The most popular operating system in the world, Microsoft’s Windows is the software that powers hundreds of millions of PCs. Introduced back in November 1985, Windows has changed and evolved over time to grow as gaming, design, development, and productivity needs have shifted. Whether XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or, most recently, Windows 11, Microsoft’s OS is one of the most important pieces of software ever made.
Apple’s new affordable MacBook should have the Windows world rethinking things.
The Asus NUC 16 and Dell Pro Desktop for Windows 365, both arriving in Q3 2026, are the latest “Cloud PCs” from Microsoft, following the Windows 365 Link from 2024. They’re designed for businesses accessing Windows from the cloud with added security features like a “small, locked-down operating system” called Windows CPC.
[Windows Experience Blog]
Windows MIDI Services is ready for primetime and brings support for MIDI 2.0 and improvements to MIDI 1.0 to Microsoft machines. This includes support for higher resolution expression, loopback, and bidirectional communication with MIDI 2.0 hardware. Now with the major OS providers onboard, maybe adoption of MIDI 2.0 will pick up steam.
[Windows Experience Blog]
The Extended Support Release for Firefox version 115, the last version available on Windows 7 and 8, will no longer receive security updates after this month, Neowin reports. The loss of support comes three years after Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 and 8 in 2023.
The so-called Epstein files appear to show how Steven Sinofsky negotiated a $14 million payout from Microsoft.
Microsoft has confirmed that the boot failures with its January 2026 Windows 11 update are limited to “commercial” PCs and happened due to the December 2025 update failing to install and PCs being left in an “improper state.” It’s now investigating why PCs managed to get into this state in the first place. Microsoft’s first Windows 11 update of 2026 has been a mess.
Microsoft is releasing Windows App Development CLI (winapp) in public preview today. The open-source utility is aimed at Windows app developers, to make it easier to work across multiple frameworks and toolchains. Microsoft says it’s perfect for any developer “wanting native Windows features or targeting Windows.” And don’t worry, no matter how many times you say winapp, it won’t whip the llama’s ass.
Microsoft also said that “more than 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with these PCs,” now, after a rocky journey for ARM gaming support on PC.
Other new Xbox app updates, like the new Game Save Sync Indicator and Handheld Compatibility Program labeling, also seem to be well-timed ahead of a possible Qualcomm PC gaming handheld launch in March.
Acer is announcing a new Nitro V 16 AI entry-level gaming laptop with AMD’s new Gorgon Point chips. Announced at CES with a handful of other Acer laptops, the Nitro is meant to offer a budget-friendly-ish price for AMD’s new chip and Nvidia GPUs — from the RTX 5050 to RTX 5070. It’s expected in Q2, but pricing isn’t finalized.
Dell reversed course on its confusing naming scheme from 2025, but some of it’s intact — with new tweaks. The returning XPS laptops are still joined by entry-level vanilla “Dell” models. Enterprise-focused Dell Pro laptops are now topped by Dell Pro Precision models instead of the Apple-y sounding Pro Max.
Perfect? No. Better? Much.
Qualcomm sells Arm chips that play PC games on Windows... and occasionally on Android... and newly on SteamOS too. So: when do we get a Qualcomm Steam Deck? Qualcomm tells me PC handhelds aren’t happening at CES, but it’s “keeping an eye” on GDC in March for possible Windows ones! Full context here.
