Software & Apps News - Page 2

The latest and most important Software & Apps news - Page 2.

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Apple releases macOS 14.4 with new emojis, podcast transcripts, and more

Oliver Haslam | Mar 7, 2024 1:13 PM CST

Following the release of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to the public earlier this week Apple has today also made the macOS 14.4 software update available for download. The update has gone through a weeks-long beta program to get here with developers able to test their apps to make sure that they will work with the new update without causing any issues. Now, everyone with a compatible Mac - all those that worked with macOS 14 Sonoma will work fina - can now download the macOS 14,4 software update for free.

Apple releases macOS 14.4 with new emojis, podcast transcripts, and more

This new update brings with it a number of improvements although the list is not a huge one - top of the list is perhaps new emojis, with Apple adding a mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and more.

Alongside the new emojis, Apple also says that 18 people and body emojis now support facing the opposite direction. Beyond emojis, Apple's release notes also point to new transcript capabilities within the Podcasts app. Similar to those now found on the iPhone and Mac, users can see the text of a podcast and then use that to search for a word or phrase. Clicking on the text will see the podcast skip to that particular part of the episode, making this a great way to find a specific portion of a podcast when needed.

Continue reading: Apple releases macOS 14.4 with new emojis, podcast transcripts, and more (full post)

Microsoft is testing having Copilot AI spring more readily into action on Windows 11 PCs

Darren Allan | Mar 7, 2024 10:24 AM CST

Windows 11 users might soon see a different behavior for Copilot in the taskbar, with the AI assistant appearing when the cursor is hovered over its icon.

Microsoft is testing having Copilot AI spring more readily into action on Windows 11 PCs

This change is in testing in the latest Windows 11 preview build in the Beta channel, which is version 22635.3276 (KB5034857), though it's only rolling out, so not everyone will have seen it yet.

Currently in Windows 11, you need to click on the Copilot icon on the right side of the taskbar to get the AI assistant's panel to pop open. However, with the new scheme of things, just moving your mouse over the icon will invoke the panel, with no need to click.

Continue reading: Microsoft is testing having Copilot AI spring more readily into action on Windows 11 PCs (full post)

Windows 11 again fails to make headway attracting new users - and gets outdone by Windows 10

Darren Allan | Mar 6, 2024 1:49 PM CST

Windows 11 is once again finding it hard to push forward with gaining market share, although the OS has picked up just a little in terms of adoption.

Windows 11 again fails to make headway attracting new users - and gets outdone by Windows 10

According to the latest figures from Statcounter, Windows 11 edged up to 28.18% as of February 2024, with the OS only witnessing an increase of 0.35% compared to January.

That's a fairly meagre uptick and we've seen a fair few of those in recent times, with Windows 11 not quite stalling, but coming close to it, when it comes to growing its user base.

Continue reading: Windows 11 again fails to make headway attracting new users - and gets outdone by Windows 10 (full post)

Microsoft announces Windows 11 will lose official support for thousands of apps

Jak Connor | Mar 6, 2024 12:03 AM CST

Microsoft is ending support for hundreds of thousands of apps for Windows 11 users, with the company taking to its website to officially announce the news.

Microsoft announces Windows 11 will lose official support for thousands of apps

According to the announcement, Microsoft will no longer support Windows Subsystem for Android, which enables Android-based applications to run smoothly on Windows 11. Users who were taking advantage of this were able to simply download a large range of Android applications, typically through the Amazon Appstore, and utilize that application on a Windows 11 system.

However, support for this will end shortly as Microsoft has announced March 5, 2023, will be the last for support, with customers still being able to access already downloaded Android apps "through the deprecation date of March 5, 2023," but not after. Amazon also made the same announcement on its own developer blog, writing Amazon and Microsoft are working together to create a smooth "end of support experience for developers and customers".

Continue reading: Microsoft announces Windows 11 will lose official support for thousands of apps (full post)

Windows 11's Copilot AI just got a feature that'll be a huge timesaver

Darren Allan | Mar 5, 2024 12:06 PM CST

Windows 11 users should look out for a smart new feature rolling out for Copilot which allows them to throw a file at the AI and then have it summarized in a swift fashion.

Windows 11's Copilot AI just got a feature that'll be a huge timesaver

As spotted by Leopeva64 on X (formerly Twitter), it's now possible to drag a file to the Copilot panel, drop it in, and make a request - such as to summarize the info within that file. (Or rather than dragging the file, there's an 'Add a file' button should you wish to go that route).

In the test shown above, Leopeva64 gives Copilot a PDF which the AI assistant then quickly goes through, listing all the key points in the document.

