Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580 (Beta Channel)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• The more simplified system tray with shortened form date/time we began rolling out with Build 22635.4010 is being temporarily disabled to address a few issues. Thanks to all the Insiders who gave us feedback on this experience.
  

[File Explorer]

• We're making a change so that when you launch File Explorer folders from outside of File Explorer (for example, from an app or from the desktop), by default they will now open in a new tab if you have an existing File Explorer window open. If you'd prefer that they continue opening in a new window, you can change this in File Explorer folder options, under General > Browse Folders.
• When "Retore previous folder windows at logon" is enabled in File Explorer, we will also now restore all the extra tabs which you previously had open in each File Explorer window. As part of this work, we have also updated the logic for the "Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in" setting via Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, so that when you enable this, we will automatically enable the File Explorer specific setting for you too.
• We're adding a new option to snooze or turn off the "Start backup" reminder in the File Explorer address bar, for those that aren't already backing up their Documents, Pictures, or Desktop folders. This option is available when you right-click "Start backup".

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Input]

• Fixed an issue for Pinyin IME users, where switching between windows (like with ALT + Tab) may unexpectedly switch the IME from Chinese to English.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Other]
This update includes fixes for the following issues:

• [Bluetooth LE Audio] Fixed: Some devices, like hearing aids, do not stream Bluetooth audio.
  
• [Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer] Fixed: Windows stops responding when you use an IPP USB printer.
  
• [Motherboard replacement] Fixed: Windows does not activate after you replace a motherboard.
  
• [Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)] Fixed: This update brings profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
  

Microsoft Store Update
For Win32 apps that are "provided and updated" by their publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updating directly in the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated outside of the Microsoft Store. Insiders can head to the Downloads page and click Get Updates. If any installed apps of this type have updates, it'll be displayed on the pending list. You can perform the update by clicking the update button; it won't start automatically.

You can also head to the product page and see an update button.

Windows Insiders across all channels running Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x and higher will see this improvement.

Click here to read more about recent updates to the Microsoft Store!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

Previewing More Copilot+ Experiences with Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel

New experiences for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs

The following experiences are rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. Please install all the latest driver updates available from Windows Update to ensure the following experiences, like Recall, work correctly on your PC. To ensure you have the latest drivers for your Copilot+ PC, make sure the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle is on under Settings > Windows Update. Just click the "Check for updates" button and install any new drivers that Windows Update delivers to you.

If you'd like to test the latest driver versions available directly from our partners before they get to Windows Update, you can download them directly here:

• Latest AMD graphics driver for Ryzen™ chipset.
  
• Latest Intel NPU driver for the Intel® Core™ Ultra 200V Series processor.
  

Recall (Preview)
After previewing Recall with our Windows Insider community on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, we are expanding the preview of Recall to Windows Insiders on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. This includes Click to Do in Recall as well. With the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, it's now possible to quickly find and get back to apps, website, image, or document just by describing its content.

We continue to invite you to try out Recall and share feedback, issues, or suggestions for improvement through in-experience links or the Feedback Hub. We also want to recognize the contributions of researchers and the security community in shaping Recall. If you're an Insider also in this group, we additionally invite feedback on Recall's updated security and privacy architecture through participation in our Windows Insider Preview Bug Bounty Program.

To get started, check out this blog post which highlights all the steps required to opt-in to using Recall and saving snapshots on your Copilot+ PC.

As we gradually roll out Recall in preview, Recall is supported on select languages including Chinese (simplified), English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Content-based and storage limitations apply. See here for more details. Recall is not yet available in all regions, with expanded availability coming over time. As part of today's update, we're expanding the roll out of Recall (Preview) through the Windows Insider Program to the European Economic Area (EEA).

As a reminder for when we first preview new features with Windows Insiders, you may encounter some known issues listed at the bottom of this blog post we highly recommend you read.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Recall or through in-experience links.

Cocreator in Paint
Microsoft Paint is your creative companion, making it effortless to bring your visions to life. The latest update to the Paint app (version 11.2410.1002.0 and higher) brings Cocreator to AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. Paint Cocreator allows you to create amazing artwork with the help of AI. You can enter a text prompt and start drawing on the Paint canvas, and Cocreator will generate beautiful artwork based on your input, all for free and without the need for a subscription.

