file formats

Winsage
November 22, 2025
Microsoft has introduced AI enhancements in Windows 11, particularly in File Explorer, featuring "Ask Copilot" and "Semantic Indexing." AI actions have been added to the context menu, allowing users to perform tasks based on file types, with integration into Microsoft 365 apps, Photos, or Paint. The rollout began with the September 2025 Security Update, but users in Europe may experience delays in access. To enable AI actions in File Explorer, users should open Settings, click on Apps, select the Actions page, and turn on the AI actions. Users can engage with AI actions by right-clicking on image files (JPG, JPEG, PNG) and selecting options like Bing Visual Search, Blur Background, Erase Objects, Remove Background, and Describe Image. If Microsoft 365 apps are installed, users can summarize documents and convert tables without opening the apps. To disable AI actions, users can follow the same steps as enabling them but turn off the AI actions instead. The "AI actions" menu will still appear, but no active features will be displayed.
Winsage
November 18, 2025
Microsoft's president announced the evolution of Windows into an "agentic OS," integrating AI capabilities for autonomous operation. A new tool, Copilot Actions, is being rolled out to Insiders globally via the Microsoft Store, allowing AI to interact with local files to assist users with tasks like organizing photos and managing files. Microsoft emphasizes its commitment to security and privacy, referencing its Privacy Report and Responsible AI Standard, although specifics on data handling by AI agents remain unclear.
AppWizard
November 15, 2025
NotebookLM has introduced a "Deep Research" feature that automatically searches hundreds of websites and compiles a sourced report. It now supports a wider range of file types, including Google Sheets, Word documents, and images of handwritten notes, allowing users to upload materials without needing to convert them to PDFs. Users can input a topic and choose between "Fast Research" for a brief overview or "Deep Research" for a more detailed exploration. The update consolidates user uploads, external web research, AI-generated summaries, and analysis into one space, and will be rolled out to all users within the next week, though some may experience delays. Users are advised to verify the relevance and credibility of the gathered materials.
AppWizard
November 10, 2025
Google has introduced the File Search Tool, a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system integrated into the Gemini API. This tool allows developers to leverage documents and databases to provide factual context for Gemini responses, which include citations for verification. The File Search Tool utilizes the Gemini Embedding model to automate processes like file storage, chunking, embeddings, and dynamic context injection. It supports various file formats, including PDF, DOCX, TXT, and JSON. A demo application is available in the Google AI Studio, and the tool operates on a paid model, costing [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: What you need to know Google is rolling out the File Search Tool, an easy-to-use RAG system that's built into the Gemini API. The File Search Tool can leverage documents and databases to ground Gemini responses with factual context. Gemini API responses using the File Search Tool include citations that allow users to check the model's work. In a significant advancement for developers, Google has introduced a native retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system to its Gemini API, aptly named the File Search Tool. This innovative feature aims to simplify the integration of reliable data into AI applications, allowing developers to enhance their tools with factual context effortlessly. Described by Google as a "simple, integrated and scalable way to ground Gemini with your data," the File Search Tool promises outputs that are "more accurate, relevant and verifiable," as highlighted in the recent announcement. The File Search Tool operates by utilizing the Gemini Embedding model, alleviating users from the burdensome task of creating a custom RAG system. It automatically manages essential processes such as file storage, chunking, embeddings, and dynamic context injection. By employing vector search technology, the tool comprehensively understands user prompts and retrieves pertinent information from the supplied documents. It supports a variety of major file formats and programming types, including PDF, DOCX, TXT, and JSON, making it remarkably straightforward for users to integrate their existing databases with the Gemini API. For those eager to explore its capabilities, a demo application is available in the Google AI Studio, offering developers a glimpse into how the File Search Tool can be effectively utilized within their business applications. While the tool operates on a paid model, developers benefit from a fixed rate of [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: What you need to knowGoogle is rolling out the File Search Tool, an easy-to-use RAG system that's built into the Gemini API.The File Search Tool can leverage documents and databases to ground Gemini responses with factual context.Gemini API responses using the File Search Tool include citations that allow users to check the model's work.Google is adding a native retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system to the Gemini API in an effort to make it easier for developers to back up their AI tools with hard data. It's called the File Search Tool, and the company describes it as a "simple, integrated and scalable way to ground Gemini with your data." It results in outputs from the Gemini API that are "more accurate, relevant and verifiable," per the announcement blog post.The File Search Tool makes use of the Gemini Embedding model, but takes the heavy lifting required to develop a custom RAG system off the user. Instead, the tool handles file storage, chunking, embeddings, and dynamic context injection automatically. From there, the File Search Tool uses vector search to understand a given prompt and identify related information and data from provided documents.here. It includes most major file formats and programming types, like PDF, DOCX, TXT, and JSON. This makes it easy to take your existing database and hand it to the Gemini API via the File Search Tool.There's a demo app in the Google AI Studio that gives developers an idea of how the File Search Tool can be used in their business applications. The tool is paid, but developers only need to pay a fixed rate of $0.15 per 1 million tokens when initially embedding and indexing their files. After that, storage and embedding generation is free for each individual query.Google says this payment model "makes the File Search Tool both significantly easier and very cost-effective to build and scale with." It's available now in the Gemini API for those that want to try it out. (Image credit: Google)This is the second Gemini API announcement of the week, as Google previously unveiled support for JSON Schema, which makes it easier to use the API in multi-agent workflows.Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].15 per 1 million tokens for the initial embedding and indexing of their files. Subsequent storage and embedding generation for each individual query come at no additional cost, rendering the File Search Tool both accessible and economically viable for scaling. Google emphasizes that this pricing structure significantly simplifies the development process, making the File Search Tool an attractive option for businesses looking to leverage AI with reliable data. This latest feature is now available in the Gemini API, inviting developers to experiment with its potential. (Image credit: Google) This announcement marks the second significant update to the Gemini API within the week, following Google's earlier introduction of support for JSON Schema, which enhances the API's usability in multi-agent workflows." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].15 per 1 million tokens for initial embedding and indexing, with free subsequent storage and embedding generation for individual queries. This feature aims to simplify the integration of reliable data into AI applications.
Tech Optimizer
November 5, 2025
Cloud data platform vendor Snowflake has open-sourced its PostgreSQL extensions to enhance integration with its lakehouse system. The new pg_lake extension allows developers to read and write directly to Apache Iceberg tables from PostgreSQL, streamlining data management without the need for data extraction. The PostgreSQL extensions, developed by Crunchy Data, are licensed under the Apache license. Snowflake acquired Crunchy Data for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Cloud data platform vendor Snowflake has recently taken a significant step by open-sourcing its set of PostgreSQL extensions. This initiative aims to facilitate seamless integration between the widely-used open-source database and Snowflake's lakehouse system, enhancing the capabilities for developers and data engineers. Integration with Apache Iceberg With the introduction of pg_lake, developers can now read and write directly to Apache Iceberg tables from PostgreSQL. This innovation eliminates the cumbersome process of data extraction and movement, allowing users to leverage their existing PostgreSQL setups more effectively. Apache Iceberg is recognized for its open table format, which enables users to utilize their preferred analytics engines without the need to relocate data. The format enjoys backing from major players in the industry, including Snowflake, Google, and AWS. Christian Kleinerman, Snowflake's executive vice president of product, shared insights with The Register about the implications of this open-source extension. He emphasized that it empowers developers using PostgreSQL to transform their database into a management interface for an open lakehouse. The lakehouse concept, initially introduced by Databricks five years ago, serves as a unified system for managing both structured and unstructured workloads. Kleinerman elaborated on the practical applications of this integration: “One of the most common use cases for developers [will be] to build applications against PostgreSQL and then [move] or copy the data for analytics into either a data platform like Snowflake or increasingly, an open data lakehouse like Iceberg tables on S3 Tables in [AWS] or Microsoft Onelake [in Fabric]… that data now becomes available for analytics.” Development and Licensing The PostgreSQL extensions are available under the Apache license and were initially developed by Crunchy Data, a PostgreSQL specialist startup. Snowflake acquired Crunchy Data for 0 million in June of this year, further solidifying its commitment to enhancing PostgreSQL capabilities within its ecosystem. In a recent blog post, Craig Kerstiens, Snowflake's software engineering director, highlighted that pg_lake enables developers to manage Iceberg tables directly in PostgreSQL. This is achieved by introducing a new Iceberg table type where PostgreSQL serves as the catalog. Additionally, developers can query raw data files in the data lake, external Iceberg tables, Delta tables, and various geospatial file formats directly from PostgreSQL. Market Insights Robert Kramer, vice president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, commented on the strategic significance of this development. He noted that providing PostgreSQL users with a direct pathway into Snowflake’s lakehouse and AI capabilities without necessitating architectural changes is a wise approach. “Most organizations are not ripping out PostgreSQL — and Snowflake clearly understands that. Pg_lake lowers the barrier for PostgreSQL teams to gradually adopt Snowflake for high-value analytics and automation, rather than treating it as an all-or-nothing platform decision,” he stated. Kramer anticipates that this will lead to incremental adoption and increasing traction over time, particularly as teams integrate operational databases with governed AI execution. In addition to the pg_lake announcement, Snowflake unveiled the general availability of Snowflake Intelligence, an AI agent designed to empower users to pose complex questions in natural language, thereby making insights readily accessible to every employee. Enhancements have also been made to its Horizon data catalog. However, Kramer pointed out that Snowflake may still need to address certain aspects such as scale, monitoring, and the real-world costs associated with agent workloads. He remarked, “Buyers might need some help understanding how Snowflake is different from Databricks and other cloud platforms. Snowflake is designed to be a platform where AI can work reliably and responsibly, not just for testing purposes. For customers who want to move from experimenting with AI to using it in real-world operations, this mindset is really important.”" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million in June. The integration enables developers to manage Iceberg tables directly in PostgreSQL and query various data formats. Analysts suggest this development will facilitate gradual adoption of Snowflake's capabilities by PostgreSQL users. Snowflake also announced the general availability of Snowflake Intelligence, an AI agent for natural language queries, alongside enhancements to its Horizon data catalog.
