The most popular operating system in the world, Microsoft’s Windows is the software that powers hundreds of millions of PCs. Introduced back in November 1985, Windows has changed and evolved over time to grow as gaming, design, development, and productivity needs have shifted. Whether XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or, most recently, Windows 11, Microsoft’s OS is one of the most important pieces of software ever made.
Microsoft is launching a new digital sketchpad app for Windows next month. Microsoft Ink Canvas will be available first on the new Surface Pro 12-inch, and other supported devices on October 13th. It supports sketching with pen or touch, and includes AI image generation and summaries. It’s essentially an AI-powered version of the various digital whiteboard apps Microsoft has created over the years.
After Microsoft removed the Copilot buttons from some Windows 11 apps, the latest Insider Release Preview builds (26100.9539 and 26200.9539) add an option for easily changing that dedicated AI key back to a control or Context Menu button, without using workarounds.
[Windows Insider Program]
Most Windows 11 widgets haven’t been all that useful so far, but a new battery option is reportedly coming soon that looks like something I’d use daily. Much like Apple and Google’s batteries widgets, it tracks battery levels for any devices connected to a PC. Once it’s officially rolled out, you should be able to use it on the lock screen or widgets board.
Acer is announcing the Vero 16: a 16-inch laptop with tool-free internal access. The battery and SSD are user-replaceable, and the hinge and ports are also removable. Acer also says the processor can be upgraded for “at least two generations.”
An Acer service center will conduct the upgrades — not the user. And for now all pricing is TBD. The Vero 16 is launching outside North America in Q1 2027.
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The HP OmniBook 3 16 hits different in an era of expensive laptops.
Microsoft’s latest Experimental Windows 11 Insider Preview build introduces support for Emoji 17.0, alongside an updated context menu experience in File Explorer that’s “designed to feel faster, cleaner, and easier to tailor.” A notable personalization feature finally lets you add the “Print” command to the context menu in Windows 11.
It’s a terrible time to buy a laptop (sorry), but if you gotta do it, here are some to consider.
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Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Yeeeeeeeeeessssssss.
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The Framework Laptop 13 Pro has it all. But RAMageddon spiked its price.
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The new entry-level Surface Laptop 13-inch is last year’s same great hardware with less memory and a higher price.
This Windows Central rumor says Windows 11 could add a dedicated flyout menu for the phone companion to show your phone’s status and things like DND status or “find my phone.” Other possible updates could bring a standalone SMS syncing app and sync your clipboard history beyond just the last entry.
Zac Bowden at Windows Central posted this video of Aion, a stripped-down Windows concept made for agentic AI that popped up on the BetaWiki Discord, and says sources have confirmed to him that it is a real video made in 2024.
There’s no indication whether an OS like this would actually ship or if it’s part of something like Project Solara, but it’s very Chrome OS-like, built around the Edge browser and web apps.
The free Windows 10 extended support program was only supposed to last until October 13th, 2026, but Microsoft has quietly expanded support until October 12th, 2027. That gives users an extra year to avoid updating to Windows 11, or forking out for a new computer amid the ongoing RAMageddon.
At Computex, Asus announced the ROG NUC 16 Edition 20 — a mini-PC with Intel’s highest-end mobile chip and a flagship RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. It’s even decked out in gold accents for the Republic of Gamers’ 20th anniversary.
Like other Asus Computex announcements, there’s no pricing. But as Liliputing points out, the standard model with an RTX 5080 costs $3,799.
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At its Build developer conference, Microsoft is launching Microsoft Execution Containers, a policy-driven layer to make it more secure to run things like OpenClaw on Windows. It’s going a step further too, by allowing a companion app for OpenClaw to run contained on Windows PCs. It should stop AI agents like OpenClaw from deleting all your files. “You can totally run OpenClaw inside your company now,” says OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger.
