Latest news with #WindowsCentral
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Windows Hello face unlock now doesn't work in the dark by default
If you have been relying on Windows Hello facial unlock to access your Windows 11 PC, you may have noticed that it no longer functions in the dark. This is a result of the Windows 11 update OS Build 26100.3775, which was released in April. The update means that Windows 11 users can no longer unlock their PCs in low-light conditions unless their device has a webcam that supports colour cameras to see a visible face during sign-in. Here are the details. As spotted by Windows Central, Microsoft now requires better security protocols to improve Windows Hello. In the Windows change log, Microsoft stated that post this update, or a later one, Windows now needs colour cameras to power Windows Hello. 'After installing this update or a later Windows update, for enhanced security, Windows Hello facial recognition requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in.' This change has been introduced to fix a vulnerability, specifically CVE-2025-26644, which allowed for Windows Hello spoofing. With this update, the technology company has addressed the issue. The vulnerability summary describes it as an "Automated recognition mechanism with inadequate detection or handling of adversarial input perturbations in Windows Hello allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing locally.' Previously, for those unfamiliar with the system, Windows Hello relied solely on infrared sensors to detect a 3D scan of your face, similar to how Apple's Face ID works. In terms of real-world changes, you will now need to be in a well-lit environment to use facial unlock. This may involve increasing your screen's brightness to illuminate your face or simply switching on a light if you are in a dark room.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Microsoft has disabled a 'key feature' to enhance Windows security
Microsoft has enhanced the security of the Windows operating system but for that it has disabled a crucial feature. The company has quietly updated Windows Hello 's face unlock feature, which now prevents it from working in dark rooms. As per the tech giant, this isn't a bug but a deliberate change made in April to patch a serious spoofing vulnerability. While the fix enhances security, it removes a key functionality many Windows 11 users relied on. The change, spotted by Windows Central, has been noted by some Surface Laptop users who claimed that they can no longer use their face to sign into their laptop in a dark room. 'After installing this update or a later Windows update, for enhanced security, Windows Hello facial recognition requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in,' says Microsoft in its April Windows Update patch notes. How Windows Hello technology works Windows Hello leverages a combination of both colour cameras and infrared (IR) sensors, allowing for authentication even in complete darkness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The vulnerability was discovered by researchers at Nanyang Technological University 'Automated recognition mechanism with inadequate detection or handling of adversarial input perturbations in Windows Hello allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing locally,' the researchers said. The flaw was rated "important" by Microsoft, though the company noted it was "less likely" to be exploited by malicious actors locally on a device, and it has not been publicly disclosed or exploited. Meanwhile, for users who rely heavily on dark-room unlocking, a temporary workaround exists: disabling the webcam in Windows 11's Device Manager. However, there is a catch. This 'change' by users renders the camera unusable for all other applications, including video calls, making it an impractical solution for most users and a clear trade-off between convenience and security. HP EliteBook Ultra G1i Review: Thin, light, power in a premium package
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
This Can't Be a Coincidence: Windows Vista Sound Returns to Windows 11, Just as Apple's 'Liquid Glass' Similarities Surface
Microsoft's latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build has unexpectedly brought back the Windows Vista startup sound, replacing the usual Windows 11 chime. The best part of this release is that it happened just as Apple unveiled macOS 26, which has a new 'Liquid Glass' design that many say is similar to Windows Vista's Aero Glass look from 2006. The timing makes me wonder whether Microsoft intended this as a response to Apple's design choices, but the company says it was simply a bug. In the release notes for the latest Windows 11 preview, Microsoft addressed the issue directly, as reported by Windows Central: This week's flight comes with a delightful blast from the past and will play the Windows Vista boot sound instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. We're working on a fix. Brandon LeBlanc from the Windows Insider team also commented on social media, first joking about the return of the sound but then clarifying that it was not intentional. According to reports from users and those examining the system files, the Windows Vista sound file was found in place of the Windows 11 startup sound file, which means the change was due to a technical error rather than a planned update. There is no evidence to say this was a deliberate action by Microsoft, and all official statements say it was a bug that will be corrected soon. But when do official statements ever agree on things like this? Either way, I loved this little banter/dig from Microsoft. What do you think: Did Microsoft deliberately do it?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft wants to win the handheld gaming war by no longer making one
