Podcast Summary: Hands-On Windows 137: MIA Windows 11 Features

Podcast Information:

• Title: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
• Host: TWiT (Paul Throt)
• Episode: Hands-On Windows 137: MIA Windows 11 Features
• Release Date: April 24, 2025
• Description: Leo Laporte brings some of the most interesting personalities in technology together to talk about the most important issues. Fun, relaxed, informative, and always entertaining, count on TWiT for the best tech podcasts in the world.

Introduction

In this episode of Hands-On Windows, host Paul Throt delves into a topic that diverges from the usual discussion of newly released or existing features in Windows 11. Instead, Paul focuses on exploring a range of features that Microsoft has announced and actively tested but have yet to make their way into the stable release of Windows 11. Drawing from extensive research, Paul aims to shed light on these "Missing in Action" (MIA) features, providing listeners with insights into what to expect in future updates.

Paul Throt [01:48]: "We talk a lot about these new features that are coming to Windows 11 or are in Windows 11. And this week I'm going to talk about some that aren't in Windows 11."

Copilot Plus PC Features

A significant portion of the episode centers around the Copilot Plus PC features, which are advanced functionalities that require specific hardware configurations and are not yet widely available in the stable release.

1. Recall Feature

   • Overview: Initially announced in May, the Recall feature was delayed multiple times before being released in preview for Snapdragon X-based Copilot Plus PCs in November 2024. It later became available for Intel and AMD-based PCs.
   • Status: As of the recording, Recall is not installed on Paul's computer, highlighting its limited availability.

   Paul Throt [02:30]: "Recall...it's a cool feature if you want this kind of thing. Still not available, but tied to that is a related feature called Click to Do."

2. Click to Do

   • Functionality: Allows users to interact with on-screen content using AI. For example, in Microsoft Edge, users can highlight text and perform actions like summarizing content directly from the screen.
   • Demonstration: Paul demonstrates how holding the Windows key and pressing the mouse button or using the shortcut Windows Key Q enables this feature. He showcases how it can highlight and summarize text within a webpage.

   Paul Throt [04:10]: "You can type in a word, I could type it incorrectly perhaps and it will highlight the instances of that word. That's pretty cool."

3. CoCreate in Paint

   • Description: A generative AI feature within Paint that allows users to create and modify images locally on Copilot Plus PCs.
   • Limitations: While CoCreate offers unique functionalities, the image quality is not yet on par with cloud-based AI solutions. However, Microsoft is continuously updating the models to improve performance.

   Paul Throt [06:20]: "The quality of the images you get out of CoCreate is not awesome... but it's kind of a neat, unique feature."

4. Additional AI Features in Paint and Photos App

   • Generative AI Tools: Includes Image Creator, Erase and Remove Background, Restyle Image, and Super Resolution. While some of these are cloud-based and accessible on any computer, others like Restyle Image and Super Resolution require Copilot Plus PCs.
   • Availability: These advanced features are still in preview and not yet available in the stable version.

   Paul Throt [08:15]: "But not available in stable. Still months later."

Semantic Search

One of the standout features discussed is Semantic Search, slated for release in the April 2025 Patch Tuesday update.

• Functionality: Utilizes AI to understand and interpret the content of documents and images, aiming to provide more relevant search results beyond simple keyword matching.

• Current Performance: Paul notes that while Semantic Search has been available on his computer for months, its performance is subpar, often defaulting to basic file name searches rather than true semantic understanding.

• Future Enhancements: Microsoft plans to enhance Semantic Search to work seamlessly with both cloud-based (OneDrive) and local files, and eventually extend support to third-party cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive.

  Paul Throt [09:37]: "Semantic search uses AI to examine the contents of documents and images to try to find those things... It's going to be shipping to stable any second now."

New File Explorer Features

Microsoft is also experimenting with revamped File Explorer functionalities:

1. New Home View

   • Changes: Introduction of a "Favorites" section, which is expected to evolve into a "Recommended" section in the future, enhancing user navigation and accessibility.
   • Status: As of the recording, these features are still in testing and not available in the stable release.

   Paul Throt [08:50]: "Microsoft has been testing us. In fact, this one is the oldest one. This started testing in September of 2024. It's still not unstable, but with a Microsoft account, which is what I've signed in here."

2. OneDrive Resume

   • Purpose: A continuity feature that allows users to seamlessly continue work across devices, similar to ecosystems like Apple's.
   • Availability: Still in testing since February 2025, with no widespread release yet.

   Paul Throt [09:00]: "If you have an iPhone and a Mac or whatever... you'll get a pop up that says, oh, you were doing this thing on your phone. Do you want to continue that."

Enhanced Sharing Features

Paul also explores enhancements to the sharing functionalities within Windows 11:

1. Improved Share Menu

   • Feature: Introduction of a submenu under the Share option in File Explorer, allowing direct sharing to specific apps compatible with the selected file type.
   • Advantages: Streamlines the sharing process by reducing the number of steps required to share files to frequently used applications.

   Paul Throt [09:25]: "They are going to make that a lot easier than it is today."

2. Direct Sharing to Apps

   • Functionality: Enables users to share files directly to apps like Notepad, Paint, Snipping Tool, and Copilot, provided they are compatible with the file type.
   • User Experience: Aims to enhance productivity by allowing quicker access to sharing destinations, tailored to user preferences.

   Paul Throt [09:30]: "The idea is if you actually use share... you can right click on this share and then go right out to that app because maybe that's a common workflow for you."

Conclusion

In wrapping up the episode, Paul reflects on the nature of these unreleased features, noting that the majority are tied to Copilot Plus PCs, limiting their immediate impact on the broader Windows 11 user base. The most anticipated feature, Semantic Search, holds promise for significantly improving search functionalities once fully integrated and optimized.

Paul Throt [09:50]: "Most of the major stuff is Copilot plus PC related, so it's not going to impact everyone. The only one of these that I mentioned, like I said, that I know is coming soon, is semantic search."

Paul expresses optimism that these features will gradually roll out to the stable version of Windows 11, enhancing the user experience and expanding the capabilities of the operating system.

Paul Throt [10:15]: "Hopefully sometime soon we'll eventually get some of these new features for Windows 11. I'm sure sometime in 2025."

He concludes by reminding listeners to stay tuned for future episodes of Hands-On Windows, promising continued coverage of the latest developments in Windows 11.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Throt [01:48]: "We talk a lot about these new features that are coming to Windows 11 or are in Windows 11. And this week I'm going to talk about some that aren't in Windows 11."
• Paul Throt [04:10]: "You can type in a word, I could type it incorrectly perhaps and it will highlight the instances of that word. That's pretty cool."
• Paul Throt [06:20]: "The quality of the images you get out of CoCreate is not awesome... but it's kind of a neat, unique feature."
• Paul Throt [09:37]: "Semantic search uses AI to examine the contents of documents and images to try to find those things... It's going to be shipping to stable any second now."
• Paul Throt [09:50]: "Most of the major stuff is Copilot plus PC related, so it's not going to impact everyone. The only one of these that I mentioned, like I said, that I know is coming soon, is semantic search."

Conclusion: This episode of Hands-On Windows provides an in-depth look at the advanced and yet-to-be-released features of Windows 11. Paul Throt effectively highlights the potential of these functionalities while also addressing their current limitations and availability. For Windows enthusiasts and professionals, this discussion offers valuable foresight into the evolving landscape of Microsoft's flagship operating system.