
Search results for '+maps' - Page: 5
| PC World - 2 Oct (PC World)The big Windows 11 2024 Update (also known as Windows 11 24H2) is both a brand-new operating system but also one that’s been out for several months now. It’s Windows 12 — but it’s also not. And its best features are really reserved for those who have invested in a next-gen Copilot+ PC powered by chips from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD.
These seeming contradictions are at the heart of Windows 11 24H2, which begins rolling out today in a “phased” rollout that will last several weeks. But when you get it and what you get with it will all depend on whether you own a Copilot+ PC.
Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap
Windows 11 Pro
In other words, there’s a set of basic features that everyone will receive (including new energy-saving features for laptops and desktops, improved smartphone integration, plus support for Wi-Fi 7 and the upgraded 80Gbps capabilities of USB4), along with more advanced features that are only available to Copilot+ PC users.
Microsoft describes the Windows 11 2024 Update as a “full operating system swap,” which signals that it’s more than just a minor update.
Windows 11 24H2 has been out for months, natively shipping with the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. But since those devices came with Windows 11 24H2 preinstalled, we don’t yet know how much of a hassle it’ll be to actually upgrade. We’ll hopefully have that answer in the coming weeks.
Rather than exhaustively listing every new tweak, quirk, and detail, I’m just going to hit the biggest features and changes that I really like in Windows 11 24H2. Let’s start with the best and move down.
Use your phone as a webcam
Phone Link has been one of the more interesting features in Windows that, for whatever reason, never quite caught on. But it’s getting a killer new feature that could be disastrous for the webcam industry: the ability to use your phone’s camera as a webcam.
New options within the Windows 11 2024 Update give you more control over your phone’s capabilities.
New options within the Windows 11 2024 Update give you more control over your phone’s capabilities.Mark Hachman / IDG
New options within the Windows 11 2024 Update give you more control over your phone’s capabilities.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices, you now have the option to Manage devices. You’ll first have to set up a phone via Phone Link if you haven’t already, but then you’ll have the ability to do things like view the photos on your phone, respond directly to text messages, and more. (Phone Link is geared toward Android devices.)
But you can now do two more things: get notifications when photos are taken, and use your phone as a “connected camera” (i.e., webcam).
The latter option seems to work just fine, which means that instead of using a crappy 1080p webcam, you have access to the high-tech camera in your smartphone and all that it offers. You’ll probably need some sort of a mount for your phone, though.
Also worth noting is that Windows will record you in 720p at 30 FPS, or at least it did under my tests. By comparison, the native camera on my laptop recorded in 1080p at 30 FPS. My phone’s camera was far better than the built-in webcam on my test Surface Laptop 7, but your mileage may vary depending on what you have.
Sorry, I just had to.
Sorry, I just had to.Mark Hachman / IDG
Sorry, I just had to.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Side note: Based on earlier builds, I expected to see Phone Link attached to the Start menu (as Microsoft previously promised) as well as the ability to navigate through my phone’s file structure within File Explorer. I’m not seeing either, which may mean the feature was cancelled or postponed.
Support for Wi-Fi 7 and 80Gbps USB4
Support for a technology like Wi-Fi 7 requires coordination on all fronts: access points, controllers, radios, laptops, drivers, and operating systems. We’ve had Wi-Fi-7-capable hardware for months now, but without the operating system support necessary to enable it.
I don’t own any Wi-Fi-7-capable hardware yet, but see below for an example screenshot of what it should look like on your system. Wi-Fi 7 enables theoretical speeds up to 46Gbps, which should be enough for most people. Learn more in our Wi-Fi 7 deep dive.
An example of what Wi-Fi 7 should look like on your system, courtesy of Microsoft.
An example of what Wi-Fi 7 should look like on your system, courtesy of Microsoft.
An example of what Wi-Fi 7 should look like on your system, courtesy of Microsoft.
In January, Microsoft also began testing support for the upgraded 80Gbps version of USB4, sometimes known as USB4 Gen 2. Very similar to Thunderbolt 5 (of which we’ve already seen the first docks), USB4 should allow for high-speed I/O, even up to 120Gbps in some cases.
You’ll still need laptops and docking stations that support the new technology, however, and those are currently in short supply. Look for that to improve over time.
