Weekly Windows Round-Up: New Apps, Store Discounts, and TPM 2.0 Security Update

Microsoft's ecosystem continues to evolve with new apps, exciting discounts, and critical security updates. This week brought noteworthy changes for both Windows 10 and 11 users, including Microsoft Store deals, fresh applications, and an important TPM 2.0 firmware update.

Microsoft Store Discounts and Deals

The Microsoft Store is currently running several limited-time discounts that Windows users won't want to miss:

• 50% off select productivity apps including popular PDF editors and note-taking tools
• Bundle deals on gaming titles with up to 60% savings on curated game packages
• Subscription discounts for Microsoft 365 Family and Personal plans

These promotions align with Microsoft's back-to-school and seasonal sales strategy, offering significant savings for students and professionals alike.

New and Updated Apps in the Microsoft Store

This week's notable additions to the Microsoft Store include:

1. Clipchamp Pro (New Subscription Tier)

Microsoft's video editing tool now offers a premium tier with:
- 4K export capabilities
- Expanded cloud storage
- Advanced editing tools

2. PowerToys v0.67 (Major Update)

The popular utility suite received:
- Improved FancyZones window manager
- New Text Extractor OCR enhancements
- Better battery life monitoring tools

3. Third-Party Spotlight: Luminar Neo

This professional photo editing suite debuted on the Microsoft Store with:
- AI-powered sky replacement
- Advanced portrait enhancement
- Native ARM64 support for Surface devices

TPM 2.0 Firmware Update (KB5034441)

Microsoft released a critical security update addressing a vulnerability in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) that could bypass TPM 2.0 protections:

Key Details:

• CVE-2024-20666: Elevation of privilege vulnerability
• Affects: All Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H2+ systems
• Patch Size: ~500MB (varies by configuration)

Installation Notes:

• Requires 250MB of recovery partition space
• May need manual partition resizing for some configurations
• Microsoft provides detailed resize instructions for affected systems

Windows 10 vs. 11 Update Status

Upcoming Features in Testing

Windows Insiders are currently testing several promising features:

• AI-powered Windows Copilot (Beta)
• Dynamic Lighting control panel for RGB devices
• Sudo for Windows command line tool
• Improved Snap Layouts with suggestion engine

These features may roll out to all users in the 24H2 update expected later this year.

Recommended Security Practices

In light of the TPM update, users should:

1. Verify TPM 2.0 status via tpm.msc
2. Create a system restore point before updating
3. Check recovery partition size (minimum 500MB recommended)
4. Enable BitLocker for full disk encryption

Troubleshooting Common Update Issues

For users experiencing update problems:

• Error 0x80070643: Often indicates partition space issues
• TPM Not Detected: Check BIOS settings and enable if disabled
• Failed Installations: Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft's support forums provide detailed guidance for each scenario.

Looking Ahead

Next week promises more Windows developments with:

• Potential Surface firmware updates
• New Game Pass additions
• Continued AI feature testing in Insider builds

Windows users have much to explore this week, from money-saving deals to important security updates that help maintain system integrity in an increasingly complex threat landscape.