Like many other Dev channel releases, Windows 11 Build 25309 includes several features that you can enable. Some of them Microsoft rolls out gradually, so you can force enable them without waiting. Others are a work-in-progress and weren't announced. Let's review them in detail.
Windows 11 Build 22624.1391 (Beta) is out with Voice Access improvements
Insiders in the Beta channel are also receiving a portion of new features introduced today in the Dev channel build 25309. Microsoft has released builds 22621.1391 and 22624.1391, with the latter including new Voice Access features. Both builds come as KB5023011, but build 22621.1391 has new features disabled out of the box.
Windows 11 Build 25309: new enhanced volume mixer, theme-aware icons for Widgets, and more
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25309 to Insiders in the Dev channel. It includes several enhancements and feature updates. A new enhanced volume mixer, theme-aware icons for Widgets, an updated color scheme for Search, more personalized "Let's finish setting up your device" screen, an updated Voice Access are some of those improvements. This build also marks the return of new Snap Layout, but revokes new Desktop Spotlight UI. Here are the changes in detail.
PowerToys 0.68 released with two new tools, Paste as Plain Text and Mouse Jump
If you track PowerToys development, today's release could be the one you was waiting for. Besides various fixes and improvements, PowerToys 0.68 brings two new tools, Paste as Plain Text and Mouse Jump, to the stable branch of the app suite.
A new version of ExplorerPatcher fixes issues with Windows 11 “Moment 2” Update
The ExplorerPatcher's developer, Valentin-Gabriel Radu, has reacted on Microsoft's statement on the Windows Health Dashboard that is recommended to uninstall the app before installing Moment 2 Update. He has released a new version of ExplorerPatcher resolves all the issues with Windows 11 version 22H2, Build 22621.1344. Now you can enjoy classic features and familiar appearance of Windows 10 in the latest stable Windows 11.
Intel and Microsoft may be preparing for Windows 12
While Microsoft hasn’t said a single word about Windows 12, looks like it will be the next major version of the OS. As Microsoft mentioned several times, the future Windows releases will heavily use AI here and there. To be successful in this area, Microsoft needs support from its hardware partners, i.e. Intel and AMD. A leak from Intel's internal documentation mentions Windows 12 as the supported OS by the Meteor Lake desktop platform.
Edge Add-on Store is getting extension badges
Microsoft has announced that they are bringing badges to the Edge add-on store. They should help you differentiate useful and popular extensions among 11,000 available add-ons. In company's opinion, the new badge system will stimulate developers to build high quality extensions to compete on the marketplace.
Winamp relaunches as on March 15 as a Streaming Service with Music Subscriptions
Llama Group (formerly Radionomy Group) is relaunching the Winamp project on March 15 as a streaming service with musician subscriptions. The company is expecting to attract 1 million musicians to the platform. The key highlights are as follows.
Microsoft officially recommends avoiding apps that restore classic features in Windows 11
Citing compatibility issues, Microsoft now officially recommends you to avoid StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher. These two tools are famous for restoring classic features in Windows 11, such as Windows 10 Start menu, File Explorer with ribbon, the classic taskbar, and much more. A post on the Windows Health dashboard website advises you to install them to avoid Explorer crashes and boot loops.
Here are some details on Phone Link for iPhone
Microsoft today announced that the Phone Link app for Windows 11 now supports iPhone. Users can now access iMessage, phone calls, contacts, and notifications from their PC.
