Microsoft Weekly: Big Start menu upgrade and a new era of PC

This week’s roundup covers a spectrum of tech headlines—from Microsoft hinting at a new era for PCs, to Qualcomm’s latest chip for budget Windows laptops, a significant Start menu overhaul for Windows 11, and a host of other gaming-related updates.

We dive deep into Microsoft’s newest Windows 11 releases, examining the Stable channel and preview builds. From fresh features and removed functionalities to controversies, bugs, and intriguing discoveries, we also touch on legacy versions where relevant.

Microsoft has rolled out the May 2026 non‑security update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. The KB5089573 package introduces a low‑latency mode that boosts performance, adds shared audio support, enables multi‑app camera functionality, and delivers a host of other feature enhancements and quality fixes. Although optional, all of these improvements will be consolidated into the June 2026 Patch Tuesday release. Microsoft also addressed installation glitches from this month’s Patch Tuesday, ensuring KB5089549 installs smoothly.

In a move to make Windows laptops more affordable, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon C—a low‑end processor aimed at the $300 segment for Windows on ARM devices. The chip promises quiet, thermally efficient operation, all‑day battery life, and “responsive performance,” while integrating built‑in Neural Processing Units for on‑device AI. However, early indications suggest compromises: the first laptop featuring the Snapdragon C lists “up to 8 GB of RAM,” hinting at potential 4 GB or 6 GB configurations.

Not just Qualcomm, Microsoft is also stepping into the new chip arena with a sneak peek of “a new era of PC,” hinting at the impending debut of NVIDIA’s N1 processors for desktop computers. This grand unveiling is expected to take place next week at Computex 2026. Concurrently, Build 2026 is set to commence, but it’s unlikely that Windows 12 will make an appearance there. Interestingly, despite Microsoft’s promise of a new era, HP reports that many users are still fond of the classic Windows 10.

In an intriguing revelation, Windows 11 and 10 have a unified folder containing all the tools available out-of-the-box. This week, Usama Jawad shared his delight upon discovering the Windows Tools folder, a treasure trove of tools for customizing and adjusting settings within Windows. A word of caution: it’s advisable to avoid this folder during nighttime as it remains unoptimized when Windows is in dark mode. Another valuable tool for Windows PC users is TaskSlinger, a third-party alternative to the stock Task Manager.

Lastly, Zee-Al-Eid Ahman’s File Explorer concept offers some intriguing upgrades for the stock file manager in Windows 11. This update introduced a modular Start menu design with the ability to resize it, along with a few minor fixes.

This latest build introduces a host of fresh UI enhancements, including new spinners throughout the operating system, refined search functionality, and Windows Ready Print indicators that streamline document preparation.

The section focuses on software, firmware, and other noteworthy updates—both released and forthcoming—offering new features, security patches, performance boosts, and more from Microsoft and third‑party developers.

Mozilla has rolled out Firefox 151.0.2, a maintenance release that squashes ten critical bugs. The update tackles Split View glitches, prevents crashes on Windows when certain input methods are active, and resolves a variety of other stability issues.

Microsoft announced a suite of significant Copilot enhancements this week. The company unveiled a comprehensive redesign of Microsoft 365 Copilot, delivering smoother performance and a more intuitive user experience. Additionally, Copilot Health—an AI‑driven wellness assistant—has been launched in the United States, offering users personalized health insights and recommendations.

Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools has just rolled out a host of fresh features and refinements, from Excel’s latest data‑analysis enhancements to a brand‑new efficiency mode in Teams. The update promises to streamline collaboration, while the Admin Center now offers deeper insights into the new mode’s configuration and performance benefits.

In a detailed review this week, Steven Parker examined the GEEKOM A9 Max 2026 mini PC, focusing on its dual‑channel RAM configuration. While the device has been covered before, the new assessment highlights how an improper memory setup can cripple performance, throttling the processor and squandering its full potential.

Stay tuned for the latest buzz on upcoming game launches, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, and discounts—all curated to keep you ahead of the curve.