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Windows 11 will detect when you aren’t using your laptop and throttle the CPU accordingly.
Microsoft
It might come down to:
Drop to lower performance states (lower clock speeds or voltages).
Spend more time in deeper sleep-like modes (C-states).
After spending the last few months trying to fix all the bugs in version 24H2, Microsoft’s developers have now shifted their focus to the next upgrade of Windows 11. Version 25H2 will reportedly offer, among other things, a new feature meant to extend laptop battery life.
The new feature is at the operating system level and is called “User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management,” reportsWindows Latest. The idea seems to involve limiting CPU usage when you aren’t actively using your PC. It was first referenced inthis Windows blog postabout changes introduced to Windows 11 Insiders.
Inactivity could be inferred from a lack of mouse, keyboard, and touch-based user interaction. When you return to your PC and resume interaction with the mouse, keyboard, or touch, Windows could then switch back to regular CPU usage behavior.
Of course, this isn’t the only thing in the works. Microsoft has been working onAI-driven management of system settings, a newAdvanced Settings page with extra tweaks, andAI-generated PC hardware advice.
But Windows 11 was updated in 2022 to rip audio CDs without any extra tools.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
CD ripping tool CD2WAV32 has just been updated toversion 4.00jpafter 16 years in stasis (machine translated). Developer Moroboshi Ramu seems to have been prompted to issue the update to make the software fully compatible withWindows 1124H2, but there are several important changes under the hood compared to the ancient 3.X releases, too. Please excuse the rest of the linked developer’s page being mostly about dolls.
Ramu says that the last update to CD2WAV32 was 16 years ago, when a patch that was authored on a Windows 7 machine was released. Going forward, the dev (and doll enthusiast) says that only Windows 11 will be supported, as that is the only system they use now, though the tool has been casually tested on a Windows 10 PC.
With the compiler change to the latest Delphi 12.1 Community Edition, Ramu says the following changes were made to create CD2WAV32 for Windows 11 Revision 4.00jp:
The internal character code processing is now mostly Unicode.
ID3Tag related items have also been changed from Shift-JIS to Unicode.
The tool’s GUI, including common controls, has been updated to the latest Windows 11 style.
File size and other information related to the files is now processed in 64-bit format.
The 16-bit code call function of MSCDEX, which can no longer be used, has been pruned, as have TwinVQ compression, and code to alert users of ASPI errors.
Default compression is now provided by the Media Foundation API.
The Help file has been removed and is replaced by a PDF.
It is now possible to start this tool, even if you don’t have a CD-ROM attached.
And various changes have been implemented to get the CDDB service to run again so ripping can be done with meaningful file names, track titles, artist names, genres etc.
Overall, it looks like a capable tool with lots of options for the end-user. As a Japanese program, with no localized English version as far as we can tell, a quick poke around the UI revealed extensive options for CD-ROM support, file format, compression algorithm, and tagging. It did indeed run on my desktop system without an optical disc drive attached.
Nice tool, but Windows 11’s Media Player App can rip audio CDs
People still hold onto and collect audio CDs even if we are firmly into the age of streaming media, and fast internet connection options abound. Occasionally ripping an audio CD is thus still a useful task, andMicrosoftupdated its Media Player App to be able to rip your tunes back in 2022, with MP3 support added in 2023.
Microsoft’s app is very easy to use, though that is also its weak point – it has fewer configuration options. Nevertheless, settings for audio format (AAC, MP3, FLAC, and more, but no WAV) and quality (from 96Kbps to 320Kbps with lossy formats) are probably enough for most folks.
To use the built-in Media Player App with Windows 11 for ripping, click on the audio CD section to the left (you need to have an audio CD inserted). Then, looking to the right of the highlighted play button, you will see the ‘Rip CD’ option. A menu to the right of this is where you tweak the rip settings and bit rate. Ripped media files will appear in your music library, which is set up in the App’s general settings section.
Update to standard ensures every USB-C port is consistent
Microsoft
Microsoft has new rules to ensure more consistency with USB-C ports
This means every USB-C port will offer data, power, and display support
Previously, you weren’t guaranteed to get all of those basic elements if laptop makers cut corners with their connectors
Going forward, the USB-C ports onWindows 11 laptopswill be held to more consistent standards that mean users can expect a minimum amount of functionality with any given connector.
Tom’s Hardware noticedMicrosoft’s blog post explaining a fresh update to theWindows Hardware Compatibility Program(WHCP) that’s designed to end confusion around USB-C ports. The broad idea is to ensure every single one of these connectors deliver certain key features in terms of data transfer, power delivery (charging), and running an external monitor.
Currently, while the USB-C specification encompasses all those separate elements – and a lot of versatility for the port therein – parts can be missing with connectors on some laptops, as it’s not mandatory to include everything.
Microsoft has changed this with its new way of working, observing that: “While the USB specifications give PC manufacturers the ability to choose which optional features the port supports, we set out to establish a minimum bar for USB-C port capabilities on PCs.”
That baseline bar means that withWindows 11laptops (and tablets), all USB-C ports must provide display support (to connect a monitor), PC charging support (power), and of course data transfer (which all USB connectors do, of course) at a certain speed.
Furthermore, Microsoft notes that any port which supports USB 40Gbps will work fine with bothUSB4andThunderbolt 3peripherals.
These updated WHCP requirements have come into play withWindows 11 24H2, and notebooks running 24H2 will already support them.
With the old way of working, the practicality of USB-C ports is that you might buy a laptop which comes with a few of these connectors, and be quite happy chugging along using them for USB sticks or charging. Then, one day, when you plug in a monitor, you’ll suddenly find out that your ports don’t support a display, because the laptop maker produced these USB-C connectors without that particular capability (to save a bit of money).
The problem is there’s no clear labelling on a USB-C port, and you may not find out about any missing pieces of the functionality puzzle until you come across them in this way – and it’s too late at that point.
With the new minimum standard in place, all USB-C ports on WHCP-certified Windows 11 laptops will definitely support all those three basic pillars: power, display, and data transfer.
Now, note that there are still variations in the specs of USB-C ports, in terms of how many displays they may support, or how much power the USB cable will deliver, and the speed of data transfers (all of which should be made clear in the notebook’s spec).
See the screenshot above for the details, but the central point is that from now on, you know that all three of the fundamental bases are covered with at least some level of functionality when you’rebuying a new Windows 11 laptop– with every single USB-C port on-board the device – which has to be a good thing.
The benefits of using cloud storage over local storage are significant. For starters, you can get to your files from just about anywhere. And as long as you’ve set up account recovery, there’s little chance of losing them. But which cloud service should you use? While there are plenty of reliable options out there, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are two of the most popular. That’s mostly because of their reliability and wide range of features.
Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive have a lot in common when it comes to features, ease of use, and security. You can access both services on most operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Both of them also offer comparable file-sharing and collaboration options. If you use a premium plan, you get access to AI-powered features through Copilot or Gemini, built into their respective productivity suites.
The biggest difference between the two is how much free storage they offer. Google Drive gives you 15GB of storage, while OneDrive only includes 5GB on its free plan. This, of course, makes Google Drive look like the better choice at first glance. But if you’re thinking about upgrading to a paid plan, OneDrive has its advantages, too.
For extra storage on OneDrive, you have to sign up for a Microsoft 365 plan. With Google Drive, additional storage comes through a Google One subscription. Both services offer a basic 100GB plan for $2 per month, so there’s no price difference at that tier.
If you’re looking for more space, though, Google One has a 2TB plan for $10 a month. For the same amount, Microsoft offers only 1TB of storage. That said, the Microsoft 365 Family plan is a better deal if you plan to share the subscription. For $12.99 a month, you can share the subscription with up to six users, and each person gets their own 1TB of storage. Google One also supports sharing with up to five others, but the 2TB is shared across users.
OneDrive also makes sense if you already use Microsoft Office apps for work or school. That’s because a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription includes access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Plus, all your documents are automatically saved to OneDrive. You also get Clipchamp, which is a great video editing tool if you’re into that kind of thing.
Choosing OneDrive is also a smart move for Windows users. Once you sign in with your Microsoft account, you can easily back up all your files and manage them through File Explorer. While it’s possible to add Google Drive to Windows for a similar setup, OneDrive offers better integration since it’s built by Microsoft.
