You need multiple web browsers (really)

Plus: The hidden heir to Cortana  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Thanks for reading this special early preview edition of Windows Intelligence, brought to you in partnership with [Thurrott.com](=). This design is merely a placeholder for what's to come. Stay tuned! ​ What's the best web browser? I don't have strong feelings about the answer to that these days. Each browser you might choose is great in its own way — and each has its own downsides. Here's something I do have strong feelings on: One web browser isn't enough. If you work on your PC, using one work browser for productivity and another personal browser for everything else is a great tip. Microsoft agrees, which is why it's pushing "Microsoft Edge for Business." But you don't need that particular solution — you don't even need Edge. I always have multiple browsers pinned to my taskbar. You should, too. I'll explain more in this week's Thing to Try section. Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 30 seconds [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. Windows 11's File Explorer is transforming (again) ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is testing a new File Explorer redesign for Windows 11, and it will likely arrive in a few months with Windows 11's 23H2 update in the fall. ("23H2" just means the update will arrive in the second half of 2023.) 🔎 KNOW MORE: This isn't just a surface level change. Microsoft is making some big under-the-hood improvements, too. - Windows 11 already has a modernized File Explorer, complete with the tabs many Windows users have long wished for. - Now, Microsoft is going even further, reworking even more of the app and adding features like a Gallery view for photos, a modernized Details pane with info about file details, and more status info for cloud-synced files. - Some testers are seeing performance problems with the new File Explorer redesign. Of course, the purpose of the testing process is to find bugs like that and fix them. I hope Microsoft takes the time it needs to fix those performance issues before we get it on our PCs. 📌 READ MORE: Check out this [quick hands-on]( with the new File Explorer, or read about [some people's performance concerns](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Microsoft wants to glue a cloud PC to your real PC ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Windows 365 is Microsoft's solution for running a Windows desktop "in the cloud" and accessing it from any device — and now, with Windows 365 Switch, Microsoft is working on adding easier access to those cloud PCs from the Windows taskbar. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Windows 365 is so far intended for businesses, letting them provide a remote Windows desktop experience to their employees. - Employees can sign into their Windows 365 cloud PCs from any device, including a Chromebook, Mac, Android tablet, iPad, smart TV, or even a personal Windows PC. - Windows 365 Switch makes cloud PCs integrate better with Windows 11, letting you move between your local PC and cloud PCs via the "Task View" button on the Windows taskbar. Your job might give you a separate "cloud PC" desktop — that's Microsoft's idea, anyway. - Microsoft reportedly wants to offer these cloud PCs to consumers, too. But at $31/month for businesses, that price is going to have to come way down before many people are interested. 📌 READ MORE: Read more about Windows 365 Switch in[this recent article](, or learn about this [leaked Microsoft presentation]() that details the company's plans to "move Windows 11 increasingly to the cloud." --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Windows ARM PCs still aren't ready yet ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: If you were hoping for some Windows PCs with ARM chips to challenge Apple's modern ARM Macs this year, you may have to wait. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Apple's M1 (and M2) Macs were transformative because of their processors, offering long battery life and fast performance. We PC users are still waiting for compelling ARM Windows PCs, and we'll probably be waiting even longer. - Microsoft has been trying to make ARM Windows PCs succeed since the Surface RT launched back in 2012, but the hardware just doesn't perform as well as Intel or AMD chips — or Apple's ARM chips. - The upcoming Surface Go 4 laptop that was going to use an ARM chip has reportedly been postponed, so there's a good chance Microsoft won't release any ARM Surface devices this year. - Chip-maker Qualcomm is hyping its upcoming Oryon ARM processors, promising these will definitely be the chips that take Windows on ARM mainstream in 2024 — for real this time. 📌 READ MORE: Read about [the details from an inside source](=), or learn more about[Qualcomm's upcoming processors](). ​ [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Use multiple browsers (or profiles) As we discussed at the start of this issue, Microsoft is talking up "Edge for Business," which helps you separate work-related activities from your normal personal web browsing. But you can do this kind of thing in any browser. ⌚ Creating a separate browser profile will take you 10 seconds. 