Microsoft's retreat in the PC privacy battle

And why Windows 10 is getting more updates  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Wow. Nearly one year of Windows Intelligence! But the roots of this publication go back to at least 2011, when I started writing at How-To Geek. I spent more than a decade building How-To Geek into a trusted name on the web. But, when it sold to a big company just over a year ago, I walked away to launch Windows Intelligence. People thought I was crazy to start a new publication in 2023. But, thanks to readers like yourself, we're keeping the torch of independent tech journalism burning. It’s about creating something awesome and useful — not about overloading you with ads, spamming your search results, or pushing endless shopping guides. In honor of this milestone of defying the odds, I'd like to extend a special invitation for you to [join my special Intelligence Insider resource club]( for [$25 off the usual rate](). That brings the price down to just over five bucks a month for your first year of membership — through this coming weekend only. Insider membership is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for people who really want to make the most of their PCs. You’ll get expanded newsletters each week, bonus in-depth superguides, and direct access to personalized tech advice from me and our community of awesome tech enthusiasts. ➜ Come become an Insider now with this special [$25 off coupon](). You'll support my work and make this independent operation possible, and you'll gain instant access to a kind of premium, interactive experience and on-demand resources you won't find anywhere else: [​CLAIM YOUR COUPON ➜]() Thank you for giving this some thought. And thank you for inviting me into your inbox each and every week. It’s a refreshing change from how impersonal so much of the web has become, I hope you’ll agree. Now let’s get back to Windows, shall we? [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 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. Microsoft announces changes to its PC-screenshotting Recall tool ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: After withering criticism online, Microsoft announced changes to Recall aimed at addressing some of the more legitimate privacy concerns. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Recall will take screenshots of your PC every five seconds, letting you search through everything you've done with AI. It will only be available on new Copilot+ PCs and will never arrive on your current PC. - Recall will now be disabled by default, and you'll have to choose to enable it during the PC setup process. - You will have to authenticate with Windows Hello (for example, using biometrics like facial recognition) before you can search your PC usage. This means someone else sitting down in front of your PC can't just start searching even if you're signed in. - Your snapshots will now by encrypted and decrypted on the fly as you access them, providing extra security. 📌 READ MORE: Learn more about [the changes to Recall](=). 🗳️ Vote in this week's poll: [Do you plan on using the new Recall feature?]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Microsoft is ramping up updates for Windows 10 PCs ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: After winding down feature updates for Windows 10 PCs around the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft is restarting development on more new features for Windows 10 PCs. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The company still plans on killing Windows 10 on schedule in October 2025. But, between then and now, you should expect more feature updates to arrive on your Windows 10 PC. - Microsoft has already added Copilot, Spotlight desktop backgrounds, and stock and sports scores on the lock screen. Future updates will likely involve Microsoft's web services, too. - Windows has had three different managers at Microsoft this year, so it's no surprise Microsoft's plans keep changing as new people are put in charge. - Microsoft plans to charge individuals for security updates after October 14, 2025 — but Microsoft still hasn't announced pricing. They could be very inexpensive. 📌 READ MORE: Discover Microsoft's new plans for Windows 10 PCs in [my latest Computerworld column](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Paint's "local" AI image generation still needs the cloud ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is making a big deal about how Copilot+ PCs will use their powerful neural processing units (NPUs) to generate images on the PC's hardware. But there's a surprise. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft says you'll need to sign into Paint with a Microsoft account to use the "Cocreator" feature on Copilot+ PCs. - You will also need an internet connection to use this feature. Microsoft says your PC will connect to "cloud services that ensure safe use of AI." - Paint appears to be sending the images your PC generates to servers that will perform content-checking, ensuring certain types of illegal or otherwise "bad" images will be discarded. - Despite this protection, you should be able to run other AI-image-generation tools on Copilot+ PCs. Other tools can work offline and won't use this type of content checking. Paint is just one of your options. 📌 READ MORE: See the requirements in [this quick story](. 