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Tested: Windows 11 setup screen now finally lets you skip forced updates, and go directly to the desktop

The Hot Take: Nice, quicker to desktop.

Microsoft told Windows Latest that it’s rolling out a new feature that allows you to skip forced Windows 11 updates during device setup (out-of-box experience). Right now, when you clean install or reinstall Windows 11, or buy a new device, you have to go through a long out-of-box experience, also called OOBE. During the OOBE setup, Windows nags you to set up a Microsoft account, buy Microsoft 365, try Xbox Game Pass, and more. While it’s unclear when the calmer OOBE without upsells will begin rolling out, Microsoft is already curbing one…

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How Good is Windows on Arm With Snapdragon X?

The Hot Take: Question is - Why do they really want us on AMR instead of x86/CISC chips?

A new powerful chipset has arrived to take on x86 CPUs and Apple's M5, writes Wccftech. The blog Windows Central writes that "Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processors are here" — and they run Windows: Microsoft has done a massive amount of work to improve compatibility and has also convinced developers to embrace Windows 11 on Arm. Users of Windows 11 on Arm PCs spend 90% of their time on Arm-based apps that run natively. Additionally, apps that do not run natively can often run through Prism emulation, which has improved…

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Microsoft Begins Removing Copilot Branding From Windows 11 Apps

The Hot Take: Is this the beginning or Ai push back across the market that might include hardware soon?

Microsoft has started stripping Copilot branding out of Notepad in Windows 11, replacing the old Copilot menu with a more generic "writing tools" label. The AI features themselves aren't going away, but Microsoft seems to be backing off the heavy-handed Copilot branding and extra entry points. Windows Central reports: As promised, Microsoft is now beginning its effort to reduce and remove Copilot branding across Windows 11, with the latest Notepad update for Insiders outright removing the Copilot icon and phrasing. Now, the AI menu is simply…

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Microsoft reaches for yet another out-of-band patch to deal with latest update issue

The Hot Take: Trying to win customers over again as many are eyeing Linux alternatives. Only problem, I'm hearing things about Opensource possibly going to subscriptions just like others because coding for free doesn't help peoples bottom lines.

Weren't these supposed to be 'atypical'? Microsoft is preparing another out-of-band update to address its latest problematic update following reports of installation errors.…

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Microsoft plans to build 100% native apps for Windows 11, as web apps ruin the OS experience

The Hot Take: So does this mean Microsoft Edge won't be consuming ALL of my RAM? I mean this is probably in response to the RAM usage I would think.

Microsoft has confirmed it will build 100% native apps for Windows 11 and form a new team to spearhead the project. It’s unclear whether all new apps will be built on a native UI framework like WinUI, but Microsoft has assured that at least some won’t rely on web-based components. Back in 2020, Microsoft’s Windows boss, Panos Panay, said the company wants you to love Windows, not just need it. However, nothing really happened, and Panos eventually left the company. Fast forward to 2026, Windows leadership is promising another revival, but…

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Everything you need to know about Windows 11's new customizable Taskbar resizable and movable options from Windows 10 coming soon

The Hot Take: Something they've been screaming about for a long time. What about options to disable all the Ai in the OS? /crickets

Movable and resizable Taskbar is confirmed to be making its way to Windows 11 this year. Here's everything you need to know about how it will work!

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"We never got to finish": Ex-Windows chief reveals Microsoft could have already improved Windows 11 by now — cutting memory and storage demands by 20%

The Hot Take: Yeah Microsoft and all companies could have done this long ago but now that RAM is priced through the roof is the only reason they're now looking at this. I wouldn't doubt all the browser folks are going to suddenly start looking at their usage here soon.

A former Windows leader recently discussed a project that promised a 20% reduction in Windows 11’s memory and storage usage.

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Microsoft: Removing some Copilots will improve Windows 11

The Hot Take: Finally listening to the customers? Nah, this is to quiet them just enough to continue moving to their goals.

'Doze boss admits quality is down, promises smaller memory footprint and fixes for many well-known issues Microsoft has acknowledged that it needs to improve the quality of Windows 11 and outlined its plan to get the job done.…

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Microsoft blocks registry trick that unlocked performance-boosting native NVMe driver on Windows 11 — workarounds still exist to enable support, however

The Hot Take: I wonder why given that Windows has gotten bashed for the lack of performance vs Linux.

Microsoft has blocked the registry trick that allowed Windows 11 users to enable a native NVMe driver on their PCs. However, third-party tools can still help with a workaround.

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