All articles tagged with #windows central
Microsoft has extended Windows 10’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) to October 14, 2027, keeping security patches available for users who can’t or won’t upgrade to Windows 11. While the ESU extension is free with a Microsoft account, critics say it’s a Band‑Aid that signals Windows 11’s shortcomings and could delay hardware upgrades, fueling online protest and debate over Windows’ future.
Windows Central maintains a live tracker of every Windows K2 commitment Microsoft has announced for Windows 11, listing whether each feature is shipping, in preview, or not delivered, with no firm timelines and updates to the tracker as progress occurs.
Microsoft is rebooting Windows 11 enthusiasm by reviving the Windows Insider Program, promising closer attention to tester feedback and a more flexible update experience. The changes include smarter update controls (longer pause options, bypassing updates during setup, fewer forced reboots) and a renewed community focus, signaling a more responsive OS and renewed engagement among Windows enthusiasts.
Windows Central reports that despite upcoming Windows 11 improvements, Microsoft isn’t addressing the mandatory Microsoft account requirement during setup. Internally, some teams are lobbying to relax or remove the rule, with Microsoft VP Scott Hanselman saying “working on it,” but no firm plan exists as decisions liken to policy committees rather than a simple technical fix.
A Windows Central editor details having her Xbox ROG Ally X repaired and returned, only to fall for the Lenovo Legion Go's bigger screen, detachable controllers, charging options, and overall comfort. She spent around £800 on the Ally X five months earlier and questions the need for the most expensive tech, as the repaired Ally X sits back in its box while the Legion Go becomes her daily driver for games like Stardew Valley and Diablo 4; she even contemplates selling the Ally X as she reassesses what a handheld should deliver.
Xbox Game Pass has announced the first batch of February 2026 titles and is inviting readers to vote on which announced game they’re most excited to play, listing options like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and High On Life 2.
Windows Central previews a fresh, faster Xbox Cloud Gaming dashboard in an early access/preview UI, praising the clean redesign and improved usability.
CES 2026 delivered a hardware showcase: Dell revived the XPS line with redesigned XPS 14 and XPS 16 and teased an XPS 13, HP introduced the EliteBoard G1a—a mini PC built into a keyboard, and Lenovo teased the Yoga AIO Aura Edition (with a SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2 coming later). The show also highlighted OLED/AI upgrades and Windows 11 previews for 2026, plus smaller notes like Intricuit’s macOS touch accessory and a denial of widespread Microsoft layoffs.