS comes with Google Chrome, macOS sports Apple Safari, while Ubuntu has Mozilla Firefox pre-installed. However, this wasn't always the case, especially in the early days of the internet when the technology was yet to reach mass market. In fact, Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer (IE) in Windows 95 was a pretty major move and was meant as a way to combat Netscape's growing popularity in the web browser space, in what would eventually be known as the "First Browser War".

]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:01:23 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-bundling-internet-explorer-windows-29-years/ After 15 years, Calibri is being retired as the default font in Microsoft's Office products. Starting next month, public users will see a new font, Aptos, as the new default font, which Microsoft describes as the "perfect font for higher resolution screens." In addition, the brand will also introduce a new default theme as well.

]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2023 14:06:14 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-365-aptos-default/ There's no doubt that Microsoft is one of the more impressive technology giants. Over the years, and in the last few years in particular, it's reinvented itself and its products. Windows 11 brought a massive redesign and new features, and Surface products have also risen up to be among some of the best laptops. Microsoft even positioned itself at the front of the AI arms race with Bing Chat and the upcoming Copilot. And let's not forget Azure and Microsoft's race to be one of the world's best cloud service providers.

]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2023 15:00:23 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/5-apps-microsoft-killed-too-soon/ Although Windows 10 isn't getting feature updates anymore, and most of its major releases have run out of support too, the operating system is still officially supported until October 14, 2025. This means that Microsoft will continue providing security and quality updates to Windows 10, but it isn't committing to the relatively bigger annual releases that Windows 11 is getting. That said, the OS is still receiving minor enhancements and one nifty improvement hitting general availability soon is the Windows Backup app.

]]> Sat, 12 Aug 2023 16:25:37 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-10-backup-app/ AI has become a huge part of Microsoft's strategy over the last year or so. Sure, that could be said for many companies, as AI seems to be the hottest buzzword right now. But Microsoft recently took the bold step of bringing it to Windows 11 in the form of Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant that's (unofficially) a successor to Cortana. It's powered by the GPT-4 large language model used n Bing Chat to create a tool that hopes to be more useful than ever.

]]> Fri, 11 Aug 2023 17:00:25 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/5-features-windows-copilot-needs-useful/ In my six years as a technology writer, I've reviewed a lot of great laptops and tablets, a lot of which have touchscreens and support pen input. I love the versatility a good stylus can bring to a device, but there's one thing that's always bugged me about them. Depending on which laptop or tablet you buy, you'll likely need a different kind of pen. While the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) exists to try and unify things, there are a lot of other standards in use on Windows laptops, and a lot of them aren't compatible with each other. It can get quite confusing if you're shopping for a pen. So, let's attempt to explain them all.

]]> Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:00:27 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/too-many-stylus-pen-types/ Microsoft's Office apps are available on a variety of platforms, and they get updated with new features quite frequently. Perhaps the most accessible way to leverage them is through their web variants where you can use apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel directly in your browser without having to pay anything. Of course, you may not always get the full feature-set that Office has to offer, but you will be covered for most, if not all, of your basic needs. Now, Microsoft has explained how it is making the Office experience on the web even better through collaboration between the Office and Edge teams.

]]> Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:01:19 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-office-performance-web-edge/ Windows Insiders, it's time to download new Windows 11 builds! Rolling out now is Windows 11 build 23521 in the Dev channel, and Windows 11 build 22631.2191 for those with features rolling out on the beta channel, and also Windows 11 build 22621.2191 for those with new features off by default in the beta channel. These are all small builds, but the Dev channel is picking up some new features related to the Taskbar and Dynamic lighting. Meanwhile, in the Beta channel, there's HDR Background support, natural voices for the narrator, and a few other tweaks.

