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Removal of unwanted drivers from Windows Update

This blog post is intended to notify all Windows Hardware program partners that Microsoft has taken a strategic initiative to clean up legacy drivers published on Windows Update to reduce security and compatibility risks. The rationale behind this initiative is to ensure that we have the optimal set of drivers on Windows Update that cater to a variety of hardware devices across the windows ecosystem, while making sure that Microsoft Windows security posture is not compromised. This initiative in

Windows 11’s indicators for volume and brightness can soon be moved out of the way

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 that will let you move hardware indicators pop-ups like volume and screen brightness to the top-left and top-center positions of a display. The customization feature is part of a new Dev Channel build of Windows 11 that also includes a new Recall homepage that lists the top three apps and websites you’ve used in a 24-hour period.

Next-gen Xbox and PlayStation 6 expected in 2027, powered by AMD's UDNA graphics

Something to look forward to: If rumors prove accurate, Sony and Microsoft may once again align on GPU architecture for their next-generation consoles, this time leveraging AMD's upcoming UDNA graphics platform. The expected performance gains in ray tracing and AI upscaling suggest a significant shift that could outpace current PC GPUs on a per-compute-unit basis. With both companies also exploring handheld form factors and staggered launch timelines, these developments offer an early look at th

Xbox App for PC Now Integrates Your Steam Games

The Xbox App on PC is now integrating purchased games from people's libraries across various supported storefronts, including Steam, Microsoft announced Monday. This feature is currently limited to those in the Xbox Insider program, which gives early access to software updates. Windows users can access the Xbox Insider Hub here. The update aggregates all titles across supported PC gaming storefronts to turn the Xbox App into a universal launcher. This is especially handy for people who buy game

Super Micro shares fall on planned $2 billion convertible debt offering

Super Micro Computer shares fell about 6% on Monday after the server maker said it plans to offer $2 billion in convertible notes, maturing in 2030. A company's stock often falls on the announcement of a convertible offering because the eventual conversion to equity could dilute existing shareholders' stakes. Super Micro, which has seen its business boom due to soaring demand for Nvidia's artificial intelligence processors, said in a press release that it plans to use the proceeds from the off

Microsoft surprises MS-DOS fans with remake of ancient text editor that works on Linux

Last month, Microsoft released a modern remake of its classic MS-DOS Editor, bringing back a piece of computing history that first appeared in MS-DOS 5.0 back in 1991. The new open source tool, built with Rust and simply called "Edit," works on Windows, macOS, and—in a twist that would have seemed unlikely three decades ago—Linux. The cross-platform availability has delighted longtime users who never expected to see Microsoft's text editor running on their preferred operating system. "30 years

Microsoft’s Xbox UI update lets you pin games and customize your homescreen

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is rolling out a new update to its Xbox Home UI that allows Xbox owners to pin apps and games on the homescreen. It’s part of a number of customization changes to the Xbox Home UI, including the ability to hide system apps and reduce the number of apps and games listed in the most recently used section. You can pin up to three of your recently launched games or apps

Microsoft Is Ditching Passwords for Passkeys: How to Switch Before the August Deadline

Did you know there's a safer alternative to passwords? Some companies are implementing passkeys, which essentially use your biometric data, like fingerprint or facial recognition to log into your account as the first step. Passkeys can cut out risky password habits that 49% of US adults have, according to a recent CNET survey. Using the same password for multiple accounts and even using personal information, like your name, as a part of your password can lead to hackers guessing it or your pass

Bill Gates and Linus Torvalds meet for the first time at tech titans' dinner

What just happened? Given that there was a time when Microsoft called Linux a "cancer," it's little surprise that the Redmond firm's co-founder and long-time boss Bill Gates had never met Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel. But that changed recently when the two attended a dinner, and it appears to have gone well. Microsoft chief technical officer Mark Russinovich posted evidence of the historic dinner in a LinkedIn post. Dave Cutler, the legendary programmer and lead architect of the

Microsoft adds Steam games to its Xbox PC app on Windows

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is starting to test its new aggregated gaming library in its Xbox PC app on Windows. Xbox Insiders will now be able to see their Steam and Battle.net games all within the Xbox app this week — making it a single launcher for most installed PC games. This new consolidated library will roll out to the Xbox app later this year, as well as new devices like the ROG Xbox Al

