Identity Week America
The latest Identity Week America coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Fix Windows Update Errors 0x80073712 and 0x800f0993: A Practical Troubleshooting Guide
Windows Update errors 0x80073712 and 0x800f0993 block updates for different reasons. This guide explains what each error means, why they appear on Windows 11, and provides step-by-step fixes including DISM repair, manual KB installation, prerequisite checks, and in-place upgrade repair.
AI Agents in 2026: No Single Winner, Just Four Markets That Windows Users Need to Understand
Techiexpert’s 2026 review of 12 AI agents on Windows 11 found no overall winner, with the market divided into four specialized domains. The results suggest that Windows users—from home consumers to enterprise IT teams—should choose agents based on their specific productivity needs rather than seek a single all-purpose assistant.
Windows' True Desktop Share Hits 72% After Removing 21% 'Unknown' Noise
StatCounter’s June 2026 data shows Windows at 56.61% overall, but once the 21.45% 'Unknown' category is excluded, its real share soars to 72%, revealing the OS's unchecked dominance. This report explains the source of the Unknown segment, recalculates the true platform shares, and provides actionable guidance for users, IT pros, and developers who rely on market-share data.
Pixel 11 leak signals end of cheap flagships: 256GB base storage and a €999 price tag
A Pixel 11 leak points to a 256GB base storage tier and a €999 starting price, with sales beginning August 20. The article breaks down what the leak means for home users, IT admins, and Windows users who rely on Phone Link, and offers guidance on whether to buy now, wait, or consider alternatives.
NEC Pitches Biometric Travel and Sports Entry, But Silence on Data Handling Leaves Windows Users Wary
NEC confirmed at Identity Week America 2026 that it is in talks with Star Alliance and MLB to deploy facial recognition for seamless travel and stadium entry, but the company refused to disclose critical privacy and data governance details. For Windows users who rely on biometric authentication daily, the missing answers raise concerns about how these large-scale commercial identity systems will interact with personal device security, what data flows are involved, and how to protect against cross-context biometric compromise.
Windows 11 Locked Up? The Step-by-Step Restart Survival Guide
When Windows 11 freezes, panic is the enemy. This guide walks through the safest restart methods in order—from software shutdowns to hard reboots—so you can regain control without losing data or damaging your system.
Samsung's Over-Ear Headphone Ambitions Could Finally Bridge the Galaxy–Windows Audio Gap
SoundGuys published a feature wish calling on Samsung to build a premium over-ear headphone to rival the AirPods Max and round out the Galaxy ecosystem. While no product exists yet, the idea highlights a big opportunity for Windows users: a headphone that integrates as seamlessly with Galaxy phones, tablets, and Windows PCs as AirPods do with Apple devices. This article breaks down what that would mean in practice, how Samsung got here, and what to do while you wait.
Microsoft 365 Copilot's UI Overhaul Reinstates the App Launcher and Introduces Collaborative AI Notebooks
Microsoft is rolling out a major Microsoft 365 Copilot redesign that restores the familiar “waffle” app launcher and adds a compact navigation bar. The update also introduces collaborative Copilot Notebooks, agent management, Work IQ search, and support for choosing among multiple AI models.
Windows 11 Multi-Monitor Mastery: Detect, Extend, and Stop Duplicate Display Errors for Good
Windows 11 offers robust multi-monitor support with profile memory, improved wireless display stability, and refined taskbar controls, but display duplication and detection failures still plague users. This guide explains what changed under the hood, how to set up and troubleshoot extended desktops using built-in tools like Win+P and driver resets, and what to expect from future updates.
Palworld’s Early Access Ends July 10: Your Saves Are Safe, and a Sky Island Awaits
Palworld exits Early Access on July 10, 2025, with version 1.0, introducing a Sky Island endgame region, rebuilt progression, and full save file continuity—no wipes. The article breaks down what’s new, how to prepare your saves and servers, and the journey from record-breaking launch to full release, with practical advice for players, server hosts, and modders.
ReactOS Kernels Up: Open-Source Windows Clone Swallows Its First NT6 System Call
ReactOS has integrated its first NT6-era system call, NtGetCurrentProcessorNumberEx, marking a move beyond the Windows Server 2003 kernel compatibility it had focused on for years. The call enables better multiprocessor handling and lays the groundwork for supporting driver and application interfaces from Windows Vista and later.
Ubuntu on Dell Latitude 5400: GRUB Fix Gets It Running, but Risks Remain
A community report shows that installing Ubuntu on a Dell Latitude 5400 required a GRUB workaround to boot the installer, and even then hardware instability persisted. This experience highlights the friction Windows 10 users may face when migrating to Linux on unsupported hardware, emphasizing the need for thorough testing and contingency plans.
You’ll Soon Be Able to Mark Up Protected PDFs in OneDrive for iOS and Android
In August 2026, Microsoft will enable annotation of sensitivity-labeled PDFs directly within the OneDrive iOS and Android apps, preserving encryption. This long-awaited feature closes a critical mobile productivity gap for enterprise users who can now highlight, comment, and ink on protected documents without compromising security. IT admins should prepare by auditing label policies and updating user training.