Software & Apps News - Page 5

The latest and most important Software & Apps news - Page 5.

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Windows 11 to provide easy-to-use color profile and management tools for creators and gamers

Kosta Andreadis | Feb 13, 2024 9:01 PM CST

Color management in Windows is one of those things most people didn't know was available, as it's buried in the Control Panel and uses a UI design and interface that hearkens back to the days of Windows '95. As much as we love that classic OS for bringing us footage of Windows execs and Bill Gates dancing on stage, something as critical as color management deserves a modern makeover.

Windows 11 to provide easy-to-use color profile and management tools for creators and gamers

And that's what's happening, with Color Management getting a dedicated page under Display settings in Windows 11. Spotted in the latest Windows Insiders build for Canary and Dev (Build 26052), the new page will allow users to add and customize different color profiles, calibrate a display, and define what apps use what profile.

More detailed and in-depth Color Management is excellent news for games and creators as, over the years, we've all gotten used to simply using our display or monitor calibration tools and settings to adjust color profiles for games and apps.

Continue reading: Windows 11 to provide easy-to-use color profile and management tools for creators and gamers (full post)

Windows may be given a run for its money by a new AI-based operating system

Jak Connor | Feb 13, 2024 12:47 AM CST

One tech giant is working on a new AI-based operating system that might give Microsoft Windows a run for its money, and it's coming from a company that you might not expect.

Windows may be given a run for its money by a new AI-based operating system

It was at CES 2024 that Lenovo's Executive Vice President Liu Jun revealed that the company is currently working on a new AI-based operating system that is expected to be rolled out sometime this year. The decision for Lenovo to develop its own operating system is clearly a part of the company's overall push into AI, which, when looking at the tech market as a whole, AI is seemingly making its way into almost every facet of the technology space and is being adopted by any tech company that can work it into its product.

As for Lenovo specifically, the company is planning on rolling out a batch of AI PCs that are scheduled to hit shelves sometime during the first half of 2024. These PCs will have in-built AI capabilities that are designed to learn how the user interacts with the device while also creating a more seamless and intuitive experience between the product and the user.

Continue reading: Windows may be given a run for its money by a new AI-based operating system (full post)

Unofficially running Windows 11 on an aged PC? The OS soon won't boot - at all - with old CPUs

Darren Allan | Feb 12, 2024 10:11 AM CST

Here's a warning for those who are running Windows 11 on an ancient PC with a processor that isn't officially supported by Microsoft's operating system - you'll soon be unable to use the OS.

Unofficially running Windows 11 on an aged PC? The OS soon won't boot - at all - with old CPUs

It won't boot up, or at least that's the case according to digging in a preview build of the next big update from Microsoft, Windows 11 24H2, set to debut later this year.

As shared on X (formerly Twitter), Bob Pony unearthed a new stipulation in the preview builds of Windows 11 24H2, first introduced in version 25905 - the requirement for a CPU with the 'POPCNT' instruction.

Continue reading: Unofficially running Windows 11 on an aged PC? The OS soon won't boot - at all - with old CPUs (full post)

Microsoft quietly rolls out hidden feature for Windows 11 insider builds

Jak Connor | Feb 12, 2024 12:01 AM CST

One of the biggest features of the gaming industry was the introduction of super-resolution upscaling, and now that feature appears to be coming to all Windows applications.

Microsoft quietly rolls out hidden feature for Windows 11 insider builds

Windows 11 insiders have discovered an option for Super Resolution within the Windows settings, which is an indication that Microsoft, at the very least, is exploring the possibility of implementing upscaling technologies for applications. The new feature was found in the Windows 11 insider build of 24H2, the update that is pegged to be the company's big annual feature update slated to release in the second half of 2024. The update has been described as being so big it could even be called Windows 12.

As for Super Resolution within Windows, users discovered the options to enable "automatic super-resolution" that will "use AI to make supported games play more smoothly with enhanced details" or the option of enabling this setting per application. Reports indicate this new feature will run on NPU/AI-cores, which should include GPU tensor cores. What does super-resolution at an operating system level mean for Windows users?

Continue reading: Microsoft quietly rolls out hidden feature for Windows 11 insider builds (full post)

Dreams of Windows 12 this year are shot down, as Windows 11 24H2 is confirmed by Microsoft

Darren Allan | Feb 9, 2024 9:57 AM CST

If you were in any doubt, Microsoft has confirmed that this year's major update for its desktop operating system will be Windows 11 24H2.

Dreams of Windows 12 this year are shot down, as Windows 11 24H2 is confirmed by Microsoft

An official announcement puts paid to any belief that the software giant might instead bring out Windows 12 - or some other all-new Windows incarnation with a different name - later this year.

Rumors had already pretty firmly indicated that Microsoft was set to run with a 24H2 update, but now with the blog post for Windows 11 preview build 26052 (for the Canary and Dev channels), this has been confirmed.

Continue reading: Dreams of Windows 12 this year are shot down, as Windows 11 24H2 is confirmed by Microsoft (full post)

Think you've got a long wait for Windows 11's next feature update? Think again as it's imminent

Darren Allan | Feb 8, 2024 11:26 AM CST

Windows 11 has a new 'Moment' update inbound, which will be the fifth such package of new features for the desktop operating system, and it'll be arriving later this month.

Think you've got a long wait for Windows 11's next feature update? Think again as it's imminent

That's the skinny from Zac Bowden over at Windows Central, one of the more reliable leakers when it comes to Microsoft gossip.

Bowden believes that Moment 5 will debut late in February, but it'll be a much more modest set of extra features compared to previous Moments.

Continue reading: Think you've got a long wait for Windows 11's next feature update? Think again as it's imminent (full post)

WhatsApp is going to allow users to send messages and chat with people on other messaging apps

Kosta Andreadis | Feb 8, 2024 1:02 AM CST

Interoperability with other encrypted messaging apps is what it will be called when the popular messaging app WhatsApp adds the ability for users to send and receive messages from people using a completely different communication app like Messenger, iMessage, or Signal.

WhatsApp is going to allow users to send messages and chat with people on other messaging apps

WhatsApp boasts around 2 billion users globally, and this notable update arrives courtesy of compliance with new EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation. According to the new law, companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta must open up their core services to others - with a DMA compliance date of March 2024.

According to a new report at Wired, the WhatsApp team has been working on adding this feature for years - letting people chat across apps without impacting end-to-end encryption. So, it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Continue reading: WhatsApp is going to allow users to send messages and chat with people on other messaging apps (full post)

Microsoft's new PC Manager app aims to speed up Windows 11 and get rid of ads (oh the irony)

Darren Allan | Feb 7, 2024 2:05 PM CST

There's a new toy from Microsoft called PC Manager, an app that Windows 11 users (or indeed Windows 10 folks) can grab from the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft's new PC Manager app aims to speed up Windows 11 and get rid of ads (oh the irony)

PC Manager was noticed by Windows Latest and the tech site explains that it was first launched in January 2024, but as of this month, it has been more widely rolled out to other regions including the US. (In fact, it has been in testing for a year or more, going by reports online).

This app has come from the Microsoft China division - the initial version was in Mandarin as a result - and indeed the product blurb on the Microsoft Store does sound like a translation. For example, it talks about PC Manager being 'pure without disturbance' (presumably meaning streamlined).

Continue reading: Microsoft's new PC Manager app aims to speed up Windows 11 and get rid of ads (oh the irony) (full post)

Microsoft's goal behind killing support for its most popular operating system is working

Jak Connor | Feb 5, 2024 10:03 AM CST

It wasn't very long ago that Microsoft announced it was killing support for its most popular operating system, Windows 10, which was a clear bid to move users from the older operating systems onto the company's newer versions.

Microsoft's goal behind killing support for its most popular operating system is working

Now, Valve has released Steam's latest hardware survey that showcases trends from December 2023, which shows users are moving away from Windows 10, Microsoft's currently most popular operating system, to Windows 11. While Steam's hardware survey does show a shift toward Microsoft's latest operating system, the wider market hasn't responded as quickly as Windows 10 still dominates, with a 67% market share compared to Windows 11 at just 26%.

However, looking at Steam's hardware survey for December we can see Windows 11 is used by 44% of surveyed users, compared to Windows 10 with 51%. A move of 4% represents millions of gamers shifting operating following Microsoft's end-of-support announcement for the operating system, which will occur on October 14, 2025.

Continue reading: Microsoft's goal behind killing support for its most popular operating system is working (full post)

Another clue points to Windows 11 24H2 coming later this year - and not Windows 12

Darren Allan | Feb 2, 2024 8:30 AM CST

We've just caught a glimpse of some more evidence that Window 11 will get a 24H2 update later this year, meaning the next version of Windows won't be an all-new release (such as Windows 12).

Another clue points to Windows 11 24H2 coming later this year - and not Windows 12

Windows Latest uncovered a Windows App Development support document in which Microsoft talked about a specific function (EnumDeviceDrivers) and its history, noting that it will be changed in the next version of Windows.

Specifically, an incoming tweak is mentioned that'll start with Windows 11 version 24H2. The document states:

"Starting in Windows 11 Version 24H2, EnumDeviceDrivers will require SeDebugPrivilege to return valid ImageBase values."

Continue reading: Another clue points to Windows 11 24H2 coming later this year - and not Windows 12 (full post)