Recycled Polyester Saved This American Factory. Environmentalists Hate It

In the bottle processing plant in Reidsville, North Carolina, drifts of plastic particles, like snow banks, are piled in every nook of the machinery that chops the bottles into flake. When I ask our tour guide, a floor manager, if he worries about breathing it in, he says he doesn't. "We do a good job of cleaning it up," he says, adding that the bags of dust that are vacuumed up are sold off, and the wastewater is filtered. But I’m concerned. A 2023 study of a UK plastics recycling plant found

You'll Be Flabbergasted to Learn Which Contains More Microplastics: Plastic Bottles or Glass Bottles

You'll Be Flabbergasted to Learn Which Contains More Microplastics: Plastic Bottles or Glass Bottles "We expected the opposite result." Bottom of the Bottle French government scientists have discovered something startling about the microplastic content in glass and plastic bottles. As the Agence France-Presse reports, scientists at the country's food safety regulator found that glass-bottled drinks contained about 100 microplastic particles per liter, which amounts to roughly 25 particles pe

I recommend this Windows tablet for work travel over the iPad Pro - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways Microsoft made one of the best work tablets of 2024 with the 11th-generation Surface Pro for $1,000. It's one of the latest Copilot+ PCs housing next-gen hardware, long-lasting battery, and a stunning OLED touchscreen. As great as it may be, the device's generative AI features don't perform at the same level as the rest of the machine's features. $999.99 at Best Buy At Amazon, the 512GB Microsoft Surface Pro is on sale for $900. That is a 25% disount. Copilot+ PCs have

European leaders worry they’re too reliant on U.S. tech

In Brief European governments may be reconsidering their use of American technology and services, according to a new report in The New York Times. The flashpoint seems to come after President Donald Trump sanctioned Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, over the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. In response, Microsoft turned off Khan’s email address. Casper Klynge, a

OpenAI May Have Screwed Up So Badly That Its Entire Future Is Under Threat

OpenAI May Have Screwed Up So Badly That Its Entire Future Is Under Threat Battle of the titans. Forgiveness or Permission In its quest to become a for-profit entity, OpenAI may have catastrophically fumbled the bag with its patron Microsoft. As the Financial Times reports based on insider interviews, Microsoft is ready to walk away from the frustrating negotiations with OpenAI as both parties seek to renew their partnership amid the latter's for-profit push. Earlier in the week, the Wall St

Microsoft suspended the email account of an ICC prosecutor at The Hague

“The I.C.C. showed this can happen,” said Bart Groothuis, a former head of cybersecurity for the Dutch Ministry of Defense who is now a member of the European Parliament. “It’s not just fantasy.” Mr. Groothuis once supported U.S. tech firms but has done a “180-degree flip-flop,” he said. “We have to take steps as Europe to do more for our sovereignty.” Some at the I.C.C. are now using Proton, a Swiss company that provides encrypted email services, three people with knowledge of the communicati

Microsoft begins cleanup of legacy drivers from Windows Update

Forward-looking: Microsoft has traditionally maintained strong backward compatibility with older hardware and software. However, the company is now working to phase out as many legacy drivers as possible in an effort to streamline the Windows Update process and reduce its overall complexity. According to a recent post addressing partners in the Windows Hardware Program, Microsoft is working to remove legacy drivers from the Windows Update system. The company says the goal is to reduce security

Microsoft's Family Safety Feature Is Blocking Chrome: Here's the Workaround

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is designed to block certain types of websites from children. Apparently, it's also been blocking Google's Chrome browser -- but there is a workaround. Chrome, a web browser launched by Google in 2008 -- is not working when users have the Family Safety Feature enabled. The first report of the bug seems to date to June 3, when a user posted on Google's online support board. The user noted that Chrome constantly closed when the person tried to use it. Restarti

Drinks in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those in other container

The aim of the ANSES study was to determine the level of microplastic contamination in drinks such as water, soda, iced tea, wine and beer; it also sought to establish the impact of their containers on this level. For most of the drinks studied, the level of microplastics was found to be higher in glass bottles than in other containers. For example, on average, in glass bottles of cola, lemonade, iced tea and beer, there were around 100 microplastic particles per litre. This number was five to 5

Having trouble opening Chrome? It may be Microsoft’s fault

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR A bug is preventing Windows users from opening Google’s Chrome browser. The bug is connected to Microsoft’s Family Safety feature. There are a few workarounds, like renaming Chrome.exe to Chrome1.exe. Microsoft isn’t afraid to deploy tactics to nudge you away from Chrome. For example, earlier this year, Bing users were running into a pop-up that discouraged them from switching browsers. However, the friction between the two isn’t always intentional, w

