Microsoft is developing a unified OneNote app for Windows. In coming 12 months, Microsoft plans to merge OneNote (Win32) and OneNote for Windows 10 (UWP) into a single app. As reported in the official blog, the company intends to bring to the classic version of OneNote all the key features that are currently unique to the UWP version of OneNote for Windows 10. In addition, the desktop application will receive an updated design to match the style of Windows 11.
The Alarms app in Windows 11 is getting time-tracking features for focused work
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."
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.
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.120 Released in Dev and Beta Channels
Microsoft today released a new build to Windows Insiders. Build 22000.120 is now available in both Dev and Beta channels. It comes with a new 'Family' widget, notification badging for the Chat icon, and a bunch of fixes and improvements.
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.
Windows 11 Restart Explorer Context Menu
Here's how to add the Restart Explorer context menu in Windows 11. It will allow you to quickly restart the Windows shell if it gives you issues, has some glitches, or when you need to apply some tweak on-the-fly.
Microsoft officially announced Layered Group Policy Application in Windows 10
Microsoft today introduced a new feature for IT Pros, layered Group Policy. This new feature allows configuring which devices can be installed on machines across your organization and which are prohibited.
Create Windows 11 Bootable USB for Installing or Troubleshooting
To do a clean install of Windows 11, you need to create a bootable USB with Windows 11. Most modern PCs support loading the OS from a USB drive, and do not include an optical drive. There is nothing new in creating a bootable USB drive, but in case of Windows 11, you need to keep in mind its strict requirements.
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.
