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Microsoft’s Recallfeature has had a rocky start to its existence. Designed to capture screenshots of your actions onCopilot Plus PCto find later, it’s been delayed and pushed back since it was first announced.
However, Microsoft appears ready to try again, as the company is starting to preview the feature toWindows Insiders.
Microsoft described Recall in a recentblog post: “You work across so many apps, sites, and documents it can be hard to remember where you saw something you want to get back to. Recall saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you’ve seen or done on your PC securely.”
Recall was initially meant to launch with the first batch of Copilot Plus PCslast June, but it was pushed back due to security concerns. In October, Microsoft planned to re-release it, but it pushed it back to give itself a chance to make “a secure and trusted experience.”
It seems the company is at least close to ready to create that secure experience, as rolling the feature out to those in the Windows Insider program is typically the last step before the company launches a feature to the masses.
Microsoft’s blog post also mentions that you must opt in if you want to have Windows save your screenshots and make them findable.
“You will need to opt-in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enrol in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots,” reads the company’s blog.
Having Recall on PCs as an opt-in feature instead of on by default is a smart move from Microsoft, as it’ll allow those more security-conscious users to ignore the feature and keep using their Copilot Plus PC without any changes.
Microsoft didn’t say how long the feature would be in testing before launching it to all Copilot Plus PC users. Based on the issues with the initial launch, I assume it’ll keep it in testing for a while to ensure everything is ready for prime time.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone whoisn’tdispleased withWindows11 in some shape or form, but Microsoft is developing a newWindows 11Start menu that’s bound to make a lot of people happy.
Bluesky userphantomofearth, who dives into Windows Insider builds, discovered the new Start menu in a recent build. The menu offers a larger, more streamlined look that finally displays all of your apps in one place. More importantly, you can finally axe the Recommended feed.
The new Windows 11 Start menu
PreviousWindows 10users have been asking for this back forever now, which makes sense why people are so excited. Going a step backward is obviously a step forward for Windows, which surprises (let me check) no one.
To be clear, I am still using Windows 10 for my gaming PC for these exact issues… and also Microsoft put aridiculous hardware requirementon Windows 11. (At least I get to experience the silliness on each laptop I review.)
Again, I love that I don’t need to go through two different menus just to see my appsandthat I don’t need to see the (generally) useless Recommended section anymore. However, a list of all the apps in alphabetical order isn’t exactly clean, either. It just makes it more accessible.
Getting the apps front and center is nice and all, but I’m more excited about the overall customization.
With the new UI, you can easily switch between seeing “All” apps alphabetically, all apps in a Name Grid, and then in Categories. This isn’t anything new, but the Category setting previously felt useless because I’d have to click into the Start menu, click All, then click on the category with the app I want, and finally click the app.
However, now with Categories, you’d get an instant, clean look at all my apps in the Start menu on one page with little-to-no scrolling. This isn’t revolutionary by any means, but Microsoft makes Windows hard to love. Heck, that’s why some folksditched Windows 11 for Linux.
But if the Categories aren’t your style, you can now pin more apps, up to 8 per row. And you’re not stuck with 3 rows anymore, you can technically customize all the apps you see on your Start menu by doing this. So, folks who are very particular will have a field day customizing their Start menu.
If all you care about is ditching the Recommended section, however, you can disable it in the Personalization section in the Settings. Or at least whenever this update becomes available.
Technically, this feature was found in both the 23H2 and 24H2 versions of Windows 11. All that means is that we’ll likely see these new features soon, ideally in the coming weeks.
It’s ready to watch what you do and act on your behalf
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft has upgraded Copilot to make the AI assistant a proactive AI companion
Announced as part of Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, these new features will start rolling out today
Features include chatbot memory, a research tool, and on-screen awareness to name just a few
MicrosoftCopilot is taking the leap, transforming from a mere generative AIchatbotto a full-blown AI companion. At least, that’s what Microsoft is promising in one of the most significant Copilot updates to date.
