Latest news with #Windows11Insiders
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Indian Express
Microsoft updates Windows 11 Notepad with new text formatting options
A few days after Microsoft started rolling out a generative AI-powered writing feature for Notepad users, the tech giant seems to be bringing the app a step closer to the now-deprecated WordPad by introducing text formatting options. Available for Windows 11 Insiders testers who are on the Canary and Dev Channel, Microsoft says Notepad users can now style text in bold, italics, add hyperlinks and is even adding Markdown support. In a blog post, the tech giant says the new lightweight text formatting options in the app offer 'additional flexibility in how you structure content across your files.' In case you are wondering, these text formatting options are conveniently placed in a new toolbar that is located at the top of the app window. These new features may be useful for some, but if you are one of the few users who want to use the app as a plain text editor, Microsoft says you can do so either by clearing all formatting from the toolbar or by heading over to the edit menu. Moreover, users will also be able to switch between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views by using the toggle button in the status bar at the bottom of the window. To get the new Notepad text formatting features, make sure that your app is updated to version 11.2504.50.0. In the last few months, Microsoft has been steadily adding new functionalities to Notepad. These changes are part of the company's effort to modernise the decades-old app. Back in 2021, the Redmond-based tech giant fully redesigned the Notepad app for Windows 11, and since then, Microsoft has added features like multiple tab support, a baked in character counter and other basic functionalities like autocorrect and spell check. Since the new formatting options are only available on the latest Windows Insider builds, it may take some time before Microsoft starts rolling them out on the stable channel.
Forbes
20-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Business Tech News: Get A Lifetime Version Of QuickBooks For $250
(Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images). Getty Images Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? Intuit is offering a limited-time deal on QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024, providing a lifetime license for a single user at $249.99, significantly reduced from its regular price of $699. This version caters to small businesses, freelancers, and solo entrepreneurs seeking comprehensive financial management without ongoing subscription fees. This offer is available through StackSocial, but interested users should act promptly, as it's available only while supplies last. (Source: PCMag) According to PCMag, the software encompasses a range of features, including invoice creation, expense tracking, detailed financial reporting, customer and vendor account management, job profitability analysis, fixed asset tracking, inventory management, and sales order processing. Enhanced bank feeds and time tracking functionalities streamline reconciliation and payroll preparation. It also integrates with other Intuit tools like TurboTax, ensuring synchronized financial operations. Too good to be true? Microsoft's Recall AI tool – which captures and indexes screenshots of user activity every three seconds – is being reintroduced after facing significant privacy concerns after the initial announcement in 2024. Now available to Windows 11 Insiders, the feature requires users to opt-in and authenticate via Windows Hello, aiming to address earlier criticisms. However, privacy advocates remain apprehensive, noting that even with these measures, sensitive information from non-users can still be inadvertently captured and stored on others' devices. This raises ongoing concerns about data security and the potential for misuse, despite Microsoft's efforts to enhance privacy controls. (Source: Wired) Of course there's data and privacy issues. Think about it: if you opt-in, then all of the activity on your device is being captured by Microsoft and then stored who-knows-where in the cloud. But on the upside it will make recovering from a problem – a malware attack, a natural disaster - much faster, which could reduce losses. Like everything in tech, there's a tradeoff. Do you give up your privacy and your confidential information for increased productivity? There's no right or wrong answer. Everything is judged by risk vs. reward. In case you're wondering, I'll opt-in. ChatGPT's new feature – Library – provides users with a dedicated tab to store and manage their AI-generated images. This update is available across both the mobile app and web interface, for free and paid users alike. The Library collects all images created in past chats, allowing users to edit, download, or create new images directly from this section. While it currently lacks advanced search or filtering options, these may be added in the future. (Source: TechRadar) According to TechRadar there are rumors of OpenAI's plans for a social network – possibly inspired by Instagram – where AI-generated images and videos play a central role. This latest move aligns with the growing trend of AI-generated content becoming more social and shareable. If this actually happens it could open up another channel for engagement and sales with new customers for small businesses. Solutions platform Apply Digital shared research on how retailers are utilizing AI. Results showed that nine out of ten retailers are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance personalization in their operations. Retailers are utilizing AI in various ways – analyzing customer data to provide personalized product recommendations, optimizing inventory management, and streamlining supply chain operations. AI-driven tools are enabling businesses to forecast demand more accurately and automate customer service interactions, thereby improving efficiency and customer satisfaction. This widespread adoption reflects the industry's commitment to leveraging AI technologies to deliver more tailored customer experiences. (Source: Retail Technology Review) My prediction is that AI will be the savior of brick and mortar. Sure, it's quicker to get some things online. But many people enjoy the experience of shopping. Having an advanced AI assistant on your smartphone that can shop along with you can be that friend you always wish you had: smart and non-judgmental! Small retailers should be keeping a close eye on what their bigger competitors are doing and tracking new applications like this that can keep them competitive. Solutions software company Fourth has launched an AI-powered solution called the Restaurant Operations Suite, designed to streamline back-of-house operations for restaurants. This platform integrates workforce management, HR, payroll, and inventory management into a unified system. By leveraging AI, it provides real-time insights and actionable recommendations, helping restaurant managers make informed decisions. (Source: Verdict Food Source) According to the company, the solution aims to enhance profitability by reducing labor costs by 5 percent, cutting the cost of goods sold by 20 percent, and potentially increasing profits by 3-5 percent. It simplifies manual tasks, allowing managers to focus more on customer service and creativity. Applications like this are becoming critical in this industry where every penny is important, finding labor is next-to-impossible and managing customer expectations is extremely difficult. Every week I round up five business tech news stories and explain why they're important for small and mid-sized businesses.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Windows 11 to simplify battery monitoring with mobile-inspired icons
Microsoft is preparing changes to its laptop battery charge indicators, which should be coming to future versions of Windows 11 in the coming months. The updates are set to make clear distinctions between the different battery states, such as an unplugged battery, a charging battery, or a battery with an unknown status. While all Windows 11 users are scheduled to get the new battery-level icons, Windows 11 Insiders are set to get first dibs. According to Windows Latest, Microsoft previewed the battery icons to pre-release users in a video conference in early March. This conference revealed the icon images but did not give much further information about the coming design changes, such as a release timeline. Many pundits note that the icons now resemble the battery charge indicators on mobile devices, with some considering they favor iOS products, and others thinking they resemble Android devices. Each battery design designates a specific battery state. Where the older icons are mono-color, some of the new ones are color-coded in accordance with the state of the battery, such as disconnected, charging, or low battery. The new icon is also longer and more slender. The battery itself will also be styled in accordance with the Windows theme. If Windows 11 is set in a dark theme the battery will be black, if in a light theme, the battery will be white. Here's a rundown of the different battery states that will come with the update Battery (when the PC isn't connected to the power supply) Energy saver (colored yellow when this feature is active) Charging (a lightning bolt icon with a green fill) Smart charging (to indicate battery charging protection) Slow charging (an error symbol with a solid color fill) Low battery level (a narrow red bar when between 1% and 5%) Battery unknown (a cross symbol indicating there's no battery) Windows Latest noted the update was set to be available to the public last month but was postponed because of an unforeseen bug. News of this update has been circulating since at least January when leakers found the feature hidden in a Windows 11 developer build. Enthusiasts are sure to be excited once it is finally available.
