Category: Software

Microsoft has released PowerToys 0.90 that features a new tool - CmdPal (stands for Command Palette). It is the new utility to launch apps, and install winget packages It features a more powerful calculator, bookmarks, and more. Consider it an evolved version of PowerToys Run.

Microsoft is rolling out a refreshed sign-in experience for personal Microsoft accounts, which users will encounter when accessing services like Outlook, Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and others. This update introduces a modernized design aligned with the Fluent 2 style and adds support for a dark theme, particularly in the Xbox color scheme. The redesign aims to streamline the sign-in process by emphasizing passwordless authentication and improving the overall user experience.

Microsoft has introduced a new generative AI assistant called Copilot for Gaming, designed specifically to enhance the gaming experience for Xbox players. This assistant will be integrated into the Xbox mobile app, aiming to simplify gameplay by understanding and responding to users' needs.

Microsoft has announced that support for the Remote Desktop app available in the Microsoft Store will end on May 27, 2025. After that date, it will no longer be available for installation, nor will it be able to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, or Microsoft Dev Box.

Microsoft has introduced Dragon Copilot, an AI-powered assistant designed for medical environments. The tool leverages technology from Nuance Communications, which Microsoft acquired in 2021, combining the speech recognition capabilities of Dragon Medical One and the conversational AI capabilities of DAX Copilot.

Microsoft has acknowledged a problem where AutoCAD 2022 may not start on certain devices after upgrading to Windows 11 version 24H2. This issue reportedly impacts all editions of AutoCAD 2022. As a result, the company has temporarily halted the distribution of Windows 11 version 24H2 through Windows Update for systems with this software installed.

PowerToys will soon be capable to install apps for you. Using winget as its backend, the option to be part of the PowerToys Run module. So it will act like a GUI for winget, sort of.

Microsoft recently announced plans to modify the sign-in process for user accounts, intending to eliminate the "Stay signed in?" prompt. Under the proposed changes, users would remain automatically signed into their accounts unless they manually logged out or used private browsing mode. These updates were initially scheduled to roll out in February 2025.

Canonical has introduced an updated distro for the Ubuntu on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution, making it available in a newest tar-based format. This change simplifies the installation, management, and configuration of Ubuntu instances on WSL, offering a number of benefits for developers and system administrators.

Microsoft PowerToys continues to evolve as a powerful toolkit for Windows users, with upcoming updates set to significantly enhance its functionality. Its Advanced Paste feature is receiving a major upgrade. In the near future, it will get some cool media transcoding capabilities, making it much more versatile for everyday tasks.