Microsoft Photos Archives

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft Photos adds a tool to enhance your low-quality pictures – but there’s a catch

Microsoft has introduced a super resolution feature in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance and enlarge images up to eight times their original size. This feature is available to all Windows Insiders and is particularly useful for improving low-quality images for printing or display on larger screens. Users can crop images while maintaining resolution, but the feature requires a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC and the latest versions of Windows 11 Insider Preview and Microsoft Photos. Initial testing revealed mixed results, with some users reporting minimal improvements in blurry or grainy images. Additionally, Microsoft has added Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to its Photos app, allowing users to extract text from images, supporting over 160 languages. Access to these features requires participation in the Windows Insider Program.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft creates a new reason to buy an AI-powered Copilot+ PC — image upscaling in Microsoft Photos

Microsoft has introduced a preview of its super resolution feature for Copilot+ PCs within the Photos app, specifically for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. This image upscaling feature is exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2 or higher, and is available in the Canary, Dev, and Release Preview Channels. The super resolution uses AI to enhance and enlarge images up to 8x the original size, ideal for improving low-quality photos and preparing images for large prints or displays. It processes enhancements using the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on the device. Additionally, a robust optical character recognition (OCR) feature is available to all users, supporting over 160 languages for text extraction from images.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft Photos app gets AI super resolution upscaling in Windows Insider build

Super Resolution upscaling is now available on all Windows 11 24H2 Insider Channels for Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, allowing users to enhance image resolution by up to eight times while maintaining clarity. This feature currently supports only Snapdragon-based PCs due to reliance on the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), but plans are in place to extend compatibility to Intel Core 200 and AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPUs. Users can activate Super Resolution in the Photos app by clicking an icon in version 2024.11100.17007.0. Additionally, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support has been introduced in the Photos app, enabling text recognition in over 160 languages. Other updates include single-click image opening, automatic resizing of large images, and improvements to the Image Creator and Restyle Image features. A GenAI-based eraser for the Photos app is also being tested, with public rollout expected in November for Snapdragon, Intel, and AMD Copilot+ PCs. Generative AI will assist in photo searches based on text prompts, and a feature called "Click to Do" will provide editing suggestions.

Winsage

October 23, 2024

Microsoft Photos can now upscale and enhance images using AI

Microsoft has introduced a Super Resolution feature in its Photos app, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance and enlarge low-resolution images by up to eight times the original size. This feature is currently exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs that have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Super Resolution is available to Windows Insiders on Windows 11, but there is no timeline for its rollout to the stable version. The update also includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support for copying text from images, usability improvements to Zoom functionality, and a streamlined process for opening images from File Explorer’s Gallery.

Winsage

October 23, 2024

This new Microsoft Photos update may make Copilot+ actually useful

Microsoft has introduced a "super resolution" feature for Copilot+ devices that enhances image quality by magnifying images up to eight times their original size using artificial intelligence. This feature is beneficial for improving low-resolution photos and preparing images for large-scale prints. Additionally, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) has been integrated into the Photos application, allowing users to scan images for text and convert it for easy copying. All processing is done locally on the device to ensure user privacy. Users must enroll in the Insider build program and update the Photos app to version 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher to access these features.

Winsage

October 22, 2024

Microsoft Photos update with super resolution begins rolling out to Windows Insiders

A preview of super resolution and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support has been introduced for users of Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs on Windows 11. Super resolution allows images to be enlarged up to eight times their original size using AI technology, processed locally on the device. This feature can be accessed through the Photos Editor. OCR enables users to detect and copy text from images in the Photos app, supporting over 160 languages. Additionally, single-click support in the Gallery has been added, along with improvements to the Zoom feature and bug fixes for the Image Creator and Restyle Image features. Users need to update their app to version 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher to access these features.

Winsage

October 3, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 is finally here and Microsoft’s calling it a ‘full OS swap’, it’s just a shame the new Windows update still has Recall

Microsoft has introduced Windows 11 24H2, which incorporates artificial intelligence into its operating system. The update features Windows Recall, a tool for recording computer activities to facilitate AI-driven searches, available to Windows Insider participants with an option to disable it. Other notable features include Cocreator in Paint, Image Creator in Microsoft Photos, and Auto Super Resolution, all utilizing AI for enhanced user experience and creative capabilities. Early reports indicate the presence of bugs in the update.

Winsage

July 29, 2024

22 awesome free apps already installed on your Windows PC

Windows 11 comes with a suite of pre-installed applications designed to enhance productivity and creativity. - Clipchamp: A free video editing tool for basic editing tasks, with paid options for advanced features. - Microsoft Edge: Integrated with Copilot for AI-driven features, enhancing browsing capabilities. - Microsoft Photos: Manages images with advanced search, slideshow creation, and editing features, including AI tools for background removal. - Outlook: A unified platform for managing multiple email accounts and includes productivity tools like a calendar and to-do list. - Microsoft Paint: Updated with AI capabilities and a Layers function for advanced image editing. - Quick Assist: Allows remote access to assist others with technical issues. - Phone Link: Connects Windows computers with Android devices for messaging and notifications. - Windows Backup: Automatically backs up files to Microsoft OneDrive. - Notepad: Enhanced with tab functionality and a spell checker. Additional applications include Family for monitoring children's online activities, Sticky Notes for reminders, Game Bar for gaming performance, Calculator for calculations, Camera for photography, Maps as an alternative to Google Maps, Getting Started guide, Audio Recorder, Media Player, Teams for virtual meetings, Tips for suggestions, Todo for task management, and Xbox features.

Winsage

July 19, 2024

Best Windows apps this week

- Audacity 3.6.0 introduces new features such as master effects, compressor, limiter, new themes, and support for FFmpeg 7. - Microsoft Photos update includes "more AI editing capabilities" with the new Edit with Designer button. - PhotoDemon 2024.7 adds the ability to import PDF documents as image files, support for JPEG-XL images, and a magnetic-snapping feature when using the move tool.

Winsage

July 19, 2024

Windows 11 Users Complain About Photos App Not Working, Microsoft Gives Temporary Fix

Users of Windows 11 are experiencing issues with the built-in Photos app, with some unable to launch the app and receiving an 'Access Denied error on Process Exit' message. Microsoft has not found a permanent fix but has shared a temporary workaround for Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 version users. The temporary fix only works for devices with specific settings enabled. To fix the issue, users can download the latest WinAppSDK from the Microsoft website and choose the appropriate version for their system.