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Continuous innovation coming to Windows 11 in March

March 1, 2024

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Microsoft has announced updates and new features for its Windows 11 operating system. These new features include the ability to use smartphone cameras as webcams, intelligent snap suggestions, new AI-powered Copilot tools and skills, and more. In a blog post, Microsoft stated that the majority of these new updates have begun to roll out to customers, while the remaining features will be made available over the next few weeks via a controlled feature rollout process. Here’s what’s new in the latest Windows PC update:

Windows 11: Use smartphone camera as a webcam for PC

Microsoft stated that it is gradually rolling out the ability to use an Android device’s camera in any video application on the Windows 11 operating system. Currently, the feature is only available on Microsoft’s Windows Insider platform, which is used to test new Windows builds and features before they are released.

Users will be able to use this feature to wirelessly connect their Android smartphones to their Windows PCs and stream the video feed from the smartphone to their computer. The feature will allow users to switch between the front and back cameras on their smartphone and use the smartphone’s camera features to stream to a PC.

To use this feature, the connected smartphone must be running Android 9.0 or later and have the Link to Windows app installed.

To use the feature, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Mobile devices on your PC and then click Manage devices. Allow your PC to connect to your Android phone via the menu option.

Use Android smartphones as webcams for computers.

Windows 11: New skills for Copilot

Copilot for Windows 11 will receive new skills and features with the update. Microsoft stated that these features will begin to roll out in the latter half of March.
Once available, Windows PC users can use the Copilot AI assistant to change computer settings. For example, when prompted to “enable battery saver” or “turn off battery saver,” Copilot will take the appropriate action. Users can instruct the AI assistant to perform the following tasks:

Turn on or off battery saver.
Display device, battery, and system information.
Open the storage page.
Show the available Wi-Fi networks.
Display the IP address and available storage space.
Empty the recycle bin.

Aside from these, users can ask Copilot for Windows to launch accessibility features like live captions, narrator, magnifier, voice access page, and more. Microsoft also stated that they will add new ways to integrate third-party plugins into the Copilot assistant.

Windows 11 includes AI features in creative apps.

The recently announced Generative Erase feature for the Photos app has begun rolling out to users worldwide. The feature allows users to remove unwanted objects from photos by simply selecting and erasing them with the brush tool. Additionally, the company is releasing a preview of the upcoming silence removal feature for the video editing app Clipchamp. It essentially removes silence from the audio.

Windows 11: Other updates

Microsoft’s new update improves the Widgets and built-in Snap layouts features in Windows 11. The Snap layout, which allows users to resize and organise apps on Windows, will now provide personalised layout suggestions based on their usage patterns. The Widgets board for Windows is being updated, allowing users to separate and organize Widgets into distinct categories such as Work, Play, and more.

Microsoft also announced that it has expanded its file sharing options to include apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram. More applications, such as Facebook Messenger, will be added shortly to the list.