Windows Central Insider
Microsoft Rewards gives out extra birthday points now
MICROSOFT Microsoft Rewards adds a 2x birthday point bonus, but there's a process to follow to claim it.
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Features
5 more AWESOME Xbox April indies: Take a break from getting beat up in Hades 2
ID@Xbox Manage a bookshop or break out as a hit content creator in these newly released games brought to you by ID@Xbox.
Xbox is cleaning house for next-gen, and social clubs were just in the way
Xbox Xbox has removed Social Clubs, prompting questions about the future of its social features. I'm exploring what could be next, and whether Xbox is moving away from its social roots.
This free app will let you move your Windows 11 Taskbar and make it feel like the old days
Apps Windows 11 may look sleek, but let's face it, the Taskbar doesn't have many fans. So send it back to the glory days with RetroBar.
Breaking down Microsoft's next-gen Surface PC leaks
Podcast Podcast: Daniel and Zac discuss the leaks around Microsoft's upcoming wave of Surface hardware.
Windows & Software
Microsoft will retire Clipchamp for iOS, leaving creators without a mobile option
Apps Microsoft will retire Clipchamp for iOS on June 9, 2026, leaving the video editor without any mobile app.
Copilot adds mobile checkout with data from 500,000 merchants
Apps Copilot Checkout now works in the Copilot mobile app, and Microsoft has deepened catalog data from over half a million merchants to improve AI‑powered shopping.
Microsoft once again fixes File Explorer's annoying white flash bug
Windows 11 The latest Windows 11 preview build mentions a fix for File Explorer that should stop it from flash banging you in dark mode. I feel like we've seen this before...
PC Hardware
I tested 5 games on the Zenbook A16: Can Windows on ARM attract any gamers?
Windows on ARM ASUS and Qualcomm created a stellar Windows laptop in the Zenbook A16, but can it handle any PC gaming? I tested a few favorites to find out.
Intel reveals new Core Series 3 mobile CPUs for "value buyers"
Hardware Intel has unveiled its new Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" mobile CPUs designed to be more affordable, and I'm optimistic that they'll be a decent antidote to rising PC prices.
Panasonic Toughbook 56: Rugged modular laptop for field service, public safety, and utilities
Laptops Built for the edge: modular, fast, and secure so your laptop works as hard as you do.
EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft plans OLED display upgrades and a two-stage launch for new Surface PCs in 2026
Surface New PCs from Microsoft will consist of new chips, display upgrades, and higher starting prices this spring and summer.
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Deals
This pint-sized juggernaut of a mini-PC for work is now 15% off
Deals The Geekom A6 Mini-PC earned high marks from our friends at Tech Radar for its powerful performance, stylish yet practical design, plentiful features that are now 15% off
Always beware the quiet ones as this powerhouse mini-PC with silent cooling is now on sale
Deals The discounted Geekom A7 MAX mini-PC offers fast performance with its Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, an expandable 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, and a compact form-factor that won't greedily eat up desk space
Portable monitor with 12,000+ positive reviews returns to sale
Deals The KYY Portable Monitor is a pretty popular display on Amazon that's loved for its above-average performance rates and FHD resolutions, and it's now back on sale with a 34% discount.
I wish more Hall-Effect Xbox controllers had GameSir's price tag
Deals A 10% discount has been spotted for the GameSir Kaleid, making this budget-friendly Xbox controller with Hall Effect sticks/joysticks, RGB lighting, and tight ergonomics more valuable than ever.
Handheld Gaming PCs
How the Steam Deck became an unlikely Windows handheld
PC Gaming Valve's Steam Deck is a great piece of hardware that runs SteamOS out of the box. What about Windows? Well, it's possible, but not without some help from a community of enthusiasts.
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Gaming
5 more AWESOME Xbox April indies: Take a break from getting beat up in Hades 2
ID@Xbox Manage a bookshop or break out as a hit content creator in these newly released games brought to you by ID@Xbox.
Microsoft says Xbox Game Pass is getting more old Call of Duty games in 2026
Call of Duty Following Xbox's Game Pass price cut and the loss of Call of Duty on day one, it's said more games in the series are coming to the service this year.
The dev of Xbox Game Pass hit Vampire Survivors is working on 15 projects, opening 2 new studios
Gaming Poncle, the developer behind the acclaimed Xbox Game Pass hit Vampire Survivors, is working on 15 projects and expanding with two new studios.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI’s new feature is just like Windows Recall: Chronicle watches you
AI OpenAI’s Codex gets a memory upgrade, improving developer workflows by boosting effectiveness and efficiency.
Microsoft says its faster MAI-Image-2-Efficient AI model slashes costs
AI Microsoft unveils MAI-Image-2-Efficient, a faster and cheaper AI image model designed to deliver photorealistic results at scale.
Former Microsoft Xbox VP says AI is "the big question mark" for the future of gaming
AI Microsoft's former gaming and Xbox VP Ed Fries believes AI is "the big question mark" for gaming moving forward, and says it's not going away.
Did ChatGPT just call Sam Altman a liar?
AI OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently admitted that ChatGPT doesn't have the capability to keep track of time, but the chatbot insists it does.
Microsoft
Microsoft faces £2.8B UK lawsuit over Azure licensing
Microsoft The Redmond giant argues that using Windows Server as an input for Azure while simultaneously licensing it to rivals could be good for healthy competition.
Microsoft Rewards is changing in May and earning points may get harder
Microsoft Rewards Microsoft Rewards is rolling out a new tiered system with Member, Silver, and Gold levels, alongside increased earning potential and monthly bonuses, though early user reactions remain mixed.
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Join us for the LIVE Windows Central Podcast today at 2PM ET!
LIVE Daniel and Zac will be LIVE at 2PM ET on April 17 for the latest episode of the Windows Central Podcast, which will be all about what's next for Surface!
Is Microsoft's Security Response Center broken in light of BlueHammer?
Windows A zero-day BlueHammer exploit was recently published on GitHub in response to alleged MSRC failures, and although Microsoft has released a patch, it was live for two weeks.
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Peripherals & Accessories
ASUS ROG Raikiri II: build quality, input tech, and who benefits most
Review Our review of the Asus ROG Raikiri II: precise TMR sticks, crisp micro switches, and premium extras—who benefits and when it’s worth the cost.
