Windows 11 will soon get watercolor, cartoon, and illustration image modifications for the Studio Effects bundle. These will be applied in real time to your Camera video stream, and will be AI-powered.
Author: Sergey Tkachenko
Microsoft has fixed a bug that prevented KB5034765 from installing in Windows 11
Microsoft has fixed an issue that caused the installation of the February cumulative update KB5034765 for Windows 11 to fail with error code 0x800F0922 and then undo the changes made. The fix was included in the KB5035853 update released on March 12, 2024.
Windows 11 Paint has got several Layers and tool improvements
Microsoft is releasing an update for the inbox Paint on Windows 11. Paint version 11.2402.32.0 enhances brush size selection and layers. Currently, only Windows Insider program members on the Dev and Canary channels can test these improvements.
Windows 11 Build 22635.3350 (KB5035955) lands in the Beta channel
A new Beta channel release, Windows 11 Build 22635.3350 (KB5035955), has become available to Insiders. It changes the logic behind the "recommended" section in Start, that now can show non-pinned apps. There are fixes, some of which are only available to insiders with the Settings > Windows Update > Get the latest updates as soon as they are available option enabled.
Windows 11 Build 26080 (Dev/Can) improves File Explorer, Copilot and Teams
Microsoft is releasing Windows 11Build 26080 to insiders on both Canary and Dev channels. The update is notable for including a newer version of Teams with extra capabilities, like fast account switching. The Copilot app now comes with much longer list of supported commands to manage the OS. Finally, the taskbar showcases an updated progress animation for running app buttons, and adds Live Captions in Quick Actions. Additionally, File Explorer adds "do it for all conflicts" option for archive operations.
Microsoft has stopped promoting Edge when you change the default browser
In order to adhere to the regulations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union, Microsoft is implementing adjustments to its services and apps. As a result, pop-up advertisements for Edge will no longer appear when users attempt to change their default browser in Windows 10 and 11.
Copilot now uses the GPT-4 Turbo model with free access for users
The latest Copilot GPT-4 Turbo model is now accessible without any charges or fees. Users can also activate the GPT-4 Turbo in either Creative or Precise mode, granting access to a range of new features. Copilot also offers users the choice to stick with the previous version if they prefer.
Microsoft will drop customer support for Windows 10 21H2 on June 11, 2024
On March 12, 2024, Microsoft announced that it would discontinue support for Windows 10 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise version 21H2 on June 11, 2024. After this date, updates and security patches for older versions of the operating system will no longer be provided. Support for the Windows 10 21H2 version for regular users had already ended in June 2023.
Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and 10, March 12, 2024
Microsoft has released a new set of cumulative updates for Windows 11 and 10. Traditionally, such updates aim at closing vulnerabilities and fixing bugs. They rarely include drastic changes, but may come with general improvements.
ZIP archive support in Windows 11 still uses the code from Windows 95
The native support for ZIP archives, or "compressed folders" in Windows terms, is available since Windows ME. It was first introduced as part of Windows 98's Plus! add-on. The lesser known story behind it is how it was created by Dave Plummer as his pet project , then turned into a shareware "Visual ZIP" product. Finally, Microsoft tried to acquire it despite the fact that Dave Plummer was already a Microsoft employee.