Vue normale

ROG’s new XREAL R1 glasses turn your handheld into a 171-inch gaming theater (and you can pre-order them today at Best Buy)

ROG and XREAL are officially launching the ROG XREAL R1 gaming AR glasses worldwide, bringing the first 240Hz micro‑OLED wearable display to gamers. With a 171-inch virtual screen, 3DoF spatial modes, and tight ROG Ally integration, the R1 aims to redefine portable play. Our full Windows Central review is coming soon.

Image of the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses.

Image of the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses.

I hit the Windows 11 emoji picker bug that hides search and found a quick fix

Windows 11’s emoji picker can randomly break and lose its search box, leaving the feature almost unusable. The issue appears to be tied to how the UI loads, and when it happens, the picker won’t show any way to filter or find emojis. Fortunately, a quick trick reliably restores the search bar without restarting the system or digging through settings.

A computer interface shows an open emoji and GIF selection sidebar, overlaying a dark-themed app. Colorful emojis are featured on a sleek digital screen.

A computer interface shows an open emoji and GIF selection sidebar, overlaying a dark-themed app. Colorful emojis are featured on a sleek digital screen.

ON THIS DAY: Microsoft will focus on desktops with UWP — here's why you should care

Microsoft has a problem with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and what it means for developers and consumers. Here is how they plan to fix that and why it means ignore phones.

"There are over 5,700 combinations.": I attended Panasonic's USS Intrepid press conference and saw 10Gbps, Wi‑Fi 7 and on‑device AI in the new Toughbook 56, but should you swap out your Toughbook 55?

The Panasonic Toughbook 56 tightens up what made the 55 MK3 useful and adds faster networking, newer Intel Series 2 CPUs, Wi‑Fi 7, and a stronger security stack — all in a highly modular package built for long field deployments.

A rugged laptop with a seashore wallpaper is placed on thick, coiled ropes, suggesting durability and adventure. Sunlight casts soft shadows on the scene.

A rugged laptop with a seashore wallpaper is placed on thick, coiled ropes, suggesting durability and adventure. Sunlight casts soft shadows on the scene.

Windows Central’s subreddit just hit 1,000+ members — here’s why you should join us

Our subreddit is quickly becoming one of the best places for Windows, Surface, Xbox, and PC fans to talk directly with us and with each other. Here’s why we built it — and why you might want to join.

Photo of the r/windowscentral subreddit on a laptop display

Photo of the r/windowscentral subreddit on a laptop display

The MacBook Neo isn’t innovation. It’s Apple finally owning up to the iPad myth and hoping no one notices.

After years of gaslighting the market, Apple is back to selling the thing it said you didn’t need.

Macbook Neo and iPad with shattered glass

Macbook Neo and iPad with shattered glass

I want consoles to disappear — not out of spite, but because gaming deserves a future that isn’t chained to aging hardware every seven years

The problem isn’t consoles. It’s the pointless divide that holds everyone back.

Mockups showing a divide between PC and gaming console dissolving around a chip.

Mockups showing a divide between PC and gaming console dissolving around a chip.

Cortana’s gone, Copilot isn’t filling the gap, and Microsoft still can’t decide what Windows’ assistant should be

Now that Copilot is the buttoned‑up default for Windows 11, there’s no reason fans shouldn’t get the option to choose Cortana as their AI persona.

Lenovo ThinkPad with the Microsoft Cortana logo and the text "bring her back."

Microsoft’s biggest 2026 problem isn’t AI, hardware, or competition — it’s that the fans who once defended them have checked out

Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon enter 2026 with fading hype and shrinking fanbases as frustration replaces enthusiasm.

Fans of Microsoft walking away from its ecoysystem

Windows Phone fans finally get a much-loved feature for Microsoft Edge on Android and iOS

Microsoft Edge for Android and iOS can finally place the web search bar where it belongs: at the bottom of the screen. The bottom address bar was a favorite feature of the old Internet Explorer found in Windows Phone.

Microsoft Edge for Android with the bottom web address bar enabled on the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Qualcomm scores BIG win against Arm, can continue to sell Snapdragon X chips for PCs

Arm's lawsuit against Qualcomm seemingly has failed as the latter was not found guilty of using Arm's tech without a proper license. However, the actual fate between the two companies remains unknown.

Qualcomm partners on stage at its Computex keynote

HP’s 16-inch AI PC has been suspiciously discounted by $540, and there are less than 11 hours left to get it

HP is running a one-day-only sale on its HP Pavilion 16, which has a Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Its usual $1,100 is a tough sell, but at just $560, this laptop is a steal for anyone who needs an all-around productivity Windows 11 laptop. Just act fast.

HP pavilion

The most Japanese laptop is coming to the US, but only for government, healthcare, and secret stuff

Panasonic Connect is bringing its Let’s note FV4 enterprise laptop to the US for the first time with a user-replaceable battery and clearance for government use.

Panasonic Let's Note FV4 (2024)

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