Microsoft's Windows 11 26H1 update, initially expected to offer only new silicon support without a host of new features, is now dedicated exclusively to new and upcoming Arm-based processors like the Snapdragon X2 Elite/Plus. This marks a significant shift in Windows 11's development path—a first divergence in Windows deployment in the recent timeline, and a first for Windows 11. As a result, regular PC users with x86-64 and older Arm-based platforms will continue to use the Windows 11 25H2 as a feature update. According to the latest Windows IT Pro Blog, "Windows 11, version 26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2," indicating that a different version will serve as the next feature update for Windows 11, rather than the anticipated 26H1.

Microsoft is concentrating on providing full support for the new Windows-on-Arm platforms, some of which are already available. These platforms include Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite processors and NVIDIA's N1 and N1x SoCs. This new hardware requires optimization from Microsoft to ensure the best experience on Windows 11, so the company is dedicating most of its efforts for the 26H1 update to this task. Since new silicon requires fine-tuning, such as specific power profiles and hardware optimizations to extract maximum performance, Microsoft is separating Windows 11 into another branch to make sure that servicing and updates are easier, and also that shipping customized power/performance settings doesn't end up corrupting the build for non-Arm CPUs.

Microsoft is reportedly considering merging some of its subscription services into a single offering. According to The Verge, and later confirmed by sources from Windows Central, Microsoft is exploring the possibility of combining the PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Premium subscription tiers into one "super" tier. This potential consolidation would address the increasingly complicated subscription lineup, which often confuses gamers and affects their subscription choices. Offering support for more than one platform in a single subscription could potentially revitalize the struggling subscription services sector at Xbox and align well with the timing of a new console release. The company is also looking into ways to incorporate more third-party service bundles into its Game Pass offerings.

Currently, PC Game Pass costs $16.49 per month after a significant price increase of nearly 40% last October, while the Xbox Game Pass Premium tier costs $15 but doesn't include the full library available to PC subscribers. At the top end is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $30 monthly, which offers day-one access to all Microsoft first-party releases, along with bundled perks from EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew. Combining the PC and Premium tiers could simplify this structure, though it raises questions about pricing and feature access for current PC subscribers, or whether Microsoft will maintain the $16.49 price.

Data from ASUS's Future of SMB Report reveals that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly adopting the mindset, and tools, of large enterprises to stay competitive. According to the report, 88% of SMB owners in the United States believe that "thinking bigger" is essential for future growth. This shift is being driven in part by competitive pressure: among those who strongly agree, 41% say they face the most competition from larger enterprises, not just peers or start-ups.

Rather than relying solely on headcount or traditional infrastructure, SMBs are using AI-powered PCs to boost productivity and streamline decision-making. From intelligent forecasting to content creation and workflow automation, AI is now a key enabler of enterprise-level capability delivered with small business agility.

Intel is reportedly mandating OEM integrators of the latest "Panther Lake" SoCs to use LPDDR5X memory starting at 7,467 MT/s and beyond, with an interesting software differentiator between adequate speeds or those below. According to Golden Pig Upgrade, LDDR5X memory running below the 7,467 MT/s threshold will force the software to display a generic mark of "Intel (R) Graphics," while configurations with that exact memory speed or higher will display the full name of "Intel (R) Arc (TM) Graphics B390" or "Intel (R) Arc (TM) Graphics B370" marking in Windows 11 Task Manager. Reportedly, Intel is doing this to stop OEMs from cutting corners with their "Panther Lake" laptop configurations, where they could bundle a lower-speed LDDR5X memory out of the Intel specification.

Without the required memory, Intel's Arc B390/B370 iGPUs would likely be left starving for bandwidth, as the whole SoC is being powered by that memory. At higher speeds, memory can do the data transfer faster, resulting in a boost of the overall system performance, and most importantly, the frame rate that these chips can push out. Especially for single-package systems like "Panther Lake" is, faster memory is a great way to get extra performance boost. Intel's flagship SKUs are advertised as capable of running with LPDDR5X memory at speeds up to 9,600 MT/s, which is just below the point where LPDDR5X technology tops out at 10,700 MT/s. Interestingly, there are lots of options from Intel's OEM partners that integrate top-end memory, which is a positive sign for the ecosystem.

