Microsoft Edge will soon be getting a new update that will let users open all bookmarks of a folder in a new tab group. The feature is now live for Edge Insiders in the latest Microsoft Edge Canary builds (version 94.0.978.0 or higher), as noted by Reddit user Leopeva64-2.
The Redmond giant started testing the tab groups feature for its Edge browser last year that helps to improve tab management by allowing users to organize similar tabs into groups. Microsoft is now planning to improve this feature by bringing the ability to open all bookmarked links saved in a particular folder as a tab group at once.
If you’re an Edge Insider, you will need to right-click the bookmarks folder and then choose the “Open all (links) in a new tab group” option. Once clicked, you will see a prompt on the screen that provides an option to change the name and color label of the tab group.
Another new feature that is coming to Microsoft Edge is the ability to restore tab groups after restarting the browser. As of today, it’s not possible to reopen the tabs that were previously sorted in a group, but the latest Edge Canary update now provides an option to restore recently opened tab groups from the history menu with a single click.
Both these features were spotted in Google Chrome’s Canary builds earlier this month, and it’s great to see the new Edge browser finally catching up. These enhancements could be useful for some Edge users who like to maintain various bookmark collections. In case you missed it, Microsoft Edge is also introducing a feature that should make it easier to save webpages as PDFs.
Microsoft is working hard on Windows 11, and we’re getting new builds on weekly basis. The last build that we covered was Windows 11 build 22000.100 and that build even made it to Windows 11 Beta channel.
Today we have a new build available, and unlike the previous one, it doesn’t come with some new features and massive changes.
Instead, the new build focuses on minor improvements and fixes, so join us while we take a closer look at Windows 11 build 22000.120 and see what it has to offer.
What is Windows 11 build 22000.120 and should you install it?
What’s new in Windows 11 build 22000.120?
New Family widget
If you’re using Windows along with your family members, you might find the new Family widget useful. The application allows you to see the information regarding the activity of your family members at a glance.
With this feature, you can see their location as well, the amount of time that they spent on their computer, and recent activities.
Keep in mind that to use this feature, you and your family members need to have Microsoft accounts. This widget is available for all languages and regions, so you can start using it today.
Notifications badges for chat
The latest build finally introduced Microsoft Teams as a built-in app on Windows 11, however, many noticed that notifications badges are missing for the Chat icon.
This build is changing that, and users will now get the notification badges on the Chat icon. However, this feature won’t be available for everyone at once, so you might have to wait for a day or two before it starts working on your PC.
Improved wallpaper changing when using virtual desktops
This is a small quality of life improvement, but in this build, the Settings app will switch to the virtual desktop whose background you’re trying to change.
When you use the Task View and the Choose Background option to change the wallpaper, the Settings app will open on that virtual desktop, allowing you to see how the new background will look.
As you can see, this is a small but incredibly welcome change because you won’t have to switch back and forth between virtual desktops to see how your new wallpaper looks.
Minor changes to the Display Settings
Display Settings got a minor change, and now the Identify button is under your monitor in the Display Settings. With this change, you can easily identify your display in a multi-monitor setup.
This is another quality-of-life improvement that users that use multiple monitors will find helpful. If you have a single display, you most likely won’t even notice this change.
File Explorer improvements
Menus is File Explorer went through some minor changes, and you’ll notice that the new context menu is more compact, thus making it easier to use, especially if you’re not using the touchscreen.
The new menu takes less space, and we like the new compact look since it’s easier to work with. However, the context menu isn’t the only File Explorer menu that was improved.
With Windows 11 build 22000.71, Microsoft redesigned the New button in File Explorer allowing you to create a new folder instantly or to choose a new type of item that you want to create from the flyout menu.
The flyout menu is now gone, and when you click the New icon, you’ll get a full list of items that you can create. With this new change, you can create files or folders more quickly, with fewer mouse moves.
Lastly, we need to mention that now legacy context menus from Win32 applications are also using rounded corners, thus making the interface more uniformed.
Minor Taskbar tweaks
The close button for app previews has been changed, and now it follows the same UI principles as the rest of Windows 11.
If you remember, the close button in app previews in Taskbar had sharp corners, and it looked out of place with the new user interface.
With this build, Microsoft decided to fix that and the close button for app previews is now constant with other UI elements.
Improvements to the Alt + Tab, Task View, and snap assist
Microsoft has changed the size and spacing of elements in the Task View and Alt + Tab menu. The elements are now neatly organized and they are utilizing the space better.
As a result, you can find the desired application with ease when using Task View, Alt + Tab, or snap layouts.
Microsoft Store improvements
Microsoft Store is updated in this version and it comes with an auto-scroll feature, allowing you to easier discover new content.
You can see how long before the highlighted app changes, and you can also switch to the desired app by clicking its thumbnail.
The product detail page for games has been improved, and now it features more information and images from the game that you’re currently viewing.
Lastly, the ratings and reviews dialog has been improved, so it’s now easier to rate games and provide feedback.
This build brings mostly quality of life improvements, and you can see all the changes we discussed in the video below.
Windows 11 build 22000.120 bugs
Context menu flickering
Users reported that the context menu keeps flickering when right-clicking a file or folder in File Explorer. This isn’t a major issue, but it can become annoying after a while.
So far, the only workaround for this issue is to hover over the file or folder for a couple of seconds and then open the context menu to prevent flickering.
Widgets sign-in issues
According to users, it seems that some are unable to use widgets in the latest build. Whenever users try to open the widgets panel, they are presented with the sign-in screen.
Even after entering their Microsoft account credentials, the sign-in screen will appear again and users will get stuck in a sign-in loop.
Multiple monitor issues
In Windows 11 build 22000.120 there are some multiple monitor issues. Users reported that the Start button isn’t properly being detected on the right display.
It seems that the start button is detected only if the cursor is one pixel away from the bottom edge of the screen. This also leads to issues with Window snapping.
We’re not sure what’s causing this issue, but users reported it while using 3440×1440 display as their main display, and the 1920×1080 display as the secondary display.
The issue seems to occur when the displays are using different resolutions, but after switching to 1920×1080 resolution on both displays, the issue doesn’t appear, as long as you keep that resolution on both displays.
Start Menu not working
Several users reported that Start Menu isn’t working on their PC. When they click the Start Menu they are getting the Critical Error window asking them to sign out.
Signing out doesn’t fix anything and the problem is still there. Users suspect that modifying how the Start Menu looks and works from the Registry Editor caused this problem.
Unfortunately, restoring the registry to the default doesn’t fix the problem, so we’ll have to wait for Microsoft to acknowledge and fix this issue.
Settings app crashes
Many users reported that the Settings app crashes on Windows 11, and it seems that this issue occurs when going to the Optional updates section in the Settings app.
This is most likely a glitch, and hopefully, it will be fixed in the next update.
CPU and GPU temperature increase
Users reported that Windows 11 build 22000.120 is causing their CPU and GPU temperature to rise. Moreover, the new build seems to negatively affect gameplay performance.
This is somewhat expected since the Dev builds are unoptimized, and they might use more resources thus causing performance issues. Hopefully, this will get fixed in the future.
Once the update is downloaded, wait for it to install in the background.
You’ll get a notification informing you that the update is ready. Click the Restart now button.
Your PC will now restart. Wait while the update is installed.
Installing Windows 11 build 22000.120 is straightforward, and the new build can be installed just like any other Windows update.
Is Windows 11 build 22000.120 worth upgrading to?
Unlike the previous build, this one doesn’t bring any new exciting features. The new Family widget is a welcome addition, but not something that most users will be eager to try.
There are several quality-of-life improvements, such as notification badges for chat, and optimized application switching from the Alt + Tab menu or Task Menu.
Taskbar improvements are welcome, and the close button now has the same look as other user interface elements.
The biggest change is the introduction of the compact context menu, and we have to admit that the new menu looks and better than before. To top it off, even the classic context menus now follow the same design.
The new folder menu in File Explorer isn’t anything special in our opinion, but it’s easier to use than before, so this is a step in the right direction.
Overall, this is a quality of life update that fixes many issues and optimizes the user interface, so if you want a more uniformed user interface, then be sure to give Windows 11 build 22000.120 a try.
Have you tried the new build yet and how do you feel about its changes? If you haven’t, you can get it from both Dev and Beta channel.
Microsoft is bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to the Xbox app on Windows 10 PCs for Xbox Insiders. Another perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, this delivers another way to access over 100 high-quality Xbox console games directly on Windows, through the power of the cloud.
According to Microsoft, Xbox Cloud Gaming in the Xbox app will allow gamers to turn all types of PCs into gaming devices. This can be a brand-new budget computer or older laptops and tablets. All that’s required is to be an Xbox Insider, and have a compatible controller via Bluetooth or USB, and the latest version of the Xbox app. You can then click the “Cloud games” button in the Xbox app, and select games to start playing.
For all that, Microsoft did add some features. These include easy-to-access information on the controller and network status, social features, and the ability to invite people to join a game. Again, this is only available for Xbox Insiders at the moment. If you’re not an Xbox Insider, you can still play Xbox games on your PC via web browser by going to xbox.com/cloudgaming.
Two months ago, Microsoft announced new chat features for Teams to help support asynchronous collaboration in between meetings. The company also unveiled a new quoted replies feature that will let users reply to a specific message on the Microsoft Teams desktop client, but this update is nowhere to be seen yet.
Microsoft MVP João Ferreira has recently spotted this feature in the new “Teams 2.0” app on Windows 11, and we have since been able to use this capability in Teams consumer experience on multiple Windows PCs. In our testing, it is also available in the leaked Microsoft Teams Preview app for Windows 10 users. You can find out more information about this new Teams 2.0 app in our Hands-on guide.
The quoted replies feature is one of the highly anticipated capabilities, and it has been available in the Teams mobile app for a while now. With this feature, the reply box includes a quote from the original message, making it easier for users to understand the context of the message within the ongoing conversation.
To use this feature, you will need to navigate to the specific message you want to reply to, hover over it, and then click the three dots icon. Finally, select the “Reply” option from the list, type the message and send it.
As of this writing, the quoted replies feature is only available for the Microsoft Teams 2.0 app on the latest Windows 11 Insider builds, and it supports personal Microsoft accounts. However, the Microsoft 365 Roadmap suggests that the existing versions of Teams (with support for work accounts) should receive this feature later this month.
With hackers becoming more sophisticated, your online accounts can easily fall into the wrong hands if your password isn’t quite strong enough. In the case of a Microsoft Account, that can be especially devastating. Most people usually use a Microsoft Account to log into a Windows PC. And, Microsoft Accounts are home to billing information, photos, documents, and a lot more sensitive information.
Microsoft makes it easy to avoid those troubles by protecting your account through two-step verification. This makes it more difficult for someone else to sign into your Microsoft Account by using two forms of identity, both your password and some security information.
When using two-step verification, if someone else manages to get your password, then they won’t be able to get into your account without the secondary security information. You also can add a third layer of security, too. Here’s a look at how you can enable two-step verification on your Microsoft Account.
Prerequisites
To set up two-step verification, you’ll need an email address that’s different from the one on your account, or a phone number, or an authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator. When you have one of these, each time you sign in on a new device or new location, you’ll get a security code at that number or email. Microsoft recommends using Authenticator, but we’ll get into that later.
Getting started
Once you’re set to go, you’ll need to head to the Security basics page, and sign in with your Microsoft Account. From there, choose Advanced security options, and click the Get Started link. You can then look for Two-step verification under the Additional Security section. After that, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on. Follow the directions on the screen and enter in either an alternate email address or phone number, and complete the process. You’ll be emailed or texted a code to verify your identity during the initial setup process.
Other notes
If everything goes well with setting up two-step verification, then you’ll want to be aware of a couple of things. Some apps might not be able to use regular security codes on some apps if you sign in with a Microsoft Account, If this is the case, you’ll need an app password for that device. These passwords can be found under the App passwords section on the Additional security page. If you’re not sure about this, you can check Microsoft’s support page here for more information.
We do have an additional note in regards to two-step verification. If you forget your password when you have two-step verification turned on for your account, you can reset your password as long as Microsoft has two ways to contact you. That can be one of the alternate contact email addresses or a phone number that you used when you turned on two-step verification. You might get two reset codes to verify your identity.
Finally, with two-step verification turned on, each time you set up a new PC with your Microsoft Account, you’ll be required to enter in a security code. Again this is to ensure that you are who you say you are and that your account isn’t in the wrong hands.
Using Microsoft Authenticator
We’ll end our piece by mentioning Microsoft Authenticator. With the Microsoft Authenticator app on iOS and Android, you can skip out on the one-time codes and use a dedicated app to approve your logins instead. We talked about how you can set things up here. Your passwords are secure, too. There’s face recognition, or a PIN to log in to your Microsoft account via your phone. And, Authenticator will sync all of your saved passwords stored in Edge, allowing you to see all your passwords.
Using two-step verification is just one way to keep yourself safe. On Windows, you should also enable TPM and Secure Boot, so your PC has extra protection against unauthorized access. You also should use Windows Defender, so you can have the latest security signatures protecting your PC against malware and spyware.
Video editing software can be extremely useful for sports coaches but also for football fans who want to create the best videos of their favorite team in action.
If an image can replace a thousand words, a good video review will tell the whole story of a game in detail. And things can get even better if you also take advantage of post-production software.
We’re talking about highlighting the greatest moment in a match or the most important mistakes so that you can cover the grounds with your team a lot easier.
Video editing software will also help you apply slow-motion effects and even add commentary if you want the players to assimilate the information even when you’re not around.
How can I create the best football video edit?
Whether you are a football professional or just a passionate supporter, you can always enhance the video review with lots of enticing aspects that will woo the onlookers.
We’ve put together a few ideas that you can use when you’re creating a video review:
➡ Determine the highlights of the play
Games are typically indexed and retrieved quickly for viewing in playlists or for creating highlight videos.
With specialized software, it’s also possible to generate custom-built reports from videos to divulge game trends.
