Several days ago, many people in the Windows Insider Program noticed that the Windows Photos app had quietly been updated with the new ability to remove and replace background images. Today, Microsoft finally and officially announced that this update to the Photos app is now available for all members of the Insider program.

In a blog post, Microsoft stated:

With a single click, you can remove the background and save the resulting image or copy it to the clipboard. Another option is to replace the selected background with a solid colour. Use the colour picker to select the right hue, either by clicking on the palette, entering a hex colour code, or setting the RGB values.

Microsoft also noted some other new improvements in the Photos app. One is the revamped Filmstrip feature, which is now placed below the main image you are viewing. It also has larger thumbnails and the scrollbar is larger. Also, the feature is turned off by default when you view an image in the Photos app. You turn it on by pressing the F key or by clicking on the Filmstrip Icon in the bottom left corner.

The app also has a new Timeline Scrollbar for all the folders in the app and it's now based on the time range of your images.

The app also lets you share a photo that's backed up on your OneDrive cloud storage account. Right-clicking on a photo brings up a menu, and you can click on Share, and then Using OneDrive, to send a link to the photo via email.

Microsoft also notes a few more changes to the Photos app:

• Based on community feedback, we’ve made it easier than ever to print your photos by bringing the Print button to the top command bar when viewing a single image, as well as offering 7:5 aspect ratio in the Resize tool.
• Various performance and stability updates to improve the Slideshow feature, navigation between tabs, and opening images.

All members of the Insiders program can update the Photos app to version 2023.11110.8002.0 or higher to get these updates. There's no word on when they will be made generally available for all Windows Photos users.

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Here is the changelog:

What’s new?

 

New Camera Magic on iOS!

 

We're bringing you a cooler, sleeker camera experience in our latest update on iOS. We've revamped our camera feature for a smoother, crash-free experience to snap picture-perfect moments with just a click!

 

• Snap & Polish: Enjoy a revamped camera layout for quick captures and edits, making every photo session a breeze.
• Selfie Revolution: Elevate your profile pics with fresh filters and edits, all within the app. Time to shine!
• QR Code Ease: Dive into chats or log in with a simple QR scan. It's seamless and secure.
• Capture, edit, and share life's moments with flair on your iPhone!

 

Refined Reply Truncation!

 

Say hello to cleaner, more efficient conversations on Skype with smart truncation for lengthy message replies on all Platforms!

 

• Concise Communication: Lengthy replies are now elegantly truncated to three lines for a tidier chat space.
• Full Message Reveal: Click to expand truncated messages and uncover their full story with ease.
• Visual Clarity: Spot truncated messages in a snap, thanks to intuitive visual indicators.
• Forwarding Transparency: When forwarding, the entire content of truncated messages is displayed, preserving the context.
• Get ready for a more organized and clutter-free Skype, where every reply is just the right size!

 

Stability improvements & Bug fixes:

 

• Now, photos taken in landscape mode remain intact even when you switch your phone to portrait mode, on Android

You can download the latest Skype Insider build from the official website. The program is open to everyone using Windows 10, 11, macOS, Linux, or Android. Skype Insider is also available on iOS, but you need an invitation to join.

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Windows Development Environment (WDE) version 2311 is built upon Windows 11 Enterprise with build number 22621.2715 (the latest Patch Tuesday update). The new Moment 4 update features are enabled by default, so you can try them without installing any extra updates. However, you can update it to Windows 11 version 23H2, released on October 31, 2023.

Downloading Windows Development Environment 2311 will let you try the latest Windows 11 update and Microsoft's developer tools. Those include Visual Studio 2022 Community Edition (including UWP, NET Desktop, Azure, and Windows App SDK), Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 with Ubuntu installed by default, Windows Terminal, and Windows Developer mode.

You cannot activate Microsoft's Windows 11 virtual machines, but the company allows you to use them during a free 90-day evaluation period. Version 2311 will expire on February 13, 2024. After that, your virtual machine will begin displaying typical symptoms of activation issues, such as black backgrounds, activation messages, etc. If you see an activation error right after installing the VM, run Windows Activation Troubleshooter to resolve it.

Is it possible to activate the Windows license in these images for long term use?

 

No, these VM images use Windows Enterprise Evaluation Edition and do not support activation with a product key.

You can download Windows Development Environment version 2311 from the official website. It is available as a prebuilt virtual machine for Hyper-V, VMware Workstation Pro and Workstation Player, Parallels Desktop for Mac, and VirtualBox. Note that WDE requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM and at least 70GB of free disk space. You can also download evaluation images without extra software here (Windows 10) and here (Windows 11).

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Alongside that, the list of changes in this build is massive with many major bug fixes and improvements. The full changelog is given below:

This update includes the following features and improvements:

 

• On Windows 11, version 23H2 – this update previews changes in Windows to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Economic Area.
• New! You can use Copilot in Windows across multiple displays. Press the Copilot in Windows taskbar button on the taskbar of the display where you want Copilot in Windows to appear. To show Copilot in Windows on the last display that it was on, press WIN + C. If you use a keyboard, press WIN +T to put the keyboard focus on the taskbar. Then go to the Copilot in Windows button to open it on any display. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
• New! You can use Copilot in Windows with ALT +TAB. When you press ALT +TAB, the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows appears among other thumbnail previews of open windows. You can switch between them using the Tab keystroke. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
• New! In the coming weeks, you might see Windows Spotlight set as the default background. This might occur when your background is set to an inbox Windows image.
• New! You can ask Copilot in Windows for help ten times when you sign in to Windows using a local account. After that, you must sign in using a verified account. These include a Microsoft account (MSA) and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Note that the name for Azure AD will change to Microsoft Entra ID.
• This update affects the shortcut (context) menu. Its performance is better when you open it on the desktop and in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that affects .RAR files. They display as if they are empty in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that affects apps that you download from Microsoft store. They stop responding and will not update.
• This update affects the Netherlands time zone. It adds the recent man-made landmass outside of Rotterdam to the shape files.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Trusted Sites Zone logon policy. You cannot manage it using mobile device management (MDM).
• This update addresses an issue that affects IE mode. A webpage stops working as expected when there is an open modal dialog.
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs if you press the left arrow key when an empty text box has the focus and caret (cursor) browsing is on.
• This update addresses app cursor issues. The cursor changes from a hand to a cursor when it should not, or the cursor disappears. These issues occur when apps use the WebView2Standalone XAML control..
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs when you have multiple IE mode tabs open.
• This update addresses an issue that affects remote direct memory access (RDMA) performance counters. They did not return networking data on VMs in the right way.
• This update addresses an issue that affects 32-bit GDI based applications. They stop responding. This occurs when they run on 64-bit Windows OSs that use more than 2GB of memory.
• This update affects Dynamic Lighting. It reduces the amount of power it uses on your device.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect the cursor when you write in Japanese. The cursor might move to an unexpected place.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect Microsoft OneNote. When you use a pen right-click to open it, that might fail.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the cursor. Its movement lags in some screen capture scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) decoder. It does not work well on some websites that set the wrong input sampling rate.
• This update addresses an issue that affects hardware that uses the PresentAt feature. Power use grows when you play a video in full screen.
• This update affects feature management. You can now prefetch velocity configs for more than one OS version. Doing that will not harm other versions. After you upgrade and your machine restarts, only the correct velocity config for the current OS version is applied.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Systems Settings application. It stops responding after you turn off Device Encryption.
• This update affects Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). It enables Conditional Access (CA) scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that stops you from reconnecting to an existing cloud session. Instead, you get a new one.
• This update improves how fast Copilot in Windows opens from the taskbar.
• This update addresses a leak in volatile notifications. This might stop you from signing in to your machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. When you press Shift + F10, the shortcut (context) menu does not open.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. When you do not expect them, they appear in the foreground.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Widgets notification badge. It is in the wrong position on the taskbar.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Copilot in Windows icon on the taskbar. It does not show as active when Copilot in Windows is open.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows LAPS. Its PasswordExpirationProtectionEnabled policy fails to turn on the setting.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Sandbox. If the locale of your machine is not US English, File Explorer stops responding.

You can view the official blog post on this page on Microsoft's website.

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Shortly after announcing the end of three services, one of which is as old as MS-DOS, Microsoft deprecated the Tips app. Now, another utility is about to get the axe: Microsoft has updated its Windows documentation again, detailing the end of the story for Steps Recorder (psr.exe).

Steps Recorder is an old utility from the Windows 7 era that lets you, as the name implies, record your steps while doing something in Windows. Although long abandoned, Steps Recorder is a handy tool for describing to your grandma how to perform specific actions in Windows, troubleshoot apps, or report bugs. Steps Recorder is simple and very effective, and you can launch it by pressing Win + R and typing psr.

There is no information on when Microsoft will remove Steps Recorder from the most recent Windows versions. However, it readily offers several alternatives, which, in typical Microsoft fashion, can barely replicate a fraction of Steps Recorder's capabilities. According to the updated Windows documentation, Microsoft wants you to replace Steps Recorder with the updated Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, or Microsoft Clipchamp.

Steps Recorder (psr.exe)

 

Steps Recorder is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. For screen recording, we recommend the Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, or Microsoft Clipchamp.

Interestingly, the documentation does not mention PowerToys and its Mouse Utilities you can use to showcase mouse clicks when screen recording. The updated Snipping Tool does allow you to show mouse clicks, so use PowerToys to mitigate that. Sadly, none of the suggested "alternatives" support logging and other advanced features in Steps Recorder.

As a reminder, feature deprecation means Microsoft is no longer actively developing a specific Windows part or application. Deprecated features may remain available for some time, but they no longer receive new capabilities, and Microsoft eventually removes them from its operating system. So long, Steps Recorder!

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As promised, the updated Media Creation Tool app is here. You can now head to the official Windows website and download Media Creation Tool to get your Windows 11 version 23H2 ISO for a clean installation or in-place upgrade. Alternatively, you can download the 23H2 ISO using direct download links on the official website or third-party apps like Rufus. The latter is a great free app for creating bootable USB drives, especially if you need one to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

A Microsoft product manager confirmed on X (Twitter) that the Media Creation Tool now properly returns Windows 11 version 23H2 images:

In case you missed it, Windows 11 version 23H2 contains all the changes Microsoft introduced in the Moment 4 update, such as Copilot (which will soon be available to Windows 11 users), native RAR anz 7Z support (more improvements for this area are already on the way), a redesigned volume mixer with new capabilities, native RGB controls inside the Settings app, a bunch of AI-powered features, and many more.

Like previous Windows 11 releases, version 23H2 will get two years of active support with monthly cumulative and non-security updates. Version 22H2 will remain supported for one more year, but Microsoft will soon stop updating it with optional non-security patches—only Patch Tuesday updates beginning February 27, 2024.

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Microsoft has just announced plans to make some changes to Windows 11 23H2 as well as Windows 10 22H2 so that both versions will comply with the European Union's Digital Market Act.

In a blog post, Microsoft says the changes will be included in an upcoming Windows 11 23H2 build in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program. Those changes will also be added to a Release Preview build of Windows 10 at a later date. Both Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 22H2 will be made to comply with the DMA by its deadline of March 6, 2024;

Here are the details in the blog post:

Windows operating system and apps

 

Customers using Windows have always used a combination of operating system functionality as well as apps, but now Windows will clearly identify operating system functionality in places like Settings, Start, and Search:

 

• Settings > System > System Components will show notable operating system components.
• Start menu’s All Apps list has been renamed to All and operating system components are labeled with “system”.
• Under Search, search results will show operating system components labeled with “system”.

 

System labeling under Start menu’s All list.