The changes, which add a wide array of new capabilities and enhance some existing ones, were announced on Friday, April 4, as part of Microsoft’sCopilot/50th Anniversary celebration.
Granted, many of these features will be familiar to those runningGoogle’sGeminiand OpenAI’sChatGPT.In fact, there’s a solid chance that some of these enhancements come directly from Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, which gives it access to many of the AI company’s best generative models.
Copilot is, after all, built on the foundation of OpenAI’s GPT models.
Among the changes Copilot fans will find on Windows (and the iOS and Android apps) is, finally, a memory. The current version of Copilot onWindows 11can hold onto previous conversations, but it has no recollection of what you discussed. A new prompt asking about a recipe or a trip you were planning with Copilot’s help days or weeks ago, would draw a digital blank stare from the generative AI.
That changes with this update. As you chat it up, Copilot will (with permission, of course) collect key bits of info about you that indicate not just facts but preferences. Microsoft claims the new Copilot will build “richer user profiles.” It now has the potential to “learn who you are deeply.” While that might sound invasive, Microsoft says you can control exactly what you want Copilot to learn and retain.
Personalization and memory are significant benefits but they might be outstripped by Copilot’s new agentic capabilities that Microsoft calls “Actions.” Where the previous Copilot might help you grab concert tickets and get a ride to the big show, or find a new apartment and even movers to help you lug your stuff from one place to the next, Copilot Actions can take a prompt about renting an apartment or booking storage and do all the legwork to make it happen. You’re just entering a prompt.
Of course, it’s not that simple. Copilot’s Action capabilities are not ubiquitous. Microsoft has a small collection of launch partners that includes, OpenTable, Priceline, Vrbo, Viator, Kayak, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Skyscanner, Booking.com, and 1-800-Flowers. It seems that, for now, Actions will only work if you want it to take actions through those apps and services.
Now see this
The update is also making Copilot on Windows and mobile apps more aware. While the current version can look at photos and screenshots uploaded to the AI, the new version can use your mobile phone camera to see what you’re seeing (it’ll look at photos or live video).
Perhaps more interesting is that the Copilot’s Windows app will be able to see onscreen activity within apps. It’ll finally live up to its name, acting as a copilot on file management, Windows settings, and working on projects. It’s the kind of system awarenessApple’s been promising fromApple Intelligenceand Siri for almost a year but has yet to deliver. It’ll be interesting to see if what Microsoft delivers here with Copilot is as good as they’re advertising.
The new Pages capabilities can take disparate project files and organize them into a single Canvas. But Pages appears to be more than an organizer, it can help you brainstorm ideas and then alter and incorporate them into your own projects.
Go deep
(Image credit: Microsoft)
If Pages isn’t getting your project there, you might appreciate the new Deep Research. I know, everyone is calling the research portion of their generative AI platforms “Deep [something]”. This one appears to work similarly in that it can help you accomplish multi-step research, acting as a sort of very intelligent research assistant.
Copilot is even delving into podcasts. Similar to what we’ve seen withSpotify generative AI podcastsandGoogle NotebookLM, it can generate podcasts based on topics of interest or other discussions you’ve had with the AI. Microsoft claims the podcast can play even as you continue to feed Copilot new prompts. It sounds a bit confusing, but also powerful and intriguing.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
There’s also a shopping update, turning Copilot into a proactive personal shopper that can watch for deals, do product research, and even handle purchasing.
Finally, Copilot is takingBingSearch in what might best be described as aGoogle AI Overviewsdirection, but in a subtle and maybe more palatable way. From the looks of things, Bing search results will offer the option to take a generative deep dive inside traditional search results. It looks pretty good in the demo video, but we’re anxious to see how it works on live Bing search results.
Not all of these updates will show up at once across Windows, iOS, and Android, but many are starting to roll out today. If you already haveWindows 11running Copilot, you may want to download the latest update and give your Copilot a radical AI Companion upgrade.
