Microsoft Weekly: new Start menu layout, outdated features and apps, and more

Speaking of updates: A new discovery was made over the weekend. Security researchers have demonstrated a way to roll back security updates and exploit vulnerabilities that have already been patched. Microsoft is already aware of the problem and is working on a solution.

Microsoft has deprecated PostScript Type 1 fonts in Windows. The company plans to remove them in future updates after Adobe ends support. In the updated list of deprecated features in Windows client versions, Microsoft recommends that developers test how the removal of these fonts affects their applications.

Windows 11 versions 21H2 and 22H2 are also coming to an end. Microsoft has once again reminded that support for these two operating systems will soon end. Now you have less than 60 days to upgrade to a newer operating system.

We’re not done with soon-to-be-discontinued Microsoft products. As it turns out, Paint 3D is going down soon too. Users have noticed that the app now displays a notification about its impending end of life on November 4. But the real question is: do you even remember Paint 3D?

Just as Windows 11 reached its previous peak in July 2024, Microsoft Edge is also breaking its previous records. The latest data from Statcounter shows that Microsoft’s browser now takes up 13.74% of the desktop browser market. While that’s still a long way from Google Chrome, which had a 64.72% share in July, progress is progress, no matter how slow it is.

Finally, an interesting project that lets you turn Windows 11 into Windows 10 with one click. Why someone would do that instead of just installing Windows 10 is anyone’s guess, but here we go:

Windows Insider Program

Here’s what Microsoft released for testing in the Windows Insider program this week:

In addition to new builds, Microsoft has released a major update for the Microsoft Store. The August 2024 update brings neat changelogs for app updates, a new section, search improvements, redesigned badges, in-app event widgets, and more.

Additionally, the latest Windows 11 beta includes a working version of the recently discovered “Categories” view. However, the feature is not yet publicly available, so it will require some tinkering with a third-party modding tool to get it working.

Clipchamp, another web-based application from Microsoft, received a number of new features, such as image background removal and noise reduction.

Files, one of our favorite apps, has received a new feature update. Version 3.6 is now available in the Microsoft Store and brings a number of improvements, such as a horizontal layout for the dual-pane view, backgrounds for individual folders, a new actions menu, and more.

Speaking of favorite apps, if you know some, you can nominate them now for the 2024 Microsoft Store App Awards. Nominations are open until September 15, and winners will be announced in October. Submissions are accepted from both developers and regular users.

Microsoft’s latest Surface devices are now coming to business customers. Business-oriented models of the Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 5G are now available for pre-order from the Microsoft Store. By the way, if you already own a Copilot+ PC, you can now install Adobe’s video editing software Premiere Pro. Although it’s not yet an ARM-native operating system, Adobe has made it possible to run it through emulation.

Microsoft has released a new preview update for Teams, the main change being the ability to hide the Discover feed, a stream of new posts from different channels. Microsoft 365 Insiders can review this update now, and it shouldn’t be too long before it’s available in the Stable channel.

Microsoft 365 Insiders also have access to a new feature in Word. The Draw and Hold option allows users of compatible touchscreen devices to draw perfect shapes. In short, it lets you make a poor drawing of a certain shape and hold it for a few seconds to let the app straighten the lines.

Firefox received a major new update this week. Version 129.0 hit the release channel on August 6, giving users new features for Reader View, tab previews, security improvements, and other changes.

There were no major updates for Microsoft Edge, but the browser did receive some notable improvements. In the Stable Channel, Edge received several security fixes. In the Dev Channel, Microsoft updated it to version 129 with improvements for Gamer Mode and Browser Essentials.

Other important updates include:

And here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

Another important driver-related story this week concerns Nvidia R555+ drivers causing blue screens on certain computers. For example, if you have a PC with a Core 2 Duo processor and a still-supported Nvidia card like GTX 750 Ti, stay away from R555+ drivers as they will cause your computer to keep showing blue screens. You may also want to adjust Windows Update settings to prevent Windows 10 from automatically updating the GPU driver.

Additionally, Nvidia has released a new version of its recently launched Nvidia app for Windows 10 and 11. In the latest beta version, the program received a new display customization section, RTX video improvements, and various small optimizations based on user feedback.

Additionally, MSI, ASUS, and other manufacturers have started releasing new Intel microcode to fix issues with Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors. To protect your chips, install the update as soon as possible, as the damage caused by crashes is irreversible even with Intel’s extended warranty.

And finally, here’s Microsoft 365 Roadmap Weekly, a series where we track new features coming soon to Microsoft’s productivity apps, such as Clipchamp, Outlook, Microsoft Viva, and more.

On the gaming side

Find out about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, giveaways, deals, discounts, and more.

During the week, Activision revealed details about the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombie mode, e.g. two maps, fighting with up to three friends, unlocking new locations, purchasing weapons and fighting dozens of zombies.

Half-life 3 confirmed? Yes, it’s time to make that joke again. But this time, it might actually make sense, as data miners have discovered traces of what is believed to be the highly anticipated sequel to Half-life 2 from many years ago. Of course, not much is known at this point, so you should view this information with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Offers and free gifts:

Now for the part where you spend money on games you’ll never play. This week’s PC gaming weekend deals feature plenty of discounts on a variety of themes. If you don’t want to pay, here are the latest Epic Games Store freebies: The store is giving away CYGNI: With all weapons at the ready And DNF duel.

Check out other gaming stories this week:

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