Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows 10 on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.
Microsoft has released a brand new "active development" build of Windows 10 in the Insider Dev Channel today, and with it comes a handful of notable new features and changes to the Windows Shell, including the Start menu and Notifications UI. This is the first set of notable new features Windows 10 has received this year, and hopefully it's a sign of more things to come.
Last week, Microsoft announced that it was closing all physical Microsoft Stores, and transforming a handful of flagship stores into “experience centers” that serve no purpose other than to allow high-street shoppers look at and try the latest devices from Microsoft and partners. Customers will not be able to purchase any products they see inside the store, nor will they be able to get...
We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Zac and Daniel are joined in the first segment of this week's episode by Adam Levenson of Waves Audio to discuss the speaker technology found in Dell's new XPS 15 and XPS 17 laptops.
We're live with the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30pm ET, make sure you're there!
Microsoft is hard at work on the next version of Windows 10, known as version 20H2 and launching later this year with new changes and enhancements. While this next version is in development, we're going to congregate all of the changes and new features added to Windows 10 version 20H2 through the Windows Insider Program here into one convenient list.
We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, the Windows Insider program has been overhauled and rebranded from Rings to Channels, among many other significant changes. Zac and Daniel make sense of everything that's going on and how it will be helpful to enthusiasts and developers.
Yesterday, Apple unveiled its brand new version of macOS, known as "Big Sur" and coming later this year to a plethora of Macs. Its biggest new addition is a complete redesign of the OS, adopting the same aesthetic Apple has been pushing on iOS and iPadOS for some time. This is a complete cosmetic update from the ground up that's consistent across apps and icons, and it puts Windows'...
PowerToys for Windows 10 is a collection of tools built by Microsoft that enhances the Windows 10 experience for power users. If you've ever wanted to remap certain keys on your keyboard, or create specific app window layouts on your desktop, PowerToys is for you. It's still in development, but new features and enhancements are being added all the time.
Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 10 build today that features yet more improvements to Windows Subsystem for Linux. Today's build is 20150, and is the first build to rollout to the new Dev Channel that was announced earlier this week. Windows Insiders may still see the Dev Channel branded as the Fast ring, but you'll still get the build regardless.
Microsoft has today announced that the next version of Windows 10, known officially as version 20H2, will be launching later this year and is now in testing in the Windows Insider Beta Channel. The 20H2 release will be the first to have the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge pre-installed in the OS image.
We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Daniel and Zac check out Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal and how it might compare to Xbox Series X. Surface Duo is still on track for a summer release. As they describe it, Microsoft will be shipping a proof-of-concept that will appeal greatly to fans.
Microsoft has today announced that it's rebranding and redefining its Windows 10 Insider Preview channels that have been part of the program since 2014. Microsoft is rebranding the Fast and Slow rings as "Dev" and "Beta" channels respectively, aligning the purpose of each channel with the Office Insider Program in the process.
Windows has been around for a while, 35 years in fact. It’s come a long way since its debut in 1985 as a graphical user interface that was powered by MS-DOS. There have been so many different versions of Windows, many of which with excellent features that are no longer developed or part of the product today. Let’s take a look back through history as some of the best features from older...
We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Daniel and Zac briefly address racial injustice in the United States along with Microsoft's work to help affect change in a positive way. They move on to the tech news of the week, including the release of Windows 10 May 2020 Update, the Surface Duo experience, and a review of the 15-inch Surface...
The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 remains an integral part of the OS. It's how users can safely and securely pay for, download, and install their favorite third-party applications. But more importantly, it's how in-box system apps get updates to keep the OS current with new features. It's an integral part of the Windows as a Service experience, which is why I'm shocked at how bad the...
Microsoft is launching a brand new version of its Edge web browser today, and it’s a huge departure from the old Edge we’ve come to know. Microsoft has rebuilt Edge from the ground up using the open-source Chromium project, the same codebase that Google Chrome is based upon. Existing Chrome users will find the new Edge to be very familiar, and that’s by design. There's a lot going on...
Microsoft's Surface Duo is coming soon. We're getting closer and closer to an official launch, but we haven't yet heard anything about the software experiences we can expect to see when Surface Duo is ready. Microsoft has been working behind the scenes to update most of their first-party Android apps with support for Surface Duo.
Microsoft is highlighting a new spellcheck feature available in Microsoft Edge 83 that uses Windows Spellcheck to correct words typed inside the browser. Microsoft Edge was previously using Chromium's own spellcheck feature but moving over to Windows Spellcheck improves things in several areas.
Buying Microsoft's own Surface chargers from the Microsoft Store is the best choice as you're buying official hardware from the hardware manufacturer. This means you're not getting a third-party knock-off product; it should work well and has full support from Microsoft if the charger stops working.
Microsoft's next Windows 10 feature update is almost here. Known as the May 2020 Update, this new version of Windows 10 is all about fit and finish. There's not a whole lot new here in regard to features, but plenty of changes and enhancements to features that have already been part of the OS for some time. In this review, we take a look at all the notable new changes and improvements,...