Google Drive isn’t a bad option either. In fact, for some, it might make more sense than OneDrive. For instance, if you’re sticking with the free plan, Google Drive’s 15GB of storage is far more generous. And if you’re already into Google’s ecosystem and prefer using Gmail over Outlook or Google Docs over Word, using Google Drive makes it easy to manage and share your files.
When you’ve thousands of files stored in the cloud, a good search function can make all the difference. That’s where Google Drive shines with its advanced search filters. For instance, if you search for a document, it also shows files containing the word you searched for, which can be useful when you don’t remember the exact file name. In comparison, OneDrive’s search feature feels more limited.
Finally, if you mainly want cloud storage for photos and videos, Google Photos is a big plus. It works on Android, iOS and the web, and having a dedicated app just for managing your media makes everything a lot simpler. You also get to use all of Google Photos’ best AI features. Microsoft, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a separate app for photos and videos, so you have to manage everything through the main OneDrive app.
Ultimately, you really can’t go wrong with either service. It mostly comes down to the devices you use, your storage needs, and whether you prefer Microsoft or Google’s ecosystem.
For those of a certain age, Windows XP and the legendary free game “3D Pinball Space Cadet” defined your time on PCs. Now, the pinball classic has been ported to Android devices, and it’s totally free.
Spotted by9to5Google, the game was ported to Android by developer Kyle Sylvertre. He explained in aReddit postthat he used aGitHub decompilation of the game by k4zmu2ato make the port.
Space Cadet is optimized for touchscreens where touching the left and right sides of the screen work the triggers. Tapping and holding the right side of the screen acts as your launcher for the ball (though this is a bit finicky).
I just wanted to see it on Android with a Google Play leaderboard.
Kyle Sylvertre
On your phone, it runs in portrait mode, supports 18 languages and has integration with Google Play leaderboards and is less than 5MB.
Most importantly, it’s completely free and doesn’t have any ads. Sylvertre said on Reddit that he’s not taking any money or donations for the game either, mostly because he says k4zmu2a did the hard work. “I just wanted to see it on Android with a Google Play leaderboard,” he said.
The game is missing some features, including tilt, music and cheats, but it feels much like the original if you weren’t worried about that. The developer did say that he’s working to bring some of those features to the game in future updates.
I do want to note that if you just go to the Play Store app and search for Space Cadet Pinball, the free game is not the first one that comes up. Instead, you’ll see one by Casual Azur Games that does feature ads and in-app purchases.
I had to scroll down quite a way in the more results section to find it.
Microsoft, at its recent BUILD event,has announcedthat Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is now open source after almost a decade of development.
The Microsoft team has closedissue #1in its GitHub issue tracker. What was the issue? “Will this (WSL) be Open Source?” – an issue that has been open since April 6, 2016.WSL is now open source, meaning that anyone can download the WSL code, build it from source, and then add features and fixes before pushing the code for review and possible integration into the main project.
WSL was first announced at BUILD back in 2016, so it is fitting that the news of WSL going open source was announced at the recent BUILD event taking place in Seattle.
“Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful way for you to run your Linux command-line tools, utilities and applications, all unmodified and directly on Windows without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dual boot setup.” -WSL GitHub readme.
WSL is a virtualization setup for Windows users to run Linux distributions inside the Windows host OS with integration between the guest Linux OS and the Windows host.
WSL 1 was initially based on a pico process provider, lxcore.sys. This provided Windows with a native means to run ELF executables, and Linux syscalls all inside the Windows kernel. In 2019, in an effort to provide “optimal compatibility with native Linux”, a Linux kernel, provided and maintained by Microsoft, was introduced. WSL gained more features, including GPU support, graphical applications via wslg (which is already open source) and support for systemd (a system and service manager for many Linux distros).
In 2021, Microsoft separated WSL from the Windows codebase as a means to move faster and to keep up with the community requests. The new standalone WSL was available via the Microsoft Store, starting with version 0.47.1. At that time, onlyWindows 11was supported, and only recommended for users eager to run bleeding edge software. With WSL 2, major improvements were introduced, such as mirrored networking, DNS tunnelling, firewall support, and proxy support.
In 2025, WSL improved how Linux distros were installed, enabling local images to be used away from the store.
“WSL could never have been what it is today without its community. Even without access to WSL’s source code, people have been able to make major contributions that lead to what WSL is now,” says Senior Software Engineer Pierre Boulay in theblog post.