If you're tired of seeing Microsoft's AI features like Copilot, agentic workloads, and Recall forced into their products, you're not alone. Microsoft has finally confirmed that it will be stepping back from its "AI everywhere" strategy. According to an exclusive report by Windows Central, the internal Windows 11 teams at Microsoft are now focusing on reducing forced AI integration. Instead, they aim to address what truly matters to consumers, such as fixing the bug-prone operating system and enhancing core features for a smoother user experience. The integration of Copilot into basic apps like Notepad and Paint is reportedly under review, and Microsoft may remove these features to restore the basic functionality users have come to appreciate. This includes features like basic text formatting and tables in Notepad, which are nice additions to a core application.

Additionally, forcing Copilot AI button in every application has been paused, as there has been very little interest from users in actually using these features. TechPowerUp Forums has been a constant source of criticism for Microsoft's forced AI integration, among the remaining large crowd of PC enthusiasts who have been fighting the "AI everywhere" approach for a while. Microsoft's telemetry records usage of these AI buttons and additions, likely showing that only a few percent of Windows 11 users are actually interested in having AI access every application layer, especially with the recent ambition to shape Windows 11 into "agentic OS." The company confirmed that these features are a security nightmare to maintain, so thankfully these efforts are now cancelled.

Windows 11 may not be the most beloved version of Microsoft's OS to date, but Microsoft's PowerToys is a favorite UI tweaking tool among power users, and for good reason. The latest feature to debut in PowerToys is a docked top bar—called the Command Palette Dock—which is part of the Command Palette feature set. The Command Palette Dock is an optional, configurable dock that can be pinned to any screen edge and be used to display a number of extensions and widgets. In the feature announcement on GitHub, the PowerToys team shows off features like a system monitor, file browser, and a clipboard history—all of the existing PowerToys Command Palette extensions should work in the Command Palette Dock, according to Microsoft. The dock functions similarly to that of the Windows Task Bar, in the sense that it shows a small shortcut icon, with more information available via a pop-up when clicked.

The Command Palette Dock is part of the previously introduced Command Palette, which is effectively Windows's version of KDE's Krunner or macOS Spotlight, and the Command Palette Dock is, likewise, a feature on many Linux distributions and on Apple's macOS. It's also unclear if the PowerToys Dock will become quite as customizable as the docks in KDE, which allows you to add secondary docks to different screen edges and change the icons and display styles of each of the extensions in the dock. PowerToys has previously played host to features that eventually made it to Windows 11, like the updated window tiling UI, for example. It's thus entirely possible that some version of the top bar and command palette may become part of Windows itself in the not-too-distant future. As for now, though, the feature is still in the testing and hasn't even been added to PowerToys yet. It will likely be launched soon after feedback is gathered by development build testers.

Microsoft is actively working to repair the broken trust it has created within the Windows community. Sources close to The Verge report that the Redmond giant is focusing on enhancing the core functionality of the Windows 11 operating system and its underlying services. These have become so problematic that each new update introduces a slew of issues, disrupting many systems and undermining the confidence of PC enthusiasts. Through a process known as "swarming," Microsoft is deploying its massive engineering resources to address these problems swiftly, aiming to make Windows 11 a benchmark for performance and stability. However, this is a challenging task, as trust has significantly eroded in recent months due to the consistent issues with Windows 11. Pavan Davuluri, president of Windows and devices, has commented for The Verge:

The feedback we're receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people. This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows.

Microsoft reported its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025, ending December 31. During the earnings call, Microsoft highlighted that its Windows 11 operating system is achieving goals faster than its predecessor, Windows 10. As of today, Windows 11 has officially reached one billion global users. It took the new Windows OS just 1,576 days to reach this milestone, compared to the 1,706 days it took Windows 10. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that this is a significant milestone for the Windows operating system, which is now expanding more rapidly than during the days of Windows 10. With the recent end-of-life for Windows 10, many users and enterprises are looking to upgrade from their aging systems, and the logical choice for the next build is Windows 11.

Windows 11 has been on the market since October 5, 2021. In the tech space, that is a long time for any software product. Over time, it evolved from a slight reskin of the Windows 10 OS into a completely different user experience with more modern layouts and a modernized UI, but it also came with a slew of issues. As Microsoft has tried to integrate everything into a singular OS, issues became common with updates, causing random bugs and system crashes. Nowadays, it is popular to criticize Windows 11, but despite its buggy nature, the success and market penetration speak for themselves. Microsoft plans to keep Windows 11 as a long-running version, so it might be a while before we see a Windows 12 or anything similar.

Microsoft just reported its Q4 2025 results, providing some interesting insights into its gaming ventures. The company's overall quarterly revenue increased by an impressive 17% compared to the same period last year, reaching $81.3 billion. This growth is primarily driven by the strong performance of the cloud sector. However, Microsoft's gaming divisions are experiencing challenges with declining revenue. In its Xbox unit, hardware revenue decreased by 32% year-over-year, significantly impacting the business. The overall Xbox division saw a 9% decline, while Xbox content and services dropped by 5%. The services section, which includes the Game Pass subscription, is the only area not experiencing a steep decline. By recently rising Game Pass subscription prices, Microsoft aims to offset some of the hardware losses.

An interesting detail from the earnings report is the Windows OEM and Devices sector, which reported a modest growth of 1%. This is minor considering the Windows 10 end-of-life, which was expected to boost this sector significantly. Windows itself reported a 5% growth, but this is only a slight increase compared to what Microsoft anticipated from OEMs purchasing Windows license keys for Windows 11, as well as a major consumer upgrade spree to Windows 11 devices. With Xbox revenue declining significantly year-over-year for several years, it is becoming less of a priority for the company, which now derives substantial revenue from Microsoft Azure and 365 Commercial subscriptions.

A member of GPD's community team has disclosed that official Bazzite OS support is on the way for a particular flagship handheld gaming PC model. Yesterday's update was delivered to members and frequenters of the GPD Win subreddit. The Chinese portable computer specialist's Win 5 model attracted plenty of attention last summer, due to it being the first handheld system to feature AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU—the best available "Strix Halo" mobile processor option. A segment of the hardcore gaming community vehemently believe that Windows 11 OS hinders performance across several generations of handhelds, especially when compared to models that run SteamOS as standard. Despite Microsoft's release of a Full Screen Experience (FSE), many owners have opted to install Linux-based operating systems on formerly Windows 11-out-of-the-box devices.

Around early autumn 2025, initial support of Bazzite OS became available to owners of GPD Win 5 handhelds. Since then, user feedback has highlighted various issues. Yesterday's message—informing the community about an in-progress official adaptation—drew many comments. Apparently, a recent patch resolved Wi-Fi connectivity issues for one participant, but others mention ongoing problems: system crashes when waking from sleep, cutting out of audio, control inputs not functioning properly, and more. Hopefully, GPD and Universal Blue's formal co-operation will iron out some of these bumps ahead of a proper rollout of the Fedora-based Linux distribution. A Steam Client-esque user experience is BazziteOS's main selling point. TechPowerUp spent a few minutes with the GPD Win 5 at CES 2026, where the demonstration unit's Radeon 8060S iGPU was taxed by an Elden Ring session. Oddly, this flagship design is not truly portable, due to a reliance on external batteries and power sources. A mildly "PS Vita"-inspired aesthetic gives you one impression, until you realize that the core hardware is wired up to an outlet under the desk.

Windows has long been an open, flexible platform for gaming—built in partnership with developers, OEMs and silicon providers to deliver great experiences across devices. That momentum continued in 2025 as Windows 11 handhelds became more capable, Arm-based devices gained significant gaming improvements, and DirectX advances made modern graphics faster and more immersive. Today marks another milestone for players everywhere. The Xbox app is now available on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, bringing you the experience you know and love—ready for you to download, play and enjoy.

Your library and benefits come with you
Players can now download and enjoy a wide range of titles from the Xbox PC app game catalog on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. Today, more than 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with these PCs, and we're actively working with partners to expand support even further. For titles not yet supported running locally, Xbox Cloud Gaming remains an easy way to jump in while we work with partners to broaden compatibility.

Microsoft's first Patch Tuesday of 2026 has become a troubleshooting nightmare for Windows 11 users. The KB5074109 update is causing widespread issues, affecting everything from home PCs to enterprise servers. Released on January 13 for versions 24H2 and 25H2, this cumulative patch was intended to deliver about 100 security fixes, including three critical zero-day protections and an NPU fix. Instead, it has left many systems struggling with black screens, locked Outlook installations, and broken connections to Azure Virtual Desktop. One of the most noticeable problems is sudden black screen episodes, which freeze the desktop for one or two seconds before returning to normal. This glitch affects machines with both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, though the exact cause remains unclear.

Some users found relief by adjusting their monitor's DisplayPort settings, temporarily switching from version 1.4 to 1.2 and back. Others discovered their desktop backgrounds had reset to solid black after the update, requiring them to manually reapply their wallpaper or Spotlight settings through the personalization menu. On the productivity front, Outlook Classic users with POP email accounts face a weird and frustrating bug. The update causes Outlook to appear closed while the outlook.exe process continues running in the background, preventing any attempts to restart the application. Users either see nothing happen when they click the Outlook icon or receive an error stating the program is already open. The only temporary solution is to open Task Manager and forcibly end the process, though this must be repeated each time Outlook is closed. Microsoft has confirmed the issue but has not yet released a fix.

In Q4 2025, we asked our readers if in the light of Microsoft discontinuing Windows 10 and rising dissatisfaction with Windows 11, they would consider moving away from Windows altogether to alternative operating systems. The results are fascinating. Over the quarter, our frontpage poll gathered over 34,000 responses. A significant majority of 55.4% (18,981 readers) voted that they would consider moving away from Windows to Linux. What's more interesting is that only 4.5% (1,538 readers) say that they're willing to move to macOS (replace their PC with a Mac of some shape or form). A marginal 1.9% say they are willing to give up the PC as their main client computing device, and switch to a game console, such as the latest Xbox Series S/X or PlayStation 5; and probably stick to endpoints handed out by their work/school.

These three responses add up to 61.8%, or nearly two-thirds of our readers being disillusioned with Windows. 38.2%, or 13,105 readers answered that they will not consider moving away from Windows. The poll suggests a general sense of dissatisfaction with being restricted to Windows 11. Comments suggest that this stems from its interface being seen by some as a downgrade from Windows 10, besides its latest slew of other Microsoft products, such as 365, Copilot, Teams, and Bing, being seen as invasive or bloatware.

Microsoft's first Patch Tuesday of 2026 delivers update KB5074109 to Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, focusing on power optimization and security infrastructure. The release finally corrects a Neural Processing Unit issue where certain third-party NPUs failed to enter low-power states during system idle, directly impacting battery performance on affected laptops and hybrid devices. Usually NPUs are low power consumers, but improper power loading is still draining precious battery life. Microsoft is also introducing a measured rollout mechanism for Secure Boot certificate updates, targeting devices only after they demonstrate stable update histories to prevent widespread deployment failures.

