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How CRT gaming is being reborn with the help of diehard enthusiasts

By Cale Hunt published 9 April 26

Hardware If you've ever used a CRT screen, you know how much better the tech is for retro games. But as CRT displays decline in number, enthusiasts have created a new way forward with modern OLED tech.

Ubuntu Linux raises its requirements past Windows 11

By Mauro Huculak published 8 April 26

Windows 11 Ubuntu 26.04 LTS raises hardware requirements beyond those of Windows 11, and here's why this is happening.

I played Forza Horizon 6 and going to Japan just feels RIGHT

By Richard Devine published 8 April 26

Preview I finally played Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its May 19 release and got my first taste of the Japanese streets. It was worth the wait.

Four awesome new features I found in the Forza Horizon 6 preview

By Richard Devine published 8 April 26

Preview The Forza Horizon 6 preview build is but a tiny snapshot of what we can expect, but even so, I found four new features that add a little change to the way you'll play the game.

The incredible Zenbook A16 is a warning for Surface and Copilot+ PCs

By Sean Endicott published 8 April 26

Laptops The ASUS Zenbook A16 is a 5-star triumph because it takes on the MacBook Air, not because it has a Copilot sticker.

I might have a reason to press my Copilot key with this absurd Windows app

By Kevin Okemwa published 8 April 26

Apps TypeFart is a small Windows app that plays a fart sound on every keypress and weird sounds on the touchpad, but you'll need a subscription plan for the action.

Mozilla is criticizing Microsoft's new Copilot AI tactics in Windows 11

By Kevin Okemwa published 10 April 26

Apps The Firefox maker says Microsoft's new "intentional" plans for Copilot were only triggered by overwhelming backlash.

Windscribe, WireGuard, VeraCrypt hit by Microsoft developer account ban

By Kevin Okemwa published 10 April 26

Windows Millions of Windows users were left exposed to malicious attacks after Microsoft suspended VPN and encryption developer accounts, blocking critical security updates.

You can finally customize Logitech G accessories on Snapdragon X PCs

By Sean Endicott published 9 April 26

Gaming Logitech G HUB now works on Windows on Snapdragon through emulation, bringing RGB and DPI customization to Snapdragon X2 devices like the Zenbook A16 and other Snapdragon X PCs.

Latest Notepad update for Windows 11 finally removes Copilot branding

By Zac Bowden published 9 April 26

Windows 11 A new Notepad update for Windows Insiders begins Microsoft's push to reduce Copilot on Windows 11, replacing it with AI-powered "writing tools" instead.

Microsoft ironically broke Windows 11's Start menu search while trying to fix it

By Kevin Okemwa published 9 April 26

Windows 11 Microsoft broke Windows 11 search with a Bing update, which displayed blank results. The company has issued a fix.

ASUS Zenbook A16 goes up in price hours after launch

By Sean Endicott last updated 8 April 26

Laptops Just hours after our 5-star review dropped, ASUS and Best Buy hiked the price of the Zenbook A16.

Dell is erasing its "Premium" brand by renaming laptops as "XPS"

By Sean Endicott published 8 April 26

Laptops Dell is quietly turning its "Premium" laptops back into XPS machines to fix a naming mess, and you can save nearly $900 on the hardware formerly known as the Dell 14 Premium.

Intel's Raptor Lake CPUs could be the PC gaming upgrade you need in 2026

By Cale Hunt published 8 April 26

Hardware With RAM prices still stuck in orbit, older CPUs that support DDR4 RAM are becoming ever more attractive. Intel clearly wants to take advantage.

OpenNOW might be the open-source GeForce Now app you need

By Cale Hunt published 8 April 26

PC gaming OpenNOW is your best bet if you can't stand NVIDIA's native GeForce Now app for cloud game streaming, but will it be allowed to reach its full potential?

