Welcome to Pureinfotech: Tech Recap edition. Each weekend I will bring you a compilation of articles of the week, including how-to guides, features, tech news, and more. This is simply a list with a brief description of pieces you might have missed or you might just want to read again. I also want to take the opportunity to welcome to all the new subscribers this week. I hope you enjoy the articles:...

Surface Laptop is available for pre-order now at the Microsoft Store. If you’re still confused about Windows 10 S, here’s how the new OS compares to Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home. This week, Windows 10 Redstone 3 (build 16188) released to the Fast ring for testers. The new preview introduces a new version of Microsoft Edge with a new PDF reader, Cortana settings migrate to the Settings app, the Magnifier settings page gets updated, and Microsoft introduces Windows Defender Application Guard for organizations....

As we get closer to the launch of 8.1 to get you ready, I already wrote a new guide to help you update to the next version of the OS coming from any previous version, including 7 and XP — I recommend you to check it out. Finally, this week, Microsoft makes available the Fall Xbox 360 dashboard update, perhaps the most significant change is the transition from Microsoft Points to local currency....

Continuing with Windows Phone 8.1 update, Microsoft is bringing some nifty features to the phone such as Start background, move apps and content to SD card, and more. So, don’t forget to read this week’s How-To guides to configure these features. Xbox One gets April update a few days back adding a few new features to the console including friend notifications and Kinect improvements, among other changes. For those of you having some trouble with Windows 8....

Additionally, the company published the full list of known issues with Windows 10 build 10547, which surprisingly they are all minor issues, compare to previous builds. Alongside the new build, Microsoft pushed a new important update for the Outlook Mail and Calendar apps, which includes several new improvements, such as better management for multiple accounts, personalization settings, and more. The Xbox app on Windows 10 got updated as well with a bunch of new tweaks and improvements....

Microsoft promised Windows as a Service and in less than a week the company rolled out two cumulative updates, including KB3081436 and KB3081384, both updates brings bug fixes and a number of overall improvements, but not new features. It’s worth pointing out that Microsoft also already explained that every update for Windows 10 will be cumulative, which means that every update will also include all the previous released patches. However, if your machine received the previous update, then only the new changes will download and install in your system....

Let’s get one thing out of the way here, the reference as “laptop” is a bit misleading, because you obviously can’t have any work done in here, unless you play games for a living. This is a more portable version of Xbox One that you can easily take to a LAN party. The Xbook One laptop as Ed calls it, houses all the Xbox One parts on a custom body with 3D-printed parts, and it features a gorgeous 22-inch Vizio 1080p LCD display....

Out of the box VideoLan 2.0 has support for “experimental” Blu-ray playback. Now it plays video quicker and seeking is faster with improved decoding on multi-core CPUs and GPUs, more HD formats are supported, higher-quality audio processing, better subtitles, and new video filters. And, of course, VLC 2.0 fixes tons of bugs making more stable that its previous version. Windows users will still see the same video player look and feel, with just a tiny enhancement that you’ll notice in the media control....

These romantic red rose petals got refreshed by tiny drops of water and now the droplets become the center of curiosity as they show off reflections and accentuate vibrant colors. The download of these wallpapers are free for Windows. You can find more great themes in my Desktop Fun section. Waterdrops theme | Download All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk....

Another cumulative update for Windows 10 releases for testers to address even more problems with the October 2018 Update, which is still not available to the public. Windows 10 build 18272 releases to testers as part of the 19H1 development with new improvements, and the company even makes the ISO files available for those who want to do a clean install of this flight. This week, we also discussed about using the mouse USB receiver over Bluetooth, if you’re having problems connecting the peripheral using Bluetooth....

Also, Microsoft began the rollout of Microsoft Edge 86 that introduced a new controversial “Buy Now, Pay Later” feature that allows you to make purchases and pay later. However, users aren’t happy with it because it’s unnecessary and enables people to spend money they don’t have. Tech tips roundup This week, you also learned a bunch of tips to get the most out of Windows, including the different ways to customize the Taskbar on Windows 11....

In another Windows 10 news, version 21H1 became available for commercial customers to validate their apps and test the new feature update ahead of the official release. Windows 10 build 21337 rolled out in the Dev Channel with several improvements and new features, including Auto HDR for gaming, tweaks for the Virtual Desktops and File Explorer, a new version of Notepad, and changes for the app experience. (You can also check the new changes in this hands-on video....

You can now preorder the Xbox Series X and S through the Microsoft Store and various other retailers, and you can check the difference between both Xbox Series consoles and decide which one is the best for you. Also, the company announced that the storage expansion card for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be available in November, and it’ll cost almost as much as the price of a Series S console for 1TB of additional storage....

In addition, Windows 10 build 18282, as part of the 19H1 development, was released this week for testers with significant new improvements, including a new true system light theme and smarter Active Hours. (You can also check out the video review highlighting all the new features and changes in the latest preview.) Windows 10 version 1809, version 1803, version 1709, version 1703, and older versions receive a new cumulative update to address a number of problems with the operating system....

While the version of Windows is expected to supersede the current version of the operating system, the official documentation website reveals that we will have support for Windows 10 at least until mid-October 2025. As part of the Patch Tuesday rollout for June, the update KB5003637 released for versions 21H1, 20H2, and 2004 to address a number of security vulnerabilities and improve the system for sorting and managing files. In addition, Microsoft announced this week that it’s working with TV makers to embed a new Xbox app into smart TVs, and the company is building a gaming streaming stick to reach more gamers on any screen....

The software giant also confirmed that Windows 10 21H2 is coming in November, and it’ll be known as the “November 2021 Update.” If you want to update early, you force the new version using Windows Update after enrolling in the Release Preview Channel. In addition, AMD and Microsoft have finally rolled out their fixes to address the performance issues with Ryzen processors. Windows 11 build 22483 was made available in the Dev Channel with minor changes and several fixes....

While the new preview of the mobile operating system has a number of known and unknown issues, there is a number of changes that makes Windows 10 Mobile build 10149 a good build. Below you’ll find everything that is new in this release. User interface updates: Microsoft has fixed an issue where Live tiles pinned to Start would appear blurry. There are also various refinements on controls with updated icons and visuals....

Windows 10 now also lets you snap up to four apps making use of all corners, making the operating system more suitable to work with multiple applications. Perhaps the most important change is the new Snap Assist, which as the name implies is a helper that will appear when you have multiple windows open and you start using snapping. While dragging a new window to either one of the corners of the screen, Snap Assist will be triggered suggesting what to snap next with a list of apps you can choose from....

Optional updates are those updates that are not essential to the operation of Windows 10. Typically, these will include updates for Microsoft and non-Microsoft products and third-party drivers (such as for printers, cameras, network adapters, etc.). Once in the “Optional updates” settings page, you’ll see a listing of the available packages for your device. If you want to install a new driver, for example, you’ll have to check the package and then click the Download and install button....