text input Archives

Winsage

June 6, 2025

7 accessibility features in Windows 11 that make life easier for everyone

Windows 11 includes a variety of accessibility features designed to enhance usability for all users. Key features include: 1. Customize Mouse Appearance: Users can change the mouse pointer's style, color, and size, and enable a mouse indicator for easier location on the screen. 2. Change Text Cursor Appearance: Users can customize the text cursor's color, thickness, and size to improve visibility. 3. Voice Control: Users can control their PC entirely through voice commands by enabling the Voice Access feature. 4. Voice Typing: Users can convert spoken words into text using the Voice Typing feature, which can be activated with a keyboard shortcut. 5. Always Show Scrollbars: Users can ensure that scrollbars are always visible in applications by enabling the corresponding setting. 6. Control Keyboard Sensitivity: The Filter Keys feature allows users to adjust keyboard sensitivity to manage repeated keystrokes. These features aim to improve navigation and overall user experience on Windows 11.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Google is about to unleash Gemini Nano’s power for third-party Android apps

Google is expanding its Gemini Nano AI model by introducing new ML Kit GenAI APIs, expected to be unveiled at the I/O 2025 event. These APIs will allow developers to integrate features such as text summarization, proofreading, rewriting, and image description generation into their applications. Gemini Nano operates on devices, enhancing privacy by processing data locally. The ML Kit GenAI APIs will support various languages and functionalities, including generating concise summaries, correcting grammar, transforming chat messages, and providing image descriptions. Unlike the experimental AI Edge SDK, the GenAI APIs will be in beta, allowing for broader device compatibility beyond the Pixel 9 series, including other Android devices. Public documentation for the ML Kit GenAI APIs is now available for developers.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5160 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5160 (KB5053654) has been released for the Beta Channel for users on Windows 11, version 23H2. Windows 11, version 24H2 is also available as an optional upgrade for Insiders in the Beta Channel. New features include: - A speech recap feature in Narrator that allows users to track and reference spoken content, with a history of the last 500 strings spoken. Users can access this feature using keyboard shortcuts. - Copilot on Windows can now be launched with Win + C, and users can customize their Copilot key. It includes a press-to-talk feature for voice interaction. - The Windows share window has been enhanced to allow quick editing options for images, including cropping and applying filters. - A new FAQs section has been added to the Settings > System > About page to provide users with quick answers about their PC. Fixes include resolving delays in app icons appearing in the Start menu and updating the logic for desktop app icons to enhance visibility. Known issues include a flashing context menu in the Start menu and a crash issue with Narrator that can be resolved by restarting the PC. Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 23H2 through an enablement package, and features are rolled out gradually using Controlled Feature Rollout technology.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Windows 11’s new headline security feature is now in testing — here’s how it can help your PC

Microsoft is rolling out a new feature called quick machine recovery (QMR) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, designed to automatically detect and resolve boot issues directly from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). When enabled, QMR identifies and applies fixes for common boot problems, and in case of a critical boot failure, it transitions the device into WinRE, connects to the network, and sends diagnostic data to Microsoft for targeted remediation via Windows Update. This feature will be enabled by default for home users and is available for testing by Windows Insiders. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a speech recap feature in Narrator, allowing users to track what has been spoken, access live transcriptions, and copy the last spoken phrase using keyboard shortcuts. The speech recap window can display the last 500 strings spoken by Narrator and refreshes each time Narrator starts. Windows 11 Build 26120.3653 includes a streamlined user interface for unexpected restarts, a new way to launch Copilot using Win + C, and the Click to Do feature accessible from the Start menu, which supports multiple languages. Improvements to Windows Share include a visual preview of content and quick image editing options.

Winsage

March 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (KB5053658) has been released to the Beta Channel for users on Windows 11, version 24H2. The update includes new features such as Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), which automatically detects and applies fixes for boot issues, and a speech recap feature in Narrator that allows users to access previously spoken content. The update also introduces a new UI for unexpected restarts, simplifies launching Copilot with the Win + C shortcut, and enhances the Click to Do feature with intelligent text actions in multiple languages. Additionally, the Windows share window now includes a visual preview and image editing capabilities. Various fixes have been implemented for issues in the taskbar, File Explorer, windowing, Windows Update, and Settings. Known issues include problems with Recall and File Explorer crashes for some users.

Winsage

March 23, 2025

6 Windows features aimed at accessibility you didn’t know everyone should use

Microsoft's Windows 11 includes several accessibility features aimed at enhancing user experience. - Voice Access allows users to control their PCs with voice commands, operating in three modes: default, command-only, and dictation. It functions without an internet connection. - Live Captions automatically generate captions for any audio playing on the PC, aiding users in noisy environments or while multitasking. - Focus helps users minimize distractions by customizing notification settings and can be programmed to activate during specific activities. - Narrator reads text aloud from the screen, useful for managing extensive texts, with customizable settings for speed, pitch, and voice. - On-Screen Keyboard provides a virtual keyboard for input via mouse or touchscreen, customizable for usability. - Mouse pointer options allow users to adjust the size and color of the cursor and enable pointer trails for better visibility. Custom cursor designs can also be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

March 20, 2025

Typing on a gamepad gets less annoying with this new Windows keyboard

Microsoft has introduced a dedicated keyboard layout for the touch keyboard in Windows 11, specifically designed for gamepad users, as part of Build 26100.3613. This layout allows users to type and navigate using Xbox controllers, featuring button accelerators like the X button for backspace and the Y button for the spacebar. The keyboard keys are vertically aligned to improve navigation. Users can activate the gamepad keyboard by accessing the touch keyboard and selecting Keyboard layout > Gamepad. Additionally, Windows 11 includes accessibility features such as Live Captions, Narrator Mode, and Voice Typing to enhance usability for all users.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

How to launch other apps with the Copilot key on Windows 11

Windows 11 introduces the Copilot key, located next to the Alt key, which replaces the second Windows key and allows for customization. Users can modify the Copilot key to launch preferred applications by accessing Settings, selecting Personalization, and navigating to the Text input page. They can choose either the Search option or the Custom option to select an application to launch. This functionality is limited to apps from the Microsoft Store or those installed with a signed MSIX package. Users in the Windows Insider Program may have a limited selection of apps, while those on the Stable Channel can choose virtually any application. To restore the default setting of the Copilot key, users can follow similar steps to select the Copilot app, which will revert the key's function back to opening the Microsoft chatbot app.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Google spruces up Android with 6 new features improving Gemini, accessibility, and sharing

Google has introduced new features for Android, effective immediately, focusing on accessibility, sharing capabilities, and document management. Key updates include: - Expressive Captions for improved audio caption reading, available system-wide. - Enhanced image description capabilities in the Gemini platform, with vocalized descriptions and follow-up questions. - Emoji Kitchen for creating unique emojis by combining two default ones, integrated into Gboard. - Revamped Quick Share functionality allowing QR code generation for sharing content. - Higher quality document scans with automatic enhancements in Google Drive. - New Gemini Extensions for Spotify and Home, expanding features available to users.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

The Windows 11 24H2 bug list grows again: 10 reasons to avoid this update for now

Microsoft released the Windows 11 24H2 update on October 1, 2023, which includes enhancements like an upgraded Copilot AI and a refreshed File Explorer. However, the update has several bugs, leading Microsoft to temporarily halt its rollout for certain problematic PCs. Key issues include: 1. The System File Checker (SFC) is caught in a loop of false positives, misidentifying WebView2-related files as corrupted. 2. An 8.63GB update cache cannot be deleted through standard methods, but can be removed using "Windows Update Cleanup." 3. The update conflicts with Easy Anti-Cheat software, causing blue screens for users with Intel's Alder Lake+ processors. 4. Blue screens can also occur due to driver incompatibilities with Intel Smart Sound Technology, certain Western Digital SSDs, and MSI Z890 motherboards. 5. The mouse pointer may disappear in Chromium-based applications when interacting with text input fields. 6. Users have reported erratic internet connectivity, with some unable to receive a valid IP address. 7. Fingerprint sensors may become unresponsive on some devices. 8. The clipboard history feature may malfunction, showing as empty despite copied items. 9. Devices may fail to appear in the network list, affecting file and printer sharing. 10. Users of Copilot+ PCs face difficulties with printer setup and usage, particularly with HP, Canon, and Brother printers. Due to these issues, users are advised to delay installation of the update until fixes are implemented.