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• Microsoft has a grand vision of Windows Update delivering updates for all software installed on the PC
• This is mainly aimed at the business world to begin with, but there’s no reason why consumers won’t eventually benefit as well
• Developers will need to be persuaded to hook up their apps to Microsoft’s new unified delivery platform, though

Microsoft plans to have Windows 11 itself handle all software updates via the Windows Update system, or that appears to be the idea for the future.

The Verge spotted a Microsoft blog post that outlined a vision of the “unified future for app updates on Windows,” as penned by product manager Angie Chen.

While this is a post on the IT Pro blog, and as such it’s targeted at IT admins and organizations, as Microsoft pushes forward in this direction, there’s no reason why consumers won’t benefit from this too.

This is surely the plan, even if it isn’t mentioned explicitly, as the post announces that a private preview of the new system is now kicking off, which any app developer can join to start getting their software ready for Microsoft’s brave new world of updates.

As it stands now, Windows Update provides relevant updates for the operating system itself (of course) and related frameworks, as well as drivers sometimes. When it comes to individual apps – or suites of software – you are reliant on the developer to deliver these through their own mechanisms.

Microsoft wants to change this by introducing a “Windows-native update orchestration platform” that allows any app developer to make use of Windows Update to deliver patches for their software alongside regular Windows 11 updates.

As Microsoft explains, there are several benefits to working in this way, not the least of which is that it keeps things simple and streamlined to get all your updates from one source.

Additionally, you’ll be able to view a history of all updates across your entire PC via the update history in the Windows 11 Settings app. Furthermore, developers will be able to use the operating system’s powers in terms of deciding when to apply updates, such as obeying the user's or admin’s time windows for updating, for example.

Analysis: A sensible path forward

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

All this makes some sense, and the convenience of combining all updates under one hub managed by Windows itself is surely taking a step forward.

After all, with updates reliant on the delivery methods of individual software developers, it can be easy to fall behind, especially if the update mechanism is tucked away somewhere and doesn’t happen automatically. Or indeed, if you don’t run a piece of software for ages, it could be hanging around in the background in a miserably unpatched state.

With Windows Update handling all this, you’d be on top of your software updates consistently, at least in theory. That said, cynics might be quick to pounce on the reliability of Windows Update.

Failed installations of updates are not exactly uncommon and are reported with some regularity. However, remember that these are updates for Windows 11 itself – more complex, knotty OS upgrades – and small app updates are unlikely to suffer any such wrinkles. And whether they do, or not, will presumably be down to the devs anyway, to a large extent.

It’s worth noting that you do get updates piped through to Windows apps automatically with software installed via the Microsoft Store, but of course, far from every developer wants to use that store.

Worried about app support, and some software being left out? Every base should be covered, with support for all common app types (not just Microsoft’s own creations, such as MSIX apps), as outlined in the blog post.

However, there could still be a catch here, namely that it’s up to software developers to use Microsoft’s new platform. And nothing is forcing them to hook up to the system, so will they bother?

That’s the multi-million-dollar question, but from my perspective, it all seems a sensible enough idea. While this may be a plan targeting the business world initially, I can envision a broader move towards this model of Windows updates for all kinds of app developers eventually. And as more make the leap, others could be persuaded to follow…

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• Acer accidentally listed RTX 5050 GPUs in some gaming laptops
• The spilled details showed power usage and clock speeds
• We didn’t get any other specs shared, though, and chatter about the desktop variant of the RTX 5050 has gone quiet, too

Acer has leaked the Nvidia RTX 5050 mobile GPU, giving us a glimpse of some of the key specs of this laptop graphics card.

Not so long ago, Nvidia introduced RTX 5060 models (the 5060 Ti spin came first), and before those arrived, there were rumors flying around about them and the RTX 5050, too.

While the RTX 5050 hasn’t been officially announced, we’ve been seeing numerous leaks about it recently. VideoCardz reports that the latest leak comes from Acer, courtesy of a list of GPU specs for Predator and Nitro gaming laptops.

This mentioned an RTX 5050 in quite a few of the Nitro notebooks, and I use the past tense there because Acer has caught the error and deleted the offending listings – but not before VideoCardz took a screenshot as evidence. Other sources have also taken note, so this is likely genuine – although still take it with a grain of salt, as with all rumors.

We can see from this screengrab that Acer is set to offer the RTX 5050 in five different power options, ranging from 50W up to 100W, with correspondingly faster clock speeds for each, from 1500MHz up to 2550MHz. Note that there’ll also be an ‘Acer OC’ (overclocked) boost of 15W with these models, meaning the most powerful model will be able to provide 115W in a pinch.

Sadly, we don’t see any specifications other than power usage and clocks, which are tied together in a direct relationship – the faster the clocks are pushed, the more wattage the GPU will consume.

Analysis: A laptop RTX 5050 feels imminent – but what about the desktop model?

(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

The specs we see here don’t give us much of a clue as to how powerful the RTX 5050 will theoretically be. That said, the maximum power envelope advertised is quite substantial at 115W, but we don’t know enough about this mobile GPU to draw any definitive conclusions. Key factors will include the core count, which isn’t disclosed, and the type of video memory (VRAM) used.