Additionally, Microsoft announced a complete removal of four legacy modem drivers: agrsm64.sys, agrsm.sys, smserl64.sys, and smserial.sys, which terminates support for hardware dependent on these components. The Windows Subsystem for Linux receives a fix for mirrored networking failures that generated "No route to host" errors when accessing corporate VPN resources, a regression introduced in KB5067036. Azure Virtual Desktop environments receive a patch for RemoteApp connection issues caused by KB5070311. Windows Deployment Services now disables hands-free deployment by default, requiring manual reactivation. The core component WinSqlite3.dll has been updated to address detection issues with security scanning tools, although there are no new user-facing features in this month's security update.

Acer today introduced its latest Swift AI laptop portfolio, a new generation of Copilot+ PCs on Windows 11 designed to deliver powerful on-device AI capabilities for creators, on-the-go-professionals, and tech-savvy users. The new lineup includes the Swift 16 AI, along with the Swift Edge AI, weighing as light as under 1 kg, and the versatile thin-and-light Swift Go AI in 14- and 16-inch variants.

Each model in the Swift AI series is purpose-built with cutting-edge hardware and complemented with Acer's suite of proprietary AI features. These include productivity enhancements like Acer PurifiedVoice, PurifiedView, and User Sensing, while additional tools for AI-enhanced creativity and entertainment can be downloaded via the Acer Intelligence Space hub. The customizable Acer My Key is a programmable hotkey for launching apps, websites, and Windows 11 features with a single press, providing additional convenience.

For users of older or mission-critical offline systems, the end of offline Windows activation has arrived. The traditional method of validating Windows and Office licenses offline has been unofficially phased out. Microsoft now directs users to an online activation portal that requires a Microsoft account. Even when users call the activation numbers for a phone activation option, they encounter an automated message that redirects them to the website instead of providing an offline confirmation code. This change removes the last straightforward option for users with older software to activate without an internet connection or an account. This is contradicting Microsoft's support documents which still show the option as available even for Windows 11.

This was spotted by a content creator Ben Kleinberg, who tested the process using a physical OEM license for Windows 7. After making the activation call, he received a text message with a link to the Product Activation Portal. Although a temporary browser compatibility issue interrupted the process, switching browsers allowed him to complete the activation for both Windows 7 and Office 2010 through the web interface. Thus, the phone line now merely directs users to the web portal instead of serving as an independent activation method. In early October, the ability to create a local account during the modern Windows 11 setup experience (OOBE) was removed. Commands such as "oobe/bypassnro" and "ms-cxh:localonly" no longer work as workarounds, as Microsoft has patched these options as well.

Microsoft has unveiled a new hardware-accelerated BitLocker encryption system for Windows 11, which shifts cryptographic operations from software to dedicated accelerator units integrated into future CPU microarchitectures. Historically, software-based BitLocker in Windows 11 has caused massive performance degradation. For example, in Windows 11 going from no BitLocker to software-based BitLocker has caused average number of cycles per I/O to skyrocket from roughly 400,000 cycles to about 1.9 million cycles. This is a 375% increase in cycles per I/O, and can cause significant storage performance degradations. However, Microsoft is finally bringing hardware-based encryption to solve this.

The new hardware acceleration, announced at Ignite 2025 in November, is now available in Windows 11 version 25H2 and Windows Server 2025 with the September update. Early testing shows that some workloads experience double the storage performance while reducing CPU usage by over 70%. The system offloads AES-XTS-256 encryption processing from the main processor to a fixed-function cryptography engine embedded within the SoC. Encryption keys are hardware-wrapped to enhance security against memory-based attacks. The initial rollout will target Intel vPro platforms with the upcoming Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, but Microsoft plans to extend support to other vendors as well.

Although Windows has had awareness of the NVMe storage media protocol since Windows 8.1, it turns out that the stock Microsoft driver for NVMe devices, disk.sys, offers suboptimal performance. This driver dates back to 2006, and is part of Microsoft's oldest internal basic drivers. Disk.sys appears to treat NVMe devices like SCSI drives. Microsoft released a new native driver with a greater degree of awareness of NVMe with Windows 11 25H2 (client) and Windows 2025 (server) operating systems, called nvmedisk.sys. The easiest way to check if your drive is using the older driver would be to bring up Device Manager, collapse "Disk Drives," open the Properties of your drive, go to the Driver tab, and click on the "driver details" button.

Notebookcheck made a fascinating discovery that has the potential to unlock greater performance with your NVMe drives, if they are compatible. Apparently, nvmedisk.sys significantly improves performance, both in sequential and random workloads. Using this driver, however, is fraught with risks. Not all NVMe SSDs support it, and if incompatible, it could break Windows 11 boot. The publication put out a guide on how to get Windows 11 to use nvmedisk.sys. This involves changing three Windows Registry values. It would be a good idea to image or backup your data before you tinker with this, so you can perform a full image restore if it breaks Windows booting. The guide can be found in the source links below, use it at your own risk.

In a December 19 Steam client update, Valve has finally ended support for the 32-bit Steam application on Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems. According to the official release notes, updates for the 32-bit Steam client will continue to be provided for systems with 32-bit Windows versions until January 1, 2026. This marks the end of one of the last official 32-bit applications that actively supported the 32-bit versions of Windows. As the software industry continues to phase out 32-bit support, this decision is a natural progression, encouraging consumers to transition to 64-bit operating systems and compatible software.

Valve has been planning this change for some time to simplify software maintenance. However, only a very small number of users will be affected by this decision, as almost no one is still using the outdated 32-bit operating system. Those still on a 32-bit OS will need to upgrade their hardware or reinstall 64-bit OS versions, if their hardware permits, to continue using the official Steam Client. For those planning to stick with 32-bit builds, there is still hope. Enthusiasts frequently create unofficial backports of modern clients. For example, an earlier version of the Steam Client was unofficially backported to Windows 7 SP1 x64 and Windows 8.x x64.

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), a global leader in high-performance motherboards, Mini-PCs, and notebook solutions, will unveil a diverse portfolio of new computing products—including next-generation motherboards, upgraded LIVA Mini-PC platforms, and a new series of AI-ready business laptops—at CES 2026, taking place from January 6-9, 2026 in Las Vegas. Hosted at the Bellagio Hotel, ECS's showcase highlights innovations designed to elevate productivity, accelerate AI-driven workflows, and support flexible deployment across home entertainment, professional environments, education, and a wide range of commercial applications.

ECS is introducing two new motherboards—B860H8-M8 and PRO600AM5-M5—built to meet diverse demands for high performance, robust durability, and flexible expansion in modern PC architectures. The B860H8-M8, powered by the Intel B860 chipset, supports the latest Intel Core Ultra processors (LGA1851) and features dual-channel DDR5 memory, an 8+1 power phase design, and 100% solid capacitors to deliver exceptional platform stability under intensive workloads. With multi-display support and Windows 11 readiness, it is ideal for content creation workstations and advanced multimedia desktops requiring smooth multitasking and elevated reliability.

Microsoft has implemented a mandatory consent framework for Windows 11 that stops AI agents from accessing personal files without explicit user permission. The company has updated its agentic AI features documentation for experimental preview builds, specifying six protected folders as off-limits by default: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Each AI assistant must request access individually, rather than receiving system-wide permissions. This opt-in design ensures that standard installations remain unaffected unless users decide to activate the feature and approve specific agents.

The permission system functions on a per-agent basis, meaning that approval for one AI tool does not automatically apply to others that might be installed. When an agent tries to access files, Windows presents a consent interface where users can choose to grant permanent access, require reauthorization for each interaction, or deny requests entirely. Each AI assistant has its own settings portal, allowing users to modify these permissions later if needed. Additionally, the platform is testing discrete connectors that manage interactions with system applications like File Explorer and Settings, separate from core folder permissions. This modular design allows users to, for instance, permit an agent to adjust system settings while restricting access to personal photos or documents.