 

All apps in Windows can be uninstalled. Of course, apps can always be installed again from the Microsoft Store and internet. Settings > Apps > Installed apps continue to show all the apps installed on the PC and we’ve added the ability to uninstall:

 

• Camera
• Cortana
• Web Search from Microsoft Bing, in the EEA
• Microsoft Edge, in the EEA
• Photos

 

Interoperability with Windows features

 

Windows is an open platform and has a robust API surface that developers use to create millions of Windows apps. Many existing features in Windows were built specifically to enable richer app functionality, such as toast notifications and widgets

 

More interoperability points in Windows are now available. Continuing with the model used for cloud files, these new interoperability points also use an app-based model. This benefits the app, the app developer, and the customer. Apps can bring their unique differentiation to more customers by being hosted directly in Windows features, and customers can choose to use their preferred experience for common tasks in Windows, like searching the internet.

 

In the EEA, two new interoperability points are available:

 

• Feeds in the Windows Widgets Board:
• Web search in Windows Search:

 

Example of new interoperability point for web search

 

Example of new interoperability point for widgets.

 

Microsoft account data

 

In the EEA, Windows will ask users if they want to sync their Microsoft account with Windows so that Windows data is available on their other Windows devices and in Microsoft products that users sign into. The information saved to a user’s Microsoft account from other Microsoft products will also be available in Windows. Among other things, this enables a user to restore settings, apps, and passwords from another pc. It will also sync pinned apps and preferences across devices and quickly find files and apps.

 

Default apps

 

Windows will continue to prompt customers when they are opening content that a newly installed app registers for so they can easily change their default. Customers can continue to easily configure app defaults in Settings > Apps > Default apps.

 

Apps can prompt customers to change app defaults by opening Windows Settings to the app’s defaults page, as noted in A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows | Windows Experience Blog. Developers can use the instructions here for their apps: Launch the Default Apps settings page – UWP applications | Microsoft Learn .

 

In the EEA, Windows will always use customers’ configured app default settings for link and file types, including industry standard browser link types (http, https). Apps choose how to open content on Windows, and some Microsoft apps will choose to open web content in Microsoft Edge.

 

European Economic Area PCs

 

As noted above, some functionality is only available in the EEA. Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA. Once chosen in device setup, the region used for DMA compliance can only be changed by resetting the PC.

 

The update that we’re previewing in Release Preview today for Windows 11, version 23H2 does not include Copilot in Windows (in preview) in the EEA. Copilot in Windows continues to be rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows (in preview) include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time including the EEA.

 

We look forward to continuing to work with the European Commission to finalize our compliance obligations.

You can check out the full blog post here:

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The full changelog is given below:

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

Natural Voices Previews in Narrator

 

We are introducing previews for natural voices of 10 new locales launched in September 2023. As a reminder, those natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India), German and Korean.

 

These previews will allow the users to listen to the natural voices before downloading the voice model. Natural Narrator voices use modern, on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection. Please note to listen to the previews, an internet connection is required.

 

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

 

1. Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + CTRL + N hotkey.
2. Under Narrator’s voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
3. Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
4. The preview will play automatically once you navigate through the list.
5. If you like the preview , click on “Download and Install”. The new voice will be downloaded and ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.
6. When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator’s voice > Choose a voice.

 

When you click on a natural voice for Narrator in Settings, a preview will play automatically.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

 

Enhanced image consumption experience in Narrator

 

We are improving the image consumption experience with Narrator. There are two major changes:

 

• We have introduced a new keyboard command for navigating between the images/graphics on a screen/page. Now, you can use the keys “G” or “Shift + G” to navigate forward or backwards between images in Scan mode (Narrator key + spacebar).
• Recognition of text in images, including handwriting, is improved along with improvements to overall image descriptions. You can try the enhanced experience by navigating to the image and pressing Narrator key + CTRL + D key combination when the focus is on an image. This feature requires an active internet connection, and the setting to get Image Descriptions must be enabled in Narrator Settings.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

 

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

 

[Narrator]

 

• In Microsoft Word, Narrator will now announce the presence of a draft comment, a resolved comment, a bookmark, or the availability of accessibility suggestions when reading text in the document.

 

[Windows Share]

 

• We have significantly improved nearby share transfer speed for users on same network. Before these changes, users had to be on the same private network but now users just have to be on the same network, which could be public or private. You can quickly turn on nearby share via Quick Settings and simply right-click on a local file in File Explorer, choose “Share”, and choose to share to a device listed under Nearby Share in the Windows share window.
• The Windows share window will now only show apps under “Share using” that are tied to the account you are signed into Windows with – either Microsoft account (MSA) or Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure Active Directory). If you are signed in with an MSA, you will see Microsoft Teams (free) instead of Microsoft Teams (work or school) and not both for example.
• If you’re signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts will appear in the Windows share window to quickly share to.

 

[Nearby Sharing]

 

• If you turn on nearby sharing via quick settings or directly in Settings and you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, it will turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on so nearby sharing will work as expected. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it will also turn off nearby sharing.

 

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

 

[Narrator]

 

• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not correctly announcing the selected item in combo boxes when users try to change the combo box value using key combination Control + up or down arrow.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing old dialog names even after users navigate to new dialog on few web pages.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not reading Role of a control in tables on the web while using table navigation commands CTRL + ALT + Arrow keys.
• Fixed an issue in Microsoft Excel where Narrator was not consistently reading any item in the auto-complete list that comes when writing a formula.
• Addressed an issue where Narrator was not announcing the selected state of menu items in few applications such as device manager.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing both the unselected value and the newly selected value in elements such as date fields or any elements that are formatted as tables.

 

[Magnifier]

 

• Fixed an issue in Magnifier settings page where the text below “voice speed” slider was not following the colour contrast guidelines.

 

[Settings]

 

• Fixed an issue where Home was unexpectedly showing some users that there was NaN% storage left.

 

[Other]

 

• Fixed an issue which was causing the share window to crash for some Insiders recently.

 

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Copilot in Windows**]

 

• We’re beginning to roll out the ability to use Copilot in Windows with ALT + TAB. Using the ALT + TAB hotkey now displays the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows among the other thumbnail previews of open windows, which you can switch between by pressing Tab. This change does not change the ALT + TAB experience in Windows 11. Copilot only shows in ALT + TAB if Copilot is invoked from the taskbar.

 

Copilot in ALT + TAB.

 

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

• We fixed the issue that was causing Snipping Tool to crash when taking a capture on Arm devices.
• This update addresses an issue that stops File Explorer from opening.
• Fixed an issue where Settings Home might show a prompt to sign into your Microsoft account, and fail to sign in if you tried to use it, even though Settings itself showed you were already signed in.

 

Snipping Tool Update

 

We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel improving HDR display support. Screenshots and screen recording on displays with HDR enabled should be able to better display colours.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool.

You can view the official blog post here on Microsoft's website.

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This build adds the new update toggle for Release Preview users so they can get the latest feature updates immediately. That will include the new Copilot feature that will be released as part of a future Windows 10 22H2 update.

Here is the changelog:

• New! If you use Home or Pro consumer devices or non-managed business devices, you can get some of the newest experiences as soon as they are ready. To do so, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Set the Get the latest updates as soon as they are available toggle to on. Note that this toggle is not turned on for devices that your IT department manages unless IT configures a new policy.
• New! This update adds new functionality that affects app defaults. To learn more, see A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows.
• New! The news & interests feature on your device is now larger! This will help you use the feature more effectively and show the content you care about most on a larger scale.
• New! This update adds Windows Update opt-in notifications to the screen when you sign in.
• This update affects the Netherlands time zone. It adds the recent man-made landmass outside of Rotterdam to the shape files.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Trusted Sites Zone logon policy. You cannot manage it using mobile device management (MDM).
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs if you press the left arrow key when an empty text box has the focus and caret (cursor) browsing is on.
• This update addresses an issue that affects IE mode. A webpage stops working as expected when there is an open modal dialog.
• This update addresses app cursor issues. These issues occur when apps use the WebView2Standalone XAML control.
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs when you have multiple IE mode tabs open.
• This update addresses an issue that affects fontdrvhost.exe. It stops responding when you use Compact Font Format version 2 (CFF2) fonts.
• This update addresses an issue that affects non-admin processes. Game performance goes down, and the video stutters.
• This update addresses an issue that affects protected content. It stops cross-process windows from being created. Because of this update, you can keep using out-of-process hosting for things like WebView2 under protected, top-level windows.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the cursor. Its movement lags in some screen capture scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. It might not appear during the out-of-box experience (OOBE).
• This update affects Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). It enables Conditional Access (CA) scenarios.
• This update addresses a localization issue for Great Britain English (EN-GB) locales. The error message for invalid characters in a new Windows Hello PIN is wrong.
• This update addresses a leak in volatile notifications. This might stop you from signing in to your machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows LAPS. Its PasswordExpirationProtectionEnabled policy fails to turn on the setting.

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Like Windows 11 users, those sticking to the good old Windows 10 will get a new toggle today for Release Preview users. It allows installing the latest updates as soon as they are available. That toggle lets the operating system download and install non-security updates without permission, just like mandatory cumulative updates.

The toggle is available now for Windows Insiders testing Release Preview updates for Windows 10. Once it is out, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and toggle on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option.

Since the option is new to Windows 10 users, Microsoft provided a brief FAQ to explain how the toggle works:

Will Windows configuration updates be installed during active hours?

 

As with past updates, we respect your active hours. Changes enabled via the cloud take
a couple seconds to install, so they won't interrupt your work or spend device
resources. Restarting can be scheduled at any time that's convenient for you.

 

What should I expect after turning the toggle on?

 

After you set the toggle to On, your device will be among the first to get the latest non-security updates, fixes, improvements, and enhancements at the time they’re available for your device. You only need to set this option once and it stays on (although you always have the option to turn it Off later.

 

Will I get security updates?

 

A: Because Microsoft is committed to keeping Windows devices around the world safe and secure, there are regular security updates. Whether you have the toggle On or Off, you'll still get these recommended security updates installed as usual on a regular basis.

 

Will my device restart more often?

 

If you turned the toggle to On, your device will be getting the latest updates, fixes, improvements, and enhancements. There may be more reboots per month—these reboots are needed to apply changes.

 

Can I turn the toggle off after I turn it on?

 

Yes, you can set the toggle to Off at any time. However, changes and updates that were applied before will stay on your device.

 

Is this option available on managed devices?

 

If the device is managed, the Get the latest updates as soon as they're available toggle control can be managed by the administrator with the AllowOptionalContent client policy.

You can learn more about the change from a blog post published on the official Windows Blogs website.

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In a press release, Microsoft stated that it received " great feedback on Copilot" when it became available for Windows 11 users. In a change from their previous plans to not offer major feature upgrades for Windows 10 22H2, the company has now decided to make"additional investments to make sure everyone can get the maximum value from their Windows PC including Copilot in Windows (in preview). "

It is worth noting that not all Windows 10 computers will be able to run Copilot. According to Microsoft, your device must have a 720p display (or better) and a minimum of 4GB of RAM. In addition, some Windows 10 editions won't get Copilot, at least for a while.

Windows 10 Pro edition devices on version 22H2 that are managed by organizations will not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education edition devices on version 22H2 will also not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows.

The language Microsoft uses opens up the possibility that Copilot could be added to those editions of Windows 10 at some point. However, Windows 10's end-of-support date remains unchanged. The operating system will reach the end of its lifecycle on October 14, 2025.

In addition to bringing Copilot to Windows 10 in the near future, Microsoft is adding a new feature that will allow users to get access to Copilot and potentially other major new features and improvements as soon as possible. It will add the "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available" toggle in the Windows Update section of Settings for Release Preview insiders. Microsoft added, "This will be a phased launch via controlled feature rollout (CFR) over the coming months." You can learn more about the toggle in our separate article on this very subject.

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The button, spotted by @PhantomOfEarth on X (Twitter), will appear at the bottom of the network flyout next to the "More Wi-Fi settings" link.

Brandon LeBlanc, Senior Program Manager of the Windows Insider team, confirmed that developers are working on the Wi-Fi refresh button for the next Windows version. However, its implementation in build 25997 is unfinished.

According to Brandon, the button "kinda works" but also requires other changes coming soon in future updates, which is why Microsoft has not documented it in the release notes for the latest Canary release.

The current Windows 10 and 11 stable releases let you refresh the list of available Wi-Fi networks only by closing the flyout and opening it again. A dedicated refresh button will make connecting to Wi-Fi much more convenient.

The Wi-Fi network list refresh button will soon join other useful changes Microsoft implemented in the recent preview builds, such as sharing Wi-Fi passwords via QR codes, the ability to install network drivers during the initial setup, and improved location permission management.

You can find other changes in Windows 11 Canary build 25997 in our dedicated article. In case you missed it, Microsoft also released a new Dev build. Its release notes are available here.

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In a blog post today, the company shared new features in Google Calendar that enable users to view full-screen task lists recorded on the platform.

Users can get a single full-screen desktop view of their tasks together from the Calendar web application. The capability is accessible to all Google Workspace users and individuals with personal Google accounts.

To execute the feature, users must open the Google Calendar web app and click on the task icon in the top bar. Google has started to roll out the feature on Rapid Release Domains starting today but will begin rolling it out on Scheduled Release Domains on December 1, 2023.

Besides adding a new feature to Calendar, Google shared updates to Docs and Drive too. On Google Docs, the company added the capability to add smart chips for AppSheet content.

Smart chips are interactive elements that can be added to documents or spreadsheet files and help provide extra information about the file to others. They are especially helpful when the document is shared with other people.

Previously, customers could add smart chips for Docs, Sheets and Slides files, date chips, and Calendar event chips, among others, but they are now available for AppSheet content.

Google also explains this feature by adding:

“These smart chips allow you to access AppSheet data directly into Docs — you’ll be able to view and take action on the data, including triggering automations, without having to leave Docs.”

This feature is accessible to all customers of Google Workspace who own AppSheet licenses.

Lastly, Google recently announced that users can edit and respond to different activities in Drive such as share requests and comments on documents straight from the Google Drive Chat app.

Hence, any activity in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, can be responded to right from Chat. The app also shows an expanded list of the comment thread to provide more context and lets users @mention other users in comments.

The full roll-out of this capability has already begun from November 14, 2023, and is accessible by all Google Workspaces customers and ones with personal Google Accounts.

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Microsoft will soon let Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) disable its Bing web search, remove Microsoft Edge, and even add custom web search providers — including Google if it’s willing to build one — into its Windows Search interface.

 

All of these Windows 11 changes are part of key tweaks that Microsoft has to make to its operating system to comply with the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect in March 2024. Microsoft will be required to meet a slew of interoperability and competition rules, including allowing users “to easily un-install pre-installed apps or change default settings on operating systems, virtual assistants, or web browsers that steer them to the products and services of the gatekeeper and provide choice screens for key services.”

 

Alongside clearly marking which apps are system components in Windows 11, Microsoft is also responding by adding the ability to uninstall the following apps:

 

• Camera
• Cortana
• Web Search from Microsoft Bing, in the EEA
• Microsoft Edge, in the EEA
• Photos 

 

Only Windows 11 users in the EEA will be able to fully remove Microsoft Edge and the Bing-powered web search from Windows Search. Microsoft could easily extend this to all Windows 11 users, but it’s limiting this extra functionality to EEA markets to comply with the rules. “Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA,” explains Microsoft in a blog post. “Once chosen in device setup, the region used for DMA compliance can only be changed by resetting the PC.”

 

 

Windows 11 users in EEA markets will be able to add custom search providers into Windows Search.

Image: Microsoft

 

In EEA markets — which includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway — Windows 11 users will also get access to new interoperability features for feeds in the Windows Widgets board and web search in Windows Search. This will allow search providers like Google to extend the main Windows Search interface with their own custom web searches.

 

Microsoft will allow EEA machines to remove the Bing results, so Google could provide its own search results here and effectively become the default if a user has uninstalled Bing. “If the user has more than one search provider installed, Windows Search will show the last one used when opened,” explains Aaron Grady, partner group product manager for Windows, in a statement to The Verge.

 

We had hoped Microsoft would finally stop forcing Windows 11 users in Europe into Edge if they clicked a link from the Windows Widgets panel or from search results, but Microsoft appears to have changed exactly how it’s implementing this. The software maker previously said it would start testing a change to Windows 11 that would see “Windows system components use the default browser to open links” in EEA markets, but that change never appeared in Windows Insider builds.

 

“In the EEA, Windows will always use the customers’ configured app default settings for link and file types, including industry standard browser link types (http, https),” explains Microsoft in a blog post. “Apps choose how to open content on Windows, and some Microsoft apps will choose to open web content in Microsoft Edge.”

 

Microsoft considers Bing web search an app and will default to opening results in Microsoft Edge in the EEA. “We would expect that when other search providers install, they will similarly decide what app to launch, whether it be a browser, search app or the systems default browser, when search results are clicked,” explains Grady.

 

Microsoft is starting to test these new changes to Windows 11 in the Release Preview version of the OS today, with plans to preview additional changes to Windows 10 in a Release Preview test “at a later date.” Both operating systems will be updated to be compliant with the EU’s Digital Markets Act by March 6th, 2024.

 

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EDIT: The list of countries included in the EEA.

Microsoft Loop is built for the new way of work, which is characterized by more remote work, more collaboration, and more need for agility.

Loop helps people connect and innovate by providing a centralized workspace where they can share ideas, work on projects together, and stay up to date on the latest information.

See how the Microsoft 365 YouTube channel describes Loop below.

Microsoft Loop is a Notion competitor on steroids

Loop's interface closely mirrors that of Notion, including the ability to access a variety of tools and formatting options by typing the forward slash key. This intuitive design makes it easy for users familiar with Notion to quickly grasp Loop's functionality.

Microsoft's expertise in software development has enabled Loop to seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft applications, such as Teams Chat and Outlook.

This integration allows users to effortlessly share Loop page segments across these platforms, eliminating the need for constant context switching.

Copilot is there too

Loop incorporates Microsoft's AI-powered Copilot assistant, which provides valuable assistance with tasks like drafting text and summarizing pages. This intelligent feature enhances productivity and streamlines the collaborative workflow.

Here is a quick summary of the key features of Microsoft Loop:

• Flexible, collaborative workspaces and pages
• Seamless integration with Microsoft applications
• AI-powered Copilot assistant for enhanced productivity
• Real-time synchronization across apps
• Intelligent suggestions, page templates, and an insert menu for easy setup
• File and document search functionality
• Cross-platform availability

Microsoft Loop vs Notion

Microsoft Loop and Notion are both productivity and collaboration tools that help people work together more effectively. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between Microsoft Loop and Notion:

Microsoft Loop:

• Pros:
  • Real-time synchronization
  • AI-powered Copilot
  • Integration with other Microsoft tools
• Cons:
  • Limited features
  • Still under development

Notion:

• Pros:
  • Flexible and customizable
  • Wide range of features
  • Available on more platforms
• Cons:
  • No real-time synchronization
  • No AI-powered Copilot
  • Not as integrated with other Microsoft tools

Let's see if Microsoft, which has taken important steps in the field of productivity and team management, can succeed in this initiative this time.

Featured image credit: Microsoft.

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The Windows app enables users to connect to "Windows 365 Cloud PCs, AVD Desktops/RemoteApps, RDS, Remote Desktop, or Microsoft Dev Box" according to Christiaan Brinkhoff, Principal Product Manager, Community Director, Windows 365 + AVD at Microsoft.

In other words, it enables users to connect to remote Windows PCs from any of the supported device types.

Microsoft published a page on the Microsoft Ignite website that offers additional details. There, Microsoft provides the following description: "Windows App is your gateway to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services, and remote PCs, securely connecting you to Windows devices and apps.".

The app works on different device types, including PCs and laptops, mobile phones, tablets and web browsers. Users who access the Windows App in a web browser don't need to install any software.

The application features a custom homepage. Windows App users may pin apps and remote devices there for quick access. Microsoft notes that the app supports multiple accounts. Users can link accounts to the app and use the account switching feature to select them quickly in the app.

The app supports a number of additional features, which Microsoft highlights on the webpage:

• Support for multiple monitors.
• Support for custom display resolutions, dynamic resolutions and scaling.
• Device redirection support, e.g. webcams, audio, storage devices or printers.
• Microsoft Teams optimizations (not specified).

Interested users may download the Windows App from this website. Not all types of connections support all supported device types.

Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Microsoft Dev Box are supported on all. Remote Desktop Services and Remote PC only on macOS or iOS devices. Microsoft notes that it does not support these connections officially at the time.

Instructions for each of the connection types is provided on the linked webpage.

All connections are available for Enterprise, work or education, accounts only at the time of writing.

Closing Words

The Windows App bundles all of the experiences to connect to remote Windows PCs in a single app. It is available as a preview currently and supported on all major platforms except for Android.

While limited to Enterprise customers at the time, it is possible that the app is paving the way for a consumer version of Windows 365. Currently, there is none and no hard evidence that Microsoft is working on such a version.

If launched, it would allow Windows users to connect to a Windows PC in the cloud from any device that they use at the time.

Now You: would you use a cloud-based version of Windows?

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Here is the changelog:

Changes and Improvements

 

[Windows Share]

 

• If you’re signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts will appear in the Windows share window to quickly share to.

 

[Settings]

 

• We are beginning to roll out a new option under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Phone Link to disable Phone Link all together in Windows 11. This setting will prevent Phone Link from communicating with your mobile devices.

 

Fixes for known issues

 

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see the latest builds unexpectedly fail to install with 0x80004005.
• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see an increase in bugchecks after upgrading to the previous build.
• Fixed an issue where the context menu in File Explorer, as well as the command bar dropdowns, might go transparent sometimes.

 

Known issues

 

• [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.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.
• Attempting to navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad on this build will crash Settings.

You can check out the full blog post here. Also, Insiders have the option to download the ISO files for Canary Channel build 25997.

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According to several reports, some customers lost activation after changing PC components or performing a BIOS update. The worst part is that the digital licenses connected to their Microsoft Accounts no longer activate the operating system, forcing them to purchase another key or resort to questionable activation methods. It is worth noting that Microsoft Support confirmed that a hardware change should not block a license key.

Automatic activation would not work, so I contacted customer support. They told me because my Windows 10 license had been upgraded from Windows 7, and that they had discontinued support for Windows 7 product keys, that they could not continue my license for Windows 10 Pro after the hardware change. They also acknowledged that changing the hardware is not a violation of the Windows license so there is no reason my Windows 10 license should be revoked or altered in any way.

Bill Babonas, principal product manager of Windows, confirmed to The Verge that the company is aware of the problem and is looking into possible solutions:

Microsoft is aware of these customers reports and is investigating. Customers who are experiencing technical difficulties should contact customer support.

You can check your Windows Activation status by heading to Settings > System > Activation > Activation State. You can continue using Windows 10 or 11 without activation for some time while Microsoft is working on resolving the problem.

Source

The full changelog is given below:

What’s new in Build 23590

Natural Voices Previews in Narrator

 

We are introducing previews for natural voices of 10 new locales launched in September 2023. As a reminder, those natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India),German and Korean.

 

These previews will allow the users to listen to the natural voices before downloading the voice model. Natural Narrator voices use modern, on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection. Please note to listen to the previews, an internet connection is required.

 

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

 

1. Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + CTRL + N hotkey.
2. Under Narrator’s voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
3. Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
4. The preview will play automatically once you navigate through the list.
5. If you like the preview , click on “Download and Install”. The new voice will be downloaded and ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.
6. When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator’s voice > Choose a voice.