Using a plethora of built-in tools, football video editing software improves recorded game clips by dissecting them into desired parts.
➡ Pinpoint major events in slow motion
Give a try to some of the tools below and you will be able to highlight players, incidents, selected actions, or any other tailored match detail, and even view it in slow motion.
If you’re a coach, you can share these cutups with players when practicing for upcoming matches and/or help them better individual performances.
➡ Include effects for professional-looking videos
Dedicated software even allows you to add text that will follow the moving players and that gives you a great opportunity to share some important information with the viewers.
Transitional effects and multiple picture-in-picture videos from different angles will add to the professional look of the resulting videos.
There are myriad programs in this space with a rich collection of awesome features. Here is a brief overview of some of this helpful software.
To put it simply, Adobe Premiere is the Pele of football video editing. The star software comes with every dream tool and consistently produces videos whose quality leaves most of the competition playing catch-up.
From custom graphic overlays to efficient workflows, Adobe Premiere has it all. Basic and advanced tools are both included.
The most enjoyable aspect is how it uses its comprehensive video editing features to combine video scenes together, add a transition, and eventually turn the unfinished edits into a shareable masterpiece.
Professionals, trainers, and coaches looking for a 360-degrees angle to the action and performance in a live football match have a talented friend in this – yes, that’s how functional it is.
And like expected of any top-rated video editing software, its user interface is tidy and sleek. The software excels in quick trimming, encoding, filtering, and a mixture of other valuable features.
There is definitely a steep learning curve but once a newbie gets the hang of the processes, it’s hard to look back.
If you’re looking for soccer video editing software, then Adobe Premiere Pro might be just what you need.
Let’s briefly look at its most important features:
Transcript editing tools
Generate captions automatically
Label colors and clip names
Fast scene edit detection
Clean and sleek user interface
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro will help you create a professional-level football video that will surprise everyone.
Football is among the most popular sports in the world, and anyone who has ever watched a football match on TV or over the Internet knows how much editing can go into specific moments during a match.
Replays or slow-motion replays are among the most important tricks of the trade, extremely useful in reviewing the most important parts of the play.
Well, if you’re interested in doing that from the comfort of your very own home, we recommend that you try out AceMovi Video Editor, a lightweight software dedicated to users of all levels.
The intuitive interface makes it great for amateur users who just started out their video editing career, while the massive toolset and templates make it great for medium-to-advanced users.
Besides, the program can be downloaded and tested for free with very few limitations, so getting to try it before deciding to buy it is indeed a choice.
Of course, it’s also important that this tool can work with any format, including the most popular ones like MP4, M4V, MOV, MKV, and many more.
And after you finish editing your video, you can share it on any platform such as YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc.
Here are some of the most impressive features that make AceMovi great for editing football game footage:
Transitions
Split Screen
Audio insertion
Fade in and out
Changing replay speed
Picture-in-picture and green-screen support
AceMovi Video Editor
Your favorite football moments can be edited in spectacular fashion with this amazing tool!
One of the most powerful football video editing software, Cyberlink’s Power Director, delivers professional-grade football videos and works well for both novices and expert users.
The massive collection of cool ready-made templates comes complete with amazing transitions, animations, effects, and phenomenal music.
Additionally, it accommodates any imaginable customization and crucially, supports most of the latest online video formats, 4K resolution included.
Power Director is one of the few software to allow True360 video editing so users can highlight players, insert arrows to a video, and use slow motion.
Those looking at delivering sophisticated videos get an extra creative spark from the library of themed animated titles, 3rd party cinematic tones, and frame-by-frame motion tracking.
Users have an opportunity to either export the final product in their favorite format and back up clips in the easy-to-use CyberLink cloud platform.
If you’re looking for sports editing software, be sure to give PowerDirector a try.
Take a glimpse at this tool’s best features below:
You can add text and graphics that follow the moving objects
Allows removing the background in videos
Screen recording features
Great design library for content
True 4K support
PowerDirector
Quickly and easily create stunning professional-level videos and photos in a plethora of styles with this tool.
Corel VideoStudio is an easy-to-use, yet powerful tool for consumer-level video editing packed with innovative features, such as the Highlight Reel, which uses AI to turn photos and clips into video shows.
Thanks to all these, it’s a perfect soccer video editing software, especially if you want to create a highlight reel of a match.
In addition, the program lets you use Slip, Slide, Roll, and Stretch edit modes when working on the timeline for more customization and freedom. The program also features a new color panel replete with color wheels.
When it comes to blending modes, Corel allows you to choose between Multiply, Screen, Overlay, and much more. On top of that, UI and 4k resolution compatibility has been improved as well.
The software has an interactive interface, and it comes with a built-in tutorial, showcasing its core features, and taking you through all the necessary steps to learn its basics.
You can import the clips you recorded yourself but you can also record your screen or capture multi-camera videos that will make your game video even more exciting.
And even most important, you can work with this tool at any level of knowledge because the interface is extremely friendly, with drag-and-drop functionality.
Let’s see what are the key features of this tool:
Enhance color, apply white balance and lens corrections
Apply creative effects, filters, and animated overlays
Combine clips filmed from different angles with multi-camera capture
Edit videos on the timeline easily by dragging and dropping clips
Share resulting video on any platform
Corel VideoStudio
Corel Video Studio lets you turn your memories into movies with ease, thanks to its excellent performance.
VideoPad is a fully featured video editing software used in creating professional-looking videos.
It comes with over 50 transitions and visual effects for your movies, as well as being one of the fastest video processors at the moment.
In addition, the software allows you to easily drag and drop videos and edit them on the spot. You can apply effects to the videos, adjust the speed, cut and insert portions, add transitions, and much more.
The publishers from NCH Software advertise it as one of the fastest video stream processors on the market so it’s also great in that respect.
Moreover, VideoPad can burn both DVD and Blu-ray videos, or even export your videos online or to different devices, making it a great choice for both casual video editors, or professional users working in a studio.
Also, keep in mind that the program is versatile, working on both PC and Mac, so if you need sports editing software, feel free to try it.
Let’s see a brief review of its best features:
Drag and drop video clips
Over 50 visual and transition effects
Fast processing
Overlay text for captions and movie credits
Create visual effects templates to use on any project
VideoPad
VideoPad is a great tool video editing tool for both beginners and professionals, offering great features.
Because of its winning flexibility, VidSwap has slowly become a favorite amongst many coaches and players.
The accomplished online platform is quite fast and breaks down uploaded games within 6-12 hours so users can start planning for the next match soonest.
And it captures all the essentials including specific highlights, game situations, plus individual players.
The biggest news is that the program’s intuitive interfaces make the whole process of capturing and editing recorded video so much fun.
Indeed, the high-flying cloud software matches nearly all the conventions used in classic sports football video broadcasts making it one of the best in the business.
Users have the option of assigning the file to their own playlist for a detailed review later or share the finished file straight with other players or coaches.
With its unique features, VidSwap is an interesting soccer video editing software that you should definitely consider.
The robust Lightworks video editor has always been in the races whenever any discussion on football video editing crops up.
The software is a sure winner and supports even the most demanding creations thanks to its embarrassment of riches, features-wise.
For example, one can upload multiple videos and have it work its magic to produce thrilling videos about the best goals, nerve-racking moments, and mouth-watering saves.
Its interface is easy and steps straightforward, so it doesn’t take much time to make the football edits perfect.
It is a complete editing package and supports numerous multi-frame formats so that users can open the videos even from their phones.
And when you’re done editing the perfect football review video, you can easily and quickly share it online on any platform.
Amazingly, it’s free to use for life though there’s an option of upgrading to the pro version to access the latest features, so if you need sports editing software, feel free to try it out.
Best tips for great-looking football review videos
➡ Structure the video clearly
Whether you’re working with a video recorded professionally or you shot it yourself during the game, you first need to cut out only the important parts you’re interested in.
If you structure the video in a timeline, the audience will be able to better grasp the highlights of the game.
➡ Add important data
The viewers clearly want to see the score at all times, so make sure it’s always on the screen. They will identify the moment of the game quicker.
You also need to include other important data like the names and record history of the players and anything you might think it’s needed.
If you’re a coach, you will clearly want to get the attention to a precise moment of the game, so that you can pinpoint the strategy your players need to follow in the future.
➡ Use slow motion for the most important parts
If you’re making a review of your favorite game, you will definitely want to present a score from all angles and the slow-motion features from the tools above will help you highlight it even more.
As a coach, the slow-motion will help you show exactly the mistakes in the game and present them to your players so they can improve their play. On top of that, let us remind you that it’s incredibly easy to create slow-motion videos on your PC.
We hope that you found the best football video editing software to make a great coaching or review video and that our guides helped you enhance the results.
Choosing can be tough, so you should consider issues like budget, ease of use, and skill level when comparing the available options.
However, they all work superbly and take the video experience to the next level. You should also take a look at our selection of the best football analysis software for PC, assuming that you need more data.
If you tested any other software that could help your fellow readers, don’t hesitate to tell us about it in the comments section below.
Microsoft’s two OneNote apps for Windows are about to become one in 2022
The two OneNote apps on Windows are to be unified in 2022, becoming one app. The OneNote UWP app will not be pre-installed from Windows 11 onwards, and the Win32 app for OneNote will become the only OneNote app on Windows.
Panos Panay gives a first look at the new Windows 11 Snipping Tool
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Xbox Gear Shop adds new Halo Infinite, Forza, and Psychonauts 2 merch
New merchandise has been added to the Xbox Gear Shop to bring in new lines for upcoming and recently released titles, including Halo Infinite, Forza, and Psychonauts 2. T-shirts, caps, and hoodies, have all been added to the store.
Microsoft Edge’s Super Duper Secure Mode addresses Javascript vulnerabilities in a brand new way
A new Super Duper Secure Mode is being tested in Microsoft Edge that addresses vulnerabilities in JavaScript in a way that hasn’t been seen before – in the browser. It works by disabling the Just-in-Time compiler. The feature is hidden behind a flag in the web browser and is not suitable for general use just yet, due to its potential to break some websites.
Microsoft to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for everyone accessing its US offices next month
Microsoft announces ID@Xbox games showcase on Twitch on August 10
On August 10, Microsoft is hosting an ID@Xbox games showcase over on Twitch. The show will promote independent games, as well as make some new announcements of upcoming games.
This week in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams for Mac now supports native macOS notifications
Microsoft Teams users can now transfer calls between desktop and mobile devices
It is now possible to transfer calls between desktop and mobile devices in Microsoft Teams. When in a call and accessing Teams on another device, a banner will be displayed prompting that a call is in progress and provides the option to transfer it to the second device.
That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.
We live in a world where physical documents are becoming obsolete as more and more people choose the convenience of working with digital files.
Using digital forms and other types of documents is more than convenient, it is necessary. Why? Because digital files don’t take up space, are easy to handle, and can be duplicated without wasting physical resources.
In addition to saving resources, we also save time. Nowadays, you can instantly send documents to other people through Emails, social media, or other tools.
The most common type of digital document used by companies and individuals is the PDF, which can be edited, converted, compressed, and even digitally signed.
With PDFs being so versatile and popular, one needs a tool that can take advantage of all the different things we can do with these files.
If you’re in search of such an app, we introduce you to SwifDoo, the ultimate solution for managing and editing PDF documents.
What is SwifDoo PDF?
SwifDoo PDF is an all-in-one PDF software and a great alternative to other paid tools. The program holds up against its competition, providing editing, conversion, and other useful features to its customers.
With a bite-sized download, a comprehensive and simplistic interface, everybody can grab the software, set it up in a couple of seconds, and enjoy everything it offers.
SwifDoo will speed up your work and project efficiency, simplifying the process of making changes to PDF documents, as well as converting them into commonly-used MS Office formats.
Compared to its competitors, the program only occupies 10 MB of storage space. Don’t be fooled by its size, because it packs quite the punch!
Don’t worry about system compatibility. SwfitDoo is light on the system’s resources. Security isn’t a problem either, thanks to the two-level password protection, differentiated permissions, and legally binding electronic signature.
NOTE
System requirements: OS: Windows 10, 8, 7, and XP (32 & 64) CPU: 1 GHz processor or above Storage Space: 150 MB or above RAM: 1 G RAM or above
What can SwifDoo PDF do?
Edit PDF
Once you successfully subscribe to SwifDoo PDF, you will be able to change your PDF documents as you wish, just like you’d change a normal text file.
This includes adding, deleting, and editing the text or images in the document, pasting text to the Word clipboard, or vice versa.
You can also change the font color and size similar to the way you would change it in Word, or add customized elements and crop your files.
Add or remove hyperlinks and embed certain types of attachments (such as Word files, presentations, images, etc) thanks to the Whiteout option.
Convert PDF
Working with MS files, images, scanned copies or other file formats has never been easier. SwifDoo will convert any PDF into an editable file in the blink of an eye.
This means that you can convert files into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many other formats. Thanks to its optimization, the conversion process is fast.
Multi-task through batch-processing a large number of files at once. You can even export the less common CAD documents.
Merge PDF
If you have multiple files that need to be split or merged to help with your work or projects, SwifDoo PDF has got you covered.
All you have to do is click a couple of times and that’s it. And that’s not everything. The Operation Console lets you merge files in batches.
Never worry about your documents being too short or too large. You can freely split or merge them. The simple Operation Console facilitates the whole process, as you can choose the page range and splitting options.
Compress PDF
Reduce the size of your files to help you store and share them easier. The PDF compression has two main benefits.
The transfer speed: sending PDFs as email attachments will slow down the servers and compressing PDFs into small files is a quick solution.
Storage efficiency: compressed files take less space, helping servers manage and save lots of storage space.
The compressions process optimizes bits and bytes by identifying and eliminating redundancy to reduce the size of the file without losing any information in the process.
