Clippy-like AI at forefront of Windows update previews
- Reference: 1698407168
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/10/27/microsoft_windows_10_11_updates/
- Source link:
The update previews include several bug fixes, including memory leaks in ctfmon.exe and TextInputHost.exe , and represent a preview of the non-security changes due to hit on November's Patch Tuesday.
Unsurprisingly, there is little by way of new functionality in the Windows 10 22H2 [1]KB5031445 update. As well as the issues described above, the update also deals with v4 print driver problems, an Outlook freeze when attempting to print to an Internet Printing Protocol printer, and network issues when a second network card is added.
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Microsoft also highlighted addressing issues that affected touchscreens when more than one display was attached.
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However, the Windows 11 22H2 [5]KB5031455 update was considerably beefier. As well as the fixes applied to its predecessor, the update also switched on the new functionality of Moment 4.
[6]Does Windows have a very weak password lurking in its crypto libraries?
[7]CEO Satya Nadella thinks Microsoft hung up on Windows Phone too soon
[8]Windows 11: The number you have dialed has been disconnected
[9]Take Windows 11... please. Leaks confirm low numbers for Microsoft's latest OS
Or, as a cynic might put it, an attempt to ram AI down the throats of Windows users.
Unsurprisingly, considering Microsoft's bet on AI, the preview of Copilot comes top of the list of highlights. Other changes in Moment 4 include AI features in Microsoft Paint and Photos, a backup application, support for more archive formats, and yet more tweaks to the veteran Notepad applications in terms of autosaving.
You'd be correct if you thought this all looked very familiar and [10]23H2 -like. Windows 11 23H2 has yet to formally appear, but the updates first turned up in September for users who sought them out. Today's update is available to all Windows 11 22H2 users opting to receive the preview. It will then arrive as part of November's Patch Tuesday.
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The KB5031455 update for Windows 11 is a reminder that the old days of significant new features turning up with major operating system releases are gone. Microsoft can now sling out features as and when they are available, even if some might be considered an early delivery of what was due in Windows 11 23H2. ®
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[1] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/october-26-2023-kb5031445-os-build-19045-3636-preview-03f350cb-57f9-45e6-bfd7-438895d3c7fa
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZTvewb09wvQlF1Xxcx59TQAAAlc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZTvewb09wvQlF1Xxcx59TQAAAlc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZTvewb09wvQlF1Xxcx59TQAAAlc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/october-26-2023-kb5031455-os-build-22621-2506-preview-6513c5ec-c5a2-4aaf-97f5-44c13d29e0d4
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/26/windows_password/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/25/nadella_windows_phone_regrets/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/23/column/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/18/take_windows_11_please/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/27/it_looks_like_youre_a/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZTvewb09wvQlF1Xxcx59TQAAAlc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
and the search that can't find most apps you have installed...
or that you can't change the order of windows within a group...
Or, as a cynic might put it, an attempt to ram AI down the throats of Windows users.
I'm not sure you need to be a cynic to classify the tactics as "ramming AI down your throat".
Maybe they should add a pop-up window on every mouse click with the question: "You are trying to select something. Please consider Copilot to click for you and improve your productivity. Would you like to continue >>[yes]<< / [no] and install Copilot? "
Dammit
Just yesterday, I was mentioning to my wife about [1]Word's 40th birthday , and she asked if Clippy was there. I confidently answered in the negative, but it seems I may have been mistaken. Or if not Clippy proper, at least his ghost, back to haunt us.
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/25/microsoft_word_40/
Wait... autosaving NotePad?
re: "yet more tweaks to the veteran Notepad applications in terms of autosaving."
That sounds like a nightmare. I'll be switching off that option.
Imagine using Notepad to type a new line into a website's Web.Config file. You're halfway through typing it, and NotePad thinks "this is a good time to save the changes so far"....
Re: Wait... autosaving NotePad?
Yeah. Well, it's not a nightmare, but autosave on a plain text editor is the kind of feature that you either specifically want, or you specifically do not want, depending on the use case. Given that the main use case of Notepad is editing configuration files, I'd classify it as "nice as an option, but it should be disabled by default". I've fairly often relied on Notepad not autosaving.
Wish they'd unfuck the taskbar. I don't have admin on this work laptop and the lack of toolbars and only having grouped window icons is driving me nuts.