Windows Copilot Archives

Winsage

February 15, 2025

Last chance to get Copilot AI on your PC for $18

Windows 11 Pro is on sale for .97 through March 30 (regular price 9). Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro provides access to Windows Copilot, an AI assistant that enhances productivity with various features. The sale allows users to secure a Windows 11 Pro key for .97, which can upgrade two compatible PCs, with no coupon required.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

Thinking about a new PC? This upgrade might change your mind

A bundle featuring Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, significantly reduced from its regular price of 9.99. The upgrade to Windows 11 Pro provides a modern interface, productivity tools, and enhanced security features, including BitLocker device encryption. The bundle includes a lifetime license for eight Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. This offer is available for a limited time and does not require a coupon.

Winsage

February 6, 2025

You Can Get Windows 11 Pro on Sale for A$31 Right Now

Windows 11 Pro is currently available for a reduced price of A, down from A8. The activation code allows users to upgrade two compatible PCs and access features such as a revamped user interface and Windows Copilot, an intelligent assistant powered by GPT-4. The Pro version includes advanced features like Remote Desktop, BitLocker Device Encryption, Azure AD integration, Hyper-V virtualization, Assigned Access, and Windows Sandbox. Minimum system requirements are 4GB of RAM and 64GB of available storage. Availability and pricing on StackSocial may change.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

Mythbusters: Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm

Advantech's infographic addresses myths about Microsoft Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm, distinguishing it from Windows Home or Professional editions. Myths about the operating system include: 1. Windows on Arm consumes significant power and resources, leading to poor performance. 2. The image size of Windows on Arm is greater than or equal to that of Windows on x86. 3. Desktop mode is unavailable on Windows on Arm. 4. Windows on Arm is a stripped-down version of Windows. 5. Arm architecture may face limitations with complex tasks. 6. All Windows devices are power-hungry, and switching to Arm offers no improvement. Key facts include: - Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC typically occupies about 6GB of storage, with a minimum requirement of 16GB. - Desktop mode is available on Windows on Arm. - Windows on Arm retains core functionalities, though some hardware drivers may have compatibility issues. - Arm processors are generally more efficient than x86 counterparts. Myths regarding applications and workload include: 7. Windows on Arm exclusively supports Arm64 applications. 8. Multimedia applications perform poorly on Windows on Arm devices. 9. Windows Copilot can be extended to all versions of Windows running on Arm. Key facts include: - An emulation system allows x86 applications to run on Arm hardware. - Multimedia performance depends on hardware acceleration, which is supported by major SoC manufacturers. - Cloud-based services like Windows Copilot operate effectively on Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm, but on-device Copilot+ requires specific hardware capabilities. Myths about licensing and development include: 10. The Windows license fee for x86 is expensive, and the fee for Windows on Arm is similarly high. 11. Windows on Arm has limited support for certain Windows frameworks. 12. Development and debugging on Windows for Arm architecture present challenges requiring extended transition periods. Key facts include: - Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC is priced between 0 and 0, offering a decade of security updates. - Transitioning from x86 to Arm for application development is streamlined, with common programming languages and frameworks remaining compatible. Tools like Visual Studio facilitate the development process.

Winsage

December 21, 2024

Last chance to get Windows 11 Pro for $18

Microsoft has officially ceased security support for Windows 10. Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, a 90% discount from its regular price of 9. This promotion runs until December 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Windows 11 Pro includes enhanced security features such as Microsoft Information Protection, BitLocker encryption, advanced antivirus defenses, and biometric login support. It also offers productivity tools like Windows Hello for Business and AI capabilities through Windows Copilot.

Winsage

December 15, 2024

Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $18 this week only

Windows 11 Pro is available for a limited time at a price of .97, down from its regular retail price of 9. Users can run Windows alongside macOS on Intel-based Macs using Boot Camp or a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop. The operating system offers features such as DirectX 12 Ultimate graphics and Windows Copilot. No coupon is needed to access this offer.

Winsage

December 14, 2024

Rising to the TOPS: How will NPUs and Windows AI grow in 2025?

In 2024, Microsoft introduced the "Copilot+ PC" branding for AI-capable laptops, while Apple launched Apple Intelligence. These developments have led to mixed outcomes, with features like real-time translations and on-device speech-to-text being beneficial, but others, such as Windows Recall, still proving their value. By 2025, mainstream developers are expected to integrate on-device AI into Windows applications, influencing consumer purchasing decisions. The term "TOPS" (Trillions of Operations Per Second) is becoming important for evaluating the AI performance of Windows laptops, with a minimum of 40 TOPS required for Microsoft's "Copilot PC+" designation. Qualcomm's Copilot+ PCs reported around 45 TOPS, significantly higher than Intel's 11 TOPS. By the end of 2024, premium Windows laptops are expected to see a three- to four-fold increase in NPU performance compared to 2023 models. Analysts speculate further performance improvements may occur towards the end of 2025. Despite the potential for a two- to three-fold enhancement in on-device AI performance, experts caution against overemphasizing TOPS figures, which may not accurately reflect real-world performance. The lack of a unified API for leveraging NPU capabilities in Windows complicates matters for users of Copilot+ laptops without Qualcomm chips. Although AMD and Intel have released competitive chips, Qualcomm currently holds an advantage with exclusive support for certain applications. Microsoft is promoting its low-level machine learning API (DirectML) and the Windows Copilot Runtime, which may enhance the Copilot+ PC ecosystem. While cloud-based AI solutions remain an option, the cost of these services is expected to rise, making on-device AI more appealing. The introduction of ChatGPT Pro highlights the financial implications of cloud access compared to on-device NPU usage, which incurs no additional costs. The pace of on-device AI adoption in Windows' software ecosystem is anticipated to accelerate in 2025.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Microsoft tests compact, native version of Windows Copilot app

Mark is a technology journalist with ten years at PCWorld and over three decades in the industry, having written more than 3,500 articles on topics like PC microprocessors and Microsoft Windows. His work has also been featured in publications such as PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News. He won the Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. Recently, he sold several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs due to a lack of space in his office.

Winsage

December 10, 2024

Microsoft is giving Copilot a new taskbar UI and keyboard shortcut on Windows

Microsoft is updating Copilot on Windows, enhancing its functionality as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for testers. The new version includes a keyboard shortcut (Alt + Space) and a quick view user interface that hovers above the taskbar, improving accessibility. Users can activate this feature through the system tray, and it remains visible above other applications until dismissed. However, the use of Alt + Space may cause conflicts with other applications that use the same shortcut, leading Windows to prioritize the first launched app. Microsoft is considering adjustments to the keyboard shortcuts based on user feedback. The new features will be available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, despite plans to phase out Windows 10 support by October 2025. Initially launched as Windows Copilot in Windows 11, the application has evolved from a sidebar to a more integrated web view.

Winsage

December 3, 2024

Windows Copilot+ PCs aren’t there yet: 8 must-change upgrades for 2025

Intel's Lunar Lake and AMD's Ryzen AI 300 CPUs are expanding the market for AI-infused Copilot+ PCs beyond Arm-powered laptops, featuring neural processing units (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second. The new baseline specifications include at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, the initial features of Copilot+ PCs have been underwhelming, lacking transformative AI integration, and privacy concerns have arisen with the Windows Recall feature, leading to its retraction. The Copilot AI assistant requires an internet connection, limiting functionality, and generative image capabilities are also constrained by this requirement. Current local image generation models do not match the quality of cloud-based solutions, and the focus on NPUs has overlooked the potential of GPUs in gaming laptops. The Copilot+ designation is currently limited to thin-and-light laptops, excluding desktop PCs and gaming laptops. Applications must utilize the Windows Copilot Runtime for full potential, but few currently do. Lastly, the high prices of Copilot+ PCs hinder widespread adoption.