The incredible Zenbook A16 is a warning for Surface and Copilot+ PCs

By Sean Endicott published 8 April 26

Laptops The ASUS Zenbook A16 is a 5-star triumph because it takes on the MacBook Air, not because it has a Copilot sticker.

The best Windows laptops out of 70+ recent reviews

By Cale Hunt last updated 7 April 26

Laptops The Windows Central team has tested and reviewed more than 70 Windows laptops in the past year, and I've curated this list with the 9 best options as well as several honorable mentions.

This unusual mouse design will save your wrists and help you work

By Alexander Cope published 9 April 26

Deals The Logitech MX Vertical mouse, which we gave a perfect 5-star rating to for its sublime ergonomic design and reliable performance for everyday tasks, is now on sale with a 38% discount.

Razer's latest 8K mouse boasts the "#1 trusted shape, now even lighter"

By Alexander Cope published 8 April 26

Sponsored

Razer's Viper V4 Pro still boasts "industry-leading speed and reliability" with a pro-grade wireless gaming mouse.

The cheaper Xbox Ally finally sees a discount — and it might be the best time to grab one

By Alexander Cope last updated 7 April 26

Deals The Xbox Ally is currently one of the most affordable ways to play Xbox PC games on the go, with an above-average display and additional gameplay-enhancing features, all for 17% off.

One of the best beginner-friendly Xbox racing wheels is now 44% off

By Alexander Cope published 7 April 26

Deals Turtle Beach's VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel and Pedals is currently one of the company's best accessories for emulating real-life racing on Xbox and PCs, and it's now on sale for 44% off.

Deals like this make me wish I needed a new gaming laptop: HP’s RTX 5070 model is $900 off

By Alexander Cope published 2 April 26

Deals The HP Omen MAX 16" configuration with an RTX 5070 graphics card, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and more is now on sale at a whopping 32% discount.

Dell’s 14 Plus is a better value than its premium rivals — here’s why

By Sean Endicott published 2 April 26

Deals The Dell 14 Plus was already a top pick for value. Now, massive discounts bring this reliable laptop down to just $699.

Xbox Ally X gets Xbox app upgrade with new display widget and more

By Adam Hales published 31 March 26

XBOX Xbox continues refining the Ally X experience with a new app update, adding a display widget, improved controls, and small but meaningful quality-of-life improvements across the board.

AYANEO can't sell its NEXT 2 gaming handheld because it's "no longer sustainable"

By Brendan Lowry published 24 March 26

Handheld Gaming PC Sales of AYANEO's enthusiast-class NEXT 2 handheld gaming PC have been suspended due to ongoing RAM and SSD shortages caused by the AI boom.

My Xbox ROG Ally is repaired but I've found a better (and cheaper) handheld

By Jennifer Young published 14 March 26

Handhelds The Xbox ROG Ally X that betrayed me is back, but I've found solace in the detachable arms of the Lenovo Legion GO and don't know if I can go back.

Xbox adds long‑requested gamepad cursor toggle to handhelds

By Adam Hales published 9 April 26

XBOX Xbox is rolling out a new Gamepad Cursor toggle through Xbox Game Bar, allowing handheld users to control a cursor with a joystick for improved navigation via the Xbox Insider Program.

Fresh Xbox discoveries point to "Duet": Is it another Game Pass tier?

By Adam Hales published 9 April 26

Xbox A new codename has appeared in backend data, prompting speculation about Game Pass tiers and subscription bundles.

NASA's Artemis II mission can give your Xbox dashboard a serious glow-up.

By Richard Devine published 9 April 26

Xbox Turns out there's at least one good reason to use Microsoft Edge on the Xbox console after all.

Former Microsoft gaming VP reveals why Xbox was greenlit despite how “unlikely” it was

By Brendan Lowry published 8 April 26

Xbox 25 years after the original Xbox's release, ex-Microsoft gaming VP Ed Fries says it was created to rival Japanese companies like Sony and Nintendo.