Google Wallet has added a new security feature to protect your data
Viewing anything in the app will require verification after three minutes
This previously only applied to making payments
Asdigital walletshave grown in popularity, it’s become more important than ever that their security is certifiably rock solid. After all, the last thing you need is for your credit card details or identity documents to fall into the wrong hands.
9to5Google
As spotted by9to5Google, theGoogle Walletapp has made an adjustment intended to protect your security. Previously, if you attempted to pay for something using Google Wallet and three minutes had passed since you first opened the app, you’d be prompted to verify your identity using biometric info (like a fingerprint or a facial scan) or entering your passcode. Now, once three minutes are up, you’ll have to verify yourself if you want to use the app at all – even just viewing its home screen.
This move protects anything stored in the Google Wallet app, including details of payment cards, tickets, identity documents, and more. It means that intruders won’t just be prevented from paying for things if they have unauthorized access to your device – they won’t be able to see anything in the app.
9to5Google noticed the change in version 25.18 of the Google Wallet app on bothGoogle PixelandSamsung smartphones. The outlet said that the feature appears to be in testing but has been seen more frequently over time.
It’s not the only security change that might be coming to Google Wallet. According to reports on Reddit, theWear OSversion of the app has been requiring some users to enter a PIN every time they make a contactless payment.One Reddit userwas apparently told by Google support that “this is one of the security measures that Google will be taking to protect your transactions and your account privacy,” suggesting that it could be an intentional feature (rather than a bug) that might soon roll out to other users.
These days, digital wallet apps are used to store much more than just payment cards. You can carry around pretty much your entire identity on your smartphone, with items as trivial as loyalty cards and day passes sitting alongside vital documents like drivers’ licenses and credit cards. That means it’s more important than ever that digital wallets keep their contents safe.
The wide variety of items that apps such as Google Wallet can store means you don’t just need protection from unauthorized users spending your hard-earned cash – you might not want them peeking at your identity documents either. With Google’s latest move, gaining access to that information could become harder for bad actors who have physical access to your device.
However, there seems to be a slight lapse in that the latest change only asks for verification after three minutes. We conducted a brief and informal survey of TechRadar’s writers who own Android phones, and only one reported that Google Wallet asked for authentication when the app was first opened.
Perhaps Google could improve its security further by requiring a PIN or biometric authentication when you first open Google Wallet, ensuring your cards are kept safe and secure no matter whether three minutes have passed or not.
The streamlining of the Surface lineup continues, as Microsoft sticks with what it knows will work.
Microsoftis no longer producing theSurface Laptop Studio 2, its most powerful laptop that folds forward to create an easel. There are no rumors of a Surface Laptop Studio 3, suggesting that Microsoft is cutting the hybrid laptop — the only one with a discrete GPU — from its lineup.
The news comes fromThe Verge, which reports that the Laptop Studio 2 ended production earlier this month, and that the system will be pronounced as “end of life” next month.
Resellers confirmed toThe Vergethat Microsoft ceased manufacturing and would continue to provide software and driver updates for the Surface Laptop Studio 2.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is being put out to pasture quietly, much like other devices that the company has sunset. The Surface Studio, a desktop PC that folded down into a creative studio for drawing, wasformally discontinued in Decemberwithout a successor. Microsoft’s audio products, the Surface Headphones 2 and Surface Earbuds, have also quietly disappeared.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s discontinuance comes at a hazy time for the Surface brand. On the one hand, two new devices — theSurface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch— were just announced and are set to release next week. On the other hand, the lineup lost its champion,former chief Panos Panay, who left Microsoft forAmazonin 2023,reportedly over budget issuesand product cancellations. Panay wassucceeded by Pavan Davuluri.
Since Panay’s departure, the lineup has been cut down to just the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and the Surface Go 4, the latter of which is only sold to business customers at the moment.
Without the Surface Laptop Studio, Microsoft has removed systems with discrete GPUs from its hardware lineup, potentially alienating creatives and gamers. Prior to the Surface Laptop Studio, Microsoft’s powerhouse system was the Surface Book, which combined a tablet with a base featuring a discrete GPU.