I should note that on the latter front, there were rumors that Nvidia could opt for slower GDDR6 VRAM, rather than the GDDR7 employed elsewhere with the Blackwell generation. However, more recent rumors have suggested Nvidia will stick with GDDR7 (8GB of this VRAM, which is an expected configuration for an entry-level GPU).

At any rate, what this apparent mistake from Acer does indicate is that the RTX 5050 laptop graphics card could be close to arriving, otherwise it wouldn’t be popping up on spec sheets – and this is backed up by the fact that we’ve had a lot of leaks around this GPU recently. Indeed, one of those mentioned a planned launch date of Q2 for the RTX 5050, and so a June release appears to be a distinct possibility at this point.

In other words, we might be seeing the revelation of the Nvidia RTX 5050 for laptops in the next week or two. What about the desktop RTX 5050? Yes, it’s rumored Nvidia is going to produce a desktop flavor of this bottom-tier Blackwell GPU, which runs counter to what happened with the previous Lovelace generation (there was no desktop RTX 4050, only a laptop variant).

However, any gossip around the desktop RTX 5050 seems to have dried up, giving me pause for thought on whether Nvidia might have abandoned that idea, at least for the time being. Or maybe it was never happening in the first place; we never know with rumors.

I’m really hoping Nvidia can provide a more affordable desktop GPU for budget gaming PCs this time around, though, but whether that’ll actually happen is something I’ve always been doubtful about. Simply because of how Nvidia has neglected the budget end of the graphics card spectrum in more recent times.

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• Fake AI video editor ads are targeting Facebook users
• Threat group UNC6032 has been identified spreading malware
• The ads have reached over 2 million users

Google’s Mandiant Threat Defense group has identified a campaign, tracked as UNC6032, which “weaponizes the interest around AI tools” - specifically tools used to generate videos based on user prompts.

Mandiant experts identified thousands of postings of fake “AI video generator” websites that actually distribute malware, which has led to the deployment of payloads, “such as Python-based infostealers and several backdoors.”

The campaign sees legitimate AI generator tools like Canva Dream Lab, Luma AI, and Kling AI impersonated in order to trick victims, which have collectively reached “millions of users” across both LinkedIn and Facebook - although Google suspects similar campaigns may be targeting users on multiple different platforms too.

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The group, UNC6032, is thought to have ties to Vietnam, but EU transparency rules allowed researchers to see that a sample of 120 malicious ads had a total reach of over 2.3 million users - although this does not necessarily translate to that many victims.

“Although our investigation was limited in scope, we discovered that well-crafted fake “AI websites” pose a significant threat to both organizations and individual users,” the researchers confirm.

“These AI tools no longer target just graphic designers; anyone can be lured in by a seemingly harmless ad. The temptation to try the latest AI tool can lead to anyone becoming a victim. We advise users to exercise caution when engaging with AI tools and to verify the legitimacy of the website's domain.”

Be sure to thoroughly vet any adverts on social media, and manually search any software deals into a search engine before downloading anything in order to properly verify the source.

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• Each OLED pixel can be a sound source too
• No need for conventional speakers and no increase in thickness
• Could be used for in-car displays, smartphones and headsets

For years now the TV industry has been thinking about pixels: how to make them brighter, how to make them smaller, how to put them together in the best possible way. And now there's a new push: how to make them sound.

As spotted by Science Daily, researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH for short) have created a 13-inch OLED panel where every pixel makes sound as well as light.

And that tech could one day deliver multi-channel sound with incredible precision – without requiring speaker drivers.

Pixels should be heard as well as seen

(Image credit: Wiley / POSTECH )

As Science Daily reports (hat tip to Notebookcheck), the team have called their invention 'Pixel-Based Local Sound OLED technology'. And as they explain, the problem with TV audio is that it's really hard to get accurate positional sound with conventional speakers.

"The core issue is that traditional exciters – devices that vibrate to produce sound – are large and heavy, making it difficult to deploy multiple units without interference or compromising the OLED's thin design," the researchers say. "Additionally, sound crosstalk between multiple speakers leads to a lack of precise control over localized audio."

Their solution was to embed piezo-electric exciters within the OLED display frame. "These piezo exciters, arranged similarly to pixels, convert electrical signals into sound vibrations without occupying external space. Crucially, they are fully compatible with the thin form factor of OLED panels."

That enables each pixel to become an independent sound source, and the team says that they were able to completely eliminate crosstalk – so that sounds coming from different parts of the display didn't interfere with one another.

The applications of the technology go beyond TVs. One suggestion is that in-car displays could send different audio to different people, for example by giving vocal directions to the driver while the passenger listens to music. And in phones or headsets the audio could change as the head, hand or device moves.

According to Professor Su Seok Choi, "This technology has the potential to become a core feature of next-generation devices, enabling sleek, lightweight designs in smartphones, laptops, and automotive displays – while delivering immersive, high-fidelity audio."