TechCrunch Mobility: Applied Intuition’s eye-popping valuation, the new age of micromobility, and Waymo’s wild week

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Waymo might be the largest commercial robotaxi operator — offering 250,000 paid rides per week — but it is hardly smooth. The past seven days in Waymo’s world illustrates just how dynamic the burgeoning robotaxi business can be. The company limited service nationwide on June 13 ahead of scheduled “No Kings” protests against Presid

Microsoft begins cleaning legacy drivers from Windows Update

Forward-looking: Microsoft has traditionally maintained strong backward compatibility with older hardware and software. However, the company is now working to phase out as many legacy drivers as possible in an effort to streamline the Windows Update process and reduce its overall complexity. According to a recent post addressing partners in the Windows Hardware Program, Microsoft is working to remove legacy drivers from the Windows Update system. The company says the goal is to reduce security

Windows parental controls are blocking Chrome

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Microsoft is making it harder to use Chrome on Windows. The culprit? This time, it's Windows' Family Safety feature. Since early this month, the parental control measure has prevented users from opening Chrome. Strangely, no other apps or browsers appear to be affected. Redditors first reported the issue on June 3 (via The Verge). u/Witty-Discount-2906 posted that Chrome crashed on Windows 11. "Just flashes quickly, unable to open with no error message,"

The startups rolling out of Europe’s early-stage micromobility scene

Early-stage micromobility has shifted over the last few years. The cowboy antics of e-scooter companies causing chaos in a bid to scale has faded along with those fat venture checks that are now flowing to AI startups. Tighter capital combined with an existential need to create sustainable business models has produced a new crop of micromobility startups. This week, I attended Micromobility Europe in Brussels, where I toured the conference’s so-called “Startup Arena” to get a sense of what Eur

Microsoft investigates OneDrive bug that breaks file search

​Microsoft is investigating a known OneDrive issue that is causing searches to appear blank for some users or return no results even when searching for files they know they've already uploaded. In a support document updated this week, the company shared that this bug impacts Windows, Android, iOS, and web users. "Some OneDrive personal account users may notice that search results appear blank or don't return files they know exist. While the files are still present and accessible, they don't ap

Early Prime Day deals include the 8BitDo Micro gamepad for only $17

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Amazon Prime Days begins again on July 8, but early deals are already starting to trickle out. For instance, the 8BitDo Micro gamepad is on sale for just $17. This is a record-low price and represents a discount of 33 percent. However, the deal only applies to the green colorway. The

Storage Prices Are Going Nuts, Grab a New Samsung MicroSD Card With Adapter for Early Prime Day

Storage prices, to put it politely, have been all over the place lately. You could get motion sickness watching them rise and fall and rise again, and there’s of course the ever-present threat of tariffs that would suddenly balloon the prices of storage and many other tech goods. So when the roller-coaster of storage pricing rolls downward, it’s smart to grab some while you can. Now’s a good time, if Amazon’s 36% off deal on the Samsung EVO Select MicroSD memory card and adapter is any indicatio

Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Earlier this month, Microsoft’s Family Safety feature, primarily used by parents and schools as a set of parental controls and filters, started randomly blocking Google’s Chrome browser from opening on Windows. The first reports surfaced on June 3rd, with some Chrome users noticing the browser kept closing or wouldn’t open. Microsoft has introduced a bug into Family Safety tha

ZeniMax and Microsoft ratify union agreement

Members of the ZeniMax Workers United-CWA union have ratified the contract agreement with parent company Microsoft. This agreement with the union representing the video game studio's quality assurance employees marks the first time Microsoft has entered into any union contract in the US. ZeniMax Studios is probably best known for its work on The Elder Scrolls Online. Stephen Totilo first reported on this news; we've reached out to Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America for additiona

Microsoft to remove legacy drivers from Windows Update for security boost

Microsoft has announced plans to periodically remove legacy drivers from the Windows Update catalog to mitigate security and compatibility risks. "The rationale behind this initiative is to ensure that we have the optimal set of drivers on Windows Update that cater to a variety of hardware devices across the windows ecosystem, while making sure that Microsoft Windows security posture is not compromised," Microsoft said. "This initiative involves periodic cleanup of drivers from Windows Update,