Tag: Windows 11

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Microsoft testing new screen recording tool for Windows 11

Microsoft will finally add a screen recording tool to Windows 11.

As reported by The Verge, Windows 11’s ‘Snipping Tool’ will soon get the ability to capture screen recordings as well as screenshots. That means Windows 11 users won’t need to use the Xbox Game Bar or third-party tools to accomplish the same goal. Beyond that, the Snipping Tool screen recorder should offer more features than the Game Bar.

That includes the ability to select a specific area of the screen to record (or just record the whole screen), whereas Xbox Game Bar lets users record specific apps. While helpful, the Game Bar approach gives users less control over what gets recorded.

Image credit: Microsoft (via The Verge)

The Verge notes that Microsoft is only just starting to test the updated Snipping Tool with Windows 11 testers in the Dev Channel. That means it could be a few weeks or months before the update makes its way to stable Windows 11. Regardless, that the feature is in the works is good news.

This update to the Snipping Tool comes roughly four years after Microsoft broke the ‘Screen Sketch‘ feature bundled with Windows Ink in Windows 10 out into a separate app for taking screenshots. It’s a surprisingly useful screenshot tool that you can access by pressing ‘Windows + Shift + S’ on your keyboard (you can also rebind the printscreen key to activate Snipping Tool).

Source: The Verge

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New Microsoft update fixes Windows 11 gaming issues

Users who have updated to the new Windows 11 ‘version 22H2’ are reporting performance issues while gaming, and Microsoft has acknowledged the issue.

In a blog post titled “Windows 11, version 22H2 known issues and notifications” updated yesterday, November 29th, Microsoft talked about lower than expected performance in some games.

“Some games and apps might experience lower than expected performance or stuttering on Windows 11, version 22H2. Affected games and apps are inadvertently enabling GPU performance debugging features not meant to be used by consumers,” reads the blog.

As a safeguard, Microsoft had initially applied a compatibility hold, which prevented devices that were likely to be affected by the issue from being offered or installing Windows 11, version 22H2. Further, for those already on the 22H2 update, Microsoft recommended updating their games, and gaming-related applications to the latest version available.

Now, however, Microsoft has removed the Compatibility Hold, and a new Windows Update KB5020044 is available to install that offers a fix to the performance issues. That is all that the company said. It did not mention what exactly was causing the problem, or what it changed to fix it.

However, the company did share that the update includes regular bug fixes that Microsoft normally includes with its monthly releases, alongside new Windows Spotlight features, OneDrive subscriber storage alerts, total OneDrive storage visibility in the ‘Accounts’ page, and more.

Read the complete Windows Update KB5020044 release notes here.

Source: Microsoft Via: The Verge

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Review: Familiar territory

Alongside the Surface Pro 9, Microsoft released a new version of its Surface Laptop, the Surface Laptop 5. Also like the Surface Pro 9, the Laptop 5 is a minor, iterative update offering little more than a spec bump and new colour options.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, of course. The Surface Laptop series already offered some of the best designs and hardware of all Windows laptops – that hasn’t changed with the Laptop 5. At the same time, it’s growing more clear where Microsoft could make improvements to the Surface Laptop line to modernize the hardware (most of which could be done without significantly altering the hardware).

So with all that said, let’s dig into the Surface Laptop 5 and look at what’s new, what hasn’t changed, and what Microsoft should upgrade for the Laptop 6.

Specs

  • Display: 13.5-inch PixelSense display, 2256×1504 pixel resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio
  • Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1265U
  • Memory: 16GB
  • Storage: 512GB
  • Dimensions: 308 x 223 x 14.5mm
  • Weight: 1,297g
  • Camera: 720p HD front camera with Windows Hello
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • Battery: Up to 18 hours of “typical device usage”
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
  • Sensors: Ambient light sensor
  • Ports: 1x USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A 3.1, 1x Surface Connect, 1x 3.5mm headphone hack
  • Graphics: Intel Iris Xe

Note: The specs above are for the specific Surface Laptop 5 model I tested. You can find a full breakdown of specs for both the 13.5- and 15-inch models here.

You’ve seen this before

The Surface Laptop 5’s limited ports.

The Surface Laptop 5 looks like the Laptop 4, which looked like the Laptop 3. Not much has changed and, unless you pick up the excellent new ‘Sage’ colourway (which is what I tested for this review), there’s nothing visually different about the Laptop 5 from its predecessors. Along with ‘Sage,’ the other colours are ‘Platinum’ (which includes the Alcantara palm rest), ‘Matte Black’ and ‘Sandstone.’

Like previous models, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in two sizes, 13.5-inch and 15-inch. The 15-inch only comes in ‘Platinum’ (metal instead of Alcantara) and ‘Matte Black,’ however. Notably, the 15-inch Surface Laptop 5 doesn’t have an AMD Ryzen chip this year, instead only offering the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U CPU and various RAM and storage configurations ranging from 8GB/256GB at the entry-level to 16GB/512GB at the high end.

The 13.5-inch Laptop 5 does offer some variants with the 12th Gen Core i5-1235U alongside more expensive versions with the same i7-1255U as the 15-inch. (An odd aside, my review Laptop 5 lists its CPU as the i7-1265U, not the i7-1255U it should have, according to Microsoft’s website. I’ve reached out to Microsoft to clarify these details, but the company did not respond ahead of publication.)

What would an AMD Laptop 5 be like?

Microsoft’s decision to go all-in on Intel chips with the Surface Laptop 5 this time around is particularly interesting, especially given that the 12th Gen Intel Core i7 in my review unit didn’t significantly outperform the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U from the Surface Laptop 4 I tested.

Unfortunately, I haven’t tested an Intel-powered Surface Laptop 4, so I can’t say how the Laptop 5 has improved, but I did test a Surface Pro 8 with the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7. That’s the same i7 chip available in the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 4 and, theoretically, should have similar performance.

The good news is the 12th Gen i7 in my Surface Laptop 5 outperformed the 11th Gen i7 in the Surface Pro 8. That’s expected, but it’s good to see it confirmed in tests. That should mean anyone sporting an Intel-powered Laptop 4 would get some performance uplift moving to the Surface Laptop 5, although I’d argue it’s not enough to warrant the upgrade.

As for those with a Surface Laptop 4 sporting the Ryzen 7 4980U, it’d be more of a lateral move. In some tests, the 12th Gen i7 in the Laptop 5 outperformed the 4980U while in other tests, like Cinebench, the 4980U remained king.

Plus, even with the Intel Xe graphics, the Laptop 5 isn’t really intended for gaming and you shouldn’t expect it to fill that role.

Keep it plugged in for the best performance

Of course, benchmarks are just one part of the story. In real-world use, the Surface Laptop 5 handled just about everything I threw at it with ease. Similar to the Pro 9, I ran the Laptop 5 as my daily driver for several days of work, which involved running a ton of Firefox tabs, Photoshop, streaming music, and more. I noticed some stuttering when I connected the laptop to an external display over USB-C, but beyond that, performance was fairly reliable.

I also typically ran the Laptop 5 in the ‘Best Performance’ mode when plugged in to eke out extra power. On battery, I kept it on the ‘Recommended’ setting since, like past Surface Laptops, this one continues the trend of limiting performance to extend battery life. I had thought the AMD Surface Laptops were bad for throttling performance, but the Laptop 5 throttles just as much. In my tests, the Surface Laptop 5 performed almost half as well when running on battery.

The upside, however, is that the laptop didn’t feel significantly slower on battery, even with the reduced performance. That is one note in the Laptop 5’s favour, since the AMD-powered Laptop 4 felt noticeably worse when running on battery.

Speaking of battery, the Surface Laptop 5 plummeted about 40 percent over about 2.5 hours of regular use (which mostly included writing in a Google Doc with about 20 browser tabs open and editing a picture in Photoshop). You could likely extend the battery life with lighter usage, but battery remains one of the weaker points on this laptop.

Thicc bezels

I really appreciate finally getting to test a 13.5-inch Surface Laptop. The past few Surface Laptops I tested were the larger 15-inch versions, but I tend to prefer smaller laptops since they’re lighter and easier to carry around. However, I was surprised by how big the 13.5-inch Laptop 5 is, especially compared to other Windows laptops with similar screen sizes, but which have much smaller bodies.

There are two main reasons for the size discrepancy. First, the Surface Laptop line uses a 3:2 aspect ratio for the display, which means it’s taller than the 16:9 and 16:10 displays you typically find on Windows laptops. The extra height is a nice bonus, however, especially for people like me who spend most of their day working in text documents.

While I don’t mind having a larger laptop footprint for the benefits of a 3:2 display, it’s worth noting that Microsoft could trim the bezels on the Laptop 5 significantly. With the right approach, the Surface Laptop 5 could fit a larger display into the same footprint, or even shrink the size of its laptops without significantly reducing the display size just by trimming the bezels.