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The gaming industry is notoriously volatile. And that's true of more than just software. This week, we have a new entry for the graveyard of delayed or discontinued gaming hardware, and Microsoft is at the heart of it all. Microsoft's rumored first-party Xbox handheld may take longer to arrive than initially expected. According to an exclusive report from Windows Central, Microsoft has paused development on the Xbox handheld to focus instead on optimizing Windows 11 for gaming experiences. Here's what we know so far about the delay, Windows optimizations, and the future of Xbox handhelds. Even though the Xbox handheld seems to be on pause, Microsoft is still working on something else. Codenamed "Kennan," the project for a branded Xbox handheld with Asus is reportedly still underway. So we will still get an Xbox handheld — even if it's mostly just a next-gen ROG Ally with a black-and-green color scheme. The first-party handheld that's reportedly been delayed was initially expected to launch alongside a next-generation Xbox home console in 2027. While we understand that the Xbox Series X successor will still launch during that window, the handheld device appears to have been shelved for now. According to the report from Windows Central, "sources have indicated ... that Microsoft is still deeply investing in developing its own Xbox gaming handheld technology in the future, but it was announced internally [Thursday] that the priorities are moving more deeply towards third-party OEM handhelds in the interim." So it appears that Microsoft is still planning to make its own handheld gaming device, just not by 2027. Microsoft's Xbox handheld may end up being a mid-cycle device rather than a dual-launch device for Microsoft's next console generation, but only time will tell. Microsoft is switching its handheld development to further support the "Kennan" handheld, which was co-designed with Asus, and to focus more on software optimization. As Windows Central reports, "Microsoft has decided to prioritize its teams to improve Windows 11 gaming performance, specifically for devices like the ASUS partner, 'Project Kennan.'" It's possible that the threat from SteamOS, which on paper delivers better gaming performance than Windows 11 itself, has informed these decisions." NEW Features: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 8-inch 120 Hz refresh rate display, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage (with a MicroSD slot for up to an additional 2TB). The SteamOS version of the Legion Go S is the one to get. It boasts better battery life and frame rates, all at a lower price than the Windows version. View Deal Now that Lenovo's Legion Go S with SteamOS is available, Microsoft has some serious OS competition for gaming handhelds. Valve's Linux-based operating system tends to be less resource-intensive than Windows 11, and thus offers better battery life and smoother performance. Of course, SteamOS isn't the best solution for everyone. Some first-party launchers don't have Linux support or may not run correctly through Proton emulation. Workarounds exist for more major launchers, like the Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect. And Valve is still updating the Steam library to make more games compatible with SteamOS. The SteamOS library currently features over 17,000 games, though most are single-player. Kernel-level anti-cheat systems seem the most significant barrier to enabling popular multiplayer games on SteamOS. Outside of the smaller multiplayer library, SteamOS is stable, is a low-hardware-lift OS, and it doesn't get hamstrung by Windows 11's terrible touchscreen controls on the desktop. This has made the Steam Deck (and potentially now the Legion Go S with SteamOS) a more attractive gaming handheld than its Windows competitors. Unless you're like me, and you've got an MMO you just can't put down, SteamOS is a solid solution. However, if Microsoft optimizes Windows 11 for gaming handhelds, that could remove at least a few OS-based pain points for Windows-based gaming handhelds. Forget Windows 11, this version of Windows 10 is officially supported until 2032 I ditched my rig for GeForce Now: Here's what the experience is really like. Don't buy an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop, wait for the RTX 5050
Engadget
30-05-2025
- Engadget
We might not be getting that handheld Xbox for some time
A lot of people (not least Engadget 's own Sam Rutherford ) have been asking Microsoft to make an Xbox-branded handheld for a long time. And it looked for a while like we might be getting exactly that in the not-so distant future. But Microsoft's priorities have reportedly shifted to improving the widely criticised performance of Windows 11 on existing third-party PC gaming handhelds. In an exclusive report, Windows Central claims that a dedicated Xbox handheld system, which could have launched in 2027 alongside the successor to the Xbox Series X, isn't the company's main area of focus right now, even if it remains keen on the idea. An internally developed handheld, for which Windows Central 's Jez Corden says he has seen a number of different codenames, is not currently being worked on, and he adds that no layoffs have taken place as a result of the strategic shift. While a native Xbox device might be some way off, the report makes clear that Microsoft is still very much active in the handheld market. A third-party console that it has been working on with ASUS, codenamed "Project Kennan", is still targeting a 2025 launch. It's likely this device, which could be equipped with AMD's Z2 Extreme chip, will ship with an improved Windows 11 experience better suited to a controller interface. The software's awkward integration in early iterations of PC handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally has been a big problem, and it's partly why people are so excited about the SteamOS experience no longer being exclusive to the Steam Deck. The Lenovo Legion Go S started shipping with SteamOS running out of the box this week, the first handheld not made by Valve to do so.
