Your PC and phone, together at last

Android or iPhone? Your choice!  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Babbel logo](=)​ This February is an interesting time for PCs. Manufacturers just announced their flashy new hardware at the start of January, but they haven't released it all yet. A big Windows release is coming later in 2024, but we don't know all the details. It's easy to see glimmers of changes in the works: Lots of tweaks coming for Windows, more AI features, and the long-promised arrival of a competitor to Intel and AMD. But Windows Intelligence isn't just about waiting for new things. It's about getting the most out of your PC today. That's why, this week, I'm focusing on the awesome Phone Link feature on your PC. You can text from your PC — and do a lot more, depending on the type of phone you have. Scroll down to this week's "Things to Try" section for all the details. And hey, one last thing: Could you fill out [our quick reader survey]( if you have a minute? It will be a huge help for us here at The Intelligence. Also: As a thank you, we'll enter you in a draw to win one of two $50 gift cards — Best Buy or Amazon, your choice! Thank you for your time and consideration! Now, let's get back to Windows. [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1.An "AI" audio feature is coming to all Windows 11 PCs ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: All Windows 11 PCs will get "Voice Clarity," a feature that launched on the Surface Laptop Studio in 2022. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Voice Clarity "cancels echo, suppresses background noise, and reduces reverberation in real-time," according to Microsoft. In other words, it makes your voice sound clearer in online meetings and other calls. - Microsoft says this works with the Phone Link app (which I talk about below,) WhatsApp, and any other app that uses a standard "Communications Signal Processing Mode." - This feature will no longer require a PC with an AI-accelerating neural processing unit (NPU.) Microsoft says it's "powered by low complexity AI models," so it's possible the company is figuring out which of its upcoming "AI" features will actually need that specific hardware — and which could run on all PCs. - This is just part of an Insider build of Windows 11 for now, so it's unclear when this will arrive on stable Windows 11 PCs. 📌 READ MORE: Check out Microsoft's [announcement of the Voice Clarity feature]( from 2022, including a video demonstrating it. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Windows 11 is getting other spiffy new changes ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The latest big Insider build of Windows 11 also includes a variety of other changes Microsoft is working on. 🔎 KNOW MORE: This Insider build of Windows 11 may be the start of that "big new version of Windows" planned for fall 2024. - Windows is getting a new setup experience, replacing the dated, Windows 8-era design of the Windows Setup wizard with a more modern look — complete with streamlined, easier to understand options. - The Copilot button has moved to the bottom right of your screen. The Copilot sidebar opens at the right side of your screen, so that makes sense. - Other changes include a redesigned Task Manager icon, the removal of WordPad, and a new compression wizard that gives you more control over creating ZIP, 7zip, and TAR archive files — no third-party tools necessary. 📌 READ MORE: Learn more about [what's new in the update](=) or take a tour of [the new Windows Setup boot experience](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Google Chrome is nearly ready for ARM Windows PCs ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Google is readying a Chrome browser that runs on ARM PCs. The most popular browser in the world may have good performance on those Qualcomm-powered PCs launching later this year. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Windows on ARM runs on the same type of chip that powers modern smartphones and tablets. The hope is that Windows on ARM PCs can offer a power-efficient alternative to Intel and AMD. - Windows on ARM can run most existing applications made for Intel computers, but it does so through emulation — that means Chrome has been slow on Windows on ARM PCs. - Google just launched a testing version of Chrome Canary for Windows on ARM, so Google may officially support Chrome on the Windows on ARM PCs coming out later this year. - Microsoft has been talking up Windows on ARM for more than a decade. Capable hardware is always right around the corner, and it has never panned out as promised. But, supposedly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors launching this year will be great. I hope they are! 