The "widgets" Microsoft just put on your PC

And how to install private AI chatbots  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Tello logo]()​ We're just a few short days away from big announcements that will change PCs forever. Yes, we'll be hearing about AI — but we'll also supposedly see the first ARM-based PCs that are competitive. I'm talking PCs that will be able to go toe-to-toe with modern MacBooks in long battery life contests — and supposedly beat them. Even if you don't care about AI, an alternative to the Intel and AMD chips powering modern PCs will be a big deal. But there's a lot going on this week, too — including a Windows Update that just added "widgets" with more stuff to your PC's lock screen. I'll show you how to clean up in this week's Things to Try section. 👋 First, one quick thing: People have often asked me how they can support what I'm doing here without a big commitment. That's why I'm happy to share I can now accept [simple, easy, one-time contributions](=). If everyone who reads this newsletter were to pitch in just five bucks this year — about 42 cents per month or a nickel per newsletter — Windows Intelligence would be in solid financial shape for all of 2024. If you enjoy this newsletter and want to ensure it sticks around for the long term without any big corporations getting in the way, I'd love your support. Can you chip in? [YES, LET'S DO IT!](=) You have my sincere and genuine thanks for your support. It's an incredible privilege to be able to email you directly without all the annoying ads, clickbait junk, and other online noise getting in between us. Thank you for inviting me into your inbox each week. Now, back to your regularly scheduled Windows Intelligence newsletter! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. VMware's powerful virtual machine tools are now free ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: VMware Workstation Pro is a particularly polished virtual machine tool that cost $199 up until a few days ago. It's now free — for personal use. 🔎 KNOW MORE: PC users often use virtual machine tools to try out other operating systems, like different versions of Windows and Linux, running them in a window on virtual hardware. Now, they have another excellent free option. - Oracle's VirtualBox and Microsoft's Hyper-V tool are the competition. In comparison, VMware Workstation feels more polished than VirtualBox — and Microsoft's Hyper-V doesn't run on Home editions of Windows. - This free release comes after Broadcom acquired VMware. Broadcom is still charging for commercial use, so businesses will still have to pay. - VMWare Fusion for Mac, a popular virtual machine program for Mac users, is now also available for free. That's great news for Mac users who want to run Windows on their Apple hardware, too. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [the big news](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Microsoft just can't quit live tiles in the Start menu ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: After simplifying the Start menu in Windows 11, Microsoft is testing widgets in the Start menu so you have easier access to weather and other information. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The idea of seeing updated information in the Start menu calls to mind the live tiles found in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows Phone. - This change is just being tested in an Insider build of Windows for now, so there's no guarantee it will see the light of day. - Currently, Windows 11's widgets are in a separate Widgets menu. Microsoft likely imagines it can get more eyeballs on them if they're in the Start menu instead. - These widgets may appear at the left or right side of the Start menu, and they're customizable in the Settings app. 📌 READ MORE: Take a look at [the current design Microsoft is testing](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ChatGPT is getting a Windows app and other upgrades ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: OpenAI announced ChatGPT is getting an official Windows app, alongside other upgrades to the service. 🔎 KNOW MORE: OpenAI is Microsoft's AI partner, and Microsoft Copilot is built on the same technology that underlies ChatGPT. Still, Microsoft and OpenAI are competing. - ChatGPT is getting an upgraded "GPT-4o" model that is also coming to free versions of ChatGPT. - The company showed off the model, complete with expressive conversational voice interactions, at a presentation earlier this week. - OpenAI says a ChatGPT Windows app is coming later this year. (Until then, you can still access ChatGPT on the web.) 📌 READ MORE: Learn more about [what's new for ChatGPT](=), or [watch a replay of the live stream](=). SPONSORED MESSAGE Unlimited phone plans for $25/month ☎️ [Piggy bank with sunglasses]()​ ATTENTION: People who love to save money without sacrificing quality, listen up! You could cut your phone bill in half when you [switch to Tello — home of the $25/month unlimited phone plan]()! Celebrating its 8th year, Tello has quickly become one of the most trusted (and affordable) mobile providers out there. TL;DR: It’s the [same reliable 4G LTE/5G nationwide network]() you're used to, plus: ✅ Endless combinations of phone plans to suit your needs. No contracts! 