The "has the potential" bit is key, however: this is a proof of concept, not a product – and there's a big difference between producing audio and producing excellent audio. And of course what works in a 13-inch prototype may prove much more difficult to achieve in panels of larger sizes.

There's also the question of cost – so while the announcement is definitely exciting I think the best soundbars can breathe easy for a good few years yet.

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• Apple may be developing a dedicated gaming app for iOS, macOS and more
• The app will contain things like achievements, leaderboards and messages
• It could be announced at WWDC in June

For years, Apple has been trying to convince the world that it’s taking gaming seriously, and with the popularity of IOS gaming and the appearance of AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 on macOS, there’s some truth to the company’s assertion.

Just in case you needed more convincing, there’s a new rumor from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman that Apple will soon launch a dedicated gaming app in iOS 19 to woo players to its platforms. As a Mac-owning gamer, I'm cautiously optimistic about the rumors – even if we still need more affordable hardware and games before it gets anywhere close to being a Windows competitor.

If you missed the news, the app will apparently “serve as a launcher for titles and centralize in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications and other activity,” Gurman said, adding that it will also feature “editorial content from Apple about new titles, offer access to the App Store’s game section and promote [Apple] Arcade.” It’s expected to be revealed on iOS, macOS, iPadOS and tvOS as soon as Apple’s WWDC 2025 event on June 9.

The move makes sense – after all, the iPhone is a phenomenally popular gaming platform, and announcing a move like this at WWDC could help to cement the popularity of iOS 19 before it’s even out the door. Apple might also be hoping that it will tempt more gamers to switch from Windows to the Cupertino firm’s platforms – but on this point, I’m not entirely convinced.

Destination of choice for gamers

(Image credit: Apple)

This app might work well in iOS 19, where gaming tends to be a little more casual than on desktop computers. But things might look very different on macOS.

As a gamer who also owns a Mac, I’ve been encouraged over the last few years by Apple’s strides in the gaming world. It’s nowhere near parity with Windows yet, but the situation today is much better than it was just a few years ago.

For a long time, the problem was the chicken-and-egg nature of Mac gaming. Gamers didn’t want to switch to macOS due to the lack of games, and developers didn’t want to bring games to the Mac due to the lack of players. That’s slowly starting to change, with big-name titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Baldur’s Gate 3 helping to dispel the idea that the Mac is a gaming wasteland.

However, the impact of a dedicated gaming app will likely be limited. Beyond my contention that gamers care more about hardware and game availability than launcher apps, Gurman is also skeptical, saying that “testers of the software say it probably won’t change the perception among players and makers of high-end titles.”

Any advance for gaming on Apple’s platforms is welcome in my eyes, and this app could help by making gaming more prominent among users of iOS and macOS. But what’s really needed – on the Mac at least – is a greater number of attention-grabbing titles and more affordable access to components that offer exceptional gaming performance.

Until that happens, Windows will always be the destination of choice for gamers.

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• 1-bit Rainbow is offering the tiniest classic Mac on the market
• It has a two-inch display and is powered by a Pico Zero Raspberry Pi
• You can buy a fully assembled unit for just $59

You might have heard the phrase “small form-factor PC” to describe computers that are smaller than the average rig, but someone has just taken the SFFPC concept to a whole new level with a working Mac that features a display measuring just two inches across.

Appropriately dubbed the Pico-Mac-Nano, this tiny computer from 1-bit Rainbow features a 3D printed chassis that faithfully recreates the classic Macintosh look from the 1980s, albeit on a minute scale.

On the inside, the device is powered by a Pico Zero Raspberry Pi, while it packs in a two-inch 480p display for somewhat uncomfortable reading, plus 512MB of memory, a microSD card slot for storage, and a three-volt CR2 battery. It runs the MicroMac 128K emulator, which provides the vintage Mac operating system flavor. That means it’s a fully working computer, although whether it’s actually practical is another matter.

You can buy the fully assembled Pico-Mac-Nano for a mere $59 (around £44 / AU$92) – so much for the Apple tax. Alternatively, 1-bit Rainbow has supplied the 3D printing files if you want to print your own case and flash a regular Pico Raspberry Pi yourself.

There’s even a special Collectors Edition of the Pico-Mac-Nano that comes in a small-scale replica of Apple’s original ‘Picasso’ Macintosh shipping box. This version will set you back a modest $78 (or about £58 / AU$122).

A true small form-factor Mac

(Image credit: 1-bit Rainbow)

As someone who loves and owns both a SFFPC and a Mac, I’m always keeping an eye out for fascinating projects that can bridge the gap between both worlds.

This device, though, might be taking it a little too far even for me. I can’t imagine I’d be able to run many of the best Mac games on it – never mind “can it run Crysis?,” perhaps we should be asking “can it run Chess?”

Still, there’s no doubt that this product is an incredible achievement and shows just what can be done with modern hardware and software. Whether or not you want to 3D print it yourself, you’ll still be getting your hands on a neat little project that makes a faithful nod to the Macs of old.

So, if the miniscule M4 Mac mini isn’t quite small enough for you, perhaps the Pico-Mac-Nano will do the trick. Just don’t expect it to handle DeepSeek R1’s large language model any time soon.

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