Microsoft has updated the Beta channel with two new builds. Windows 11 Build 22624.1680 includes a number of new features, and Build 22621.1680 has them disabled. You will find Widgets improvements, including three column UI and new animations, more flexible app pinning to the taskbar and setting default apps, and several fixes.
Author: Sergey Tkachenko
Microsoft Edge will soon allow removing features you never use
The upcoming change will allow you to disable extra features in Edge. The browser has a wide range of options such as a password manager, sidebar, and Bing integration. However, some users find certain components to be "bloat". That's because they are considered redundant and slow down the browser. Consequently, Microsoft is experimenting with the ability to remove those extra features from Edge, which can improve performance.
Windows 11’s Phone Link app now features iPhone support
Windows 11 Phone Link app now includes support for iOS, so iPhone users can finally make calls and send messages from their PC. The feature was previously limited to Android devices. Since March 2023, it has been made available to a small number of Windows 11 Insiders. But now it is available to a wider audience. The update is part of Microsoft's effort to bridge the gap between Windows and mobile devices.
Microsoft has published a report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023
The earnings report for Microsoft's third quarter of fiscal year 2023 is now available. During this period, the company generated $52.9 billion in revenue and $18.3 billion in net profit. To compare, in the same quarter of the previous year, the revenue was $49.4 billion and the net profit was $16.7 billion.
Optional preview updates for Windows 11 and 10, April 2023
Microsoft has issued its optional preview updates that contain fixes and features that will be generally available in the next Patch Tuesday. Windows 11 22H2 is receiving KB5025305, build 22621.1635, and the original version of this OS, 21H2, is getting KB5025298, build 22000.1880. Windows 10 updates include KB5025297, Build 19045.2913, for version 22H2. Here are the key changes.
Microsoft Edge reports all the sites you visit to Bing
The inbox Windows browser app, Microsoft Edge, is leaking the sites you visit to Bing. The phonecalling is part of the poorly implemented "follow creator" feature. Designed to check specific YouTube channels for new content, it instead sends all the URLs you visit to Bing API endpoints.
JavaGPT makes ChatGPT work on legacy Windows starting from Windows 98
A third-party ChatGPT client build with Java 8 allows accessing the chatbot on any device that can run the Java code. With help of this tool, you can access ChatGPT from legacy Windows versions. Thanks to Java 8 support, even Windows 98 can start it.
Google Authenticator can now sync your accounts across multiple devices
Google Authenticator adds the ability to sync your accounts between your devices. A long overdue feature that Google Authenticator was missing out on.
[Upd] MSN Weather for Windows 11 and 10 to get advanced recommendations and ads
The built-in weather apps starts to see updates in Windows 11 and 10. It has got a revamped look with a dedicated section for current weather based suggestions, and ads.
Hidden features in Windows 11 Build 25346 (Canary)
Here are the list of hidden features you can enable in Windows 11 Build 25346. It was released last week for Insiders in the Canary channel. Traditionally, there are a number of hidden features that you can activate in addition to what is available out of the box. Some of them may be already familiar to you. Those include that ability to make Search open on hover, turn on different Start menu badge notifications, and "smart layouts" for Snap Assist.
