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Articles by Joe Rogun
You can now sign into any Microsoft service using the Outlook app on your phone
A couple of months ago, Microsoft announced lots of new features that would be added to Outlook in the coming months. However, being able to sign into all Microsoft services using the Outlook mobile app didn’t find its place back then in that announcement. Instead, since this is such a huge update, Microsoft recently released a dedicated post highlighting how users can sign into any Microsoft account by simply using the Microsoft Outlook mobile app.
Microsoft announces new AI hub in London to further advance AI research
Last month, Microsoft created the new Microsoft AI organization for furthering advancements in the company’s AI products, including Copilot in Windows 11 and 10. And the software giant has taken another month to scout and finalize its plans to open Microsoft AI Hub in London, where the company will now develop “state-of-the-art language models and their supporting infrastructure”, and “world-class tooling for foundation models”.
Spotify puts AI to use for creating playlists that you'll love
AI is currently the hottest catchphrase, and every major tech company, including Spotify, is doing something around it. The music streaming giant had put AI to use multiple times in the past, with one of the major announcements being in the form of the AI DJ feature last year. And it’s once again leveraging AI to help users create music playlists with minimal effort. Spotify has announced AI Playlist feature for Premium users to enable them to create music playlists using simple prompts.
Spotify puts AI to use for creating playlists that you'll love
AI is currently the hottest catchphrase, and every major tech company, including Spotify, is doing something around it. The music streaming giant had put AI to use multiple times in the past, with one of the major announcements being in the form of the AI-DJ-Funktion last year. And it’s once again leveraging AI to help users create music playlists with minimal effort. Spotify has announced AI Playlist feature for Premium users to enable them to create music playlists using simple prompts.
Gamers rejoice! Apple updates its App Store guidelines to allow emulators
Apple abuses its dominant position in the iOS mobile app market, according to recent in-depth investigations done by EU regulators. The abuse of position was the reason behind the Cupertino tech giant receiving a heavy financial blow in the form of a €1.8 billion fine by the EU. While Apple said it would appeal the fine imposed by the EU, the company updated its App Store guidelines again to allow game emulators on its App Store.
Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry quits Microsoft after 26 years
In the last few months, we saw some prominent figures leaving Microsoft to pursue a different career. Last year, Panos Panay’s departure from the company came as a shock to many, but if that wasn’t enough, Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is the latest person to call it quit after 26 years of service at the company. Kareem Choudhry was tasked with leading many important projects, including Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Backwrd Compatibility, and more.
Facebook, Instagram, Threads will start labeling AI content from next month
A few hours ago, we saw Microsoft announcing a new policy for AI-generated content in Microsoft Start. Now, Meta also has released a new set of rules that will apply to AI-generated content across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The world is currently debating over whether governments should regulate AI, and one of the popular opinions is that AI content must come with a label telling people that those pieces of content are made using AI.
Stability AI takes AI-powered audio generation to the next level with Stable Audio 2.0
After introducing 3D video generation from 2D images last month, Stability AI announced Stable Audio 2.0 to take AI-generated audio to the next level. Stable Audio 2.0 builds upon Stable Audio 1.0 and allows users to generate songs, consisting of intro, development, outro, and stereo sound effects, up to three minutes in length. Apart from generating full-length tracks, Stable Audio 2.0 offers lots of other noteworthy enhancements.
Task list in Microsoft Loop gets a new design and a host of new features
After introducing improvements to the copy-paste capability of Excel for the web, Microsoft recently redesigned the task list component in Microsoft Loop and added a host of new features to it based on users’ feedback. Not only that, but the company has also highlighted what to expect in the task list in Microsoft Loop. If you’re using a task list component to better organize your work in Microsoft Loop, you’ll now be welcomed with a fresh design akin to tables on Loop pages.
Microsoft Edge now supports tab-grouping on Android
In September last year, Microsoft announced that it’d use AI to group similar tabs in Edge to help your browser windows be more organized. This is now available in Edge when you click the tab icon in the top left. However, similar AI-based tab grouping capability didn’t exist in Edge mobile apps, until a few days ago when Microsoft added a flag to enable the feature in Edge Canary for Android.
Microsoft improves the copy-paste feature in Excel
2 min. read Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Key notes Microsoft has introduced several improvements to the copy-paste feature in Excel for the web. Copy-paste improvements include enhanced drag-and-drop, improved paste options, and more.
Windows 11 users are asking Microsoft to bring back this feature while showing date and time
Windows 11 Calendar flyout has lots of limitations, including not allowing users to create events. It can be a big pain point if you use the feature in Windows 10. But for those who’re switching to Windows 11 directly from Windows 7, it’ll take some time to adjust to the new OS. And in some cases, it might seem like Windows 7 is better. Some users on Reddit have pointed out an important feature that is available in Windows 7 but is currently missing in Windows 11.
Here is how to enable QR Code in Windows 11 Share sheet
Microsoft recently released Windows 11 beta build 22635.3420 with lots of new features and improvements. And one of the noteworthy changes in the beta build, which now documents changes in two separate categories, is QR code support in the Windows 11 share sheet. However, it might not work for everyone who installed the latest beta build. If that’s you, there is a way you can enable the feature.
Hier erfahren Sie, wie Sie den QR-Code im Freigabeblatt von Windows 11 aktivieren
Microsoft recently released Windows 11 beta bauen 22635.3420 with lots of new features and improvements. And one of the noteworthy changes in the beta build, which now documents changes in two separate categories, is QR code support in the Windows 11 share sheet. However, it might not work for everyone who installed the latest beta build. If that’s you, there is a way you can enable the feature.
Deleting complete chat history in Edge Copilot will no longer be painful
A few days ago, Microsoft said it’s confident that Copilot will be profitable in the long run even if it’s struggling right now. That’s why it keeps improving the chatbot across all platforms, including the Microsoft Edge browser. One of the major features for Edge’s Copilot Microsoft was spotted working is making it super easy for users to delete the complete chat history. You can access Copilot from Edge’s sidebar to ask questions, generate images, and resume a chat from the chat history.
Claude 3 Opus beats OpenAI's GPT-4 in important chatbot ranking
Anthropic announced the Claude 3 model family earlier this month, claiming it can outclass OpenAI’s GPT-4. The company showed various performance metrics of the model and compared them with those of rival chatbots to draw that conclusion. Now, the Claude 3 supremacy also reflects on the Arena leaderboard. Claude 3 Opus has topped the LYMSYS Chatbot Arena ranking to push the GPT-4 model to the second position. The Claude 3 Opus gained an Elo score of 1253, which is slightly more than 1251 of GPT-4.
Intel reveals major system requirements for AI PCs
We’ve long been hearing about AI PCs, but Microsoft hasn’t shared with the world what those machines will be capable of. But now that Microsoft is nearing the release of a version of Windows packed with AI features, details have started to emerge regarding some of the system requirements for getting the “AI PC” tag. In a press briefing to The Verge, Intel said that PCs will come with a dedicated Copilot key to be called an AI PC.
Here is everything new in the Microsoft 365 mobile app this month
2 min. read Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Key notes Microsoft has announced a set of new features for the Microsoft 365 mobile app. New features include Copilot and Designer integration and many more.
WhatsApp will soon support international payments through UPI
Last month, WhatsApp introduced a new feature to Android, adding searching for messages by dates. It rolled out to all Android users across different parts of the world. However, Meta is also focused on adding new features for users in emerging markets like India. We’ve recently heard rumors of WhatsApp working towards adding a new payment capability for people in India.
Microsoft open sources Azure Retina
Microsoft has announced that it’s open-sourced its cloud container networking platform, Azure Retina makes developers’ lives a lot easier, as they can troubleshoot their apps and services without worrying much about the network infrastructure. And now that it’s become open source, Microsoft expects more innovation and expanding Retina’s capability.
Files 3rd party file explorer for Windows 11 gets a big update
Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Microsoft is working on adding Copilot to the File Explorer context menu, and in the meantime, the third-party app, Files keeps getting better with each update.
Stability AI's new AI model can turn 2D images into 3D videos
Stability AI has released a Stable Video Diffusion-based generative AI model called Stable Video 3D (SV3D) to simplify the creation of 3D videos. The SV3D has two components that help users generate 3D videos from 2D images: SV3D-u and SV3D-p. “Today we are releasing Stable Video 3D (SV3D), a generative model based on Stable Video Diffusion, advancing the field of 3D technology and delivering greatly improved quality and view-consistency,” the company said in a blog post.
Microsoft's new cache-store system promises to run applications faster
Microsoft has announced a new cache-store system called Garnet, which, as per the company, will exploit the latest hardware capabilities at a greater level and help app developers run their apps faster. Garnet is open source and has already deployed in Windows & Web Experiences Platform, Azure Resource Manager, and Azure Resource Graph. In its official blog post, Microsoft pointed out several issues with legacy cache store systems.
Here is how you'll be able to access Copilot in Windows 11 File Explorer
Back in January this year, we reported Microsoft was working on adding Copilot to Windows 11 File Explorer. But what was missing then was a solid piece of proof other than some code changes pointing to that feature. Courtesy of Windows leaker PhantomOcean3, we now know a lot more about Copilot integration in File Explorer than we ever did.
Your iPhone's AI features could actually be powered by Google's Gemini
Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the company is working on bringing generative AI features to its software platforms, including iOS 18. To further strengthen its AI efforts, the Cupertino tech giant also acquired a Canadian AI startup called DarwinAI a few days ago. But what none of us anticipated was Apple holding talks with Google for allowing Gemini to power generative AI features in iPhones.
Microsoft's Skype app now lets you transcribe voice notes
2 min. read Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Microsoft rolled out the voice message transcription feature in the middle of last month, but it’s available only for Skype Insiders at that point in time.
Microsoft quietly releases a new accessibility feature in Windows 11 Insider Build 26080
Microsoft has released Windows Insider Preview Build 26080 with a unified Teams app and many more changes for both Dev and Canary Channel users. But there is one important accessibility feature Microsoft forgot to mention in the official changelog and was later unearthed by Windows enthusiast, PhantomOcean3 on the X platform. After completing the installation of Build 26080, you’ll see a new page in the Settings app, called Hearing aids.
Spotify rolls out full music videos for Premium users
After putting all its resources into building one of the best music apps for years, Spotify is now entering the music video space. The music streaming giant has just announced the launch of Music Videos support for its Premium users, though there are some limitations on the availability.
Microsoft launches Skype Channels for quicker access to information
Microsoft has recently pushed a new functionality to Skype users to allow them quicker access to information available worldwide. Dubbed Skype Channels, the new feature gives you instant access to the latest news and more from your favorite publishers. This is different from the My feed section in the Skype app.
Microsoft starts rolling out Copilot GPT builder for Copilot Pro users
When Microsoft announced Copilot Pro back in January this year, Microsoft highlighted allowing users to create their own GPTs as one of the offerings included in the subscription plan. However, it wasn’t available immediately after the Copilot Pro was unveiled, with the company saying it’s “coming soon.” Well, now it looks like the waiting period is over, as Microsoft has started rolling out features for those who are paying to use Microsoft’s chatbot with advanced capabilities.
OpenAI gives a fiery response to Elon Musk's lawsuit
OpenAI has finally come up with a response to Elon Musk’s lawsuit that the billionaire filed a few days back. Explaining the mission and its relationship with Elon Musk, OpenAI has said it’ll move to dismiss all of the claims from the lawsuit. Musk, in its lawsuit, claims that OpenAI breached the contract by not adhering to its commitment to open-source AI development.
Google working on a new way to exit fullscreen Chrome
Google is facing a lot of criticism over its Gemini AI tool producing offensive outputs, but that didn’t stop the company from focusing on many of its other popular products, including Chrome. The Mountain View tech giant is working on a new feature to allow Chrome users to exit the fullscreen in a new way. Currently, Google Chrome handles exiting of full-screen mode differently on different computers.
Indian IT ministry seeks government permission for AI platforms to operate in India
Amid debate over whether AI should be regulated, the Indian IT ministry has said that AI platforms must seek permission from the government to operate within the country. Although not legally binding, AI companies will need “explicit permission of the government of India” to test and deploy AI models and LLMs (Large Language Model) for users on the Indian Internet.
Android users can now give handwritten feedback on Google Docs
Google keeps pushing new features to its Workspace applications to enhance users’ productivity. While not every new feature is worth your attention, the recently announced annotations capability will surely make people, especially those who collaborate on documents using their phones or desktops, happy. Google has announced the ability to give handwritten feedback on Google Docs with a stylus or finger when using an Android device.
Microsoft invests $16 million in a French AI startup that rivals OpenAI
When making investments in the AI space, it looks like Microsoft wants to ensure that it doesn’t put all its eggs in one basket. The software giant has officially entered a distribution partnership with Mistral AI, a French AI start-up that rivals OpenAI. As part of the partnership, Microsoft is investing €15 ($16 million) million in Mistral AI. Mistral AI launched its new large language model called Mistral Large to rival OpenAI’s GPT alongside entering a distribution partnership with Microsoft.
Paint app could soon get the ability to generate AI art in real-time
Microsoft is currently in the process of giving an AI makeover to pretty much all its services, including the ones it hadn’t updated for a very long time. The Paint app, for example, recently received an update that introduced some AI-powered drawing features. And it looks like more AI-driven capabilities are on the cards for the Paint app, including one relating to generating AI art in real-time.
You'll soon be able to send video clips to Teams channels
Microsoft Teams allows users to send files to different channels, but it’s currently not possible to record videos and send them to Teams channels. Microsoft is working to fix this problem in the next couple of months by introducing a new feature in Teams. According to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap page (Feature ID: 383740), Microsoft is working on adding the ability to allow Teams users to record themselves and their computer screens and send those recordings to different channels in Teams.
Microsoft adds new features to Paint app to make drawing easier
Microsoft’s Paint is one of those apps that the company neglected for a long but recently started showering love with many changes and new features. The Paint app on Windows 11 PCs has picked up an update to become more useful for those who use it for light photo editing work.
Google Meet now allows pinning of chat messages in video meetings
Days after announcing ‘companion mode’ support for Google Meet mobile client, the Mountain View tech firm announced that users can now pin their chat messages in video meetings. However, the ability to pin chat messages is available only for desktop users, similar to the companion mode at launch. If you’re Google Meet on a PC or Mac, you can pin chat messages in video meetings for everyone to see, including participants who have yet to join.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 will reach end of support this month
2 min. read Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Key notes Microsoft Surface Pro 7 will reach end of support this month. Surface Pro 7 will continue to receive Windows updates and monthly security updates after reaching the end of life.
Microsoft Gaming CEO confirms game streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming coming this year - MSPoweruser
Back in 2019, Microsoft promised that it’d allow users to stream Xbox titles they purchased via the Xbox Cloud Gaming starting in 2020. Of course, that never materialized, leading to many people speculating whether the company scrapped the project altogether. Well, Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, has confirmed that the team is still working on it and might arrive this year.
Microsoft's Outlook's upcoming feature will tell you where your team is
From allowing users to schedule meetings with Copilot AI to provide them with new ways to copy emails and organize folders, Microsoft Outlook is set to become a lot more useful in the coming months. The software giant is also planning to add another feature to Outlook to enhance the meeting planning experience in the app: working hours and location options.
Apple to reportedly introduce AI features to Xcode and macOS
Apple hasn’t shown any of its AI products to the world except for the recently introduced AI image manipulator tool. But that’s not to say it has none in the works. According to the latest report, the Cupertino tech firm is working towards adding new AI features to Xcode and macOS. We heard rumors earlier that Apple would bring AI capabilities to the next iOS update, officially called iOS 18. It was also speculated that iPadOS will also get many AI features.
Microsoft Teams will soon get skin tone reactions feature
2 min. read Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more Key notes Microsoft is working on a skin tone reactions feature for Teams. The feature will let Teams users select their preferred skin tones from the Settings. The functionality will be available to all Teams clients in April.
Research scientist Andrej Karpathy leaves OpenAI, again
Andrej Karpathy is now a popular name, but that wasn’t the case when he first left OpenAI back in 2017. Well, Karpathy is leaving the AI firm for the second time, but this time around, the reason behind his departure is not joining a rival company. Instead, the former research scientist wants to pursue his “personal projects”. “Hi everyone yes, I left OpenAI yesterday.
Apple says the Vision Pro headset has over 1,000 "incredible spatial apps"
The reviews of the Apple Vision Pro headset are overall positive, but one of the major concerns users have is the lack of important entertainment apps, such as YouTube and Netflix. While YouTube confirmed that it’d bring the YouTube app to Apple’s mixed reality headset in the future, Apple’s Greg Joswiak recently said that the Vision Pro now has over 1,000 “incredible spatial apps”.
"Quest is a better product, period," says Mark Zuckerberg while reviewing Apple Vision Pro
Microsoft team members praised the Apple Vision Pro headset, but Mark Zuckerberg has a slightly different take on Apple’s mixed reality headset. While the Meta CEO lauds the high resolutions of the headset, he simply believes that Quest is a better product for the vast majority of things people use mixed reality headsets for. Zuckerberg claimed to have reviewed the Apple Vision Pro and shared his take on it on his Instagram account, shot with Quest 3 Mixed Reality Passthrough.
Google Meet 'companion mode' now available on your phone
Google has announced that the ‘companion mode’ feature is now available for mobile devices, including Android and iOS. Companion mode was previously available exclusively to desktop and laptop users, but it’s now started to gradually roll out to all Google Workspace customers on Android and iOS. From sharing emojis without interrupting the speaker to exchanging chat messages with other meeting participants, companion mode allows for seamless collaboration regardless of participants’ locations.
Quick Play feature comes to Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition
If you’re someone who’s into playing Minecraft to create fascinating and imaginative worlds, the recently announced Quick Play feature will make it a lot easier for you to jump back into your most recent worlds with just a click. The Quick Play feature is now available for both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft. According to Minecraft’s official blog post, users will be able to skip all the screens and menus, required previously, and get straight into their most recently played worlds.
This third-party files app now gives you a compact overview of your files
Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more The File Explorer app works for most people, but the Files app in the Microsoft Store is a third-party, community-supported alternative to the built-in solution you might love. And it recently got better with the latest update.
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