search process Archives

Winsage

February 12, 2025

4 reasons Rainmeter is the best way to customize your Windows PC

Rainmeter is a free tool for Windows 11 that allows users to deeply customize their desktop experience. It fosters community collaboration by enabling developers to create and share skins, which can fundamentally change the aesthetics and functionality of a PC. Users can mix and match a wide variety of skins, each with adjustable .ini files, to create a personalized desktop environment. The platform offers an extensive library of skins and encourages exploration and experimentation, ensuring users remain engaged and can continually enhance their desktop experience.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Top 10 cool and useful features coming soon to Windows 11

Microsoft is developing several enhancements for Windows 11, with some features currently available in preview builds or requiring activation. 1. Improved Auto HDR: Available to all Windows Insiders, this feature will enable automatic HDR streaming for HDR-capable displays. 2. Small Taskbar Buttons: Code snippets indicate that Microsoft is exploring the return of smaller taskbar buttons, though it is not yet functional. 3. Gamepad Keyboard: Available to Windows Insiders, this feature allows typing using standard gamepad controls. 4. New Start Menu Layouts: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; new "Category" and "Grid" views are in development. 5. 6 GHz Hotspots: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; laptops with Wi-Fi 7 support will soon be able to create 6 GHz hotspots. 6. Redesigned Battery Indicator: Available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, this redesign will include battery percentage in the tray area. 7. File Explorer Improvements: Currently turned off, this will allow users to open links in new tabs instead of new windows. 8. New PC Spec Cards: Available for testing in the Insider Program, this feature consolidates essential PC specifications into one location. 9. New Share UI: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; this will allow users to drag files to a dedicated tray for easy sharing. 10. AI-Powered Windows Search: Available for testing in the Insider Program and requires dedicated hardware, this feature will use natural language processing for easier file searches.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Google App ‘AI Mode’ For Android Lets Users ‘Talk’ Directly to Search, Multimodal Capabilities Available

Google is developing an 'AI Mode' for its Search app on Android, allowing users to interact in a conversational manner. This feature, discovered in an APK teardown, will enable voice inputs and the submission of photos and videos, creating a more intuitive search experience. The AI Mode will be accessible through a dedicated tab represented by a 'wink' icon in the app. This development follows Google's earlier integration of generative AI into Search, including the Search Generative Experience and AI Overviews, which have been refined based on user feedback.

Winsage

November 30, 2024

Microsoft to make Microsoft 365, OneDrive files searchable via Windows 11 taskbar

Microsoft is developing a feature called "File Search" for Windows 11, which will allow users to quickly locate recently accessed and shared files or folders from the taskbar through a web-based interface using Microsoft Edge WebView. The File Search app will feature a user-friendly design with icons for popular file types and a search bar, and it will be pinned to the taskbar during testing. Users can apply quick filters to narrow searches, and relevant items will be displayed with full names and last modified dates. The feature aims to simplify the retrieval of Microsoft 365 files, including local and cloud-stored documents, and will provide notifications for shared files and mentions in documents. Users can manage notifications through a Preferences Tab, and privacy controls ensure that only individuals can view their private files unless shared. The app will support multiple languages and can be unpinned or opted out of if desired. Additionally, Microsoft is exploring enhancements for the taskbar, including app recommendations and a new People app for managing Outlook contacts.

AppWizard

October 16, 2024

October Pixel Drop: Helpful enhancements for your devices

Gemini is now accessible on all Pixel Buds models, including Pixel Buds Pro, A-Series, and the original version, allowing hands-free interaction by saying, “Hey Google, let’s talk.” Gemini Live has been made available to all Pixel users at no cost and now supports additional languages, including German and Portuguese. Users can also use Gemini to locate saved content in Pixel Screenshots by asking it to find specific items, such as “find the brand of sneakers I saved in Screenshots.”

Winsage

October 6, 2024

I might switch to macOS permanently if these 7 things aren’t fixed about Windows

Approximately 72% of personal computers were running some version of Windows as of February 2024. Microsoft has introduced intrusive advertising in Windows, including ads on the Start menu and prompts to upgrade to Windows 11. The Start menu's search functionality often prioritizes web results over local files, complicating the search process. Windows adds new icons to the taskbar without user consent, cluttering the workspace. Microsoft has offloaded support documents online, which can be inconvenient for users with unreliable internet access. Users are frequently pushed to use Microsoft services like Bing and Edge, overriding their preferences. The integration of OneDrive for backing up desktop contents can lead to broken shortcuts and a disjointed experience across devices. Microsoft has retired applications like Paint 3D and WordPad, disrupting the workflows of users who relied on these tools.

AppWizard

October 3, 2024

Google Play Store makes searching for apps harder on tablets

The Google Play Store for Android tablets has removed the search bar from its main screen and introduced a new Search tab for locating apps. This change requires an additional click for navigation compared to the previous setup. Users can double-tap the Search tab icon to quickly access the section and prompt the keyboard for faster searches. The new Search tab offers personalized suggestions, app collections, and sponsored content, but Google has not replaced the retired search bar with a smaller button for easier access.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Microsoft unveils new AI-powered Windows 11 features for Copilot+ PC users

The latest iteration of Windows Search allows users to retrieve files by describing their needs in a conversational manner, eliminating the need to sift through folders and filenames. This feature interprets user queries to deliver relevant results, enhancing the search process and reducing frustration. Users can simply input phrases like “presentation on market trends” to find specific documents. The update prioritizes natural language processing, making technology more accessible and improving productivity by allowing employees to spend less time searching for files.

Winsage

September 23, 2024

You can make your Windows search way better with Everything

Everything is a third-party search tool for Windows that indexes every file and folder on a drive, allowing for instantaneous search results. It focuses solely on file and folder names, enhancing speed by continuously updating its index in real-time. Everything is lightweight, consumes minimal system resources, and features a user-friendly interface. A portable version is available, and it reveals hidden files by default. To install Everything, users need to download the appropriate installer, run it, and ensure the "Run Everything" option is checked at the end of the installation. After installation, it automatically indexes all files and folders. Users can configure settings through the Tools menu, including UI customization, enabling search history, and adjusting indexing options. To search using Everything, users can type the name of the file or folder in the search box, specify a location by including the drive or folder in the query, filter by file type using the syntax FILETYPE, and use boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine searches. Wildcards can be used for partial names, and spaces in names should be enclosed in double quotes. The Search menu provides advanced options for further refinement.

Winsage

August 5, 2024

Pairing Android with Windows File Explorer is the feature I didn’t know I badly needed

Windows Phone Link allows Android users to sync notifications, texts, and calls, and now enables smartphones to function as webcams. The latest feature integrates Android files directly into Windows File Explorer, allowing wireless access to smartphone files alongside PC files, OneDrive, and other storage. This eliminates the need for USB connections and facilitates file management tasks such as opening, copying, renaming, and deleting files wirelessly. To access Android files wirelessly in Windows File Explorer, users need: - An Android smartphone running Android 11 or higher. - Enrollment in the Link to Windows app beta. - Link to Windows version 1.24071 or higher installed. - A Windows Insider channel on their PC. The setup process involves enrolling in the beta program for the Link to Windows app, ensuring the app is updated, and linking the Microsoft account on the Windows side. Once paired, the Android phone appears in Windows File Explorer, allowing file browsing as long as both devices are on the same network. However, not all Android folders are accessible, and some organization challenges may arise due to varying app folder structures. The setup is currently in beta, with a public release expected before the end of 2024.