No more having to change your password just because you forgot it.
The new Microsoft screen to nudge you into using a passkey.(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft wants its more than one billion users to stop using passwords to log into their Microsoft accounts.
This doesn’t mean that Microsoft will remove any kind of security when trying to log into an account. Instead, it’s looking for more of its users to use passkeys.
Passkeys are a more secure way of logging into accounts thatAppleandGooglehave already begun using since 2023. Microsoft plans to have an updated sign-in and sign-up page for these passkeys for its more than one billion users starting at the end of April, according to a new post on theMicrosoft Entra blog.
Microsoft laid out its plans to use passkeys back inMay 2024. The company eventually wants users to need only an email to sign up and sign on for a Microsoft account, with the passkey handling security.
A passkey is a secure way to log in to an account without using a password. Instead, the passkey uses two unique keys, known as a cryptographic key pair. One is stored on a device like a smartphone while the other is stored on the website you would login on. Both need to be used in order to access a site.
What’s important with the passkey is that the device user either uses biometrics or a PIN because when a user tries to sign onto the site, the device will need to use either for authentication. As the whole verification process is done electronically, all a person needs to do is enter the PIN, use a fingerprint, or just look at their phone for Face ID to verify who they are for the site.
The strength of passkeys is that they help diminish the effectiveness of phishing. If someone receives a phishing email that links to a website that looks just like a Microsoft login page, the user won’t have a password to enter. The bad actors also can’t replicate the key.
Passkeys are tied to a device, but they can be synced between multiple devices. This means changing a phone is no big deal as the passkeys just transfer to the new device.
BothAppleandGooglebegan the implementation of passkeys in their respective mobile operating systems back in 2023. While these three tech giants made the jump to passkeys, others have yet to make the jump.
Whether you’re buying a power supply unit for the first time or needing to upgrade to a higher-wattage brick, you’re going to want to pay close attention to the power supply ratings system.
Every PSU that you can buy right now will be 80 Plus certified, but not all are created equal, and the classifications are more of a spectrum than you may be aware of. It’s a voluntary certification program and not a legal requirement for the hardware, but it can give peace of mind as to the quality of a product, as it means it has been independently verified.
Some of the best PSUs on the market will have the highest 80 Plus certification, but there are many different qualifiers that a power brick has to meet before it can be awarded the right classification. We should stress that the most expensive options on the market will not necessarily be the best in terms of their rating, especially when factoring in different wattages available and which brands are making them in the first place.
I’m here to explain this power supply rating system in detail, including the full range of certifications, what they mean, and what to look out for. This includes the outline of non-modular, semi-modular, and fully-modular options, with considerations to the wattages as well. A good quality PSU can live upwards of 10 years (or more), so it’s important to make the right choice for the long haul.
Many (but not all) power supplies are rated on the 80 Plus certification system, and there are six different labels ascribed to a PSU.
These are 80 Plus, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Platinum, and 80 Plus Titanium. The scaling of precious metals into strength makes sense, and they are even color-coded accordingly at a glance, which can be helpful.
For over two decades, the 80 Plus rating system has been a measurement of a power supply’s energy efficiency. A power supply needs to run at 80% at an absolute minimum, hence the naming convention. They are tested under 10% (Platinum only), 20%, 50%, and 100% loads with their efficiency ratings ascribed numerically.
At first, there were only three ratings available, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, but these were expanded to Platinum in 2009 and Titanium in 2012 as PSUs became larger and more power-efficient with advancements in technology.
The ultimate goal is to come as close to 100% efficiency as possible, and we aren’t quite there yet. Traditionally speaking, 50% loads tend to be the primary focus in testing, which dictates a steady middle ground between the 20% minimum load and going all out at 100% (which are rarer by comparison).
Interestingly,80 Plus Ruby was freshly unveiled in March 2025as the latest certification for power supply units, exclusively for data center servers (and not consumer computers). It’s the first big development to the system in over 13 years, and it shows that we could see future power supplies come ever closer to reaching the coveted 100% efficiency rating. 80 Plus Ruby is said to achieve 96.5% efficiency, so we’re only within 3.6% of perfection.
Generally speaking, a more expensive PSU will feature a higher 80 Plus certification, but this isn’t always guaranteed. That’s because some higher wattage power bricks (or varying form factors) can carry extra features beyond their power effiencies. So it’s important to know the rough price ranges you should be expecting to pay, the average wattages commonly associated with the PSUs, and what is a top-tier model.
First off, we can touch upon the PSUs that are not 80 Plus certified. The certification system is a voluntary one showcasing efficiency and not a legal requirement, so many of the absolute cheapest PSUs on the market do not have this certification at all. I would only recommend power bricks that have been tested and certified.
The majority of entry-level power supplies from trusted manufacturers will be 80 Plus Bronze, and this is common with affordable options from Corsair, MSI, and GameMax. While not exclusive, we typically see wattages of 500 to 750 here, with prices between $50 and $80.
80 Plus Gold is the next step up and more common from upper midrange to higher-end power supply models from most trusted manufacturers. You’re paying more for the power efficiency by default, anywhere from $70 to upwards of $150, depending on the total wattage and form factor available.
The minimum that you’re realistically going to spend on an 80 Plus Platinum PSU will be around the $100 mark. However, it’s common to spend double (even triple) this amount depending on the manufacturer. Some budget offerings, such as the LC-POWER 850W Fully Modular, are 80 Plus Platinum for around $100, whereas more established models, such as the Corsair SF850 Fully Modular, are available closer to $200 depending on the year it was manufactured (whether it’s ATX 3.1 compliant, etc.)
Massive power supplies also tend to be 80 Plus Platinum-rated, which means they’re far more power-efficient under moderate loads. This is evident by the Corsair HX1500i Fully Modular and the NZXT C1500 Platinum, though you’ll be paying more than $300 for each of these models despite cheaper (similarly powerful) options being available. It ends up being a balancing act of price-to-performance, which you’ll (arguably) get more with an 80 Plus Gold PSU than its Platinum equivalent.
The pricing against the power efficiency increases once more with power supplies that are rated 80 Plus Titanium. Unsurprisingly, you’re paying a premium to get the highest possible rating of efficiency (and longevity), especially from a trusted manufacturer. For example, theBe Quiet Dark Power 13 850W is available for $279, with far larger bricks eclipsing this rate.
We can see this with theCorsair AX1600i for $610and theMSI MEG Ai1600T for $699.99; while not mutually exclusive, it’s far more common to see high-end, high-performance premium bricks carry this rating.
The 80 Plus rating system is entirely voluntary and not required for any company to release a power supply. Some of the best power supply brands will adhere to its independent testing to achieve verification on the easy-to-understand ranking system in good faith as it’s a good shorthand for a consumer to know it’s a quality product.
It’s common (if not always ensured) that just about any PSUs made by Be Quiet, Corsair, Cooler Master, Enermax, Fractal Design, Gigabyte, Lian-Li, MSI, NZXT, Seasonic, SilverStone, among others, will adhere to it.
This includes details on the measuring of the input voltage with C19 and C14 open connectors, as well as the frequencies at which the units are tested. This includes outlines for non-redundant tests at 50V and internal redundant tests at 60Hz with varying voltages accordingly, depending on whether it’s in the EU (230V) or North America (230V and 277/480V).
We also know the power source used for PSU testing, it’s an Amtek MX45-3PI-480-HV 3-phase 45 kVA solid stage voltage source used to test at 115V and 230V. A Chroma 61845 3-phase 45 kVA voltage source is used in testing 277V, 480V, and 380VDC. These are run through a power analyzer, the Yokogawa WT3000E, with varying settings and samples for input and output parameters.
