As the Microsoft 365 Insider blog points out, the ability to add captions and subtitles to PowerPoint videos has a few benefits for people who check out presentations. Some people who may view the PowerPoint event may speak another language, so adding subtitles in that language will be very helpful. People with audio disabilities will appreciate any captions added to the video.

Finally, people who simply want to check out the video quietly without disturbing other people around them will likely use captions or subtitles while viewing the PowerPoint.

The captions and subtitles must be created in the WebVTT format before they are put into the PowerPoint video. Microsoft has its own support site for help in creating the caption files, which can be made with a variety of apps, even with a text-only app like Notepad.

Once you have created your captions or subtitles, it's time to put them in your PowerPoint video. First, users must sign into the PowerPoint site with their Microsoft account. Then they open up a PowerPoint file, select Insert, then select Video, and finally select Insert Video From (This Device) to pick which local video they want to insert into the presentation.

Finally, you can then select Video, and then Insert Captions. You can then select the WebVTT file you have created for the video's captions and it will be inserted with the video in the PowerPoint app on the web.

People who then view the video on the PowerPoint web app can click on the Captions button in the lower right corner of the video player to start showing the text on the screen.

Microsoft adds:

You can insert more than one captions file for the same video, which is great for including additional languages. Simply add the standard locale name at the end of the file name before inserting each one – for example, MyClosedCaptions.en.vtt for English, MyClosedCaptions.es.vtt for Spanish.

The new video captions feature for PowerPoint is available now for all web users.

Source

A considerable number of Windows 11 and Windows 10 customers have experienced these system freezes, with most linking the issues to Avira.

According to many of these reports on Reddit and Avira's own customer forums, affected computers usually start normally, but some fail to load the Windows desktop, as first reported by Günter Born.

However, approximately 20 seconds after Avira launches, the entire operating system becomes unresponsive, with the physical restart button on the case as the sole means to revive the PC.

"Today, my PC suddenly started to freeze on startup. I tried disabling all background apps until only Avira was left," one affected user said.

"So my computer (Win 10) was functioning just fine 2 days ago, I usually leave it running. (I have made no changes to anything) I went to use it tonight and Start completely freezes up and will not load anything," another one said.

Affected users have discovered that the sole remedy is to uninstall Avira's software while booting into safe mode. Despite resolving the freezing problem for some, certain impacted users have encountered difficulties removing Avira completely.

"I managed to fix the issue somehow... The last action was to uninstall Avira, i could do it during the 20 seconds before the issue usually happens (just after login)," one user added.

"I'm not 100% sure that is the uninstall that resolved the issue, I tried many things before (chkdsk sfc, ...) It was clearly something that prevent new processes to be executed, I believe an antivirus can do that ... maybe a bad update from Avira ?"

After uninstalling Avira, Windows should automatically re-enable Microsoft's free Defender Antivirus software.

When approached for comment, Avira told BleepingComputer that they are aware of the issue and are currently investigating it, seeking a fix.

"A recent update from Avira is resulting in Windows 10 and Windows 11 processes not starting. The issue is caused by the Avira internal Firewall under a rare condition," Avira told BleepingComputer.

"The issue was first reported on Friday, December 9, and should be fixed automatically by an update that was deployed on Monday, Dec 11. In the unlikely case that the computer did not receive the update, users can reach out to the Avira support team who is happy to help."

Source

(14th and last news post for the day, enjoy)

This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Canary Channel

Original story - December 7, 2023 - Microsoft has released a new build of Windows 11 for members of the Insider program in the Canary Channel. The new build number is 26010. Among other things, it adds a way to undock Copilot in Windows.

Here is the changelog:

Changes and Improvements

[General]

• The Tips app is removed after updating to Build 26002 and higher. The Tips app is deprecated.

[Copilot in Windows]

• We are trying out the ability to “undock” Copilot in Windows with Windows Insiders. Just click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header. While undocked, Copilot can appear above or below other apps in Windows while maintaining its fixed position on the desktop. This allows users to access Copilot while minimizing disruption to other user activities. Additionally, can resize the Copilot window for a more comfortable experience. Simply click-and-drag the edge of the Copilot window to adjust the width to your needs.

Click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header to undock Copilot.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• After trying out a scrollable view of quick settings with some Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel starting with Build 25967, we’re beginning to roll this out again with some slight refinements. This new scrolling view of quick actions allows you to rearrange the set of quick settings and provides better usability and discoverability for the user.

A scrollable view of quick settings.

[Task Manager]

• The Task Manager settings page now has Mica material.

[Settings]

• Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps has moved to its own page under Settings > System.

Fixes for known issues

• Fixed an issue which was causing the restart button to be missing in Settings > Windows Update, or for that settings page to not load at all with the previous flight. If you are on Build 26002 and encounter this trying to upgrade to Build 26010, you can reboot by clicking the Windows Update icon in the system tray or open Start and reboot from the power button there.
• Fixed an issue where attempting to rebooting into safe mode would hang on the boot logo.
• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience an increase in bugchecks in the last two flights.
• Fixed a high hitting taskhostw.exe crash in the last flight which some Insiders were seeing on their PCs.
• Made some improvements to help address an issue where the background could be seen jumping when switching between desktops.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to revert to the previous design and opening the context menu to crash explorer.exe for some Insiders.

Known issues

[General]

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where keyboard shortcuts are not working on the desktop – including using the delete key to delete files off of your desktop, CTRL key combos to take action on desktop icons, or using ALT + F4 on the desktop to open the shutdown dialog. As a workaround for the former, please use the Desktop folder within File Explorer.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where opening the print queue is showing a messaging saying it can’t find the app.

[Widgets]

• [NEW] The Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets get stuck in an error state when the Microsoft Start feed is disabled.
• [NEW] You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• [NEW] Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• [NEW] The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• [NEW] Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• [NEW] Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

The new Canary Channel build also has the new widget settings experience that was added to the latest Beta Channel build update earlier this week. The full blog post can be seen here.

Source

In terms of improvement, Microsoft says that "this update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system."

The known issues in the update are given below:

This update should arrive automatically through Windows update but if you need to download it for an offline installation, you can get it from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Source

The major highlight of the release as usual is security updates for Windows 10.

Highlights

 

This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.

After a couple of weeks without any, known issues are back:

Known issues in this update

 

Symptom	Workaround
Using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the "Require Device Encryption" setting for some devices in your environment. Affected environments are those with the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies set to enabled and selecting either "full encryption" or "used space only". Microsoft Intune is affected by this issue but third-party MDMs might also pe affected.   Important This issue is a reporting issue only and does not affect drive encryption or the reporting of other issues on the device, including other BitLocker issues.	To mitigate this issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies to not configured.         We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.
Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview).	To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows (in preview) might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration.   We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.
Copilot in Windows (in preview) is not currently supported when your taskbar is located vertically on the right or left of your screen.	To access Copilot in Windows, make sure your taskbar is positioned horizontally on the top or bottom of your screen.   We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

Some of the older Windows 10 versions have also received updates today which have been listed below with their respective release notes (KB) linked as well as links to download them at Microsoft's Update Catalog:

It is noteworthy here that Windows 10 20H2 and Windows 10 1909 reached the end of servicing. Some editions of 21H2 have also reached the end of servicing.

Source

Creating a new tab instead of closing the browser is not a new concept. Opera, Firefox, and other browsers allow you to customize this behavior in settings. A few months before the launch of Edge Chromium, some users complained about the lack of that option in Edge. Four years later, Microsoft seems to be ready to change its mind.

You can try the new close tab logic by installing Microsoft Edge Dev or Canary from the official website. After that, modify the browser's shortcut the following way:

1. Right-click the shortcut and select "Properties."
2. Click the "Target" field, add one space, and type --enable-features=msSpawnNtpOnLastTabClose
3. Press OK to save the changes.
4. Launch Microsoft Edge using the modified shortcut.

Those accustomed to exiting Edge using Ctrl + W or closing all buttons may ask a reasonable question: how do I close the browser now? You can choose several options: click the X button; open the menu and select "Close Microsoft Edge;" right-click the browser on the taskbar and select "Close window." The good-old Alt + F4 will do the trick too.

There is no information on whether Microsoft plans to allow customizing what happens when you close the last tab in Edge. The best option is to let users pick their side and not enforce a single solution since changes like that can seriously disrupt "muscle memory" and upset a lot of users who already have enough reasons to complain about Microsoft's browser.

Are you team "close browser" or "open a new tab?" Let us know in the comments.

Source

What is new in NVIDIA Game-Ready 546.33 WHQL?

Release Highlights

 

This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games supporting DLSS 3 technology including THE FINALS and Squad. Further support for new titles leveraging NVIDIA DLSS technology includes the launch of Fortnite Chapter 5 which features DLSS Super Resolution.

Fixed Gaming Bugs

 

• [Discord] When streaming gameplay, colours may appear muted

 

Fixed General Bugs

 

• [Regression] 536.99: A new NVIDIA system tray icon is created each time a user is switched in Windows

And here are the known bugs:

• [Netflix] Display issues for videos when using Edge browser. Recommend using Windows Netflix application as workaround. [4388454]

NVIDIA Game-Ready WHQL 546.33 is available for the following graphics cards:

You can download the NVIDIA Game-Ready WHQL 546.33 driver from the official website or the GeForce Experience app. Full release notes are available here (PDF).

Source

Source

ZDNET's key takeaways

• Zorin OS beta 1 is now available for testing and can be downloaded from the official Zorin OS download site.
• Eye candy like the Desktop Cube takes center stage to prove this distribution can seriously impress not just with performance and stability but also with plenty of pizazz.
• Not every feature works when using the beta version as a virtual machine.

Every time the Zorin OS team teases a new release, I think, "This will be the one to convince me it's my new operating system." And every time that new iteration is released, I fail to act (mostly because I'm too busy to switch distributions). 

However, with the first beta release of Zorin OS 17, it looks like I'm going to have to follow through with that promise and make the switch. Why?

Because Zorin OS beta 1 is not only looking like it's the Linux distribution for me but it's also set to become the best desktop Linux distribution for 2023. That is if they can get it released before the year closes out.

But what it is about Zorin OS 17 that has me looking like a convert? 

The distribution already enjoys the rock-solid, user-friendly underpinnings of Ubuntu, so you have a reliable foundation. On top of that, you have a very flexible desktop environment that can look and feel exactly like you want, especially if you're willing to pony up for the Pro edition, which give you an additional four desktops (for a total of eight) to choose from. You can have a desktop that resembles, KDE Plasma, Windows, GNOME, MacOS, or Ubuntu. 

With Pro, you also get a pro-grade creative suite, cross-device mouse/keyboard sharing, the Xjournal++ app, desktop casting, and more. All of that will only cost you $39 (plus sales tax, where applicable).

But even the free version of Zorin OS is a brilliant desktop operating system.

And then there's the latest beta.

New eye candy 

Under the hood of Zorin OS 17 beta 1, it's much the same as always. It's still based on Ubuntu Desktop and enjoys all the goodness therein. What makes Zorin OS 17 so special is that it's brought back a feature that I've always loved, the Desktop Cube. Essentially, this is a three-dimensional method of switching between workspaces. Click the Super ("Windows") key and then drag your mouse around the desktop to initiate the cube. You can then move the 3D representation around until you land on the workspace you want. 

It feels like I'm back home with an old friend.

As well, Zorin OS 17 is changing up the application switcher. In place of the traditional multitasking method, Zorin OS 17 introduces what it calls the Spatial Desktop. This looks similar to some of the GNOME extensions that can be installed that transform the app switcher to a carousel-like look and feel.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get this feature to work on my VirtualBox virtual machine and I'm fairly certain the reason is because I always test operating systems as a VM (instead of installing them directly to a machine). This did strike me as odd, given the Desktop Cube effect worked just fine. 

But, that's what you get when you test beta software.

Other new additions

Zorin OS 17 will also include a number of other really cool features that will appeal to a number of users. Those features include:

• Universal search in the Zorin Menu - you'll be able to find apps, files, folders, calendar appointments, contacts, world maps, and even use the menu search as a calculator.

• Better performance - the development team placed a priority on performance for the upcoming release. The team has delivered performance optimizations to nearly every aspect of the operating system.

• Improved software store - the Zorin OS Software Store is now significantly faster and has a much-improved design that makes it easier to find the apps you're looking for.

• A new advanced window tiling option - for those who prefer to use a tiling window desktop, Zorin OS will now include this "most requested" feature.

• New Quick Settings menu - similar to what the GNOME desktop includes, Zorin OS adds a new Quick Settings menu, which includes quick settings for things like Network, Power Modes (which can also be customized), Night Light, Dark Mode, and more.

• Improved screenshot and screen recording tools

• Redesigned weather app

• Parental controls - allows you to create a safe environment for children.

• Remote Desktop Sharing - thanks to RDP, you can easily share your desktop to other users or access it remotely yourself.

• Refined themeing - version 17 now works seamlessly with native Gtk4 and libadwaita apps.

• Long-Term Support - Zorin OS 17 will be supported until June 2027.

The new Quick Settings feature resembles that found in the latest GNOME desktop.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET

There will also be two new desktop layouts, which will resemble Chrome OS and GNOME-2.

You'll also find that, out of the box, Zorin OS 17 includes all the software you need, such as Firefox, LibreOffice, Evolution (email client), Rhythmbox (music player), and much more. If you don't find what you're looking for, you can install just about anything you need with the Software store or using Flatpak. The only caveat is Flatpak support isn't baked into the Software app. Because of this, any app you want/need to install with Flatpak has to be done via the command line.

Other than that one caveat, Zorin OS 17 beta 1 proves that it can not only stand toe-to-toe with any OS on the market, but it's very much worth of the title Linux desktop distribution of 2023 (so long as it releases before Father Time declares 2023 over with).

Source

On Windows 11, you can take screenshots from any window, web page, or the entire screen, and in this guide, I will show you the best ways to complete this task. 

In the digital age, screenshots have become essential for communication and documentation, whether you need to capture a funny meme, a winning game score, or a vital piece of information. 

Whatever the reason you may have to create a screenshot, Windows 11 offers more than one way to capture the precise area of your screen with ease with the built-in tools, such as the default screenshot capabilities using the keyboard, the Snipping Tool, Game Bar, Microsoft Edge, hardware features, and through the use of third-party apps.

In this guide, I'll outline the different ways to take screenshots on Windows 11 with and without third-party tools.

How to capture screenshots on Windows 11

These are the best methods to take screenshots on a Windows 11 computer.

Take screenshots from Windows 11

On Windows 11, you technically don't need another application since the system includes a few ways to take screenshots of the entire desktop or active window.

Capture to clipboard

You have two ways to snap a shot of the desktop directly to the clipboard, and here's how.

Entire screen

To take a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard, use the "PrtScrn" or "Ctrl + PrtScrn" keyboard shortcut.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you have activated the shortcut, you can paste the image into any application. These shortcuts work whether you're using one or multiple displays.

If the shortcuts open the Snipping Tool, you can change this behavior from Settings > Keyboard and turn off the "Use the Print screen key to open screen capture" toggle switch.

Active Windows 

To take a screenshot of the active window to the clipboard, use the "Alt+ PrtScrn" keyboard shortcut.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

After you have activated the shortcut, you can paste the image into any application.

Capture to file 

To take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to a file, use the "Windows key + PrtScrn" keyboard shortcut. Using this method will save the capture into the "Screenshots" folder inside the "Pictures" folder.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Take screenshots from Snipping Tool

In addition to the system's shortcuts, Windows 11 also includes the Snipping Tool app, which gives you more control over taking screenshots. 

Screen capture from app

To take a screenshot from the Snipping Tool app, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Snipping Tool and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Snipping mode drop-down menu.
4. Select one of the available capture modes, including:

• Rectangle— creates a rectangle screenshot using the mouse.
• Window — saves a screenshot of a window.
• Full screen — takes a screenshot of the entire screen.
• Freeform— allows you to use the mouse to choose any form to create a capture.

5. (Optional) Click the Delay snip drop-down menu to change the capture delay for up to 10 seconds.

• Quick note: This option can be useful when capturing a particular action.

6. Click the New button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

7. Create the screenshot with the mode you selected.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the image will open in the editor, where you can annotate and save it for sharing.

Screen capture from keyboard

Alternatively, you can use a keyboard shortcut to quickly bring up the tools to take a screenshot on Windows 11. Here's how:

1. Use the "Windows key + Shift + S" keyboard shortcut.
2. Select one of the screen capture modes:

• Rectangle.
• Window.
• Full screen.
• Freeform.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

1. Create the screenshot with the selected option.

After you complete the steps, the screenshot will open with the Snipping Tool editor.

The editor experience includes various tools to edit the image, such as ballpoint pen, highlighter, and crop. In addition, you can use the "Text actions" feature to extract and redact text from images. You can learn more with this guide, and to extract or redact text, you can use these instructions.

Take screenshots from Game Bar

To capture a screenshot during gameplay, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Game Bar, and click the top result to open the experience. 

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Windows key + G" keyboard shortcut to open the Game Bar.

3. In the "Capture" widget, click the Camera button to take the screenshot.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Windows key + Alt + PrtScrn" keyboard shortcut to screenshot the entire screen.

Once you complete the steps, the screenshot will be saved as a ".png" file in the Screenshots folder.

This screen capturing feature is limited to games as some apps like Microsoft Edge, but this feature may not work to take screenshots of File Explorer or desktop.

Take screenshots from Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge also includes a feature that enables you to take screenshots of any web page. This feature is handy to capture the entire page without having to scroll or take multiple screenshots of the same page.

To take a screenshot of a website, use these steps:

3. Open Microsoft Edge.
4. Open the web page.
5. Right-click on the page and choose the Web capture option. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + S" keyboard shortcut.

4. Click the "Capture" area or "Capture full page" button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick note: If you use the "Capture" option, you will have the option to copy the image to the clipboard, markup the capture, or perform a visual search.

5. (Optional) Use the available tools to annotate the image.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. Click the Save button.

After you complete the steps, the web capture will be saved on your computer.

Take screenshots from portable PCs

On laptops and Surface devices, you will also find that you can take screenshots using the function key, and here's how.

Laptops

To capture screenshots using the function keys on your laptop, use these steps:

• Fn + Windows key + PrtScrn: Captures everything on the screen and saves the image in the "Pictures" folder inside the "Screenshots" folder.
• Fn + PrtScrn (or Fn + Ctrl + PrtScrn😞 Sends the screenshot to the clipboard, which you can then paste on any application.
• Fn + Alt + PrtScrn: Takes screenshots of an active window and copies the image to the clipboard, which you can paste on any application.

Surface

To capture screenshots using the function keys on your Surface, use these steps:

• Fn + Windows key + Spacebar: This shortcut captures and saves the image in the "Pictures" folder inside the "Screenshots" folder.
• Fn + Spacebar: Stores the image capture of the entire screen in the clipboard, which you can then paste on any app.
• Fn + Alt + Spacebar: Takes a screenshot of a window to the clipboard, which you can then paste on any application.
• Power button + volume down: Screenshots the entire screen and saves the image to the "Screenshots" folder.

Take screenshots from other apps

Windows 11 provides several ways to take screenshots without additional tools. However, you can always use free and premium third-party apps that offer additional features and editing tools, such as Greenshot (Free) and SnagIT (Paid with a free trial).

If you choose to install the Greenshot app, these are the basic steps to take screenshots:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Greenshot and click the top result to open the app.

• Quick note: If the app doesn't open, it may be running in the Taskbar's System Tray.

3. Choose one of the modes to take a screenshot:

• Capture region.
• Capture last region.
• Capture window.
• Capture full screen.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Create the screen capture with the selected option.
5. Select the "Open in image editor" option if you want to markup the capture. Otherwise, choose the "Save as" or "Save directly" option. It's also possible to send the capture to the clipboard, Paint, or one of the Microsoft 365 apps. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. If you're using the editor, you can use the tools available from the left pane to draw different shapes, add text, counter, highlight, crop, rotate, and more. 

Once you complete the steps, you can save the image from the editor to the computer, or from the toolbar at the top, choose the "Copy image to clipboard" option.

Greenshot also supports keyboard shortcuts. You must configure them manually in the "General" tab from the settings page. 

Source

The Browser Company, a startup that's been developing its own web browser called Arc, is finally letting some people try out the long-awaited Windows version. As posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the first beta invites to try out the Windows port are now being sent out.

We have received one of those emails, and it states that The Browser Company is "onboarding hundreds of beta testers to Arc" over the next several weeks. Starting in 2024, the number of people who will be given a chance to check out Arc will expand to thousands of people who are on the beta waitlist every week. You can sign up for that waitlist at the Arc site.

The Browser Company has been trying out some new ideas for web browsers for the iOS and Mac versions, They include the use of built-in apps like a notepad and more.

The Arc browser also supports what its developers call "boosts", which is supposed to let users customize the look of certain web sites.

In a change from the normal web browser UI design, the Arc browser places the URL address bar on the left side instead of the top. It's also used for the search bar and tabs. Website tabs can also be organized into "spaces" in the browser for fast access. Tabs can be pinned as well on the sidebar, similar to bookmarks.

Other features in the iOS and Mac versions of the Arc browser include a picture-in-picture mode that supports Google Meet, along with an ad blocker. Arc is supposed to be a secure browser, with no cookies support and a pledge not to share search data with others.

One other interesting thing is that the Arc browser for Windows was actually developed by using Apple's Swift programming language.

Source

This morning, when I put gas in my car, I grumbled because prices went up again. Today, gas prices rose to $4.55 per gallon.

But then, I started to ask a number of questions about what it took to get that six pounds of volatile liquid to me, particularly how software fueled the process. Software analyzed geological data and managed the drilling machines to make sure they didn't overheat. Software helped track weather and guided the giant ships transporting the fuel. It managed the refinery systems and provided safety monitoring. Further, it managed payment and pump operations to get it into my car.

Then, there's what it took to write the software that helped locate the fuel underground. It's certainly not one programmer sitting down with a Coke and pizza and writing code while listening to Rush. Industrial software, like that driving deep drilling machines, requires specialized software engineering.

And that software engineering was probably assisted by AI.

I find myself enormously excited yet deeply terrified in equal measure. AI may well be software engineering's "nuclear" moment, where we're bringing enormously powerful new capabilities into the world, but what's contained in those capabilities? The power to both create and destroy.

What is software engineering?

To really understand AI in software engineering, we have to first understand software.

Software controls computers, where a computer can range from a PC on your desk to a tiny little processor in a piece of factory equipment. To put it in simple terms, software is a series of instructions that tells the computer what to do.

Programming (colloquially called "coding") is the practice of stringing those instructions together to make something happen. I maintain a small program that lets people donate to nonprofits. It has 153,259 lines of code. Bigger programs, like Windows and Linux, require hundreds of millions of lines. Importantly, the order and structure of the instructions control the program's operation. Get it right, the program does what you want. Get it wrong, the results are unpredictable.

Now, let's talk about programming languages. Languages are the word syntax used to create programs. You may have heard of C and Java and Swift, but there are hundreds. The thing is, different languages can be used to accomplish the same thing. Whether a recipe for lasagna is written down in Italian or English, you still need to put it in the oven for the right amount of time.

Languages are chosen for many reasons, from suitability to a task to compatibility with a desired destination environment. Since it's impossible to know them all, some programmers prefer to work in the languages they know. Don't get caught up too much in the idea of languages, but know that they are the words and structure of words used to create the code.

Programmers string together computer instructions to make something do something. But think about the numbers I mentioned. My donation software's code alone has more than a hundred thousand such instructions. That's a ton of complexity. It can quickly get very confusing and can break just as quickly.

Here's how to think about software engineering as a discipline:

• Software engineering uses scientific methods, much like building a bridge, to design and test software.
• It's about a structured approach, akin to architects planning before building.
• Just as engineers use best practices for sturdy structures, software engineers ensure dependable and efficient software.

So, if you're going to let your car drive you down the highway at 70mph, it would be nice to know that you're not placing your life into the hands of untested software written by some coder living off pizza and six-packs of Red Bull, but instead that some engineering discipline went into creating and testing the software doing the driving.

There's overlap between coding and software engineering. I'm a trained software engineer who can also code. A developer, ranging from companies to individuals, makes software products. Their skills include coding, software engineering, and business development. 

Software engineering is the discipline behind coding that makes it manageable, maintainable, and ultimately, reliable.

What is the difference between AI and software?

Technically, software is anything that does something based on bits and bytes, rather than hardware. For example, an Excel budget spreadsheet isn't considered as software-y as the Excel program itself, unless that spreadsheet includes a ton of macros and is sold as a software application itself.

Traditional software is all about a series of steps and decisions. If you're creating code by describing steps and decisions, you're programming traditionally.

But AI doesn't work that way. The whole idea of AI is that it makes intellectual leaps that haven't been pre-defined as steps and decisions. Instead, AI uses data -- usually lots and lots of data -- to help guide its output.

When you ask ChatGPT to write an article on IT infrastructure, it does so successfully not because the designers anticipated your question and wrote special code that helps write articles on IT infrastructure. Similarly, when Midjourney helps you make a picture of a flying elephant coming out of a laptop, it's not because some programmer wrote a flying elephant routine just because someone might want that image.

Instead, the AI systems use large language models (LLMs) to build what they're asked for out of tremendous libraries of data -- pretty much the whole of the internet plus every other bit of information AI engineers could feed into the systems.

All that makes AI somewhat beyond software. It also means that no human, really, knows exactly what causes ChatGPT to respond as it does. These are called "emergent abilities," and are features of large language models that weren't programmed into them from the start.

The interesting thing about AI is that we have started to move away from typical engineering-level disciplines. We can't always predict what the AIs will do, or how they will do it. Talking a generative AI into doing something, what's called "prompt engineering," is almost as much management and negotiation as it is traditional engineering practice.

As a former programming professor, interacting with LLMs like ChatGPT feels more like engaging with students than with coding environments.

How can AI be applied in software engineering?

As AI enters the mainstream, we're seeing what might become a symbiotic relationship between software engineers and generative AI tools. AI, for example, can suggest code optimizations, identify bugs, and even predict the ripple effects of changes in a system.

Early this year, I did a lot of stunt coding with the AI, just to see what it could do. I also used it to help find a particularly confusing bug, to help identify code that needed to change to ensure compatibility with newer versions of platform software, to write short routines that helped my wife in her business, and to make a Chrome bookmarklet that helps me create "Also" links in my ZDNET articles. I wouldn't say that AI has become essential to my workload, but it's sure been a nice help.

Without a doubt, the generative AI tools that have been all the rage this year were built by software engineers. AI can be part of the software engineering process. It can also be the result of software engineering. 

Furthermore, AI can help developers do their jobs. If you think about aspects of software engineering -- design, coding, debugging, maintenance, management, testing, distribution, and migration (to name a few) -- AI can help in all of these areas. For instance, AI can automate repetitive coding tasks, making the process faster and more efficient. Additionally, it can predict potential bugs or vulnerabilities in the code, ensuring more robust and secure software.

There are, however, limits. I first used AI to write some simple routines. Then when I tried it with more complex routines, the AI started to chase its tail. But when I fed an AI a pile of code that had been breaking (where I couldn't find what was wrong), the AI pointed out the error. AI can also help set up testing regimes. It can help folks in tech support answer questions when new agents don't have the experience to know the answers on their own.

In its current state, AI can't be relied on to get it right when helping with software engineering. It can be compared to a particularly talented but equally flakey college student, who sometimes has insights of deep brilliance but doesn't yield the accurate answers needed.

Then there's what AI can do for the world. This is where we need communal cogitation on the concept. 

Keep in mind that the incredible advancements and applications of AI listed below are built upon the foundations of software engineering. Without the principles and practices of software engineering, these AI-driven tools and services wouldn't be possible.

Here are ten things AI does for us in the real world right now:

1. Personal assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant help us with tasks and answer questions.
2. Healthcare algorithms assist in diagnosing diseases and predicting patient outcomes.
3. Financial analysis tools help in stock trading and fraud detection.
4. Content recommendation algorithms suggest movies, music, and articles based on our preferences.
5. Customer service chatbots handle customer queries and complaints.
6. Manufacturing robots assist in assembly lines and quality control.
7. Language translation services are powered by AI.
8. AI is used heavily in major studio games to make those games interactive, intelligent, and compelling.
9. Security systems use facial recognition and anomaly detection in cybersecurity.
10. Marketing algorithms personalize ads and customer outreach.

And since we've had the rise of generative AI this year (which is changing so much more), naturally, here are ten things AI will be doing for us in the next decade:

1. Advanced healthcare could include AI-assisted drug discovery and personalized medicine.
2. Climate modeling to predict and mitigate the effects of climate change.
3. Emotional intelligence in AI that can read and respond to human emotions.
4. Advanced robotics that can perform complex tasks and assist in daily life.
5. Virtual reality experiences powered by AI, offering fully immersive virtual worlds.
6. Education systems providing personalized learning experiences tailored to individual needs.
7. Space exploration assisted by AI in navigating and operating spacecraft.
8. Legal assistance through AI in legal research and case preparation.
9. Art and creativity enhanced by AI-generated art and music, or as a collaborative tool for artists.
10. Public safety improvements through AI in disaster prediction and response.

