Hello Windows Insiders,
Today marks an exciting development for users of Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, as we unveil a preview of super resolution alongside Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support and various enhancements to the Photos app. This update is now accessible to Windows Insiders on Windows 11 across all Insider Channels.
Introducing super resolution on Copilot+ PCs
This latest update introduces a preview of super resolution, a feature designed to elevate your image experience. Utilizing advanced AI technology, super resolution can enlarge images up to eight times their original size. This is particularly beneficial for enhancing low-quality photos, preparing images for large prints or displays, and allowing for tight cropping without sacrificing resolution, enabling users to focus on the specific content they wish to highlight.
Super resolution harnesses the power of the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) found in Copilot+ PCs, ensuring that enhancements are delivered swiftly and efficiently, all processed locally on your device. Users can access this feature through the Photos Editor, allowing for rapid image enhancements in mere seconds.
OCR Support in the Photos app for all Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs
Recognizing the need for efficient information management, we are thrilled to introduce Optical Character Recognition (OCR) within the Photos app. This feature enhances productivity by allowing users to easily access and manage text captured in their images. With OCR, the app can detect text in your photos, enabling direct copying to your clipboard—whether it originates from documents, notes, or screenshots. Once text is identified, users can select specific sections for pasting into other applications. Supporting over 160 languages, OCR can be accessed via an icon at the bottom of the image when text is detected.
Other fixes and improvements
- In response to user feedback, we are excited to introduce single-click support in the Gallery. This enhancement allows users to open individual images with a single click, streamlining navigation while still retaining the option for double-clicking as before.
- Improvements to the Zoom feature now ensure that large images automatically resize to fit within the Viewer window, along with enhanced synchronization between the zoom slider and the zoom selection display.
- We have also implemented bug fixes for the Image Creator and Restyle Image features on Copilot+ PCs, contributing to an overall improvement in quality.
To take advantage of these new features, please update your app to version 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. The rollout of this update is currently underway, so it may take some time before it becomes available to everyone. We always appreciate your feedback, so please share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps > Photos.
Thank you,
Alyssa Dunn
Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Photos
*Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs with Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher in the Canary, Dev, and Release Preview Channels.
