Windows applications Archives

Winsage

April 18, 2025

Your Windows 10 PC isn’t dead yet – this OS from Google can revive it

On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will reach its end of life, affecting users with older PCs that cannot upgrade to Windows 11. ChromeOS Flex is a free operating system by Google designed to modernize older Windows PCs and Macs, offering a fast and secure alternative built on Chromium OS. It does not support standalone Windows applications but allows access to Microsoft 365 and other SaaS applications via web portals. ChromeOS Flex focuses on security with features like automatic updates and data encryption, and it has never experienced a reported ransomware attack. The minimum system requirements include an Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device, 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and the ability to boot from a USB drive. To install ChromeOS Flex, users must back up their files, create a USB installation drive using the Chromebook Recovery Utility, and boot from the USB drive to test compatibility before proceeding with a full installation.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

There’s AI Inside Windows Paint and Notepad Now. Here’s How to Use It

Companies are integrating artificial intelligence into their software, with recent updates to Windows applications like Paint and Notepad showcasing AI enhancements. In Windows Paint, a Copilot button introduces three features: 1. Image Creator: Users can generate images from descriptive prompts, selecting styles for the output. 2. Generative Erase: This tool lets users remove unwanted elements from images and fills in the background using surrounding pixels. 3. Remove Background: This feature isolates the main subject of an image by turning the background white. Generative Erase and Remove Background are free, while Image Creator requires AI credits available through Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscriptions. In Windows Notepad, the Copilot button offers features to refine existing text: 1. Make shorter and Make longer: Adjusts the length of selected text. 2. Change tone: Modifies the text's tone to be inspirational, formal, casual, or humorous. 3. Change format: Restructures text into lists, marketing language, or poetry. 4. Rewrite: Provides previews of rewritten text for selection. Notepad's AI-powered rewrites are limited for free users, with extensive use requiring AI credits tied to a Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscription. The Copilot button can be disabled in settings for a distraction-free experience.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Windows Photos gets revamped with powerful AI features and smarter tools

Microsoft has updated its Photos app for Windows Insiders, integrating AI features, including the Copilot assistant. This update introduces a dedicated button for accessing Copilot, which offers personalized photography editing tips and image insights. Users can upload images to receive AI-generated feedback, although Copilot does not yet edit photos. The app now includes enhanced optical character recognition with a "Search in Web" option, allowing users to highlight text in images and search online. New shortcuts in File Explorer enable users to access AI editing tools easily. The "Visual Search with Bing" tool allows exploration of similar images and related products. The updated Gallery View supports smarter folder navigation, and JPEG XL support improves image quality and compression. Microsoft has also addressed bugs affecting AI features and made general performance improvements.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

ReactOS drops release 0.4.15

ReactOS has released version 0.4.15, its first point-release in several years, following version 0.4.14 from December 2021. This release includes significant improvements such as enhanced plug-and-play support, improved sound and memory management, better Registry handling, a strengthened security subsystem, refinements in the graphical desktop environment, and upgrades to bundled accessories. ReactOS 0.4.15 can run Firefox 52 and successfully installed VirtualBox Guest Additions, recognizing a VirtualBox display adaptor. The operating system operates as an x86-32 platform, identifying itself as Windows NT 5.2 Build 3790: Service Pack 3. ReactOS can install Windows drivers through clean-room reverse engineering, and it features an integrated app store supporting nearly 400 programs, although some functionality issues exist with the built-in "WINE Internet Explorer" browser. The project appeals to users nostalgic for early Windows NT versions and serves as an alternative for those without a Windows license.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Huge Microsoft Photos update adds amazing new web search with OCR-extracted text feature and makes AI options easier to access

Microsoft Photos has received a significant update that enhances its capabilities, including improved Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the ability to conduct web searches for extracted text directly within the app. The update also integrates AI-driven photo editing tools, allowing users to start an AI editing session from the Windows context menu and introducing a new Copilot button with features such as photo editing tips, image insights, and framing suggestions. This update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders on Windows 11 and to Windows 10 users in the Release Preview Channel.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

Google Drive is now widely available on Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops

The Google Drive app is now fully available for users of Arm-powered PCs, including those with Snapdragon X chipsets. This native version allows seamless integration with Windows File Explorer, enabling users to sync and store files online easily. Additionally, Google has updated its Quick Share app for Windows to support Arm, although it is still a non-native application.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Fortnite is breaking down a huge barrier for Snapdragon chips

Epic Games has partnered with Qualcomm to integrate Fortnite and its Easy Anti-Cheat software into Snapdragon X Elite PCs. This collaboration aims to tackle compatibility issues between Windows applications and Snapdragon devices due to differences in x86 and Arm instruction set architectures. The introduction of Easy Anti-Cheat is expected to facilitate the addition of more games on Snapdragon PCs, depending on developer support. Despite the potential of Snapdragon X Elite PCs for gaming, app support has been limited. Fortnite is set to launch on these devices later this year, paving the way for more titles. Easy Anti-Cheat requires kernel-level access, making it incompatible with emulation layers, which presents challenges for running conventional Windows applications designed for x86. Epic Games aims to improve anti-cheat support for other games through this initiative, although not all games may receive support due to potential performance issues with emulation.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

Microsoft adds another Copilot hotkey

Microsoft has introduced a voice conversation feature in its Copilot application for Windows Insiders, activated by holding down the Alt + Spacebar for two seconds. This update allows users to interact with the AI assistant vocally, asking questions and receiving responses without typing. The microphone icon appears on the screen during the voice chat, and it disappears after a few seconds of silence. This functionality is part of Microsoft's effort to enhance user interaction and productivity in work environments. The Copilot app has transitioned from a web-based application to a more integrated native experience. Previously, users activated Copilot using the Windows + C shortcut, but the new Alt + Spacebar combination was chosen for universal accessibility.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

4 features in Parallels that make it the best VM software on Mac

The discontinuation of Boot Camp support for Apple Silicon Macs has led to the rise of virtualization software, with Parallels being a leading solution. Parallels simplifies the installation of Windows 11 by automatically downloading the operating system and creating a local Windows account, avoiding the need for a Microsoft account. It supports high refresh rates, allowing Windows VMs to run at up to 120Hz on compatible monitors. Parallels integrates seamlessly with macOS, enabling users to access files across both operating systems and facilitating a fluid workflow. The Coherence feature allows Windows applications to run within the Mac desktop environment, making them feel like native macOS apps. Parallels is recognized as the premier virtualization choice for running Windows on Apple Silicon Macs, demonstrating strong performance even on entry-level devices.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

CrossOver 25 brings Red Dead Redemption 2 and more to macOS

CodeWeavers has released CrossOver 25, which allows users to run Windows applications on macOS and Linux. This version includes over 5,000 changes for improved compatibility and is built on Wine 10.0, featuring enhanced HiDPI support and upgraded Vulkan drivers. CrossOver 25 supports Red Dead Redemption 2 and other titles such as Street Fighter 6, Need for Speed Heat, Nioh 2, Teardown, Age of Wonders 4, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and The Last of Us Part 1. It introduces a new configuration system for easier gameplay and enables multiplayer for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Additionally, it features DXMT, a Metal-based implementation of Direct3D 11, alongside other graphics options. CrossOver for Mac is available with a free trial option.