Microsoft finally relents and says it will let you remap the Copilot key
Copilot has proved to be incredibly divisive, but this was even more noticeable when keyboards appeared that featured a dedicated Copilot key.
For anyone who does not care for the AI tool, having a special key to access it feels somewhat pointless – and Microsoft is finally of the same mind. The company is introducing the option to remap the Copilot key so that it performs a different function.
Microsoft launches XBOX Player Voice for gamers to share and track feedback
Microsoft has long asked for feedback from its users, but it has been difficult to know what happens with this feedback. Now for gamers, things are getting easier thanks to the newly launched XBOX Player Voice.
Even Microsoft acknowledges that “it isn’t always obvious what happens after you share your feedback”, and this is something it is looking to address for the XBOX community.
YouTube makes likeness detection available to all creators
Only last month, YouTube made its likeness detection feature available to a wider range of high-profile users. Now the program has been extended even further so it can be used by all creators over the age of 18.
The aim of the system is to protect people – initially limited to celebrities – from having their likeness used in AI generated content. It relies on users providing facial scans and government IDs to crosscheck.
Microsoft acknowledges May 2026 Windows 11 security update install problems
Another month, another update for Windows which is problematic. This time around, it is the May 2026 Windows 11 security update – or the KB5089549 update.
The good news is that the problem is not too widespread, but that will come as cold comfort for anyone who has been affected. The problem sees installation of the update failing with a 0x800f0922 error.
Microsoft is making the Windows 11 Start menu more customizable than ever
One of the many criticisms leveled atWindows 11 – and there are many – is that Microsoft has stripped away many of the customization options that previously made it possible for users to stamp their mark on the operating system. The Start menu and taskbar are two key areas where there have been complaints, and now Microsoft is addressing them.
In addition to giving users more control over the Taskbar in Windows 11, Microsoft is also doing the same for the Start menu. For now, this is something that can only be accessed by Windows Insiders, but soon it will be available to everyone.
Microsoft finally lets you resize and reposition the Taskbar in Windows 11
Gone are the days of the Windows 11 taskbar being stuck to the bottom of the screen and fixed at one size. After years of people asking, Microsoft is finally making the Taskbar movable and resizable.
For now, this is something that is only available to people signed up to the Windows Insider program, but it will not be long before it is something everyone has access too. Let’s take a look and see how it all works.
Meta is opening up its display glasses to third-party apps and games
The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are gaining support for third-party content. Meta has announced that support for third-party apps and games is on the way, meaning that owners of the glasses will have access to a much wider library.
On top of this, Meta is also giving third-party developers access to the Meta Neural Band control system. In conjunction with apps and games, the options available to those who have adopted the smart glasses are about to get much greater.
Spotify teams up with Apple to broaden its video podcast library
Video podcasts are a booming business. Creators are throwing out more content than can be consumed, but the appetite for it continues to grow. Embracing this, Spotify is expanding its video ecosystem with new partnerships – including with Apple.
In teaming up with Apple, Spotify will support Apple Podcasts’ HLS video technology. This means that Spotify-hosted creators will be able to distribute their video podcast content across Spotify and Apple Podcasts without changing their existing setup.
Google is improving Android’s support for third-party VoIP tools
Playing catch-up with Apple’s approach with iPhone, Google is making strides in improving Android support for third-party VoIP tools.
The change means that calls that are received via the likes of Telegram or WhatsApp will be displayed in the standard Android phone dialler app. Bringing all calls into one place makes a great deal of sense as it helps to keep things much neater and avoids user confusion.
Google is toying with the idea of giving new users less cloud storage
Google has confirmed that it is experimenting with an idea in some regions which will see people signing up for a Gmail account for the first time being given less free storage space.
At the moment, Gmail users enjoy 15GB of free storage, but in some parts of the world this is currently dropping to just 5GB. There is a way, however, to reclaim the missing 10GB and regain the full quota everyone else has become used to.
Google unveils Googlebook – the AI-powered Chromebook update
More than 15 years after launching Chromebook, Google has unveiled Googlebook. The company says that these new laptops are built with Gemini’s helpfulness at their core, premium hardware and work seamlessly with Android phones.
Google says that it is moving away from the idea of an operating system to one of an intelligence system – all powered by Gemini. The release of Googlebook is still a little way off – Google is aiming for fall – but the company has much to say in the meantime.
Google’s new emoji are three dimensional
Google has revealed a new lineup of 3D emoji which the company says will start rolling out to Android users later in the year.
As is usually the case with Google releases, it is Pixel owners who will get access first, but other Android devices will not be left out. The new look emoji are called Noto 3D, and Google says that they help to “bring a touch of physicality” to messages.
Microsoft is looking to improve driver quality for Windows users
When things go wrong with drivers, the consequences can be very serious. Aware of ongoing problems with problematic drivers in Windows, Microsoft is using a new Driver Quality Initiative to improve things.
Announced at WinHEC 2026 (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference), Microsoft says that the initiative is part of its aim of “raising the bar on quality across areas such as system stability, driver quality and app reliability requires coordinated execution across the entire ecosystem”.
WhatsApp is experimenting with welcome messages for group chats
On social platforms such as Facebook, it is common for groups to have introductory messages so new members feel welcomed and know what to expect. Now the same feature could be coming to WhatsApp.
Meta is currently testing adding a welcome message option to WhatsApp’s group chats, giving admins the option to add introductory text to tell members to introduce themselves, ask a question, or whatever else feels helpful.
Meta launches Instagram Instants to encourage short-term engagement
Adding to its range of social media sharing options, Meta has launched Instants. This is a new feature for Instagram that allows for the sharing of images on a time-limited basis.
Disappearing posts are far from being a new idea, but the aim with Instants is to encourage users to share content by making it quick and easy to do so. The company will be hoping that the time-limited nature of these posts, and their immediacy, will lead to huge engagement.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. She is currently training to be an LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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