search functionality Archives

Winsage

February 22, 2025

Windows upgrades to Start, Search, and Share might arrive sooner than you expect

A new Drag Tray feature allows users to share files by dragging them to a tray at the top of the screen, simplifying the sharing process. The Start menu can now be customized with a Grid view or a Category view for easier navigation. Windows Search has been updated to allow users to find images by typing a description instead of the file name, including images stored in the cloud. This search enhancement is currently available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel models expected soon.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Windows tests long-awaited changes to Start, Share, and Search

Microsoft has released two test builds of Windows 11: Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078) in the Beta Channel and Insider Preview Build 26120.3291 (KB5052080) as an optional release in both Beta and Dev Channels. Build 26120.3291 introduces a semantic search capability, allowing searches by descriptive terms, but is limited to Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon PCs. Users of the Recall feature will lose all saved snapshots during the upgrade process. Build 22635.4950 tests a new Share interface that simplifies file sharing through a drag-and-drop mechanism. The Start menu will receive new configuration options, including a grid view and a "categories" view for app organization. These updates will be available to Windows Insiders receiving updates for Windows 11, version 24H2.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.

Winsage

February 12, 2025

Windows 11 Patch Tuesday tweaks taskbar and adds handy icon in system tray for AI effects

Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday updates include several enhancements and fixes: - Taskbar: Improved visual previews and smoother animations for taskbar applications. - Windows Studio Effects: New system tray icon for applications using Windows Studio Effects, with access to the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings. - Fonts: Introduction of Simsun-ExtG, a new simplified Chinese font supporting 9,753 ideographs. - File Explorer: New "New Folder" option in the context menu, restoration of previously open tabs, automatic activation of specific settings, and several fixes related to search functionality and icon updates. - Settings: Users can change time zones without administrative privileges. - Mouse: Fixed issues with cursor disappearance, transparency, and performance. - Pinyin IME: Bug fix for language switching. - Snipping Tool: Resolved distortion issues for multi-monitor screenshots. - Microsoft Excel 2016: Fixed loading screen issue for certain files. - Game Bar: Fixed recording failure issue. - HDR: Corrected oversaturation issues in some games. - DAC: Fixed playback issues with USB audio devices. - USB audio device drivers: Resolved code 10 error message. - Chinese Pinyin IME: Bing no longer provides automatic suggestions for certain search engines. - USB cameras: Fixed recognition issues post-January 2025 security update. - Passkey: Eliminated one-minute timeout for mobile device passkeys. - Power: Improved shutdown times with connected controllers. - Wi-Fi: Resolved unresponsive Windows Security dialog when signing into certain networks.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Windows 11’s Start menu search gets new, clearer labels, as Microsoft tries to avoid EU regulation trouble

Microsoft is changing the search functionality in Windows 11 for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The update will separate local search results from web-based results, which were previously combined in the Start menu search using Bing. The new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764 features two sections in the search window: “Windows” for local results and “Web search from Bing” for online queries. This change is particularly noticeable for users with their Windows 11 language set to German. The update is selectively rolled out in the EEA, indicating Microsoft may not implement similar changes globally. The aim is to improve user experience by reducing clutter and distractions from irrelevant web suggestions when searching for files or applications on the device.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Hands on: Microsoft is giving classic Windows 11 Paint app a big Copilot AI upgrade

Microsoft has introduced a new Copilot button in the Paint app, accessible to all users with the release of Windows 11 Build 26120.3073 (KB5050090) in the Developer Channel of the Insider Program. This update is also available as an optional update for Windows Insiders on the Beta Channel, while those on the Canary and Dev Channels will receive it for Paint version 11.2412.271.0 and higher. The Copilot button consolidates various AI features, including Cocreator, Image Creator, Generative Erase, and Remove Background, each accompanied by descriptions to assist users. Cocreator generates images locally on Copilot+ PCs using the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) based on user prompts. Image Creator allows users to create images on an existing canvas by entering prompts and adjusting creativity levels. Generative Erase enables users to remove unwanted image portions, seamlessly blending the remaining elements. The Remove Background feature automatically eliminates backgrounds from images, with effectiveness depending on contrast and resolution. Using Image Creator requires AI credits, which are included with a Microsoft 365 subscription. The update also includes improvements to Windows Search functionality, allowing natural language searches for OneDrive files.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Brings a Series of IMPORTANT Updates to Windows 11, What You’ll Get on Your PC

Microsoft has released a significant update for Windows 11, now available globally, which includes enhancements for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Key features include an upgraded Windows Search that allows users to find files in OneDrive using descriptive phrases in the File Explorer search bar. This feature is currently available to Windows Insiders on Copilot+ and Snapdragon devices, with plans to extend it to AMD and Intel platforms soon. The update also introduces a revamped Settings home page for enterprise-managed devices, bug fixes, and performance improvements, including enhanced File Explorer stability and restored offline Outlook search functionality. Remote Desktop capabilities have been improved, and the Settings interface has been made smoother. The update is being gradually rolled out from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel, with further support for more hardware platforms expected in the future.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Is Clubbing the AI Features in Paint Inside a New Copilot Menu

Microsoft released a new Windows 11 Insider Preview build (version 26120.3073) that includes enhancements to the Paint application and Windows Search functionality, available to Windows Insider users in the Canary and Dev channels. The Paint app now features a Copilot menu that integrates AI functionalities, including Cocreator for generating AI images from sketches, an Image Creator for text-to-image generation, a Generative Erase tool for removing unwanted objects, and a Remove Background function. These features are organized within the Copilot menu, with the Cocreator feature exclusive to Copilot+ PC users. Additionally, Windows Search has improved semantic indexing to support searching for documents, photos, and files in OneDrive, also limited to Copilot+ PC users.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

This Microsoft app is the latest to get infused with Copilot

Copilot+ PCs currently lack a standout feature to differentiate them from competitors. Microsoft is enhancing Copilot+ PCs with innovative features. A new Copilot menu in Paint will consolidate all AI tools into one interface, including the DALL-E-powered Cocreator, which will remain exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. Additionally, Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon can now use AI for content searches within File Explorer, with plans to extend this feature to Intel and AMD devices. This improved search allows users to find content using natural language queries.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

The best Windows PowerToys tool is about to get a whole lot better

Microsoft announced that its PowerToys Run tool will undergo significant transformation in 2025, introducing new extensions for enhanced functionality and customization. Kayla Cinnamon shared a teaser trailer on Christmas Day, indicating the potential for third-party developers to create custom extensions. While a specific release date has not been provided, there is notable anticipation for the upcoming features and improvements.