text editing Archives

Winsage

December 3, 2025

2025 – A year in recap

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Windows Accessibility team emphasizes their commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, guided by the principle of “nothing about us without us.” They collaborate with advisory boards from the disability community to enhance product features. Fluid Dictation on Windows allows users to dictate text seamlessly, correcting grammar and punctuation in real time, and operates offline on Copilot+ PCs. Voice Access has been improved to accommodate diverse communication styles, with features like adjustable wait time, a custom word dictionary, flexible command recognition, enhanced speech pattern recognition, and support for Chinese and Japanese. Narrator and Magnifier now feature human-like voices developed with Azure AI, enhancing the user experience with natural conversation nuances. Recent updates to Narrator in Microsoft Word improve navigation and text drafting, with clearer announcements and concise feedback on spelling and grammar. Additional enhancements include a Screen Curtain for privacy, richer image descriptions, and tools for speech recap and live transcription. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to guide further development, and technical assistance is available through the Disability Answer Desk.

Winsage

November 26, 2025

Windows 11’s Notepad gets support for tables and bolstered AI powers – and not everyone’s happy

Microsoft is enhancing the Notepad application in Windows 11 with new features, including the ability to create tables and AI-driven text creation and rewriting capabilities. The latest preview is available to testers in the Canary and Dev Channels. The AI features allow real-time text generation but require devices with Copilot+ technology and a Microsoft account for access. There are concerns about Notepad becoming bloated and losing its minimalist design as it integrates more functionalities, especially following the planned discontinuation of WordPad in 2024, which may position Notepad as a more robust alternative for document creation.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

Microsoft is updating Windows 11’s Snipping Tool with option to add text to screenshots

Microsoft has transformed the Snipping Tool into a multifaceted application, adding features like video creation and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for text extraction from images. Recently, new text editing capabilities were discovered, allowing users to insert text when editing screenshots. This feature was demonstrated by a user on X, and while Microsoft has not officially commented on it, the potential applications include simple annotations and creative projects. Windows Insiders are expected to be the first to access these new tools, although a release timeline is not yet clear.

Winsage

October 15, 2025

12 features coming during first half of October on Windows 11 Insiders

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 in October 2025 through the Windows Insider Program, releasing several notable features and improvements. Key updates include: 1. An updated Settings app with improved AI agent integration, featuring a "Recommended settings" card and enhanced search results. 2. The Drag Tray now supports dragging and dropping multiple files. 3. Administrator Protection is accessible again in the Windows Security app. 4. The "Run" command dialog box is being updated for dark mode support. 5. Click to Do feature enhancements allow for more precise object selection within images. 6. Windows Hello now supports external fingerprint sensors. 7. Users can configure the user folder name during the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE) using Command Prompt. 8. File Explorer receives dark mode improvements across various dialogs. 9. A redesigned Start menu in the Canary Channel combines "All," "Pinned," and "Recommended" sections into a scrollable interface. 10. A new setting allows users to adjust the position of on-screen hardware indicators. 11. Updates to keyboard shortcuts facilitate the insertion of En dashes and Em dashes. 12. The Windows Share interface now includes an option for pinning favorite apps.

Winsage

October 11, 2025

A new default text editor is coming soon to Windows 11

In 1991, MS-DOS 5.0 introduced the MS-DOS Editor, a text editing tool. A modern version called Windows Edit was recently launched, designed for the command line and supporting Unicode. It has removed the previous 300 KB file limit, allowing for files up to gigabyte sizes. Windows Edit is set to become the default text editor in the Windows 11 Command Prompt and is available for download on GitHub. It is open source, developed in Rust, and works on macOS and Linux as well.

Winsage

October 9, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 11’s simple text editor “Edit” is now pre-installed

Microsoft has announced the integration of its command-line text editor, Edit, into future versions of its operating system. Windows 11 Build 27965 in the Canary channel features Edit as a default application. Edit is a lightweight command-line interface editor available as an open-source project on GitHub. It can be accessed by typing “edit” in the Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Users can open specific files with the command “edit filename.txt.” Edit includes mouse interactions, visible menus, keyboard shortcuts, and features like search functionality and word wrapping. It does not replace Notepad or GUI-based editors, as it lacks features like syntax highlighting. Edit is currently available in Build 27965 for Windows Insider users and can be manually installed via GitHub or Winget.

Winsage

September 4, 2025

Windows 10 is being phased out—is a tablet now the better choice?

The text discusses the growing relevance of tablets as alternatives to traditional laptops in personal computing, especially with the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Tablets are suitable for various users, including those with a primary PC, students, frequent travelers, casual users, and those avoiding Windows 11. Modern tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, OnePlus Pad 3, and Lenovo Tab P12, offer portability, long battery life, and compatibility with accessories like keyboards and styluses. They can perform everyday tasks effectively, often with apps optimized for tablet use. Tablets also provide a less complex user experience compared to Windows 11, which has stringent hardware requirements. The Galaxy Tab S9 features an 11-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 8,400 mAh battery. The OnePlus Pad 3 has a 13.2-inch LCD, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and 12,140 mAh battery. The Lenovo Tab P12 offers a 12.7-inch display, MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, and 10,200 mAh battery.

Winsage

August 26, 2025

5 “just-enough” open-source apps I install on every fresh Windows setup

A fresh installation of Windows provides a clean slate, but soon requires essential tools for tasks like file extraction, text editing, audio recording, and screen capturing. The following open-source tools are recommended: - 7-Zip: A lightweight file compression tool that supports various formats (.zip, .rar, .tar, .7z, .iso) and integrates into the right-click context menu. It is free and maintained by a community. - OBS Studio: An open-source software for gamers and content creators that excels in livestreaming and game recording, featuring customizable recording parameters and a replay buffer. - Audacity: A long-standing open-source audio editing software that is lightweight yet feature-rich, ideal for straightforward audio editing tasks and supports built-in effects and plugins. - Notepad++: An enhanced text editor that supports multiple programming languages and syntax highlighting, making it suitable for editing configuration files, with lightweight nature and plugin support. - ShareX: An open-source screenshot tool that offers advanced features and customizable workflows, improving upon the Snipping Tool for seamless screenshot management. The author values these tools for being free, open-source, and reliable, often preferring them over proprietary software.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Newest version of Windows 11 Notepad gets improved context menus

Microsoft is retiring WordPad in 2024, prompting Notepad to evolve with new features such as spell check, AI-generated text, and Markdown formatting. The upcoming Notepad version 11.2507.26.0, available to Windows Insiders, includes a redesigned context menu with quick actions like copy, cut, paste, select all, and delete, as well as new functionalities like Write, Rewrite, Summarize, and Define with Bing. A broader rollout of the enhanced Notepad experience is expected by September or October.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Notepad’s best feature is its simplicity — and I’m worried Microsoft is slowly taking it away

Microsoft's Notepad has evolved from a simple, fast application into a more cluttered tool with unnecessary features, raising concerns about software bloat. Initially, updates like unsaved changes indicators and improved search functionality were well-received, but the introduction of spellchecking and AI features like Copilot has frustrated users who valued its straightforward nature. In response to these concerns, Microsoft announced a new tool called Edit, aimed at providing a more basic text editing experience, though its accessibility and usability remain uncertain.