Crystal Reports
The latest Crystal Reports coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
WidBar Beta Injects Now Playing and System Widgets Right into Windows 11's Taskbar
WidBar, a free beta app from developer Andrea Del Bello, places customizable live widgets directly on the Windows 11 taskbar. It currently offers Now Playing and System Metrics modules, with plans for extensibility, giving users at-a-glance information Microsoft's default taskbar lacks.
Acer Unveils Four Copilot+ Aspire AI PCs, Bringing AI to Everyday Computing
Acer announced four new Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs on May 29, 2026: the Aspire X 16 AI, Aspire 18 AI, Aspire C27 AI, and Aspire C24 AI, including both laptops and all-in-one desktops. These devices integrate AI capabilities through Microsoft's Copilot+ platform, offering enhanced productivity, creativity, and security features. The new Aspire AI range targets mainstream users seeking powerful and intelligent computing experiences.
AppControl Brings 3-Day Performance Tracking and Privacy Alerts to Windows 11 and 10
A new free utility, AppControl, offers Windows 10 and 11 users a rolling 72-hour log of app activity, hardware usage, temperatures, and privacy events, enabling retrospective diagnosis of PC slowdowns and unauthorized access.
Windows 11 24H2 Gets a Built-In Time Machine: Point-in-Time Restore Rolls Back Apps, Settings, and Files in Seconds
Microsoft has made Point-in-time Restore generally available for Windows 11 version 24H2, giving Home, Pro, and Enterprise users a fast, built-in rollback feature that can undo changes to apps, settings, and files. The feature replaces the unreliable System Restore with a snapshot-based approach that completes rollbacks in minutes, works without noticeable performance overhead, and is enabled by default. While it doesn't replace full backups, it dramatically reduces the friction of recovering from bad updates, software conflicts, or accidental modifications.
Microsoft’s Experimental Screen Tint: A New Eye Comfort Tool in Windows 11 Insider Preview
Microsoft has released experimental preview Build 26300.8497 for Windows 11 Insiders, introducing a new Screen Tint accessibility feature. This system-wide color overlay allows users to apply any custom hue and intensity to reduce eye strain and accommodate visual sensitivities. Early feedback highlights its potential for people with conditions like photophobia or Irlen Syndrome, though limitations such as lack of scheduling, HDR issues, and per-app controls suggest further refinement is needed before general availability.
Ventoy 1.1.15 Ships with Critical Secure Boot Certificate Support and Boot Fix
Ventoy 1.1.15, released on June 25, 2026, adds support for Microsoft's 2023 Secure Boot certificates and resolves a boot failure impacting users. The update ensures bootable USB drives remain functional on systems with Secure Boot enabled, addressing a critical compatibility need.
VirtualBox Drags Its Feet on Windows 10/11 When Hyper-V Is Armed—Here’s the Complete Fix
VirtualBox suffers severe performance losses on Windows 10/11 when Microsoft’s Hyper‑V hypervisor is active, because it falls back to a slow emulation layer. This article explains the root cause, shows how to diagnose the issue, and provides a step‑by‑step guide to disable Hyper‑V for maximum speed—plus mitigations for users who cannot afford to turn it off.
Epic's RealityScan 2.2 Unleashes AMD GPU Acceleration and Multi-Vendor Rendering on Windows
Epic Games released RealityScan 2.2 on June 24, 2026, introducing AMD Radeon GPU acceleration and the ability to combine AMD and NVIDIA GPUs in a single system for faster photogrammetry reconstruction. The free Windows tool now leverages DirectML for cross‑vendor compute, dramatically reducing processing times and expanding hardware options for 3D scanning professionals and hobbyists.
Google Releases Android 17: Pixel Phones Get First Look at App Bubbles, Screen Reactions, and Privacy Upgrades
Google released Android 17 on June 16, 2026, initially for Pixel devices, introducing App Bubbles, Screen Reactions, expanded dark theme controls, and enhanced privacy features. The update also includes a June Pixel Drop with exclusive extras, and it strengthens cross-device integration with Windows through Phone Link.
Android Quake Alerts Avert Disaster in Venezuela: How Smartphone Sensors Are Redefining Emergency Response
Android Earthquake Alerts gave Venezuelans precious seconds of warning before two massive quakes on June 24, 2026, showcasing the power of smartphone-based early warning. The system, which uses phone accelerometers to detect initial seismic waves, raises important governance and equity questions, while also highlighting potential for integration into Windows devices and broader alerting ecosystems.
Gen Z Is Swapping iPhones for Flip Phones — Here’s What Windows Users Can Learn
Gen Z's dumb phone rebellion is a deliberate break from smartphone addiction, led by young users swapping iPhones for feature phones to reclaim their attention and mental health. This article explores the trend's roots in the attention economy, its parallels in Windows computing, and how Microsoft's focus tools can help desktop users apply similar principles of intentional tech use.
Why a 22-Year-Old Swapped Her iPhone for a $55 Flip Phone—And How It Syncs With Her Windows PC
A 22-year-old Kent State graduate has ditched her iPhone for a $55 Sunbeam Aspen flip phone, part of a Gen Z trend toward digital minimalism. The Aspen, with no apps or browser, syncs photos and contacts through a web portal that works seamlessly on Windows PCs, offering a focused communication tool that complements a desktop workflow.
Microsoft Preps June 2026 Refresh for Eight Windows 11 In-Box Apps via Insider Channels
Microsoft is testing updates for eight core Windows 11 in-box apps—Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Paint, Photos, Sound Recorder, and Notepad—through Insider channels, targeting a June 2026 rollout. The updates aim to refine functionality, improve performance, and possibly introduce new AI-powered features, continuing the company’s push to modernize its default app suite.