10 PC power tools you need

Plus: Microsoft's Start menu shake-up  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Lumen logo](​ I've got some good news and some bad news. (But mostly good news!) The bad news: Microsoft has invested a lot of time and money in hyping up the exclusive AI features you can get if you buy a new Copilot+ PC. But, as I've pointed out over the past few weeks, these features don't do much. The good news: There is an extra package of features Microsoft offers — features that are interesting, powerful, and extremely useful. And they're free for everyone, whether you're using Windows 11 or Windows 10. It's called Microsoft PowerToys. I know I've talked about it before. But, this week, I want to dive deeper and share all kinds of useful things you can do with it. Scroll down to this week's Things to Try section for all the details. [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 30 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Microsoft is testing a Start menu redesign ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is experimenting with a redesign for the "All Apps" view in the Start menu — and it's just one of many Start menu changes the company is working on. 🔎 KNOW MORE: These changes are for the Windows 11 Start menu, and some of them are farther along than others. - The "All Apps" list appears to be getting a category view with a grid of icons. It looks a lot like the "App Library" on an iPhone. This is an experimental change buried in the latest Insider builds. - Microsoft is also adding "jump lists" to the Start menu — the same extra context menu options you see when you right-click an application's taskbar icon. - The Start menu will get companion panels, too. For example, you'll be able to see information from your phone as a sidebar alongside the Start menu. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [these screenshots of the changes](). 🗳️ [Which Windows release had the best Start menu?]() Vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll! --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The taskbar's system tray is being streamlined ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft wants to clean up your cluttered system tray. Changes are being tested in Insider builds of Windows 11. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The company wants to hide unnecessary information from the clock and get rid of that notification bell. - With this change, the clock on the taskbar will say something like "11:45 7/18" rather than "11:45 AM 7/18/2024". You can still choose to activate the current, longer form. - Microsoft is also hiding the notification bell icon unless you're in do not disturb mode. - Meanwhile, the Copilot AI icon has already moved from the right side of the taskbar to be a normal pinned application — but this change is rolling out slowly. 📌 READ MORE: Read about [the changes Microsoft is making to the taskbar](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The AI-powered Designer is coming to the Photos app ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is integrating its Designer service straight into the Windows Photos app for more convenient access to AI image editing features. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The Photos app has some basic Designer integration today — a button will open the current photo in Designer's website in your browser. Soon, the Designer experience will be part of the Photos app. - The "Edit with Designer" button will soon open Designer in the Photos app. (This is being tested, and it isn't available yet.) - You'll be able to erase objects, blur backgrounds, and use a wide variety of other AI-powered image editing and touchup features. - These features all work on any PC. They use Microsoft's cloud servers, so you don't need a fancy new "AI PC." 📌 READ MORE: Check out [Microsoft's announcement](=). SPONSORED MESSAGE The easiest way to understand your health needs 💪 [Fruits and veggies working out](​ Are you feeling lost in a sea of generic health advice? Or, worse yet, overwhelmed by contradictory health advice from all the Health Influencers™ online these days? Not anymore, thanks to[Lumen](. This cutting-edge smart gadget analyzes your metabolism and creates a health plan built just for you. Simply breathe into your Lumen each morning, and it will personalize your entire health journey based on real-time data about how your body burns fuel for energy. How Lumen works: 📊 Uses data to create a customized health plan — from nutrition and workouts to sleep and stress management 🤝 Integrates with Google Fit, Apple Health, and Garmin 💬 Comes with one month of free 1:1 nutritionist chat access ➜ [What are you waiting for? Invest in YOU with 15% off your Lumen device today.]( [TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH​ ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Use these PowerToys to upgrade your PC experience Microsoft PowerToys is an excellent free package of PC power tools. I've often shared useful PowerToys, but this week I've rounded up my top 10 favorite PowerToys every PC user should know about. ➜ Microsoft is talking up exclusive new AI features in its new Copilot+ laptops, but those AI features aren't too useful. The PowerToys package delivers a useful bundle of new features any PC user can use — for free. ⌚ Each PowerToy will take you 15 to 30 seconds to check out. 