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Microsoft Store’s Instant Games feature lets you play some titles without downloading and installing

The major Windows 11 update that Microsoft announced last week is now rolling out to users. In a blog post announcing the release, Microsoft describes some of the new features including the AI-enhanced version of MS Paint, the new Copilot tool, and updates to File Explorer, the Clipchamp video editor and Windows Snipping Tool, among […]

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Microsoft now sells some replacement parts for Surface devices

Microsoft is the latest major tech company to jump on the repair-it-yourself bandwagon. You can now buy replacement parts for components in some recent Surface tablets, laptops, and all-in-one PCs. The company says the goal is to make it easier for “technically inclined consumers” to perform out-of-warranty repairs without taking their products to a shop […]

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Microsoft will stop selling Windows 10 downloads on January 31

Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 with security updates through October 14, 2025. But the company will stop selling Windows 10 licenses to consumers through the Microsoft Store at the end of this month. The company has added notes to the Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro pages in the Microsoft Store alerting customers […]

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iTunes for Windows is (almost) dead, as Apple Music, TV, and Devices apps hit the Microsoft Store

Apple pulled the plug on iTunes for Mac a few years ago, but the company has kept iTunes for Windows alive since it was the only officially supported way to sync your data between a PC and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. But now Apple is getting ready to kill iTunes for Windows too. Apple […]

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Microsoft Store backtracks on policy that prohibited sales of some open source apps

Last month the Microsoft Store issued policy updates meant to crack down on developers charging unreasonable prices for apps… and on copycats who use the store to sell clones of open source software that’s normally available for free, a problem that’s been plaguing the Microsoft Store for years. But the language Microsoft used suggested that […]

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Lilbits: Linux laptops and handhelds, iOS 16 beta, and Microsoft Store policy change blocks sales of some open source apps

The thing about free and open source apps is that anyone can take the source code and make their own version of an app with few (or no) changes. Many open source licenses even allow you to redistribute your version of an app. So it’s unsurprising that app stores are sometimes litters with unofficial versions […]

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Lilbits: 3rd-party widgets for Windows 11, restore MS Store apps on a new PC, and more from MS Build

Microsoft’s Build developer conference is taking place this week, and Microsoft has already announced a bunch of new and upcoming software and service updates coming for developers and end users. One of the most intriguing is ARM-native versions of the company’s developer tools, plus a new ARM-based PC for developers set to launch later this […]

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Lilbits: Steam Deck software update, beginning of the end for the Pixel 3a, and Audacity in the Microsoft Store

Valve’s latest beta software update for the Steam Deck brings experimental support for controlling the screen refresh rate in games and allows the Linux-based operating system to control the fan speed as well as when the fan activates in the first place, which can cut down on unwanted noise in some circumstances. Unfortunately there’s also […]

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The Windows 11 Microsoft Store is now rolling out for Windows 10

Microsoft debuted a new version of the Microsoft Store with Windows 11, bringing an updated design, support for more apps, and even the option to download third-party app and game stores like the Epic Games Store. But the new Microsoft Store isn’t a Windows 11 exclusive. After launching alongside Windows 11 in October, Microsoft’s Rudy […]

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Firefox is now available from the Microsoft Store (first major browser to arrive)

The new Microsoft Store that debuted with Windows 11 has a new look and support for more apps – Microsoft now lets developers submit Win32 apps as well as Universal Windows Platform apps and Progressive Web apps. Microsoft has also eased up on some restrictions. Developers can now submit third-party app stores like the Epic […]