Microsoft has yet to announce a date for its annual Build 2023 developer conference, although it has confirmed that the event will take place this year. The event home page is greeting visitors for their interest in Microsoft Build and notes that the company is getting ready to start registration. Simply put, Microsoft is almost ready for the official announcement of the event.
Windows 11 Build 25290 (Dev) adds new widgets and Start menu notifications
Microsoft has released a new preview, Windows 11 build 25290, to Insiders program using the Dev channel. The release is notable for new widgets for Spotify and Phone Link, and also enables notifications in the Start menu.
Microsoft has issued optional updates to fix XPS in WPF-based apps
In December 2022, Microsoft has released KB5022083, a security update that changes how .NET Framework and .NET handle XPS content. So many apps built with WPF started to render incorrectly. While Microsoft provided a workaround along with the release of the patch, the issue still affects plenty of users.
A new PowerToys app ‘Mouse Jump’ allows quickly moving the mouse over large distances
The Microsoft PowerToys suite is getting a new utility. Dubbed as Mouse Jump, it will significantly improve users' mouse movements on hi-res displays, ultra-wide screens, and multi-monitor setups.
Firefox 109.0.1 fixes Font Rendering you may have started to hate
Mozilla Firefox has got an update to version 109.0.1. It comes with several fixes for the browser on several platforms, including Windows and Mac. For the Windows version of Firefox, developers have restored pre-Firefox 109 font rendering. The new DirectWrite method introduced in Firefox 109 made fonts look much thicker. Firefox 109.0.1 restores them back to normal.: :
Microsoft has finally made full screen Widgets available for stable Windows 11
The novelty comes with the latest Windows Web Experience Pack version 423.2300.0.0. Once you receive it, the Widgets pane will have a special button to maximize it.
Windows 11 22H2 will now be forcibly installed over version 21H2
Starting today, Microsoft is starting forced updates of the first version of Windows 11 (21H2) to the current Windows 11 2022 Update (22H2). It is noted that the update will be phased in, and those computers on which Windows 11 21H1 has been installed the longest will be updated first.
Phone Link app now has its own widget on Windows 11
The third-party Messenger widget that was announced in Windows 11 build 25284 is not the only new widget available to Insiders in the Dev channel. Without a fanfare, Microsoft has added a dedicated Phone Link mini app that casts updates from your phone to the Widgets pane.
Windows 11 Build 25284 (Dev) allows creating ReFS partitions in the setup program
Recently, it was discovered that Window 11 supports intallation on ReFS in Dev Channel builds. As it is a work in progress, the setup program could use an ReFS partition, but could not create one or format an existing one. There is some progress on this in Build 25284.
KB5022360 is now available for stable Windows 11 22H2, build 22621.1194
Microsoft has released its a new optional "Preview" patch KB5022360 for stable Windows 11 version 22H2. The update raises the OS version to build 22621.1194 and comes with several fixes. It resolves issues searchindexer.exe, including image search from the taskbar. Also, it fixes a bug that makes the PC enter sleep mode when a game controller is connected.
