The top 10 reader-submitted PC tips

And new Windows features you can use today  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: =​ What a week! Those Snapdragon X-powered Copilot+ PCs have hit the streets, and I've been playing with one of those new Surface Laptops. It's the first time I've been truly excited about trying an ARM-powered Windows PC. But there are lots of open questions: There aren't many reviews yet. That's because Microsoft stopped review units from going out ahead of the release. The company was scrambling to disable the controversial Recall feature before launch. We'll be hearing a lot more about these PCs in the coming weeks. For now, I've got something I really want to share with you: A list of the most beloved PC tips your fellow readers keep sending me. This one's really special. Find it in this week's Things to Try section. By the way: A special welcome to the 85 amazing people who joined the [Intelligence Insider club]( over the past week. You've got a few hours before [your $40 coupon]() expires and the gates to newcomers close, in case you're still thinking about it! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs are here ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The first "Copilot+ PCs" — ARM-based Windows PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus hardware instead of Intel or AMD chips — are here. They began shipping out on Tuesday. 🔎 KNOW MORE: I purchased a Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite and have been trying it out. Reviewers are just getting their hands on the hardware — professional reviews are hard to come by right now. - In a mad rush to turn off the controversial Recall feature ahead of launch, Microsoft stopped most review units from shipping out, meaning reviewers didn't have a head start on the rest of us. - My initial impressions: This hardware is definitely beating current Intel laptops when it comes to long battery life with cool and quiet operation. - The promised AI features are a little "half baked," however. Without the big splashy Recall feature, there are a handful of interesting features — but nothing life-changing just yet. 📌 READ MORE: Here's an explanation of [the weird situation around reviews](. PCWorld also shared [first impressions of the new Surface Pro](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Recall problem: People don't trust Microsoft ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft has thrown its Copilot+ PC launch into a chaotic controversy thanks to the Recall feature. Recall has its issues, but the core problem Microsoft is facing is a lack of trust. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The company's actions have caught up to it: Regardless of how great Recall might be, Microsoft has spent years sneaking ads into Windows, pushing its services with "dark patterns" designed to trick people, and moving more and more things to the cloud — whether you like it or not. - Microsoft scrambled to keep up with the backlash to Recall, eventually deciding to delay the feature just days before the launch of these new Copilot+ PCs. - The company developed the feature in secret, but it has now changed tracks and will be working on it in public as part of the Windows Insider program. - Microsoft needs to take a hard look in the mirror and treat Windows users better if it wants them to trust new features like Recall. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [my take on how Microsoft has lost trust](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Here are the AI experiences Copilot+ PCs do have ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Without Recall, there isn't a splashy headline AI experience on these Copilot+ PCs just yet. But these PCs do have a variety of AI features built into various apps throughout Windows. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft has a big page outlining all the various AI experiences you can get on these new PCs if you'd like to take a closer look. - For example, Paint Cocreator generates an image as you draw in Paint, the Photos app can use AI to "restyle" your images, and Live Captions generates text from any audio — even offline. - That's interesting, but you can generate images using web-based tools (including Image Creator in Paint) on most PCs. Plus, Live Captions works on all Windows 11 PCs — as long as you have an internet connection. - These features feel like a "proof of concept" for the neural processing unit (NPU) hardware and underlying Windows Copilot Runtime software, which should let Windows app developers integrate AI features into their Windows apps in the future — in theory. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [Microsoft's look at these Copilot+ PC AI features](), complete with videos showing them off. SPONSORED MESSAGE FREE Webinar: State Of Device Management 2024 🙌 Does it sometimes feel like your devices are managing you, and not the other way around!? [Flinstones stone typewriter](=)​ Not anymore! Free yourself from the stone ages and learn how to make the next generation of devices work for you at Esper’s free [State Of Device Management 2024](=) webinar. Join industry experts on Tues, June 25 at 11am PT as they deep dive: 📈 YoY trends on hardware, software, management workflows, and more 💪 Early-stage vs. mature approaches to device management 🍔 Industry pivots, including hospitality/restaurants and healthcare ➜ [Register today to score an early copy of Esper’s report State of Device Management 2024 — before everyone else!](=)​ [SAVE YOUR SPOT (IT’S FREE)​ ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Discover the top 10 PC productivity tips Each week, I ask readers of this Windows Intelligence newsletter to share their favorite tips with me. There are a few tips I see submitted over and over — truly useful tricks that your fellow readers love most. ➜ I've rounded up the top 10 PC productivity upgrades into a convenient guide full of awesome Windows tips and tricks everyone should know. ⌚ It will take you about 10 seconds to try each individual tip. 