Windows Central Insider
Microsoft resets Insider testing
Windows 11 Microsoft is restructuring how Windows 11 previews roll out, introducing clearer channels that finally make early feature testing predictable again.
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Features
ASUS shows a better AI PC path
Laptops ASUS’ Zenbook A16 demonstrates how clear hardware execution can outshine Microsoft’s increasingly confusing Copilot+ PC branding.
How CRT gaming is being reborn with the help of diehard enthusiasts
Hardware If you've ever used a CRT screen, you know how much better the tech is for retro games. But as CRT displays decline in number, enthusiasts have created a new way forward with modern OLED tech.
Ubuntu Linux raises its requirements past Windows 11
Windows 11 Ubuntu 26.04 LTS raises hardware requirements beyond those of Windows 11, and here's why this is happening.
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Four awesome new features I found in the Forza Horizon 6 preview
Preview The Forza Horizon 6 preview build is but a tiny snapshot of what we can expect, but even so, I found four new features that add a little change to the way you'll play the game.
Windows & Software
All of Windows 11's bugs are "resolved": At least the ones we know about
Windows 11 Microsoft's official documentation shows Windows 11 doesn't have any known issues, though users may still encounter glitches after updates.
Mozilla is criticizing Microsoft's new Copilot AI tactics in Windows 11
Apps The Firefox maker says Microsoft's new "intentional" plans for Copilot were only triggered by overwhelming backlash.
Edge users reject Microsoft's new auto-start feature
Apps Microsoft is testing an opt-out feature that forces Edge to launch at startup. The move triggered a backlash from Windows 11 and Edge users.
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PC Hardware
ASUS shows a better AI PC path
Laptops ASUS’ Zenbook A16 demonstrates how clear hardware execution can outshine Microsoft’s increasingly confusing Copilot+ PC branding.
Your Snapdragon X2 laptop might grab the wrong graphics driver
Laptops Early Snapdragon X2 laptops, including the ASUS Zenbook A16, were downloading incorrect graphics drivers. Qualcomm has issued a quick update that fixes the issue.
ASUS Zenbook A16 goes up in price hours after launch
Laptops Just hours after our 5-star review dropped, ASUS and Best Buy hiked the price of the Zenbook A16.
Dell is erasing its "Premium" brand by renaming laptops as "XPS"
Laptops Dell is quietly turning its "Premium" laptops back into XPS machines to fix a naming mess, and you can save nearly $900 on the hardware formerly known as the Dell 14 Premium.
Deals
This controller with Hall Effect sensors should not be this cheap, but I'm glad it is
Deals The GameSir Super Nova is a PC controller that punches above its budget-price range with Hall Effect sticks and triggers, 1000Hz Polling rates, a sturdy build, and many more features that's now on sale for dirt cheap
Who needs Xbox's Elite controller when this cheaper option is better?
Deals The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a top-of-the-line controller for Xbox. Incredibly responsive controls, an OLED display, and other useful features are now yours for less with this 54% discount.
This unusual mouse design will save your wrists and help you work
Deals The Logitech MX Vertical mouse, which we gave a perfect 5-star rating to for its sublime ergonomic design and reliable performance for everyday tasks, is now on sale with a 38% discount.
Handheld Gaming PCs
Xbox Ally X gets Xbox app upgrade with new display widget and more
XBOX Xbox continues refining the Ally X experience with a new app update, adding a display widget, improved controls, and small but meaningful quality-of-life improvements across the board.
Gaming
This is the best-looking app for Xbox Cloud Gaming — on Apple TV?
Xbox Xbox fans can now access their cloud library on Apple TV through Stratix, offering a promising but still early glimpse at what official support could look like.
The original Xbox was to be a lot like Project Helix, says ex-Microsoft gaming exec
Xbox Microsoft's new Project Helix is an ambitious console that fuses Xbox and PC together — something it wanted for the original Xbox, but couldn't achieve.
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Xbox adds long‑requested gamepad cursor toggle to handhelds
XBOX Xbox is rolling out a new Gamepad Cursor toggle through Xbox Game Bar, allowing handheld users to control a cursor with a joystick for improved navigation via the Xbox Insider Program.
Artificial Intelligence
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.
Lenovo Qira and HP IQ are both heading your way soon. Which one suits you best?
AI Lenovo and HP have both devised on-device AI assistants designed to make your digital life easier. I dug into the features to discover similarities and differences.
OneDrive files deleted from the cloud will soon bypass the local Recycle Bin
Apps Microsoft is changing how OneDrive handles deleted files. Soon, cloud deletions won't hit your local Recycle Bin, forcing you to use the web for recovery.
Microsoft
Windows and Xbox shift toward user feedback, but fans are questioning the timing
Microsoft Is Microsoft's big AI push falling off the rails? Possibly, but not for the reasons you might think.
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Azure's cloud platform problems stem from AI, says a former engineer
Azure An ex-Microsoft engineer recently detailed how Azure’s rushed launch, talent exodus, and AI hype left Microsoft’s cloud fragile and struggling to compete.
Microsoft faces new questions from UK watchdog over AI competition
Microsoft The UK CMA is coming after Microsoft again, and this time it's all about AI and ecosystem control, which are at the center of the debate.
Microsoft plans $146 Billion AI spend even as investor interest wanes
MICROSOFT Microsoft could be looking at the worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis because of AI, but it still wants to make a $146 billion infrastructure investment in 2026
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Peripherals & Accessories
How CRT gaming is being reborn with the help of diehard enthusiasts
Hardware If you've ever used a CRT screen, you know how much better the tech is for retro games. But as CRT displays decline in number, enthusiasts have created a new way forward with modern OLED tech.
