Smart Delivery
The latest Smart Delivery coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
AMD Planting Seeds for Ultra-Low-Power Ryzen Cores: Linux Kernel Patch Spills the Beans
AMD has submitted a Linux kernel patch that introduces a new “Low Power” CPU core type, signaling plans for future Ryzen processors with three distinct performance tiers. The move hints at next-generation laptops and handhelds with dramatically improved battery life, and will require deep collaboration with Microsoft to tune the Windows scheduler for the new topology.
Intel Arc G3 Extreme Handheld Chip Sacrifices CPU Cores to Supercharge GPU at Low Power
Intel revealed that its Arc G3 Extreme handheld processor will disable Performance cores below 14W to maximize GPU power, using Intelligent Bias Control 3.5. This move aims to boost gaming performance in battery-constrained Windows handhelds. The technology is expected in future Panther Lake-based devices.
Mark Russinovich Reveals Why Windows Still Can’t Pinpoint File Locks
Mark Russinovich explains why Windows still can't easily show which program is locking a file, pointing to the fundamental handle-based architecture and performance trade-offs. The article explores the technical reasons, available diagnostic tools like Sysinternals Process Explorer, and the ongoing user experience gap that forces users to do detective work.
Defying Microsoft: Windows 11 23H2 Boots on 20-Year-Old AGP Hardware with a Q6600
A retro computing enthusiast has successfully installed Windows 11 23H2 on a 20-year-old Asrock ConRoe865PE motherboard with a Core 2 Quad Q6600, DDR1 RAM, and AGP graphics, bypassing official hardware requirements. The demonstration highlights the community's ability to keep legacy hardware alive and challenges Microsoft's strict compatibility rules, though performance is limited.
Microsoft Teams Town Halls to Gain Professional-Grade SRT Ingest for Ultra-Low-Latency, Broadcast-Ready Streaming
Microsoft is rolling out SRT ingest for Teams town halls on desktop and Mac clients, enabling broadcast-grade, low-latency video direct from professional encoders. The June 2026 roadmap update brings AES-encrypted streams with sub-second delivery, eliminating the need for third-party bridging and elevating Teams as a premier enterprise event platform.
Claude AI Lands on Azure Foundry: NVIDIA GB300 Powers Enterprise Agents
Anthropic’s Claude AI models have launched on Microsoft Azure AI Foundry (June 29, 2026), running on NVIDIA’s GB300 Blackwell Ultra GPUs with Quantum-X800 InfiniBand to reduce latency and boost token throughput for enterprise agent workloads. The release expands Azure’s frontier AI options beyond OpenAI’s GPT models, giving developers more choices around reasoning capability, safety approach, and cost.
Trump’s 25% Chip Tariff Threat Sends Shockwaves Through Windows Refresh Cycles and Server Deployments
The proposed 25% tariff on imported semiconductors has thrown enterprise hardware procurement into chaos, driving up costs and delaying Windows 11 migration plans. Companies are stockpiling chips, while CIOs reconsider refresh timelines in the face of uncertainty. The move threatens to slow the PC industry’s recovery and Microsoft’s push to retire Windows 10.
VLC Still Reigns, But These 3 Free Windows 11 Media Players Are Gaining Ground in 2026
A Windowsnews forum discussion highlights the top free media players for Windows 11 in 2026. VLC remains the community favorite, but GOM Player, Media Player by Yellow Elephant Productions, and Fluent Video Player are gaining traction for their modern interfaces, HDR support, and battery efficiency. Each player offers unique strengths, from VLC's unmatched compatibility to Fluent's gorgeous acrylic design.
Amazon Sets June 2026 Deadline for Legacy Kindle for PC, Points Users to Microsoft Store
Amazon will permanently disable the classic Kindle for PC application on June 30, 2026, requiring Windows 10 and 11 x86/x64 users to switch to the Kindle for Windows Microsoft Store app. Windows on ARM devices are left without any official native Kindle app, forcing users to rely on emulators or the web-based Cloud Reader, while the new Store app also tightens access to ebook files, complicating backup and DRM removal.
Windows 11’s Hidden Hibernate: Microsoft Confirms It’s Still There—Here’s How to Use It
Microsoft confirmed in June 2026 that Hibernate remains fully supported in Windows 11, though it’s hidden from the default power menu. The article explains why it’s buried, how to re-enable it via Control Panel or command line, and offers a practical guide to choosing between Hibernate, Sleep, and Shut Down based on hardware and usage.
Core 2 Quad Q6600 and DDR1 PC runs Windows 11 at playable frame rates
A modder successfully installed Windows 11 on a 2003-era ASRock ConRoe865PE system featuring a Core 2 Quad Q6600, AGP graphics, and DDR1 memory. The project required custom drivers and bypasses for TPM and Secure Boot, likely using Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC. The machine runs Half-Life 2 at playable frame rates, demonstrating that vintage hardware can still handle modern OSes with enough effort.
XPS 13 at $699: Microsoft’s Measured Reply to the MacBook Neo’s Viral Taunt
Microsoft’s official Windows account responded to a viral video mocking a Windows gaming laptop next to Apple’s rumored MacBook Neo by highlighting the $699 Dell XPS 13. The move reframes the Windows 11 trust debate around a sleek, affordable ultraportable that competes directly on price and design, while exposing the ongoing challenges of software consistency and ARM transition.
Windows 11 Build 26300.8758 Introduces Long-Awaited Taskbar Size Options for Insiders
Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8758 introduces a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, allowing testers to choose a smaller taskbar height and icon size—a feature heavily requested since Windows 11's launch. The build also includes File Explorer stability fixes and other system refinements. While still experimental, this addition signals Microsoft's willingness to restore lost customization options.