Microsoft Weekly: Latest Copilot Updates, PowerToys Enhancements, and New Windows 11 Builds.

In this week’s edition of Microsoft Weekly, we delve into a plethora of updates including enhancements to Copilot and PowerToys, as well as the latest Windows 11 preview builds. Alongside these updates, we present hardware reviews, valuable guides tailored for Chrome users, and much more.

Table of Contents:

Windows 10 and 11 Developments
Insights from the Windows Insider Program
Latest Software and Firmware Updates
This Week’s Product Reviews
Gaming News

Windows 10 and 11 Developments

In this section, we discuss the latest happenings surrounding Microsoft’s operating systems—focusing on both the Stable and preview builds. Expect insights on new features, bugs, removed features, and notable discoveries, alongside some mention of older, still-supported versions.

Recently, users have flagged several issues with Windows 11 24H2, most prominently that the operating system has started throttling performance by reducing CPU clock speeds when apps are minimized. This unexpected power-saving feature has raised concerns among users. However, there’s positive news as well—Microsoft has finally addressed the long-standing 0x80131500 Store error that affected pre-Windows 11 systems.

Additionally, Valve has released fresh statistics that shed light on user preferences in gaming hardware and software. The February 2025 Steam Hardware and Software Survey indicates a decline in Windows 11’s popularity among PC gamers, allowing Windows 10 to reclaim its top position.

Insights from the Windows Insider Program

This week saw several releases for testing within the Windows Insider Program:

Windows 11	Windows 10
Canary Channel	27808	Not Applicable
Dev Channel	–	Not Applicable
Beta Channel	22635.5025	Not Applicable
Release Preview Channel	–	–

Additionally, Microsoft has made headlines with the announcement of a native Copilot app designed specifically for Windows 11 and 10.

Latest Software and Firmware Updates

This section encapsulates key software, firmware, and notable updates that introduce new features, security enhancements, bug fixes, and more—spanning releases from both Microsoft and third-party developers.

This week brought exciting updates to PowerToys, with version 0.89 launching enhancements to existing tools including Advanced Paste, FancyZones, and Image Resizer. Microsoft is seeking user feedback on the upcoming redesign of the Keyboard Manager.

On the browser front, Opera made a significant announcement regarding its new AI Browser Operator, which will autonomously execute tasks on user commands and will be available in a future update.

Meet Opera's Browser Operator – An AI that can do tasks for you on the web (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lLVSLAekYk)

Meanwhile, Microsoft released Edge 134, enhancing Teams link management on macOS and introducing various performance upgrades in the Settings menu through WebUI 2.0. Notably, updates to Game Assist—a specialized version of Edge for the Game Bar on Windows—have also been rolled out.

In the Edge Insider program, users received Edge Dev 135.0.3168.2, featuring an improved update interface and vital bug fixes.

On the Firefox front, Mozilla unveiled Firefox 136 in the Release channel, boasting highly requested vertical tab support, sidebar enhancements, and hardware-accelerated HEVC video support on Linux and macOS.

Additionally, Microsoft has updated its support page detailing the fate of Publisher following its discontinuation announcement last year and providing guidance on alternatives.

Furthermore, updates related to OneDrive now include backup prompts within Office applications and shared folders turning into links. Copilot has also seen an upgrade, transitioning to the o3-mini high model, thus providing users with enhanced AI capability free of charge.

Other Notable Updates Include:

Introduction of Dragon Copilot, a unified AI voice assistant for healthcare professionals.
Availability of DeepSeek 7B and 14B AI models on Copilot+ PCs.
VMware’s release of a new Workstation Pro version addresses Windows 11 freeze issues.
Updates to Logitech Options+ with support for additional webcams and features.
Microsoft’s investment in South Africa aims to expand its infrastructure and educational presence.
Edit display names feature in Teams meetings now available for Preview users.
Customizable backgrounds introduced in Microsoft Planner to enhance aesthetic appeal.

Latest Driver Releases:

AMD’s new chipset driver improves application compatibility.
Intel’s newly released Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers enhance Wi-Fi sensing capabilities.
Intel 32.0.101.6647 WHQL now supports Rise of the Ronin.
Nvidia’s 572.70 WHQL driver includes RTX 5070 support, among other improvements.
AMD’s 25.3.1 WHQL driver adds support for new GPUs, AFMF 2.1, FSR 4, etc.

In a crucial update, AMD has notified users that its latest RX 9000 series graphics cards will require UEFI systems, a confirmation of compliance with Windows 11’s hardware requirements.

This Week’s Product Reviews

This segment presents our latest hardware and software reviews.

This week, Robbe Khan provided an in-depth review of the Xiaomi 15, showcasing its exceptional build quality, rapid charging, impressive display, and robust processor. However, potential buyers should be informed of certain firmware quirks and occasional stuttering.

In addition, Steven Parker evaluated the RX 9070 XT, a high-end graphics card from AMD, rating it a perfect 10 out of 10 for its superior ray tracing capabilities, impressive AI performance, and solid gaming experience.

Gaming News

Here’s the latest on gaming titles arriving soon for subscribers of various platforms.

For Game Pass users, an exciting lineup of games is set to join the catalog shortly, including titles like Monster Train, Galacticare, Enter the Gungeon, and Balatro—available across Xbox, PC, and Cloud platforms.

Additionally, Amazon Prime Gaming is offering an impressive selection of 20 PC games this month featuring popular titles such as Saints Row: The Third Remastered and Mafia II: Definitive Edition.

Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, GeForce NOW, has added new titles including Monster Hunter Wilds and Split Fiction. Do remember that access to these games requires ownership on the respective platforms.

In exciting news for fans of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, Microsoft has confirmed the remake of the third and fourth installments, arriving on July 11 for major consoles as well as landing in Game Pass on launch day.

Deals and Freebies

If you’re on the lookout for budget-friendly gaming experiences, don’t miss this week’s Weekend PC Game Deals article, which highlights giveaways from the Epic Games Store and offers demos for numerous strategy and fighting games.

Notable Gaming Updates:

Rockstar has formed Rockstar Australia following a recent studio acquisition.
Bethesda promises “exciting things”for Starfield in 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will offer frame rate options of 30, 40, and 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set to launch without DRM on GOG by the end of March.