5 New Year's resolutions for your PC

Plus a Chrome trick we've been waiting for  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Novo logo]( 2024 is upon us! This week, I'm embracing the spirit of the New Year with a short list of New Year's resolutions — and habits — I'd recommend to all PC users. I also just found an excellent trick for Google Chrome — something I've personally been waiting for for years. I just have to share it with you. As usual, we have just a few days of calm before the tech news storm that is the Consumer Electronics Show. We're sure to hear a lot about AI laptops, Wi-Fi 7, new power-efficient PC chips, and more — and see more of the hardware that will be launched in the coming months and the year ahead. In fact, Microsoft has already made a significant announcement about future laptop keyboards. Let's get to it! [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: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Windows 11 is getting a "Moment 5" update soon ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is reportedly planning an update with new features for Windows 11 in early February. Call it "Moment 5" or "February 2024 Moment." (Why do these names have to be so strange?) 🔎 KNOW MORE: This update includes a lot of upcoming features we've talked about already, bringing them from Insider builds of Windows 11 to all Windows 11 PCs - The ability to write directly in any text box with a pen — which Microsoft talked up last September — should arrive in this update. - Various features to make Windows 11 Europe-ready will arrive, including the ability to use Google or another search engine instead of Bing in the Start menu and uninstall Edge and other apps. Many of these features may only be available for PCs in Europe, but there are sure to be ways around this, and I look forward to sharing how anyone can take advantage of them. - Nearby Sharing, which lets nearby Windows PCs share files back and forth, should have faster transfer speeds — and the ability to set a custom name for your PC. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [this comprehensive look at the Moment 5 news](), published over the holidays. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. New PC keyboards are getting a "Copilot" key ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Future Windows PCs are getting a brand-new keyboard key for launching Copilot. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft says this new key "joins the Windows key as a core part of the PC keyboard" and that its introduction "kicks off the year of AI-powered Windows PCs." - The Copilot key will launch the Copilot sidebar on Windows 11, but it's easy to see how it might also launch other AI experiences in apps in the future. - Microsoft also tried to roll out an Office key a few years ago, but it was a halfhearted attempt and the key only ever appeared on a handful of keyboards. - When Copilot isn't available, the key will launch Windows Search instead. 📌 READ MORE: [Microsoft's Copilot key announcement]( has the details. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The New York Times is suing Microsoft over AI ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, demanding the destruction of any large language models trained on its data — that means the models that underlie Copilot and ChatGPT. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The New York Times' copyright infringement lawsuit appears to be the strongest lawsuit against companies using AI models yet. It's going to be one to watch. - The lawsuit alleges Microsoft and OpenAI's tools recite New York Times articles verbatim. - OpenAI has reached deals with publications like the Associated Press, but not with The New York Times. Microsoft has so far refused to comment. - There's no reason AI models, as a technology, have to be trained on New York Times articles and other data without the permission of copyright holders. Getty created an AI image generator trained only on its own licensed content, and a company like Microsoft or OpenAI could create a large language model trained on only licensed (and public domain) content as well. 📌 READ MORE: Paul Thurrott has [a good analysis of the coming legal battle](=), and of course you can [read all about it in The New York Times](). SPONSORED MESSAGE Helping small businesses find their independence [Novo app and credit card with text reading "Helping small businesses find their independence."]( ​[Novo]( was designed for modern small business owners. Forget about monthly fees, minimums, and juggling multiple apps just to understand if you made a profit. Focus on what matters most: growing your business. From budgeting to invoicing, managing your money has never been this easy. There’s a reason 200,000+ businesses trust Novo. ​[➜ Visit novo.co to see for yourself.](​ [​APPLY NOW ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Pick some PC New Year's resolutions — and habits It's the start of a new year, so I thought I would take a moment and focus on some meaningful resolutions — and habits — you can use to improve your computing experience this coming year — and beyond. ➜ My suggested New Year's resolutions for PC users including making a backup plan you can stick to, keeping your PC running speedily, putting a stop to the distractions Microsoft subjects you to, giving Windows 11 a real chance, and making it a point to embrace AI tools — there are lots of good reasons for that last one, whether you're a fan of AI or not. ⌚ It will take you a few minutes to get started with any of these resolutions. 💻 By and large, these tips work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Take a look at [my latest New Year's resolution-packed Computerworld column](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Get vertical tabs in Google Chrome — finally! Google Chrome is a great browser, but it's had one big missing feature: Vertical tabs. ➜ Microsoft Edge has a built-in vertical tab bar, and you can install one with an extension like [Tree Style Tab for Firefox](). But there was no really good way to get vertical tabs in Chrome — until now. ⌚ You can set this up in just 5 seconds. 💻 This works in Chrome on Windows 10, Windows 11, and other operating systems. All you need is the new [Vertical Tabs in Side Panel extension]( for Google Chrome. It takes advantage of the new "Side Panel" feature in Google Chrome, offering you tabs in a browser sidebar. Once it's installed, you can click the extension's icon on Chrome's toolbar or open the side panel and select "Vertical Tabs" to see them. [The Vertical Tabs in Side Panel extension for Google Chrome.] --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Try "mouse hover window activation" Windows has an interesting and buried setting that activates windows when you hover your mouse cursor over them — in other words, move the cursor to the window and it pops right up on top of other windows, ready for you to interact and type in it. ➜ My former coworker and current PCWorld writer Michael Crider [writes that]() it's the first thing he enables on every PC he uses — and that it's a huge help on laptop trackpads. It's worth a try! ⌚ You can enable this feature in about 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To find this option, open the classic "Control Panel" from the Start menu. Select "Ease of Access" and then click "Ease of Access Center." Scroll down to the Explore all settings list and click "Make the mouse easier to use." [Click the "Make the mouse easier to use" option.] ​ Check the "Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse" option here and click "Apply." [The "Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse" option checked.] You can now move your mouse cursor around to activate windows. If you don't like the way this works, just return to this window and uncheck the box. ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Microsoft Releases the First Windows 11 Insider Builds of 2024]( - Check out the new weather experience on the lock screen. - ​[Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit Over Chrome Incognito Mode Tracking]() - The practice also applied to "privacy" modes in other web browsers. - ​[Microsoft Disables Key Windows App Install Tech Used to Distribute Malware]() - Windows could download apps in a way that antivirus couldn't scan them? Absolutely bizarre. - ​[Microsoft Copilot Comes to iPhone and iPad](=) - Copilot is also available as an Android app. - ​[LastPass Makes a Major Change to How Master Passwords Work]( - I personally recommend switching away from LastPass if you're still using it. ​ [And Just for Funsies...] The Consumer Electronics Show is almost upon us, and Microsoft has already released some hot new gaming hardware. Yes, Microsoft just released an Xbox toaster — for real. You can buy it for [$40 on Walmart.com]() if you're into that sort of thing. It's cute, but it seems like an April Fool's joke that accidentally escalated into the real world. Look, I'll be honest: While it's fun that the toaster imprints an Xbox logo onto the toast, I'd rather have a more even toast across the bread, so I'll be skipping this one. [Microsoft's Xbox toaster.] Microsoft has been releasing other products like this one, too. Microsoft sells an Xbox mini fridge — you can still [buy it at Walmart.com](), too. The tech industry would certainly be more interesting if more companies released random products like this. On to CES! And that's it for the pre-CES issue — next week, expect a bounty of PC-related news from Las Vegas. I'll be keeping an eye on the action from home this year. (I always say that it's easier to absorb all the news from home when you're not racing around Las Vegas going from meeting to meeting — although there's something to be said for going hands-on with the hardware and chatting with the engineers and PR people in person, naturally.) Stay tuned for all the CES news! 🤚 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? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? 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