Word Archives

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Finally! Microsoft brings most Copilot+ AI features to AMD, Intel PCs

Microsoft has announced that all Copilot+ PCs, including those with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V processors, will now have access to AI-driven features, previously limited to Snapdragon devices. Features available include Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator, though some functionalities, like photo resizing, remain exclusive to Snapdragon-powered PCs. The Voice Access feature is currently limited to Snapdragon devices, with plans for AMD and Intel compatibility later this year. Upcoming features will be available through the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update, following the November 2024 update, and will be rolled out gradually via Windows controlled feature rollout. Users can access updates by navigating to Settings > Windows Update.

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Microsoft Office apps will soon preload on Windows boot for faster launch

Microsoft has introduced a feature called Startup Boost for its Office applications on Windows, aimed at reducing launch times. This feature preloads essential components of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into memory upon Windows startup, keeping them in a paused state until needed. Startup Boost requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space to function effectively and will disable itself in Energy Saver mode. Users can disable Startup Boost through Office settings, but it will be automatically reactivated with the next Office update. The rollout is expected to begin in mid-May, starting with Word, followed by other Office apps.

Winsage

March 28, 2025

Office is too slow, so Microsoft is making it load at Windows startup

Microsoft is introducing a feature called "Startup Boost" for its Office suite, allowing applications like Word and Excel to launch automatically upon booting Windows. This feature will only be enabled on devices with a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 5GB of available disk space. The rollout will begin in mid-May, starting with Microsoft Word, and users can disable the feature in Word’s settings or through the Task Scheduler.

BetaBeacon

March 28, 2025

Ever wanted to play games on your Android Auto screen? There’s good news.

The latest beta version of Android Auto now supports a few games, including Angry Birds 2, Beach Buggy Racing, and Candy Crush Soda Saga.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Windows 10 Ending : Microsoft Makes Windows 11 Free, But Not for Long

Microsoft's official end of support for Windows 10 is set for October 2025, prompting the company to encourage users to transition to Windows 11 through a "limited-time" free upgrade offer. Windows 11 has stringent system requirements, including TPM 2.0 support, which many older PCs lack. Microsoft 365 apps will stop receiving updates on Windows 10 after support ends, although they will continue to function. Users who do not upgrade can opt for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security patches at a cost. Options for users include upgrading to a compatible PC, switching to another operating system like Linux, or remaining on Windows 10 with limited support.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Defenchick, Skel and Defense, LIMBO, more

Samsung is offering a complimentary credit towards its new Odyssey and ViewFinity monitors as part of its spring sale. The Wednesday Google Play deals feature innovative apps, including Defenchick, Skel, Defense, and LIMBO. Additionally, Nothing is promoting its Ear (a) wireless buds, and Samsung has released the Galaxy Buds 3. Amazon has introduced the new Kindle Scribe reader and notebook.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Windows Photos adds fancy editing features from other Microsoft apps

Microsoft is updating its Windows Photos app with features from its Designer application in version 2025.11030.20006.0. The app will include AI-powered editing tools, such as image touch-ups, background removal, and photo upscaling, particularly for users with Copilot+ PCs that have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). A new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature will enable users to import documents and extract text from images, similar to Office Lens. The integration of Designer's creative elements will allow users to create designs using existing images for greeting cards and other layouts. Users will be able to access the "Create with Designer" feature by right-clicking on photos in File Explorer. Additionally, the app will automatically display photos from subfolders in Gallery mode and will support JPEG XL (JXL) file formats.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Trump officials discussing war plans on messaging app lambasted as ‘amateur hour’

A congressman described the situation as "FUBAR," reflecting disarray over revelations that Trump administration officials discussed military strategies in a Signal app group chat. Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was inadvertently included, and the chat involved Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz discussing potential military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Brian Hughes from the National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the group, which raises concerns about national security protocols and potential violations of the Espionage Act. The chat included discussions critical of European nations regarding U.S. military support. Goldberg noted skepticism about the chat's authenticity due to the use of emojis, and Senator Ruben Gallego criticized the professionalism of the dialogue.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

A high schooler built a website that lets you challenge AI models to a Minecraft build-off

Developers are exploring new methods to benchmark generative AI models, with one initiative being the Minecraft Benchmark (MC-Bench), a platform for head-to-head competitions among AI models that generate unique Minecraft creations. Users vote on the performances without knowing which AI created each entry. The project, created by 12th-grade student Adi Singh, leverages Minecraft's universal recognition to evaluate AI capabilities. MC-Bench currently has eight volunteer contributors and has received support from major AI companies like Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Alibaba. The focus is on simple builds, with plans to scale to more complex tasks. MC-Bench requires models to write code for requested builds, making it easier for users to assess the quality of creations visually. Singh believes the scores from MC-Bench provide meaningful insights into AI performance compared to traditional text-based benchmarks.

BetaBeacon

March 19, 2025

Free iOS and Android Apps of the Week

The fact described in the text is that the deals for the Android apps and games mentioned were live as of the publishing date, and if any deal is expired, readers are encouraged to share it in the comments.