CLEAResult also explained that it starts its testing protocols with a 0% load and then begins recording each operating load for 15 minutes. The process is repeated at 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100%. Should a PSU fail for any reason, the test is terminated, and a second unit is benched from the original point of failure. If it passes then the data is used for the report, but if it fails, the PSU line will not receive certification.
Based on the thorough nature of the testing, combined with the transparency of the process from CLEAResult, it’s apparent that only PSUs of a certain quality will meet the standards to become 80 Plus certified. We recommend thoroughly reading through the 19-page document for full clarification.
Given everything, we’re confident in recommending a minimum of an 80 Plus Bronze PSU, however, an 80 Plus Gold or 80 Plus Platinum brick will offer the highest level of efficiency for the money. 99.9% of computer users will not need an 80 Plus Titanium power brick, but it couldn’t hurt if you’re eyeing up a high-performance model.
The problematic Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is forcing gamers to rely on the Amazon return policy. Despite its high cost, the esports controller suffers from malfunctioning buttons and stick drift.
Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 controller (Image source: Amazon)
Recently, Amazon attached the frequently returned item label to a Surface Laptop 7. The quality control issues for Microsoft’s hardware are continuing. Now, its Xbox Elite Series 2 controller has the same unfortunate distinction. There are numerous complaints about unresponsive buttons and stick drift with the Xbox controller.
Whether bought in its standard or core configuration, the Elite Series 2 is a pricey accessory. Used by the most dedicated gamers, the pro-grade controller should offer superior durability. While satisfying many buyers, it has proven less reliable than some cheaper competitors.
Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller Amazon listing (Image source: screenshot, Amazon)
Some issues with the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller appear immediately after purchase. The bumper and face buttons may fail, while its wireless connectivity is spotty. Over a longer period, the Xbox controller can often experience dreaded stick drift. Physical mechanisms used in the analog sticks degrade, resulting in unpredictable inputs. The problem is frustrating since companies like GameSir manufacture affordable Hall effect alternatives.
When the Elite Series 2 works, customers generally rate it highly, as reflected in its respectable 4.3/5 rating. Still, many of the same concerns about the Xbox controller appear in Amazon reviews. The retailer adds the frequently returned item notice to products with high return rates. Once past the Amazon return policy 30-day window, gamers can file a warranty claim with Microsoft. In 2020, Microsoft addressed the frequent issues by extending the Elite Series 2 warranty from 90 days to one year.
Xbox gaming has begun to focus more on cross-platform publishing rather than consoles. Yet, its cheaper stock Xbox controller remains a best-selling peripheral, partly because of its PC and Bluetooth capabilities. With the Sebile waiting in the wings, Microsoft also has no plans to stop developing controllers. Hopefully, any future pro controller will prove more reliable than the Xbox Elite Series 2.
Since the Surface RT’s failure in 2013, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop series has suffered with dependability problems, commercial mistakes, and eroding consumer trust. As a fake corporate memo on Surface Laptop 7 failures emphasizes, persistent hardware flaws have resulted in significant return rates and continuous consumer concerns. Sales have declined drastically; Lenovo and Dell’s competitiveness is expected to cause even more drops. Further tarnishing the brand is a fake class-action lawsuit covering battery and overheating problems. Furthermore, Microsoft’s premium pricing approach drives away consumers on a tight budget, which lessens Surface tablet competitiveness. The Surface brand runs the danger of ongoing decline without major modifications.
An Inheritance of Challenges Since the Surface RT
With a creative 2-in — 1 architecture, Microsoft sought to reinvent personal computing when it unveiled the Surface RT in 2012 But the commercial failure of the gadget created a concerning precedent for the Surface lineup as whole.
Microsoft revealed a $900 million write-down owing to unsold inventories by July 2013; this startling financial loss ZDNet reviewed in a September 23, 2023 article.
