Microsoft is starting to open Windows Update up to any third-party app that needs to be updated. The software giant is now allowing developers to sign up for a private preview of what it calls the Windows Update orchestration platform, that will enable Windows Update to support any update for apps or drivers in the future. It’s focused largely on business apps, but it will be open to any apps or management tools.Windows Update is largely used to update the core parts of Windows right now, alongside key drivers for devices and even install some third-party management apps for peripherals. “We’re building a vision for a unified, intelligent update orchestration platform capable of supporting any update (apps, drivers, etc.) to be orchestrated alongside Windows updates,” explains Angie Chen, a product manager at Microsoft.Most apps on Windows are updated independently, using update mechanisms that developers have created themselves. Microsoft’s new Windows Update orchestration platform will let app developers take advantage of scheduled updates based on user activity, battery status, and even sustainable energy timing.Developers will also be able to hook directly into the native Windows Update notifications, and be listed in the app update history part of Windows Update. Microsoft will support MSIX / APPX packaged apps, and even some custom Win32 apps. Any apps that are part of the Windows Update orchestrator will automatically get future improvements to the underlying Windows Update platform, too.Microsoft has tried in the past to convince developers to list their apps in the Microsoft Store, where the store can handle updates or developers can continue to use their own update mechanisms. While the store on Windows has greatly improved in recent years, there are still some missing apps and businesses prefer to update their own line of business apps independently.Microsoft’s Windows Package Manager has also tried to solve some of the problems with installing and updating apps on Windows, but it’s not a widely used way to install and manage apps outside of power users and developers.Integrating more app updates into Windows Update certainly makes sense for a variety of apps, and it will be interesting to see whether this will be used primarily by businesses or if big developers like Adobe might move over to the Windows Update system instead of a separate installer that runs in the background.

Original Switch owners are only getting customizable controls.Nintendo is adding a trio of new features to the Switch Online versions of N64 games, but you’ll need a Switch 2 to get the full benefit. N64 titles on the new console will support the Rewind feature and CRT Filter, but the only upgrade coming to the original Switch is the option to customize controls.The three new features all arrive on June 5th, the same day the Switch 2 launches. Buyers of the new console will have the option to rewind gameplay after making a mistake or activate a CRT filter that adds a lined effect replicating the visuals of older TVs. Both of those features are already available for the Switch Online’s library of NES and SNES games.Both the Switch and Switch 2 will also gain the option to view and fully customize controls across N64 titles, but Nintendo hasn’t explained why that’s the only new feature coming to Nintendo’s older hardware. It seems unlikely that even the Switch’s relatively basic hardware is incapable of powering a simple CRT filter on games that are nearly 30 years old, making this look like a ploy to get fans to buy the new $449.99 console.The N64 library launched in 2021, and the games are only available as part of Nintendo’s premium Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription, which costs $49.99 per year, more than double the regular Switch Online plan.

Windows 10 is losing support in a few months, and if you want to continue receiving security updates, you'll have to pay separately for the privilege. Although it's clear that Microsoft wants customers to upgrade to Windows 11, it is still offering some flexibility when it comes to support for certain software beyond the end of support date too, such as in the case of Microsoft 365 apps. Although personal users can independently and relatively easily decide if they want to upgrade to Windows 11 or stick with their current operating system, organizations have a lot of factors to consider when making the same choice. Microsoft is now making it somewhat easier to make that decision.

We've seen many AI tools within browsers, but what about a browser that puts AI first? If you're on the hunt for a browser that claims to be the first agent app of its kind, Opera has something to show you. The company has announced the launch of Opera Neon, an agent browser that puts a huge emphasis on using AI to help you browse smarter.

One UI 8 includes updates to Quick Share and the Reminder app.Samsung has launched its beta test of One UI 8, the company’s customized take on Android 16. The beta is available now on the Galaxy S25, Plus, and Ultra — though strangely not the new S25 Edge — for users in the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea.Unsurprisingly, Samsung is emphasizing the OS update’s AI features, which purportedly include improved multimodal capabilities and more personalization. Despite that, the company’s announcement and update changelog are light on specific details of AI upgrades beyond speed improvements that make AI Select immediate to use, eliminating the previous start-up delay. One UI 8 has also been “optimized for the unique form factors across the Galaxy product portfolio,” echoing Google’s emphasis on Android 16 improving performance and user experience on tablets and foldables. One such change is a new split-screen option to move one app partially off the screen to the edge while you focus on another, which sounds similar to the multitasking tools on the OnePlus Open.Other changes include updates to the layout of Samsung’s Reminder app to make it easier to organize and share to-do lists; a simpler interface for Quick Share; and Android 16’s support for Auracast, an accessibility feature that allows hearing aids and some earbuds — including the Galaxy Buds 3 — to quickly connect to shared audio streams like public announcement systems or concert audio feeds.The beta is available now through the Samsung Members app, and Samsung says that One UI 8 will launch this summer alongside its next generation of foldable phones, likely the Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. The company says the new launch “initiates a new rhythm for Samsung’s software evolution with major UX and AI updates.” That’s certainly vague, but sounds like good news for fans frustrated by the protracted, months-long process for One UI 7 to reach most devices.