Other notable features:
Create PDF that will be compatible everywhere
Annotate PDF with highlights, underlines, etc
Sign PDF digitally and efficiently
Protect PDF with double-layered encryption
Pricing
SwifDoo has a 7-day free trial period for non-registered users. Registered but non-paying users benefit from a 30-day free trial instead. After the trial period expires, users can decide if they want to upgrade to one of the paid versions.
As for the prices, you have two choices. If you want to buy the program, you can choose between the monthly and yearly plans. Their official website has all the different features and information about the plans.
SwifDoo PDF
An all-in-one PDF tool that is great for companies or projects who need to work with files.
We tested SwifDoo, and it lives up to its name. The document processing is fast, and the program is pretty easy to understand.
Setting it up took us less than 5 minutes, and we have yet to run into any problem while using the software. Overall, we’re very pleased with the tool.
The real question is, is it worth buying the software instead of one of its competitors? There’s only one real answer to it.
It depends on each one of you. Take advantage of the trial period, which is more than enough to get the gist of the program and test it. You don’t even need to register to test the program out!
That way, you will also see what features you need, and perhaps decide if you want to upgrade to one of the price plans.
Taking stunning sky photos may be easy; however, not always what you capture on your camera is exactly what you saw when capturing the photo.
Fixing overexposed and not-so-inspiring skies can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the right set of tools to work with.
Sky replacement software can make this task a lot easier. These tools allow you to add some action to your photos by replacing the sky, offering a seamless look in the finished project.
Some of the popular Skye replacement software like Adobe Photoshop and Luminar comes with AI technology specifically designed to help you improve the Sky replacement technique.
If that is not enough, there are a few more Sky replacement tools that we have explored in the article below.
InPixio Photo Studio Pro 12 is a great convenient choice for editing and improving photography. Furthermore, the features of this tool cover removing objects or backgrounds, photomontages, or sky improvement tools.
Plus, if you need more professional editing of the pictures you can use functionalities like horizontal soft focus, or buildings straightening for tilted shots.
With this Powered-AI software, you have also included a sky-replacing tool that can improve your sky appearance to make it look more natural and artistic. Also, the colors of your photography will be harmonized with the foreground.
inPixio Photo Studio can automatically detect and remove skies from your images, allowing you to effortlessly swap a sky for more vivid and awe-inspiring photos.
To add drama to your picture, go from a gloomy day to a bright one or choose a dramatic sunset. Amaze your Facebook and Twitter followers with a single share.
Thus, if you need reliable Powered-AI software to resolve overexposure or other issues, this solution can work as your personal assistant in editing or beautifying your images.
Key features of inPixio Photo Studio:
Harmonize sky colors
Remove objects from background
Autocorrection for colors
Red-eye correction
Photomontage
Share on Facebook and Twitter
Photo Studio Pro 12
Add vibrant colors and swap skies with any preset backgrounds in the vast library of inPixio.
From photo manipulation, and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design, Adobe Photoshop can do it all and more.
You can transform images with the help of new AI technology and share your project via live stream to your audience and client directly from the dashboard.
The new sky replacement feature allows you to select the sky in an image and replace it with a sky of your choice. The AI technology of the software will automatically match the scenery colors with the new sky.
Adobe Photoshop features improved and powerful editing tools to remove objects, retouch and recolor to create magical effects. It also comes with easy selection, unlimited layers, and access to thousands of brushes from its collection.
Key features of Adobe Photoshop:
Excellent sky replacement tool with AI technology
Improved and powerful editing tools
Access to Adobe Creative Cloud
Over a thousand brushes for customization
Adobe Photoshop
Use powerful AI technology to replace the sky or any other element in your photos.
Corel PaintShop Pro is a popular photo editing tool that has introduced AI-enabled editing tools. While it may not be the jack of all trades, it is a more affordable option compared to advanced manipulation programs like Adobe Photoshop while offering a decent set of tools and features for beginners and professionals.
The latest update to the tool brings AI upsampling to enlarge any photo without compromising resolution or visual quality.
Other AI feature includes AI Artifact Removal to remove artifacts and restore fine details and original colors, AI Denoise to remove random variations of brightness and color in images due to poor lighting conditions, and AI Style Transfer to transform your photos into stylized works of art.
Key features of Corel PaintShop Pro:
Excellent set of new powerful tools
Flexible interface with plenty of tutorials
Affordable
New AI-enabled tools to automate the editing process for critical tasks
Corel PaintShop Pro
Use powerful tools to make your photos look exactly how you want.
Like Photoshop and PaintShop Pro, Luminar 4 claims to offer revolutionary tools and AI technologies to give creative professionals the photo editing tools to create stunning artwork pieces.
Luminar 4 features the new SkyAI tool that will quickly mask your sky area, including any tricky foreground elements, and replace the sky instantly.
You can also use your own Sky photos to replace the stock Sky photos.
Additional tools to enhance your landscape photography include Atmosphere AI and Sky Enhancer to add depth and detail in your sky shot, Golden Hour adds some warmth, and Sunray adds sun rays to the images.
It comes with full RAW support, plenty of Adobe and Apple products plugins, and dozens of selective adjustment tools.
With a notably modern interface and unique retouching tools that are not available on other tools, Luminar 4 is an affordable solution for creative professionals and hobbyists alike.
Key features of Luminar 4:
SkyAI tool to quickly msk sky and replace it with a sky of your choice
Golden Hours and Sun Rays feature to add warmth and sun rays
Photo editor and browser with full RAW support
Plugin support for Adobe and Apple products
Luminar
Luminar can help you easily remove any sky background and replace it with one of your choosing.
Autodesk Flame is an advanced visual effects software that offers tools to create fast, interactive 3D visual effects, compositing, color grading, conform, and advanced graphics.
With the help of a semantic keyer for sky extraction, you can use Autodesk Flame as sky replacement software to isolate skies, remove clouds, add treatments to the sky background, and more with a single click.
The latest Autodesk Flame version comes with GPU-accelerated defocus effects, human face extraction, Dolby vision HDR, integrated finishing enhancements, and more.
Key features of Autodesk Flame:
Excellent sky treatment tools to replace clouds, and background
GPU-accelerated defocus effects and human face extraction
LandscapePro is an intelligent, easy-to-use, and powerful photo manipulation software for outdoor photographers.
Intelligent landscape editing offers you specific tools that match your image. You can add rain, snow, fog, or more to your images with the new atmosphere tools.
With the built-in sky replacement tool, you can fix full, overcast, blown-out skies and change the background with hundreds of included options.
The overlay feature allows you to add a log or watermark overlay to help you protect your work online.
Key features of LandscapePro:
Powerful AI-powered selection tools
Good editing controls that adapt to your images
Easy-to-use slider interface
Sky replacement tools to change, retouch and add backgrounds
Sky replacement can be tricky if you don’t have access to the right set of tools to make the necessary changes.
Sky replacement software makes this task easier by allowing you to select the sky in an image and replace it with a sky of your choice.
Explore all the tools listed in this article to find the best sky replacement software to take your landscape photography to a new level.
As expected, seeing how Windows 11 is still in its testing phase, the new build also comes with some nasty bugs that either haven’t been dealt with during development or are brand new.
Still, the community is fast in flagging these issues and Microsoft surely has enough information to go ahead and perform the necessary tweaks.
In this article, we will explore the problems that ruin user experience on the new build.
Windows 11 Insider build 22000.120 bugs and issues
Context menu still flickers on files and folders
Even though in the release notes Microsoft clearly stated that they took care of the problems that users experienced when it came to context menus, the truth seems to be a bit different.
Reports are coming in that people are still struggling with this issue even on the new build.
The context menu has yet to prove itself a stable experience, to say the least. It sometimes works, while other times it appears underneath other layers on your desktop, or not at all, or it just flickers continuously.
Widgets still not working properly
As we mentioned in the articles related to the problems that previous builds had, the Widgets feature is still broken and only works for some Insiders.
Although not a system-threatening issue, you can understand how this can easily lead to frustration and dismissal.
Snapping still won’t work and layering is all wrong on multiple displays
There really seems to be an important issue with the snapping feature, and apparently, a hard one to solve, considering that it’s been going on since a couple of builds ago.
Maybe Microsoft met its match when it comes to bugs, or maybe they keep fixing it but not well enough since it always finds a way back into users’ PCs.
We’ve heard about issues with Windows 11 being used on multiple monitors, again, since two or three builds ago, and the Redmond company still hasn’t managed to sort this out.
Clearly, Windows 11 is a long way out from shore right now, and sailing back will prove to be maybe the biggest challenge Microsoft ever had to face.
Everyone thinks that because every time the tech company feels like it’s making some progress, the reality is that Insiders are stuck with the same old problems, even though new patches are supposed to fix them.
Taskbar and Start menu still not working for some Insiders
Since we were talking about persistent issues, here’s a situation that will surely leave you questioning Microsoft’s ability to actually fix problems, instead of creating new ones.
Signing out and signing back in does not fix it, no matter how hard I try. I have submitted feedback in the feedback hub, but it says the problem was fixed in 22000.71, despite that being the version that caused this issue in the first place. I have no clue what the problem is, nor what the solution might be.
To be more exact, his taskbar or Start menu aren’t working and no amount of fixes and improvements seems to solve this issue for him.
Even after he took matters into his own hands and performed some system-level tweaks using the registry tool, the issue is still there, and more annoying than ever.
As he reports, when trying to access this part of the system’s settings dedicated panel, instead of gaining access, the Settings app just freezes and crashes a few seconds later.
Since updating to Windows 11, I am not able to see/use the Optional updates function located on Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. The Settings app just freezes and then after a couple of seconds it crashes.
Gaming experience is even worse with new build
This isn’t the first time we hear that gaming on Windows 11 is an experience better avoided. But if you can’t really help yourself and want to try it, head the warnings of fellow Insiders that did and reported it to be bad.
I think I have encountered a bug in the latest Windows Insider Beta build (22000.120). It seems like my CPU and GPU temperatures have increased from the last update. It also seems like the performance of the game has also gone down after the update. Has anyone else experienced this? I just want to see if it’s something with me or if it’s something with the build itself.
Taskbar flyout menu isn’t working on build 22000.120
To be fair, Microsoft did warn us that this new Insider build may break the taskbar or/and Start menu for many of us.
Still, this is no excuse not to fix such vital components of the operating system. And it’s not just this build that brings issues on this category of system tools.
Insiders that are dealing with this sort of problem are already reporting abnormal behavior.
There are, of course, users that instead of going with a preset theme for their desktop backgrounds, choose to create a personalized one and save it to the system.
I am trying to save my theme I made for my background on my pc. My pc has the latest version of windows. Although, after I name my theme and want to save it, the save button will not light up. Therefore, I am unable to save my theme. If someone can help figure out this bug, that would be great.
Not being able to personalize your system can prove to be quite annoying for some, as they have grown accustomed to a certain style when it comes to the Windows OS.
File Explorer broke during build tranzition
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, it means that a video would be worth a million words, at least.
And since you can’t beat statistics, here’s a video of a Windows Insider that is running the current build, 22000.120, trying to access his File Explorer.
Every time he tries to access Explorer, the app just crashes instantaneously. Starting it, again and again, will only result in the same scenario.
We will keep track of everything that goes on with the current build and report our findings through this article.
Make sure to keep an eye on all this information, so that you will have an idea of what to expect while testing the new Insider build for Windows 11.
What are some of the bugs you came across on build 22000.120 so far? Let us know in the comments section below.
Were you already bored with the current Windows 11 Insider build? You don’t have to worry about that anymore, as build 22000.120 is now available for users in the Dev and Beta Channels, through the Windows Insider program.
We’ve now reached the fifth cumulative update for Windows 11 RTM Build 22000, and this one comes with several quality enhancements, but there are no new features or significant improvements.
If you check for updates today, a new patch called Cumulative Update for Windows 11 (10.0.22000.120) (KB5005188) will appear available for download.
Furthermore, a new Defender security update will also download and install automatically when you tap on the check for updates button.
Build 22000.120 brings a plethora of improvements and fixes
KB5005188 comes with a lot of improvements for desktop users. For example, Microsoft has updated File Explorer’s right-click context menus with a compact interface for mouse users.
Windows 11’s right-click context menu felt a bit too big on desktops, but Microsoft has finally addressed it with today’s release.
The Redmond company also tweaked the New button in the File Explorer’s command by integrating a dropdown menu.
Other changes and improvements that Windows 11 gained through build 22000.120 include:
A new Family widget for MSA accounts! It is available in all Windows languages and regions. It allows you to see recent activity from members of your Microsoft family group.
Notification badging for the Chat icon on the Taskbar. Not everyone will see it right away at first.
Adjustments to improve how the close button looks like in the Taskbar preview windows.
Changing backgrounds for Desktops, even if Settings is already open, using Choose Background via Task View will now force Settings to move to whichever Desktop you’re actually on.
Moved the Identify button in Display Settings to be right under the control for arranging your monitors (when you have multiple monitors connected) so it’s easier to find.
Made some adjustments to improve the use of space and thumbnail sizes within ALT + Tab, Task View and snap assist.
Important fixes brought via Insider build 22000.120
Of course, as with any new build, Microsoft also fixed some of the problems that were making it hard for users to enjoy the new OS experience.
It’s a lengthy list, as the company took an even more hands-on approach and decided to exterminate the bugs that plagued our system on previous builds.
These are the fixes that the tech giant promised for build 22000.120:
Taskbar:
The virtual touchpad is now available again to be enabled in Taskbar Settings.
The Task View flyout will no longer dismiss when you start typing when attempting to rename your Desktops.
The Task View flyout should now display in the correct direction for Insiders using the Arabic or Hebrew display language.
When Cortana is set up for voice activation, hovering over the microphone icon in the Taskbar corner will now say Your assistant is ready to respond instead of Host process for Windows Services
DPI changes should no longer cause icon duplication and overlapping in the Taskbar corner.
Adjusted the calendar flyout header spacing to give a bit more room in response to feedback that the days of the week were wrapping in some languages.
Fixed an issue where if you updated your preferred first day of the week, it wouldn’t be reflected in the calendar flyout until you signed out and back in.