 

When you click on a natural voice for Narrator in Settings, a preview will play automatically.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

 

Enhanced image consumption experience in Narrator

 

We are improving the image consumption experience with Narrator. There are two major changes:

 

• We have introduced a new keyboard command for navigating between the images/graphics on a screen/page. Now, you can use the keys “G” or “Shift + G” to navigate forward or backwards between images in Scan mode (Narrator key + spacebar).
• Recognition of text in images, including handwriting, is improved along with improvements to overall image descriptions. You can try the enhanced experience by navigating to the image and pressing Narrator key + CTRL + D key combination when the focus is on an image. This feature requires an active internet connection, and the setting to get Image Descriptions must be enabled in Narrator Settings.

 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

 

Changes and Improvements

 

[General]

 

• Steps Recorder will not receive further updates and is planned for removal in a future Windows release. Starting in this build, Steps Recorder (PSR.exe) will display a new banner notification to guide users towards alternative options. We encourage our users to explore other options in Windows 11 such as Snipping tool, Xbox Game bar or Microsoft Clipchamp. For more, see this article.

 

[Windows Share]

 

• The Windows share window will now only show apps under “Share using” that are tied to the account you are signed into Windows with – either Microsoft account (MSA) or Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure Active Directory). If you are signed in with an MSA, you will see Microsoft Teams (free) instead of Microsoft Teams (work or school) and not both for example.
• If you’re signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts will appear in the Windows share window to quickly share to.

 

[Nearby Sharing]

 

• If you turn on nearby sharing via quick settings or directly in Settings and you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, it will turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on so nearby sharing will work as expected. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it will also turn off nearby sharing

 

[Narrator]

 

• In Microsoft Word, Narrator will now announce the presence of a draft comment, a resolved comment, a bookmark, or the availability of accessibility suggestions when reading text in the document.

 

Fixes

 

[File Explorer]

 

• Fixed an issue causing File Explorer to crash on launch for some Insiders in the last few builds if you were using a non-default regional sorting option.
• Fixed an issue which was causing opening the context menu on the desktop to crash explorer.exe in the last couple flights for some Insiders.
• Fixed an issue which was causing explorer.exe to crash sometimes when entering paths into the address bar.

 

[Narrator]

 

• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not correctly announcing the selected item in combo boxes when users try to change the combo box value using key combination Control + up or down arrow.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing old dialog names even after users navigate to new dialog on few web pages.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not reading Role of a control in tables on the web while using table navigation commands CTRL + ALT + Arrow keys.
• Addressed an issue where Narrator was not announcing the selected state of menu items in few applications such as device manager.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing both the unselected value and the newly selected value in elements such as date fields or any elements that are formatted as tables.

 

[Magnifier]

 

• Fixed an issue in Magnifier settings page where the text blow “voice speed” slider was not following the colour contrast guidelines.

 

[Settings]

 

• Fixed an issue where the Experimental Features section of Narrator Settings didn’t have text.

 

[Windows Share]

 

• Fixed an issue which was causing the share window to crash in the last couple builds.

 

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

 

Known issues

 

[Copilot in Windows*]

 

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you’ll need to use “Show grid” commands to click in the “Ask me anything” box for the first time.

You can find the blog post on this page on Microsoft's official website.

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Fences 5 introduces Chameleon™️ – a Windows desktop icon enhancement that blends your desktop icons into your wallpaper. Icons maintain their functionality but fade into the background to remain
easily accessible without being a distraction.

Also new in Fences 5, it is now easier than ever to access your Fence groups by bringing them to the top with a single click. Building on the patented Peek™️ functionality introduced in Fences 4, Fences 5
enables the ability to access your Fence groups from the taskbar by adding an icon to the taskbar to instantly access your desktop groups.

Fences is used by thousands of businesses, from Education to Government to Healthcare. To help these businesses deploy organized dashboards of desktop icons, Fences 5 for Business adds all-new tooling that makes it easier than ever to manage these deployments. With the new ability to easily import/export layouts for distribution, tooling to load configurations from a network drive during logon, and more, Fences sets the standard for enterprise desktop icon management.

"Fences 5 is designed to deliver a modern desktop experience," said Brad Sams, General Manager of
Stardock Software. "Fences is the best way to organize your desktop and with Chameleon and Peek, we have built a modern workflow that provides you instant access to your content while reducing the
distractions of the desktop.”

Along with its new features, Fences 5 delivers many other enhancements to the core Fences desktop engine that results in improved performance and enhanced capabilities.

Fences 5 is available today starting at $9.99 with pre-release discounts available and is also included in the award-winning Object Desktop suite. For more information, visit the Fences 5 website here.

You can also download the entire Object Desktop package. Object Desktop includes programs such as Fences, Start11, Groupy, SoundPackager, DeskScapes and Multiplicity.

Disclaimer: Neowin's relationship to Stardock

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First up, the company revealed the new "Windows App." While this may sound exciting at first to the general Windows enthusiasts who are always looking forward to the next feature in the Windows OS, the Windows App has nothing to do with consumer Windows and everything to do with the enterprise.

Microsoft says that the Windows App is essentially a one-stop place for managing all connected devices and applications including Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Services, and Microsoft Dev Box, among others. The app, in preview, is now available for download on the Microsoft Store as well as on Apple's TestFlight program.

Here is how the Windows App user interface (UI) looks like:

As you can see, the app tries to streamline device and application management by having a list of pinned devices up top, which in this case is a Windows 365 Cloud PC, a Microsoft Dev Box, and an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), followed by a list of pinned applications right below it.

This appears on the home screen and there is an option to navigate through the menu for the other devices and applications as well as an option to add more. There is a Settings option too and also an option for providing feedback. The layout looks fairly simple and easy to navigate.

Aside from the Windows App, Microsoft also announced Windows 365 GPU support in preview, which should be welcomed by those in the rendering and visualization field. Other features that are in public preview starting today are:

• Windows 365 Customer Lockbox
• Windows 365 Customer Managed Keys
• Modern app support via MSIX app attach in Azure Virtual Desktop

Meanwhile, Single-sign-on (SSO) and passwordless authentication, Watermarking, screen capture protection, and tamper protection are now generally available (GA) for Windows 365 as well as for Azure Virtual Desktop.

