The latest episode of the Windows Central Podcast examines the next wave of Windows 11 updates alongside major changes in the laptop market. Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden discuss recent Insider preview builds, budget Windows laptops and Apple’s reported shift toward touchscreen technology with the M5 MacBook Pro.
Among the Windows 11 topics are redesigned File Explorer context menus, gaming-focused Task View changes and Xbox Quick Settings intended for handheld devices. The hosts also cover Phone Link integration in the taskbar, a native speed-test feature and richer Windows Search results with inline controls.
The episode addresses a security-related change to Windows Hello that can brighten the screen in low-light conditions. Other software discussions include upcoming WinUI components, the Windows setup experience, Insider channels, Microsoft Edge app launch acceleration and concerns about interface bloat and account prompts.
The hardware segment focuses on Apple’s adoption of touchscreen and OLED technology in the MacBook Pro. Rubino and Bowden compare the move with Apple’s previous messaging about touch-enabled Macs and discuss the differences between a touchscreen clamshell laptop and two-in-one designs.
The hosts also revisit the Surface Laptop Ultra’s Mini-LED display, including local dimming, HDR behavior and reported ghosting fixes. The episode concludes with a discussion of Big Tech earnings and AI capital expenditure, followed by audience questions about Surface devices, memory prices and taskbar alignment.
The episode is available through the Windows Central Podcast’s listed platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and RSS. A live, uncut video version is also available on the Windows Central YouTube channel.
Sources: Windows Central.