Continue reading: Windows 11's Copilot AI just got a feature that'll be a huge timesaver (full post)

Not got a webcam for your PC? Windows 11 users can just use their Android smartphone instead

Darren Allan | Mar 1, 2024 10:17 AM CST

Windows 11 just got a whole load of new AI capabilities, including fresh features for Copilot, but something else is inbound alongside all that, namely the ability to use your phone as a webcam for your desktop PC.

Not got a webcam for your PC? Windows 11 users can just use their Android smartphone instead

This feature is rolling out to Windows 11 testers across all channels, and Microsoft has said it's a gradual deployment, so some Windows Insiders may not see it for a while yet.

It uses the Link to Windows phone app to hook up your Android device to the PC, and you can then use either the front or rear camera of your phone (or tablet) as the webcam.

Continue reading: Not got a webcam for your PC? Windows 11 users can just use their Android smartphone instead (full post)

Copilot AI in Windows 11 is getting more powerful - slowly - and more AI features are coming

Darren Allan | Mar 1, 2024 8:34 AM CST

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 users will soon get the benefit of a Copilot AI that can do more things, including new abilities to manipulate settings for the OS, plus plugins have finally arrived.

Copilot AI in Windows 11 is getting more powerful - slowly - and more AI features are coming

The new functionality in terms of getting Copilot to tinker with Windows 11 settings for you will roll out from late March.

It'll include the ability to tell Copilot to turn on battery saver, for example, or indeed turn it off, and to empty the Recycle Bin, or open the Voice Access panel.

Continue reading: Copilot AI in Windows 11 is getting more powerful - slowly - and more AI features are coming (full post)

Use a PS5 DualSense controller in Windows 11? Intel's new Bluetooth driver is a must grab

Darren Allan | Feb 28, 2024 1:49 PM CST

If you use a DualSense controller for wireless gaming under Windows 11 (or Windows 10 for that matter), and you have an Intel Bluetooth chip, then a new driver update from Team Blue will be of interest.

Use a PS5 DualSense controller in Windows 11? Intel's new Bluetooth driver is a must grab

This is Intel's Wireless Bluetooth Driver 23.30.0 and as Neowin highlighted (via TechRadar), it comes with a benefit for the PS5's DualSense gamepads.

We're told that the driver offers: "Improved connectivity to a second gaming controller (Dual Sense)."

Continue reading: Use a PS5 DualSense controller in Windows 11? Intel's new Bluetooth driver is a must grab (full post)

Getting annoyed by a glitchy taskbar in Windows 11? Microsoft has a fix in testing right now

Darren Allan | Feb 28, 2024 11:07 AM CST

Some Windows 11 users have been reporting an annoying glitch of late which causes the taskbar to be very slow to arrive on the desktop on first booting the system - but the good news is a fix is now in testing.

Getting annoyed by a glitchy taskbar in Windows 11? Microsoft has a fix in testing right now

BetaNews flagged up the cure appearing in the Beta channel for Windows 11 testing (build 22635), while noting that the bug actually affected their HP EliteBook laptop. In their case, the taskbar didn't show up for a few seconds, or sometimes longer.

As bugs go, this is hardly the end of the world, but it's a bit of a pain, particularly if the first thing you want to do is facilitated via the taskbar (which is not unlikely, though you may have the same icons on the desktop, too, in some cases).

Continue reading: Getting annoyed by a glitchy taskbar in Windows 11? Microsoft has a fix in testing right now (full post)

Microsoft is adding the ability for Windows 11 to update without having to reboot your PC

Kosta Andreadis | Feb 28, 2024 1:04 AM CST

According to a new report at Windows Central, Microsoft is currently testing a new feature that will allow it to deploy security updates and other patches to Windows 11 systems without forcing a reboot or restart. We've all suffered through having to restart Windows as part of every minor update for years, so this is excellent news.

Microsoft is adding the ability for Windows 11 to update without having to reboot your PC

The latest Windows 11 build on the Dev Channel notes that Insiders with the Virtualization Based Security (VBS) feature turned on will be able to "receive Build 26058.1400 (KB5036080) and may not experience a restart upon installing the update." Very cool.

Hot patching is a brand-new feature for Windows 11 desktop users, and how it works is pretty simple. "It works by patching the in-memory code of running processes without the need to restart the process," Microsoft writes. Which lowers the workload impact, offers better protection, and reduces the time it takes to update.

Continue reading: Microsoft is adding the ability for Windows 11 to update without having to reboot your PC (full post)