In a blog post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft has announced a new firmware update for the Xbox Wireless Headset that will add Bluetooth LE Audio support for compatible Windows 11 devices. The blog post specifically mentions the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, but any PC with Windows 11 and Bluetooth LE/LC3 audio support will be able to take advantage of the new features. Microsoft recently announced support for super wideband stereo voice support for Windows 11 and the Xbox Wireless Headset is the first headset we're aware of that now supports that feature.

Microsoft also promises that the firmware update will bring with it lower latency—this is part of the LC3 audio codec when compared to the old SBC audio codec—and improved battery life, although the company didn't say by how much. Finally the firmware will bring with it a preview of a broadcast audio feature that will allow "Windows 11 insiders on select PCs" to share the game audio with other Bluetooth devices, but the blog post doesn't go into any details of how this will work. The Xbox Wireless Headset will also be able to take advantage of super wideband stereo audio in Windows 11, which Microsoft claims will offer better in-game audio, although for those that already own a wireless headset with a dedicated dongle, this might not bring any real world advantages. To update the Xbox Wireless Headset you either need to use the Xbox Accessories app on an Xbox console or in Windows 11 and the update only applies to the 2024 version of the headset.

Leading provider of industrial PC solutions AAEON (Stock Code: 6579), today introduced the BOXER-6648-ARS, its first fanless embedded Box PC featuring the new Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) range (formerly Arrow Lake). Available in two SKUs offering either the Intel H810 (A1) or Intel Q870 Chipset (A2), the system offers a choice of Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285/285T, Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 265/265T, or Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor 225/225T CPUs. As a result, the system can provide up to 24 cores of processing power alongside up to 36 TOPs of AI inferencing performance via new Intel platform's integrated CPU, GPU and NPU die architecture.

Primarily designed for more complex or AI-driven industrial automation applications, the BOXER-6648-ARS is equipped with six DB-9 ports for RS-232/422/485, an 8-bit DIO terminal block, and three LAN ports (two 2.5GbE, one 1GbE). The model based on the Intel H810 Chipset adds four USB 3.2 (5 Gbps) and four USB 2.0 ports to this selection, while the Intel Q870 Chipset model is more expansive, with six USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) ports and two USB 2.0. The other main differentiator between the two SKUs is Intel Active Management Technology support on the two 2.5GbE LAN ports, which is reserved for the Intel Q870 Chipset (A2) model only.

Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbot is arguably one of the most controversial add-ons ever implemented in the Windows 11 operating system. However, the controversy doesn't stop at PC operating systems. It seems to extend to TVs as well. According to Reddit user u/defjam16, his LG TV webOS received an update that installed Microsoft's Copilot AI app, with no option to remove it. Although users can choose to ignore it, the push for increased AI integration in everyday products is becoming unavoidable, even on TVs. What exactly can a Copilot AI app do in your TV? We don't know either.

Microsoft is likely promoting its Copilot on TVs to capture more of the AI app market, aiming to become the go-to platform for AI inquiries. Since webOS is a Linux-based TV operating system LG uses, it is also possible that Microsoft is preparing the Copilot AI app for a wider rollout to Linux users, who are now officially commanding a 3% market share among PCs. Other TV operating system platforms are also at "risk" of getting a dedicated Microsoft Copilot AI app, which is especially bad for people not wanting their TV to do any AI processing.

The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC), the trusted global leader in computing benchmarks, today announced the availability of the SPECviewperf 15.0.1 benchmark, an important update to the worldwide standard for measuring graphics performance based on professional applications. This release introduces snx-05, a workload based on Siemens NX 2406, rounding out the benchmark's support for high-end computer-aided design (CAD) applications.

The new snx-05 workload represents the first "snap-in" workload enabled by SPECviewperf 15's modern architecture, which allows for the addition of new workloads without requiring users to re-run existing benchmarks. This workload utilizes the OpenGL graphics API and stresses standard OpenGL features, including vertex and pixel shaders, textures, and multisampled antialiasing.