Old Windows 11 is was released last year, and now Microsoft has rolled out the first major update to the desktop operating system. The upgrades are useful but relatively minor compared to some of the major operating system changes Microsoft has made in the past. It seems that Microsoft doesn’t feel like there’s much to improve, considering that product manager Panos Panay called Windows 11 “most used and most loved version of Windows ever” in this week’s announcement.
Microsoft has highlighted new accessibility and security tweaks for the desktop OS. New improve accessibility make live captions stand out more, and add more “natural” sounding automatic text-to-speech narrators. The new Focus mode works like the do not disturb feature on your smartphone, blocking all on-screen notifications for a certain amount of time.
On the security front, Microsoft says it will soon add identity theft alerts to Windows Defender (if you subscribe to the Microsoft 365 office plan). Microsoft Defender SmartScreen lets you know if you’re injecting login information into a site that is believed to be malicious or has suffered a data breach.
There are also some layout and usability changes like improved window snapping, which lets you snap individual browser tabs to different parts of the screen. (Hooray, places for more browser tabs.) There’s a new one Update for Photos also. Some focus on creating more pleasing photo arrangements, and others find new ways to display old photos of memorable events, even if sometimes you might not. want a reminder.
Microsoft is also working hard for the environment, saying it can schedule power system updates at a certain time of day in specific locations so they’ll put less strain on the power system. Sleep mode and screen off settings have also been tweaked to use less power.
Here’s some more news from the world of consumer technology.
More reliable Chromebooks
Framework, a company that designs utilities with repairability in mind, has a new laptop coming soon. It is a Chromebooks—The result of an official partnership with Google — built to be extremely customizable. Like more traditional Framework laptops, Chromebooks have four port slots that can be customized with a combination of connectors. There are options for a USB-C port, an HDMI connector, a Micro SD slot, and even 1-terabyte storage options. The plugs are hot-swappable, which means you can swap out your ports or memory quickly if you need a different connector. (Don’t worry, there’s a built-in headphone jack.)
And because the Framework is so big on repairability, Chromebooks are built to be separate, too. It comes with a screwdriver that can be used to disassemble any part of the machine, and you can swap out the internals or even the keyboard and display bezel. For those concerned about privacy, it has a physical switch that instantly turns off the microphone and camera.
The Chromebook Framework is available to pre-order now with prices starting at $999. The company says it will begin shipping in early December.
Google’s Cheaper Chromecast
Google’s Chromecast plug-n-watch is a handy little app that you can plug into the edge of your TV to stream movies and shows from all sorts of services. Google has a New Chromecast Now, and for just $30, it’s a simple, inexpensive alternative to running streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max on any monitor or screen.
It is definitely a budget option. Resolution on the $30 dongle maxes out at 1080p; it doesn’t support 4K like Google’s $50 Chromecast, which is still available. Both come with a remote that accepts input from both your hand and voice, and both work with Stadia Cloud game platform.
Amazon rekindles the fire
Amazon recently updated its cheapest Kindleand now it’s growing Fire HD Tablet. Sure, these cheap Android tablets aren’t iPads. They can’t even run full Android apps. But if you or your kids already use and like a Fire HD tablet, or if your family gets most of its content from Amazon, this is a powerful upgrade.
According to Amazon, two new Fire HD 8 tablet models get a 30% speed boost. Both have a claimed battery life of 13 hours. The base model starts at $100 and comes with 32 or 64 GB of storage. Of course there is also a Plus version. The new Fire HD Plus has an extra GB of RAM (3 GB) and costs $120. Both tablets can accept microSD cards up to 1 TB if you want more storage.