📌 READ MORE: Take a look at [this quick news story about Chrome on Windows on ARM](=) to learn more. SPONSORED MESSAGE What can you accomplish in 10 minutes a day? Unload the dishwasher? Think about how to spend your next ten minutes? How about learn a new language? [Man with wine and a baguette saying bonjour](=)​ This New Year, [let Babbel be your guide](=) with quick and fun 10-minute lessons that will have you speaking a new language conversationally in just three weeks. Make 2024 the year of new adventures. The Intelligence readers can jumpstart their language skills with a special New Year’s offer: 55% off their subscription. Imagine the places you'll go and the conversations you'll have! ➜ [Transform your language goals into reality with your 55% off offer from Babbel.](=)​ [​START YOUR 2024 LANGUAGE JOURNEY ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Link your phone to your PC for texting, photos, and more Windows has a powerful Phone Link tool that will let you text from your PC, see notifications, and take phone calls — all wirelessly, of course. It works with both Android phones and iPhones, and it's worth setting up. ➜ But the Phone Link experience works differently with different phones. It offers a better experience on Android than iPhone. But it varies even among Android devices: For example, Phone Link offers unique features on Samsung Galaxy phones that you can't get on Google Pixel phones. ⌚ It will take you a minute or so to link your phone and get started. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 My latest guide shows [exactly what you can do with Phone Link — and how to set it up](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Add multiple clocks to the system tray Did you know you can add multiple clocks to the system tray clock on Windows? It's especially useful if you communicate with people in other time zones. ➜ You'll see the other time zones when you either hover your mouse cursor over the clock — or when you click the clock and look at the popup menu. ⌚ You can set this up in 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. First, on either Windows 10 or Windows 11, right-click the clock in the system tray on your taskbar and select "Adjust date and time." Then: - On Windows 10: Click "Add clocks for different time zones" under Related Settings. Depending on the size of your settings window, this option may be either at the bottom of the window or at the right side of the window. - On Windows 11: Scroll down to the bottom of the settings window that appears and click "Additional clocks." You can then add up to two more clocks — and name them. [The Additional Clocks tab in Windows 11's Settings.] That's it — now just hover your mouse cursor over the clock or click it to see the extra time zones. [Windows 11's system tray showing multiple clocks on hover.] ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Use Snap Layouts for easy window-snapping Microsoft is working on upgrading the Snap Layouts feature so that it will suggest windows you want to snap. That will be especially useful — but only if you're already using Snap Layouts. ➜ Snap Layouts makes snapping windows to various sides and corners of your screen easier on Windows 11. Snap is awesome, and anything that makes it more accessible is great. ⌚ You can try this out in just 6 seconds. 💻 This is just for Windows 11. To access Snap Layouts, either hover your mouse cursor over the maximize button at the top-right corner of a window — or press Windows+Z. Click anywhere in any of the layout grids to snap the current window to that region of the screen. You can also use the arrow or number keys to choose a position from your keyboard — if you start snapping by pressing Windows+Z, you'll see number keys you can press above the grid. [The Snap Layouts popup on Windows 11.] ​ After you've snapped the window, Windows will prompt you to choose windows for the other Snap regions, too. Use your mouse or use the arrow and Enter keys to select them. That's it! If you want to learn more Snap tricks — and see all the ways you can snap on Windows 10, too — check out [my guide to the Windows Snap feature](=). ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Microsoft Explains Recent Hack in More Detail, Offers Advice to Customers]()​ - Microsoft was recently hacked. - ​[The Security Rabbit Hole Has No Bottom (Premium)](=)​ - Digging into online account security. - ​[Fossil Exits the Smartwatch Market](=) - They're focusing on traditional watches. - ​[Analysis of Microsoft’s FY24 Q2: You Can’t Spell Activision Without AI (Premium)](=) - Paul Thurrott analyzes Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings. - ​[Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra First Impressions]()​ - Hands-on with Samsung's latest phone. ​ [And Just for Funsies...] And now, for something completely different. If you're a fan of both relaxing music and Windows XP — or at least the famous "Bliss" wallpaper with its rolling green hills — Microsoft has just the video for you. Late last year, Microsoft released [a one-hour-long music video](=) combining Windows XP's Bliss wallpaper — complete with animations — and relaxing "lofi beats," which are the craze these days. So if you want to chill out to an animated Windows XP wallpaper and some soothing music, this is the video for you! [[video preview]​](=) Until next time... Thanks for being here for another issue of Windows Intelligence! I appreciate it. Take care! 🤚 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? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Windows Intelligence, Android Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider](=) to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable!