Sorry, Apple: Microsoft's right this time

Plus: My favorite middle-mouse-button trick  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Morning Brew logo](=)​ Touchscreens aren't just for smartphones anymore. They've slowly become a feature you'll find on the average new laptop. Sure, Apple insists laptops don't need touchscreens. (And, conveniently enough, Apple would love to sell you both an iPad and a Mac.) But Apple is wrong: I love touchscreens on laptops, although I was skeptical of them at first. Whether your current laptop has a touchscreen or you're wondering whether to get a touch-enabled laptop next time around, take a look at this week's Things to Try section to discover why touchscreens are actually awesome on laptops. 👋 But first, one thing: Want to share your PC knowledge — and have a chance of winning a $50 Amazon gift card? I'm asking for submissions for awesome reader tips to share in the Top Tips newsletter I send out each Monday. 🗳️ Just [share an awesome Windows-related tip with me here](). If you submit a tip I can use, you'll get an entry to win in the drawing. I'll be drawing a winner on Monday, so be sure to submit a tip in the next few days! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Microsoft wants to prevent CrowdStrike-style disasters ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: CrowdStrike's recent crash-and-burn gave Microsoft a black eye. Now, Microsoft wants to prevent third-party security tools from taking down Windows PCs in the future. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft says it plans to work with the security industry to make their software work in a more modern way — one that won't require fixing millions of computers in person when there's a bug. 📌 READ MORE: Here's [a good summary of what Microsoft wants to change](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Power modes are getting a nice upgrade soon ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: You can choose different "Power modes" for your PC, trading off energy consumption for performance. Higher performance modes use more power and lower your PC's battery life, naturally. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Soon, you'll be able to choose different power modes while plugged in and on battery power. This ensures you get more performance when plugged in and more battery life when unplugged —without you having to flip the Power mode setting manually. 📌 READ MORE: Microsoft buried a mention of this change in [a recent Insider program update](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Your Android phone's files are coming to File Explorer ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: A new Windows 11 feature will soon bring your Android phone to File Explorer, letting you wirelessly browse and access its folders and files alongside everything on "This PC." 🔎 KNOW MORE: This change is being tested in an Insider version of Windows 11. It's one of many phone integration features that requires you use an Android phone with your Windows PC, and it'll bring convenient wireless file transfers right to the Windows file manager. 📌 READ MORE: Here's [what you need to know](=). SPONSORED MESSAGE Who says news can't also be entertaining? Hey, you there! You clearly like staying informed and appreciate an interesting, original, and maybe just slightly lighthearted approach to the news. Well, listen up: Morning Brew gets you. [Michael Scott from the Office saying Tell me more](=)​ Find out why over 4 million professionals and lifelong learners read [Morning Brew](=), the free daily email that covers the news affecting your life and career — everything from business and finance to technology and groundbreaking stories worldwide. 💸 Always 100% F-R-E-E ✏️ Presents the news in a quick, funny, and informative way ⏳ Easy to consume is just a few minutes each day ➜ [Upgrade your daily news slate — stay informed with Morning Brew.](=) [TRY IT FOR FREE NOW ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Discover all your laptop's touchscreen tricks Modern Windows laptops often have one big hardware feature Apple refuses to add to Macs: A touchscreen. Despite Apple's objections, touchscreens are useful on laptops. ➜ A touchscreen is often the fastest way to accomplish many tasks on a modern Windows laptop. And it's even faster once you discover some gestures. ⌚ It will take you about 20 seconds to discover, tap, and swipe each tip. 💻 Most of these tips work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Upgrade your touchscreen intelligence with [my latest Computerworld column](). Cast your vote... ​[Do you use your PC's touchscreen?](=)​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Use a middle-click to close windows and tabs The middle mouse button is a particularly useful way to quickly close windows. ➜ You may know that you can click the middle mouse button, or scroll wheel, on a tab in your web browser to close it. But this also works in a variety of other places in Windows. ⌚ Trying this will take you 5 seconds. 💻 This work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. First, use any of the following tricks to see windows in thumbnail form: - Press Alt+Tab and continue holding down the Alt key. - Press Windows+Tab to open Task View. - Hover your mouse cursor over an application icon on your taskbar to see its own windows. Now, to quickly close a window, just hover your mouse cursor over it and click the middle mouse button. It's my favorite way to quickly close a pile of windows. [Using a middle-click to close windows in Task View on Windows 11.] --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Choose the best Power Mode for your PC The right Power Mode for your PC depends on how you use it. If you always use your laptop plugged in, you'll want a higher-performance power mode. If you're looking for battery life, you might want a more efficient power mode. ➜ Unfortunately, Windows doesn't automatically switch power modes as you move your laptop between battery power and a plugged-in state — but Windows 11 will be smarter about this soon. ⌚ You can change power modes in about 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. On Windows 11, open the Settings app and head to System > Power & battery to change this setting. [Power Plan settings on Windows 11.] On Windows 10, click the battery icon in the system tray area and drag the slider to choose a power mode. [Power Mode settings on Windows 10.] In general, you'll want to use a higher-performance power mode when plugged in and move down to a "Balanced" or more efficient power mode on battery power. ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Intel to Launch its “Lunar Lake” Core Ultra Mobile CPUs on September 3](=) - Big battery life promises! - ​[Microsoft is Removing All Ads from Skype]( - Good news! I haven't used Skype in years, but those ads were obnoxious. - ​[Password Management Basics (Premium)](=) - They're essential.​ - ​[Microsoft Revenues Up 15 Percent in Quarter, 16 Percent in Fiscal Year 2024]() - Microsoft is making a lot of money.​ - ​[New Outlook for Windows is Now Generally Available](=)​ - Businesses can still keep using classic Outlook until 2029. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Cartoon penguin with suitcase]() Lost in translation? Nah. Don't let language barriers hold you back! With [Babbel]()’s bite-sized lessons you can master a new language in just three weeks. Save 60% today with Babbel’s Birthday Sale! 🎂 [GET 60% OFF]() ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Have you heard the story of "the first computer bug?" It's fascinating story — and even if you've heard it before, you may not have heard the real story. The official "first actual case of a bug being found" in a computer dates to 1947 at Harvard. A team of computer scientists discovered a moth inside a computer, and that moth was disrupting the electronics inside the computer. It's a great story — and it's true! They even taped the moth to a page in their logbook. Now there's a bug report. [The first actual computer bug.] Photo from U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia However, there are a lot of swirling myths around this story that aren't true. For example: This was not the origin of the term "computer bug." People were talking about "bugs" as flaws or glitches in systems going back to the 1800s. That's why this incident was so funny. People were familiar with the term "bug" — but this was the first time a computer bug was actually a real bug. You can [read more about it here](=). Until next week... That's it for this week. August is here — I hope you have a good one! Before you know it, summer will be over and fall will be upon us. It's shaping up to be a fascinating season with new hardware from Intel on the way — and new hardware from AMD already arriving. --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: Luckily, 83% of readers who responded weren't affected by the CrowdStrike outage. 10% were affected by a business that had an outage, while the rest were dealing with broken PCs one way or another. Hopefully everyone has recovered by now. 🤚 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](=) is the best way to support my work and keep this newsletter sustainable. Not ready for a membership? You can also support my work by making a [direct one-time contribution](=) (or contribute via [PayPal]( or [Venmo](=)) to ensure I'm able to keep writing for you long into the future. Published by The Intelligence • 2733 E. Battlefield Rd. #255 • Springfield, MO 65804