And then there's self-driving cars. In fact, AI and machine learning are improving communications effectiveness in self-driving cars, and improving the performance of the cameras in our smartphones. 

AI, like software, will be embedded in everything we use, hopefully adding value all along the way.

What are the pressing ethical questions in AI and software engineering?

In addition to AI helping the software engineering implementation process, software engineers need to guide the growth of AI. We talked about the language models themselves, but software engineers need to fine-tune AI's behavior, ensure best practices, and make sure the final product (the part that reaches the general public) has guardrails to ensure ethical behavior.

This is tough. Software engineers now have what I guess you could say is a "duty" that goes beyond coding and debugging. Essentially, the software engineers building AIs are the primary "guardians" and "teachers" of AI systems. Therefore, it's incumbent upon these engineers to ensure that AI tech is ethically developed and implemented.

Let me be clear here: this is very much outside the comfort zone for most coders. Most software engineers are trained in process and analysis, as well as implementation and coding practice. They are not trained in philosophy and ethics. And most software engineers are most certainly not trained in how to handle it when different groups of humans have different perspectives on what's ethical, or even on what's right or wrong.

At ZDNET, we've long been covering the issue of bias as it is manifesting in AI systems. It's not a simple problem. But biases in AI can lead to real-world problems, such as unfair loan decisions or hidden biases in hiring practices. AI is becoming integral in sectors like health care, finance, and public safety, among many others.

If AI were misused or simply not implemented with a wide range of considerations incorporating equitable decision-making, the results could be devastating. As such, engineers need to build in access controls, usage monitoring, audit mechanisms, and more for AI-based systems.

But these issues go well beyond what's possible in a traditional software engineering workflow. Teams deploying AI systems will need to loop in experts in the fields of psychology, social science, ethics, community management, and more.

If modern large language models are trained on the internet and the contents of libraries and databases, they will inherently inherit the biases in those sources. But rather than just triggering a twinge of discomfort in someone responding to a negative phrase, AI-based decision-making could cause permanent, physical, costly, and painful damage to individuals.

All of that has to be managed in the software, but guided by professionals with a broader worldview than is typically taught in engineering school. 

Is AI going through an 'Oppenheimer moment' now?

Some time ago, I took my last high school chemistry class. Pocket calculators were popular, but my chemistry teacher insisted we all learn to use the slide rule to do calculations.

I have never, ever used a slide rule since that class. My teacher was teaching a skill that was clearly obsolete. While I guess there might be some benefit to knowing how to use a slide rule in some post-apocalyptic scenario where there are no power sources, I figure if we're dealing with an apocalypse, we'll have bigger problems than a slide rule can help fix.

As an engineer, I don't use slide rules. I use powerful computers, complex coding, spreadsheets, and the entire range of capabilities our modern digital world provides. My old teacher's view of what it took to "do science" was vastly different from what my actual "doing science" practice became over my career.

As we move forward in a world where AI tools are as prevalent and game-changing as PCs were when I was a young graduating engineer, our tools will be very different. Because our tools will incorporate AI capabilities, we'll need to expand our skills to understand and use them.

Many engineering disciplines require their practitioners to actively consider safety. Bridge builders need to understand how to provide oxygen to workers, and keep the sea at bay when using caissons to construct bridge footings. Aeronautical engineers have to understand how to keep a plane in the air, and oxygen in the cabin when flying above the clouds. Road builders need to understand how to carefully shape and sculpt explosions to clear ground without causing damage to surrounding areas.

And so, software engineering must progress from tests and validations to true considerations of societal safety. These are some final thoughts to keep in mind as we consider the future of AI and software engineering.

We are standing on the cusp of a new era, as transformative and different and empowering and problematic as were the industrial revolution, the PC revolution, and the dawn of the Internet. The tools and methodologies we once relied upon are evolving, and with them, our responsibilities and ethical considerations expand.

We must keep in mind these three pillars of transformation:

• Embrace change: Just as the slide rule became obsolete with the advent of modern calculators and computers, traditional software engineering practices will need to adapt in the face of AI's capabilities. This doesn't mean discarding foundational knowledge, but rather augmenting it with new insights and tools that AI brings to the table.

• Adopt a holistic approach: The integration of AI into our digital landscape necessitates a holistic approach to software engineering. It's not just about coding anymore; it's about understanding the broader implications of our creations, from societal impacts to ethical considerations.

• Practice continuous learning at all levels: The rapid advancements in AI mean that continuous learning and adaptation are essential. Software engineers will need to stay updated with the latest in AI developments, ensuring they harness its power responsibly and effectively. Likewise, AI needs to continually learn as well, adopting new best practices and guardrails as the implications of their deployment become apparent in day-to-day life.

It's fitting that in the middle of a year where generative AI has fired up the technology industry, the movie Oppenheimer has taken over our movie screens. The biopic follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist most known as "the father of the atomic bomb." 

In essence, Oppenheimer serves as a poignant reflection on the costs of scientific advancement, the weight of responsibility borne by those at the forefront of innovation, and the complex interplay between science, ethics, and politics in the modern world.

Director Christopher Nolan said in a recent interview, "When I talk to the leading researchers in the field of AI right now … they literally refer to this as their Oppenheimer moment."

That same statement perfectly describes how the ripple effect of AI in software engineering explodes from coding practice into our communities at large.

Source

As you may be aware, we have been benchmarking different scenarios with the Intel Core i9-14900K sent to us. It provides an ultra-modern test bed to test Microsoft's flagship Windows 11 OS, but also against the older, but more trusted, Windows 10 counterpart.

However, today's benchmarks pitches Windows 11 against itself! To put it plainly, which is better, Windows 11 22H2, or the newest 23H2 with Copilot and all the changes that it brought with it?

First up, here is a run-down of our test system, you may recognize it from the 14th gen Intel Core i5 and i9 CPUs review we did in October:

Test Hardware

• Intel Core i9-14900K
• ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI (BIOS v1402)
• ASUS ROG STRIX 850W Gold
• Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler
• Carbonaut thermal grizzly 0.2mm
• 2x 16GB Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 6000MT/s in XMP
• Sabrent 1TB Rocket 4 Plus-G (PCIe 4.0)
• MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Ventus 3X
• Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo at 5120 x 1440 @ 240Hz on DisplayPort

Software test scenarios
On both systems, ASUS Armoury Crate was allowed to install all the drivers that our system needed.

October (Windows 11 22H2)
Data used below is from when Windows 11 Pro was clean installed for the Intel 14th gen CPU review, 22H2 was updated to Build 22621.2468 (Moment 4) and Nvidia driver 538.58 was used, which was the latest at that time.

November (Windows 11 23H2)
The same hardware was clean installed and updated to build 22631.2715 (KB5032190) and Nvidia driver 545.92 was used, which at the time of testing, was the latest.

The ambient room temperature while testing was measured to be between 19C (66.2 °F) and 20C (68 °F), and our test rig was open plan.

Benchmarks

In 3DMark, supplied to us by UL Benchmarks, it's clear to see that 23H2 does a better job overall in the Time Spy benchmark (DirectX 12), that was allowed to run three times, with the best score used. For CPU score, 23H2 has a 958 point lead, and an impressive 427 point gap in the overall score, which combines GPU as well as the CPU score.

In terms of percentages, those are 4.4% and 2% better respectively.

In Fire Strike Extreme, which is DirectX 11, the gap narrows in Physics to just 82 points, and 134 in the overall score with 23H2 again proving to be better than its predecessor (best score after three runs). Hence the gap is not really as significant as in Time Spy.

In the CPU Profile test, which tries to gauge how good the scaling is across CPU threads, 23H2 once again takes the crown, besting 22H2 at every stage except for the single thread; however, it is completely within the margin of error with a difference of only 3 points. The highest scores were used after running the benchmark three times.

The PCMark 10 benchmark suite, performance is a mixed bag with 22H2 coming out on top overall in six of the eleven tests, but specifically in the productivity benchmark. And the difference is quite astounding, to put it mildly. Going from 22H2 to 23H2, we see a 15.24% drop in the spreadsheet processing test and a 7.57% drop in the case of writing.

In the Digital Content Creation, they trade blows with 23H2 taking the win in Rendering and Visualisation while 22H2 emerges victorious in Photo Editing.

Finally, in the Essentials benchmark which considers app startup, web browsing and video conferencing, the two versions of Windows are quite close to one another with 23H2 winning two out of the three tests, though by very small margins.

23H2 beat out 22H2, though, by only 14 points in the Cinebench 2024 CPU benchmark. This falls in line with PCMark 10's Digital suite, which means you wouldn't really feel the difference in a blind test.

We also ran the default 32MB 7-Zip benchmark which measures in GIPS (billion instructions per second). Here 23H2 edges out 22H2 in both Compression and Decompression tests, but the differences are once again within the margin of error.

So what have we proven here? Well, we can see that 23H2 really is a worthwhile update, as it bests 22H2 in 17 of the 24 data points tested versus just seven victories for 22H2. Microsoft could claim some performance gains with this update and they would not be lying.

You might be wondering why we didn't mention the PCMark 10 productivity suite and that's because we are considering this benchmark as an outlier similar to what we found in the previous Windows 11 vs 10 comparison where the Rendering and Visualisation numbers heavily favored one over the other.

Outside of PCMark productivity, we also did not notice much of a dip going from 22H2 to 23H2 and hence, the recent reports about performance loss are most likely limited to buggy Defender.

