workspace Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Nextcloud accuses Google of “Big Tech gatekeeping” over Android app permissions

Nextcloud, a self-hosted cloud platform, aims to empower users to control their data and offers services like video conferencing, file storage, and collaborative editing. Since mid-2024, its Android app has been limited to uploading only media files due to restrictions imposed by Google, frustrating users who cannot upload other file types. In a blog post from May 13, Nextcloud expressed dissatisfaction with this limitation, attributing it to Google's decisions. Despite maintaining read and write access to all file types since the app's launch, an update in September 2024 to restore full file access was denied by Google, which suggested users consider more privacy-focused alternatives. Nextcloud has received generic responses from Google regarding the situation.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Google Keep finally gets rich text formatting options on the web

Google has updated its Google Keep web client to include rich text formatting options, allowing users to customize notes with bold, underline, italics, and various heading styles. These features can be accessed via an "A" button and are available to all Google Workspace customers and personal Google account users. The rollout has just begun, and users can expect to see these enhancements soon. Previously, rich text formatting was only available on Android devices since early 2023. There is uncertainty about whether existing notes will sync with the new formatting capabilities.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Google Keep for the web finally gets a feature it should’ve had years ago

Google Keep will introduce text formatting features to its web interface, including a rich text formatting toolbar with options for italicizing, bolding, underlining text, removing formatting, and creating H1 or H2 headers. This update is being rolled out to various account types, including Workspace and personal Google accounts, and may take several weeks for all users to access. There is hope for synchronization with the Android app, but this has not been confirmed by Google.

Winsage

May 12, 2025

I tried Asus ZenBook A14. Now I can’t imagine using a different Windows laptop

The Asus ZenBook A14 is a lightweight laptop that weighs over 23% less than the MacBook Air and is crafted from a material called Ceraluminum, making it 30% lighter than aluminum and nearly three times stronger. It features a variety of ports, including two USB-C (v4.0) ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 port, offering more connectivity options than the MacBook Air. The keyboard provides satisfying feedback and ample travel, while the Windows Hello authentication system offers convenient security. The laptop has a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and performs well with applications from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, although it struggles with heavier workloads in Da Vinci Resolve. The ZenBook A14 has a battery life of around eight hours on a single charge.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Ready to ditch Windows for good? This is the Linux distro I recommend for beginners

SDesk is a free Linux distribution designed for users hesitant to explore Arch-based systems. It features a user-friendly interface utilizing the GNOME desktop environment, with a traditional layout that includes a panel, menu, top bar, and desktop icons. Pre-installed applications include LibreOffice, Geary, GNOME Music, GNOME Video, Octopi, GNOME Maps, and Swirl. Users can install additional software easily through Octopi and Flatpak. SDesk offers commendable performance with swift application launches and effective window snapping capabilities. However, it has some issues, including a bug that can cause the desktop to freeze upon reboot after an update and the lack of multimedia codecs for MP3 and MP4 playback, which can be resolved by installing VLC media player.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

In Windows 11 settings, you’ll find an Advanced — section with features for developers and more

Microsoft is transitioning away from the traditional Control Panel in Windows 11, introducing a new settings page called "Advanced," primarily for developers but also beneficial for everyday users. This update revamps the existing "For developers" section, incorporating features such as a toggle for long file paths, a dedicated settings page for virtual workspaces, and integration of the File Explorer source code. These features are present in the Windows Server 26403 build but are hidden by default. Additionally, Microsoft plans to migrate certain keyboard settings from the Control Panel to the Windows 11 Settings section.

Winsage

May 4, 2025

This incredible desktop replacement will change how you use Windows

Windows 11 has received mixed feedback from users, particularly regarding its limited customization options, such as the inability to reposition the taskbar. Seelen UI is a free application that offers extensive customization, allowing users to overhaul their user interface. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or GitHub, with the former recommended for easier updates. Upon installation, Seelen UI replaces the taskbar with the Seelen Dock and introduces a Fancy Toolbar for system stats. The Seelen Dock can be customized in size and position, offering more flexibility than Windows 11's default taskbar. Seelen UI also features a Windows Manager that organizes open windows in a cascading manner, enhancing productivity and allowing for further layout customization. Overall, Seelen UI encourages users to create a personalized desktop environment that boosts productivity.

Tech Optimizer

May 3, 2025

Extend the Amazon Q Developer CLI with Model Context Protocol (MCP) for Richer Context

Amazon Q Developer has introduced support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in its command line interface (CLI), enabling developers to connect external data sources for more context-aware responses. This enhancement allows access to pre-built integrations and MCP servers, improving code accuracy, data comprehension, unit test generation, database documentation, and query execution without custom integration code. MCP serves as an open protocol that standardizes application integration with large language models (LLMs). Developers can configure MCP servers in a file named mcp.json, which can be stored in the home directory or project root. After implementing MCP, Q Developer can effectively explore database schemas and execute complex SQL queries, significantly enhancing the development experience.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

6 PowerToys tools that quietly make my day ten times easier on Windows

Microsoft's PowerToys suite includes several productivity-enhancing tools for Windows 11 users: - Keyboard Manager: Allows users to create custom shortcuts and swap keyboard layouts, such as changing the positions of the Y and Z keys on a QWERTZ layout. - Quick Accent: Simplifies typing accented characters by providing a flyout menu for selecting accents when holding down a letter and pressing Space. - New+: Introduces a template folder for storing frequently used documents, enabling quick generation of new files. - Workspaces: Lets users save and launch a specific layout of applications simultaneously, streamlining workflow. - PowerToys Run/Command Palette: Provides quick access to applications and commands through keyboard shortcuts, allowing for instant launching and execution of commands. - FancyZones: Enhances window management by allowing users to create custom layouts for snapping applications into designated zones on their screens.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Google Voice adds three-way calling support alongside its interface rework

Google has introduced a new update for its Voice app that enables three-way calling for Workspace subscription holders, allowing users to create conference calls by adding another participant. The update includes a refreshed user interface with more accessible key tools for managing calls, such as prominently displayed "Add" and "Merge" options. This feature is available to Google Workspace customers on Voice Starter, Voice Standard, and Voice Premier plans, as well as SIP Link Standard and SIP Link Premier customers. The rollout began on May 1 and is expected to reach all Google Voice users within approximately 15 days. Earlier in February, Google Voice added a "call delegation" feature, allowing users to transfer calls to another person with options for immediate transfer or confirmation before proceeding, including the ability to transfer calls from personal accounts to paid enterprise accounts.