😍 Lovely customer service reps available 24/7/365 🎁 Infinite freebies like Wi-Fi Calling, eSIM, Unlimited international calls, etc (Oh yea, Tello also scored 10k+ stellar reviews on Trustpilot!) ​[➜ Save a boatload of cash and customize your perfect phone plan today!]() [​​​SHRINK MY PHONE BILL​​​​ ➜]() ​ ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Install and run private AI chatbots on your PC The big AI chatbots everyone is talking about — ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini — all run on a big company's servers somewhere, under their control. But you can install your own private AI chatbot and run it entirely on your own PC, if you like. ➜ It's surprisingly easy: You just need to download one program and type three words to get started. And it'll work on a wide range of PCs, though newer and faster PCs will run those AI chatbots faster ⌚ Setting this up will take you a few minutes — mostly just waiting for the tool to download and install your chosen chatbot for you. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Learn how to get started in [my latest Computerworld column](. 🗳️ [Which AI chatbot do you use — if any? Vote in this week's poll!](=)​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Remove stock prices and sports from your lock screen Windows now shows stock prices and sports updates alongside weather on your lock screen. You can remove these new informational cards, if you like — but you'll also be removing the weather. ➜ It's the latest update to Windows that adds even more information from Microsoft's web services to your operating system's interface. ⌚ You can turn off these widgets in about 6 seconds, if you like. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 See how to declutter your lock screen in [this quick piece I wrote just for you](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Create folders on your Start menu Windows lets your organize your Start menu's pinned application icons (on Windows 11) or tiles (on Windows 10) into convenient folders or groups for easy access to your applications. ➜ Creating folders is easy if you know how — it's just drag and drop. ⌚ You can create folder in about 3 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. On Windows 11, open the Start menu. Look under the Pinned applications. Just drag and drop an application's icon onto another application's icon to create a folder. You can then click it to see its contents — and give it a name. (To make an application appear in the Pinned section, open the list of "All Apps" in the Start menu, right-click an application icon, and select "Pin to Start.) [A Start menu shortcut folder on Windows 11.] On Windows 10, open the Start menu and look at the pinned tiles. Drag and drop pinned tiles to move them between groups, or drag and drop a tile to the bottom of the Start menu to place it into a new group. You can click the title of a group to rename it. (To make an application shortcut appear as a pinned tile, right-click it in the list of all applications and select "Pin to Start.") [A Start menu folder on Windows 10.] ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Intel Announces Thunderbolt Share]()​ - An interesting new PC-to-PC tool. - ​[Qualcomm is Working to Bring Linux to Snapdragon X](=)​ - ARM PCs will run Linux, too. - ​[Microsoft Releases May 2024 Patch Tuesday Updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10](=)​ - Various small changes. - ​[Completely Misunderstanding What’s Wrong with the iPad (Premium)]( - Paul Thurrott discusses what the iPad needs. - ​[Tip: The Remote Desktop Workaround](​ - A Remote Desktop setup tip. - ​[Bloat (Premium)]()​ - Software bloat and Microsoft Office. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Recommended Newsletter]() [Recommended Newsletter]() [Recommended Newsletter]() [And Just for Funsies...] The ChatGPT app for Windows might not be here yet, but there is a ChatGPT app for Windows 3.1. Yes, you read that right. An enterprising developer actually crated a ChatGPT app for a Windows operating system from 22 years ago. You can check it out — or download it for your '90s-era PC — from [the developer's website](=). [The WinGPT app running on Windows 3.1.] (The website is down right now, but I've linked to an archived version of it for your convenience.) Get ready for big news next week! It'll be a huge week for Windows PCs next week! Stay tuned for all the news — I'll be sure to break it down and share what it actually means for you and the future of PCs, without the hype. 📊 Last week's poll results: Microsoft Office is the most popular Office suite with 62% of readers favoring it, followed by the open-source LibreOffice at 24% and Google Docs at 9%. Just 4% of respondents prefer a different office suite. Be sure to [vote in this week's poll](=) — and consider [supporting my work with a one-time contribution](=) if you'd like to chip in and keep this good thing going. All the best, and enjoy your weekend! 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Windows Intelligence, Android Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider](=) to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable!