enhancements Archives

Winsage

May 7, 2025

A New Start Menu and More Major Upgrades Are Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft announced significant upgrades for Windows 11, including enhancements to the Start menu, Copilot AI, and utilities like Paint and the Snipping Tool. The Start menu will become larger, more customizable, and user-friendly, allowing users to view all apps at once, hide recommended shortcuts, and increase the size of the pinned apps panel. A "phone companion" feature will be integrated into the Start menu. These changes are expected to roll out to the Windows Insider channel within the next month. File Explorer will introduce AI actions for document summarization and image editing directly from the right-click menu. Notepad will gain AI text generation and summarization features, along with lightweight formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and Markdown support. Copilot Vision will allow users to interact with AI regarding on-screen content. Some features will debut on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chipsets, including an AI agent in Settings to assist users with adjustments and the Click to Do feature for scheduling meetings and launching Immersive Reader mode. The Photos app will introduce a relight feature for dynamic lighting control. Paint will gain capabilities for creating custom stickers from text prompts and an AI-powered object select tool. The Snipping Tool will receive enhancements like intelligent screenshot cropping, text extraction, and a color picker. The Narrator on Copilot+ PCs will be upgraded to provide rich descriptions of images.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft moved the goalposts before. Could it happen again?

Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer has expressed concerns about the hardware requirements for Windows 11, questioning whether they are genuinely for security or a sales strategy. He noted that many PCs excluded from compatibility due to the lack of TPM 2.0 or modern CPUs are not necessarily old or underpowered. Plummer highlighted that Microsoft's history of discontinuing support for older operating systems, like Windows XP and 7, was typically based on security and compatibility challenges. He warned that future versions of Windows could impose even stricter hardware demands, potentially leaving many functional PCs unable to upgrade. Additionally, he pointed out the ambiguity behind Microsoft's refusal to allow users to opt out of security enhancements if they lack the necessary hardware, raising concerns about potential e-waste. Many users are hesitant to transition to Windows 11, and while hardware compatibility is a factor, it is part of a broader decision-making process. Microsoft’s shift towards a subscription model and the introduction of new hardware requirements suggest a significant evolution in Windows.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft Photos Can Relight Your Images

Microsoft has introduced new features for Windows 11 and its Copilot+ PCs, along with AI-ready Surface hardware. Key enhancements include: - Photos App: A relight feature for adding digital light sources, auto presets, and manual adjustments; new object selection capabilities in Paint; and improvements to the Snipping Tool with a text extractor and color picker. - Recall Feature: Helps users find content by retracing steps and describing memories, with strong privacy controls. - Improved Windows Search: Allows conversational queries with AI interpreting context for relevant results, aided by specialized chips in Copilot+ PCs. - Click to Do: Streamlines workflows with contextual shortcuts for actions within a single application. - Surface for Business Copilot+ PCs: Introduction of a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface laptop featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors and advanced security tools. - Surface Laptop for Business: A 13-inch model with a thinner profile, anti-reflective touch screens, and an AI-enhanced camera. - Surface Pro for Business: A 12-inch versatile device that transitions between laptop and tablet modes, featuring an adjustable kickstand. - Availability: Software updates will start in April 2025, while new Surface devices will ship from July 22 in select markets.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Google’s May 2025 Pixel update is here with bug fixes and a critical security patch

The May 2025 security update for Google Pixel devices began deployment on May 6, addressing a critical zero-day security vulnerability (CVE-2025-27363) and including three bug fixes along with 28 security patches. The rollout may take about one week to reach all devices, depending on models and carriers. The update prevents devices from reverting to older, vulnerable versions of the bootloader. It also resolves specific issues for Google Pixel 6 and newer devices, including improvements in microphone recording quality, resolution of Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches, and correction of secondary language display issues in quick settings. Users are advised to check for the update in the Settings app under System > Software update.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft unveils new AI agents that can modify Windows settings

Microsoft has introduced a suite of Windows experiences for Copilot+ PCs, featuring AI agents that help users adjust settings on their computers by interpreting user intent and automating tasks with consent. Users can communicate in natural language to receive guidance or have changes executed directly. This feature will initially be available to English-speaking Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered devices, with plans for broader support. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing Windows search capabilities and expanding Click to Do actions, allowing users to schedule meetings, send messages, consult M365 Copilot, convert data in Excel, and draft documents in Word. Creative tools like Photos, Paint, and the Snipping Tool are receiving updates, including dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a sticker generator in Paint, and new capture capabilities in the Snipping Tool. Upcoming features for Windows 11 Insiders include a phone companion for the Start menu, AI-driven actions in File Explorer, and a new writing function in Notepad for generating text from prompts. Microsoft is also testing a "Draw & Hold" feature in the Snipping Tool and has introduced a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite."

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft finally makes Fedora an official Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution

Fedora Linux has officially joined the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing users to run Fedora 42 within a Windows environment. Installation is straightforward with the command wsl --install FedoraLinux-42, and launching it requires wsl -d FedoraLinux-42, with no password needed by default. Users are automatically added to the wheel group for sudo access. Fedora 42 is streamlined, excluding unnecessary packages, and includes the DNF package manager, though Flatpak must be installed manually for graphical applications. The Fedora team is working on enhancing Flatpak support and introducing hardware-accelerated graphics for GUI applications in WSL. This inclusion of Fedora expands the options available to Windows users interested in the Linux ecosystem.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Will Microsoft finally give PC gamers the one series they should already have?

Gears of War: Reloaded will debut on PlayStation and is set for release on August 26, 2025. The game will feature native 4K assets, HDR and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Surround Sound, variable refresh rate, super resolution, enhanced art direction, and no loading screens. It will support cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms. Players who own Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will receive a complimentary upgrade to this new version, and it will be available on day one through Game Pass.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Windows 11 24H2 now ‘broadly available’ – with a new problem

Microsoft has released Windows 11 24H2, but users are facing a known issue with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) applications, specifically related to the "App attach" feature. This feature allows applications to be dynamically attached to user sessions within AVD, operating within containers rather than being installed locally. Users may encounter an error message stating, "Element not found" when launching App attach applications. Microsoft recommends using VHDX images instead of CimFS images for packaging files, as the issue has not been reported in earlier versions of the operating system. A fix for the current version is expected by June 2025. The update for Windows 11 24H2 will be automatically received by devices running Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, with users able to select the restart time or postpone the update.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Android’s phone taskbar isn’t quite ready yet, but it’s already getting a multitasking boost

Google is developing a "tiny taskbar" for Android phones to improve multitasking by streamlining app switching on smaller screens. The feature includes a recent apps carousel displaying the six most recently opened applications, inspired by the Alt + Tab switcher. Currently, the carousel does not switch to the selected app upon tapping, indicating it is still in development. The tiny taskbar has faced layout challenges, particularly with a 5x5 home screen grid configuration, and further adjustments are needed for seamless integration. Google is also working on enhancements to other multitasking features like bubbles and split-screen mode.