💻 You can do this on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. (It works on Chromebooks, Macs, and Linux PCs, too.) ➜ In Google Chrome, click the profile icon at the top-right corner of the window and click "Add" to add a new profile. In Microsoft Edge, click the profile icon at the top-right corner of the window, point to "Other Profiles," and click "Add Profile." [Chrome's profile switcher on Windows 11.] You can then use the profile switcher up there in the corner to switch between profiles, and each profile will have its own separate icon on your taskbar. (In Mozilla Firefox, this is a little more complicated. Check out [Firefox's support site](for more info.) Or, consider just using multiple web browsers. Right now, I'm using Google Chrome for my work browsing and Mozilla Firefox for my personal browsing. Nice and simple. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Get Amazon Alexa on your Windows PC With Microsoft axing Cortana, I had quite a few requests asking for an alternative. If you're looking for a voice assistant, I have some good news: Amazon offers Alexa for your PC, but it's hidden. ⌚ Setting up Alexa will take 30 seconds. 💻 Alexa runs on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 To find the official Amazon Alexa app on the Microsoft Store, [use this link](=). You can then install Alexa on your PC and set it up however you want — for example, it can listen for the word "Alexa" and then set timers and perform other tasks on your PC. [The Alexa Wake Word notification on Windows.] If you don't have a direct link, Alexa for PC is hard to find: I didn't see it at all when I searched the Microsoft Store on my Windows 11 PC, and I didn't find any links to it on Amazon's website. It's the last voice assistant standing on Windows, even though it's hard to find. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Record a video of your Windows desktop Did you know you can record a video of anything on your Windows 11 desktop in just a few seconds? You don't have to install anything, and it's simple. ⌚ You can start recording a video in 10 seconds. 💻 The modern Snipping Tool is only available on Windows 11. ➜ Open your Start menu, type "Snipping Tool," and launch the Snipping Tool application to get started. Click the little video camera icon in the Snipping Tool window, and then click "New" to start recording. [The Video button in Windows 11's Snipping Tool.] You'll be prompted to draw a box on your screen — draw it around whatever you want to record, and then click "Start." The Snipping Tool will start recording. When you're done, click "Stop" on the toolbar at the top of the screen. Finally, click the "Save" icon (it looks like a floppy disk) in the Snipping Tool window to save your recording as an MP4 file. All done! ​ [] ❱❱ Top Thurrott Thoughts Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Disney+ Lost 11.7 Million Subscribers in Q2, Will Raise Prices](=) - Disney will raise prices on Hulu and ESPN+, too. - ​[Microsoft Brings More Windows 11 Dev Channel Features to Canary Insiders](=) - Looks like a nice upgrade to desktop backgrounds on HDR displays. - ​[Lenovo Tab Extreme First Impressions]() - Paul takes a look at the Android tablet and ponders the state of the market, with Android tablets and iPads becoming more PC-like and Windows becoming more tablet-like. - ​[Slack Announces a Major Redesign]( - Big news for everyone who uses the workplace-focused chat app. - ​[Microsoft Edge for Business to Launch This Month]( - It's not just a separate browser for work; that browser can be centrally managed by an organization. - ​[Microsoft Store Launches its Annual Back-to-School Sale](=) - Savings on Surface devices. ​ [] ❱❱ And Just for Fun... Remember when Microsoft was going to end email spam forever? Back in 2004, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said "Two years from now, spam will be solved." Nearly twenty years later, that clearly didn't pan out. Bill Gates announced that Microsoft had a few solutions in the cards, and the most promising was to make people pay to send emails. As a[CBS News story](=) from 2004 explains: People would set a level of monetary risk — low or high, depending on their choice — for receiving e-mail from strangers. If the e-mail turns out to be from a long-lost relative, for example, the recipient would charge nothing. But if it is unwanted spam, the sender would have to fork over the cash. ​ "In the long run, the monetary (method) will be dominant," Gates predicted. The story kind of ends there. Microsoft never launched anything like this at all, as far as I know. Since that announcement was made, modern email services have started using forms of "sender verification" to help identify whether emails are spam or not. However, they don't involve per-email payments — and they haven't put an end to spam, either. ​ Have an Awesome Weekend Another issue down! I've had a great month getting Windows Intelligence started. I hope to keep Windows Intelligence going for a long time, and I look forward to making it better and better in the future. Thank you for being one of the people that makes this possible. Thanks for reading Windows Intelligence and being a part of our early preview phase! We'd love to hear what you think so far. ​[Submit your feedback here]() — or just reply to this email. We'll read every single comment, and your thoughts will absolutely help shape and guide what this newsletter becomes. You received this email because your address was signed up for the Windows Intelligence early preview. If you didn't mean to sign up or no longer wish to be subscribed, you can [unsubscribe or update your preferences here](=).