97.8%. That’s incredible. I don’t have a business degree. I’m a PC geek who discovered he could share his knowledge with the rest of the world. But when I look at the stats for our Intelligence Insider club and see that 97.8% of people who join end up sticking around and renewing each and every year, I know we’re doing something right. Over the past few months, Intelligence Insiders received some of the best and most knowledge-packed guides I’ve ever put together. To name just a few: - ​[My ultimate Windows PC keyboard shortcut guide](=)​ - ​[My collection of Chrome power-user tips]()​ - ​[My guide to getting ad-free YouTube on all your devices — PCs and beyond]()​ Those are on top of all the other perks of Insider membership, including an upgraded and expanded version of this Friday newsletter, a completely customizable and ad-free reading experience in your email and on the web, and a searchable database of every tip I’ve ever mentioned and every Insider newsletter I’ve ever sent. Plus, you have 24/7 on-demand access to one-on-one advice and answers from me personally — along with our entire community of PC geeks (and Android geeks, too). If you like this newsletter, I know you’ll love what I’ve built on the Insider side of things. ➜ [Take advantage of this $25 off coupon]() and come join the club: [I'M IN — LET'S DO IT!]() Or, [discover even more awesome things about my Insider membership]( and all the options you've got for joining between now and the end of Sunday — including the newsletter-centric Genius membership, [now discounted to about three bucks a month for your first year]()! ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Change the taskbar color Did you know you can change your PC's taskbar to any color you want? You're not limited to a white or black taskbar — you can have your taskbar be a vivid green, blue, red, or any other color you can pick. ➜ It's possible with settings built into Windows, but the option is a little hidden. (And this changes the color of your Start menu, too!) ⌚ This will take you 10 seconds to set up. 📌 See how to do it in [the latest guide I wrote just for you](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Activate a very visible text cursor indicator The text entry cursor can be hard to spot, especially if you have a high-resolution display and there's a lot on your screen. But Windows has a setting that can help. ➜ With a few clicks, you can enable a very visible (and very colorful) text entry cursor that draws your eye to the text cursor while you type. ⌚ You can activate this in about 7 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. On Windows 11, open the Settings app from the Start menu and select Accessibility > Text cursor. Activate the "Text cursor indicator" option and choose a size and color. 🔟 On Windows 10, open the Settings app and select Ease of Access > Text cursor to find these options. [Text cursor indicator options on Windows 11.] (Thanks to [Jen Gentleman]( for highlighting this feature and reminding me about this!) --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Change the view in a folder in File Explorer File Explorer lets you choose between a compact list of file names, a big grid of thumbnail previews, and everything in between. The right view depends on the contents of a folder. Thankfully, there are some easy shortcuts for changing a folder view. ➜ With a few tricks, you can quickly transform the view in any folder in a snap — no clicking through menus. ⌚ This will take you 3 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Beyond the usual View menu for choosing a folder view, you have two other options: 🖱️ Use the mouse wheel: Hold down the Ctrl key and, with your mouse cursor positioned over the folder pane, rotate the mouse wheel up or down to switch between views. ⌨️ Press a keyboard shortcut: You can press Ctrl+Shift along with a number 1 through 8 to choose a specific view. [Folder view options in File Explorer on Windows 11.] ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Hey! Just a quick heads up: If you sign up for the Insider Prodigy plan, you can get a coupon for 50% off on your first year of Thurrott Premium. Check out the intro to this newsletter for more information. Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Report: MediaTek Will Release an Arm Chip for PCs in 2025](=) - Finally, we're not just relying on Qualcomm to get it right. - ​[What Did Microsoft Really Concede with Recall? (Premium)]( - Analyzing those Recall privacy changes. - ​[Microsoft Releases June 2024 Patch Tuesday Updates]( - Right on schedule - ​[Microsoft is Killing Several Outlook.com Features to Improve Security]() - No more Gmail on the Outlook website. - ​[Just a PC (Premium)]() - Copilot+ PCs and the future. - ​[Arm v. Qualcomm Looms Over Snapdragon X Launch]() - A fascinating legal battle. ​ [And Just for Funsies...] I was thinking about Windows XP recently, and I went down a rabbit hole and ended up discovering something pretty cool: Remember the classic Windows XP "Bliss" wallpaper with its rolling green hills and blue sky? Microsoft now offers an upgraded 4K resolution version of that image you can use as a desktop wallpaper for some retro vibes on your PC. The original Bliss wallpaper was actually a photo taken in California. But it's a low-resolution image. (Maybe it can now be upscaled with AI?) Either way, that 4K version of Windows XP's Bliss wallpaper looks nice. You can [download yourself a 4K copy right here](=). [A high-resolution version of Windows XP's Bliss wallpaper.] That's it for this week Hey, have a great Father's Day weekend! I'll see you next week. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: 82% of people who responded use an Android phone, while 16% use an iPhone. 🗳️ Don't forget to vote in this week's poll, too: [Do you plan on using the new Windows Recall feature?]()​ 🤚 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? 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