Welcome to this week’s episode of Microsoft Weekly, where we delve into some intriguing developments including Microsoft’s controversial tactics to boost Bing usage, significant new hardware releases, the anticipated “year of Windows 11 PC refresh,”a solitary preview build for Windows 11, an upcoming Surface event, and much more.
Table of Contents
- Updates on Windows 10 and 11
- Insights from the Windows Insider Program
- Latest Updates Available
- Recent Reviews
- Gaming News
Windows 11 and 10 Developments
This section encompasses the latest news regarding Microsoft’s operating systems, examining everything from new features and removed functionalities to the controversies and bug fixes that have arisen. Additionally, we’ll touch upon older but still supported versions.
As Windows 10 nears its support end date, Microsoft is intensifying its focus on Windows 11 and its series of Copilot+ PCs. The company has pledged that 2025 will mark the “year of Windows 11 PC refresh,”with expectations that approximately 80% of businesses will upgrade their PCs by 2025’s conclusion and 70% of consumers will follow suit over the next two years.
In support of this transition, both Dell and AMD have laid out compelling reasons for customers to move away from Windows 10 in favor of up-to-date devices running Windows 11.
However, the retirement of Windows 10 isn’t the only crucial change coming in October 2025; Microsoft has indicated that specific Teams Rooms devices will also be ineligible for Windows 11 updates following the end of mainstream support for Windows 10.
In line with its promise to innovate, enthusiasts have managed to run Windows 11 with an astounding 184MB of RAM, far below the stipulated minimum requirement of 4GB. On a more concerning note, a former Microsoft engineer has allegedly promoted piracy of Windows 11 online, claiming Microsoft’s indifference.
Windows Insider Program Insights
This segment highlights the latest testing releases in the Windows Insider Program.
| Windows 11 | Windows 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canary Channel | 27768 | Not Applicable |
| Dev Channel | – | Not Applicable |
| Beta Channel | – | Not Applicable |
| Release Preview Channel | – | – |
Latest Updates Available
This section encompasses a variety of software, firmware, and significant updates—both those recently released and those on the horizon—that introduce new features, security enhancements, and more.
Microsoft is gearing up for a substantial update concerning its Surface offerings, specifically targeting the business sector, promising a “major announcement from Surface for Business.”
At CES 2025, several technology giants unveiled exciting new hardware. Nvidia, for instance, showcased the RTX 5000 Series catering to desktop and mobile platforms, which includes models like RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090—each exhibiting impressive performance capabilities, with the RTX 5070 comparable to the RTX 4090.
Alongside the new graphics offerings, Nvidia launched DLSS 4, the latest iteration of its super sampling technology, which provides substantial performance improvements and remains compatible with older graphics cards from the RTX 2000 Series.
Intel introduced its Core Ultra Series 2 processors, featuring various specifications to cater to different device requirements, indicated by their respective V, HX, H, and U suffixes. Meanwhile, Qualcomm expanded its Snapdragon X lineup with a new model aimed at $600 Copilot+ PCs, maintaining robust performance levels across AI tasks.
AMD also showcased its Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, featuring stacked 3D V-Cache that promises significant performance enhancements over previous models, positioning itself as a strong contender against Intel processors. Additionally, AMD highlighted new mobile processors, one of which claims exceptional performance in AI applications.
For gamers, AMD’s ML-powered FidelityFX SR 4 was unveiled, though its new features are exclusive to the forthcoming RX 9000 Series GPUs. Additionally, the company revealed the next Ryzen Z2 chip for portable devices.
This week also saw updates for Microsoft’s Bing, as users reported the search service disguising itself as Google to redirect searches—this initiative quickly drew backlash, prompting Microsoft to retract the change.
In other news, Mozilla has rolled out Firefox version 134, enhancing hardware acceleration for H.265 on Windows and introducing improved popup blocking among other features.
Additional Noteworthy Updates
- Microsoft Outlook for Mac is set to receive enhanced Copilot integration.
- Microsoft plans to invest $3 billion into AI and cloud infrastructure in India.
- PowerPoint will soon support SRT file uploads for captions and subtitles.
- Microsoft has reverted the latest update to Bing Image Creator after user complaints.
- The company is also pursuing legal action against those exploiting AI for deceptive practices.
- Google Drive has introduced differential sync capabilities for expedited file uploads.
- Microsoft addressed OneDrive freeze issues on macOS and provided a workaround for users.
Recent driver updates include:
- New firmware has been rolled out for Surface Studio 2+, Surface Pro 9 (Intel), Surface Laptop Go 3, and Surface Laptop 4 (Intel), featuring audio enhancements and critical security updates.
Recent Reviews
Here, we present the latest hardware and software reviews from our team.
This week, a variety of reviews have been published. Robbie Khan examined the KTC H32S25E, a budget-friendly 32-inch monitor offering 1440p resolution at 240Hz refresh rates. While it boasts appealing specifications, users should be cautious regarding ghosting effects and other limitations typical of VA panels.
Robbie also reviewed the NYXI Flexi, a high-performance controller known for excellent stick responsiveness, layout customization, and durable construction, earning an impressive 8/10 rating despite minor issues like subpar vibrations and limited Bluetooth polling rates.
In another review, Steven Parker evaluated the Beelink EQ14, an economical mini PC powered by the latest Intel Twin Lake N150 processor, emphasizing its affordability, efficiency, and range of necessary ports for modern communications.
We also conducted a comparative analysis between the Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 24H2, shedding light on whether it’s worth upgrading to the latest release—though users might be surprised by the outcome concerning bugs and known issues.
Gaming Updates
Here’s what’s fresh in the gaming world.
Microsoft is kicking off its gaming year with a Developer_Direct event scheduled for January 23 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, showcasing upcoming titles from various studios such as DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with a mystery project yet to be revealed.
Forza Motorsport has rolled out its 16th update, featuring a BMW-centric focus with new events and changes to car tuning in multiplayer settings.
Upcoming titles set to join Xbox Game Pass include UFC 5, Diablo, and Road 96—a significant addition as six other games are confirmed to depart from the subscription service.
Steam Deck users will soon have access to a native GeForce NOW application, allowing the play of unsupported games on their handheld devices.
Turning to hardware, Hyperkin has introduced a new controller that is somewhat unconventional, catching interest for its peculiar design resembling a DualSense gamepad.
Additionally, there are rumors circulating about the next-generation Xbox launch slated for 2026, with the upcoming Call of Duty potentially serving as its day-one title.
Other Gaming News Highlights
- Microsoft Rewards has undergone a facelift on Xbox, now integrating Quests into the PC Game Pass experience.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is expanding into LG Smart TVs, enhancing accessibility for gamers.
Deals and Freebies
As the Epic Games Store transitions back to weekly free games, players can claim the oil rush simulation game, Turmoil, until the following Thursday. Be sure to check out more deals in our Weekend PC Game Deals roundup.
This week, we explore a variety of discounts across hardware and software. Check out these ongoing promotions to find something intriguing.
- Acer Nitro 24.5-inch 1080p ZeroFrame Monitor – $139.99 | 30% off
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Logitech MX Master 3S – $89.95 | 10% off
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Corsair M75 AIR Wireless Ultra-Light Gaming Mouse – $59.99 | 40% off
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TP-Link AX3000 Wall-Mounted Wi-Fi 6 Router – $79.99 | 33% off
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1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox – $119.63 | 25% off
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Acer Swift X 14 Core Ultra 7 155H Nvidia RTX 4070 – $1,299.99 | 24% off
For more episodes of the Microsoft Weekly series, click here.
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