Microsoft Weekly Update: New Surface Computers Revealed and Redesigned Start Menu Confirmed

This week’s edition of our news roundup brings a wealth of updates related to Windows 11, including significant new features, app improvements, and a revamped Start menu. Additionally, Microsoft unveiled two new Surface devices at more affordable prices, released a teaser trailer for GTA VI, and much more. Dive into the details below!

Quick Links:

Windows 10 and 11 Updates
Windows Insider Program Developments
Latest Updates Available
Recent Reviews
Gaming News Highlights
Exciting Deals Announced

Windows 11, Windows 10, and Surface Devices

This section covers the latest happenings around Microsoft’s current operating systems, including both stable and preview builds. Expect insights into new features, any features that have been removed, user critiques, bugs, and notable discoveries surrounding both Windows 10 and 11.

The highlight of the week was the Surface event held on May 6, 2025, where Microsoft introduced several noteworthy products. The new Surface Pro, featuring a 12-inch display, and the Surface Laptop with a 13-inch screen, both showcase significant enhancements in battery life and a compact design aimed at reducing costs without compromising quality.

In a surprising turn, Microsoft discontinued the entry-level configurations of the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, previously available for $999, consequently widening the pricing divide between these entry models and their higher-end variants.

In terms of Windows 11 developments, Microsoft has announced numerous features that will soon be tested through the Windows Insider Program. Users can anticipate a comprehensive redesign of the Start menu, text formatting capabilities in Notepad, and AI enhancements for File Explorer, among other improvements. However, some of these updates have raised eyebrows among users, leading to varying opinions.

Additionally, Microsoft unveiled prototypes of the new Start menu and shared insights into their design philosophy behind this upgrade.

For users with Copilot+ PCs, enhancements have rolled out in applications like Paint and Snipping Tool, alongside added capabilities in Photos. The Settings app is set to become even more user-friendly, enabling users to resolve issues using natural language commands.

This week also saw fixes for several Windows bugs. Notably, a patch was issued for Windows 11 users experiencing challenges upgrading to version 24H2. Microsoft also updated its documentation for Windows 10, addressing a problem with Start menu jump lists. While the reasons for the delay in fixing this were unclear, the issue has been resolved, allowing users to avoid the hassle of installing new updates or restarting their devices.

Interestingly, Microsoft has indicated plans to cease support for Windows 10 unless users opt for a $30 upgrade. Fortunately, there are alternative solutions emerging, including a new Linux-based project aimed at extending the life of unsupported Windows 10 machines.

In organizational settings, Microsoft has announced enhancements for Windows Autopatch, a suite designed for effective software update management. Upcoming features include hotpatching capabilities and improved data management functionalities.

To wrap up this section, Microsoft has introduced new HLK and VHLK May 2025 releases for Windows 11 version 24H2, while also announcing the deprecation of Device metadata and WMIS, alongside added Fedora Linux support in WSL. Additionally, an engineer from Microsoft highlighted clipboard optimization efforts aimed at improving performance.

Windows Insider Program Updates

This week, Microsoft has made several releases for Windows Insiders:

Insider Builds Overview
Canary Channel	No updates available this week.
Dev Channel	Build 26200.5581 (KB5055651) This build introduces visual enhancements for the taskbar to highlight applications requiring user attention, alongside HDR improvements and various bug fixes.
Beta Channel	Build 26120.3950 (KB5055653) The changelog mirrors that of the Windows 11 Dev build 26200.5581.
Release Preview Channel	No updates available this week.

It is unfortunate that Microsoft had to postpone some anticipated upgrades due to the discovery of critical bugs in the Friday preview builds.

Updates Now Available

This segment discusses significant software, firmware, and notable updates—both released and forthcoming—from Microsoft and various third-party sources, featuring new functionalities, security enhancements, and substantial patches.

To ease user transition, Microsoft has simplified the switch between the new Outlook and the classic version, eliminating the previous hassle. The recent update has also introduced offline calendar support in the new Outlook interface.

Further updates in Office products include groundbreaking features for PowerPoint’s Copilot, which now offers design suggestions for users facing creative blocks. OneNote has received a minor update as well, enhancing the workspace for users. Moreover, a significant improvement in the sharing experience across Office applications is anticipated for later in 2025.

In browser updates, a recent patch for Microsoft Edge resolved issues with the spellchecker in Microsoft Editor.

Here’s a quick list of additional updates and releases worth noting:

Launch of Visual Studio Code 1.100, featuring custom instructions and reusable prompts for Chat.
Docker Desktop now available in the Microsoft Store.
UniGetUI has undergone substantial performance enhancements and TRIM support improvements.
Battery Flyout for Windows 11 has been updated, allowing changes to classic power plans.
New features and enhancements have rolled out for the Windows App on the web.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now supports SafeLinks protection.
A revamped Teams chat and channel experience is available for commercial users.
Explorer Tab Utility for Windows 11 has received updates with fixes and new features.
Changes to High Volume Email and extensions to Basic Authentication in Microsoft 365.

Recent drivers and firmware updates launched this week include:

Intel version 32.0.101.6793 (non-WHQL) optimized for DOOM: The Dark Ages, among other titles.
AMD version 25.5.1 (WHQL) providing support for DOOM: The Dark Ages and the RX 9070 GRE.

As of May 5, 2025, Microsoft has officially phased out Skype, marking the end of this once-popular VoIP service. A final farewell!

Latest Reviews

This week, we take a look at some hardware and software reviews:

Reviewer Steven Parker assessed the AMD RX 9070 graphics card by Sapphire. In his analysis, he compared it against the RTX 5070, RTX 4070, RX 9070 XT, and RX 7800 XT, concluding that the new RX 9070 stands out as “just good enough.”

Gaming Updates

In the gaming sector, fans of the iconic Gears of War series received exciting news from Microsoft. In celebration of the franchise’s 20th anniversary, the company is reviving the original title with advanced graphical enhancements and optimizations for modern hardware. Gears of War: Reloaded will support 4K resolution at 120 FPS, enjoy improved textures, and feature zero loading screens, launching even on the PlayStation 5.

Additionally, Forza Motorsport is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Turn 10 has released Update 20, which introduces new cars, fresh Car Meetup modes, a significant new track, AI enhancements, and numerous other features.

On a related note, Rockstar Games has released a new trailer for GTA VI, providing a sneak peek at its stunning graphics and story, while fans await the game’s release anticipated to be over a year away:

In Game Pass news, Microsoft has rolled out a new selection of games for subscribers, featuring Dredge, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Metal Slug Tactics, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and Dungeons of Hinterber, among others.

Hardware enthusiasts will appreciate the announcement of the Backbone Pro, a mobile controller that provides wireless support and full-size thumbsticks, enhancing the gaming experience on the go.

Lastly, regulatory images from the FCC hint at an upcoming Xbox handheld console, developed in collaboration with Asus, with a public reveal expected at the annual Computex show this month.

Nvidia has also added new titles to its GeForce NOW service, now allowing users to enjoy the entire Mafia series alongside several other games including Towerborne and Spirit of the North 2.

Deals and Giveaways

This week, the Epic Games Store is offering two free games: Deadtime Defenders and Touch Type Tale, available until next Thursday. Additionally, keep an eye out for fantastic deals featured in our ongoing Weekend PC Game Deals series.

Other notable gaming updates include:

Minecraft Bedrock Edition has introduced customizable presets for flat world configurations.
Xbox Cloud Gaming now supports mouse and keyboard functionality on Xbox consoles.