💻 These work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Check out [my top 10 PowerToy picks]( at Computerworld. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Get to Quick Settings (with the keyboard, too) The Quick Settings panel is a great place to quickly change settings — Wi-Fi, screen brightness, sound settings, and more. You can normally access it by clicking in the right spot on the taskbar. ➜ But there are keyboard shortcuts that will let you pull it up, too. I'm finding this pretty useful on touch-screen PCs lately — a quick keyboard shortcut with the left hand, and then buttons to tap with the right hand. ⌚ This shortcut will take you 1 second to use. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To pull up the Quick Settings tiles on either Windows 11 or Windows 10, press Windows+A. (On Windows 10, this opens something called the "Action Center" — hence the use of the letter A for the shortcut.) You can also access Quick Settings by clicking the status icons at the bottom-right corner of the taskbar (on Windows 11) or the notification bubble icon down there (on Windows 10.) [Quick Settings on Windows 11.] On Windows 11, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard and the Enter key to interact with the quick settings buttons after opening the panel. And, if you have a touch-screen PC, you can quickly tap the shortcuts to take actions. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Hide the date and time on your taskbar (if you want) Microsoft may want to hide parts of the clock on your taskbar in the future, but you can clean up the clock on your taskbar today — by hiding the whole thing. ➜ It's not for everyone, but you can get a nice clean taskbar with no clock and no date on it at all — if you like. Maybe you already have a clock you can see in your office! ⌚ You can flip this setting in 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To do this on Windows 11, right-click the clock on your taskbar and select "Adjust date and time." Scroll down and toggle off "Show time and date in the System tray." On Windows 10, right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Scroll down to the Notification area section and select "Turn system icons on or off." Then, toggle off "Clock." That's it! [Hiding the system tray clock on Windows 11.] ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 Gen 9 Review](=)​ - I'm a big fan of this laptop, too. - ​[Windows 11 Version 24H2 Introduces Yet Another Way to Update Windows]()​ - Getting into the nitty gritty. - ​[AMD to Launch Its Zen 5 AI Processors on July 31]() - AMD is beating Intel to the punch. - ​[HP Announces AMD-Based AI PC with 55 TOPS NPU]()​ - Traditional x86 PCs with AI support and better battery life are on the way. - ​[Microsoft is Testing New Recent, Favorites, and Shared Tabs in File Explorer](​ - Microsoft is tweaking File Explorer, too. - ​[Modernizing .NETpad: Unexpected Design Progress (Premium)](​ - Paul Thurrott shares his experience developing his app. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Cartoon astronaut in takeoff pose](=) Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try [TLDR’s free daily newsletter](=). TLDR covers the most interesting tech, science, and coding news in just 5 minutes. [SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE](=) [And Just for Funsies...] With Microsoft changing the Start menu's design once again, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole through Start menu history. Ars Technica has a look at [the saga of the windows Start menu]( from 1993 until Windows 10. It's fascinating to see how the Start menu evolved over time. Windows 8 was the biggest break with the past, replacing the Start menu with a full-screen Start screen and eliminating the button. Windows 10 brought together both worlds: A Start menu on the desktop, but with live tiles. These live tiles are gone from Windows 11 today, of course. Personally, I'm a big fan of Windows 7's Start menu. It delivered a convenient search box built into the Start menu, and that was a huge deal at the time. That search box is still my favorite Start menu feature today. (Okay, that search box technically arrived with Windows Vista. But, like many people, I didn't use Windows Vista very much.) But, more importantly: Now that you've had a chance to revisit the Start menu's past, I'm curious what you think. 🗳️ [Which Windows release had the best Start menu?]() Be sure to vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll! That's all, folks That's it for this week! I look forward to seeing you again in your inbox next week. Have a great weekend! --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: 39% of readers think their laptop needs longer battery life, while 24% of readers think their laptop's battery life is just fine. Everyone else always uses their laptop plugged in — or just uses a desktop PC. Overall, there's a clear demand for longer battery life! 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? 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