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I've been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything
Winsage
December 28, 2024

I’ve been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything

The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.
Best Windows 11 AI features that work on any computer
Winsage
December 28, 2024

Best Windows 11 AI features that work on any computer

A Copilot+ PC is not required to access many AI features in Windows 11; older laptops that run Windows 11 can still utilize various AI-driven tools. The Photos app includes AI enhancements such as the Background tool, which allows users to blur, remove, or replace backgrounds in images. The Generative Erase function in Photos enables users to remove unwanted objects from photos. Microsoft Clipchamp offers an Auto Compose feature for quick video editing, allowing users to create videos with AI assistance. Microsoft's Copilot has become a standalone app, enabling window movement and custom keyboard shortcuts, and integrates advanced language models to assist with various tasks across Microsoft applications.
How to remove your activity from Gemini
AppWizard
December 26, 2024

How to remove your activity from Gemini

Gemini is an AI-powered chatbot from Google that can summarize texts, generate images, and learn from user interactions. It retains both textual and spoken data by default, raising privacy concerns. Users can manage their activity by navigating to Gemini's web app, where they can delete activity based on various time frames or remove individual activities. Users can also turn off activity saving and adjust auto-deletion settings for data older than 3, 18, or 36 months. To delete a chat in Google Messages, users can tap the three-dot icon and confirm deletion. Gemini is the default virtual assistant for the Google Pixel 9 series and is expected to be pre-installed on many top Android devices.
Essential apps for hardcore Android users [Video]
AppWizard
December 26, 2024

Essential apps for hardcore Android users [Video]

Seal is a minimalist downloader app for Android that allows users to download videos from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram in various formats and qualities. Zerocam is a camera replacement app that focuses on a natural photographic experience without excessive image processing, offering a free version with a limit of five photos per day and a subscription for additional features. Openvibe aggregates multiple social media platforms into one app, allowing users to post to Bluesky, Threads, Nostr, and Mastodon simultaneously. Twine is an RSS app that consolidates favorite feeds into one location and allows users to import collections via OPML files. AI Screenshot Finder helps users search and categorize their screenshots, processing data locally while leveraging cloud AI systems. Crate organizes links, recipes, and videos into custom sections and uses AI to assist in finding saved content. Sponge gamifies file management, allowing users to swipe to delete or tag files, organized by the month they were saved. Tooly is a versatile toolbox app that includes various tools for unit conversions and text formatting.
Windows Recall support for Intel & AMD PCs: Eligible PC List
Winsage
December 26, 2024

Windows Recall support for Intel & AMD PCs: Eligible PC List

Microsoft has introduced an AI feature called Recall for Windows PCs, enabling users to retrieve actions or searches by capturing and storing screenshots in an encrypted format. Users can search for specific content using keywords, but Recall will only be available to select Windows 11 PCs. Initially exclusive to Snapdragon X SoCs, Recall now supports newer Intel and AMD CPUs with a 40 teraflops Neural Processing Unit (NPU). To use Recall, the system requirements include: - Windows 11 PC enrolled in the Insider Program (Canary or Dev channel) - 16 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD - CPU with 8 logical processors - NPU with 40 teraflops - Windows Hello for sign-in security and device encryption activated. Compatible devices include: - Acer Swift 14 AI - ASUS Vivobook S 15 and ProArt PZ13 - Dell Latitude 7455, XPS 13, and Inspiron 14 - HP OmniBook X 14 - Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s - Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC - Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC - Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Supported CPUs are: - AMD Ryzen AI 300 series - Intel Core Ultra 200V series - Snapdragon X Elite - Snapdragon X Plus More compatible systems and CPUs are expected by 2025.
Hands on: Microsoft made it easier to run AI models on Windows 11 locally
Winsage
December 26, 2024

Hands on: Microsoft made it easier to run AI models on Windows 11 locally

Copilot+ PCs are the first personal computers to run Small Language Models (SLM) directly on-device, allowing for quicker interactions without relying on the cloud. Microsoft has introduced the AI Dev Gallery, which offers over 25 samples for developers to integrate on-device AI features into applications on Windows 10 and 11. The gallery requires building the project in Visual Studio, needing at least 20GB of storage and a multi-core CPU. A GPU with 8GB VRAM is recommended for heavier models but not mandatory for lighter applications. The app has two operational modes: Sample and Models. Testing models for image generation typically requires around 5GB of bandwidth, while a smaller image upscaling model under 100MB was successfully tested, completing the process in under 30 seconds with peak RAM usage of 1GB. The resulting image resolution was 9272x4900, but clarity issues were noted, especially with text. The application lacks features for previewing images in larger formats or downloading outputs directly. A model named Detect Human Pose was able to identify positions within images, including desktop screenshots. Substantial storage and robust CPUs are necessary for effective model accommodation, and the practicality of downloading large models for niche use cases is questioned.
Free Guide - How to Edit a PDF File on Windows 10
Winsage
December 24, 2024

Free Guide – How to Edit a PDF File on Windows 10

Editing PDF files on Windows 10 is often necessary for correcting errors, filling out forms, adding comments, or updating information. Various free PDF editors are available online, including Tenorshare PDNob, which offers a free month of premium features. To edit a PDF using Microsoft Word, open the program, select the PDF file, and make edits after it converts to an editable format. Adobe Acrobat allows for professional editing but requires a subscription for advanced features. Tenorshare PDNob provides a free solution with features like text editing, file conversion, compression, watermark removal, image extraction, and secure editing. Windows 10 does not include a built-in PDF editor, but it has Microsoft Edge for basic viewing and annotations. Editing a PDF file is possible with tools like Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or dedicated editors like Tenorshare PDNob.
Windows users, this is one upgrade you won't want to miss
Winsage
December 24, 2024

Windows users, this is one upgrade you won’t want to miss

Windows 11 features a sleek interface and enhanced security measures. It includes an AI assistant called Copilot, which uses GPT-4 Turbo for task automation and productivity. AI capabilities are also integrated into applications like Paint, allowing users to easily edit images. Windows 11 Pro is available for .97 until January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT, down from its regular price of 9.
4 ways to view a file in Windows without its application
Winsage
December 23, 2024

4 ways to view a file in Windows without its application

The Preview pane in File Explorer allows users to view file contents directly in a panel on the right side of the screen, supporting various formats including Office documents, PDFs, images (JPG, PNG), audio files (WAV, MP3), and videos (MP4). Microsoft PowerToys offers a feature called Peek for rapid file previews using a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Space), supporting images, PDFs, and Microsoft Office documents. The QuickLook app for Windows enables file previews by selecting files and pressing the spacebar, supporting images, videos, and compressed files (ZIP, RAR), as well as text documents like Markdown files. WinQuickLook is a paid alternative to QuickLook that allows users to preview files in File Explorer by pressing the spacebar, displaying essential file information and enabling quick access to native applications.
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