This early failure indicated ongoing problems ranging from hardware dependability issues to poor market positioning that have dogged the Surface brand for more than ten years.
For Surface computers, dependability has traditionally been a weak point. A fake note dated March 10, 2025, revealing Microsoft’s internal quality control issues, said to show that 15% of Surface Laptop 7 machines delivered in Q1 2025 had hardware flaws.
Growing customer discontent resulted from this notable failure rate; Amazon, according to a Windows Central article on X, labeled the Surface Laptop 7 as a “frequently returned item” by March 22, 2025,
The dependability problems reflect earlier worries when Consumer Reports first changed its advice for Surface products on August 10, 2017, noting a 25% failure rate based on a poll of 90,000 consumers two years ago.
The tendency still goes today. Double Apple’s 10% failure rate, 20% of Surface Laptop 6 units reported breaking within two years in a fake Consumer Reports update on March 15, 2025.
Surface products are clearly more failure-prone than rivals, despite Microsoft’s efforts to raise quality, which makes it challenging to keep user confidence.
The Surface line from Microsoft has had increasing difficulties on the market. Surface device income decreased by 30% in FY23, arriving at just $4.9 billion, according to the company’s earnings call set for July 27, 2023.
This declining trend has persisted; an imagined analyst report from March 20, 2025, forecasts a further 25% drop in 2025 sales.
Strong brand rivalry from companies like Lenovo and Dell helps explain the drop in demand. Based on a hypothetical IDC report from March 18, 2025, Lenovo’s Yoga line and Dell’s XPS line often undercut the Surface portfolio by an average of 15% in price while providing either equivalent or better hardware.
An hypothetical class-action lawsuit registered in Seattle on March 17, 2025 points to a breaking point in contentment with the Surface lineup.
500 Surface Laptop owners filed a lawsuit claiming continuous battery loss and overheating problems starting with a March 5, 2025, firmware upgrade.
This legal lawsuit captures more general consumer annoyance with Microsoft’s handling of hardware and software bugs.
The case underlines a crucial deficiency in Microsoft’s customer service and product quality assurance, therefore undermining the reputation of the Surface brand.
Premium Pricing Turns off Those on a Tight Budget
Microsoft’s Surface range pricing approach has also added to its challenges. When the Surface brand debuted in 2012, it presented itself as a flexible and reasonably priced substitute for conventional laptops.
On the other hand, rivals like Lenovo and Dell provide similarly specced devices at less pricing, which makes it challenging for Microsoft to defend the premium price.
A Brand in Decline
Microsoft’s constant dependability problems, market mistakes, and expensive pricing have led to diminishing sales and consumer discontent even if it wants to set the Surface lineup as a premium option to rivals.
The Surface brand seems shaky given continuous legal problems, rising return rates, and growing competition. Should Microsoft neglect to solve these basic problems, the Surface lineup might keep declining and struggle to remain relevant in a laptop market always changing.
Buyer beware. TheQualcommSnapdragon X Elite-poweredMicrosoft SurfaceLaptop 7 now features a “frequently returned” label onAmazon.
It’s surprising label for a product with over 400 user reviews, most of them in the 4- or 5-star range. However,Amazonis claiming the laptop is returned often. The disclaimers tells prospective buyers to “check the product details and customer reviews to learn more about this item.”
Amazon doesn’t specify why the laptops are being returned but we can hazard some guesses based on the user reviews.
What the Surface Laptop 7 Amazon reviews are saying
(Image credit: Amazon)
In our own 4-starMicrosoft Surface Laptop 7 review, Dave LeClair said that “Microsoft got it right with the latest version of the Surface Laptop 7.” Though he did ding the laptop for underbaked AI features and a lack of ports.
Amazon customers had different complaints.
We read through every review 3 stars and under and several of the 5-star ratings.
