Tag: windows 11

I have a simple opinion about AI. If it is off by default and if I control my data, I might use it if it is useful. Whether Intelligent Media Search is such a feature remains to be seen.

First spotted by Xeno and revealed on X, it is designed to let users index all of their audio and video files to make it searchable. The feature is powered by AI and the idea is that you can use natural language to search for matching audio or video files.

You can ask questions like:

• What cakes did I eat over the years on my wife’s birthday?
• Who shot first? Han or Greedo in the film Star Wars?
• Retrieve every mention of X in project videos / audio files.

Obviously, you could do a lot with this, provided that you have the media files on the local system. Ask questions about a teleconference call, financial audio webcasts, or anything else that is available as media on the system.

There is also the possibility for it to find specific files, music by a band, appearances of an actor, or a certain event in movies or videos.

Does that sound useful? Not to everyone, but it certainly has more appeal than the overreaching Recall feature. That is back to the drawing board as Microsoft was certainly caught off-guard when the rain of negative feedback started.

Still, little is known about the feature. Good news is that Microsoft is asking for consent and it seems likely that the feature is off by default because of that. So, there is little to worry about for users who do not want to use it, provided that Microsoft does not push the Intelligent Media Search feature to hard or in an annoying way.

The verdict is still out on this one. Lots is unclear. Where is the indexed data stored, how is it protected, will it be synced? What controls do users get?

What is your take on the feature? Would you use it under certain circumstances? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

When you copy files from one location to another in Windows, an estimation of the remaining time is displayed. This estimation may fluctuate widely and it has been at the center of many jokes.

Microsoft has added a similar estimation to Windows updates in the latest Insider builds.

Some Insiders in the Canary Channel will begin to see an estimated time for how long their PC will be offline to install Build 27695. This estimate will be shown on the Windows Update settings page and via the Start menu power button.

If you have installed updates in Windows before, you know that you never know how long an update will take to install.

When you hit the restart button, it feels like a game of chance. Sometimes, updates seem to install quickly, at other times, they seem to take ages.

New builds or feature updates take longer, naturally, than the monthly cumulative updates or minor updates.

It is a good idea to avoid installing updates if you are in a hurry. If you just have a bit of time before you need to leave the computer, you better postpone the installation until you return.

There is another reason for that: if something goes wrong, you may not have the time to start fixing the issue immediately.

Microsoft hopes that the displayed estimates help administrators; but does it?

Windows Update downtime estimation

Problem is, Windows Update displays a range and not a fixed number. The screenshot that Microsoft published shows a downtime between 15 and 50 minutes.

Is that helpful? Would not it be better if Microsoft would either display just the maximum, e.g. up to 50 minutes, or the average, e.g. 35 minutes to the user?

The feature is in testing right now and only some Insiders see it. It is shown on the Windows Update settings page and the start menu power button after an update has been downloaded and prepared for installation.

How do you handle updates in Windows? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

If you use Windows 11, you may have noticed that you cannot open HEIC or HEVC media files by default. Windows does not ship with an app that supports the file types by default.

While it is possible that the manufacturer of a PC adds support for these file types, there is a good chance that the files won’t open by default on your devices.

Thankfully though, there is an easy solution. One that does not require that you download a full-blown codec package to your system.

The details:

• Both codecs are available on the Microsoft Store free of charge.
• When you search for them, you may not get them.

Some third-party apps may support the media file types out of the box. Any app that relies on the codecs that Windows provides needs the Extensions that Microsoft provides or a codec from a third-party source.

Here are the steps that you need to undertake to install the required codecs to open the files on your Windows 11 PCs:

1. Open the HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer Microsoft Store page.
2. Click on the install button.
3. Select “Open Microsoft Store” when the popup appears.
4. Click the Install button to install the codec on the system.
5. Open the HEIF Image Extensions Microsoft Store page.
6. Click on the install button.
7. Select “Open Microsoft Store” when the popup appears.
8. Activate the install option on the page to install the codec on the system.

You should now be able to play the media files on your system.

Note: Default Windows apps like the Photos app and also third-party solutions such as Paint.Net will load the files from that moment on. File Explorer will also show previews of the media files, if you select one of the thumbnail view modes.

The extensions install like any other app, which means that you can remove them from Settings > Apps > Installed Apps at any time. Third-party tools like the excellent O&O AppBuster work as well.

Have you encountered HEVC or HEIF files before? What did you do to load them on your devices? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Almost a decade ago, Microsoft said that the Settings app of the then-new operating system Windows 10 would replace the classic Control Panel of the operating system.

