color picker Archives

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Top 6 new features and changes coming to Windows 11 in August 2025 — from AI agents to redesigned BSOD screens

Microsoft is rolling out new features for Windows 11, with most users expected to access them by August. Users can enable "Get the latest updates as they become available" in Windows Update for early access. Key features include: - Copilot Vision: An AI assistant that can view the user's desktop in real-time, facilitating discussions about projects and modifying settings through natural language commands. - Relight in Photos: A feature that uses on-device AI to enhance images with virtual lighting sources, allowing manipulation of up to three light sources and offering built-in presets. Currently exclusive to Copilot+ devices powered by Snapdragon, with future support for Intel and AMD systems. - Object Select in Paint: An AI tool that identifies and isolates objects in images for easy cutting, along with a sticker generator for creating custom stickers. This feature is exclusive to Copilot+ but works across Snapdragon, Intel, and AMD platforms. - Perfect Screenshot in Snipping Tool: An AI feature that automatically crops screenshots to eliminate background elements, along with a color picker for identifying hex codes. - Quick Machine Recovery: A redesigned BSOD that appears for about two seconds, improving the recovery process, along with automatic detection and troubleshooting of boot issues to restore the operating system.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Windows 11 just got a wave of AI features — one Snipping Tool addition makes me want a Copilot+ PC

Windows 11 will introduce a range of artificial intelligence features in the coming weeks, with availability dependent on PC hardware. Users with Copilot+ PCs, especially those with Snapdragon X chips, will have access to the most extensive functionalities. A new agent in the Windows Settings app allows natural language modifications of PC settings, currently available only on Snapdragon X-powered Copilot+ PCs. The Click to Do feature is being updated with new actions, accessible via specific shortcuts for compatible Copilot+ PCs. The Photos app will feature Relight, enabling users to manipulate virtual light sources in images, initially available for Snapdragon X-powered devices. The Sticker Generator in Paint allows users to create stickers from prompts, and an object select feature is forthcoming. The Snipping Tool will include a Perfect Screenshot feature for precise captures and a Color Picker for identifying color values on the screen. Copilot Vision, available only in the U.S., provides advice based on screen content, with extended capabilities requiring a Copilot Pro subscription. Quick Machine Recovery will replace the Blue Screen of Death with a less intrusive design. New features will be rolled out gradually, with some already accessible through the latest Windows non-security preview update, and users are encouraged to enable updates in Settings. Certain features remain exclusive to Copilot+ PCs or Snapdragon X processors.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

Windows 11’s new update will add a bunch of AI features

Microsoft is introducing the Copilot Vision tool for Windows 11, which scans and analyzes content on users' screens, allowing them to ask questions about what they see and receive immediate assistance. This feature is part of a broader rollout of AI capabilities aimed at improving productivity. For users with Snapdragon-powered Copilot Plus PCs, an AI-driven agent in the Settings app will enable natural language searches for specific settings. The “Click to Do” preview feature will be enhanced for quick actions, and unique features for Copilot Plus PCs will include an AI-powered sticker generator in Paint, an object selection tool for image editing, and an AI lighting option in Photos. The Snipping Tool will also gain a “perfect screenshot” feature. Additionally, all Windows 11 users will benefit from a new color picker in the Snipping Tool and an automatic issue resolution mechanism for unexpected restarts. These features will be rolled out over the next month.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

It’s Week D, So Microsoft (Re)Announces New Features Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced a suite of new features for Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs, currently available in preview mode. Users can subscribe to a newsletter offering three time-saving tips every Friday and free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides. Key features include: - A new agent in Settings for natural language navigation, available for users with Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs in English. - Click to Do (Preview) improvements for Copilot+ PCs, including actions like Practice in Reading Coach and scheduling Teams meetings. - Photo relight in Photos, providing professional lighting controls for Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X processors. - Sticker generator and Object select tools in Paint, exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. - Enhancements to the Snipping Tool, including a Perfect screenshot tool and Color picker, available to all Windows 11 users. - Copilot Vision, allowing interaction with screen content via the Copilot app and Microsoft Edge, now accessible in the U.S. - Edge Game Assist, a mini-web browser within the Game Bar for gaming assistance. - Quick machine recovery, reducing reboot wait time from 40 seconds to as little as 2 seconds on most Windows 11 version 24H2 PCs, with an updated Black Screen of Death. These updates are rolling out for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 23H2, with some minor fixes for Windows 10 users.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Windows 11 is the home for AI on the PC, with even more experiences available today

Nearly 60% of individuals have used generative AI for work-related tasks in the past year, and 64% have used it for personal activities. Windows is introducing a new agent in Settings for Copilot+ PCs, allowing users to make changes using natural language. This feature is rolling out for English-speaking users on Snapdragon-powered devices, with support for Intel and AMD devices to follow. The Click to Do feature streamlines workflows by offering contextual actions related to text and images. The Photos app now includes a Relight feature for professional lighting controls, while Paint has added a sticker generator and object select tool. The Snipping Tool has been enhanced with a perfect screenshot feature and a color picker. Copilot Vision allows users to share their screen with Copilot for real-time assistance. Windows 11 is introducing a recovery mechanism that reduces recovery time from 40 seconds to 2 seconds. These features will be gradually rolled out to consumers.

Winsage

July 2, 2025

One of the best PowerToys features just got even better — and it puts Windows Search to shame

PowerToys has released version 0.92, introducing several enhancements: - Command Palette: Improved performance with Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compatibility for first-party extensions and core UX fixes. - Color Picker: Users can customize mouse button actions for a personalized workflow. - Bug Report Tool: Streamlined reporting process with progress indicators, improved compression, and automatic cleanup of old trace logs. - File Explorer Add-ons: Enhanced rendering stability, fixing issues with PDF previews, blank thumbnails, and text file crashes. Additional highlights include: - Crop & Lock: Updated window styling to match the current Windows theme. - Command Palette Extensions: New commands like "Copy Path" and improved input handling in the Calculator extension. - FancyZones: Resolved DPI-scaling issues for high-resolution displays. - PowerRename: Now supports date-based renaming with flexible formatting options. The development team has also made updates to enhance performance and security, including updates to .NET libraries and the WinAppSDK. PowerToys is available for free download through the Microsoft Store or GitHub.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

I hope this PowerToys redesign becomes a reality — it’s too easy to get lost in the app

PowerToys is evolving with new features for Windows 11 users, including a proposed redesign shared by software engineer Niels Laute on the PowerToys GitHub page. The new dashboard layout aims to enhance user experience by making essential tools more accessible and aligns with the aesthetics of Windows 11. Despite its versatility, many features of PowerToys are not well-known and require users to explore further. The envisioned dashboard seeks to highlight these lesser-known functionalities and simplify navigation. The concept is still in early development stages, indicating that significant changes may take time to implement.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool gets a handy upgrade it should’ve had from day one

Microsoft has updated the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 to version 11.2504.38.0, introducing a built-in color picker that allows users to determine exact color values from their screen in HEX, RGB, and HSL formats. The color picker operates by hovering a dropper icon over any area of the screen. Users can also zoom in or out for precision using Ctrl and the +/- keys. Additionally, an AI-powered feature called Perfect Screenshot intelligently resizes screenshots based on selected content. Users can access this feature through keyboard shortcuts by holding the Ctrl key while invoking the Snipping Tool. These features are currently being tested for Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels, with a gradual rollout expected.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

Windows 11’s new Color Picker tool makes finding color codes a breeze

Windows 11 has introduced a new color picker tool that allows users to obtain HEX, RGB, and HSL color codes without third-party applications. This feature is part of an enhanced Snipping Tool, which includes automatic cropping and GIF conversion. Users can access the color picker by using the shortcut Win + Shift + S, where a dropper icon will appear, enabling them to hover over any color on their screen to see the corresponding color codes. This tool is currently in testing and available only to Windows Insiders with Snipping Tool version 11.2504.38.0 installed.

Winsage

May 25, 2025

Microsoft Notepad’s latest AI trick churns out custom text for you

Microsoft's Notepad app has been updated to include AI capabilities that allow users to generate custom content based on prompts, available to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscribers. Users can refine generated text through follow-up prompts and access the Copilot menu for content creation. Other Microsoft apps, such as Paint and the Snipping Tool, have also received AI enhancements, with Paint allowing for custom sticker creation and the Snipping Tool offering an automatic editing feature for screenshots. These updates will initially be available to Windows Insiders before wider release.