neural processing unit Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows Central’s highest-rated laptops are already on sale ahead of Black Friday — save up to $640 with my shopping advice

As the holiday shopping season approaches, discounts on Windows laptops are becoming available, including high-end Copilot+ PCs and budget-friendly options. A curated list of the best deals for 2024 is being compiled, which will be updated as Black Friday nears. Windows laptops are categorized into three primary types: 1. Notebook: A classic clamshell design, often used for gaming. 2. Convertible: Heavier, pricier laptops with 360-degree hinges and touch displays, suitable for media and creative tasks. 3. 2-in-1: Devices with a detachable keyboard, allowing tablet-like use. AI PCs, equipped with processors that include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), are gaining attention in 2024. Examples include Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI 300. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program enhances the AI experience for laptops with NPUs. However, for most users, having an NPU may not be essential, and focusing on overall performance is recommended. The evaluation process for Windows laptops includes testing hinge strength, chassis durability, port speed, camera quality, speaker performance, fan noise, display quality, and battery life. All laptops in the Black Friday collection have ratings of four stars or higher. Black Friday 2024 is scheduled for November 29, 2024, with many retailers already offering deals. Cyber Monday will follow on December 2, 2024, focusing on online shopping, with some tech deals continuing from Black Friday.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

Microsoft delays rollout of the Windows 11 Recall feature yet again

Brandon LeBlanc, Senior Program Manager for Microsoft Windows Insider, stated that Microsoft is committed to delivering a secure experience with its upcoming feature, Recall, and is taking additional time to refine it before previewing it with Windows Insiders. Recall will utilize Windows' Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) features and Windows Hello authentication for enhanced user data protection. The feature will be opt-in by default and fully removable. Recall will require a Copilot+ PC, which must have at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Users must enroll in the Windows Insider Program to access Recall, and speculation suggests that non-Windows Insider PCs may not receive it until 2025.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Microsoft delays Windows Recall again, now by December

Microsoft has postponed the launch of its AI-driven Windows Recall feature, which was initially set for rollout to Insiders with Copilot+ PCs in October. The delay is due to customer feedback requesting improved data privacy and security measures. The feature is now expected to be available for preview by December. Recall captures screenshots of active windows at regular intervals and uses an AI model to analyze these images, storing the data in an SQLite database. Windows 11 users will be able to search this information using natural language queries. Users will need to opt-in to enable Recall and confirm their presence through Windows Hello. Recall can be uninstalled, filters out sensitive content, and allows users to exclude specific applications or browsing sessions. It will also include malware protection features.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Microsoft fixes Super Resolution incorrectly appearing on non-compatible Windows PC

Microsoft introduced the Super Resolution feature for Windows Insiders using Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD processors. This feature, which allows users to enlarge photos by up to eight times, was initially designed exclusively for Copilot+ PCs but mistakenly appeared on traditional x86-based systems. Microsoft confirmed this was a bug and has since fixed it. Super Resolution utilizes Neural Processing Units (NPUs) in Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors for local processing without cloud uploads. To access Super Resolution, users must enroll in one of four Insider channels and update the Photos app to version 2024.11100.17007.0 or later.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200 (KB5044376) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features, improvements, and fixes. Key updates include: - Windows Studio Effects: Enhances camera and audio experience using AI technology on devices with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). A new icon appears in the system tray for easy access when using compatible applications. - Dynamic Lighting: The settings page now shows a placeholder message when no compatible devices are detected, and new directional options have been added to Wave and Gradient effects. - Start Menu Fix: Resolved an issue where clicking on a letter in the All apps list disrupted functionality. - Taskbar Fix: Fixed a crash issue related to explorer.exe when hovering over specific applications. - Settings Fix: Addressed a bug causing a blank entry in the Privacy & Security section that crashed the Settings app. - Input Fix: Updated the mouse pointer location feature to be DPI-aware for better performance on high DPI monitors. - Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist: Expanded the list of drivers vulnerable to BYOVD attacks. - HTML Applications Support: HTA optional components are now supported in ARM64 Windows PE. - Live Kernel Debug Files: Resolved unnecessary creation of live kernel debug files. - User Interface Fixes: Fixed visibility issues in the UI for certain applications. - Winlogon Fix: Addressed a stop error during system shutdown. - sfc /scannow Command Fix: Fixed recurring errors with this command. - Windows Disk Cleanup App: Improved accuracy of free space estimates. Known issues include unexpected spacing in the Start menu and accessibility problems with Dev Drives in WSL, for which a fix is underway. Insiders in the Dev Channel will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and features are gradually rolled out using Control Feature Rollout technology. Users are encouraged to report localization issues via the Feedback Hub.

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

Copilot+ PCs are about to get another exclusive feature on Windows 11

Copilot+ PCs will soon support super resolution in the Photos app on Windows 11, currently being tested with Windows Insiders. This feature can enhance and enlarge images up to 8x, improving the quality of low-resolution photos and allowing for large-format prints or tight cropping without losing clarity. Additionally, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is being tested in the Photos app, enabling users to detect and copy text from images in over 160 languages. Microsoft is also expanding Copilot+ AI features to select AMD and Intel processors by the end of the year. Enhancements to the Photos app include single-click support in the Gallery, improved zoom functionality, and bug fixes for the Image creator and Restyle image features.