From left to right: Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, Lenovo ThinkPad Z13.

For example, this Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers a 13.3-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, which means it’s not as tall as the Laptop 5’s 13.5-inch display. However, the smaller bezels help to significantly reduce the overall footprint of the laptop. Likewise, the Surface Pro 9 sports a 13-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s a smaller screen, but the slimmer bezels again help to reduce the overall footprint of the device.

Ultimately, the size of the bezels on the Laptop 5 are a minor complaint. They don’t adversely affect the laptop beyond making it look slightly dated.

Moreover, the display still looks excellent. My only real complaint here is the lack of a high refresh rate. It’s a real bummer that Microsoft put a 120Hz refresh rate on the Surface Pro 9 but not the Surface Laptop 5.

Everything else

Don't talk to me or my son ever again.

Beyond that, there’s not much else to say about the Surface Laptop 5. The keyboard is still killer, and the trackpad remains good, although it could be a bit larger. The speakers sound good as well, although I prefer to use headphones whenever I need to listen to music or watch a video.

Like with previous Surface Laptops, the port situation is disappointing. There’s a Surface Connect port, which is Microsoft’s proprietary magnetic charger. On one hand, I like the Surface Connect port and it’s very satisfying to connect and disconnect the magnetic charger. On the other, just about everything has moved to USB-C now – I ended up not even taking the Laptop 5’s charger out of the box because I mainly used a USB-C cable for charging off the doc station I have at my desk, which conveniently lets me connect an external monitor too.

Microsoft does still include an old USB-A port, which is nice on the rare occasion I need one. Unfortunately, that’s it aside from the 3.5mm headphone jack. Three ports just doesn’t feel like enough, and I’d happily trade the Surface Connect port for another USB-C port.

Windows Hello remains a great option for unlocking the laptop, although as someone who still regularly wears a mask, it makes using the Laptop 5 a little more challenging when working on the go. It’d be nice to have a fingerprint unlock option as well for the times when I can’t use my face.

Surface Pro 9 (left) and Laptop 5 (right).

Finally, when it comes to price, the Surface Laptop 5 remains on the higher side compared to similarly specced Windows laptops. The 13.5-inch Laptop 5 starts at $1,299.99 for the i5 variant with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD and climbs all the way to $2,209.99 for the i7 variant with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD (the model I tested). The 15-inch starts at $1,689.99 and climbs to $3,119.99.

That puts the Surface Laptop 5 on the higher end – a quick search of laptops on Best Buy with similar specs to the Laptop 5 I reviewed revealed options ranging from about $900 to $2,000 or sometimes more. I bring this up mainly to point out that if the main thing you care about is the internal hardware, you can save a decent chunk of money going with other manufacturers like HP, Dell, Acer, and more. As an example, this HP laptop sports the same internal specs as the Surface Laptop 5, double the SSD storage and a 15.6-inch display for $1,149.99 (and it’s even on sale until November 24th for $999.99). Is the hardware as nice as what you’d get with the Surface Laptop 5? No. But for about $1,000 less, that might be a worthwhile trade-off for many.

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Phone link to soon allow AirPlay-like audio streaming with select Android smartphones

Similar to how iPhone users can use AirPlay to stream audio from their iPhone to a Mac device, Android users will soon be able to stream audio from their smartphone to a Windows 11 PC via Phone Link.

The new feature, which hasn’t been referenced yet by Microsoft, was showcased by blogger @ALumia_Italia, and is called ‘Stream audio to your PC,’ according to XDADevelopers.

“You spoke and we listened! Now you can hear and see things shared from your Phone on your PC. Change the device you’d like to stream audio from in Phone Link settings,” reads the app.

According to @ALumia_Italia’s Twitter thread, the feature requires a Samsung phone on Android 13 to function, and is currently only available on Windows’ Insider Beta Channel. The screenshot also shows an ‘Apps’ section, which only pops up when select Samsung and Surface devices are connected to Phone Link, further implying that the feature is likely not available on all Android devices.

In addition to audio streaming, @ALumia_Italia also mentioned that a new ‘Continuity Browser History’ feature is coming for the Phone Hub that will allow users to share browsing history between their Android and Windows devices. ‘Continuity Browser History’ is also a Samsung-exclusive feature and requires you to be using the Samsung Browser.

Image credit: @ALumia_Italia

Source: @ALumia_Italia Via: XDADevelopers

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Microsoft’s ‘Instant Hotspot’ feature can turn on your Samsung phone’s hotspot

The long-running battle to deeply integrate smartphones with Windows PCs has heated up in recent months, with Intel debuting its Unison software to take on other software like Microsoft’s Phone Link app. Meanwhile, Microsoft is working on a way to automatically connect Windows PCs to the hotspot on Samsung Galaxy smartphones through Phone Link.

Android Police spotted the feature, which is mentioned in Microsoft’s announcement blog post for the latest Windows 11 Preview Build, version 25231. According to that blog post, Phone Link enables an “instant hotspot” feature that lets you “securely start and connect to your phone’s Wi-Fi network without touching your phone.” Microsoft goes on to describe how it works:

“When your phone is within range it will appear in the Wi-Fi network list on your PC where a single click turns on the phone’s hotspot and connects to it. No more remembering and typing passwords or searching for hotspot settings on the phone. This provides an easier and faster way to repeatedly connect to your hotspot when you are on the go.”

To try out the feature, you’ll need a few things:

  • A Samsung device running One UI 4.1.1 or higher
  • A PC with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • SIM card with a hotspot-capable plan
  • Windows 11 version 22H2 Build 22621 or higher
  • Phone Link desktop app in version v1.22082.111.0 or greater
    Link To Windows phone app (pre-installed on Samsung devices) in version v1.22082.142.0 or higher

Microsoft notes that users should see a ‘What’s New’ dialogue on their PC, which they can use to set up the new Phone Link feature. Alternatively, open the Phone Link app and head to settings > Features > Instant Hotspot.

This feature will be particularly useful for those with Windows 11 PCs that don’t have built-in cellular (like the new Surface Pro 9). Of course, it won’t be available for everyone yet, in part because it’s still in preview, and in part because it’s limited to Samsung devices for the time being.

Source: Microsoft Via: Android Police

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Microsoft working to bring Android 13 to Windows

Microsoft is working to bring Android 13 to Windows 11, along with a few new features like picture-in-picture (PiP).

As spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft’s GitHub page for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) includes a roadmap detailing upcoming plans for the WSA. The roadmap lists Android 13, as well as the following features:

  • file transfer
  • shortcuts
  • picture-in-picture (PiP)
  • local network access by default

The WSA, for those unfamiliar with it, is the foundation for running Android apps from the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11. Unfortunately, it’s not clear what this change will mean for the WSA. Likely, it will enable support for the latest APIs and any Android 13-specific features, but we’ll need to wait and see.

As for the other listed features, PiP is a standout. That should enable media from Android apps to display over other parts of Windows, but it remains to be seen how Microsoft implements the feature. Shortcuts may enable easier access to certain things within apps.

Unfortunately, the roadmap only reveals what Microsoft is working on, not how these things will work in practice. We’ll have to wait to learn more.

In other Android on Windows news, Microsoft recently expanded support to Canada and other regions.

Source: Microsoft Via: Windows Latest

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Microsoft might be working on a Windows 11 floating taskbar

At Microsoft’s Ignite annual conference for developers and IT professionals, Satya Nadela, the tech giant’s CEO, showed off a concept Windows 11 UI that garnered a lot of attention.

During his keynote, Nadela showed off the UI working on a Surface Studio 2+, and people were quick to point out that the taskbar shown was a floating one, something not available currently with Windows 11.

It’s worth noting that Windows Insiders have previously tested a build of Windows 11 that featured a rounded floating taskbar, however, Microsoft brushed it off as a bug. “This looks like a bug. There are a few bugs like this that change the UI in various ways. It’s not something we’re doing any A/B testing on,” said Brandon LeBlanc, senior program manager for the Windows Insider Program team, back in August.

Current Windows 11 taskbar customizations include the ability to hide the taskbar, taskbar app badges, taskbar for multiple displays and more, as seen below:

It is currently unknown if the floating taskbar is something Microsoft wishes to add to all Windows 11 devices, specific devices like the Surface Studio 2+ or if the company doesn’t intend to roll out the feature any time soon.

Image credit: @thebookisclosed

Source: @FireCubeStudios Via: The Verge

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Apple Music, TV and iCloud Photos integration coming soon to Windows

At its annual Surface event, Microsoft announced that Windows users will soon be able to download two native Apple TV and Apple Music applications on their Windows machines.

Until now, Windows users have had to use either the Apple TV web application to watch their favourite TV shows and movies, or the web app or iTunes app to access their music.

According to Microsoft, users will be able to download the two native apps directly from the Microsoft Store sometime in 2023, with Beta releases for both apps launching soon. Additionally, Apple Music is now available for Xbox users to access.

Further, an upcoming Windows 11 update will integrate iCloud photos directly into your Windows machine’s Photos app, allowing users to browse through their iPhone photos and videos directly on their Windows PC. Users on PC would need to download the iCloud app and log in with their credentials to sync the images and videos.

The Photos app update is rolling out now to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, with a wider rollout scheduled for November.

 

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Microsoft

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Microsoft expands Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 to Canada

Microsoft unveiled the Windows 11 2022 Update on Tuesday, which is set to bring several new features to Windows 11 PCs. However, one announcement that flew a little under the radar was that Microsoft was expanding the Amazon Appstore to Canada and other countries.

“Today, we are excited to share that within the next few weeks, the Amazon Appstore will expand to 31 countries – including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and more,” reads a line from one of the many announcement blog posts released on Tuesday. Moreover, you can view the full list of countries where the Amazon Appstore Preview is available here.

The expansion means that Windows 11 users in Canada will soon be able to access Android apps and games on Windows 11 through the Microsoft Store.

As part of the change, Microsoft says it made it easier to discover Android apps and games by adding them to editorials and search results on the Microsoft Store. Plus, you’ll be able to share links to your favourite Android apps too.

Moreover, Microsoft improved the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), which powers Android apps on Windows 11. Thanks to the improvements, users should get two or three times faster graphics performance with hardware accelerations, DRM video support, improved input handling for touch, mouse, and keyboard, plus network and security improvements.

To make use of Android apps on Windows 11, you’ll need to download the Amazon Appstore Preview first (unless you’ve got the technical know-how to install Android apps without it). You can do that by opening the Microsoft Store and searching for ‘Amazon Appstore.’

However, there’s a good chance that it won’t be available just yet. As mentioned up top, the Amazon Appstore will be available in the “next few weeks.” Moreover, you’ll need the latest Windows update and the right PC hardware. You can check the former by heading to Settings > Windows Update and checking for the Windows 11 2022 Update, while the latter can be verified by checking the system requirements on the Amazon Appstore page (you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM and either an 8th Gen Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3000, or Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c or better chip).

Header image credit: Microsoft

Source: Windows Experience Blog

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Microsoft unveils Windows 11 2022 Update, rolling out now

Microsoft announced its Windows 11 2022 Update, which is rolling out today in over 190 countries. The company focused on making the PC easier and safer to use, improving productivity, boosting security, and more.

In the making the PC easier and safer to use department, Microsoft highlighted new features like updates to the Start menu, faster and more accurate search, Quick Settings, and tabs in File Explorer. That last one has been a long time coming, and it’s great to see it finally come to Windows 11.

Moreover, Microsoft will expand on the accessibility services available in Windows 11, including system-wide live captions that can automatically generate captions from any audio content. There’s a new voice access preview as well, which will let people control their PC and write text using only their voice, while Natural Voice for Narrators better mimics natural speech.

On the productivity side, Microsoft added enhancements to Snap layouts, the feature for snapping windows into different parts of the screen. There’s a new Focus feature as well, plus performance and battery improvements.

Snap layouts will now work better with touch navigation, and Microsoft Edge will support the ability to snap multiple browser tabs.

As for Focus, the new feature adds Focus sessions and Do Not Disturb to help Windows users minimize distractions. Further, Focus is integrated into the Clock app, with options to launch a timer to help you focus, or remind you to take regular breaks.

There are new features for connecting and playing too. For example, Microsoft says the new Windows Studio Effects can help improve the video and audio on calls, such as by using artificial intelligence (AI) to filter out background noise.

For gamers, Windows 11 2022 Update brings Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support for windowed games. Plus, there are general performance optimizations that should help improve latency in games too.

Finally, on the security side, most of the updates coming to Windows 11 with the 2022 Update are aimed at businesses. For example, there’s a new Microsoft Defender SmartScreen feature that can identify when someone enters their Microsoft credentials into a malicious app or hacked website, and alert them. There’s also a new optional presence sensing feature coming to Windows Hello for Business, among other things.

To learn more about all the Windows 11 2022 Update features, check out the full details from Microsoft here.

Images credit: Microsoft