One big criticism people have against releasing a game with zero announcement is that it can throw a wrench in the plans of developers who plan to release their game around the same date. Big title shadow-drops draw a ton of attention, which, in theory, leaves nothing for the smaller devs who are releasing their smaller project alongside it.

What's worse than presenting to a group of people with screen share on Teams? Doing so, but being unable to properly read the chat, meaning you can't see what people are saying and reply to their queries. Fortunately, Microsoft has heard the cries of presenters everywhere and decided to add an enhanced chat feature that allows screen sharers to keep tabs on the text chat.

While Docker is a familiar software for developers, you don't need to have coding experience to use Docker Desktop on Windows. In fact, I've been using the platform for months now without having coding skills.

When starting out with laser engraving, you might wonder which is the best tool to use in your project, as many are available. When I first started, I tried several tools. Some were clunky, others felt too advanced for me, and a few didn’t work well with the machine I used then. The design tool for laser engraving that I finally stuck with is LightBurn, and honestly, I haven’t looked back since I started using it to prepare my files for laser engraving. LightBurn is a full-fledged design and control powerhouse. Whether you’re engraving wood, cutting acrylic, or doing high-detail photo work, this software delivers. Unlike some other software that only serves as a control interface, LightBurn can handle the entire process, that is, from concept to execution, without needing to jump between programs. Below are some of the main reasons why I use it.

There's truly nothing better than buying a brand-new component for your rig. The unboxing, the peel, and that new computer part smell. Despite the fact that my nostrils yearn for the scent of a new graphics card, the current market is still a bit volatile. Prices are relatively high, and stock is still thin, leading me to lean towards grabbing a pre-owned card.

The latest web browser coming to Opera’s roster embraces AI agents that aim to use the internet for you. The Norwegian tech company describes Opera Neon as an “agentic browser” that has contextual awareness and performs tasks on the users’ behalf, including researching, building, and designing whatever you need.Oddly, Opera announced a Neon browser in 2017 that never took off. We’ll see if it’s more successful this time.“We’re at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser,” Opera senior AI product director Henrik Lexow said in the company’s press release. “Opera Neon brings this to our users’ fingertips.”A notable early adopter feature is an AI engine that Opera says is “capable of understanding and interpreting” what users request, and then making it with the help of cloud-based AI agents. For example, Opera says that Neon can make games, reports, code snippets, and websites, and can work on multiple tasks even when the user has gone offline. Opera hasn’t mentioned when this will launch or how much Neon will cost, beyond it being described as a “premium subscription product,” so there’s currently little information available to back up what the browser is supposedly capable of.Otherwise, Neon offers AI tools similar to those found in Microsoft’s Copilot and OpenAI’s Operator. Opera says that Neon users can use a chatbot interface to search the web, answer queries, and get “contextual information” from the webpage they have open. Opera Neon also features an AI Agent that Opera previously introduced back in March as “Browser Operator,” which allows users to automate routine web tasks, such as shopping, filling in online forms, and booking events or accommodation. Opera says the tool interacts with web page content locally on the browser to preserve privacy and security.Details about Neon are currently slim, which is the fifth browser in Opera’s quiver, after announcing its mindfulness-focused Air browser in February. We will know more about Opera Neon’s real-world capabilities when it fully rolls out into beta — when, is anyone’s guess as the company won’t provide us a firm date. You can sign up for the waitlist here.

A short while ago, we covered all the new features that Microsoft introduced in Teams during the month of May 2025, including capabilities like real-time text (RTT) and the ability to add AI agents to meetings to provide assistance in useful, but subtle, ways. Now, the company has detailed all the enhancements made to Excel in the past four weeks, just like it does towards the end of every month, so let's get started.