Windows Central Insider
Halo fans have a new anthology to dive into, complete with 30 narrated stories
HALO Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One is out now, bringing together over 30 narrated Halo stories spanning the Forerunners, the Banished, and decades of Halo lore.
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Features
Some of my favorite Steam apps aren't games — What's your top choice?
PC gaming Steam has more than 100,000 games it wants to sell you, but some of the platform's most popular listings aren't games at all. Here are five that I don't regret adding to my collection.
Why is the Surface Laptop 8's privacy screen better than the others? I found out.
Laptops I took a trip into the Windows Central archives to find out how laptop privacy screens have evolved over the years.
Windows Wrap: Microsoft’s Surface launch lands with a thud
Surface This year’s Spring Surface drop arrived with no event, no excitement, and no clear strategy; just another quiet refresh at a time when the brand needs direction.
This new controller is going to change everything for racing games
Gaming I finally got my hands on GameSir's Swift Drive prototype, and it's beyond any of my expectations. This is a truly game-changing product.
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From our archives: The 2016 Android‑apps warning that now echoes Googlebooks
Flashback A 2016 warning about Android apps on Chrome feels newly relevant as Googlebooks pushes Android PCs into the agentic era and challenges Microsoft again.
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Microsoft launched a Bing “concierge bot” 10 years ago — the same idea Google is now pushing
Flashback From our archives: A decade ago Microsoft was already testing a Bing “concierge bot,” an early take on the AI agents Google is only now announcing.
11 years ago, Microsoft got cozy with "Non-Genuine" version of Windows
Flashback Microsoft’s decision to offer full Windows 10 upgrades to non‑genuine PCs marked a rare moment of outreach — and a major shift in how the company thought about Windows adoption.
Nine years ago, Microsoft bet big on UWP. The story looks very different today.
Flashback Microsoft has a problem with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and what it means for developers and consumers. Here is how they plan to fix that and why it means ignore phones.
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Windows & Software
Ask Copilot expected to arrive on Windows 11's Taskbar this summer
Windows 11 First announced last year, a new document has confirmed that Microsoft's upcoming "Ask Copilot" feature for Windows 11's Taskbar is arriving mid-2026.
Discord now runs natively on Snapdragon X PCs
Apps Discord has released a native Arm build for Windows on Arm, improving performance on Snapdragon X PCs.
California exempts Linux from new age-verification law
SOFTWARE California lawmakers move to exempt Linux from the state’s new age-verification law, set to take effect January 1, 2027.
PC Hardware
The best PCs for Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and more
PCs If you're a creator relying on Adobe's suite of products, there are a lot of awesome PCs from which you can choose. These are some of our favorites.
Stay connected everywhere with these top-rated 5G laptops
Laptops Windows laptops with 5G can keep you connected just about anywhere, even when you're outside of Wi-Fi range. They're perfect for professionals in all fields.
Need a laptop for video meetings? These are the best we've tested.
Laptops If you're in need of a great PC to use for video conferencing and Zoom meetings, these top-rated laptops we reviewed won't disappoint.
Why is the Surface Laptop 8's privacy screen better than the others? I found out.
Laptops I took a trip into the Windows Central archives to find out how laptop privacy screens have evolved over the years.
Deals
AMD's Zen 4 Ryzen 9 7900X CPU remains a smart pick in 2026
Deals We have found a limited-time sale on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU, giving keyboard warriors and gamers a chance to significantly improve their PCs' performance for much less.
Dell's Memorial Day laptop deals start at just $529
Deals Dell is currently blowing out a bunch of its laptops during Memorial Day weekend, and I found the 5 best sales that start at just $529 for a limited time.
Not even Dell can beat Best Buy's Memorial Day laptop sales
Deals Memorial Day weekend is home to plenty of tech deals, and Best Buy actually has some better prices than Dell when it comes to Dell's own laptops.
Best Buy's Memorial Day Sale has discounted several sweet PC gaming accessories
Deals Best Buy is hosting a grand Memorial Day sale for a variety of SteelSeries gaming keyboards, mice, and gamebuds that we at Windows Central and our friends at TechRadar thoroughly enjoyed using for PC gaming and casual use.
Handheld Gaming PCs
MSI's next Claw gaming handheld is so expensive that I doubt anyone cares
Handhelds MSI's Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld is listed at Australian retailers with a shockingly high price, sparking skepticism as better‑value options dominate the market.
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Gaming
Here are the best pre-built gaming PCs for sim racing in 2025
PC Gaming The best pre-built gaming PCs for sim racing will offer a more personalized experience than a console. Grab a ready-made computer and hit the racetrack.
A new Witcher 3 expansion is actually happening
GAMING The game will get a new expansion 12 years after release
Forza Horizon 6 players have it out for bowie knife99, a vicious AI drivatar
Forza The Forza Horizon 6 community has banded together against bowie knife99, a murderous AI drivatar that aggressively rams players during races.
Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft finally lets Office users hide floating Copilot button
AI Microsoft admits the floating Copilot button in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint was a mistake, and will now allow users to move the AI back to the ribbon.
Ex-Microsoft exec says it missed "the AI wave" after fumbling mobile
AI Former Microsoft executive Mat Velloso claims the company missed its chance with AI, citing past failures in the internet and mobile.
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Mustafa Suleyman: AI will take over your white-collar job in 18 months
AI Microsoft’s AI chief says white‑collar jobs could vanish in 18 months as automation accelerates across organizations.
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Microsoft's AI data center in Kenya could "switch off half the country"
AI Microsoft’s $1 billion Kenyan AI data center stalls as the power grid struggles to meet demand, sparking fears of blackouts and resource strain.
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Microsoft
Copilot marketing boss leaving Microsoft
MICROSOFT Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Copilot marketing chief, will leave next year after helping reimagine Windows for the agentic era.
Teams pop‑ups blamed on Apple, says Microsoft
TEAMS A macOS security update is causing Microsoft Teams to repeatedly ask for location access, sparking frustration among Mac users
Residents protest Microsoft’s data center amid utility concerns
MICROSOFT Microsoft’s St. Joseph County data center project faces community backlash over water access and rising utility bills.
Microsoft launched a Bing “concierge bot” 10 years ago — the same idea Google is now pushing
Flashback From our archives: A decade ago Microsoft was already testing a Bing “concierge bot,” an early take on the AI agents Google is only now announcing.
Peripherals & Accessories
Logitech’s cushioned keyboard and mouse challenge the setup I’ve used for years
Accessories Logitech’s new Signature Comfort Plus keyboard and mouse add built‑in cushions that allow for more relaxed hand positions. The real question is whether they'll convince me to upgrade?
