A change in Windows 11 24H2 may have negative impact on your computer's performance. Microsoft is enabling BitLocker device encryption by default in the upcoming version of the OS. When you sign-in to the pre-installed Windows 11 or set it up on a new device with a Microsoft account or work / school account, the drive will be encrypted automatically.
Author: Sergey Tkachenko
Cumulative updates for Windows 11 and 10, August 13, 2024
Microsoft has issued monthly cumulative updates for all supported versions of Windows 11 and 10. While these updates do not usually include new features, they mostly focus on resolving identified issues and addressing vulnerabilities.
YouTube Music introduces Personal Radio, a public playlist with your tracks
YouTube music is gradually rolling personal radio, a new feature to stream and share your preferences. The service adds it to your profile and builds its with tracks from your listening history. Once it appears for you, you can share it with your friends or add to the library.
Microsoft will kill Paint 3D completely in November
Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue support for the Paint 3D app. The company will stop releasing updates for the app and will permanently remove it from the Microsoft Store on November 4, 2024. Users who currently have the app installed should still be able to use it after this date.
Microsoft is working on a mixed reality headset that will compete with Apple’s Vision Pro
Microsoft has reportedly signed a deal with Samsung to supply micro-OLED displays for a new mixed reality headset in development. The device is rumored to be aimed at consumers and will be suitable for movies and games. This marks a shift in strategy for the company after the cancellation of HoloLens 3 and the demise of the Windows Mixed Reality platform.
Windows 11 Build 26120.1350 (Dev) secures MSIX package installation
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 26120.1350 (KB5041871), to Insiders in the Dev channel. Insiders in the Dev channel are currently receiving Windows 11 version 24H2 updates as a servicing package that enables the new changes (builds 26120.xxxx).
Windows 11 Build 22635.4010 (Beta) improves the taskbar
Beta channel insiders are now getting Windows 11 Build 22635.4010 with several improvements and fixes made to the taskbar, and an updated Paint.
Firefox Could Lose Financial Support From Google and Plunge into the Dark Ages
Google regularly pays other companies to be the default search engine, including Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox browser. For that, a US federal judge has ruled that such deals have a "significant effect" on maintaining Google's search monopoly, preventing other search engines from competing fairly and entrenching Google's dominance. Google is officially recognized as a monopolist with its search market share about 95%.
Google is testing Compact Mode for Google Chrome on desktop
Google is working on a compact mode in the Chrome browser. It aims at offering an alternative UI that should free up more space on screen and reduce control padding. This way, the browser will get more room to display the web content. At the moment, the feature is only available in the desktop branch of the browser.
Google is about add a built-in AI in the Chrome browser that will work locally
Google is about to run an experiment with built-in artificial intelligence in the Chrome browser. Currently, the company invited participants to join a closed test of embedding a large machine learning language model into Chrome.
