Paint Archives

Winsage

May 7, 2025

A New Start Menu and More Major Upgrades Are Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft announced significant upgrades for Windows 11, including enhancements to the Start menu, Copilot AI, and utilities like Paint and the Snipping Tool. The Start menu will become larger, more customizable, and user-friendly, allowing users to view all apps at once, hide recommended shortcuts, and increase the size of the pinned apps panel. A "phone companion" feature will be integrated into the Start menu. These changes are expected to roll out to the Windows Insider channel within the next month. File Explorer will introduce AI actions for document summarization and image editing directly from the right-click menu. Notepad will gain AI text generation and summarization features, along with lightweight formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and Markdown support. Copilot Vision will allow users to interact with AI regarding on-screen content. Some features will debut on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chipsets, including an AI agent in Settings to assist users with adjustments and the Click to Do feature for scheduling meetings and launching Immersive Reader mode. The Photos app will introduce a relight feature for dynamic lighting control. Paint will gain capabilities for creating custom stickers from text prompts and an AI-powered object select tool. The Snipping Tool will receive enhancements like intelligent screenshot cropping, text extraction, and a color picker. The Narrator on Copilot+ PCs will be upgraded to provide rich descriptions of images.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft Photos Can Relight Your Images

Microsoft has introduced new features for Windows 11 and its Copilot+ PCs, along with AI-ready Surface hardware. Key enhancements include: - Photos App: A relight feature for adding digital light sources, auto presets, and manual adjustments; new object selection capabilities in Paint; and improvements to the Snipping Tool with a text extractor and color picker. - Recall Feature: Helps users find content by retracing steps and describing memories, with strong privacy controls. - Improved Windows Search: Allows conversational queries with AI interpreting context for relevant results, aided by specialized chips in Copilot+ PCs. - Click to Do: Streamlines workflows with contextual shortcuts for actions within a single application. - Surface for Business Copilot+ PCs: Introduction of a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface laptop featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors and advanced security tools. - Surface Laptop for Business: A 13-inch model with a thinner profile, anti-reflective touch screens, and an AI-enhanced camera. - Surface Pro for Business: A 12-inch versatile device that transitions between laptop and tablet modes, featuring an adjustable kickstand. - Availability: Software updates will start in April 2025, while new Surface devices will ship from July 22 in select markets.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft unveils new AI agents that can modify Windows settings

Microsoft has introduced a suite of Windows experiences for Copilot+ PCs, featuring AI agents that help users adjust settings on their computers by interpreting user intent and automating tasks with consent. Users can communicate in natural language to receive guidance or have changes executed directly. This feature will initially be available to English-speaking Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered devices, with plans for broader support. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing Windows search capabilities and expanding Click to Do actions, allowing users to schedule meetings, send messages, consult M365 Copilot, convert data in Excel, and draft documents in Word. Creative tools like Photos, Paint, and the Snipping Tool are receiving updates, including dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a sticker generator in Paint, and new capture capabilities in the Snipping Tool. Upcoming features for Windows 11 Insiders include a phone companion for the Start menu, AI-driven actions in File Explorer, and a new writing function in Notepad for generating text from prompts. Microsoft is also testing a "Draw & Hold" feature in the Snipping Tool and has introduced a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite."

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3950 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3950 (KB5055653) has been released to the Beta Channel for Windows 11, version 24H2. Insiders on version 23H2 can opt to upgrade to version 24H2 with this build. Key changes include the introduction of energy saver management in Microsoft Intune, allowing IT administrators to manage energy settings on Windows 11 PCs. Other updates involve UI experiments in Recall, taskbar enhancements, and graphics improvements for HDR capabilities. Fixes include resolving keyboard focus issues in the taskbar, startup sound playback issues, and scaling problems after sleep/resume. Known issues involve bugs with Xbox Controllers and live captions crashing. Insiders are reminded to keep their devices updated for optimal performance and access to features.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (KB5055651) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features, improvements, and fixes. Key updates include: - Energy Saver in Microsoft Intune: IT administrators can manage energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations, optimizing battery usage by limiting background activities and reducing screen brightness. - Taskbar Improvements: The needy state pill for apps has been redesigned, and administrators can allow users to unpin specific pinned apps. - Graphics Enhancements: Improved management of HDR capabilities, including refined wording for HDR settings and independent toggling of Dolby Vision mode. - Fixes: Resolved issues with taskbar keyboard focus, startup sound playback, scaling after sleep, and cumulative update errors. - Known Issues: Users may experience discrepancies in build version display after PC resets and issues with Xbox Controllers causing bugchecks. - Recall (Preview): Users can opt to remove Recall at any time, and intelligent text actions are now moderated locally. - Windows Search: For optimal performance, devices should be connected to power during initial search indexing. - Task Manager: Users may see the System Idle Process showing as 0 after the addition of a new CPU Utility column. Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, with features rolled out gradually.

Winsage

May 4, 2025

Microsoft says it accidentally broke Windows 10 Start menu, taskbar recent files feature

On April 22, Windows Latest reported that the jump list feature for live tiles in the Start menu was missing, a situation confirmed by Microsoft. This issue arose after updates released post-February 25, disrupting users' access to recently opened files or photos. The problem was linked to Microsoft's integration of a new Microsoft account control experience into the Start menu, which began with the Windows 10 KB5052077 optional update. Microsoft stated that this was not an intentional change and was under investigation. Following the April 2025 Update, the issue became more widespread. However, Microsoft has since rolled back the changes to the Start menu UI, restoring the recent section for affected users, and tests indicated that the jump list functionality has been reinstated across most devices.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

This PowerToys tool gave me unlimited power on Windows 11 and I almost fell in love

The Windows 11 Command Palette from PowerToys serves as a centralized command hub, allowing users to execute system commands, settings, and application launches through a unified search bar. Users can customize the palette by integrating third-party tools and adding their own commands. WinGet can be accessed from the interface to install software packages easily. However, there are issues with the Command Palette not launching consistently, requiring users to disable and re-enable it to fix the shortcut. Some preinstalled commands are deemed unhelpful, but users can disable them in the settings. Overall, the Command Palette enhances workflow efficiency by simplifying access to various tasks.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570 (KB5055632) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features, improvements, and fixes. New features include: - A profanity filter setting for voice typing that allows users to manage the masking of profane words. - Click to Do is now available in preview, allowing users to configure pen shortcuts to launch it. - Improved Windows Search for OneDrive users, which now only displays matches for keywords found within cloud file text. - Enhanced Accessibility flyout in quick settings, organizing assistive technologies into categories. Fixes include: - Addressed issues causing certain apps to appear blank after installation. - Resolved problems with Windows Hello facial recognition and input issues with the touch keyboard. - Fixed issues preventing Quick Assist from functioning for non-administrator users and problems with USB devices disconnecting after sleep. Known issues include: - Users may initially receive an older build upon joining the Dev Channel. - Windows Sandbox may fail to launch with a specific error. - Reports of core Windows surfaces failing to load in safe mode are under investigation. - A bugcheck issue when using Xbox Controllers via Bluetooth is noted. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941 (KB5055634) has been released to the Beta Channel for users on Windows 11, version 24H2. This update includes new features such as a profanity filter setting for voice typing, the Click to Do feature for pen users, and improved Windows Search functionality for OneDrive users. Enhancements to the Accessibility flyout in quick settings have been made, and various fixes have been implemented, including issues with Windows Hello facial recognition and the touch keyboard. Known issues include problems with Windows Sandbox and Xbox Controller connectivity. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub.