Latest news with #MicrosoftStore
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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business Standard
Microsoft details on-device AI capabilities coming with Windows 11 update
Microsoft has announced a new Windows 11 update that will add a range of functional features for general users and Copilot+ PC owners. The update focuses on improving system interaction, accessibility, and everyday usability across key tools like Settings, Paint, Snipping Tool, and Photos. It also expands the role of on-device AI with features such as Click to Do, Copilot Vision, and a new agent for system settings. The update is available through this month's non-security preview release and Microsoft Store app updates, with gradual rollout expected over the next few weeks. How to get the update These features are rolling out gradually via controlled feature rollout (CFR) starting this month. To get early access: Make sure apps like Microsoft Paint, Photos, and Copilot are also updated through the Microsoft Store. What's new in the latest Windows 11 update AI Agent for Settings (Copilot+ PCs only) A new AI-powered settings assistant lets users search and change system settings using natural language. For example, typing 'turn on quiet hours' or 'connect Bluetooth' in the Settings search bar will now suggest one-click actions. This feature is initially available on Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs and will expand to Intel and AMD Copilot+ systems later. Click to Do: Expanded contextual actions The Click to Do preview has been updated with more AI-powered contextual tools. Users can now: Practice reading fluency with Reading Coach Read selected text in a focused format via Immersive Reader Generate document drafts with Draft with Copilot in Word Message or schedule meetings via Microsoft Teams directly from recognised email addresses Click to Do can be activated using Windows + click, Windows + Q, or gestures like swiping from the right on touch-enabled devices. Photos app: AI-based Relight The updated Photos app now includes a Relight feature, allowing users to apply up to three virtual light sources to images and adjust brightness, softness, color, and intensity—similar to professional editing tools. This feature is currently limited to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips. Paint: AI sticker generator and object selection Two new tools are now available in the Paint app: Sticker generator: Create custom stickers using text prompts (e.g., 'a cat wearing sunglasses'). Object select: Use AI to isolate and edit specific elements within an image. These features build on previous Paint enhancements like Cocreator and generative erase. Snipping Tool: Perfect Screenshot and Color Picker Perfect Screenshot: Uses AI to intelligently crop screen captures to relevant content (Copilot+ PCs only). Color Picker: Lets users sample any color from the screen and view it in HEX, RGB, or HSL format. This feature is available on all Windows 11 devices. Copilot Vision and Highlights (US only) Copilot Vision enables real-time AI assistance based on what's visible on screen. It can offer help, analyse content, and show step-by-step instructions with visual cues. Users can activate it from the Copilot app and choose what to share. This is a fully opt-in experience. Edge game assist Microsoft Edge now integrates Game Assist, offering: Game guides and tips Quick access to Discord, Spotify, and Twitch Available via the Game Bar (Win + G) for Windows 11 users. Faster recovery from unexpected restarts Unexpected reboots will now use Quick Machine Recovery through Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to auto-detect and fix issues. Microsoft also claims to have reduced restart screen time from 40 seconds to just 2 seconds for most users, along with a simplified UI for clarity. Windows 10 support transition As support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025, Microsoft is launching an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. A new setup wizard will help users enroll directly from their Windows 10 PCs, ensuring continued protection during the transition.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
WhatsApp for Windows is going away: Here's what's Meta is replacing it with
WhatsApp, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform, has dedicated apps for various platforms, including Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, wearOS and Windows. These apps not only make messaging much easier but also come with numerous under-the-hood optimisations that make it much more useful than the web version. However, a new report by Windows Latest suggests that Meta is now dropping the native Windows app in favour of a web wrapper. The change comes with the latest version of WhatsApp beta for Windows, which looks significantly different from the current version of the app available for download on the Microsoft Store. To give you a quick recap, the desktop version of WhatsApp was launched back in 2021 and eliminated the need for users to use the browser version of the instant messaging app. While the reason behind the move is still unclear, it appears that the shift to a web wrapper may make it easier for WhatsApp developers to add new features, as maintaining a single code base that extends across various platforms is far easier than working on different versions. This may sound like a good decision at first, but many users have flagged that the web version of WhatsApp consumes more RAM and resources compared to the native version that's currently available on Windows. The publication said that in its testing, the new version of WhatsApp used approximately 30 per cent more RAM than the native app. However, the biggest downside is that Meta itself said that the web version of WhatsApp is slower than the currently available native Windows app. Also, the web wrapper looks out of place on Windows as it misses out on the Fluent Design System, which, like Google's Material 3 Expressive and Apple's Liquid Glass, is a set of guidelines for designs and interactions for Windows 10 and Windows 11 apps. And since the new WhatsApp for Windows app is a web wrapper, notifications will also work differently from the native version. But since the web version of WhatsApp has some extra features, they will most likely be available on Windows as well.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Popular TV feature on Xbox is shut down in blow for 28 million gamers – what it means for your purchases