Oop, the Halo: Campaign Evolved release date may have just leaked online

By Brendan Lowry published 8 April 26

Halo New Halo: Campaign Evolved leaks suggest that the remake of Xbox's original flagship shooter will come out on Xbox, PC, and PS5 in late July.

Former Microsoft Xbox VP says AI is "the big question mark" for the future of gaming

By Brendan Lowry published 9 April 26

AI Microsoft's former gaming and Xbox VP Ed Fries believes AI is "the big question mark" for gaming moving forward, and says it's not going away.

Did ChatGPT just call Sam Altman a liar?

By Kevin Okemwa published 8 April 26

AI OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently admitted that ChatGPT doesn't have the capability to keep track of time, but the chatbot insists it does.

Lenovo Qira and HP IQ are both heading your way soon. Which one suits you best?

By Cale Hunt published 7 April 26

AI Lenovo and HP have both devised on-device AI assistants designed to make your digital life easier. I dug into the features to discover similarities and differences.

OneDrive files deleted from the cloud will soon bypass the local Recycle Bin

By Sean Endicott published 7 April 26

Apps Microsoft is changing how OneDrive handles deleted files. Soon, cloud deletions won't hit your local Recycle Bin, forcing you to use the web for recovery.

Copilot's survival scramble has AI experts raising strategy questions

By Kevin Okemwa published 7 April 26

Copilot An AI expert mapped more than 80 Copilot products, sparking debate over whether it’s branding brilliance or confusion.

Microsoft dismisses a viral trend that "Copilot is for entertainment only"

By Kevin Okemwa published 7 April 26

Copilot Copilot's viral terms are legacy language from its early days as a Bing search companion.

Azure's cloud platform problems stem from AI, says a former engineer

By Kevin Okemwa published 8 April 26

Azure An ex-Microsoft engineer recently detailed how Azure’s rushed launch, talent exodus, and AI hype left Microsoft’s cloud fragile and struggling to compete.

Microsoft faces new questions from UK watchdog over AI competition

By Kevin Okemwa published 1 April 26

Microsoft The UK CMA is coming after Microsoft again, and this time it's all about AI and ecosystem control, which are at the center of the debate.

Microsoft plans $146 Billion AI spend even as investor interest wanes

By Kevin Okemwa published 28 March 26

MICROSOFT Microsoft could be looking at the worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis because of AI, but it still wants to make a $146 billion infrastructure investment in 2026

Microsoft’s leadership exodus deepens as diversity chief departs

By Kevin Okemwa published 26 March 26

Microsoft An internal memo reveals Microsoft’s HR restructure with new leaders, departures, and AI priorities reshaping employee experience.

Microsoft’s latest AI hire frees Suleyman to chase superintelligence

By Kevin Okemwa published 24 March 26

Microsoft Microsoft’s latest hire clears the runway for AI chief Mustafa Suleyman to focus on superintelligence and in‑house models.

Tune in for a very special episode of the Windows Central Podcast

By Zac Bowden published 20 March 26

LIVE Tune in to the LIVE recording of the Windows Central Podcast on March 20 at 3PM ET!

How CRT gaming is being reborn with the help of diehard enthusiasts

By Cale Hunt published 9 April 26

Hardware If you've ever used a CRT screen, you know how much better the tech is for retro games. But as CRT displays decline in number, enthusiasts have created a new way forward with modern OLED tech.

Review: The Razer Viper V4 Pro makes me feel like the competitive gamer I'm not

By Brendan Lowry published 25 March 26

Review Razer's Viper V4 Pro gaming mouse improves upon its predecessor, though it's still very expensive. Even so, it's a top-tier option for competitive players.

The six best mice for productivity, gaming, and travel

By Cale Hunt last updated 12 March 26

Mice Looking for the best mouse you can buy? Whether you're a gamer, a productivity wizard, or a professional often on the road, we have a mouse for you right here.