Microsoft claims Windows 11 is the best operating system with the most advanced productivity tools and features. Although Windows Insiders already have access to some exciting new capabilities, such as Snap Assist and the Teams integrations, Microsoft has a few more surprises up its sleeves. After teasing a new Snipping Tool app, Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, revealed another big update. This time, the Alarms and Clock app is getting a new feature to boost your productivity called "Focus Sessions."
Author: Taras Buria
Taras is here to cover stories about Microsoft and everything around, although sometimes he prefers Apple.
Excel on Windows gets smooth scrolling, navigation panel
Microsoft continues shipping regular preview updates not just for Windows 11 but for Office as well. If you are testing early versions of Microsoft Office on Windows in the Beta Channel, there is a bunch of neat new features for Excel and several fixes for other apps. The most notable changes include smooth scrolling and a navigation pane in Excel.
Microsoft Edge is now safer thanks to Super-Duper Secure Mode
In the official blog, the Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research team details a new flag for Microsoft Edge called "Super-Duper Secure Mode." It intends to improve Edge's security by disabling JIT (Just-in-Time) compilation in the V8 JavaScript engine. Microsoft says bugs in JavaScript inside modern browsers are the most common vector for attackers. According to CVE data from 2019, approximately 45% of attacks on V8 relate to JIT. Disabling that component makes Microsoft Edge more secure and harder to crack. Also, "Super-Duper Secure Mode" includes additional security measures and mitigations.
Windows 11 sign in automatically without a password
If you want to sign in automatically without a password in Windows 11, you can create a local profile and use an empty password. While that method works fine, many people want to use their Microsoft Accounts in Windows 11 for additional services, sync, apps, etc.
Microsoft revealed redesigned Snipping Tool for Windows 11
If you try to google something like "How to take a screenshot on Windows 11," you will find articles with metric tons of just default tools. Windows 10 and Windows 11 have so many options to take screenshots (funny how the built-in Win+G screen recorder remains unknown to most users) that even enthusiasts might not know all of them. Yet Microsoft keeps on giving. Panos Panay, Windows Chief at Microsoft, announced on his Twitter account an upcoming redesign for the good-old Snipping Tool in Windows 11.
Windows 11 Missing Insider Channels in Insider Settings – Here is a Fix
If in your Windows 11 Insider Channels are missing in the Windows Insider Program settings, here is a quick fix that resolves the issue. Since the first public preview build of Windows 11, Microsoft released several cumulative updates with improvements and bug fixes.
Windows 11 Switch from Dev to Beta Channel in Insider Program
Wondering how to switch from the Dev to Beta Channel in Windows 11? Here is our detailed guide. After Microsoft released the first Windows 11 preview build to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, some users decided to jump off the Dev Channel and settle for more stable updates. Microsoft allows "downgrading" preview channels, but there are some caveats you need to know before switching from the Dev to Beta Channel in Windows 11.
How to Sync Clipboard Between Android and Windows 10
Thanks to the SwiftKey update, you can now sync Clipboard between Android and Windows 10. SwiftKey, a keyboard Microsoft purchased in 2016, received a new beta update with one big change.
Windows is now blocking potentially unwanted apps by default
Windows 10 May 2020 Update, also known as Windows 10 2004, introduced a new potentially unwanted app protection in Microsoft Defender. Microsoft kept that setting off by default, allowing users to decide whether to use it or not. Now Microsoft announced that it is enabling potentially unwanted app protection for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Microsoft Edge users.
Microsoft provides more information on switching from the Dev Channel
Earlier this year, Microsoft published a new document describing how the Windows Insider program works. The company made it clear that those opting for the Dev Channel cannot switch to "lower" channels because the earliest preview builds of Windows are not tied to a specific release.