A POPULAR TV feature on Xbox has been shut down in a blow for 28 million gamers. Microsoft has suddenly shut its movies and TV store on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. 1 You can no longer purchase new movies and TV shows from the Microsoft store on Xbox or Windows. But you will still be able to access previously purchased content on your devices. Microsoft said: "Downloads will continue to be available on Windows and in HD max resolution." You'll have to continue using the Movies & TV app on Windows or Xbox to play the content you own, rather than accessing it from another service. Microsoft isn't offering a refund for purchases either. Ever since Microsoft shut down its Groove Music service in 2017, this change has been nervously anticipated by Xbox and Windows users. The company had originally launched a movies and TV storefront with Zune Marketplace in 2006. It was then replaced by Xbox Video in 2021 and then morphed into the Movies & TV app and store in 2015. A decade later and its gone. Microsoft is now leaving it up to Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV and other streaming services to cater for movies and TV content on Windows and Xbox. Microsoft finally reveals its brand new handheld console They will continue to provide support for any issues with previously purchased content. Users will be hoping the company keeps its servers online for years to come yet. The Sun also reported last month how millions of Xbox owners have been left with a bad taste in their mouths after the latest console update bombarded them with ads. While the new updates fix some long-standing issues, the Xbox user experience has also been impacted. In the update, Microsoft had finally fixed the heavily complained-about bug where video game box art and thumbnails were stretched or distorted on the home screen, following a previous update in July 2024. What first felt like an exciting change for the retro console, has left some gamers disgruntled. Elsewhere, Microsoft is also set to replace the iconic blue screen of death after 40 years of filling people with dread. In a bittersweet announcement, the tech giant said it is "streamlining the unexpected restart experience". "This change is part of a larger continued effort to reduce disruption in the event of an unexpected restart," David Weston, Microsoft's Vice President of Enterprise and OS Security revealed. A part of that is slashing the downtime during the worrying unexpected restart to about two seconds for most people. The blue screen of death will be replaced by a simpler black screen of death instead.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Pre-order EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition for £19 cheaper using this simple trick
There's a way to get the EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition for up to £19 cheaper than usual, with the official prices now confirmed. EA FC 26 prices have been confirmed with the Ultimate Edition costing just shy of £100, but there's a way you can save nearly £20 on the new game. Pre-orders for EA FC 26 are now live, with EA Sports recently revealing the EA FC 26 pre-order bonuses for both the Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition cover star, and if you pre-order the Ultimate Edition, you will receive some great rewards, including an Icon at launch, 6,000 FC Points, and even an Icon player pick in EA FC 25. The only problem, though? The EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition will make a hefty dent in your wallet, with the Ultimate Edition for the latest EA Sports FC costing you an eye-watering £100 on PlayStation and Xbox. But, thanks to a nifty trick, PlayStation and Xbox players can save big on pre-ordering EA FC 26, just by following a few steps. Here's how to save up to £19 on pre-ordering EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition. EA FC 26 for cheap(er) This money-saving trick only works for players on PlayStation and Xbox, so if you are on PC, Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, tough luck. Firstly, to save money on the EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition pre-order, you must own EA FC 25. This is because EA FC 25 players get 10% off EA FC 26 pre-orders, so if you own EA FC 25, then you are eligible for this discount. To get the discount, simply log in to either the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store with the same login details you use with your PlayStation or Xbox account, and the discount should automatically be applied. With the 10% off, PlayStation and Xbox players can purchase EA FC 26 for £89.99, but there's a way of getting even more money off. Using CDKeys, you can save more by purchasing £50 and £40 gift cards at a discounted price. A £50 PlayStation gift card currently costs £44.99, while a £40 PlayStation gift card costs £35.99, meaning you can get £90 worth of gift cards for a total cost of £80.98. For Xbox, a £50 Xbox gift card currently costs £46.99, while a £40 Xbox gift card costs £37.99, meaning you can get £90 worth of gift cards for a total cost of £84.98. Once you've bought the gift cards, simply redeem them and pre-order EA FC 26. Using this method, PlayStation players will save £19.01 on EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition, while Xbox players will save £15.01. Bargain!
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Microsoft will no longer sell movies or TV shows on PCs or Xbox — what happens to the stuff you bought
More than a decade after introducing a way to let your rent or buy movies and shows through your PC or Xbox, Microsoft is killing the Movies & TV storefront in the Microsoft Store. The ending was confirmed in a new Microsoft support page (spotted by Windows Central) that was published today (July 18). "Microsoft no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase, including movies and TV shows, on Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store on Xbox," the page reads. If you try to access media using the entertainment app on the Microsoft Store, you'll now see an alert that reads, "Microsoft will no longer be making movies and TV content available for purchase." The button that let you buy movies or TV shows has been deleted. In the FAQ on the page, Microsoft does say that any previously purchased content will still be accessible via the Movies & TV app, which you can still download from the Microsoft Store. "You can continue to enjoy your previously purchased movies and TV shows using the Microsoft Movies & TV app on your Xbox or Windows device," says Microsoft. For any new media, the company suggests streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's an ignoble end for a service that has existed since 2012, originally dubbed Xbox Video. Then again, the move isn't a surprise considering Microsoft's ongoing slow exit from entertainment avenues that don't involve gaming. As mentioned, Microsoft says you can access your purchases in the Movies & TV app, which isn't going away. For U.S. customers, there is a service called Movies Anywhere that you can use to sync your media to other services that also support Movies Anywhere. Basically, it acts as a way for you to contain your collection while being able to stream it most anywhere that lets you get the Movies Anywhere app. Often many physical DVDs and Blu-Rays released these days have a code for Movies Anywhere that you can use to add films to your collection. If you don't trust Microsoft to keep the Movies & TV app running, might we suggest building your own home media server or return to buying physical media. At this point it might even be cheaper than streaming.