Officially, our advice is to update.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Source

Microsoft Outlook - Copilot is coming to classic Outlook in February 2024

The classic version of the Outlook email client for Windows will be getting Copilot features in 2024, according to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap. One will add a way for Copilot to draft a new email in Outlook, which is pretty straightforward. The other new roadmap entry might be a bit more interesting:

Copilot coaches you on how to best get your message across and you can adjust the tone and length of your message.

The web version of Outlook is also getting a new feature for admins in January 2024.

When an app is deployed in Integrated Apps (Get Apps & Upload Custom LOB apps) in the Microsoft Admin Center, it will be available in Outlook on the web in Read Message Actions and Compose Ribbon.

Microsoft Teams - Making channels earlier to make and more

Microsoft Teams will make it easier to create channels across all of its supported platforms sometime in January 2024.

We added the option to create a channel directly from the + button in the Teams app, making it easier for the user to create a channel.

It will also be easier to make new teams in Microsoft Teams next month as well.

When creating a team, the new default experience will be ‘create a team from scratch’, making it a simpler and quicker experience.

Also planned for January is a new Teams feed for desktop and web users:

Users can access a personalized feed based on important updates in the channels they are a part of.

Teams users on its mobile apps will get a new feature as well in January.

Teams calendar on mobile devices displays the live status of a meeting with avatars of the participants who are in the call, whether the meeting is being recorded and the duration of the meeting.

Come back next week for yet another look at the Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

Source

Windows 11 has a suite of default apps, but venturing beyond them can unlock a world of enhanced functionality, customization, and personalized experiences. 

Whether you're looking to extend the functionality of a specific application or simply a change of pace, alternative apps can open up many possibilities. However, the best alternatives depend on what specific app you'd like to replace and what features are important to you. 

For example, if Microsoft Edge isn't for you, it's possible to find more straightforward and more secure alternatives like Brave. At the same time, FastStone Image Viewer can make an excellent replacement for the Photos app. If you want to change the default File Explorer, the Files app is perhaps the best alternative. Windows 11 even includes a Media Player app, but it's limited, so switching to the VLC app can be a suitable choice.

In this how-to guide, I'll share some of the apps you can use to replace existing experiences on Windows 11. 

Alternative apps for Windows 11

Here are a dozen apps you can use to replace many default experiences on Windows 11, including File Explorer, Notepad, Microsoft Edge, Outlook, Photos, Snipping Tool, Media Player, Sound Recorder, and Weather.

These applications have been selected for their functionality and ability to replace other apps, not by their interface design.

Files

If you find that File Explorer isn't for you, Files is an excellent alternative since it offers virtually the same features as the default file manager for Windows 11, plus some additional benefits. 

The Files app provides a similar experience with a "Home" page, a left navigation pane, a tab system, and similar controls. The difference with the app is that it includes a more modern interface with theme support, better integration with cloud services (not just for OneDrive), split mode to view two folders side by side, a tagging system to organize your contents, archival support to compress and extract files like ".zip," ".rar," and ".7z."

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Also, the settings page (which uses a better design than the one available on File Explorer) allows you to customize every aspect of the experience, including the ability to change the appearance, customize folder views, backup and restore settings, and much more. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Some of the unique features of Files are the ability to backup and restore your settings, customize the interface with different colours, better context menu integration, tags to organize files and folders, additional layouts to view your files, and more advanced ".zip," ".rar," or ".7z" file format integration with the option to open archival files that are protected with passwords.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Although you can't uninstall File Explorer, you can make Files your default file manager on Windows 11. 

Files is an open-source project, and it's available for free at the Microsoft Store. I also have a comprehensive guide to help you get started with Files.

7-Zip

Although you can use File Explorer to open and extract ".zip," ".rar," or ".7z" archival formats, the experience is still limited to managing existing files, and you still can't create archival formats like ".rar" or ".7z," and it's not possible to open files that have been encrypted with passwords.

If you choose the Files app, you're all set since the open-source file manager comes with this integration. However, if you want a dedicated application to open, extract, and create ".zip," ".rar," or ".7z," then 7-Zip is the app you want. 

7-Zip is also an open-source application that uses its own 7z format, often achieving higher compression ratios than popular formats like ZIP and RAR, which translates to smaller file sizes and easier storage and transfer.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The app also supports many archive formats, including ".zip," ".rar," ".7z," ".gzip," ".bzip2," and many more, allowing you to open and extract almost any compressed file.

You can use the app with various compression levels and algorithms for the best balance between file size and compression speed. If you're a more technical user, 7-Zip offers a powerful command-line interface with extensive control over archival tasks.

If you install 7-Zip on your computer, you're getting one solution to work with many different archival formats with even more benefits if you use the 7z format.

7-Zip is free and open-source, and you can get it from the Microsoft Store.

Notepad++

Microsoft has been focusing on the Notepad app by adding new features and improvements, but if you're looking for a better alternative, perhaps Notepad++ is the app you need.

Notepad++ is an open-source note-taking app similar to Notepad but with many more features and a traditional interface design. Similar to Notepad, the app includes support for tabs, auto-save, dark theme, find and replace, but what makes it a better application are features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, macro recording, and support for plugins (to name a few).

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Syntax highlighting offers the ability to detect the language of the code to provide syntax highlighting and (limited) autocompletion for many programming languages, such as JSON, Python, C++, C#, Cobol, HTML, CSS, SQL, XML, XMAL, and many more. 

Notepad++ supports plugins to extend the functionality of the note-taking app. Some plugins come as part of the app installation, but the "Plugin Admin" page allows you to access over 100 additional plugins, including the "DSpellCheck" plugin that brings spell-checking to the app.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Also, the find and replace feature is more robust than the one available on Notepad since it allows you to use extended and regular expression settings, and you can search and replace content across open files and inside folders.

Unlike the Notepad app, Notepad++ features a slew of settings that allow you to control every aspect of the app more granularly. For example, you can customize the interface look and feel, change the default document encoding, choose the default working directory, control auto-save, change file association, and auto-complete. 

(Image credit: Mauro Hucualk)

Notepad++ is free to use on Windows 11, and you can download and install it to replace Notepad from the official website.

You can also learn more about the differences between Notepad and Notepad++ in my comparison guide to help you decide which one you should choose.

SumatraPDF

Sure, you can double-click any PDF document, and it'll open on Microsoft Edge by default. However, the document will open the Adobe Acrobat plugin preinstalled on the web browser. The extension gives you some basic features to open and edit PDFs, but you will have to pay a subscription if you want to access the more advanced features. 

SumatraPDF is a free, suitable replacement for the default PDF viewer and reader experience available on Windows 11. It not only includes support for PDFs, but it can also work to open ebooks (such as ".epub" and ".mobi"), DjVu, XPS, CHM, and it can also be used as an image viewer.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The app is lightweight and fast, and you can run it from the executable without installing anything. As part of the PDF experience, you can use it to view and read PDF documents as well as fill out PDF forms. 

Despite its traditional user interface, SumatraPDF is actively developed and maintained, and you can download it for free from this download page.

SumatraPDF is a great choice for anyone looking for a fast, lightweight, and free PDF reader. It's packed with features, easy to use, and highly customizable. If you're tired of the bloat and sluggishness of Adobe Acrobat Reader or the default PDF experience on Windows 11 with Microsoft Edge in partnership with Adobe, I highly recommend giving SumatraPDF a try.

Thunderbird

If you're looking for an email client to replace the Outlook app for Windows 11 to connect and manage your email accounts from different services (such as Outlook, Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, and many others), Thunderbird should be at the top of your list.

Thunderbird is an open-source application from Mozilla that not only supports many email services but it also comes with POP and IMAP support. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak )

Although the interface has undergone different updates, it still looks a bit dated, so you wouldn't choose this application for its design experience. However, it retains that familiar looks similar to the legacy version of the Outlook app from the Microsoft 365 suite (formerly Microsoft Office) alongside some elements from the Firefox web browser, such as tabs. 

Similar to Outlook and other email clients, you can access and manage your calendars, contacts, and tasks. You can even connect to chat networks like IRC, Matrix, XMPP, etc. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

It also offers some security features like end-to-end encryption, and there is support for add-ons that can enhance the experience. You can access the settings to customize the experience, including composing emails, security, and theming. Of course, you also have control of the email account settings to change the server configuration, control the settings for folders, junk emails, synchronization, encryption, return receipts, and more.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Also, the Thunderbird app includes offline support, which is still not supported on the new version of Outlook for Windows 11. However, Microsoft is working on the support.

Thunderbird is free, and you can get it for Windows 11, 10, macOS, and Linux from the official website. In contrast, the Outlook app is also free, but you must have a Microsoft 365 subscription to unlock all the features or access the legacy version of the email client.

If you're using two-factor authentication, you must create an app password to set up an Outlook account.

VLC

Windows 11 comes with the Media Player app to play videos and music, but it's a basic application that only supports some audio and video codecs. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you want an application that can play virtually any video or audio format, you must look no further than the VLC media player. 

VLC is a popular multimedia player supported in most operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. 

Also, VLC is known to play virtually any video format, including AVI, MP4, MKV, WMV, MOV, and FLV, and MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, and WAV for audio (to name a few). The app also supports streaming protocols from HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, MMS, DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.

One of the biggest strengths of VLC is its codec support. It comes with a built-in library of codecs, so you don't need to download and install any additional software to play most media files. This makes it a truly portable and versatile media player.

Other things that make VLC media player stand out are that it's lightweight and resource-efficient since it doesn't use many system resources. It's highly customizable, as you can customize the interface, keyboard shortcuts, and many other settings to suit your needs. It supports subtitles and skins, and you can use it as a streaming server to share your media with other devices on your network.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Some other advanced features include a video converter and screen recording. 

Since it's highly customizable and packs a lot of features, the interface can be overwhelming for new users, as it might seem cluttered and complex compared to the Media Player.

The VLC media player is completely free, and you can get it from the official download page.

Audacity

On Windows 11, the Sound Recorder is good enough to record audio from virtually any microphone. However, if the app isn't for you or you need more advanced features, Audacity is an excellent alternative.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Audacity is a free, open-source, multi-track audio editor and recorder incredibly popular for its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and cross-platform support compatibility, including Windows 11, 10, macOS, and Linux. It's an excellent option for anyone who wants to record and edit audio as well as mix audio. 

In addition to being able to capture sound from various sources like microphones, line-ins, and digital audio interfaces, you can also use it to record multi-track audio, ideal for layering instruments or vocals. Furthermore, it's possible to adjust recording settings like sample rate, bit depth, and channels, and you can even use silence detection and automatic recording modes for convenience.

As for editing, Audacity allows you to cut, copy, paste, and delete audio clips. Also, you can apply various effects like echo, equalization, compression, and noise removal.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Furthermore, it's possible to use this multi-track audio editor and recorder app to combine multiple audio tracks into a single mix, adjust volume levels, panning, and fades for each track, and add markers and labels for easy navigation within your project. Also, when you're done editing the mix project, you can export it in formats like MP3, WAV, OGG, and FLAC.

Although it has its learning curve for beginners, and the interface may seem intimidating, it's still a reasonably easy-to-use application. For example, if you only have to record vocals from a microphone, you only need to click the "Record" button and then the "Pause" or "Stop" button, and the most frequently used tools, such as trim and silence, are right next to main controllers. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Some of the aspects that make Audacity stand out are that the app is free and available across platforms. The app doesn't require a lot of resources and is highly customizable. Thanks to the support for plugins and scripts, it's possible to extend the functionalities even further.

If you're looking for a free and feature-rich audio editor as an alternative to the Sound Recorder, Audacity is worth trying. You might be surprised by what you can create. Audacity is available for download from its official page.

Greenshot

On Windows 11, at one point or another, you probably used the "Windows key + Print Screen" or the  "Fn + Windows key + Space Bar" keyboard shortcut or the Snipping Tool to take a screenshot. Although these features work well, if your work requires taking many screenshots daily, you probably quickly notice these features are quite limited. 

If you're looking for a more advanced alternative, you will find many options on the internet, but the one you should give a "shot" is the Greenshot app.

Greenshot is a free and open-source screenshot application for Windows 11, which is known for being easy to use experience and highly configurable. Typically, this is a popular choice for technical writers, testers, software developers, and anyone else who needs to take screenshots regularly.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The app allows you to easily capture the entire screen, a region, a window, or even a specific web element. Although you can annotate screenshots with the built-in Snipping Tool, Greenshot allows you to do a lot more, like annotating with arrows, text, shapes, and more.

You can also blur sensitive information or highlight key areas and save your screenshots in a variety of formats, including PNG, JPG, and PDF. 

Some additional features that make Greenshot a better alternative for Windows 11 users are the integration with other tools like image editors, Microsoft 365 apps (such as Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint), and cloud storage services.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Furthermore, in the settings, you can map keyboard shortcuts to capture the entire or part of the screen or configure a shortcut to capture a region or window. It is also possible to configure the storage location, default image format, automate filename pattern, and more. 

Although Greenshot has more features than the Snipping Tool, it is still a straightforward application with a minimum learning curve, but it has an intuitive interface. Of course, you may be able to find other alternatives, but they are usually premium offerings.

Greenshot is available for Windows 11 and macOS, and you can get it from its official site. 

FastStone Image Viewer

The Photos app is one of the best image viewers that Windows users ever had, but if you're looking for an alternative, you may want to try the FastStone Image Viewer app. 

FastStone Image Viewer is a free, powerful, versatile image viewer, browser, converter, and editor. This application has been around for a long time, but the development is still (very) active, even though the interface still looks dated. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

One of the features that makes this app a great alternative to the default image viewer on Windows 11 is the ability to navigate through large collections of images quickly and easily with thumbnail previews and batch operations.

It also supports virtually every major graphic format, including JPEG, JPEG 2000, BMP, GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO, TGA, and even camera raw files. You can also create slideshows with various transition effects, background music, and narration.

The app also includes essential editing tools: crop, resize, rotate, sharpen, and adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation. You can also use the app to remove pesky red-eye from photos, and it's possible to apply editing actions to multiple images at once, saving you time and effort. The image viewer also supports effects and filters.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Furthermore, this image viewer also packs features like screen capture and magnifier. You can compare images side by side, and it's possible to convert images to different formats easily.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

FastStone Image Viewer feels more versatile, especially for browsing, managing, and basic editing large collections of images. It's great for power users and photographers.

The FastStone Image Viewer is available for free, and you can get it from its official website.

Paint.NET

Microsoft has been proactively improving, adding new features, and integrating its AI capabilities into its Paint app. However, if the image editing tool is still limited, an alternative option is the Paint.NET app. 

Paint.NET is a free and open-source image editing software for Windows 11 (and older versions). Originally designed as a simple upgrade to Microsoft Paint, it has evolved into a versatile tool for photo editing, graphic design, and digital art.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you need to work with images, Paint.NET offers a friendly interface for beginners and experienced users. It also includes tools for cropping, resizing, rotating, adjusting colours, applying effects, and more.

Similar to recently updated Paint, the image editor allows you to work on multiple layers independently, giving you greater flexibility and control over your edits, and it offers a variety of special effects, including blur, sharpening, shadows, and textures.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Another strength of the Paint.NET is its support for plugins that allow you to extend its functionality. 

While Paint.NET is more advanced than Microsoft Paint, it's less powerful than other premium offerings, such as Photoshop. However, it's highly customizable and well-suited for beginners and casual users who don't need the full suite of features offered by professional tools.

Paint.NET is available for free, and you can get it from its official website.

SimpleWeather

On Windows 11, the default Weather app provides a good experience to get the forecast for your current and other locations. However, if you want something simpler and different, then the SimpleWeather app is for you.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

As the name implies, it's a simple app that shows the current weather conditions from your locations with an interface that matches the design language of Windows 11.

As part of the details, you get a seven-day forecast, hourly weather information, charts for precipitation and wind, as well as details about the moon, sunrise and sunset schedule, radar, and more.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

SimpleWeather is free, and you can install it from the Microsoft Store.

Brave

The browser experience can be controversial since we all have different opinions, and sometimes, we even choose an application based on the platform we like. However, if you feel that Microsoft Edge isn't for you and want something different, the Brave browser may be a suitable alternative.

Brave is a free and open-source modern web browser created based on Google's Chromium browser project that uses the same browsing engine as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. However, Brave includes some unique customizations that make it a better browser for those concerned about privacy and security but still want a fast online experience.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Perhaps one of the most important differences is that Brave blocks ads and trackers by default, which increases privacy, improves page loading, and prevents marketers from tracking your online activities. In addition, this browser enforces secure connections, blocks fingerprinting and malware, prevents scripts from running on your device, and integrates the Tor network for an even more private experience at the expense of speed.

Brave even includes an option to sync your browse across devices (including mobile) without creating an account to prevent syncing your data to the cloud. The browser accomplishes this by creating a unique token you can use on your other devices to sync your data.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Similar to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, the Brave browser offers support for tabs, extensions, VPN (paid service), a friendly interface, customization settings, and support for all web standards. 

If you decide to switch to Brave, you can use these instructions to download and get started with the browser. 

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Recently the tech giant published a blog post explaining why every user needed it even if they may think they don't. And while it remains buggy, Microsoft has already pushed it to Windows 10 as well just to increase the reach of Copilot as it knows and understands the popularity of Windows 10.

It seems Microsoft is not quite happy with the response around it so far, and in order to generate more hype and interest among users, the company CEO Satya Nadella ended up comparing Copilot with the Start button in Windows.

This happened during a stage talk at Snapdragon Summit 2023, when Qualcomm CEO and President Cristiano Amon discussed the possibilities of AI on Windows, among other things, with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.

Nadella said (via PCWorld ) 

The Copilot is like the Start button. It becomes the orchestrator of all your app experiences. So for example, I just go there and express my intent and it either navigates me to an application or it brings the application to the Copilot, so it helps me learn, query and create — and completely changes, I think, the user habits.

Hence, it is clear Microsoft sees Copilot as something that still has a whole lot of potential, similar to the revolutionary Start button on Windows. (Remember how almost everyone felt annoyed when it was stupidly dumped in Windows 8?)

While that was back in October, at AMD's Advancing AI event this week, during the revelation of the new Ryzen 8040 series and upcoming 8050 series, the latter being seemingly prepared for AI-rich Windows (12), Corporate Vice President Pavan Davuluri, reiterated Microsoft's thoughts about how it sees Copilot as a gateway to harness the true power of AI on Windows. Davuluri said:

Now, for us at Microsoft and the ecosystem, our marquee experience really is Copilot. Similar to how the Start button is the gateway into Windows, the Copilot for us is the entry point into this world of AI on the PC.

It is difficult to see Microsoft ever repeating its mistake by pulling off another instance of removing the Start button and replacing it with Copilot. However, the company has been moving it around lately, as it may not be sure where it is best placed.

Rumor has it that next-gen Windows will have something called the "advanced Copilot," which will probably improve on what the feature is already capable of now.

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The Neovim text editor working inside WSL. (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

• Microsoft has opened a thread on GitHub exploring the possibility of adding a default CLI (command line interface) text editor into Windows. 
• While you can launch graphical apps from the command line, such as VS Code, many developers, admins and even end users, still work in a predominantly CLI environment. 
• Microsoft wants user feedback on the idea, with the end goal potentially having a default option that users can launch straight into while working in the terminal. 

Those who never dip inside a terminal on Windows 11 might not know or care, but those who do, there's a potentially interesting development being explored to make your lives easier. 

Personally, I wasn't aware that 64-bit Windows doesn't ship with a default command line text editor, but that could be something that's going to change in the future. 

Microsoft's Connor Plante has opened a thread on GitHub detailing the idea, and is soliciting feedback from users over what could be implemented. 

It's a small potential change, but one that would certainly improve the quality of life of those who use CLI text editors. 

An alternative solution also being discussed is better error handling so that the shell will recognize the commands trying to be used, and display a quick installation solution using Windows Package Manager. 

Give your feedback, it could make a difference

The Nano text editor running inside WSL.  (Image credit: Windows Central)

The whole point of starting the discussion on GitHub is to engage the community and solicit feedback. Specifically, there are three questions being asked: 

• Do you want to see a default CLI editor in Windows? How would it improve your experience?
• Do you use a CLI editor today? If so, which do you use and why?
• Are there alternative solutions or CLI editor-related features you’d like to see?

For a lot of workflows, bouncing out to a GUI app like VS Code or even Notepad to make changes to text files can be quite jarring. The reason these type of text editors still exist is because so many people use them. 

I'm no developer, far from it, but I use a CLI text editor a lot inside WSL. I couldn't necessarily tell you why I like it so much, but I do, and I'm a sucker for Neovim. Or Nano if I just have to make a really quick adjustment to a file. I spend far more time in WSL than I do in PowerShell, but I'd certainly be happy to see a default text editor added natively to Windows. 

So if this is of interest to you, drop on over to the thread and let your voice be heard. It might make a difference. 

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Unlike the standard Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 and 11, which can download only the latest releases, the UMCT script provides access to all releases, all the way down to the initial release of Windows 10, version 1507. It can also get you business editions if that is something you need. In addition to downloading files and generating images, UMCT can "burn" ISO files to USB drives, giving you ready-to-go install media.

For some reason, until now, Universal Media Creation Tool was limited to Windows 11 version 21H2 and Windows 10 version 21H2. With the latest update, users can download the most recent Windows 10 and 11 releases. Note that the script does not use third-party servers or modified images. Just like the official Media Creation Tool app, it downloads bits and pieces from official servers.

You can download the Universal Media Creation Tool script from its repository on GitHub. It also contains more information about its features and deployment.

In case you missed it, UUP Media Creator, another third-party app for downloading and managing update files for Microsoft's platforms, also received an update. While MCT and UMCT are great for downloading stable Windows images, UUP Media Creator is your best friend if you want to create an ISO file with the latest preview build from the Canary, Dev, or other channels.

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Just a reminder: The Beta Channel update members can turn on a toggle that will let them get first access to new features. Turning the toggle off means those features won't be rolled out to them immediately, but they will get some additions that will be rolled out to all Beta Channel members.

Beta Channel Insiders can also enjoy a preview of the updated Microsoft Store, but not the Notepad update, that is still limited to Dev and Canary Insiders.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Windows Share]

 

• The Windows share window now supports sharing with WhatsApp under the “Share using” section. If you don’t have WhatsApp installed, you can choose to install it from Windows share window directly. Over time, we plan to try this experience out with other apps as well.

Microsoft Store Update

 

Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (also Canary and Dev too) running version 22311.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

 

Install as you browse: Introducing another quick way to get your favorite products: you can now install directly while browsing. Simply browse through the Store’s Home, Apps, or Games pages and hover over a product and click the install button. There are now fewer clicks to dive into new apps.

 

Improving discoverability of instant games: A few months ago, the Microsoft Store introduced games that you can play without downloading. We’re making it easier to discover these games by having a dedicated page you can browse.

 

Performance while browsing: We’ve made performance improvements in the Microsoft Store that will make it smoother for you to browse and scroll through various pages.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

You can check out the full blog post here.

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The update was announced on the DuoWOA Telegram Channel, where Gustave Monce, the maker of UUP Media Creator, publishes updates about its DuoWOA project that lets you install Windows 11 on the original and second-generation Surface Duo:

Here is the changelog for UUP Media Creator version 3.1.9.2:

• Fixed an issue with creating alternative editions.
• Ensured that an exception is thrown if all attempts fail in DismOperations. This change fixes issues when building ISO media for builds higher than 26002.1010
• Fixed an issue with INF renaming.
• Fixed broken paths for WCOS downloads.
• Fixed broken winpe registry changes as part of germanium rework of NetDiagFx.
• Bumped the version number to v3.1.9.2.

You can download UUP Media Creator version 3.1.9.2 from GitHub.

For those unfamiliar with the project, UUP Media Creator is a set of apps that let you download updates from Microsoft's Unified Update Platform (UUP). You can then use those downloads to build images of different Windows versions, such as Windows 10 or 11, Windows 10X (remember that?), Windows Server, Windows IoT, and more.

Not every Windows Insider build comes with official images, so third-party tools like UUP Media Creator often come in handy for those wanting to perform a clean installation of the latest preview build. That applies to the most recent Dev and Canary builds, 23601 and 26010.

UUP Media Creator is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, but some features are available only to Windows users. Those include GUI, UUPMediaConverter for turning UUP files into usable ISOs, and a few more. You can find more details about UUP Media Creator in its GitHub repository.

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Since it is HP's app that is being installed, the initial impression from many people would likely be that somehow the company may be responsible for this bug. However, after further investigation, Microsoft has confirmed that such is not the case.

While the initial post about the issue on the Windows health dashboard only stated that printing processes and jobs shouldn't be affected, the tech giant has now edited that part to add that HP is not responsible for the mishap, along with additional information regarding printer functionality.

Here's what the initial post stated:

Note: Printing processes are not expected to be affected by this issue. It should be possible to queue printing jobs as usual, as well as other features such as copying or scanning. Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations.

 

As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue.

And here's what the updated version of it is now:

Note: Our investigations indicate that this issue is not caused by an HP update. In most cases, it should be possible to use the printer as expected, including queueing printing jobs, as well as other features such as copy, scan, or fax. Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations.
However, this issue might affect associations with other manufacturer-supplied printer apps used to extend basic printer capabilities. If this is the case, some or all of those extended functions might not work.

 

As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue.

You can view the issue on this page on Microsoft's official health dashboard website.

On a somewhat related note, in case it isn't HP but you instead find Canon driver installed on your PC even if you don't have one, do leave your comment on this thread started by Neowin forum member cosrocket. We are trying to understand if this is an isolated case or more widespread.

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Regardless though, to make it easier and convenient for users to understand whether their system is Windows 11-ready, Microsoft released an application called "PC Health Check". Although, initially, it would only report whether a system was supported, Microsoft later updated the app to include details about the individual requirements and stated which one of those wasn't met, in order for users to understand the upgrades necessary.

PC Health check app has not been perfect though as it once deemed the now-ancient Pentium 4 as perfectly compatible with Windows 11, something that happened just a month after the app was restored due to errors. And another week later, the app was automatically installing on Windows 10 systems.

Since the dust has mostly settled now at the end of 2023 as even the latest Windows 11 version, 23H2, has continued with the same system requirements, the buzz around the PC Health Check (PCHC) app has dropped significantly.

However, a couple of days ago, Microsoft updated the app's support page to include a note that explains what compatibility safeguard holds and why certain users will not be offered an upgrade to Windows 11 even if PCHC is correctly giving the green signal:

Note: If a compatibility issue has been identified on your device that would disrupt your experience using Windows 11, we will temporarily delay your upgrade until the issue is resolved. Compatibility safeguard holds help ensure you have the best experience possible when upgrading and your productivity is not disrupted if critical apps or drivers are not yet compatible.

Microsoft made this update very recently as a buggy Copilot integration has halted the Windows 11 23H2 availability on affected devices.

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Here is the changelog:

Changes and Improvements

[General]

• The Tips app is removed after updating to Build 26002 and higher. The Tips app is deprecated.

[Copilot in Windows]

• We are trying out the ability to “undock” Copilot in Windows with Windows Insiders. Just click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header. While undocked, Copilot can appear above or below other apps in Windows while maintaining its fixed position on the desktop. This allows users to access Copilot while minimizing disruption to other user activities. Additionally, can resize the Copilot window for a more comfortable experience. Simply click-and-drag the edge of the Copilot window to adjust the width to your needs.

Click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header to undock Copilot.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• After trying out a scrollable view of quick settings with some Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel starting with Build 25967, we’re beginning to roll this out again with some slight refinements. This new scrolling view of quick actions allows you to rearrange the set of quick settings and provides better usability and discoverability for the user.

A scrollable view of quick settings.

[Task Manager]

• The Task Manager settings page now has Mica material.

[Settings]

• Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps has moved to its own page under Settings > System.

Fixes for known issues

• Fixed an issue which was causing the restart button to be missing in Settings > Windows Update, or for that settings page to not load at all with the previous flight. If you are on Build 26002 and encounter this trying to upgrade to Build 26010, you can reboot by clicking the Windows Update icon in the system tray or open Start and reboot from the power button there.
• Fixed an issue where attempting to rebooting into safe mode would hang on the boot logo.
• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience an increase in bugchecks in the last two flights.
• Fixed a high hitting taskhostw.exe crash in the last flight which some Insiders were seeing on their PCs.
• Made some improvements to help address an issue where the background could be seen jumping when switching between desktops.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to revert to the previous design and opening the context menu to crash explorer.exe for some Insiders.

Known issues

[General]

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where keyboard shortcuts are not working on the desktop – including using the delete key to delete files off of your desktop, CTRL key combos to take action on desktop icons, or using ALT + F4 on the desktop to open the shutdown dialog. As a workaround for the former, please use the Desktop folder within File Explorer.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where opening the print queue is showing a messaging saying it can’t find the app.

[Widgets]

• [NEW] The Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets get stuck in an error state when the Microsoft Start feed is disabled.
• [NEW] You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• [NEW] Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• [NEW] The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• [NEW] Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• [NEW] Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

The new Canary Channel build also has the new widget settings experience that was added to the latest Beta Channel build update earlier this week. The full blog post can be seen here.

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PowerToys 0.76 is now available for download with new Add-ons for File Explorer, and modernizations for PowerToys Run, Quick Accent and Text Extractor UI that bring Windows 11-like visuals, as is to be expected, this release also brings a massive list of fixes and improvements.

Without further ado:

What is new in PowerToys 0.76?

Update highlights:

• Upgrade to .NET 8. Thanks @snickler!
• Keyboard Manager can now remap keys and shortcuts to send sequences of unicode text.
• Modernized the Keyboard Manager Editor UI. Thanks @dillydylann!
• Modernized the PowerToys Run, Quick Accent and Text Extractor UIs. Thanks @niels9001!
• New File Explorer Add-ons: QOI image Preview Handler and Thumbnail Provider. Thanks @pedrolamas!

Full release notes:

General

• Updated the WebView 2 dependency to 1.0.2088.41. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Fixed unreadable colour brushes used across WinUI3 applications for improved accessibility. Thanks @niels9001!
• Flyouts used across WinUI3 applications are no longer constrained to the application's bounds. Thanks @Jay-o-Way!
• Upgraded the WPF-UI dependency to preview.9 and then preview.11. Thanks @niels9001 and @pomianowski!
• Upgraded to .NET 8. Thanks @snickler!
• Updated the WinAppSDK dependency to 1.4.3.

Awake

• Added localization to the tray icon context menu.

Crop And Lock

• Fixed restoring windows that were reparented while maximized.

Environment Variables

• Fixed crash caused by WinAppSDK version bump by replacing ListView elements with ItemsControl.

FancyZones

• Reverted a change that caused some applications, like the Windows Calculator, to not snap correctly. (This was a hotfix for 0.75)
• FancyZones Editor will no longer apply a layout to the current monitor after editing it.
• Fixed and refactored the code that detected if a window can be snapped. Added tests to it with known application window styles to avoid regressions in the future.

File Explorer add-ons

• Solved an issue incorrectly detecting encoding when previewing code files preview.
• Fixed the background colour for Gcode preview handler on dark theme. Thanks @pedrolamas!
• New utilities: Preview Handler and Thumbnail Provider for QOI image files. Thanks @pedrolamas!
• GCode Thumbnails are now in the 32 bit ARGB format. Thanks @pedrolamas!
• Added the perceived type to SVG and QOI file thumbnails. Thanks @pedrolamas!

GPO

• Added the missing Environment Variables utility policy to the .admx and .adml files. (This was a hotfix for 0.75)
• Fixed some typos and text improvements in the .adml file. Thanks @htcfreek!

Hosts File Editor

• Added a proper warning when the hosts file is read-only and a button to make it writable. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Image Resizer

• Fixed a WPF-UI issue regarding the application's background brushes. Thanks @niels9001!

Installer

• Included the Text Extractor and Awake localization files in the install process.

Keyboard Manager

• Modernized the UI with the Fluent design. Thanks @dillydylann!
• Added the feature to remap keys and shortcuts to arbitrary unicode text sequences.

Mouse Without Borders

• Removed Thread.Suspend calls when exiting the utility. That call is deprecated, unneeded and was causing a silent crash.

Peek

• Added the possibility to pause/resume videos with the space bar. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Fixed high CPU usage when idle before initializing the main window. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Implemented Ctrl+W as a shortcut to close Peek. Thanks @Physalis2!
• Solved an issue incorrectly detecting encoding when previewing code files.
• Fixed background issues when peeking into HTML files after the WebView 2 upgrade.

PowerToys Run

• Moved to WPF-UI and redesigned according to Fluent UX principles. Thanks @niels9001!
• Fixed an issue causing 3rd party plugins to not have their custom settings correctly initialized with default values. (This was a hotfix for 0.75) Thanks @waaverecords!
• Fixed a crash in the VSCode plugin when the VSCode path had trailing backspaces. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Fixed a crash when trying to load invalid image icons.
• Fixed a crash in the Programs plugin when getting images for some .lnk files.
• Fixed a rare startup initialization error and removed cold start operations that were no longer needed. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Improved calculations for Windows File Time and Unix Epoch Time in the DateTime plugin. Thanks @htcfreek!
• Fixed a crash when trying to get the icon for a link that pointed to no file.
• Cleaned up code in the WindowWalker plugin improving the logic. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Quick Accent

• Moved from ModernWPF to WPF-UI. Thanks @niels9001!
• Added support to the Finnish language character set. Thanks @davidtlascelles!
• Added currency symbols for Croatian, Gaeilge, Gàidhlig and Welsh. Thanks @PesBandi!
• Added a missing Latin letter ꝡ. Thanks @cubedhuang!
• Added fraction characters. Thanks @PesBandi!
• Added support to the Danish language character set. Thanks @PesBandi!
• Added the Kazakhstani Tenge character to the Currencies characters set. Thanks @PesBandi!
• Renamed Slovakian to Slovak, which is the correct term. Thanks @PesBandi!
• Added the Greek language character set. Thanks @mcbabo!

Settings

• When clicking a module's name on the Dashboard, it will navigate to that module's page.
• Fixed the clipping of information in the Backup and Restore section of the General Settings page. Thanks @niels9001!
• Updated the File Explorer Add-ons fluent icon. Thanks @niels9001!
• Added a warning when trying to set a shortcut that might conflict with "Alt Gr" key combinations.
• Added a direct link to the OOBE's "What's New page" from the main Settings window. Thanks @iakrayna!
• Changed mentions from Microsoft Docs to Microsoft Learn.
• Fixed the slow reaction to system theme changes.

Text Extractor

• Move to WPF-UI, localization and light theme support. Thanks @niels9001!
• Disabled by default on Windows 11, with a information box on Settings to prefer using the Windows Snipping Tool, which now supports OCR.

Documentation

• Fixed some typos in the README. Thanks @Asymtode712!
• Reworked the gpo docs on learn.microsoft.com, adding .admx, registry and Intune information. Thanks @htcfreek!

Development credits:

Development

• Updated the check-spelling ci action to 0.22. Thanks @jsoref!
• Refactored the modules data model used between the Settings Dashboard and Flyout.
• Fixed a flaky interop test that was causing automated CI to hang occasionally.
• Increased the WebView 2 loading timeout to reduce flakiness in those tests. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Added support for building with the Dev Drive CopyOnWrite feature, increasing build speed. Thanks @pedrolamas!
• Addressed the C# static analyzers suggestions. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
• Addressed the C++ static analyzers suggestions.
• PRs that only contain Markdown or text files changes no longer trigger the full CI. Thanks @snickler!
• Updated the Microsoft.Windows.CsWinRT to 2.0.4 to fix building with the official Visual Studio 17.8 release.
• Fixed new code quality issues caught by the official Visual Studio 17.8 release.
• Added a bot trigger to point contributors to the main new contribution issue on GitHub. Thanks @Aaron-Junker!
• Removed unneeded entries from expect.txt.
• Turned off a new feature from Visual Studio that was adding the commit hash to the binary files Product Version.
• Refactored and reviewed the spellcheck entries into different files. Thanks @Jay-o-Way!
• Added Spectre mitigation and SHA256 hash creation for some DLLs.
• Reverted the release pipeline template to a previous release that's stable for shipping PowerToys.

PowerToys is available on Windows 10 and 11. You can download the app from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.

Update Dec 7: Following Monday's 0.76 update, Microsoft has posted a patch update to fix issues deemed important for stability based on incoming rates.

The 0.76.1 Patch Update lists the following changes, and includes all of the changes from the 0.76 release.

• #30148 - Fixed issue causing FancyZones not to be able to zone specific apps (e.g. Facebook messenger).
• #30224 - Fixed results list height when changing maximum number of results to be shown setting for PowerToys Run.
• #30225 - Fixed WPF apps crash caused by SystemThemeWatcher.
• #30228 - Fixed loading .lnk files icons in PowerToys Run.
• #30237 - Fixed PowerToys Run theme setting.
• #30251 - Fixed suggestion text margin when text direction is right to left in PowerToys Run.

You can grab the update by checking for updates witin the app, on the Microsoft Store, or on GitHub.

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Here is the changelog:

Version 120.0.2210.61: December 7, 2023

 

Fixed various bugs and performance issues.

 

Stable channel security updates are listed here.

 

Feature updates

 

• RendererAppContainer. For extra security benefits, the Windows native app container is enabled by default. Note: If Enterprise organizations identify a compatibility issue due to code injection from security software, they should follow up with the software publisher directly. Alternatively, they can use the RendererAppContainerEnabled policy to trade off the security benefits in Microsoft Edge with their other software.
• Updated SmartActionsBlockList policy. The SmartActionsBlockList policy is updated with new policy option mappings. Administrators can now configure the policy to control Smart actions like definitions on websites (smart_actions_website) or control Smart actions in pdfs and on websites (smart_actions).

 

Policy updates

 

New policies

 

• AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled - Configure auto discard sleeping tabs
• AutomaticProfileSwitchingSiteList - Configure the automatic profile switching site list
• Edge3PSerpTelemetryEnabled - Edge 3P SERP Telemetry Enabled
• PostQuantumKeyAgreementEnabled - Enable post-quantum key agreement for TLS
• WebAppSettings - Web App management settings

You can view the support post for the update here. Microsoft has also released the specific security updates for Edge 120 Stable as well, which incorporates the latest updates from the Chromium project.

There are also three specific Edge security fixes:

• CVE-2023-38174
• CVE-2023-35618
• CVE-2023-36880

You can download the Edge 120 Stable update from Microsoft's site. The company is already working on Edge 121. You can download the Dev version of that browser right now, which has some new additions such as offering video translation and captions on the page, an image viewer with basic editing and AI features, and many more.

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