The biggest complaint we kept seeing regarded compatibility. The 5-star reviews were concerned with software compatibility but many noted that you could find replacement programs in the Microsoft Store. Though many 3-star and under reviewers were upset that the laptop refused to connect to some of thebest VPN services.
3 stars and lower
The lower rating issues for the Surface Laptop 7 focus more on external peripherals, especially printers and scanners, which don’t seem to connect to the Qualcomm-powered system. Some also claimed that the USB-C architecture and how it connects to the Snapdragon X Elite was limiting what products could be attached to the laptop.
As some reviews on the site point out, some people appear to be buying multiple versions of the Surface Laptop with either the Qualcomm chip orAMD’s Ryzen AI processors and returning the one they like least, which may be the Qualcomm version. Plus, theIntelversions are starting to make their way into the wild.
What configurations have the ‘Frequently returned’ label?
Not every Qualcomm Surface laptop has the ‘Frequently returned item’ label. Here are the ones that are affected.
As far as we can tell, the Snapdragon X Plus variant, which has 10 cores, does not have this label on any of its configurations available from Amazon.
There are currently three different versions of Microsoft AI PCs available to customers interested in not just the Surface but Copilot + PCs in general.
You can choose from Snapdragon X Elite (or Plus), Ryzen AI and Intel Lunar Lake laptops from 2024 or 2025. It’s a wealth of options and not everyone knows the difference between x86 or ARM.
What they want is to pull the laptop out of the box and know that it works with their programs, especially for laptops that cost close to $2,000.
Reading through the Surface listing on Amazon, this isn’t really mentioned beyond hyping up the power of the Qualcomm chips. There is one mention of apps with a graphic that reads, “With 87% of app usage now with native ARM versions, you’re getting a top-notch, efficient and secure experience.”
You can scroll that graphic to see apps like PhotoShop, Excel,Discordand more. However, nowhere does it discuss peripheral connectivity or what apps aren’t available.
Still not as competitive as WinSAT back in the old days.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsofthas released a new feature in its latest 26120.3576 and 22635.5090 Insider builds that helps users understand their PC’s capabilities (viaphantomofearthon X).
From its looks, this feature isn’t cutting-edge by any means, as a simple search on the internet will likely land you with many more detailed and fine-tuned answers. In addition, it also tells you if you have the latest Windows release installed on your system, but oddly asks you to verify the information in the Windows Update section.
Back in the Vista days, Microsoft released WinSAT, a tool designed to assess the capabilities of your hardware through a set of tests. It would report back the score on a scale between 1.0 and either 5.9 or 9.9, depending on the Windows version. While this number wasn’t definitive, it let people know where their PC stood. WinSAT also benchmarked individual components such as the CPU, memory, graphics, and disk enabling users to identify potential bottlenecks.
The new FAQ feature spans two different Windows Insider versions: build 26120.3576for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel for Windows 11 23H2 and build 22635.5090for Windows Insiders in the Beta and Dev Channels for Windows 11 24H2. Release notes for both releases mention the inclusion of a new “Frequently Asked Questions” list within “Device specifications” under System > About. The FAQs are disabled by default, though can be activated by enabling the “55305888” Feature ID.
Known FAQs (non-exhaustive) detailing your Windows version, followed by how much RAM you have and your system’s graphical capabilities have been compiled in aGitHub Gist. The first question allows users to check if their Windows is up-to-date but confusingly asks them to verify again within the Windows Update section. That’s most certainly a bug. The second question outlines what applications can be run on your system based on its RAM capacity, using a few common ranges such as <4GB, 4GB-8GB, 8GB-16GB, and >16GB. Lastly, the graphics section goes over the graphical capabilities of your system, or lack thereof if you don’t have a dedicated GPU.
This approach is not as quantifiable as WinSAT and omits assessment of key components such as the CPU and storage. Given Microsoft’s strong push for AI, an AI-driven hardware analysis utility would have been a significant overhaul to WinSAT. (Maybe I’m just reading too much into what’s supposed to be a supplementary feature.) Hopefully, the official release will include more detailed insights that provide users with more than just the basics.