Besides featuring raw horsepower, the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Book were also fairly unique designs that attempted to push system designs forward. Clamshell laptops are table stakes, and many OEMs offer their own versions of the Surface Pro’s tablet design. It seems that Microsoft is experimenting less and focusing more on what it knows already works.
Microsoft has been streamlining other areas, too, including its own workforce. This week, the company cut about 6,000 employees, or approximately 3% of its workforce. The company is also focusing more on AI (in Windows and elsewhere), and putting its Xbox Studios games on other systems, like the PlayStation 5.
When we reviewed the Surface Laptop Studio 2, we praised Microsoft for adding ports over the original, while prioritizing quiet operation and a bright display. But the company had used a lower-power GPU capped at 80W of power, and the system was expensive.
Before Windows 10’s retirement on October 14, 2025, Microsoft has once again relaxed its rules. This time it concerns Microsoft 365 apps, which were to supposed continue working only after upgrading to Windows 11. Now they will continue to receive security updates.
Windows is extending security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10. (Image source: Pexels / Nothing Ahead)
The end of support for Windows 10 is fast approaching. And while it’s clear that an update to Windows 11 is inevitable in certain cases, Microsoft continues to surprise with minor adjustments to the operating system’s end of support. This time, the company has added a paragraph about Microsoft 365 to its support page.
Microsoft 365 apps will continue to be supported with security updates until October 2028
Until recently, Microsoft’s support page stated that Microsoft 365 apps would no longer be supported from October 14, 2025, and that you would have to install Windows 11 to continue using them. Microsoft has now changed this text slightly and included an addendum below it that partially relaxes this restriction:
Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After that date, if you’re running Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows 10 device, the applications will continue to function as before. However, we strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability issues over time.
In the interest of maintaining your security while you upgrade to Windows 11, we will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 for a total of three years after Windows 10 end of support, ending on October 10, 2028.
Companies should not become complacent here, as an upgrade to Windows 11 or installing another operating system is advised due to the potential sensitivity of company data. For private users who do not use their Windows 10 PC for security-sensitive reasons such as online banking, but to play games or perform simple office tasks, this could well mean a little breathing space before the switch.
If you really don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11, you can take a look atLinux alternatives such as Mint. This offers a similar look to MacOS or Windows and is secure thanks to regular updates. Alternatively, switching toChromeOS Flexcan also be an alternative, although this operating system only works online and is similar to the Chrome browser with all its extension options.
Enhanced Meeting Protection will block you from taking unwarranted screenshots
It’ll turn the screen black if you dare to attempt to take a capture of the screen
Most platforms are supported, but some may have to join audio-only
Microsofthas alluded to an upcoming feature for Teams designed to prevent users from taking unwarranted screenshots during calls in a bid to protect sensitive company information.
A new addition to Redmond’s roadmap adds Enhanced Meeting Protection to Teams, which Microsoft says will prevent screen capture. Added last week, it’s on track to roll out from July 2025.
The feature will become available across desktop client versions on Windows and Mac, as well as iOS and Android apps, making it virtually impossible for users to take snippets of potentially sensitive information.
Microsoft Teams will let you block screenshots soon
“To address the issue of unauthorized screen captures during meetings, the Prevent Screen Capture feature ensures that if a user attempts to take a screen capture, the meeting window will turn black, thereby protecting sensitive information,” Microsoft explained.
Although most common platforms are supported, users joining a Teams call with Enhanced Meeting Protection enabled will be restricted to audio-only to prevent content exposure.
Because the roadmap entry only shares basic details about the upcoming feature, it’s unclear whether it will be enabled by default or toggled on via admin controls.
In the hope that enhanced protections will give companies access to more secure video conferencing, the company will also be rolling out its new Migration Tool for Teams in July.
“Customers will now be able to move content seamlessly from public and private channels in a third-party solution to Teams standard channels,” the roadmap entry reads.
Enhanced Meeting Protection is currently in the ‘in development’ stage – the first of three, preceding ‘launched’ and ‘rolling out’. Microsoft doesn’t share details about how far along the development journey it is, and whether it’s on track for the intended July release.
However, while the feature might be welcomed by many, it still leaves a considerable gap and, in many cases, does nothing to protect sensitive data on screens at all – there’s no system in place to prevent users from taking photos of their screens with theirsmartphones, and such a tool would be almost impossible to implement.
