Tag: windows 11 update

Windows 11 Start Menu Ads Rolling Out for All Users: How to Turn Them Off

Windows 11 Start menu is getting an update that might leave some users feeling annoyed. Microsoft is rolling out Start menu ads with the new Windows 11 update that is expected to reach all users this week. These ads are shown as part of the recommended section and the tech giant is pitching them as a discoverability feature to learn about “great” Microsoft Store apps. However, for those who prefer that their Start menu remains clean and without unsolicited advertisements, there is an easy solution to disable them.

The personalised ads are part of Microsoft’s Windows KB5036980 update, which was in preview for the last two weeks. As per a report by The Verge, the company began testing with ads earlier this month. Now, on its support page, the tech giant revealed the addition of ads and said, “The Recommended section of the Start menu will show some Microsoft Store apps. These apps come from a small set of curated developers. This will help you to discover some of the great apps that are available.”

Reportedly, some users are already seeing these ads. Currently, the recommended section shows the recently used files and apps, however, based on some screenshots we have seen online, the ads will begin to feature in this area. Interestingly, there are no visual cues to identify a promoted app compared to one you already have apart from the user’s knowledge of installed apps. There is one small clue — while all other installed apps show the time when it was last used, promoted apps come with a small description of it.

Luckily, Microsoft is not pushing these ads on users without any escape. The company has also explained an easy method to disable these ads. Some users might find value in these ads as they are curated by select developers and can help in discovering useful apps. However, if you would rather not see them and want to return the Start menu to its pristine appearance, you can follow these steps.

  1. Click on the Start menu.
  2. Locate the Settings app and click on it.
  3. Click on Personalisation.
  4. Within the Personalisation menu, locate Start and click on it.
  5. Look for the fourth option from the top titled Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.
  6. Turn off the toggle for the option.
  7. The ads should be disabled for you.
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Windows 11 Update Brings New AI Capabilities to Copilot, Improvements to Widgets, More

Windows 11 has received a new update for March 2024 that will bring new features and major improvements to supported PCs, laptops, and workstations. Microsoft announced the long list of features on Thursday and stated that the update has started rolling out to users. However, not all the features will be available immediately, with the new Copilot features coming later this month. Some of the notable features include improvements to Widgets, new skills for the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot Copilot, and new features for multiple apps.

Announcing the new features via a Windows blog, Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President, Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft highlighted that the Copilot features build on the introduction of the Copilot key on the keyboards powering Windows PCs from earlier this year. He also said that Snap, Widgets, and Inking are receiving major upgrades.

Copilot is getting new plugins that will enable it to perform tasks such as making restaurant reservations via OpenTable and grocery ordering via Instacart. In the coming months, support for Shopify, Klarna and Kayak will also be added. Apart from plugins, Copilot can also do more tasks. By just typing a prompt users can make it turn on the battery saver, launch the narrator, empty the recycle bin, launch the screen magnifier, show available Wi-Fi networks, and more. These features will be shipped in late March.

Windows 11 will also bring new AI upgrades for creativity apps. Generative Erase is being introduced to the Photos app which can remove unwanted objects or imperfections from images. This works similar to how the AI feature in Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Google Pixel 8 series. Another improvement is coming to ClipChamp which will now be able to remove awkward silences in audio tracks.

One really interesting feature being added through this update will let users use their Android smartphone as a webcam for video calls. This will require a smartphone running Android 9 or higher and it needs to be linked with a Windows app that is version 1.24012 or higher. This feature is being rolled out to Windows Insider for testing currently. Improvements are also coming to Widgets and the Snap layout feature. Users will have more control over Widgets and can create their own board based on their preferences. Snap is also getting smarter and will remember user preference for apps, and will quickly organise it accordingly.

Finally, an accessibility feature is also being added. Users can now create custom tasks and add Voice Shortcuts for them, enabling more efficient verbal commands. Some of these tasks include pasting text and media, pressing keyboard keys or mouse clicks, opening folders, files, apps or URLs, and more.

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Windows 11 Update Adds Copilot Integration, AI Features to MS Paint and Snipping Tool, More

Windows 11 has been updated with support for Copilot — Microsoft’s new AI-powered assistant — as part of the company’s latest operating system update. Aside from integrating a chatbot into Windows 11, Microsoft is also updating the MS Paint app with support for layers and graphics generation, while the built-in Snipping Tool for screenshots is getting AI-based features such as text extraction and redaction. Windows Backup will allow you to move information across computers when switching to a new Windows 11 PC.

Microsoft detailed the changes coming to Windows 11 in a blog post on Tuesday and revealed that the Copilot feature is finally making its way to the platform. Copilot will bring the company’s revamped Bing Chat to Windows 11, allowing you to perform various tasks such as taking a screenshot, toggling Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and other system controls, and generating a summary of a web page.

Copilot will also use generative AI responses to provide text and image responses based on your queries. After updating to the latest version of Windows with Copilot, you can press the Windows key and C or click on the Copilot icon on the Windows 11 taskbar to get started with the feature.

Microsoft is also updating the MS Paint app with some of the most notable upgrades it has received in nearly four decades. MS Paint will now let you work with multiple layers, just like Adobe Photoshop. You will also be able to easily remove the background from any picture using the built-in image editing tool, according to the company.

MS Paint is getting a new Cocreator mode that uses artificial intelligence
Photo Credit: Microsoft

 

Meanwhile, a new Paint Cocreator preview will roll out to testers on the Windows Insider in the coming weeks, with support for entering a text prompt to create unique images, Microsoft says in the blog post. The blog post states “50 credits available for initial use of Paint Cocreator. One credit applied per use” — suggesting that the feature will not be free to use when it is rolled out. 

The Snipping Tool — Microsoft’s built-in screenshot and markup tool for Windows 11 — is getting new AI-powered features too. After installing the latest Windows 11 update, you will be able to access two new features via the Snipping Tool — text recognition and redaction. While the former uses optical character recognition (OCR) to detect text, the latter will allow you to black out any text from a screenshot such as an email address or a phone number.

Finally, Microsoft is updating the Windows 11 File Explorer with an improved home interface with bigger thumbnails for favourites or recent files and documents. You will also be able to open RAR and 7-zip files natively, without the need for third part file compression apps. 

According to the company, you can open the Windows 11 settings app and navigate to Windows Update, and then enable the option titled Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. You will then need to wait for the update to roll out to your laptop or desktop computer.  

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