Microsoft gives XBOX mode a more handheld-friendly Gaming Task View
Windows 11 Microsoft is testing a Gaming Task View in XBOX mode, giving Windows 11 users faster access to the desktop.
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Features
I'm taking an RTX Spark PC on a 10-hour trip. Here's what it needs to prove.
PC gaming Ray tracing looked glorious on the Lenovo Pro 9n’s OLED but chewed through battery life. Here’s what I’m testing on a 10-hour drive.
This studio made all the killer games that sold me on almost every XBOX console
Xbox 25 To celebrate XBOX's approaching 25th anniversary, I'm looking back at the games that convinced me to buy its consoles with predictions for what comes next.
I tested ASUS' Googlebook 14: So, how does it feel to a lifelong Windows user?
Hands-on Windows Central's Senior Editor Ben Wilson goes hands-on with the ASUS Googlebook 14 and shares his first 24 hours with Google's own operating system.
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Microsoft’s week in review: Surface Laptop Ultra arrives, RTX Spark laptops go live, and Windows 11 gets buried under AI jargon
Surface Microsoft showed off compelling Windows 11 features and hardware, but much of the event was weighed down by developer-focused AI discussions.
On This Day: Xbox’s 2015 “games everywhere” strategy revisited
On this Day A look back at Xbox’s 2015 “games everywhere” vision — the moment Phil Spencer sketched out a future that Asha Sharma is now fully realizing 11 years later.
Moonraker turns 10 and still looks ahead of its time
Flashback A decade later, Microsoft’s unreleased Moonraker smartwatch still feels like a glimpse into an alternate timeline.
Looking back at 2016’s “I love you, Xbox” — and how much (and little) has changed
Flashback Looking back at the 2016 editorial that captured Xbox’s growing pains and predicted the decade ahead.
Revisiting the LG Lancet, 11 years later
Flashback A look back at the LG Lancet and the era when Windows Phone 8.1 defined Microsoft’s mobile peak.
Windows & Software
Microsoft will reward new Windows 11 PC buyers with 25 Xbox games worth $500+
Windows 11 Gears of War: Reloaded and more Xbox free games will be given to PC players as part of Windows 11's latest promotion.
Microsoft Edge may ditch Favorites for Bookmarks
Apps Microsoft Edge may soon swap Favorites for Bookmarks, a small change that could make switching from Chrome feel more natural.
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An AI magic wand could be on the way to fix Microsoft Edge
Apps Microsoft appears to be testing an AI tool for Edge that can diagnose browser problems and recommend fixes.
PC Hardware
Review roundup: RTX Spark's biggest surprise isn't performance
Laptops Experts are praising RTX Spark's AI, GPU, and creator-focused performance ahead of tomorrow's first full laptop reviews.
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The best AR glasses you can buy just got a major display upgrade
Computing The XREAL 1 Pro+ keeps much of what worked before but adds a major brightness boost and several image quality upgrades.
Amazon’s Nanomatte display is so good it makes me want a whole new Surface Pro
Surface Amazon's new Nanomatte display cuts glare and improves stylus feel. Microsoft should copy it when making the next Surface Pro.
I tested ASUS' Googlebook 14: So, how does it feel to a lifelong Windows user?
Hands-on Windows Central's Senior Editor Ben Wilson goes hands-on with the ASUS Googlebook 14 and shares his first 24 hours with Google's own operating system.
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Deals
Walmart's event still has 2TB SSDs, OLED monitors, and RTX 5070 gaming laptops
Deals Walmart's 'Deals & More' is still live until October 11, and it includes discounts on gaming laptops, PC storage, and much more. These are the deals I'd grab.
Grab an XPS 13 for under $800 — the best laptop deal of the month is still going strong
Deal Prime Day hasn't started yet, but Dell's XPS 13 is already down to $799 with a $200 discount. There's even a model for just $599 if you can live with 8GB of RAM.
Samsung's fastest PCIe 5.0 SSD dropped below $199 for 1TB, with more sizes on sale
Deal Amazon Big Deal Days slashed Samsung's fastest 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD to under $199 for 1TB, with more discounts across 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB models.
These Bose headphones changed how I shop forever
Deal Buying these Bose headphones convinced me that sometimes paying more is worth it in the long run.
Handheld Gaming PCs
HelixSR mod brings NVIDIA's DLSS 3.7 to AMD-based gaming handhelds
GAMING HelixSR brings Nvidia DLSS 3.7 to AMD hardware, with early ROG Ally X testing showing promising performance.
Gaming
I'm taking an RTX Spark PC on a 10-hour trip. Here's what it needs to prove.
PC gaming Ray tracing looked glorious on the Lenovo Pro 9n’s OLED but chewed through battery life. Here’s what I’m testing on a 10-hour drive.
Activision marketing chief admits that Black Ops 7 was not a success
News In a new interview, the marketing chief at Activision has admitted that Black Ops 7 "missed the mark" and talks about how they go forward into Modern Warfare 4.
Halo: Combat Evolved is running on Nintendo 64 with split-screen multiplayer
Halo Halo-64 brings Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer to the Nintendo 64, featuring all 13 multiplayer maps, four-player split-screen, bots, Firefight, and Rumble Pak support.
Artificial Intelligence
Forget the flashy AI features, this is the Copilot update that matters
AI Microsoft's latest Copilot update for Word adds source citations, making it easier to check whether AI-generated responses are actually correct.
Copilot reviewers speak out on grading AI-generated explicit content
AI Contractors reviewing Microsoft Copilot prompts report being flooded with sexually explicit images and potentially illegal user requests.
The Copilot+ PC brand is dead: How to remap your Copilot key
Laptops Microsoft is stepping back from the Copilot+ PC name, leaving many with an unused key that you can easily remap.
Microsoft Teams is losing its Copilot chat list shortcut next month
Apps Microsoft Teams will remove the Copilot shortcut from its chat list next month to steer users toward the full-featured app bar.
Microsoft
Bust out your Zune HD — It's time to play Super Mario 64
Microsoft Super Mario 64 running on a Zune HD ... what year is it?
I asked for this Teams feature years ago, and Microsoft finally delivered
Apps Teams will soon support direct video sharing from OneDrive, solving a major problem for remote presentations and events.
Microsoft cuts 4TB from Microsoft 365 Family, sparking backlash and cancelled subscriptions
Apps Microsoft 365 Family now includes 4TB less OneDrive storage, leaving subscribers with less value despite paying the same price.
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Join Daniel and Zac on October 2 at 2PM ET for the LIVE Windows Central Podcast
LIVE Join Daniel and Zac on October 7 for the LIVE Windows Central Podcast.
Peripherals & Accessories
Razer wants Pokémon fans to choose their fighter with three new gaming headsets, and I choose Charizard
Pokémon Razer's latest Pokémon collaboration gives the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed and Kraken V4 X a colorful makeover for Pokémon's 30th anniversary, starting at $109.99.