]]> Thu, 10 Aug 2023 17:53:35 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-tests-new-way-to-tweak-combined-task-bar-in-windows-11/ Windows 11 gives you plenty of customization options to make the operating system, and thus your laptop, feel more like your own. But sometimes those options aren't enough. For example, Windows 11 doesn't natively support animated wallpapers, only static images (though you can cycle through different images if you want to). But that doesn't mean you can't use animated wallpapers. You just have to use a third-party app.

]]> Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:01:50 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-use-animated-wallpapers-windows-11/ The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola was announced earlier this year as a handset primarily geared towards business users, especially ThinkPad customers. When we reviewed it at XDA, we gave it high praise for its tight and seamless integration with ThinkPads, a stunning 6.6-inch display with a 144Hz referesh rate, excellent privacy and security features, and decent performance. The main drawback that we highlighted was the decidedly mid-range camera, but of course, no device is perfect. Now, Microsoft and Motorola have partnered to bring new productivity features to the Lenovo ThinkPhone.

]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:59:19 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-windows-365-teams-lenovo-thinkphone-motorola/ Windows 11 is set to get a handful of new features over the next couple of months thanks to the update to version 23H2. Among them is a feature called Dynamic Lighting, which is built into the Settings app and will allow users to control the RGB lighting on their devices using a centralized interface.

]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2023 17:08:43 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-dynamic-lighting-good/ It's the second Tuesday in the month of August, which in the Windows world is known as Patch Tuesday. Indeed, that means Microsoft just pushed out the monthly security updates for all shipping and still supported Windows versions. That means it's time to head to Windows Update to grab some new builds and enjoy some bug fixes for common issues like things with audio devices and screen brightness.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 18:04:56 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-10-patch-tuesday-august-2023/ Windows 11 was launched officially on October 5th, 2021, bringing a big visual overhaul compared to Windows 10. We're coming up on the two-year anniversary of Windows 11, but for many of us, it's still new. After all, it's not a mandatory upgrade, and many PCs aren't supported, so if you haven't bought a new laptop in the past couple of years, you might not know much about it.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:00:26 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-use-windows-11/ Microsoft recently made some changes to the Windows 11 supported processors webpage. The company has apparently removed 44 total Intel CPUs from the list seen on the webpage, though most of the CPUs aren't found on everyday PCs, and are rather Xeon parts used in servers.

]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:33:01 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-removes-intel-cpus-windows-11-support/ Microsoft has some good news for folks who want to try out the AI-powered Bing Chat, but do not use the Edge browser. Having recently confirmed that the AI chatbot has started rolling out to both Google Chrome and Apple's Safari on desktops, the company has now announced that the feature will also "soon" be available on third-party mobile browsers. It could potentially be a game-changer for Bing, as it could help millions of more people experience the AI smarts that Microsoft's search engine has picked up in recent months.

]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:46:57 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/bing-chat-third-party-mobile-browsers/ There comes a time when you'll need to reset your Microsoft Surface device. It could be because you're running into issues with Windows and need a fresh start, or you might just want to sell off your device, or give it to someone else and erase all of your data from it. Well, there are two ways you can do it. If you have access to your Windows 11 installation, you can reset your Surface device using the usual method to reset Windows 11 to factory settings. If not, you can create a recovery drive, then boot your Surface from it.

]]> Sat, 05 Aug 2023 16:00:24 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/how-reset-surface-device/ You might not want to get your hopes up if you were hoping to see the Surface Go 4 in a Windows on Arm variant this year. According to new reporting from Windows Central's Zac Bowden, the Redmond giant has just canned its plans for a Surface Go 4 with an Arm-based chip, opting for Intel CPU instead for now.

]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:49:37 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/surface-go-4-arm-chip-postponed/ Microsoft is rolling out a pair of Windows 11 updates to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels, bringing a few new features to both sets of users. Most notably, those in the Beta channel are getting their first taste of Windows Copilot, which has been available in the Dev channel for some time. Other changes include a new casting experience and a few accessibility improvements.

]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:00:36 GMT https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-copilot-insiders-beta-channel/