Microsoft has stopped distribution of its January security updates KB5034441 (Windows 10 21H2/22H2), KB5034440 (Windows 11 21H2) and KB5034439 (Windows Server 2022). These are proven to be defective, often ending up installation with an error with the code 0x80070643 — ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE. Due to the insufficient size of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) partition, the updates were unable to update some of the WinRE files.

Being unable to provide any robust partition servicing method, the company instead released updates KB5042320, KB5042321 and KB5042322. These new patches will only be installed on devices where the WinRE partition contains at least 250 MB of free space.

Winaero

Microsoft Pulled Out Defective KB5034441 and KB5034440 Updates

Microsoft has stopped distribution of its January security updates KB5034441 (Windows 10 21H2/22H2), KB5034440 (Windows 11 21H2) and KB5034439 (Windows

Windows 11 Build 27686 (Canary) includes a new Windows Sandbox Client (Preview), the ability to detach a mounted VHD in Settings, and improved battery life.

• The new Windows Sandbox client will be updated through the Microsoft Store. This version adds clipboard syncing, audio and video controls, and the ability to share folders in the Sandbox with your primary PC. These features can be accessed via the new “…” button in the top-right corner of the app. Also includes an early implementation of command line support. Commands may change in the future.
• Microsoft has made changes to improve battery life for devices running Canary builds 27686+.
• Added a button to detach a virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx). To use this feature, go to Settings > System > Storage > Disks and Volumes, select the desired VHD/VHDx from the list and go to Properties. On this page, you will find a button to detach the virtual hard disk.
• Increased the size limit for FAT32 disks from 32 GB to 2 TB when formatting disks from the command line using the command format.

And more.

Winaero

Windows 11 Build 27686 (Canary) comes with a new Windows Sandbox version

Microsoft is releasing Windows 11 Build 27686 to Insiders in the Canary channel. For a reason, Microsoft has raised the build number from previously

Microsoft has added a new compact mode for the Xbox Game Bar . The new layout is specially designed for smaller screens and portable devices. The update is gradually coming to Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview.

The main widget in compact mode displays a list of recent and running games. It also allows closing the running games. It supports widget customization, including the ability to add new widgets from the Store. The UI is optimized for Xbox controllers. The addition of the compact UI to the Game Bar follows the previously released Xbox app with a similar user interface layout.

Winaero

Xbox Game Bar gets compact mode in Windows 11

Microsoft has added a new compact mode for the Xbox Game Bar . The new layout is specially designed for smaller screens and portable devices. The update

Friday's Insider Updates

Windows 11 Build 26120.1350 (Dev) secures MSIX package installation. To improve security when installing MSIX packages locally or over the Internet (ms-appinstaller://? source=), Microsoft SmartScreen is performing a check of the package source and its security. Other changes include the option to quickly turn on sharing from File Explorer if you linked your android phone with Windows.

Windows 11 Build 22635.4010 (Beta):
* Microsoft has resumed testing a simplified system tray, where the date and time are displayed in abbreviated form, and the notification bell icon is displayed depending on the Do Not Disturb status.

• Showing a Jump List when hovering over inactive app icons on the taskbar can now be disabled. Insiders who have access to this change can now turn it off by going to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behavior.

There is also an updated Paint.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340 is now available in the Dev channel. An option to disable enhanced cursor precision and change mouse scroll direction, improved spelling processing in Voice Access, and more accurate energy recommendations are among the changes.

Microsoft is adding screenshot prevention controls to Edge for Business. This intends to stop users from transmitting the content of protected web pages to competitors, relatives and journalists.

The company states that the new policy will prevent data theft in the browser by blocking the ability to capture screenshots on pages designated as confidential or secure. Enterprise IT professionals will have the ability to define such pages with group policies for services like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Microsoft Intune Mobile Application Management, and Microsoft Pureview.

Microsoft plans to implement this feature in the coming months. But it is unclear how the company will prevent third-party tools from capturing screenshots and videos.

Winaero

Microsoft Edge will block screenshots of protected web pages

Microsoft is adding screenshot prevention controls to Edge for Business. This will prevent users from transmitting the content of protected web pages to

Microsoft has shared the privacy details for Recall in Windows 11 24H2:

1) All photos are kept and processed solely on the local device, with no transmission to the company's servers or sharing with third parties. The photos are securely encrypted, allowing only authorized users to view the activity history.
2) If needed, users can pause or disable Recall, block snapshots for specific apps and websites, and erase all recorded activities.
3) During the initial setup process, Windows 11 introduces the Recall feature and prompts users to configure settings. When activated, an icon for Recall will be displayed on the taskbar, granting access to the Recall interface, pause feature, and settings.
3) To adjust Recall settings, navigate to the “Privacy and Security” section, then click on “Recall & Snapshots.” Here, users can designate storage space for snapshots, as well as block data saving from particular applications and websites. Filters are supported in Chromium based browsers, including Opera, Chrome, and Edge, and in Firefox.

Winaero

Microsoft has shared the privacy details for Recall in Windows 11 24H2

The Microsoft support site now has a new page that provides detailed information about the privacy settings associated with the Recall feature in Windows

Build 2024, day 1

• Microsoft Edge is getting real-time voice translation and dubbing for videos: A new AI-powered translator will handle videos in real time from sites like YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. The app will translate and create subtitles, as well as dubbing the voice (voice-over translation).

• Microsoft now recommends the Windows App SDK (along with WinUI 3) and WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) for building UI apps for Windows. According to the company, for applications involving graphics and multimedia, it is recommended to use WinUI 3, whereas WPF is more appropriate when needing to utilize a wide range of controls and libraries from third-party developers.

• Microsoft has revealed information on how the Recall feature (formerly AI Explorer) will work in detail. The core of Recall is the new Windows Copilot Library, which contains a set of APIs based on more than 40 artificial intelligence models and algorithms built directly into Windows. This library is already used in many new AI features in Windows, including Studio Effects, Live Captions, OCR in Snipping Tool, and now Windows Recall. Microsoft says Recall will work automatically in most apps. However, developers can extend the functionality of the feature by adding contextual information to the vector database using the User Activity API. This will allow Recall to restore to the point at that the application was at the snapshot moment.

Here are the insider updates of today.

* Windows 11 Build 26120.670 (Dev): no new features, only fixes.

* Windows 11 Build 22635.3640 (Beta) is notable for adding archive creation support for the popular 7z format and also for the tar format widely used on Linux. There is also Emoji 15.1 support, and several fixes.

* Windows 11 Builds 22621.3668 and 22631.3668 (KB5037853) (Release Preview): The ability to drag files between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer address bar, a new account manager in the Start menu, the option to create a QR code from the Share menu, and much more.

* Snipping Tool with Bing Visual Search, version 11.2404.39.0, is available to Insiders on the Dev and Canary channels.