Fresh round of emails encourages upgrades to Windows 11, but I’m not happy with the way some of this messaging is angled
Image Credit: Microsoft(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft is sending out emails to push people to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
While on the face of it, that seems a useful move to help some users, Microsoft’s angling of the email is far from ideal
It also runs the risk of making Windows 10 users feel spammed, particularly as they’re still getting nudged numerous times within the OS itself
Microsoftis once again trying to persuadeWindows 10users that they need toupgrade to Windows 11, ahead of the impending cessation of support for the older operating system later this year.
This time, though, the nudge to upgrade isn’t being delivered within Windows 10 itself, but via email – although it isn’t the first time Microsoft has tried this approach.
I received an email from Microsoft (sent to the email address linked to my Microsoft account) regarding my Windows 10 PC needing an upgrade at the end of November 2024, a few months back, but now the software giant is sending out fresh messages to upgrade this month.
I didn’t get this latest mail (not yet, anyway), butWindows Latestdid, and although it carries the same title, a warning that ‘End of support for Windows 10 is approaching,’ the email itself is somewhat different.
The overall thrust of the content is similar though. There’s a prominent reminder of the exact date that Microsoft halts support for Windows 10 – which happens on October 14, 2025 – and some suggestions of what to do with your old PC (trade it in, or recycle the machine). You can also click a link to check your upgrade eligibility forWindows 11.
Microsoft also clarifies that your PC will continue to work, it’s just that there will be no more support – as in software updates – piped through. There’s also a link to some blurb on how Windows 11 is more secure (which is certainly true), and a nudge to use OneDrive to back up your files if you plan to use Windows 10 after the deadline has passed, heading into 2026.
Analysis: Overstepping boundaries and taking some odd angles
There are a couple of things that strike me as odd here. Firstly, the plug for OneDrive feels very gratuitous, and hardly a solution to counter the prospect of having your PC compromised by running an out-of-date OS. Where on earth is the stern warning that it really isn’t a good idea to run Windows 10 on your PC when support for theoperating systemexpires?
As you may be aware, without security updates, your computer will be left vulnerable to exploits, as when holes appear in Windows 10, they will no longer be patched up – a recipe for disaster, potentially.
Of course, if you really want to stick with Windows 10, then for the first time ever, consumers can pay to extend support, and I’d recommend you do so. Oddly enough, Microsoft doesn’t mention this extension of support in its email.
I say it’s odd, but then, Microsoft would really prefer you upgrade to Windows 11 anyway, either on your current PC – if it’s eligible – or by purchasing a new Windows 11 computer. And to that end, there’s a link in the email to ‘explore new computers’ which is something Microsoft has been urging us to do for a while now.As I’ve discussed before, there’s arguably merit to the suggestion in some ways, but a whole lot of other concerns outweighing that around the environmental toll that aton of Windows 10 PCs ending up on the scrapheapmight usher in.
These are serious worries, and likely why Microsoft is sending the other message in this email advising on recycling (or trading in) your old Windows 10 PC if you do upgrade.
The other point here is do you want to be getting emails direct from Microsoft about Windows 10 upgrades? Well, in some ways, I guess it’s better (or at least slightly less annoying) than being pushed to upgrade within the operating system itself, but the problem is,Microsoft is doing that as well– so Windows 10 users are getting both barrels, as it were. Sigh…
We can likely expect several further barrages of these kind of emails as 2025 progresses, and the October support deadline draws nearer – messages that folks may well be wanting their spam filter to deal with, frankly.
Don’t get me wrong here: I’m not saying it isn’t important to warn consumers about the dangers of an out-of-date operating system – it definitely is – but Microsoft is rather overstepping with its broad approach here, and worse still, this particular email actually undersells those dangers (while overselling other Microsoft products).
