integration Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Microsoft rolls out AI-enabled Notepad to Windows Insiders

Microsoft is introducing significant AI upgrades to Notepad and Paint for Windows Insiders. Notepad will feature a new function called "Rewrite," allowing users to rephrase selected text with options for tone, format, and length. This function operates through Microsoft's cloud infrastructure and requires a Microsoft account, utilizing AI credits for usage. Paint will receive enhancements such as the Generative Erase feature for removing elements and Generative Fill for modifying artwork based on text descriptions. Generative Erase will be available on all Windows 11 PCs, while Generative Fill will initially be exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ devices. Microsoft claims that Notepad's launch time will improve by over 35%, with some users experiencing up to 55% enhancements. The Rewrite feature will be in preview mode for users in the US, France, the UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany, while users in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand will need a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal account, or a Copilot Pro subscription to access it.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Timed Silence: An Open Source Android App to Automatically Silence Your Phone

Timed Silence is a Kotlin-based application for Android, created by Felix Nüsse, that manages smartphone volume settings, allowing users to mute, vibrate, or ring with sound. The app requires initial setup permissions and features an intuitive interface with a pause/play button. Users can create custom schedules, including pre-defined ones for "Night" and "Day." The app effectively activates Do Not Disturb (DND) at scheduled times, muting notifications while allowing calls and messages from specified contacts. Additional features include Calendar integration, Keywords for managing volume levels, Bluetooth compatibility, and a Sanity Check for priority contacts. The app is available on F-Droid, with source code and APKs on GitHub.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Google is ending Android Auto support for older phones. Here’s why (and the simple fix)

As of this week, Android Auto has officially ceased support for smartphones operating on Android 8. Users with Android 8 devices are receiving notifications that their phones no longer support Android Auto, and to maintain functionality, an upgrade to Android 9 or later is essential. The integration of Android Auto into the operating system starting from Android 9 eliminates the need for a standalone app, and it is possible that the Android Auto app may be removed from the Play Store. Approximately 5% of Android users are still on version 8, and while some have attempted to sideload older versions of the app, this method has not been effective. Upgrading to a newer smartphone is the most viable solution, with budget-friendly options available, such as the CMF Phone 1 from Nothing, retailing around 0.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

A decade and $22 billion later, Meta’s big bet on messaging is finally starting to pay off

Meta's investment in WhatsApp has begun yielding substantial returns, with a 48% year-over-year increase in non-advertising revenue reported in Q3, largely due to WhatsApp's business messaging capabilities. This product enables companies to engage in paid conversations with customers, contributing to revenue growth since Q3 2022. Non-advertising revenue in Q3 was million, compared to .9 billion in ad revenue, but is growing at over twice the pace of advertising. Messaging products, including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram Direct, are still in the early stages of monetization, with estimates suggesting messaging could account for around 10% of Meta's total revenue. A significant increase in content shared through direct messages has been noted, with a 100% year-over-year rise. Meta is also exploring revenue opportunities through sponsored messages and "click-to-message" ads. Generative AI is expected to enhance the messaging business's efficiency and potential revenue generation. User behavior is shifting towards sharing in direct messages rather than traditional feeds, prompting Meta to enhance its Messenger app with new features. Each messaging product serves different user bases and presents unique monetization opportunities.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Windows Terminal now supports AI chatbots like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot

OpenAI has released a Windows app for ChatGPT, initially available only to paid subscribers. However, users can access ChatGPT for free on Windows by using the nightly version of Windows Terminal, a free Microsoft application. To download it, users must visit the GitHub page and select the appropriate version: the App Installer version for Windows 11 or the Portable ZIP version for Windows 10 and later. After installation, users need to enable the “Terminal Chat” feature and add an API key from OpenAI, GitHub, or Azure to interact with ChatGPT through Windows Terminal Canary.

AppWizard

November 6, 2024

Steam’s new recording features allow deep integration with games

Steam has rolled out its game recording capabilities for PC and Steam Deck users, moving from beta to full availability. The features include automatic recording, manual clipping with customizable keyboard hotkeys, and easy access to replays through the Steam overlay. Users can export clips using QR codes for sharing. The recording functions are designed to minimize game performance impact by using the GPU for encoding. Steam allows per-game customization of auto-recording durations and capture quality, and provides an SDK and API for developers to trigger recordings based on in-game events. The recording features work with any game, including non-Steam titles added to the Steam library.

Winsage

November 6, 2024

It looks like ‘Windows Intelligence’ might subsume ‘Copilot’ branding, giving yet more evidence that we can’t decide how to market AI

The landscape of computing is evolving with advanced chips featuring Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for artificial intelligence applications, leading to the emergence of the AI PC. A rebranding initiative is underway, with "Copilot" potentially being integrated into "Windows Intelligence," as discovered by an X user from references in the appprivacy.adml file. This shift aligns with cybersecurity enhancements and reflects a branding strategy similar to Apple's "Apple Intelligence." While "Windows Intelligence" may not fully replace "Copilot," it is expected to encompass it. Mainstream desktops and laptops are beginning to incorporate NPUs, qualifying them as AI PCs. The conversation around AI branding is evolving, prompting questions about the intelligence of computers, regardless of the operating system. Some users may feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of AI integration and choose to disengage until the technology becomes unavoidable.

AppWizard

November 6, 2024

Valve just single-handedly upgraded content creation for PC gamers – Steam’s Game Recording feature is now available to all

Steam's Game Recording feature has transitioned from beta to full availability, allowing players to automatically capture gameplay in supported titles. Users can enable 'Background Recording' to capture the last 120 minutes of gameplay or use 'On Demand Recording' to manually start and stop recording. The feature utilizes the video encoding capabilities of AMD and Nvidia GPUs, with CPU fallback for those without dedicated graphics cards, which may affect performance. Steam's Game Recording includes various bitrate settings and simplifies the recording process for PC gamers by eliminating the need for external software. Valve has not yet introduced streaming capabilities, but successful integration could enhance its position in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

November 6, 2024

The StarCraft Games Have Officially Joined PC Game Pass

StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are now available on PC Game Pass. The original StarCraft was released on March 31, 1998, and became a cornerstone of the real-time strategy genre. The remastered version was released by Blizzard in 2017. The announcement was made via the official StarCraft Twitter account and Xbox Wire. Currently, these games are exclusively available on PC Game Pass, marking a significant step in the integration of Activision Blizzard titles into Xbox’s services.

Winsage

November 6, 2024

Windows Server 2025 is now available – but Microsoft warns admins to watch out for three major bugs, including one that causes the dreaded blue screen of death

Microsoft has released Windows Server 2025, succeeding Windows Server 2022, along with System Center 2025. This version supports seamless application deployment across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Key security enhancements include improved Active Directory cryptographic support and defenses against various attacks on server message block (SMB). New features for cloud services include hotpatching, which requires an additional subscription fee, and integration with Azure Arc for better onboarding and network management. Windows Server 2025 is optimized for AI and machine learning workloads, offering up to 60% more storage IOPs performance than its predecessor. Certain features, such as WordPad and the Windows PowerShell 2.0 engine, have been discontinued. Microsoft has acknowledged three bugs related to installation: English text display issues, problems with high-core-count devices, and a "boot device inaccessible" error in iSCSI environments. Windows Server 2025 is available now, with extended support until 2034 and mainstream support until 2029. Users can upgrade from Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2022 will be supported until October 2026. The operating system is compatible with most 64-bit processors, and a list of certified processors is provided.