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A couple of weeks ago, a video found its way on the interwebs that allegedly showed Microsoft was working on a major new version of its Microsoft Planner to-do app. Today, as part of its Microsoft Ignite 2023 developers conference, the company announced it was indeed working on a revamp of the Planner app.

Microsoft stated the new Planner app is actually going to mash up the company's To Do app and Microsoft Project for the web, in addition to the current Planner app "into a single, unified experience" with the Microsoft Planner name. Tasks by Planner and To Do app in Microsoft Teams will be renamed as Planner. Microsoft Project for the web will also get the new Planner name sometime over the coming months, but will still be available with its current set of features.

The blog post stated:

The new Planner experience will scale easily from collaborative task management to robust project management, empowering everyone, from information workers to frontline workers to project managers, so they can manage their work in one place and accelerate business outcomes with AI-enabled capabilities.

Some of the new Planner features will include:

• The ability to easily find tasks, so users can focus on the tasks they need to get done today.  
• Helping users work the way they want. Whether for individual tasks or team initiatives, Planner will enable them to choose the approach that’s best for their needs.
• Creating project plans with powerful scheduling and resourcing tools. As plans evolve, Planner will offer a menu of capabilities to meet unique business needs.
• Copilot in Planner will help users get started with a plan faster with simple prompts and as the plan evolves, it will add goals and intelligently suggest new tasks to help keep users informed on progress.

The new Planner app will launch in Microsoft Teams sometime in the spring 2024. The new Planner web service will launch sometime later in the future, but currently has no specific time frame for its release.

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Microsoft Loop was first announced two years ago at the company's Ignite 2021 developers conference as a new online collaboration tool. It finally went into its public preview test in March 2023. Today, as part of Ignite 2023, Microsoft announced that Loop is finally generally available.

Here's how Microsoft described Loop back in March:

With all the tools, documents, files, and links that your team needs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Microsoft Loop helps you organize everything you need for your project into a single workspace and even does the searching for you to kick it off. Simply add a workspace title and any other relevant keywords, and Microsoft Loop will suggest the most relevant pieces to add to your workspace. Choose which ones to add and create your workspace—content will be organized into pages that you can easily view.

Microsoft Loop's full features are now available for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium customers for both the web version and its iOS and Android apps. It's also available for Microsoft 365 consumer customers via the Loop mobile apps.

In addition, Microsoft announced some new Loop features that are available in preview form, or will be shortly:

• Workspace status: Currently in private preview, Workspace status will provide information such as upcoming deadlines and status changes to provide a simple overview and help people know where to direct their attention.
• Workspace descriptions: When a workspace is created, Loop will intelligently surface files and documents that may be related to the project. A more descriptive prompt can be included with the workspace title to return more refined results and kick off a workspace with everything that’s needed. This capability is in preview.
• Power Automate: Loop will integrate Power Automate to help simplify task tracking and project management. A new rule can be created in a Loop table enabling automatic notifications to be sent when the table is updated. This automation will help teams stay on track while saving time to focus on what matters. This capability is in preview.
• Start a workspace from Teams: After a Teams meeting, a Loop workspace will be able to be created and will be automatically populated with the related documents and notes from the meeting, helping a team get started on their project easily. This capability will be in preview by the end of 2023.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction is to Loop, especially since other Microsoft services like Team offers some different collaboration features.

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The feature, which launched in a public preview in October, will allow Teams users to join meetings in full 3D virtual spaces as avatars. In addition to ordinary meetings, these immersive spaces can also let team members have fun, by roasting virtual marshmallows, throwing beanbags, answering icebreaker questions and more.

Microsoft Mesh, the platform used to make custom Teams immersive spaces, will also be made generally available in January.

Some of the other new features coming to Teams meetings include:

• Voice isolation in Teams meetings and calls: This AI-driven feature is an advanced noise suppression capability that leverages user’s voice profiles and suppresses other people’s voices in the background during a Teams meeting or call. AI in Teams will recognize an individual’s voice and filter only their voice in Teams meetings and calls. This feature rollout has begun and will be generally available in early 2024.
• Decorate your background: Meeting participants will be able to use generative background effects in Teams to show up at their best – even when the space they’re working from isn’t at its best. With Decorate your background, meeting participants can use the power of AI to generate a background that decorates and enhances their real-world room, by cleaning up clutter or adding plants to a wall. This feature will be available early next year in Teams Premium.

Teams chats and channels will get some new additions as well, including a way to add a group chat profile picture, a way to customize default reactions and more. Microsoft also announced that the new Teams experience is now available on the web for people who use the Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers.

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Copilot Pro will be available starting December 1, 2023, in Microsoft 365 F3, E3, E5, Business Premium, and Business Standard. Other customers needing the benefits of Copilot Pro will be able to get it for $5/mo. Copilot Pro offers the same benefits as regular Copilot, plus commercial data protection, ensuring Microsoft cannot access or use your data for AI training.

In response to Neowin's request about the discontinuation of the Bing Chat brand, Microsoft said the following:

Bing remains a prominent brand and technology powering many Copilot experiences while continuing to be a leader in the search industry.

In addition to new names, Microsoft unveiled Copilot Studio and a role-based Copilot for Service. Copilot Studio allows customers to connect additional data using pre-built or custom plugins, create personalized workflows, and control the experience across the organization using dedicated IT tools. You can check out how Microsoft's Copilot versions compare with each other below:

Copilot for Microsoft 365 also received several new features to improve your productivity. You can make it more personal with new customization options, such as visualized data and bullet points over paragraphs. Copilot in Teams can answer questions about the meeting without retaining records of interactions once the meeting is over.

Copilot in Outlook will help you prepare for meetings with invitations, related emails, and the necessary documents, generating a synthesized summary. In addition, it will create thread summaries and extract crucial info.

Copilot for other Office apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, will help you quickly see the changes made by other people in shared documents, gain deeper insights and pull data from the Web into Excel, and connect to your enterprise media library for PowerPoint presentations.

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