We are beginning to roll out Cocreator to AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, so it may not be available on your PC just yet.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Paint.

Restyle Image and Image Creator in the Photos app
In the latest update to the Microsoft Photos app, we are introducing Image Creator and Restyle Image to AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs. These advanced AI-powered features are designed to unlock new creative possibilities—all powered locally on your device for fast and seamless performance.

Image Creator lets you generate brand-new images from simple text prompts. For example, you can type "a serene lake at sunset" or "a vibrant city skyline at night," and the AI will transform your idea into a feed of images. Whether you're seeking inspiration or crafting the perfect visual, Image Creator delivers endless possibilities for creativity.

Restyle Image allows you to take an existing photo and apply a variety of artistic styles. Whether you want to give your vacation photos a vintage aesthetic or turn a casual snapshot into a bold modern artwork, Restyle Image makes it effortless.

To get these new features, update your Photos app to version 2024.11120.1001.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. This update is currently rolling out, so it may not be available right away. Don't forget to share your creations with us!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps > Photos.

New ways to engage with Click to Do (Preview)
In addition to expanding support for Click to Do with Recall to AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, today's update also introduces new ways for you to effortlessly engage with Click to Do outside of Recall on Copilot+ PCs. You can now engage with Click to Do by simply pressing WIN key + mouse-click, WIN + Q, through the Snipping Tool menu and print screen, or searching "Click to Do" through the search box on the Windows taskbar. These methods will make it easier than ever to take immediate action on whatever catches your eye on-screen.

We're also working on introducing more intelligent text actions to enhance your Click to Do experience even further. Use WIN key + mouse-click or WIN + Q to select a text block and then drag to select the text that you want. You'll see options to Summarize or to help you Rewrite your text, so it sounds more causal or more formal.

Click to Do is the first experience to leverage the capabilities of Phi Silica, the on-device Small Language Model (SLM) that is built right into Windows. Results from our local model will show directly inline and if you're happy with the rewrites you can copy them directly to your clipboard for use anywhere. These more intelligent text actions are available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs today when your language is set to English with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon.

The intelligent text actions leverage the power of Microsoft's secure cloud to improve your text results by ensuring prompts and responses are safe and appropriate. This data is automatically deleted. The analysis of your screen is always performed locally on your device. Content is only shared out of Click to Do if you choose to complete an action, like copying text to your clipboard, for use in another app, or sharing an image with Bing for a visual search.

You can continue to use the same image and text actions you saw for the Click to Do in the Recall experience we released two weeks ago as well including on AMD or Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs too. Click to Do in Recall will recognize text and images in snapshots and offers AI powered actions you can take on these. Just press the Windows logo key and left mouse-click on any image in a snapshot in Recall to get options like Copy, Save, Share, Visual Search with Bing, Blur background with Photos, or Remove background with Paint. And by pressing the WIN key and left mouse-click on any text in a snapshot will give you options to Copy, Search the web, or send email or open a website if an email or URL is recognized.

To use Click to Do, you will need to have Recall enabled on your Copilot+ PC but do not have to opt in to having snapshots saved.

You can learn more about using Click to Do here.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Click to Do.

Other changes included in this Dev Channel update
This update (Build 26120.2510) includes other changes and improvements available to Windows Insiders across all Windows 11 PCs in addition to the features noted above that are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. These changes are documented below in two buckets:

• New features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available (via Settings > Windows Update*).
• New features, improvements, and fixes rolling out to everyone in the Dev Channel.

For more information, see the Reminders section at the bottom of the referenced blog post.

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

Modernized Windows Hello
At Microsoft, we are committed to security and enhancing user experiences. As part of this commitment, we launched enhanced passkey features in September 2023 and are now revamping the Windows Hello user experience. This represents a significant update to Windows Hello, aligning it with contemporary Windows visual design standards. The primary focus is on making authentication intuitive and seamless.

Modernized Windows Hello Visual Communication: The updated Windows Hello visuals are designed to facilitate fast and clear communication and appear on the Windows Sign-in screen as well as other authentication flows such as passkey, Recall, Microsoft Store and many more.

