Category: Software

The Microsoft PowerToys team is exploring the possibility of implementing a new menu bar at the top of the screen in Windows 11, much like the implementation in Linux, macOS, and older versions of Windows. The new feature, dubbed Command Palette Dock , is designed to provide quick access to various tools, system resource monitoring, and much more.

Microsoft has released an update extending Cross Device Resume functionality for Windows 11 users. This feature, first introduced in the May 2025 Windows non-security update (KB5058499), enables continuity between Android devices and Windows PCs.

Microsoft has started testing a new design for the web version of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which makes the interface more similar to that used on Xbox game consoles. Xbox Insider program members can already try out a preview version of the new interface, featuring improved navigation and a variety of animations.

Microsoft has released the public preview of the Windows App Development CLI, known as winapp, an open-source command-line tool designed to simplify the development lifecycle for Windows applications. The tool supports a broad range of frameworks and toolchains, including Electron, C++ with CMake, .NET, Rust, and Dart.

Microsoft is rolling out updated versions of the Notepad and Paint apps to Windows 11 Insiders on the Dev and Canary channels. Notepad version 11.2512.10.0 adds support for strikethrough and nested lists in Markdown, along with a new welcome dialog. Paint version 11.2512.191.0 introduces the AI-powered Coloring book feature, which generates custom coloring pages from text prompts on Copilot+ PCs. It also includes a fill tolerance slider for the Paint Bucket tool.

Microsoft has announced the general availability of the Xbox app on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. The app is out of beta, and now provides access to Microsoft's gaming ecosystem on Arm devices. Users can now download, install and play titles directly from the Xbox PC app game catalog on compatible devices.

Microsoft has released a new version of the PowerToys utility, version 0.97, which brings with it a large number of improvements to the Command Palette, a completely new CursorWrap tool, expanded command-line (CLI) support for some tools, and other changes and improvements.

Users have recently observed a new message while launching games through Xbox Cloud Gaming, stating, "1 hour of ad supported play time per session." This notice appears to confirm earlier reports that Microsoft plans to introduce an ad-supported access tier. Although the message surfaced unexpectedly, sources at the company clarify it is an upcoming feature rather than a current policy.

The Just the Browser project is a new script that configures popular web browsers by disabling features unrelated to core web navigation. The project provides configuration options for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox, targeting functionalities that often disrupt user experience.

Microsoft has released the source code for XAML Studio, a development environment designed for rapid user interface prototyping and graphical application development using the XAML markup language. XAML serves as a foundational component in the .NET Framework.