💻 These work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Learn something new in [my latest Computerworld column](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Launch the brand new Sticky Notes app Microsoft's new Sticky Notes app is finally rolling out on more and more PCs. There's a good chance you can now try the new Sticky Notes app on your PC. ➜ Windows already had an older Sticky Notes app, but this new one has a slick new interface and extra features, like one-click screenshots and the ability to become a sidebar at the edge of your screen. ⌚ You can launch the new Sticky Notes experience in about 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. To launch the new Sticky Notes app, open the OneNote app from your Start menu and click the "Sticky Notes" button on the toolbar. That button will be near the top-right corner of the window. You can then pin the new Sticky Notes app to your taskbar or press Windows+Alt+S to open it. [Click the "Sticky Notes" button.] 🤔 Like all new features these days, this new Sticky Notes experience is being rolled out slowly. I've seen it pop up on most of my Windows PCs lately. If you don't see the button in OneNote on your PC, you may want to check back in a few weeks — or try this on another PC. 📌 Check out [how the new Sticky Notes experience works](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Copy text from photos in the Phone Link app Do you use the Phone Link app to integrate your phone with your PC? If you have an Android phone, there's a convenient new trick you can take advantage of. ➜ The Phone Link app lets you access the photos on your Android phone in a window on your PC desktop. Now, a "Copy Text" feature will let you detect words in photos to conveniently copy and paste them on your PC. ⌚ This will take you 5 seconds to try (if you already have Phone Link set up). 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. First, launch the Phone Link app and select "Photos" on the toolbar. (If you haven't set up Phone Link yet, you'll need to set it up first. Then, click a photo with text in it. While viewing a photo, click the "Text" button on the toolbar and you'll be able to copy text from the photo. [Click the "Text" button on the Phone Link app's toolbar.] 📌 Check out [my look at Phone Link](=) for more details about what this convenient application can do. 🗳️ Speaking of phones: What type of Android phone do you use? (Or do you have an iPhone?) [Vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll!]()​ ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Undermined by Controversy, Copilot+ PC Launches]() - Not a great way to start. - ​[Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Generation Preview]() - Thoughts on the new Surface hardware. - ​[Please Standby (Premium)]()​ - What's up with Intel's Meteor Lake hardware? - ​[Review: Operation Elop]()​ - Windows Phone and Nokia history. - ​[Tip: Use the Classic File Explorer in Windows 11]() - Complete with registry hack! - ​[Boom or Bust? Thinking About the AI Hardware Upgrade Cycle (Premium)]() - Fascinating analysis on Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. - ​[Microsoft Details Gaming Advances in Windows on Arm]()​ - More anti-cheat compatibility. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]()[Recommended Newsletter]() [And Just for Funsies...] This week's Just for Fun is a "deep cut" — an interesting little dose of not-quite-nostalgia from nearly two decades ago. Microsoft is arguing Recall will be the solution to the challenge of sifting through information on our PCs. But, two decades ago, Microsoft had another plan for that. It was called WinFS, and it was announced as one of the "pillars" of Windows Vista when it was codenamed "Longhorn." It was designed to be a better way to store and manage information on your PC. 20 years ago, Microsoft announced Windows Vista would [ship without WinFS](). Microsoft said WinFS would arrive later. Years later, [Microsoft gave up](). Microsoft never released WinFS, and it was forgotten long ago. Here's a demo video of [what WinFS was supposed to be](=). It's seriously retro now — but this stuff looked state of the art 20 years ago! [[video preview]​](=) Stay cool! That's it for this week, but I look forward to spending a lot more time with my new Surface Laptop. Here in the northeastern U.S., we're going through a heat wave — stay cool out there! --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: Only about 17% of people who responded plan on using the new Windows Recall feature Microsoft is working on for Copilot+ PCs. Yikes! 🗳️ One last thing before you go: What type of Android phone do you use? (Or do you have an iPhone?) [Vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll!]()​ 🤚 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? 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