Your preferred calendar flyout state (expanded or collapsed) should now persist reboot.
Fixed a race condition for Insiders will multiple monitors related to the Taskbar that was causing Start menu to fly up into the corner of the screen, and explorer.exe to crash when you tried hovering over the Task View button on secondary monitors.
Mitigated an issue that could trigger an explorer.exe crash loop for Insiders running Windows with multiple monitors.
Based on our analysis of the previous flight, we believe the explorer.exe crash loop for Turkish Insiders when their laptops were at 100% charge has been addressed and we are removing this from the known issues list.
Clicking the widgets icon on your secondary monitor should now open widgets on that monitor instead of your primary one.
Right-clicking on the Taskbar with a pen should no longer cause a crash.
Addressed an issue that was making app icons in the Taskbar blurry for some Insiders.
We’ve done some work to address an issue where app icons in the Taskbar could become stuck in a blank state when loading.
Fixed an issue that was making explorer.exe crash when clicking the Task View button.
Fixed an issue where the Chat window was getting stuck on the screen.
Clicking Chat on a secondary monitor should now launch it in the correct position and DPI.
Done some work to address an issue where the Taskbar preview windows were getting stuck on the screen and not dismissing when you clicked something else.
To address an issue where pressing F7 with focus set to the Taskbar would lock up the taskbar, made a change so that the caret browsing prompt will no longer appear if F7 is pressed somewhere where a text block is not present.
If you press WIN + B followed by the arrow keys, you will now be able to navigate to all the elements in the taskbar corner without needing to press Tab first.
Badges on the app icons on secondary monitors should now be in sync with what’s showing on the primary monitor.
Settings:
Settings will no longer crash when clicking Facial recognition (Windows Hello) under Sign-in Settings when Windows Hello is already set up.
Fixed an issue where in navigating to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet could unexpectedly change the network profile type. If you are an ethernet user, please check your settings after upgrading to this build to ensure your desired network profile type is selected and change it if it isn’t.
Fixed an issue where setting your IP address in Network Settings wasn’t working in certain cases.
Editing your VPN proxy details in Settings should no longer cause Settings to crash.
Fixed another issue causing Power & Battery Settings to crash.
Also fixed an issue that could make Settings crash specifically if you went to look at the 7-day battery usage graph in Power & Battery Settings.
The progress bars in Settings are now properly accent colored.
Saving custom themes in Personalization Settings should now work.
Hooked up some Get Help links that stopped pointing to specific guidance after the Settings updates introduced in Windows 11.
Hovering over the toggle switches in Settings will no longer make them disappear.
Fixed an issue that could cause search in Settings to be in a permanently broken state, saying No result for every search.
Did some work to help address an issue where you would see a big solid accent color area while resizing the Settings window.
Settings should no longer flash green on launch.
Done some work to fix an issue that was causing random crashes on Settings pages with lists, as well as an issue causing random crashes on Settings pages with radio buttons.
Links to specific Settings pages will now properly navigate to the correct page in Settings when Settings isn’t already open.
Your profile picture in Settings should no longer have an unexpected square backplate when transparency is enabled.
Added in the missing progress bar when uninstalling apps under Apps & Features in Settings.
Icons in the volume mixer in Sound Settings should no longer become overlapped.
In-bound Bluetooth PIN pairing in Settings should work again now.
If you click Advanced Options at the top of the page while navigating through Windows Update Settings, it should now actually open Advanced Options.
Made another fix for the volume and brightness sliders becoming unexpectedly tiny if all other settings were removed from Quick Settings.
Going from one of the subpages of Quick Settings over to the input flyout should no longer cause a crash.
If you use the Accessibility section of Quick Settings, the toggles should now show the correct state of each feature.
If you press WIN + P to go directly to Project within Quick Settings, the arrow keys now work to navigate up and down the list.
Fixed an issue that was causing some thumbnails to be randomly squished in the media control above Quick Settings.
Made another fix to address Focus Assist turning on unexpectedly when viewing the desktop.
File Explorer:
Fixed an issue resulting in File Explorer unexpectedly not showing an updated scroll bar when in dark mode.
Addressed a GDI handle leak related to context menu usage resulting in sluggishness across File Explorer after prolonged usage.
Made a change to address a memory leak which was impacting File Explorer, increasing each time more File Explorer windows were opened.
Also made a change related to the command bar in File Explorer that was resulting an increased thread count every time a new File Explorer window was opened that would continually grow, consuming resources.
Fixed a high hitting explorer.exe crash related to the use of Acrylic in File Explorer’s context menus.
Fixed an issue making the focus rectangle unexpectedly appear when using mouse to interact with File Explorer’s command bar.
The context menu shouldn’t flicker anymore if you hover over it when Contrast themes are enabled.
The context menu should no longer unexpectedly get clipped on the side, not rendering completely.
Right clicking the bottom corner of the desktop show no longer causes the context menu to open at the top of the screen.
Addressed an underlying issue that we believe is the root cause for a scrollbar appearing in the context menu and explorer.exe crashing when you tried to interact with it.
Made a change to help make the radio buttons in File Explorer’s File Options a little more obvious when they’re in the selected state.
Clicking the rename button in the command bar should no longer randomly show the Open With dialog sometimes.
Fixed an issue that was making some of the file operation dialogs have unreadable button text in dark mode (for example, File in Use and Destination Folder Access Denied).
Start menu:
Rapidly pressing the Windows key multiple times should no longer crash Start.
Made a change to help improve Start menu launch performance.
Fixed an issue where if you clicked on one of the files in Recommended, it was opening the file in an unexpected app in some cases.
Made a change to address an issue where Search was sometimes randomly flashing on top of Start when opening Start.
Search:
Hovering over the Search icon should no longer cause a crash when the recent searches have been updated.
When hovering over the Search icon the window should no longer become clipped.
Windowing:
Connecting and disconnecting to a PC over Remote Desktop, and switching users, should no longer make all your open apps unexpectedly minimize.
Addressed a high hitting explorer.exe crash when snapping certain apps on system with mixed DPI monitors.
When the snap layouts window is visible after hovering on the maximize button of an app it should now dismiss more reliably now when you move your mouse away.
Fixed an issue that was making explorer.exe crash sometimes if you docked or undocked your PC with snapped windows.
Window frames should no longer get stuck on the screen when closing windows.
Fixed an issue that was making windows unexpectedly open on the wrong Desktop when they shouldn’t.
Turned off the animation when switching Desktops using the keyboard shortcuts as it was leading to flashes and hangs.
When maximizing certain windows, like File Explorer, the border should no longer low over to secondary monitors.
Addressed an issue that was causing screen readers to unexpectedly say DesktopWindowXamlSource when using ALT + Tab.
Done some work to improve the sensitivity when using the touchpad gesture to invoke ALT + Tab and switch apps.
If you were experiencing issues with snap ssist not appearing on the previous flight, we believe this should be resolved after upgrading to this one.
Windows Security and logging in:
Windows Hello Face should be working again now after upgrading.
The button text in the UAC dialog should now correctly say Yes and No again for Insiders not using EN-US.
Fixed an issue that was making the UAC dialog launch in the background for apps pinned to the Taskbar in certain scenarios.
A Windows Defender fix to address the issue where Automatic sample submission was unexpectedly turned off when you restarted your PC is rolling out.
Mitigated an issue resulting in some Insiders seeing a repeated logonui.exe crash.
Also mitigated a deadlock that could result in your PC getting stuck at a black screen when unlocking your PC, and a separate crash that was making some Insiders see a black screen for a few seconds after logging in.
Fixed an issue that was making explorer.exe crash for some Insiders when logging in for the first time after booting their PC.
Improved visibility of login screen elements when using high contrast.
Logging in or locking your PC should no longer cause full screen white or accent colored flashes.
Input:
Fixed an issue related to tooltips that was making clicks happen in the wrong place across the system, for example when interacting with icons on the desktop.
The touch keyboard should no longer get clipped after rotating the screen orientation when docked.
Fixed an issue that was causing explorer.exe to crash sometimes when changing focus between apps while using a third-party IME.
Mitigated an issue that is believed to be causing certain hardware keys and buttons to not work on some devices, including the function keys.
Mitigated a race condition that could result in certain devices unexpectedly waking from sleep if the touchpad was used to click the Sleep option in Start.
Other:
Fixed an issue that could lead to PCs bug checking while sleeping.
Fixed an issue that was causing stuttering if you tried to play a game while the Xbox Game Bar performance monitor was pinned on the screen.
Mitigated an issue that could result in stutter or fps drop for Insiders when moving the mouse in certain games. Thank you Insiders who have taken the time to share feedback about gaming performance with us – if you continue experiencing issues after upgrading, please check our guidance on logging actionable feedback on this subject.
Fixed an issue where the boot menu wasn’t identifying Windows 11 correctly.
Addressed an issue believed to be causing a number of unexpected UI issues in the previous flight, including semi-transparent and unreadable dialogs, z-ordering issues, large, shadowed areas getting stuck on the screen. and backwards text in context menus for Arabic and Hebrew Insiders.
Addressed an issue where windows created while transparency was disabled would become stuck in a solid color instead of becoming acrylic when transparency was enabled.
Done some work to remove the unexpected white artifacts in the corners of windows when using dark mode.
Right clicking multiple times in certain apps like Task Manager will no longer make the context menu frame change from rounded to square.
Fixed a focus issue that was making the window immediately dismiss after pressing ALT + F4 on the desktop.
Mitigated an issue that was resulting in unexpectedly needing to re-pair certain connected devices after rebooting.
Mitigated an explorer.exe deadlock that could happen when reordering your Desktops.
Addressed an issue that was resulting in Microsoft Store appearing to download app updates that were already installed on the PC.
Fixed an issue that was resulting in some Insiders experiencing bugchecks, in particular when playing games.
The Microsoft Store also received some vital tweaks
As part of this system update, Microsoft Store is getting support for auto-scrolling on the spotlight, thus allowing users to discover their next favorite app, movie, or game without manually scrolling through the list.
The Redmond-based tech company is also introducing a gaming product detail page (PDP) design, so users can see more info and images of the game.
There’s also a new ratings and reviews dialog, and it’s based on XAML instead of WebView.
Known issues with build 22000.120
Don’t go thinking that this Insider build is perfect and that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Windows 11 is still in its testing phase so we are bound to run into more issues.
However, Microsoft is bringing to our attention some of the problems that the new build has, as follows:
[REMINDER] When upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or when installing an update to Windows 11, some features may be deprecated or removed. See details here.
[BETA CHANNEL] Still investigating reports from Insiders in the Beta Channel where after upgrading to Windows 11, they are not seeing the new Taskbar and the Start menu doesn’t work. To workaround this if you are impacted, please try going to Windows Update > Update history, uninstalling the latest cumulative update for Windows, and the reinstall it by checking for updates.
Start:
In some cases, you might be unable to enter text when using Search from Start or the Taskbar. If you experience the issue, press WIN + R on the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box, then close it.
System and Windows Terminal is missing when right-clicking on the Start button (WIN + X).
Taskbar:
The Taskbar will sometimes flicker when switching input methods.
Search:
After clicking the Search icon on the Taskbar, the Search panel may not open. If this occurs, restart the “Windows Explorer” process, and open the search panel again.
When you hover your mouse over the Search icon on the Taskbar, recent searches may not be displayed. To work around the issue, restart your PC.
Search panel might appear as black and not display any content below the search box.
Widgets:
The widgets board may appear empty. To work around the issue, you can sign out and then sign back in again.
Launching links from the widgets board may not invoke apps to the foreground.
Widgets may be displayed in the wrong size on external monitors. If you encounter this, you can launch the widgets via touch or WIN + W shortcut on your actual PC display first and then launch on your secondary monitors.
[Family widget] Some users may see a ‘connect a device to see screen time activity’ message even with screen time settings enable.
[Family widget] Location information may not be available for some users on iOS.
Store:
We are working to improve search relevance in the Store including resolving an issue where in some cases the ordering of search results is inaccurate.
The install button might not be functional yet in some limited scenarios.
Rating and reviews are not available for some apps.
Windows Sandbox
The Taskbar will crash continuously in Windows Sandbox. The team is investigating a fix.
Localization
There is an issue where some Insiders may be some missing translations from their user experience for a small subset of languages running the latest Insider Preview builds. To confirm if you have been impacted, please visit this Answers forum post and follow the steps for remediation.
On a more serious note, this update could also break the taskbar and Start Menu if you’re in the Beta Channel.
How do I install KB5005188?
Access the Settings menu and go the Windows Update tab.
You should see the update as pending download so go ahead and click the Download button.
The patch will start downloading automatically.
Click on “Restart now” to finish the installation.
Have you already installed the new Windows 11 Insider build? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below.
Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Editor, its intelligent writing assistant that made its debut in Word and as a web browser extension is coming soon to Outlook for Windows. The new feature has started rolling out to Office Insiders in the Beta channel running the build 14315.10000 or later of Outlook for Windows, and Microsoft hopes that it will help them write better emails.
“Editor is an intelligent writing assistant that’s designed to help you get your message across more effectively, and give you more confidence as a writer and communicator,” the Office Insider team explained. “We are now bringing the Editor pane to Outlook in response to your feedback. Our goal is to simplify your proofreading pass, allowing you to both quickly proof your emails and more thoroughly refine and improve your writing.”
To get started with the Microsoft Editor in Outlook, head to the Review or Message tab and then click the new Editor button. The app will instantly open a dedicated Editor pane on the right side of the screen, which will show all the writing suggestions for the current email: Tips include spelling and grammar corrections, and other help refinements to users enhance conciseness and clarity.
The Microsoft Editor in Outlook is gradually rolling out in preview to Microsoft 365 subscribers enrolled in the Office Insider program. However, Outlook users will need to use the app in a language that supports proofreading tools to try out this new Editor pane.
Microsoft announced yesterday that it will hold a second ID@Xbox games showcase on Twitch on Tuesday, August 10. Xbox fans can expect brand new indie games, some live game demos, as well as new Xbox Game Pass announcements during the event.
“During this showcase, we’ll once again feature tons of independent titles, including brand new game announcements from developers and publishers such as Rebellion, Chump Squad, and others. Fans will also get a chance to see the latest and hear from teams working on The Artful Escape, OlliOlli World, Library of Ruina, and RPG Time to name a few,” the Xbox team said yesterday.
This second ID@Xbox showcase on August 10 will kick off at 9 AM PT on Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox. If indie games aren’t really your cup of tea, Microsoft may be planning more announcements at gamescom 2021 on August 25-27, where numerous developers and publishers have already confirmed their digital participation.
Roblox is one of the most engaging online games with huge virtual spaces and a plethora of fans of every age. And the most convenient part is that you can even play Roblox in your browser without too much fuss.
It’s no wonder why you would get excited when there’s an opportunity to get some free Robux to expand your realm with lots of items.
As part of their Rewards program, Microsoft currently advertises a 100 Robux eGift Card offer that has raised a lot of hype among Roblox fans.
What is the Robux card and how can you use it?
First of all, we have to clear the fact that Robux is the Roblox in-game currency that you can use for acquiring in-game accessories, avatar features, and other game perks.
The card that Microsoft is offering for free has a value of 100 Robux that you will be able to activate within the game and spend the money as you please.
It’s also worth noting that the game has its own affiliate program that grants each new player a free amount of Robux.
There is also the option to earn some more by making referrals to your friends. Each time they make a payment, you will get a small amount.
You will be redirected to your Microsoft login page where you need to enter your credentials.
Next, click the Sign up for free button to join the Microsoft Rewards program.
Now you should be able to get the Robux card from within the options.
In order to claim your Robux points, you should first join the Microsoft Rewards community. You also have to be a new community member to be eligible for the reward.
NOTE
The card is only available if you’re living in one of these countries: The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Republic of Ireland, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan.
However, if you’re not living in one of these countries, you can still use the best VPN for Roblox to get the card.
Further playing Roblox and shopping from Microsoft would earn you even more useful points to use for in-game acquisitions.
You will be asked to enter the pin code of your card and click the redeem button after that.
You can also use the card when you’re making an in-game purchase. When you will be asked about the payment method, you just select the Robux gift card and you’re set.
You will be asked who is the card for. We selflishly picked the second option but you can also make a gift for someone else and choose the first option.
Next, pick the right currency and click on the Send a Digital Card button below. You also have the option of sending a physical card but you will also have to pay for a handling fee and it will take some time until you can actually get it.
Now, it’s up to you if you want to personalize the design of the card (it makes more sense if you pick the physical one, right) and then click the How Much? button below.
In the next window, you can pick the value of the card (from $10 to $200), set the number of cards you want to buy and then click on the Add to Cart button below.
In the next windows you can review your order and click the Checkout button at the bottom of the page.
The last window is only a form where you enter your personal and credit card data and click on the Place My Order button in the end.
If you chose the Digital Card, it will arrive in just a couple of minutes in your e-mail and you will be able to use the code on the card to purchase digital goods in Roblox.
What can I do if my free gift card is missing?
Although such campaigns are usually working, and the page is still active, some users can’t get beyond the main join page.
When hitting the Redeem button, they’re taken to all existing deals, but the free gift card is missing.
The explanation that advisors and other experienced users have is that Microsoft canceled the campaign because of multiple new accounts created by the same users abusively, to claim more points.
However, joining the Rewards program is conveniently still available so that new members can still receive Microsoft offers.
It seems that this is not the only campaign with such an outcome these days. Unless redeemed immediately after receiving the notification email, some rewards are lost. For more details, you can also contact Microsoft Rewards Support.
Best tips on how to spend the Robux wisely
There are a lot of opportunities to spend the Robux but not all of them are that great. Unless you have a hefty amount to spend, you need to make wise purchases.
We have put together a few tips on how to get the biggest bang for your Robux in Roblox.
➡ Don’t make impulsive purchases
We know all too well that the newest and shiniest items that just got out are extremely tempting but wait at least for a day before getting them.
You might have other more important stuff on the list that you have forgotten about because you were blinded by the rush for new things.
➡ Avoid scams and scammers
As you probably understand by now, Robux cards are clearly valuable, and a lot of scammers will try to take them away from you.
Don’t believe anyone that will try to get some of your Robux in exchange for priceless information about the game. You might end up with an empty account and a huge disappointment.
Chatting with your friends about such encounters can also lift the fog out from certain offers that look too good to be true.
➡ Earn more before spending
100 Robux are not so much but they can be a great start. You can earn more by entering the Builders Club and you will get rewards according to the tier you choose.
This is only if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in Roblox and are also willing to spend some real money. The trick is that in higher tiers they allow you to sell stuff and get back your investment with a little bit of effort.
With these being said, we hope that our guide helped you redeem your Robux card and activate it in your Roblox account.
Even more, let us remind you that you get around 80 Robux for a dollar except you become Premium. Therefore, 1 Robux costs 1.25 cents, so spend it wisely.
The Far Cry 5, Unturned, and Bee Simulator video games are now free to play on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X console families from now until the end of Sunday (at 11:59 p.m. PDT) for all gamers with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription.
As with previous Free Play weekends, all three games are available to play in full with all progress being saved to the player’s account. Xbox Achievements will also be unlockable.
To encourage players to buy the games after the Free Play period ends, each has been discounted with price discounts ranging from 30 to 85% off.
Here’s the trailers for each title. Download links can be found underneath.
Even though the final build of Windows 11 hasn’t launched yet, Asus decided not to waste any time and prepare its motherboards for Microsoft’s upcoming operating system.
The hardware manufacturer recently deployed new firmware for multiple Intel motherboards that are Windows 11 compatible.
Asus provides Windows 11 Windows 11 Bios update
You might like to know, especially if you own an Asus device, that even though Asus’ firmware deployment plan is unknown, the majority of the Asus’ ROG motherboards have received the new firmware.
This also includes including some models from the Prime series. So it shouldn’t be long until devices from all the other series get theirs as well.
Needless to say that the firmware version number will vary from motherboard to motherboard.
Both Intel and AMD chipsets are supported, and these new BIOS updates will even automatically enable TPM on AMD and Intel systems.
TPM is by far the most controversial of the Windows 11 requirements, and it’s a change that caused some confusion after many realized their PCs didn’t have the option enabled in the BIOS.
Another thing that confused many people was the PTT or PSP fTPM name that TPM has in their BIOS settings.
What series will receive Windows 11 support?
Windows 11 support will be provided for Intel 500-series, 400-series, as well as 300-series motherboards. Also on the list will be AMD’s 500-series, 400-series, and 300-series motherboards.
Asus already confirmed in a FAQ that Intel 200-series and prior motherboards aren’t compatible with Windows 11.
Furthermore, the company discourages owners from purchasing a TPM 2.0 module for their motherboards since it may not work.
The popular manufacturer didn’t provide a detailed changelog of what exactly it changed in the new firmware, the only clue being the description of the firmware, which claims to support WIN 11 installed or upgraded.
Asus isn’t the only company to take important steps towards the future
As you might imagine, Asus isn’t alone in its motherboard support for Windows 11. Alongside them, Gigabyte, Asrock, Biostar, and MSI have also released lists of supported systems that will work with Windows 11.
And this is only the beginning, considering that the future Microsoft operating system will only officially be released towards the end of the year.
Other companies will surelly want to hop on the band wagon and provide support for the new OS.
How do I manually turn on TPM from BIOS?
Since Asus decided to provide this next level of OS compatibility, they were also kind enough to explain the process of manually enabling the TPM feature from BIOS.
Its a failry simple process and we will guide you through it. Here’s what you need to do:
Press Del when the ASUS or ROG logo appears to enter the BIOS.
Go to theAdvanced\PCH-FW Configuration page and click Enable on the PTT drop-down menu.
Once you attempt to make the change in the BIOS, a notification box will appear (see below). First click the OK button, then press F10 to save your changes and reboot your PC.
Enabling PTT will unlock a plethora of security-related options for you to play with.
Are you running Windows 11 on an Asus device? If so, have you installed this update? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article takes a look at some of the best VPN for increasing Jio speed, especially while using the network as a hotspot on PCs.
Jio, otherwise known as Jio Reliance, is one of the most prominent Internet/Network service providers in India. The network provider made a lousy entrance into the market a couple of years ago with their “supersonic” 4G network. And within this period, Jio has garnered in excess of 150 million subscribers.
However, due to Jio’s limited bandwidth and increasing demand, the network provider now throttles the speed and connectivity of its subscribers, especially those on the 4G network, with the aim of moderating its bandwidth to serve its millions of subscribers.
Nevertheless, you can easily bypass this restriction by installing a VPN, preferably on your PC. Read on, to get enlightened on some of the best VPN for increasing Jio speed.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) is effective against Jio Reliance’s throttling of its subscribers’ connectivity. A durable VPN hosts features that mask both location and internet traffic. Hence, the network provider is unable to track your internet usage which means your internet speed will continue to run at optimum capacity.
Jio has been highly criticized because of its violations of net neutrality and anti-consumer behavior. The carrier is throttling internet speed and out-wright banned websites. This can be circumvented by using a VPN like Private Internet Access.
PIA offers military-grade encryption at a very affordable price. You can mask your IP with a few clicks and bypass all bandwidth limitations and internet restrictions.
In addition to this, you have one service which covers all your devices so you don’t have to worry about different VPN clients.
Until such time as Jio relaxes its measures, you will have to use a VPN to enjoy the freedom found online.
But more importantly, using a VPN should become part of your daily life regardless of your IPS or carrier, as it protects your data and offers you a private and safe browsing experience.
Here are some of the features to look forward to when you start using PIA:
Unlimited bandwidth
IP masking to bypass geo-restrictions
Protection for up to 10 devices simultaneously
Military-grade encryption
WireGuard®, PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec protocols
P2P support
Thousands of servers in over 45 countries
Private Internet Access
Bypass Jio's restrictions and enjoy a safe and free internet with Private Internet Access. Enjoy a major discount right away!
NordVPN offers Jio subscribers who want to improve internet speed on their PCs (and mobile phones) one of the most extensive server coverage in the VPN industry.
This VPN hosts an average of 100 servers (approx.) per location, and it has in excess of 60 server locations across the globe. Hence, Jio subscribers in India are provided with plethora of servers to spoof their location and conceal their traffic logs.
Core features of NordVPN include: 2048-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), multiple connection protocols (STP, PPTP, L2TP and more), DNS leak protection, kill switch, IPs, P2P sharing and money-back guarantee (30 days).
Also, you can connect up to six devices on a single NordVPN account. Hence, you can easily increase your Jio network’s internet speed on your smartphone, as well as on the hotspot-connected PC.
NordVPN is available for free, for a brief trial period of one week. After the expiration of the free trial, you are to subscribe to a paid plan. The most affordable plan (2-year) goes for $3.99 per month.
NordVPN
NordVPN is an excellent VPN service that you can pair up with your Jio Internet plan.
SurfShark is another top VPN that is suitable for increasing Jio speed. Although, this VPN’s server network is not as expansive as other top VPN providers, it is optimized for speed, and its encryption system is topnotch.
SurfShark hosts an average of 10 servers per location, in about 50 countries across the globe. With this, Jio subscribers can spoof their locational attributes, by connecting to various servers across the globe. And in the process, they are able to improve their connectivity on Jio network.
This VPN hosts a set of powerful security and cloaking features, which work in tandem with one another, to protect the privacy of users. Some of these features include:
Formidable AES encryption (256-bit)
IKEv2 and OpenVPN security protocol
P2P Sharing
Torrenting support
Zero traffic logging
Unlimited connection
Cross-platform support
And more
Surfshark
In need of a VPN that will work great with Jio? Try Surfshark for a change.
CyberGhost VPN, like most VPNs, works best on PC. As such, it can be employed to improve the speed of a Jio network that is connected to a PC via hotspot (from a mobile device). This way, you can enjoy optimized speed on your PC, even while the source provider (mobile phone) is still running at the throttled pace.
Besides that, Cyberghost has one of the largest server network in the industry, with several servers in Asia and other continents. In total, Cyberghost hosts over 3300 servers in more than 55 countries across the globe.
The essential features in this discourse, however, are the location-masking and identity-encrypting features. Some of these features include the 256-bit protocol, kill switch, DNS leak protection, unlimited bandwidth and zero log profile.
Other features of Cyberghost include 45-day money-back guarantee, multiple simultaneous connections, dedicated IP addresses, OpenVPN support and more.
Cyberghost offers a limited free trial version for seven days. After this period, users are required to subscribe to a paid plan. The pricing plans start at a fixed rate of $3.5/month. The most popular plan, however, is the 2-year plan which goes for $4.13 per month but at this moment you can find several discounts.
CyberGhost VPN
Looking for a stable VPN to use with Jio? Look no further, CyberGhost VPN is here for you.
ExpressVPN is yet another great solution to bypass restrictions and gets access to information smoothly while keeping your identity entirely protected.
You are entirely and efficiently covered with 160 server locations in over 90 countries. Express VPN allows you to stream from censored and restricted websites around the world, wherever you want. It is optimized in a way that it bypasses potential anti-VPN blockage.
ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and runs speed tests over its servers to make sure you get the best possible connection for your network. You are completely safe even when accessing Public Wi-fi.
ExpressVPN works on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux and Mac and offers custom apps for each OS to ensure that, no matter the platform, users get the best possible service.
Other features include 24/7 live chat support, VPN split tunneling, AES-256 encryption and Privacy guides and tutorials.
It’s a highly comprehensive yet easy-to-use tool that is widely used and recommended by experts. The software is subscription-based, and you can test it out for 30 days if you pick the free trial.
ExpressVPN
Anonymously browse and stream content from all over the world, on each and every device.
IPVanish conveniently stands out as one of best VPN for increasing Jio speed, with respect to its relative speed, coverage and encryption protocols. It has the capacity to support multiple connections at a time. Hence, you can increase the speed of all the PCs (and smartphones) that are connected, via hotspot, on Jio network.
IPVanish has about 1150 servers in 60+ locations across the globe. It also hosts tens of thousands of IP addresses for its subscribers.
Other core features of IPVanish include: No log policy, improved connectivity, top-end 256-bit encryption, P2P sharing, L2TP protocol, OpenVPN support, cross-platform compatibility, 7-day refund policy and more.
For PCs and Android devices, IPVanish’s free trial version is not available (it is only available for iOS users). Its subscription plans starts at a relatively affordable rate of $3.74/month. There are three other paid plans, which are offered at more expensive rates.
IPVanish
Afraid that Jio is limiting your connection? Try IPVanish to circumvent restrictions.
PureVPN is one of the most suitable VPNs for increasing Jio speed. It hosts a set of advanced features that optimize internet connection and improve speed. PureVPN has servers in about 150 locations worldwide, with an average of 5 servers (approx.) in each location.
In addition, PureVPN’s sets of security and geo-masking features include: Industry-class AES encryption protocol (256-bit), automatic kill switch, split tunneling sipport, torrent servers, VPN hotspot, web and app filter, unlimited bandwidth and server switching, inbuilt ad-blocker, NAT Firewall, multiple connection protocols and more.
These features are designed to, not only secure your privacy, but also improve the connectivity of your system. As such, it is very ideal for increasing Jio speed.
Furthermore, PureVPN can support multiple connections on a single VPN network, and it is compatible with both desktop and mobile devices.
PureVPN is available in three pricing variants – monthly, yearly and 5-year plans. The most popular plan is the yearly plan, which is offered at a rate of $69.95 per year.
Lastly, PureVPN offers you the opportunity of cancelling your subscription and reclaiming your money, within a grace period of 30+1 days.
PureVPN
Is Jio throttling your speed? Use PureVPN to escape its shackles.
Over the past two years or thereabout, Jio has been moderating the internet usage of its subscribers. This is evident in the marked reduction in internet speed, especially on the network’s 4G service.
As a result of this, the over 150 million subscribers on Jio network now run on moderated internet speed. To solve this issue, the best solution is via the adoption of a VPN.
We have outlined some of the best VPNs for increasing Jio speed in this article. By installing any of the above-outlined VPNs on your PC (or smartphone), you can easily bypass Jio’s speed restrictions and enjoy optimized connectivity.
Forms are an essential part of any website, especially if you sell goods or services online. Well-designed, standard forms help you collect customer information, payment details, and other data. Beyond this, you can also get valuable feedback.
The best form-builder apps usually have features like a drag-and-drop editor and predesigned templates. They also provide analytics, reports, and third-party application integration.
Choosing the best form builder tool will always depend on your needs, but we have narrowed the options by shortlisting the best ones.
This is a handy application for creating beautiful forms by using your PC. No other software on the market matches its capabilities to create professional-looking forms, edit PDFs, and modify them to suit your needs.
Adobe Acrobat DC also offers document merging, the ability to convert webpages to PDF or to compress files without affecting the data it contains, for a fast transfer. For this reason, it is our top pick in this category.
Here are some of its best features:
Fast indexing for quick searches
Easy project-sharing process by uploading to the cloud
Conversion of existing forms to fillable forms
Easy data editing in scanned tables
Page arrangement in your PDF file to fit your needs
Adobe Acrobat DC
Convenient and free to use the app to create, edit and sign forms, and further share, print, or integrate them into your own website.
This software offers innovative solutions to PDF users, the Forms Module feature being one of the most prominent ones.
You can create HTML forms in your documents and add fields, such as text, combo, checkboxes and radio buttons.
It also lets you add interactive fields to your form. You may choose from pre-set options like a Print or Submit Form Button or program a personalized button with JavaScript.
With the Edit Module, you can extract or split PDFs into multiple documents and conveniently modify your PDF without exporting it to another format.
Some of its top features include:
Customizing the form fields by changing the length, width, appearance of the borders, and more
Combining the data results of multiple forms into a single CSV file
Converting documents from PDF to MS Word (.docx), MS Excel (.xlsx), MS PowerPoint (.pptx), HTML, text files (.txt), and images (.png / .jpeg / .gif)
Calculations with the built-in calculator and the Bates numbering system
Adding a 256-bit AES password and applying different levels of permission to each file for data protection
Soda PDF
Design and convert your documents into customizable forms with Soda PDF’s wide range of pdf solutions.
JotForm is a very user-friendly form builder with a lot of features. You can build many different types of forms by creating an account.
It can be accessed through your PC browser and mobile app, available for Android and iOS. You can use all the form customization features regardless of the device.
JotForm has both free and paid plans. You can sign up without submitting credit card information if you choose to use the free plan.
It comes with hundreds of form widgets, including e-signatures, PDF embedder, button checklists, terms and conditions, and many more.
This form builder tool is compatible with over 100 apps, including PayPal, Google Sheets, HubSpot, Zoom, Slack, Gmail and Discord.
Other noteworthy features include:
Over 10,000 free form templates, all fully mobile responsive
Payment forms- even for the free plan (you can receive a maximum of 10 payments/month with the free plan)
Unlimited form fields
Multiple user languages are available
PCI, GDPR & HIPAA compliance
Multiple types of form fields, including CAPTCHA, Personal Details Form, File Upload, Star Rating and many more
JotForm
Create all your forms with this versatile, easy-to-use tool which offers thousands of free templates.
The primary purpose of Forms of Fire is to be a highly convenient solution for form creation. That’s why it provides a flexible workspace that can be accessed on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows devices.
Users can adapt and adjust their device depending on the circumstances with no hassle, as all data in Forms On Fire is in complete sync.
Forms On Fire integrates Microsoft Word & Microsoft Excel, which makes it even more accessible as most users are highly familiarized with these tools.
You can upload pre-existing forms of multiple file types such as PDF, TXT, CSV, DOCX, and XLSX, or you can create your forms from scratch with drag and drop.
It allows you to integrate many popular and valuable services like Google Drive, Google Sheets, Amazon S3, Dropbox, Microsoft SQL Server, Zendesk, and more.
Forms On Fire is a paid service with various subscription plans. You can try it for free for 14 days and see for yourself if it’s a good fit.
Notable features of Forms on Fire include:
A comprehensive collection of templates for various forms for different kinds of businesses
Built-in offline capability with smart sync of your work
Generates Analytics to aid the improvement of your business
Automatically sends forms via email
Multiple users can work on the same form
Display or hide fields depending on what is relevant
With this form maker (or builder), you can build unlimited forms with free features, embed them on your website and share the link, and manage your entries from any device and anytime by reviewing and editing them.
A unique capability with Cognito is the summary email sent to the people who fill out the forms. However, you can also collect a payment, sell online or easily raise money using the forms.
You can also accept secure credit card payments with PayPal, Stripe or Square and create payment forms, order forms, or collect donations.
It comes with repeating sections and tables so you can collect data from your customers without adding clutter.
The tool also has options like electronic signatures, entry sharing, and file uploads to capture multiple files simultaneously and set file size and type limits.
Its basic and advanced features to quickly create powerful forms include:
Save and Resume option, which lets the respondent pick up where they left off
Document merging from your entry data
Calculations – the forms do the math for you on things like costs, dates, and more
Data encryption to keep your data safe and protect fields with sensitive information
Conditional logic to control what fields are visible
This is a versatile data collection tool that eases asking and answering questions and lets you get better data through its friendly experience. You also get to know your audience, one person at a time.
It’s not just a cute interface, but it is smooth and keeps your customers engaged, making questions pop with images, GIFS, and videos.
Plus, you get a welcome screen that is customizable, so you can even put up a greeting that your customers meet with the first time they check in to your site.
Typeform lets you see changes in real-time with Live Preview, use analytics for quick insights, make each form smarter and more personal with Logic Jump, embed the forms into your website, and integrate with Google Sheets and MailChimp, plus extra 500+ integrations.
The software anticipates question types as you jot them down, and the interface draws your audience in with plenty of design options and advanced features.
You can build a contact form, quiz, set up shop fast, and get employee feedback through surveys.
Typeform Pro has even more features like:
Hidden fields that identify respondents from the link they clicked
Acceptance of online payments using Stripe
Customize & send emails to customers or respondents notifications via email
Formplus is one of the best software for creating forms as it has powerful tools to collect information rapidly.
Plus, it’s so easy to use; all you need to do is click or drag and drop your desired form fields into the builder. The functionality of the app is the same on mobile devices.
Save time by using the pre-built form templates and ease the process while being stylish – not just sending out basic forms – but beautiful forms tailored to your brand using customization options available and in any language.
Go ahead and store the data in your Google Drive or Dropbox cloud to fit forms into the normal workflow.
Other benefits include flexible and unlimited file uploads, the ability to receive files, and the ability to build smart forms using conditional logic to show/hide form fields based on answers.
The forms are SSL-enabled, so they’re 100 percent secure. You receive email notifications on submissions, and you can send custom autoresponder messages to users upon successful form submission.
Some notable features of Formplus are:
Create location-enabled forms
Allows you to add dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, scale, date, file upload, time picker, text and number fields
Zoho is the best software to create forms for every business as you can create & share online forms, receive email alerts, get your team to collaborate and manage the data.
It’s your form, so you make the rules. You can create a form on Zoho and publish it anywhere by embedding forms on the site and sharing them privately or going public (mobile lets you fill them out online).
You can customize the forms using the themes and templates provided, plus view contained data performance and identify traffic sources.
With Zoho, you can personalize your emails, send PDF copies of responses or use form data to create tickets, contracts, and many more documents. You can also sync your data with your apps.
Some of the main features of Zoho are:
Email alerts upon submission
Allows you to send confirmation emails to respondents
This software makes building forms so easy using its form designer that helps you create contact forms, online surveys and invitations so you can collect data, payments and registrations needed.
Simply create a form, share it on social channels or embed it on your site, and get your data via email or text, though you can also set up a real-time report.
It’s so easy to create custom forms in minutes using over 400 customizable and professional form templates, collect payments, and integrate them with your business tools.
You can customize your forms to match your brand using the ready-to-go themes by adding your logo, modifying the themes, and creating your own. This adds to your users’ great experience as well as personalizing their journey.
Wufoo gives you powerful reports for better insights with a dynamic analytics dash and password-protected reports.
More features of Wufoo include:
Comes with 256-bit SSL encryption
Has the field encryption option.
Gives automated receipts to help you build buyer trust
Integrates with more than 60 of your favorite tools, including Salesforce and MailChimp
Works with third-party payment providers & gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net
So, these are the software that you can use to create forms, embed them on your website, and share them with customers or employees anywhere. If you’re not one who enjoys third-party software, you can create a Microsoft Word fillable form.
Ready to create your forms? Share with us your experience by leaving a comment in the section below.
Windows 11 is an interesting operating system, but some users are still reluctant to make the transition, while others are determined to use Windows 7 forever.
If you’re ready for this change as well, in this guide we’re going to show you how to correctly dual boot Windows 11 and Windows 7 on your PC.
What are Windows 11’s requirements?
CPU: 1GHz or more, 2 cores or more, compatible 64-bit processor
RAM: 4GB or more
Storage: 64GB or more
Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0
Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display: 720p 9-inch display
Windows 11 requirements have been known for a while, and many users are unhappy because Windows 11 requires a TPM to work.
Many of them reported getting the same error saying This PC can’t run Windows 11 because they don’t have the TPM chip installed. Be sure to check our TPM and Windows 11 guide for more information.
Also, you must verify if your CPU is supported by Windows 11 since some older processors won’t work with Windows 11.
How can I dual boot Windows 11 and Windows 7?
Install Windows 7 after Windows 11
1. Create a Windows 7 partition on your PC
Press Windows Key + X and select Disk Management from the list.
Select the partition that has some extra space on it. You’ll need a partition that has at least 20GB of free storage space, but more space won’t hurt.
Right-click the desired partition and choose Shrink Volume.
In the Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB enter at least 20000.
Now click the Shrink button.
Unallocated space will now appear in Disk Manager. Right-click it and choose New Simple Volume.
Set the Simple volume size in MB to the maximum value that you can. Now click Next.
Then, set the label and the drive letter for the new partition.
Once you’re done, click on Finish.
For more advanced drive manipulation capabilities, we recommend Paragon Partition Manager as the tool to go.
2. Download Windows 7 ISO and create a bootable drive
Now click on Select and pick the Windows 7 ISO file.
Click Start to start the process.
When asked to format the drive, select OK.
Wait for the process to complete. It should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
NOTE
Microsoft isn’t hosting Windows 7 anymore, so you’ll have to get it from a reliable third-party source.
If you have Windows 7 DVD you can use it to create an ISO file using specialized software to convert files to ISO. Or if you have a DVD drive, you can use the DVD to install Windows 7 directly from it.
3. Boot from the Windows 7 flash drive and install Windows 7
Connect the Windows 7 flash drive that you’ve created to your PC.
Restart your PC and press the boot menu key. The key should be displayed during the boot section. Now select your USB flash drive from the list. If the key isn’t displayed, go to BIOS and set the flash drive as the first boot device.
Press any key to boot from the flash drive.
Select the desired language and keyboard layout, then click Next.
Click on Install now.
Choose Custom (advanced).
Select the partition that you created for Windows 7. Be sure to select the correct one or else you’ll overwrite your Windows 11 installation.
Wait while Windows 7 installs.
Once the installation is finished, select Windows 7 on the boot screen.
Enter your username and choose how your desired security settings.
After doing that, you’ll be able to dual boot Windows 11 and Windows 7 without any problems.
Install Windows 11 after Windows 7
1. Create a dedicated Window 11 partition
This process is almost identical to creating a partition on Windows 11, so we’ll keep it brief.
Press Windows Key + R and enter diskmgmt.msc. Press Enter or click OK.
Locate the partition that you want to shrink, right-click it and choose Shrink Volume.
Set the size of the new partition from 50000-100000 or more depending on your needs.
Right-click the unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume.
Set the maximum size, choose the label and the desired drive letter.
Once the Media Creation Tool is downloaded, run it.
Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.
Check if the settings are correct. You can adjust them if needed by unchecking Use the recommended options for this PC.
Select USB flash drive.
Wait for the process to complete. This might take a while depending on your Internet download speed.
Once the process is done, you’ll have Windows 10 installation media ready.
NOTE
We’re using Windows 10 ISO since Windows 11 ISO isn’t officially available for download yet.
3. Boot from the Windows 10 installation media and install Windows 11
Connect the Windows 10 bootable flash drive to your PC.
Restart your PC and press the boot menu key. Now select the flash drive to boot from it. Alternatively, change the boot device in BIOS to your flash drive.
Select the desired language and click on Install now.
Select the version that you want to install and accept the terms of service.
Then, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
Select the Windows 11 drive that you created. If you select the wrong drive, you will lose your files and overwrite your Windows 7 installation.
The installation will now start, so wait for it to finish. Then, you’ll have Windows 10 running on your system.
4. Join the Windows Insider Program and install Windows 11
When your PC restarts, select Windows 10.
Now press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Select Update & Security.
Navigate to Windows Insider Program and click the Get Started button.
Click Link an account and enter your Microsoft account credentials.
Choose Dev Channel and click the Confirm button.
Restart your PC and boot to Windows 10 again.
Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security again.
Click on Check for updates button.
Windows will now download the Windows 11 update.
Once the update is downloaded, restart your PC and follow the instructions on the screen to install it.
After doing that, the dual boot for Windows 11 and Windows 7 should be working without any problems.
Should I keep using Windows 7?
Microsoft hasn’t maintained Windows 7 since the beginning of 2020, so the system is outdated and vulnerable. However, you can still keep it safe using Windows 7 antivirus software.
Another problem is that many developers aren’t making software for Windows 7 anymore, so your favorite apps might not work on this OS.
As you can see, Microsoft and other developers are ready to drop it entirely, so you shouldn’t use it as your main operating system. But if you are a fan of the legacy OS, use an online Windows 7 simulator to relive the good old days.
How can I set the default operating system if I use dual boot?
Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Press Enter.
Navigate to the Boot section.
Select the operating system that you want to use as default and click the Set as default button.
Now click Apply and OK to save changes.
After doing that, you’ll always boot to the default operating system.
We hope you found this guide informative and managed to dual boot Windows 11 and Windows 7 without any problems on your PC.
Keep in mind that Windows 7 isn’t supported anymore, and you shouldn’t use it as your everyday operating system, but you can enjoy it in dual boot mode, especially if you want it to run older applications or games. Also, you can triple boot Windows 11, Windows 7, and Linux.
Are you going to dual boot your PC, or do you plan to switch to Windows 11? Let us know in the comments section below.
Well, now Microsoft has announced that they will be pausing Windows 365 trial sign-ups.
And judging by the tweet from Scott Manchester, the director of program management for Windows 365, it’s because of the overwhelming demand for this service, as they received an unbelievable response to it.
We have seen unbelievable response to #Windows365 and need to pause our free trial program while we provision additional capacity. Sign up below to get notified when trials resume. https://t.co/Q05C7cBWMh
So, in other words, Windows 365 trials have maxed out in just days.
Microsoft has halted free trial signups
For the time being, at least, you can buy Windows 365, but if you still want to try it for free, you’ll have to sign up for notifications in this regard.
Why is everyone so eager to try this new Microsoft product you ask?
Maybe because the Business and Enterprise plans come with a few features and perks with Windows 365 Cloud PC.
The Redmond tech giant also guaranteed cloud security by Zero Trust and will keep Microsoft Defender for Endpoint around for extra security measures.
Also, businesses with more than 150 users will have access to App Assure to fix app issues without additional fees.
These are just some of the reasons why people absolutely flocked to get their hands on the free trials and take it for a test drive.
Following significant demand, we have reached capacity for Windows 365 trials. Sign up to receive a notification when trials resume or buy today, here: https://t.co/Jji5RbfTbT
We can’t know for sure when Microsoft users can expect another batch of free trials to be available, but the company says that it’s making all efforts to allow this to happen.
Yesterday, a Microsoft spokesperson reiterated the message the company shared on Twitter, saying it was pausing new trials following high demand.
So, those of us that haven’t yet had the chance to signup are now left hanging, with the promise of greener pastures over the horizon.
Have you managed to get your hands on a free trial for Windows 365 Cloud PC? Let us know in the comments section below.
Microsoft revealed today its plan to unify its two separate OneNote apps for Windows into a single client in 2022. The OneNote UWP app that ships for Windows 10 will no longer come pre-installed on new Windows 11 PCs, and Microsoft will be working on integrating its features into the OneNote Win32 app that comes included with Office for Windows.
According to Microsoft, OneNote for Windows 10 users will start seeing invites to update to the new OneNote app in the second half of 2022. OneNote for Windows 10 will continue to be supported until 2025, but its best features are coming to the current OneNote Win32 app that will also get redesigned for Windows 11.
“Advances in Windows and Office will allow us to unify the two apps so that you’ll have the simplicity of a single OneNote app on Windows while enjoying the interface and features you’re already familiar with,” the OneNote team explained. The company shared the following mockup of the redesigned OneNote app for Windows, and you can see that its Windows 11-inspired look will be consistent with the redesigned Office for Windows apps that Microsoft also started testing with Office Insiders.
Microsoft didn’t say when we can expect the OneNote Win32 app to get new capabilities and key existing features currently unique to OneNote for Windows 10, but the new client will likely be available first for Office Insiders. In the meantime, Windows users can continue to use either the OneNote Win32 app or OneNote for Windows 10 as usual, though Microsoft now recommends organizations planning to deploy OneNote to opt for the Win32 version, which will be the way forward for OneNote on Windows.
With Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a new version of the Microsoft Store, built to be faster and cleaner. Now today, with the release of the latest Windows 11 Insider build 22000.120, the company is beginning to roll out an updated version of the Store. This update is coming first to Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel, even though the .120 build is available for both Beta and Dev channels.
Here’s what’s new in this latest Store version (#22107.1401.9.0):
Auto-scrolling on Spotlight
Content in Spotlight will now auto-scroll when you’re browsing “so you can discover your next favorite app, movie, or game.”
New design for gaming product detail pages
Product detail pages (or PDP) are being updated to show more info and images for games.
New Ratings and Reviews dialog
The Ratings and Reviews is being updated to make it easier to rate apps and games and provide feedback.
You can check out more info on the Windows Insider blog post, and if you’re in the Beta Channel, as long as there are no blocking changes, you should be seeing this update soon, too.
Microsoft Teams is getting a new “Content from camera” feature that will help meeting participants easily read content from physical whiteboards and documents. The Redmond giant has recently updated the Microsoft 365 Roadmap to indicate that this update will begin rolling out to users on the desktop sometime in September.
The new Content from Camera feature will use special image-processing software to enable the webcam to mask out people writing on a physical whiteboard. This capability should make it easier for remote participants to clearly see what is being written. The Content Camera feature is currently only available for Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR), and it’s not supported on the desktop client.
This release should help to make distance learning and hybrid meetings environments more engaging than ever before. “Content from camera” in Teams enables you to share content from physical artefacts such as whiteboards and documents in a high quality and legible way during meetings. All you need is a laptop or PC with an in-built camera or with an attached USB camera. Educators can also share content directly from a document camera,” the company explained on the Microsoft 365 roadmap.
Microsoft Edge has started testing a new “Super Duper Secure Mode” that should make browsing more secure by addressing Javascript vulnerabilities within the browser. The feature is currently available for Edge Insiders, and it’s hidden behind an experimental flag in the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels.
Microsoft’s research has revealed that attackers usually target the JavaScript engine called “Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation” to hack web browsers. JIT is basically a complex pipeline of processes used to optimize JavaScript code for performance. Once enabled, the new Super Duper Secure Mode will actually disable the JavaScript just-in-time (JIT) compiler to prevent attackers from hacking into systems of Microsoft Edge users.
With the JIT engine disabled, the Microsoft Edge team enabled additional security features including Control Flow Guard (CFG), Windows’ Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG) as well as Intel’s Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET). According to Microsoft, JIT had compatibility issues with all these features, and turning off the JavaScript engine should help to provide a more secure browsing experience.
“By disabling JIT, we can enable both mitigations and make exploitation of security bugs in any renderer process component more difficult,” explained Johnathan Norman, Microsoft Edge Vulnerability Research Lead. “This reduction in attack surface kills half of the bugs we see in exploits and every remaining bug becomes more difficult to exploit. To put it another way, we lower costs for users but increase costs for attackers.”
If you want to try out Super Duper Secure Mode, you will need to open Microsoft Edge and go to the edge://flags page. Then type “Super Duper Secure Mode” in the search bar, enable this feature, and finally restart the browser.
However, keep in mind that the Super Duper Secure Mode is an experimental feature in Microsoft Edge, and it may break some websites. Norman noted that the company plans to bring this feature to other platforms, including macOS and Android.
In the meantime, Microsoft will keep listening to user feedback to improve this new Super Duper Secure Mode before making it generally available for everyone. “Our hope is to build something that changes the modern exploit landscape and significantly raises the cost of exploitation for attackers. Mitigations have a long history of being bypassed, so we are seeking feedback from the community to build something of lasting value,” Norman said today.
Owners of a Samsung The Frame smart TV are now able to display high quality 4K artwork from a number of Xbox video games.
This new collaboration, announced earlier this week, is made possible via a new official collection of Xbox artwork called Xbox Through The Years that’s now available via The Frame Art Store exclusively for The Frame smart TV models.
Halo, BioShock, and Microsoft Flight Simulator are confirmed to be featured within The Frame Art Store though many other franchises are also included.
“Our partnership with Samsung allows Frame owners to take a trip through Xbox history and celebrate their favorite games through breath-taking graphic art,” Xbox’s Marcos Waltenberg said as part of the official announcement. “We’re excited with ‘Xbox Through the Years’ to continue building on our years of successful collaboration with Samsung, now around Xbox Series X, Xbox’s fastest and most powerful console ever.”
Microsoft and Samsung have partnered together on various Xbox-related campaigns for several years now, starting with the Xbox One X back in 2017. Samsung is also currently the official TV partner of Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console in both the United States and Canada.
Malware, ransomware, and spyware spiked up in the last two months, so you have to become extra careful about protecting your data. Microsoft did double time on patching security issues and now it’s made it a priority.
Windows Defender is also updated pretty frequently and it has improved protection against the new threats. Moreover, through the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, Microsoft introduced a new security feature to protect your PC from potentially unwanted applications on Windows 10 and Windows 11 as well.
The first rule of Internet security is to never download apps with a poor reputation from wherever you find them free.
That’s because many of them come bundled with potentially unwanted applications (PUA) and if you run them, you will start seeing the consequences: pop-up ads, the system is slowing down, and suddenly, the search engine in your browser is changed.
Microsoft introduces, with the Windows 10 May 2020, a new reputation-based protection feature in the Windows Security app. The new security feature offers protection against PUAs, but right now it’s not enabled by default.
How can I block potentially unwanted apps on Windows?
If you want to turn on the PUA protection and block them in Windows 10 and Windows 11, follow these steps:
Type Reputation in the Windows search box and click on the Reputation-based protection in the results.
Next, click on the App & browser control and the Reputation-based protection settings. Now click on the button to turn ON the Potentially unwanted app blocking setting like in the picture below.
Once you turn on the feature, Windows Security app will block adware, cryptocurrency miners, and other unwanted scamming apps which can be bundled with your free software downloads.
Windows Security app will also let you manage PUA protection and block or allow apps, downloads, or both. It’s nice to know that this feature is also included in the Microsoft Edge browsers so Windows Defender will automatically scan for PUA as the app is being downloaded in the browser.
For the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, you will need to enable the PUA protection manually. Just open the Edge settings and go to the Privacy and services section. Then scroll down until you find Services and enable the Block potentially unwanted applications option.
We’ve actually tried downloading some known shady adware apps to see how it goes and it doesn’t actually work just yet.
These steps can be useful in blocking OneLaunch malware, so don’t hesitate to give them a try.
If you have any questions or suggestions, make sure you leave it in the comments section below.
Microsoft was already skating on thin ice because of some of the choices that they’ve made regarding the upcoming operating system.
However, if you thought the situation wasn’t bad enough, now the Redmond company decided to mass delete user comments that heavily criticized Windows 11 and everything it stands for.
An unwise plan, considering the backlash they now face because they tried silencing the community that supported them all these years, through the good and the bad.
Microsoft tries to keep users in check by deleting comments
Microsoft is not trying to get the displeased owners of incompatible hardware back under control, but the method they’ve chosen only seems to have angered them even more.
As you would’ve expected, Windows 11 is still one of the hottest and most controversial topics in the world of technology, at the moment.
A few days after the ask-me-anything (AMA) conference in which Microsoft tried to explain the OS transition in more detail, they’ve dealt with the reactions from countless upset customers.
The overall tone and dictatorial nature in which Microsoft has addressed the issue so far have been met with nothing but anger.
So, due to the massive number of negative reactions, Microsoft has closed the comment section under the YouTube video, which also included the erase of all previously posted comments.
Enraged users posted speculations that Microsoft introduced the outrageous system requirements just to sell more new devices, from which the Redmond-based software company would benefit greatly due to the included Windows licenses.
And also considering the fact that the video has gathered over 1000 dislikes and 100 likes so far, it’s likely that this was not Microsoft’s final battle in its effort to gain control over the narrative that is revolving around the controversial Windows 11 upgrade requirements.
Windows users now flood social media platforms with furious comments
Since Microsoft denied its community the right to comment on their Youtube videos, users have now taken to social media platforms to complain about this behavior.
