Microsoft announced two new Surface products during San Francisco’s Tech Week: the Surface Laptop Ultra, starting at $2,600, and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, priced from $6,000. Both are equipped with Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip to enable on-device AI processing and feature a redesigned Windows 11 with 'Execution Containers' for better AI agent sandboxing. The devices target developers and AI professionals, with Microsoft offering discounts up to $1,000.
Microsoft has begun accepting preorders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, with shipments expected in November. Priced at $6,000, the device is tailored for local AI workflows, featuring NVIDIA's RTX Spark N1X chip, 128GB RAM, and 2TB storage, with no customization options. It runs Windows 11 Pro and includes developer tools like Visual Studio Code and GitHub integrations.
Microsoft and Nvidia announced the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box at an event in San Francisco, with pre-orders opening and devices scheduled to ship on October 16. The new hardware features Nvidia's RTX Spark system-on-a-chip, enabling advanced AI and gaming capabilities, including support for hundreds of AAA titles on launch day.
Microsoft announced at its fall Surface event that Windows 11's Task Bar Search Menu will gain chatbot-like capabilities starting this fall, letting users type commands to control settings, find files, and converse with Copilot without opening a separate app. Executive Pavan Davuluri demonstrated features like toggling dark mode via text command and sending text messages through a paired phone directly from the Task Bar.
Microsoft has opened preorders for its Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-performance AI and development machine priced at $5,999, with shipments expected in November. The device features Nvidia’s RTX Spark platform, 128GB of memory, and a design inspired by gaming consoles, targeting developers working on AI models and coding tools.
Amazon has discounted the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 16-inch Touchscreen Laptop 2026 from its $2,699.99 list price to $1,399.99, a 48% reduction. The model runs Windows 11 Pro with Copilot+ PC branding and features a 120Hz WUXGA touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
A how-to guide explains using Windows 11's built-in Task Scheduler to automate routine maintenance, such as running WinGet's upgrade command weekly to keep apps current and delaying non-essential startup apps to speed up logon. It also covers pairing Task Scheduler with tested PowerShell scripts for file copying or housekeeping, and notes Power Automate for desktop as an alternative for interface-based automation, though broader use may require paid licenses.
Recent analysis reveals that Windows' hot-patching mechanism is designed to handle only one authorized patcher, typically Windows Update. If a function has been altered by an unauthorized process, the system detects this during the patching process and triggers a reboot to prevent potential issues. Race conditions may occur if a function is patched after initial safety checks, leading to partial patches that could destabilize the system.
Windows 11 marks its fifth anniversary since launching on October 5, 2021, a tenure marked by hardware compatibility fights, pressure to use online Microsoft accounts, and the rocky rollout of Copilot+ PCs and the Recall app. Microsoft has just begun rolling out the 26H2 update, which it describes as aiming for a 'predictable and low-disruption' experience rather than major new features.
Microsoft confirmed that installing the optional September 2026 KB5124010 preview update for Windows 11 can crash games, media players and productivity apps that rely on built-in AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding. Affected apps may fail to launch, close unexpectedly, or work until audio features are triggered. Microsoft says the issue mainly hits legacy software and has not given a timeline for a fix.
A tech explainer details Windows 11's SysMain feature, which preloads frequently used apps into RAM to speed performance, often making memory usage appear high even when not needed. The guide recommends checking Task Manager's Processes tab, restarting periodically to clear memory leaks, and disabling unnecessary startup apps, while cautioning against third-party memory cleaner tools.
Valve's September 2026 Hardware and Software Survey shows 32GB system memory overtook 16GB as the most common setup among Steam users, rising to 42.22% of all sampled rigs, a 4.77-point jump from August. On Windows specifically, 32GB reached about 43% while 16GB fell to 37.6%, and 8GB systems made up just over 6% across all platforms.
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