Winsage
November 3, 2025
Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in Microsoft’s Graphics Device Interface (GDI), particularly related to Enhanced Metafile (EMF) formats, allowing potential remote code execution and information exfiltration. Key vulnerabilities include: - CVE-2025-30388: Rated Important with a CVSS score of 8.8, it involves out-of-bounds memory operations during processing of records, affecting Windows 10/11 and Office for Mac/Android. It allows attackers to read or write beyond allocated heap buffers. - CVE-2025-53766: Rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8, it permits remote code execution through out-of-bounds writes in the ScanOperation::AlphaDivide_sRGB function, affecting Windows 10/11 without requiring privileges. - CVE-2025-47984: Rated Important with a CVSS score of 7.5, it exploits a flaw in handling EMR_STARTDOC records, leading to information disclosure by exposing adjacent heap memory. Microsoft has released patches to address these vulnerabilities, and users are advised to apply them promptly. Recommendations include disabling EMF rendering in untrusted contexts and using sandboxed viewers for document access.
Winsage
October 26, 2025
Microsoft has disabled the preview feature for files downloaded from the internet in the File Explorer Preview pane for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, as well as in the latest Windows 10 update, due to security concerns. Users can still preview locally created files, but attempting to preview internet-downloaded files will trigger a warning message. The decision to disable previews for these files is intended to prevent potential security vulnerabilities, specifically a risk of NTLM hash leaks. Files marked with a “Mark of the Web (MotW)” tag, which indicates they were downloaded from various sources, will be blocked from previewing. Users can unblock previews for trusted files by right-clicking the file, selecting Properties, and checking the ‘Unblock’ option. A PowerShell script is also available to unblock all files in a specific directory. This update is part of the Windows October 2025 Patch Tuesday.
Winsage
October 10, 2025
Microsoft has rolled out an update for the Copilot app on Windows, introducing several enhancements. The new version allows users to connect with personal services such as OneDrive, Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts, enabling natural language search across these accounts. Users can link both Microsoft and third-party accounts through the Settings page in the Copilot app. Additionally, the updated Copilot app enables users to create and export content in various file formats, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, and PowerPoint presentations, directly from their session. The update is version 1.25095.161.0 and higher, being gradually rolled out across all Insider Channels via the Microsoft Store. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the app.
AppWizard
October 1, 2025
- Inbox by Google was a Gmail alternative known for its superior sorting features and visually appealing interface, discontinued in 2019. - Google Play Music was the default music player for Android devices in the early 2010s, replaced by YouTube Music. - Swype Keyboard revolutionized typing on mobile devices with its glide feature and held a Guinness World Record for the fastest typing, discontinued in 2018. - SuperSU was a tool for gaining root access on Android devices, popular among users of custom ROMs, now overshadowed by newer solutions like Magisk. - Titanium Backup allowed comprehensive backups of apps and data for custom ROM users, though it has not been updated in recent years. - MX Player was a user-friendly media player known for its intuitive interface and support for various file formats, which declined in popularity as streaming services grew. - ES File Explorer was a crucial file management tool for early Android users, removed from the Play Store due to security concerns. - Google Plus aimed to integrate social media with other Google services but struggled to compete with more visually driven platforms before its discontinuation.
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