Revamped Windows Hello credential user experience for passkeys and the new administrator protection experience: We redesigned Windows security credential user experience for passkey by creating a cleaner experience that supports secured and quick authentication. Users will now be able to switch between authentication options and select passkey/devices more intuitively.

This experience will also apply for the new administrator protection feature coming to Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher and currently in preview with Windows Insiders in the most recent Canary Channel builds. For more information on administrator protection – you can check out this blog post that highlights our investments in adminless experiences in Windows from Microsoft Ignite.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Passwordless experience.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• The more simplified system tray with shortened form date/time we began rolling out with Build 26120.1843 is being temporarily disabled to address a few issues. Thanks to all the Insiders who gave us feedback on this experience.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed a few issues impacting taskbar and explorer.exe reliability.

[Audio]

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to USB audio devices going to sleep after 1 minute of idle time, and not waking up until the PC was rebooted.
• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead you to unexpectedly hear a mute or unmute noise in certain headsets.
• Fixed an underlying issue that could lead to the audio on certain audio devices unexpectedly going to 100% on boot or after sleep.

[Other]

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to Excel sometimes hanging on launch when opening certain files.

Fixes for everyone in the Dev Channel

[Recall]

• Fixed an issue where Recall didn't warn that you must have Secure Boot enabled for Recall to save snapshots.
• Improved the experience for submitting feedback for Recall by adding a loading dialog.
• Fixed an issue where some users experience a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline while using their device.
• Fixed an issue where Recall won't save any snapshots if you join the Dev Channel and install Build 26120.2415 after installing KB5046740.
  

[Other]

• [Exporting chart objects] Fixed: An app stops responding when it exports chart objects in PDF and XLSX formats.
  
• [Internet connection] Fixed: A small number of devices cannot connect to the internet. This occurs when a DHCP server response has duplicate DHCP options. This stops IPv4 connections on certain networks.
  
• [Display] Fixed: Some secondary displays might experience lag and screen tearing when a window is in full screen.
  
• [HTML Applications (HTA)] Fixed: HTA optional components (OC) are now in ARM64 Windows PE.
  

Dev Channel update to 133.0.2992.0 is live

Added Features:

• Added red dots for the 'What's New' feature on android.

Improved Behavior:

• Resolved an issue where browser would crash when opening online PDF links in InPrivate mode on Android.
• Resolved an issue where a crash would occur when logging in and out of accounts on iOS.

Changed Behavior:

• Resolved an issue where the 'History-All' list was loading slowly and showing a blank screen for seconds when switching to 'All' in the history hub.
• Resolved an issue where the browser's new tab remained open when Game Assist was closed under tabs.
• Resolved an issue where the Rewards page did not adapt to large text mode in the browser app.
• Resolved an issue where the 'Organize Tabs' title was clipped in the tab center.
• Resolved an issue where the background color of inactive tabs was incorrect in tab groups.
• Fixed an issue where the color theme section in edge://settings/appearance/themes did not work when trying to apply a color theme using the color picker for the first time.
• Android:
• Resolved an issue where the Omnibox Action feature was unavailable on Android.
• Resolved an issue where, after clicking 'Allow notifications,' the pop-up toast would not disappear automatically on Android.
• Resolved an issue where the soft-landing button displayed 'Sign in to win' instead of 'Sign in' when the account was not logged in on Android.
• Resolved an issue where some content on the notification pop-up card would disappear in landscape mode on Android.
• Resolved an issue where extensions could not be installed automatically and always displayed a checking state on Android.
• iOS:
• Resolved an issue when clicking the back button after switching to landscape mode on the mini app caused the portrait page to display on iOS.
• Resolved an issue where the background of the Omnibox was incorrect on iOS.
• Fixed an issue where the top of the Edit Favorite page and Recent tabs page was transparent on iOS.
• Mac:
• Fixed an issue where hovering over 'Workspaces' list items did not resize the text in the browser.

SpywareBlaster database update 12/4/2024


10 NEW items (IE/ActiveX)

12 NEW items (Edge/Scripts)

for a total of 19,356 items in database

After updating, be sure to manually enable all protection.

Microsoft Store Update

For Win32 apps that are "provided and updated" by their publishers, the Microsoft Store will now support updating directly in the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated outside of the Microsoft Store. Insiders can head to the Downloads page and click Get Updates. If any installed apps of this type have updates, it'll be displayed on the pending list. You can perform the update by clicking the update button; it won't start automatically.

You can also head to the product page and see an update button.

Windows Insiders across all channels running Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x and higher will see this improvement.

Click here to read more about recent updates to the Microsoft Store!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

Pale Moon has been updated to version 33.5.0. This is a development, bugfix and security release.

Note: Intel Mac builds are now "ad hoc" signed instead of unsigned, which should solve potential issues with newer macOS while still being compatible with old OS X. If you experience issues, please post in the Mac board on the forum for support.

Changes/fixes:

• Implemented Regular Expression "match indices" (/d) feature.
• Added a way to programmatically clear the DNS cache in the browser, and added a button to the UI for it in about:networking.
• Updated handling of referrer policies to adhere to the updated spec.
• CSS font variations keywords no longer throw an error. See implementation notes.
• CSS border-radius will now also apply to element outlines.
• Improved the display of amount of cached web content in preferences when cache is being cleared.
• Improved the installer AVX check to skip on early versions of Windows 10 (which don't support it).
• Updated NSS to 3.90.5 (unofficial) to pick up some security fixes.
• Refreshed the built-in list of effective top-level domains.
• Fixed several application crashes.
• Reduced unnecessary debug/informative messages in release builds (WebGL and CSP).
• Backed out building against ffmpeg 6.0 and ffvpx 6.0 for causing a video playback regression on full-range videos (levels 0-255).
• Cleaned up a large amount of leftover Boot2Gecko code, simplifying code paths throughout the code base.
• From this version forward we also publish language packs for Persian (Farsi), Hindi, Kannada and Vietnamese.
• Security issues addressed: CVE-2024-11693 and CVE-2024-11704 (DiD).

Implementation notes:

• The CSS font variations keywords (woff2-variations, truetype-variations, etc.) allow webmasters to indicate format hints for @font-face font resources so authors can provide alternative resources for browsers that don't support tech(variations). The intent of these hints is to provide an alternate font with variations in addition to regular fonts without. Unfortunately, some webmasters don't indicate a base font the variation font face would be an alternate for, which resulted in Pale Moon throwing an error on the only @font-face src entry provided, in turn having the web font not being loaded at all (because no valid entry was found), breaking website layout. From this version onwards, we parse the -variations keywords allowing variation alternative font-faces to be loaded, even if no base font was specified. To webmasters only supplying @font-face entries with variations keywords: please understand the intent of this CSS 4 spec and always provide a base font entry (graceful fallback).

*DiD: This means that a fix is "Defense-in-Depth": It is a fix that does not apply to a (potentially) actively exploitable vulnerability in Pale Moon, but prevents future vulnerabilities caused by the same code, e.g. when surrounding code changes, exposing the problem, or when new attack vectors are discovered.

**Rejected security patches: This means that patches were theoretically applicable to our code but considered undesirable, which could be due to unwanted changes in behavior, known regressions caused by the patches, or unnecessary risks for stability, security or privacy.

Pale Moon includes both 32- and 64-bit versions for Windows: Pale Moon for Windows downloads.

Update: To get the update now, select "Help" from the Pale Moon menu at the upper left of the browser window. Select

Release Notes
Release Cycle

Thanks, plodr. Fixed.

Adobe has released an optional hotfix patch that addresses some important bug fixes.

Update or Complete Download

Adobe Acrobat and Reader were updated to version 24.005.20307.  Updates should become available via the internal updater or checks can be manually activated by choosing Help/Check for Updates. 

Reader DC and other versions are available here: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Note: UNcheck any pre-checked additional options presented with the update. They are not part of the software update and are completely optional.

Release Notes

U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack

Amid an unprecedented cyberattack on telecommunications companies such as AT&T and Verizon, U.S. officials have recommended that Americans use encrypted messaging apps to ensure their communications stay hidden from foreign hackers.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-officials-urge-americans-use-encrypted-apps-cyberattack-rcna182694