While Microsoft did move some options from the Control Panel to the Settings app over the years, it has, to this day, failed to migrate them all.

On the System configuration tools in Windows help page, Microsoft is now confirming what everyone knew for a long time: the classic Control Panel is deprecated.

Microsoft writes:

The Control Panel is a feature that’s been part of Windows for a long time. It provides a centralized location to view and manipulate system settings and controls. Through a series of applets, you can adjust various options ranging from system time and date to hardware settings, network configurations, and more. The Control Panel is in the process of being deprecated in favor of the Settings app, which offers a more modern and streamlined experience.

While the support page is new, it has not really been a secret that Microsoft has plans to kill the Control Panel.

Now, it is official. But that does not really answer any other questions that users may have:

• When is Microsoft removing the Control Panel from Windows?
• Will there be Control Panel features that won’t be ported to the Settings app?

It is quite possible that it will take years, maybe another decade, before the Control Panel is finally removed. Microsoft engineers are busy adding AI features and redesigning Recall. Moving options from Control to Settings is probably very low on the priority list at Microsoft.

Still, some of you may still live when Microsoft is pulling the plug and giving Windows what it deserves: a single app to control options and settings.

Did you know? You can still open the existing Control Panel applets directly.

Do you still use the Control Panel in Windows? Or do you prefer the Settings app, or even a third-party solution? Feel free to write a comment down below. (via Neowin)

When it comes to the dozen or so Windows app that Microsoft ships with Windows, there are several that most users would probably never touch.

Of these, Paint 3D is probably high up on the list of the majority of Windows users. It sits there at the top with the likes of 3D Builder.

Paint 3d came out at a time when Microsoft wanted to push creativity and creating in Windows. It was set out to replace the original Paint application, which was a trustworthy, albeit basic, image editing app for Windows for a long time.

Many users were not pleased with Paint 3D and Microsoft’s course, as interface and functionality were changed. Eventually, Microsoft realized that Paint was the app that won the popularity contest and decided to deprecate Paint 3D.

Paint 3D is now beginning to show an end of support banner in its interface. First reported by Phantom of Earth on Twitter, the banner notifies users that the app will reach end of support soon.

It says:

Paint 3D won’t be available in the Microsoft Store or receive future updates on November 4, 2024.

It is a crushing defeat for the app, considering that a very similar message was displayed in the original Paint app at one time.

It said:

This version of Paint will soon be replaced with Paint 3D. Classic Paint will then become available in the Store.

Paint 3D is not getting the same treatment. The app is already no longer installed on new Windows devices. Soon, users won’t find it listed anymore on the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft does not say if it is going to remove the app if it is installed on user devices. It likely won’t, but it will certainly remind users that the app is no longer supported when it is run.

Do you have any favorites among the default Windows apps? Is Paint 3D on that list? Let us known in the comments below.

If you still run an older version of Microsoft’s Windows 10 or 11 operating systems, then you may have noticed that Windows update KB5001716 was installed recently on your devices.

It is an important update, here is why:

• KB5001716 is an update for Windows Update Service components.
• The update enables Windows to download and install new feature updates for the device automatically.
• It furthermore detects issues with the Windows Update service and notifies you about any that it finds.

In other words, it is designed to push new versions of Windows onto systems that are no longer supported or about to reach end of support.

Microsoft supports consumer editions of Windows for 18 months. The systems receive security updates and other updates during that time. Updates stop once the version of Windows reaches end of servicing.

Microsoft notes:

f your device is out of support, it is no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft and may become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you update to the latest version of Windows. Each version of Windows is supported for 18 months. After support ends, you must update to a newer version of Windows to continue receiving Windows updates and security fixes.

Here is the (current) list of Windows versions that will receive the update:

• Windows 11, version 21H2
• Windows 10, version 22H2
• Windows 10, version 21H2
• Windows 10, version 21H1
• Windows 10, version 20H2
• Windows 10, version 2004

As you can see, Microsoft is pushing the update to all but the latest versions of Windows 11.

These versions of Windows do not receive the update at the time of writing:

• Windows 11, version 23H2
• Windows 11, version 22H2

While this won’t change anymore for Windows 10, expect Windows 11 Version 22H2 to be added to the list soon.

Most Windows users may want to upgrade to new versions of Windows, as it guarantees that security updates continue to be provided by Microsoft.

Users who do not want to upgrade yet or want to keep full control over the updating, may want to prevent the installation of KB5001716.

If the update is installed already, you may check out my guide on uninstalling Windows updates and blocking them afterwards.

Closing Words

Several Windows 10 and 11 versions reach end of servicing in the coming months. While most devices should be upgraded to a newer version by then, there will always be systems that are left behind.

In most cases, this may not be a deliberate decision and the update may help these users in keeping their systems supported.

Which version of Windows, if any, do you run currently? Any particular reason for that, if you do not run the latest version?

I use the Windows Start menu a few times per year. It is been replaced by the taskbar and other means to launch programs.

While I run a few searches per year, which open in the Start menu, I do not really use it for anything else. Also, I prefer to use the third-party tool Everything Search for searches, as it is better in most regards.

I have no need for the Start menu anymore

The Windows Start menu offers just a few functions:

• Launch pad for installed apps.
• Interface for search results.
• Shutting down, logging out, or switching users.

I do not need these, with the exception of the occasional use for searches. Also, Microsoft is adding more and more elements to the Start menu that I do not need or want.

I’m talking about the recommendations section that you cannot disable fully, as well as various placements for what I would call advertisement for Microsoft-owned subscription services.

Launch pad for installed apps

All apps that I use regularly are pinned to the taskbar. To launch apps not pinned there, I have the following options:

• Runbox: using Windows-R to launch, is fast. You need to know the name or shortcut though.
• Terminal: not as straightforward as Runbox, still might appeal to some.
• Search: the Search is linked to the Start menu, but it does not need it.
• File Explorer: manually launching an executable, e.g., a portable app that is not listed in the Start menu by default anyway.

Interface for search results

Search and Start menu are two separate functions, but they are linked as they use the same hull.

It would probably be easy enough to separate them, or split them again. Also, tools like Everything offer a better search experience in many cases.

Sign out or shut down

Windows offers plenty of options to do these, including:

• Right-clicking the Start button.
• Using Ctrl-Alt-Del.
• Running shutdown /f from the command prompt window.

The Start menu is not going anywhere, quite the contrary

Microsoft works constantly on changing the start menu of its Windows operating system. It introduced the dual layout of the start menu in Windows 11 and has tweaked it since then.

It is also working on adding new account functionality to the start menu and extensions, which display content on the sides.

I do not really know how many Windows users use the Start menu on a regular basis. Many might. An option to hide the Start button would be an option to give users the option.

What about you? Do you use the Start menu on Windows? If so, for what specifically? Feel free to write a comment down below.

If you’d ask a 100 Windows users whether they wanted ads displayed to them on a regular basis, chance is that the vast majority would answer with “no”.

This is not keeping Microsoft from pushing the boundaries and introduces more ads in Windows. While Microsoft uses terms such as recommendations, many of them are at their core still ads.

Up until now, most recommend to use Microsoft services, including Game Pass, OneDrive, or Microsoft 365. These are all subscription-based services. While they offer value, it is clearly not for everyone.

Microsoft is already pushing OneDrive via the recently introduced Windows Backup feature. This is not a full backup solution, as it limits backups to a few folders and some data.

While free to use, apart from the Microsoft account requirement, Microsoft is pushing two services with its recommendations:

• Microsoft accounts, as these are required to make use of the OneDrive backup feature.
• Microsoft 365 and OneDrive subscriptions, to increase the default 5 gigabytes of storage.

The first is obvious. You need a Microsoft account to use it. Microsoft has not made it a secret that it prefers this account type over local accounts. Among the reasons are better customer retention and that it gathers more data about customers.

The default 5 gigabyte limit is shared across several services, with backup being one of them. It is relatively easy to get near the limit, considering that Pictures, Music, and Video folders can be backed up.

Add the fact that backups will run automatically starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, and you end up with lots of customers who need more storage for the backup solution. This in term brings in revenue for Microsoft, as subscriptions increase.

Backup ads in the Notification area

Reports suggest that Microsoft is pushing a rather scary sounding notification to user systems. It states “Your PC is not fully backed up” and shows a yellow exclamation-mark image.

It is interesting to note that Windows Backup will never fully back up the system. Microsoft’s notification may lull some users into a sense of security when they activate the “back up now” button.

These backups won’t help if Windows fails to boot, for instance after a botched security or Windows update.

You need a full backup solution for that, and that is something that Microsoft does not offer.

While you can dismiss the notification, it will reemerge eventually. There does not seem to be an option to turn it off entirely, at least not in the Windows Settings or in the Backup app.

Closing Words

The recommendations seem to generate enough revenue or other positive effects for Microsoft to ignore the criticism surrounding them. Whether there will be a breaking point remains to be seen.

For now, expect more recommendations / ads in Windows going forward.

Do you mind this on your systems, or are you unaffected?