Managed Ray
The latest Managed Ray coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Apple Killed the Mac Pro After Secretly Building Extreme Chips and a Last-Gasp Intel Model
Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March 2026, but a new report reveals the company had developed M2 Extreme and M3 Extreme chips, an Intel-based prototype, and an M3 Ultra model that never shipped. The cancellations highlight the economic challenges of niche silicon and the triumph of the integrated Mac Studio. For Windows users, this reinforces the enduring value of modular workstations, especially for CUDA, AI, and upgradeable graphics workloads.
Your Windows Servers Can Now Join the Same Management Console as Your PCs
Omnissa has extended its Workspace ONE UEM platform to manage Windows Server, allowing administrators to configure, patch, inventory, and remotely support servers from the same cloud console used for PCs and mobile devices. The feature, available in SaaS version 2604 since May 2026, uses an agent-based model that works across domain-joined and isolated servers. IT teams can consolidate tools, enforce desired-state configurations, and reduce drift, but must carefully plan security, role separation, and coexistence with existing systems like Microsoft Configuration Manager.
Windows 11 Release Preview Adds Voice Isolation, Touchpad Controls, and Wider Biometric Security
Microsoft's latest Windows 11 Release Preview builds deliver Voice Isolation for Voice Access, new precision touchpad controls, and expanded Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security for external fingerprint readers. The update also improves File Explorer, search, power management, and enterprise reliability. Most features roll out gradually, and users can start testing now if they're in the Release Preview ring.
Windows 11’s Start Menu Can Finally Be Resized—and That’s Just the Start
Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Beta builds introduce a resizable Start menu, precision touchpad controls, and HID braille support that works during initial setup. Here’s what these changes mean for everyday users, IT admins, and developers, and how to try them safely.
Windows 11 Beta Build 26220.8925: Start Menu Sections Become Optional, Sizes Go Small or Large, and File Explorer Drops the Kilobyte Obsession
Windows 11 Beta build 26220.8925 gives users the ability to hide Start menu sections (Pinned, Recent, All), choose a Small or Large size, hide account info, and see file sizes in sensible units. This service-journalism analysis explains what changed, who it affects, how to test it, and what to expect next.
Google’s 'Frozen v2' Chip Could Slash Gemini’s Energy Costs by 10x—But You’ll Have to Wait Until 2028
Alphabet is designing a specialized server chip, code-named “Frozen v2,” that could make Gemini AI models six to ten times more energy-efficient than current TPUs, according to a new report. The move aims to ease a severe computing-capacity crunch and reshape the economics of cloud AI, but the chip isn’t expected before 2028. This article explains what the project means for consumers, developers, and Windows users, and what to watch over the next two years.
Microsoft Fixes Blocking Update Bug and Overhauls File Explorer in New Experimental Build
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Build 26300.8935 to the Experimental channel, fixing a critical update error 0xc0000409 and delivering performance boosts to File Explorer, desktop personalization, and input settings. The build also hints at future taskbar-positioning options and expands animated Widgets on the taskbar. While aimed at testers, the quality-of-life focus signals that the 26H2 branch is moving toward greater polish before broader release.
Microsoft Teams Mobile Gets Multi-Line Calling: How to Use Multiple Business Numbers on One Account
Microsoft is rolling out multi-line calling to Teams Phone on Android and iOS in July 2026, allowing users to make and receive calls through multiple assigned business numbers from a single account. The update brings line selection, line-aware notifications, unified call history, and filtering to mobile devices, reducing the need for extra hardware or separate accounts.
Windows 11 26H1 Preview: Schedule Update Pauses and Say Goodbye to Jumpy Widgets
Microsoft's Windows 11 26H1 Build 28000.2597, now in the Release Preview channel, lets users pause updates by selecting a calendar date, silences the Widgets panel so it no longer pops open on hover, and adds adjustable touchpad right-click zones. The update also packs extensive Bluetooth fixes, accessibility improvements like screen tinting, and a shift toward driverless IPP printing, all while addressing dozens of reliability bugs in File Explorer, networking, and more.
Windows 11 Just Got a Little Easier to Use—Here’s What Changed in the Latest Insider Builds
On July 20, 2026, Microsoft delivered a wide-ranging set of Insider builds that polish everyday Windows 11 interactions. Release Preview 26H1 introduces a calendar-based update pause, hover-free Widgets, IPP-first printing, faster File Explorer, precision touchpad settings, and HID braille support that works during initial setup. These practical refinements are approaching broad deployment, while IT pros should validate printing, Copilot, and biometric changes.
KB5101650 Hits Windows 11 With 570 Fixes, Two Exploited Zero-Days, and a Dell Update Hold
Microsoft’s July 2026 Patch Tuesday delivers a record 570 vulnerability fixes to Windows 11 via KB5101650. Two zero‑days are already being exploited—one in AD FS and one in SharePoint Server—while a compatibility block pauses the update for certain Dell PCs. The surge in patch volume is driven by AI‑assisted discovery, forcing faster deployment timelines for enterprises and cautious waiting for affected Dell users.
Intel's 2025 Research Prize Targets Atomic Defect That Could Unlock Next-Gen Windows Processors
Intel's 2025 Outstanding Researcher Awards honored Dr. Farzan Gity of Tyndall National Institute for work that decodes how grain-boundary defects in atom-thin semiconductors like MoS₂ and WSe₂ affect electrical performance. The research provides a roadmap for future 2D transistor manufacturing that could one day yield cooler, more battery-friendly Windows PCs and data-center chips, though commercial products remain years away.
Steam Deck OLED Price Surge to $789 Hands the Value Crown to Asus’s $599 ROG Xbox Ally
Valve’s 44% price hike on the Steam Deck OLED to $789 upends the handheld market, making Asus’s $599.99 ROG Xbox Ally the new value pick. While the Steam Deck still offers a superior display and software experience, its price now forces buyers to weigh compatibility and cost against polish. Existing owners shouldn’t panic, but new buyers must navigate a changed landscape where the Ally offers comparable performance and full Windows access for less.