Websites such as Reddit are now teeming with angry users that feel the need to clap back at the way that the Redmond tech giant is conducting its recent business.
Windows 11 is the mistake itself, and no, Microsoft isn’t going to cancel it. Microsoft promised that Windows 10 would be the last windows users would need, now they are ending support in just a few years. Microsoft lied.
This massive wave of user discontent makes one wonder what exactly will happen to Windows 11 in the long run, if it isn’t even out yet and it’s already creating such a negative public reaction.
On the other hand, Windows 98/Me/XP/Vista/7/8/10 have shown a pattern of hating one release then liking it over the next years.
But never has Microsoft demanded such a hardware shift only to run their OS, which is mainly where all the mixed emotions are coming from.
More and more users are now looking towards adopting a Linux experience in the near future, rather than putting up with all of the tech company’s whims.
It will be interesting to see how this story will progress over the following months, and if Microsoft will make any changes that will further impact the Windows 11 story, whether for the better or worse.
What is your opinion on all this situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
There’s no doubt that Microsoft Teams is the big thing for Microsoft. With nearly 250 million monthly active users, Teams is in use almost everywhere these days. That’s why Microsoft is making some big changes.
Back in June, Microsoft announced that they would be moving Teams away from a traditional Electron-based desktop app, to a new WebView2 app. The change in engine promised big performance improvements and other long-requested features.
Since then, Microsoft has moved on to bring some of that over into the next-generation Windows 11 operating system via a new “Chat” app in the Taskbar. I’ve spent the last few weeks playing around with the initial version of the implementation. Though I think it offers an exciting first look at what’s to come with Teams, there’s still a lot that is still being worked on before it becomes a full replacement for Skype.
Not fully featured just yet
I’ll begin my piece with a look at the bad stuff. This initial version of the Chat app in Windows 11 isn’t quite yet finished and is limited in scope. There’s still a lot of missing things, but Microsoft promises that additional features will be flighting to Windows Insiders soon. Currently, those promised features are the ones that are missing.
I am not able to make group audio or video calls, join Teams meetings, set my presence or status settings, or even share screens. This made using the Chat app a bit challenging and I did go back to the traditional Electron version of Teams as a result. Basically, in its current form, this current “Chat” app is just for basic text and SMS chats with personal accounts. You also can’t currently add work accounts, either.
Again, Microsoft promised that additional features are coming soon, but there’s reason to worry. Microsoft has been known to be slow to develop Teams features. Pre-pandemic, new features for Teams came at a slow pace. This makes me feel a bit uneasy as to when the Teams chat app will become more fully-featured.
Yet there is hope. Since then, Microsoft has added tons of features to the traditional electron app. There’s Together Mode, native OS notifications, locking and unlocking meetings, and more. I guess the best is yet to come but for now, I’m still waiting.
I love the design and performance
For all the missing features in the Teams Chat app, I really do love the design. Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime open up as separate apps in MacOS, but Microsoft managed to make the Chat app integration very subtle. I love the flyout menu in the Taskbar, and how clean and concise it looks. You’ll see a button to start a new chat, a list of your chats, the ability to sync your contacts. You even can jump into the main app with a single button. It’s a quick and easy way to stay in the action.
Overall, the performance of this new Teams Chat app is pretty impressive. The old Electron app was a little bit too slow for my liking and took a while to load between system reboots. It also bugged out at times, not properly loading chats. This new app has a refreshing layout, allowing you to resize the window the way you want it. There are even integrations with Windows 11’s notifications, letting you reply inline to text chats. Overall, my impressions are pretty much the same as my colleague Laurent Giret, who dived a bit deeper into an initial version of this app.
Lessons to be learned from Skype
For all the great things that are happening with Teams, Microsoft needs to get this new chat app in Windows 11 right this time. In the past, Microsoft made many mistakes with Skype. There was a traditional Skype desktop app, a Skype web app, and a Skype UWP app. Not to forget the “meet now” integration in the Windows 10 Taskbar. That’s too many ways to access one app. Microsoft tried long and hard to force Skype onto Windows users and consumers. If they want Teams to be successful, then this fresh approach for one Teams chat app for everything is one big step forward.
The Xbox Gear Shop, Microsoft’s official online store for Xbox video game merchandise, has been adding loads of new products recently.
A variety of Halo-themed T-shirts, caps, and hoodies have been added, likely to help build hype for the upcoming launch of the Halo Infinite video game on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows 10 and 11. Accompanying the new Halo line is a fresh Xbox Summer Collection featuring a range of Xbox-branded clothing items with a new purple and orange sunset aesthetic.
In anticipation of the launch of Forza Horizon 5 and Psychonauts 2 on consoles and PC, a tote bag, two stickers, and a collection of T-shirts featuring the Forza Horizons 5 and Psychonauts 2 logos have also been added to the Xbox Gear Shop. There’s even an official Forza Horizon 5-branded license plate frame.
Finishing up the list of new Xbox Gear Shop items are a rather cool Xbox heat change mug (which temporarily sold out recently so is likely very popular), an Xbox 20th anniversary print, and a special book celebrating the past 20 years of the Double Fine game studio.
20 Double Fine Years Book : Legend Edition
The book, 20 Double Fine Years Book, is available in both a regular version and a special Legend Edition that features a special cloth cover with gold metallic print. Both are due out in September and can be pre-ordered now.
We’re sure that you already know what this is, but just on the off chance you aren’t already aware, know that Windows 365, which is a cloud PC service that will let you take Windows 10 or 11 with you wherever you go via the power of the cloud, has officially launched.
This service will give you the chance to bring Windows to just about any device, be it Mac, iPad, or Android tablet.
Pretty neat, right?
Microsoft 365 Cloud PC pricing starts at $20 a month
If you want to benefit from these services, you will have to pay a monthly fee, which starts at a mere $20 a month.
The big twist here is that this service is focused on businesses and enterprise customers, so if you are thinking that just anyone can snatch up a Windows 365 plan whenever they need Windows for a short stint on a non-native device, you are mistaken.
So, with all this knowledge in your pocket, if you are planning to purchase this service, and start at the bare minimum end of the spectrum, you can get 1vCPU, 2GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and 12GB of outbound data for $20 per user per month.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the Cloud PC requires you to have the Windows Hybrid Benefit, because, without it, the minimum monthly buy-in is $24.
All the way at the other end of the pricing spectrum is the 8vCPU, 32GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, 70GB of outbound data option for $162 per user per month, or $158 if you have Windows Hybrid Benefit.
In between these mentioned echelons are a wide variety of different configs to suit your business’s specific needs.
You can even save some money each month by cranking down the gigabyte count of RAM and storage.
Just check out Microsoft’s website for a full rundown of all the different pricing options currently available to business and enterprise customers.
It is also not a hard to set up service so don’t be discouraged that you won’t be able to work your way around it if you aren’t highly technical.
So, if you are mostly on the go and you decided that you would want such features for yourself and the business you run, the possibilities are sky-high, literally.
What is your take on the experience versus pricing for these new services? Let us know in the comments section below.
Microsoft announced the first public availability of its “Cloud PC,” Windows 365 yesterday, and they’ve already reached capacity just one day later:
Following significant demand, we have reached capacity for Windows 365 trials. Sign up to receive a notification when trials resume or buy today, here: https://t.co/Jji5RbfTbT
Here at OnMSFT.com, we’re already Microsoft 365 users, and run our site on Azure. In other words, we “eat the dogfood.” Our writers are on a “Business Basic” plan, which means we get Teams (which we use every day as a chat app), Planner (also used every day), and the management features to make adding new writers or moving on from old ones easy and straightforward. We don’t pay for downloadable Office, as it’s not essential to what we do, but for $5 mo per user, the Business Basic plan works well for us.
Windows 365 is aimed (so far) at business and enterprise, and especially Office users, so much so that a requirement of Windows 365 is at least a Business Premium account, as Office is automatically installed on Windows 365 (at least in the generic trial offering). To try out Windows 365, we set our system account to “Business Premium” (upping the price to $20/mo, but adding Office and some Azure Active Directory features, along with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, also needed for Windows 365).
These are some of the Windows 365 prices, they range from $24/mo to $162/mo
After assigning the Business Premium account to system, and adding a Windows 365 license (we chose a 2vCPU/8GB/128GB machine for $45/mo) and assigning that, getting the Windows 365 machine up and running was fairly straightforward. We did seem to get stuck during the install, but after 30 min or so, we were able to move on by refreshing the browser.
Once Windows 365 is installed, you’re taken to windows365.microsoft.com, the portal for managing Windows 365:
From there, you just click on “Open in browser” for the machine you want to open under “Your Cloud PCs.” From there, you’re taken to Windows 365, running in your browser. One note here, even with a minimal internet connection (out here in rural northeast Washington State, internet is iffy at best, and speeds of 20mbps down / 2-3 mbps up are about as good as it gets), Windows 365 seems to perform as well as can be expected. Of course paying more for a snappier VM would help, but the internet connection doesn’t seem to be a problem.
We’ll dive more into Windows 365 in the coming days and weeks, including connecting to Windows 365 from an Android phone and/or from a Remote Desktop connection, running Windows in the cloud, and managing the Cloud PC. (another note, we tried to install Windows 11: we were able to enroll in the Windows Insider program, and download and install Windows 11. However, the machine failed to reboot, and we’re now resetting it back to a fresh install of Windows 10. Hey, we had to try!).
So far, first impressions are that it seems to work as expected. It’s a full on version of Windows in the cloud, with simple management and deployment, and a range of size and speed options. In attempting our Windows 11 experiment, the connection from Windows 365 to Windows Update etc seemed very slow, and resetting the PC is similarly taking a long time. How much of that is a 2vCPU / 8gb machine, and how much is limited resources for the Windows 365 VM program is hard to say, but the update / reset / install speeds have not been impressive so far.
Windows 365 is also expensive. You can get a pretty good modern Windows 10 laptop for the price of a year’s worth of even the low end Windows 365 configurations. Is it worth it, even for business scenarios like accessing a PC from anywhere, to run Windows in the cloud instead of just buying PCs? Maybe with volume licensing it might make more sense, but for those looking for a consumer version of Windows 365, you might be better off just buying an $800 PC.
Anyway, we’ll keep playing with Windows 365, and report back not only on performance, but also management and deployment. Bottom line is if having Windows in the cloud makes sense for your business, first impressions are that Windows 365 just might fit that bill.
Potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) are programs installed on computers or mobile devices that may compromise user security or privacy and consume computing resources. Previously, Windows 10 users who wanted to use the PUA blocking feature had to activate this feature on their Windows 10 PCs manually; however, going forward, it will be turned on by default for all consumers.
“In the Windows 10 May 2020 Update we added Potentially Unwanted App blocking for everyone running Windows 10, but customers who wanted to use it still had to turn it on. Starting in early August 2021 we’ll begin turning it on by default to make it easier for you to keep your systems performing at their best,” the company explained in a support document.
However, users who would like to turn off the feature will be able to do so by heading to the Windows Security setting, selecting the “App & browser control” option, and then clicking the Reputation-based protection settings. Users will also be able to choose if they want to keep blocking downloads or apps, or both.
Overall, this change can be particularly useful for people who want to keep their devices protected from unwanted third-party programs. These apps can seriously threaten user’s security or privacy, and this is probably why Microsoft is going with PUA protection enabled by default on Windows 10. Let us know in the comments below if you think that this change will help to protect your PCs from malware infections.
8BitDo, a company known for its Bluetooth controllers and gaming accessories will launch two new Designed For Xbox media remotes in September (via Windows Central). There will be a black Long Edition featuring a number pad, and a white Short Edition that should provide a good alternative to the new PDP Gaming Media Remote for Xbox consoles.
The two new Designed for Xbox media remotes for 8BitDo will use an infrared sensor and require 2 AAA batteries, and they’ll be compatible with Xbox Series X, Series S, and Xbox One consoles. The white Short Edition will be priced at $19.99, with the black Long Edition coming at $24.99.
Overall, the rounded design of the two remotes looks nice and comfortable, and it’s interesting to see the company offering two differently-sized remotes with colors that match Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. The two remotes almost look like official accessories, and it’s nice to see other companies step up to bolster the Designed for Xbox ecosystem.
The 8BitDo Media remotes will start shipping on September 15, 2021, and you can already find them on Amazon though they’re currently out of stock. If you use your Xbox console, let us know in the comments if you’re interested in these new remotes from 8BitDo
In addition to the “surreal, color-shifting blue shimmer,” this new Aqua Shift Edition controller will be the first one to feature rubberized, dual-colored grips on the sides. Otherwise, gamers can also expect to find textured grip on the trigger, bumpers, and even the back case.
Microsoft has just revealed the new Xbox games coming to Xbox Game Pass in August. Four new games are coming on all platforms this Thursday, August 5, with Curse of the Dead Gods, Dodgeball Academia, Katamari Damacy Reroll, and the puzzle game Lumines Remastered.
For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, there are also some EA Play updates this week with Skate joining the EA Play List on August 5, and Skate 3 becoming cloud-enabled on the same day. Dirt 4, Dirt Rally, Dirt Rally 2.0, Grid, and F1 2020 will also become available via EA Play on Xbox consoles starting August 10.
Two more games will be available on Xbox, PC, and Cloud next week, starting with Arf of Rally on August 12. The critically-acclaimed roguelike action game Hades will also join the catalog on August 13, the same day as its launches on Xbox consoles.
Lastly, Xbox Game Pass for PC members will get access to Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition on August 17. In addition to the ad-free experience, subscribers will also get an exclusive Xbox Game Pass card to use in the casual game.
Unfortunately, seven games will also leave the Xbox Game Pass catalog in the first half of August: GTA V will be removed on August 8, while Ape Out, Crossing Souls, Darksiders Genesis, Don’t Starve, Final Fantasy VII, and Train Sim World 2020 will follow on August 15.
![Dual Boot Windows 11 and Windows 7 [Easy Steps]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/windows-11-windows-7-dual-boot.jpg)
