Windows app Archives

Winsage

December 26, 2024

How to add your Android phone to Windows 11 File Explorer

To integrate your Android phone with Windows 11, you need a Windows 11 PC with the latest updates, an Android device running Android 11 or later, and the Link to Windows app installed on your phone. 1. Open the Link to Windows app on your phone and log in with your Microsoft account. Select ‘Go to device settings’ and tap ‘ADD COMPUTER’. Visit www.aka.ms/phonelink on your PC or scan the QR code displayed on your PC screen to establish the connection. 2. On your phone, grant permissions to view photos and send texts by selecting ‘View permissions’, then ‘Settings’, and enabling access for ‘Phone’, ‘SMS’, ‘Contacts’, and ‘Storage’. 3. In the Phone Link app on your PC, click ‘Open settings on mobile device’ to grant notification permissions on your phone by navigating to ‘Device and app notifications’, selecting the ‘Link to Windows’ app, and toggling on ‘Allow notification access’. 4. On your PC, go to ‘Settings’, select ‘Bluetooth & devices’, and enable ‘Allow this PC to access your mobile devices’ and ‘Phone Link’. In ‘Manage devices’, ensure your phone is toggled on and enable ‘Show mobile device in File Explorer’. 5. On your phone, go to ‘All file access’ settings, select the ‘Link to Windows’ app, and toggle on ‘Allow access to manage all files’. A confirmation message will indicate successful linking. 6. Your phone should now appear as a tab in File Explorer, allowing easy access to your mobile storage.

Winsage

December 19, 2024

Microsoft 365 is getting a ‘massive’ redesign early next year

Microsoft will rebrand its Microsoft 365 app as "Microsoft 365 Copilot" and introduce a new user interface in mid-January 2025. Key changes include: - Elimination of the traditional top header, with essential tools moved to the bottom left toolbar. - The feedback button will be located under "Settings and more" in the bottom left toolbar. - A prominently featured search box on the Homepage for locating content, though the search experience remains unchanged. - Applications listed on the left toolbar will be aligned to the top, with AI features like Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Copilot Pages grouped together. - The organization logo will no longer be visible in the app. - The "Back" button will be removed from the Windows app, but navigation will still be possible using the left AppBar. - The "My Day" feature will be discontinued, removing calendar and to-do functionalities. - The "Help me create" feature will be retired and replaced by AI-powered document creation capabilities in the new Copilot tab.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Immersive productivity with Windows and Meta Quest

The full capabilities of Windows 11 are now accessible on mixed reality headsets, starting with the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, through a collaboration between Microsoft and Meta. Users can engage in a public preview that allows seamless access to local Windows PCs or Windows 365 Cloud PCs. Connecting a Quest headset to a local PC is straightforward; users can press “Windows + Y” to generate a QR code for scanning. The Windows App on Meta Quest devices provides secure access to Windows 365 Cloud PCs, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box. The Meta Quest headset allows users to utilize multiple high-resolution virtual monitors, enhancing productivity while maintaining awareness of their physical environment through the Passthrough feature. This experience is part of an experimental feature rolling out with the v72 software update for Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, which will be deployed gradually.

Winsage

December 11, 2024

Quest 3’s Windows 11 Integration Arrives As Experimental Feature

Quest 3's latest enhancement, introduced during Meta Connect 2024, integrates Windows 11 into Horizon OS v72, allowing users to connect and mirror their Windows 11 PC with a simple tap by looking at the device. This feature is developed through a partnership with Microsoft, utilizing Windows 11 Remote Desktop technology. Once connected, the PC screen turns off and is replaced by a virtual display, enabling users to create up to three virtual monitors. Currently, users must enable 'Pair to PC with Microsoft Mixed Reality Link' in their headset settings and download the Mixed Reality Link app on their Windows 11 PC for setup, but this will not be necessary once the feature exits beta. After setup, users can connect to their PC with a tap on a virtual button without launching any applications. However, the feature requires a local network for operation, unlike Apple's similar feature, which can function without one.

Winsage

December 7, 2024

Microsoft Store expands to update all Win32 apps, but users remain skeptical

Microsoft is working to enhance the Windows App Store by allowing third-party publishers to manage updates for their Win32 applications directly through the Store. The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758 introduces support for Win32 applications, enabling users to manage and update these programs without leaving the Store. Users can access updates via the "Downloads" page, but must manually initiate the update process. This centralized update feature is exclusive to applications downloaded from the Microsoft Store, while traditional Win32 software remains unaffected. The update capability provides developers with a new distribution method while retaining control over updates. Additionally, the build addresses various bugs in Windows components, although some compatibility issues with Windows 11 24H2 persist.

Winsage

November 29, 2024

Goodbye DeX, Samsung reveals the fate of the Windows app

Samsung's upcoming One UI 7 update will discontinue support for the DeX app on Windows, as stated on Samsung's UK website. Users are encouraged to use the "Link to Windows" feature instead, which will provide similar capabilities for connecting mobile devices to PCs. Additionally, One UI 7 will also end support for downloading third-party edge panels.

Winsage

November 29, 2024

OneUI 7 won’t support Samsung’s DeX app for Windows

Samsung announced that the upcoming One UI 7 will not support the DeX app on Windows. The DeX app, which allowed users to transfer files and mirror their Android phone's screen on Windows PCs, is being phased out in favor of Microsoft Phone Link, which offers similar functionalities and supports a broader range of Android devices. Users are encouraged to use the Link to Windows feature instead, which can be set up by downloading the Link to Windows app on their Android device and connecting it to the Phone Link app on their Windows 11 PC.

Winsage

November 23, 2024

Best Windows apps this week

Microsoft introduced Bing Wallpaper to the Microsoft Store, but it is not recommended due to the inclusion of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) such as auto-installation of additional software and prompts to set Bing as the default search engine. New Windows apps include: - Beeskie: A beta app for Bluesky users providing a standalone platform for social networking. - Bloatynosy Nue: An open-source app that enhances privacy on Windows by modifying system settings and uninstalling pre-installed applications. - Last Wallpaper: An open-source application that automatically downloads and displays Bing's wallpaper of the day, supporting additional sources like Copernicus, NASA, and Wikipedia, though it requires technical configuration. Discounts on various apps and games are currently available in the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

November 17, 2024

Best Windows apps this week

Microsoft has removed the Actions feature from the Microsoft Store, which allowed users to engage with certain games without installation. The official Windows app for ChatGPT is now available to all users, featuring advanced voice commands. The Explorer Dialog Path Selector is an open-source application that improves file-saving and moving processes in Windows. Paint.net 5.1 has been released with enhancements including full color management support, new effects, improved performance, and customizable canvas options.

Winsage

November 12, 2024

Microsoft is killing off Windows 11’s Mail and Calendar apps by the end of the year

Microsoft will end support for its Windows Mail, Calendar, and People applications on December 31st. Users who do not switch to the new Outlook for Windows app will be unable to send or receive emails after this date. The new Outlook app became generally available in August and is intended to replace the existing Mail and Calendar apps, as well as the full desktop version of Outlook. Microsoft will provide enterprise customers with a 12-month notice before transitioning away from the traditional desktop version, while support for classic Outlook versions will continue until at least 2029.