Bluetooth LE Audio for hearing aids
Bluetooth Low Energy Audio is one of those “if you know, you know” technologies that I, thankfully, don’t know very well yet because my ears are fine. But it’s an important technology because some hearing aids and cochlear implants now ship with Bluetooth Low Energy Audio support, allowing them to stream music as well as aid in conversation.
Windows 11 24H2 enables support for Bluetooth LE Audio on PCs, and it allows you to adjust audio presets and ambient sound volume (using settings determined by your audiologist) within Settings.
For this, you’ll need both a PC and hearing aids that support Bluetooth LE Audio. Fortunately, a 2022 executive order by President Biden now makes hearing aids available over the counter, and Bluetooth 5.3 includes the LE Audio specification. That means that devices like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 (which use Bluetooth 5.3) can be controlled by your PC.
Battery life just got even longer
If you’ve followed our coverage of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Lunar Lake chips, you’re probably giggling at the thought of even more battery life. We’re already at 17 hours or so under load. Extending that even further might feel like overkill.
However, the new Energy Saver control — which dials down screen brightness by 30 percent, disables transparency effects, and throttles some background tasks — can be set to operate while the PC is plugged in, making it useful for both laptops and desktops for saving power. It can turn on automatically, but you can also set it to always run, too. (Energy Saver doesn’t let you alter performance settings while it’s on, though, so don’t think of it as a cool way to undervolt your PC.)
The new Energy Saver feature in Windows 11 24H2.
The new Energy Saver feature in Windows 11 24H2.Mark Hachman / IDG
The new Energy Saver feature in Windows 11 24H2.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
While many desktops already feature a “quiet mode” or other alternatives for lowering power and performance, Energy Saver promises to provide overarching controls that accomplish much of the same.
If you’re like me and live in the Western US where “summer” can last through October, cutting power usage can save on energy and lower heat generation. You don’t really need the full power of a desktop if you’re just browsing the web or performing office work.
The one thing that earlier builds promised but didn’t appear on my Surface test PCs was the ability to configure different performance settings for both battery and plugged-in power. That may be coming later.
Text labels for right-click menu icons
One of the things I really disliked about the first Windows 11 builds was the right-click context menu, for two reasons: first, it extended into a second menu because it couldn’t fit everything into the main menu, and second, Microsoft made the foolish decision to replace simple actions (like copy, paste, and rename) with icons.
The mysterious right-click action icons now come with text labels.
The mysterious right-click action icons now come with text labels.Mark Hachman / IDG
The mysterious right-click action icons now come with text labels.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Now, three (!) years later, the icons finally have text labels to go along with them. Sure, I’ve learned what they mean by now — and you probably have, too — but for the millions of users who will be forced to migrate to Windows 11 once Windows 10 hits end-of-support next year, this is going to be an important change for usability.
The right-click context menu still extends into the secondary “Show more options” menu, however. Oh well.
Goodbye, beloved Windows apps
Windows 11’s 2024 Update removes some legacy apps.
On a Surface Laptop 7, the Mail and Calendar apps came preinstalled but don’t work. Instead, Microsoft is replacing them with the “new” Outlook app, a web app that simply isn’t as functional as its predecessors.
Microsoft’s new Outlook app. I’m not a fan.
Microsoft’s new Outlook app. I’m not a fan.Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft’s new Outlook app. I’m not a fan.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft hasn’t provided any links to the older Mail or Calendar apps, but links (at least on the web) still remain to the “old” Outlook app, which provides a greater number of features and runs as a dedicated app.
Cortana is gone (replaced by Copilot), and Movies & TV as well as Maps have been removed. WordPad has, too. (You can get WordPad back, however, and the replacement Windows Media Player is quite nice.)
Hello, AI features for Copilot+ PCs
As a rule of thumb, any AI feature that includes “Copilot” in the name depends upon the cloud for processing. But there are several AI features that rely on your PC’s NPU.
In Paint, Microsoft has two AI tools: Microsoft Image Creator, the scaled-down version of Microsoft’s Bing Image Creator/Microsoft Designer, and Cocreator, which works in conjunction with Paint. Image Creator uses a cloud-based generative AI art tool, though it requires an internet connection to ensure you aren’t creating anything naughty. Cocreator involves providing a reference image, which can “tell” the AI art engine far more than a text prompt can.
Cocreator and Image Creator both use prompts to generate AI art. But Cocreator also uses your input, too, as a guide. Once Cocreator has created the castle, adding “birds” and a portcullis didn’t change the finished output.
Cocreator and Image Creator both use prompts to generate AI art. But Cocreator also uses your input, too, as a guide. Once Cocreator has created the castle, adding “birds” and a portcullis didn’t change the finished output.Mark Hachman / IDG
Cocreator and Image Creator both use prompts to generate AI art. But Cocreator also uses your input, too, as a guide. Once Cocreator has created the castle, adding “birds” and a portcullis didn’t change the finished output.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft Photos adds a similar feature called Restyle, which takes an existing photo and “restyles” it in some other art style. When you open Photos, Microsoft also alerts you that it’s using AI for face detection to identify the people in your photos.
If you’ve ever had the hankering for an Impressionist version of a laptop, the Restyle feature in Microsoft Photos is there for you.
If you’ve ever had the hankering for an Impressionist version of a laptop, the Restyle feature in Microsoft Photos is there for you.Mark Hachman / IDG
If you’ve ever had the hankering for an Impressionist version of a laptop, the Restyle feature in Microsoft Photos is there for you.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The more practical uses of AI are new additions to Windows Studio Effects, which we saw first inside the Surface Pro 9 (5G). The latest additions include a couple of (largely ineffective) background blurring effects and new Eye Contact modes that make it seem like you’re reading off a teleprompter. (The idea here is that you can move your eyes around but the subject will see an “AI” version of your eyes that focus on the camera or move back and forth like you’re reading words. I doubt you’ll notice a substantial difference.)
Microsoft’s Voice Clarity voice filtering was originally designed as an NPU-specific feature, too, but the company said in January that it refined the model enough that it can run on non-AI PC processors. Everyone will have access to it in Windows 11 24H2.
AutoSR (Automatic Super Resolution), a nifty little way to improve your PC’s graphics, is really an unknown for me at this point. We’ve largely concluded that the first generation of Snapdragon X PCs aren’t suited for games, but they’re the only ones to include both an NPU and Windows 11 24H2 to play games with. AutoSR does add AI-generated frames, but the real test will probably be the first Copilot+ PCs from AMD and Intel, where those frames will make a substantive difference.
AutoSR does seem to work, however. In a test of Cyberpunk 2077 — a game that’s largely out of reach of the Surface Laptop’s Adreno GPU — simply enabling AutoSR raised frame rates from 26 FPS to 32 FPS, an improvement of 23 percent. (I tested at 1080p, Low settings, without any in-game frame generation options on.) A frame rate of 32 FPS isn’t really playable, but the performance improvement seems real.
That’s not to diminish AutoSR, though. AutoSR is designed to improve existing games by first downscaling them to decrease resolution (and improve the frame rate) and then sharpening those frames to improve the visuals. It all runs on the NPU, with the game blissfully “unaware” of what’s being done to it. AutoSR could very well be significant for laptop gaming; we just can’t see all of the benefits yet.
Oh, and Recall? You’ll see Microsoft’s controversial AI-powered search feature eventually, but not after a period of testing. If you don’t want it, that’s fine, too! Microsoft now says that you can refuse to install Recall or uninstall it later after trying it out.
Minor updates in Windows 11 24H2
Windows 11’s Quick Settings are now scrollable, hiding more than one option.
Windows 11’s Quick Settings are now scrollable, hiding more than one option.Mark Hachman / IDG
Windows 11’s Quick Settings are now scrollable, hiding more than one option.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft has also added some minor improvements to the Windows 11 2024 Update. They include:
Windows Spotlight is now the default background for new installations. Spotlight taps Microsoft’s vault of nature photography, and it will supposedly be the default implementation for the out-of-the-box experience for new PCs.
Microsoft has added “sudo” to Windows, which can be toggled on inside the Windows Terminal. Sudo is a quick way to execute a command with elevated or administrator privileges, but it also bypasses any guardrails that Windows imposes.
Microsoft has added the Prism emulation layer to Windows to help make Arm apps run more effectively. I doubt an x86 PC will download this as part of the update, but it’s possible.
Further reading: Why you should become a Windows Insider Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | BBCWorld - 26 Sep (BBCWorld)How live updating of online maps is helping humanitarian work around the world. Read...Newslink ©2025 to BBCWorld |  |
|  | | PC World - 24 Sep (PC World)TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Pin Traveler for $29.99 and map your adventures with ease.
Tired of losing track of your travel memories? Pin Traveler Premium Plan offers the perfect solution for digital nomads, adventurers, and travel enthusiasts who want to document every journey with style. With a lifetime subscription on sale for $29.99 (reg. $45), you can pin past destinations, plan future travels, and even share your personalized map with friends on social media.
Pin Traveler goes beyond just marking places on a map. It allows you to add photos and notes to each pin, turning your travel log into a visual story of your adventures. Plus, the Chrome extension makes it easy to save articles, photos, and travel inspiration directly from your browser. Whether you’re exploring new cities or planning a trip, it keeps everything organized in one place.
The platform also offers customizable themes and markers to make your map truly your own. Want to collaborate? Pin Traveler lets you share maps with others, perfect for planning trips with friends or family.
With lifetime access for just $29.99, Pin Traveler turns your wanderlust into a detailed, interactive journal you can always look back on.
Pin Traveler Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription – $29.99
See Deal
StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | Stuff.co.nz - 20 Sep (Stuff.co.nz) Residents say the proposed controversial maps “essentially rendered our property uninsurable”. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  | | RadioNZ - 20 Sep (RadioNZ) Residents say the proposed controversial maps `essentially rendered our property uninsurable`. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsThe RGB accents are neatSupports both dual wireless and wired connectivity and easy charging via a USB cableYou get access to a total of 21 commands via the Easy-Shift [+] buttonConsThere’s not a lot of space for your thumb to restThe battery life is shorter than its predecessorIt’s quite expensive compared to the Roccat Kone AirOur VerdictThe Turtle Beach Kone II Air features a list of nice upgrades over the Roccat Kone Air that make it both quicker and easier to use. With 21 programmable commands and a comfy ergonomic design, this mouse is just ideal for MMOs.
Best Prices Today: Turtle Beach Kone II Air
Retailer
Price
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
The Roccat Kone Air gaming mouse was a looker, but since it had no RGB it wasn’t great for playing with in the dark. The Turtle Beach Kone II Air changes that up with flashy, well-placed RGB that really revs up the styling.
It also gets a sensor upgrade to 26,000 DPI that provides a nice uptick to speed and tracking. The winning design that made the Roccat Kone Air so comfy makes a comeback but now there are two buttons behind the mouse wheel that make settings changes on the fly much easier.
Additionally, the Kone II Air gets easier charging than its predecessor. A USB cable does the job, with no need for AA batteries. The price tag hurts a little though: Right now you’ll pay $119.99, that’s more than double the price of the Kone Air.
If you like to hit targets at the farthest corners of maps, like I do, this mouse is ideal for that…
Turtle beach Kone II Air design and build
Some Roccat mice (now Turtle Beach mice) make big impacts with their all-in RGB styling. They’re the kind of mice that make me switch off the lights to get the gaming vibes happening. The Kone II Air is one of those mice.
Sporting two RGB light strips on the top and one in its scroll wheel, it’s remarkably bold and flashy. The RGB comprises two programmable zones, which are tweakable in the Swarm II companion app, so you can flex your creativity.
The mouse’s overall shape looks clean, and fresh. The design is almost a replica of the Roccat Kone Air except there’s now an extra button behind the scroll wheel above the DPI switcher. This switches scroll-wheel modes.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming mice to learn about competing products.
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
These two buttons combine with five more to make a total of seven, while a four-directional mouse wheel adds left/right functionality to the usual up/down you see in most other mice.
The chassis is really big even by MMO mouse standards. It measures 5.20 x 3.23 x 1.69 inches, which gives you plenty of space to relax your hand and stretch out. A quick comparison with the Razer Naga V2 Pro (4.7 x 2.97 x 1.72 inches) gives an indication of just how big it is.
That size difference makes it ideal for large hands, although everything is still within reach if you have more of a medium-sized hand.
A weight of 3.88 ounces (110 grams) bestows a hefty feel, which has advantages. It means the Kone II Air feels powerful and tangible — unlike the feeling you get from ultra-light esports mice.
Turtle Beach Kone II Air connectivity
Unlike the Roccat Kone Air which lacked wired connectivity, the Kone II Air has a full set of connectivity options, and these are very easy to use. The lowest-latency wireless option is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, accessible via a small USB-A dongle.
Bluetooth connectivity is easy enough to switch to, requiring just a flick of a toggle on the underside.When you’re finished playing you can store the mouse’s USB dongle in an open compartment underneath if you wish, which can help save it from getting lost.
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
You can also tether the Kone II Air to your PC with the flexible USB-A to USB-C cable, which has the benefit of charging it at the same time. Once fully charged, you get approximately 130 hours in Wi-Fi mode and 350 hours in Bluetooth mode, which is a lot less than the Kone Air’s 800 hours. But on the plus side, you no longer need to replace AA batteries.
Turtle Beach Kone II Air performance
The Kone II Air is powered by a 26K Owl-Eye optical sensor. Among its technical specifications are a maximum resolution of 26,000 DPI, maximum speed of 650 inches-per-second (IPS), and maximum acceleration of 50 g. Suffice it to say, it tracks like a dream and is both quick and sensitive.
The mouse’s ergonomic design gives it great handling. I got excellent leverage from the high back that allowed me to drive quickly from the center of my palm but slow down just as fast so that I didn’t overextend shots. It proved equally maneuverable in a palm, claw, or fingertip grip.
On the left flank is a thumb rest. It’s more of an alcove really, since there’s a paddle — the mouse’s Easy-Shift [+] button — at its lower border that prevents you fully resting. Pressing this paddle down allowed me to access extra programmable commands: Seven commands became 21, which was plenty for accessing a smorgasbord of abilities in WoW.
Using the alcove did take some getting used to, though. That’s because my thumb was wedged between three buttons. I soon found a good workaround to this was to simply adopt a lighter grip.
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Kone II Air may be a little heavier than some mice, but its big PTFE feet save it from being sluggish. The glide feels remarkably fluid. Tackling micro movements is surprisingly easy for a mouse this size, too.
The mouse’s weightiness is an advantage when making large sweeping movements. It provides just the right balance between acceleration and stopping. So, if you like to hit targets at the farthest corners of maps, like I do, this mouse is ideal for that.
The buttons, which feature Titan Optical switches, feel very soft. They have a distinct clickiness that you can hear above your game sound. For me that sound became an ever-encouraging reminder of the shots I fired, attacks I blocked, and spells I released.
Should you buy the Turtle Beach Kone II Air?
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air embodies a bright and flashy RGB look that distinguishes it from the Kone Air.
It forges new ground with its wired connectivity, and a rechargeable battery too. Its current price tag of $119.99 does make it more than double the price of the $50 Roccat Kone Air, however.
Regarding performance, this mouse is a real gem. It’s both fast and precise, and with a total of seven buttons and 21 commands accessible via its Easy-Shift [+] paddle, it’s just ideal for games where you want quick access to a revolving list of abilities. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 11 Sep (PC World)Last month, Google quietly killed off Google Sky Maps. But there’s still another way to virtually explore most of the solar system a la Google Maps: it’s called Google Maps in Space.
Google Maps in Space allows you to zoom over the surface of the Earth like you can in regular Google Maps, except here you can also fly over Mercury, Venus, Mars, plus several moons — not just our own but also Ganymede, Europa, and even Pluto’s moon, Charon.
In all, you can explore 21 different heavenly bodies as well as the International Space Station with Google Maps in Space. (Google says that you can add the same interplanetary locations on Google Earth Pro, but I tried and couldn’t find a way to explore them.)
Google Maps in Space is a great supplement for any school assignment about Mars or Venus, but it’s also just a fun and educational way to explore our Solar System. If you’ve ever been to a local observatory and wanted a closer look at what you’re seeing through the telescope, then Google Sky Maps is the way to go.
With Google’s changes, though, the old way of accessing planets via Google Sky Maps has changed. Google Sky, Google Mars, and Google Moon have all been shut down. Here’s the new way of accessing Google Maps in Space, courtesy of Google.
How to use Google Maps in Space
First, go to Google Maps in Space. (Note that if you leave off the trailing slash in the URL, you’ll receive an error message. To make sure you arrive at the right site, simply click our link.)
Once there, hover over Layers at the bottom-left corner of the screen, which will show Earth by default. When the new options appear, select More, then mark the checkbox for Globe view. Finally, restart Google Maps in Space.
Navigate to the “More” tab in Google Earth to turn on the ability to see planets.
Navigate to the “More” tab in Google Earth to turn on the ability to see planets.IDG
Navigate to the “More” tab in Google Earth to turn on the ability to see planets.IDG
IDG
You should now see Earth along with a list of planets and moons in the left-hand navigation bar. Clicking any of them will replace Earth with the chosen planet. (As of now, there doesn’t seem to be a convenient way to exit Google Earth to get back to the list of planets, so you’ll have to back out to Google Maps in Space if you get distracted exploring Earth.)
You can zoom in closer or farther away by using the mouse wheel. You’ll also notice a toggle between 2D and 3D at the bottom-right corner of the screen. In 3D view, you can adjust perspective by holding Ctrl and using the mouse. Unfortunately, you can’t search for, say, “Vader Crater” on Charon, so you’ll have to search out landmarks for yourself.
Peer through a telescope at the Moon… then see what you’re looking at.
Peer through a telescope at the Moon… then see what you’re looking at.IDG
Peer through a telescope at the Moon… then see what you’re looking at.IDG
IDG
The only “catch” is the International Space Station, which is (at press time) the site of a bit of drama, as a pair of astronauts have been left there after issues with the Boeing Starliner forced a return to Earth. Google Maps in Space treats the ISS like Street View, which allows you to hopscotch down a street from vantage point to vantage point.
The camerawork lacks depth and the interface is a bit wonky. Otherwise, enjoy exploring the Solar System! Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | RadioNZ - 6 Sep (RadioNZ) New Zealand is littered with cellphone coverage black holes, with one so large it covers a whole town. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | PC World - 6 Sep (PC World)Old-fashioned address books and rolodexes are becoming an increasingly rare sight as the world goes digital. What’s more, digital address books are not something you need to buy separately.
If you have an email address with Google (Gmail), Microsoft (Outlook), or Apple (iCloud), for example, an address book, or contact list as it’s usually called, is also included.
What is Google Contacts?
Google Contacts is the service that Gmail uses when you send emails. If a person is entered here, you don’t have to type the full email address manually, it will appear when you start typing their name in the To field.
But Google Contacts doesn’t just keep track of email addresses. You can also add things like phone numbers, postal addresses, postcodes, dates of birth, and places of work. The point is that you can keep everything in one place, and you only have to do it once.
The data contained in the contact list is used not only by Gmail but also by other services. In other words, you can look up a person’s home in Google Maps and get a reminder of their birthday in Google Calendar. You can also send meeting invitations in Google Meet and share documents in Google Sheets.
If you have an Android phone, it will also use the phone numbers in Google Contacts to make calls — and you can see who is calling you in plain text.
Because Google Contacts is so widely used, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s always up to date and complete.
What are the risks?
Your contact list is valuable, and it’s important to be careful about sharing it. This is especially true for mobile apps that often ask for access to your contacts.
Of course, you also need to decide whether you want to give Google access to your contacts. Many people see this as a problem from a privacy perspective. As always, there is a trade-off between simplicity and security, and here each user has to choose how to make it.
What are the options?
In this article, I’m focusing on Google’s contact list, but competitors’ services work in much the same way.
For example, if you prefer to use Microsoft’s option, there is an address book called Outlook People. To use it, surf to www.outlook.com and log in. Click on the icon with small squares in the top-left corner. Click on the More apps and select People. You can also browse to outlook.live.com/people.
The setup is similar to what we describe here for Google services.
Getting started
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
To open your contact list, surf to contacts.google.com and log in. To add new contacts, tap Create contact > Create a contact. Fill in the details shown or select Show more.
View and edit
Click on the Contacts to view your entire contact list and clicking on a person will display their contact details. You can change these via Edit at the top right and you can also mark someone as a favorite — or delete the contact. You can also add a photo of your contact here.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
Check interactions
By opening a contact, you can also see your interactions in the right-hand column. This shows, for example, your latest emails and files that you have shared with each other. Of course, you can click on these to open them in Gmail or Google Drive, for example.
Star your favorites
People you contact often can be starred. This means that they appear at the top of various listings. This feature is also called Favorites.
To star a person, open their contact card and click on the star at the top right. You can also hover your mouse over a person’s name to display the same star. Click again to remove the star.
Group work with labels
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
For those who work together with others, it is smart to create groups in the contact list. A group, or Label as it’s called in the Google world, is a collection of contacts, and the point is that you can interact with all of them in one go. For example, you can create a group for the association board and another for your colleagues.
When you want to send emails, you don’t have to type in the addresses one by one. Similarly, you can invite everyone to a video meeting or share files.
You can add labels via a person’s “contact card.” Press the Label > Create a label or use an existing one already displayed in the list.
Editing the labels
All your labels are displayed under the Labels heading in the left-hand menu. Click on a label to see which contacts are included here. You can also rest your mouse on the label name to bring up icons to rename the label and to delete it.
Merge
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
If you have accidentally entered the same person twice, it is easy to merge them. Select the duplicates in the contact list and press Merge-icon in the top-right corner. You can also select Merge and fix in the left-hand menu to do this automatically for the whole contact list.
Importing contacts
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
If you have an address list from another application, you can press Import > Select the file and locate the list. Follow the instructions to import. You can also select Create contact > Create multiple contacts to add many at once.
Hide a contact
It can be tempting to delete people you rarely contact, but this is unnecessarily drastic. Instead, choose to hide them. They will no longer be visible in the regular contact list, but you can bring them up at any time.
To do this, tap the three dots to the right of a contact and select Hide from contacts. To find hidden contacts, tap Other contacts in the menu on the left.
Use Android…
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
You’ll get the best overview on your computer, but Google Contacts is also available as an Android app. The layout is much the same, although it is adapted for a smaller screen. If the app is missing, you can search for Google Contacts via the Google Play Store.
… or iPhone
The Google Contacts app is only available for Android, but if you have an iPhone or iPad, you can link your Google contacts list to the Apple Contacts app. You do this by opening Settings on your iPhone/iPad. Here you tap on Passwords and accounts > Add account > Google. Enter your email address and password, press Next button and follow the instructions.
Use the right phonebook
Some mobiles have their own phone book where contacts are stored locally. This means it doesn’t end up in your Google contacts list and can’t be accessed anywhere else. In other words, when you’re asked how to save, make sure you do it in your Google Account.
Increase security
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
The more you work with different Google services, the more important it becomes to think about security. You can increase it by switching on so-called Two-step verification. You will need a code delivered to your mobile phone to log in.
Switch on the feature by browsing to myaccount.google.com, log in, and select Security, yo log in to Google. Press the button Two-step verification and a wizard will start showing you how to do it.
Take control of the automation
Does your contact list include people you didn’t add yourself? The explanation is that Google automatically adds people you’ve had contact with. If you want to avoid this, here’s how:
Google account. Surf to myaccount.google.com, log in, and select People & sharing in the left menu. Under the heading Contacts you can switch off Contact info from interactions and Contact info from your devices.
Gmail. Surf to www.gmail.com and log in. Press the settings icon at the top right and select See all settings > General settings. Go to Create contacts for auto-complete and select I’ll add contacts myself.
Print your address book
Do you feel insecure just having your contact list in the cloud? You can choose to print it on paper (or as a pdf file).
Open the Contacts in the left menu to view your contact list and press Print-button in the top right corner. Now you get to choose what to print — and how to do it. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 30 Aug (PC World)Microsoft Flight Simulator has etched out a spot in the gaming hall of fame as one of the most popular flight simulators of all time, complete with licenses for numerous real aircraft plus detailed maps of cities.
When Microsoft rebooted Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2020, many people thought that would be the version to be perpetually updated — but this year, Microsoft announced they’d be releasing a completely new version called Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
It’s not just going to be an update; it’s going to include several new features and tons of new content. Here are all the key details you need to know about MSFS 2024.
What new content and features will be in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Perhaps the most important new feature in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a new career path called Career in Aviation.
You’ll be able to choose between various specializations, with each one helped or hindered by the type of aircraft you fly. The following career paths have been announced so far:
Mountain rescue
Agriculture
Air racing
Research flights
Firefighting from the air
Cargo transport by helicopter
Industrial cargo transport
Passenger transport by private jet
Skydiving operations
Aerial construction
Low altitude training
Glider pilot
Photo safari
If you found it hard to motivate yourself to explore in Microsoft Flight Simulator, or if you just want more goals and challenges to pursue, then these offerings will keep you busy for a while.
Walk around and guide passengers to your aircraft? You can in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Walk around and guide passengers to your aircraft? You can in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.Microsoft
Walk around and guide passengers to your aircraft? You can in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.Microsoft
Microsoft
Based on the various specializations listed above, you can also expect completely new types of aircraft — including gliders, airships, and hot air balloons — that all handle differently, require greater flying skills, and significantly expand the possibilities for travel.
And for the first time in the franchise’s history, you’ll be able to leave the cockpit of your aircraft and walk around the world as your character. You’ll also be able to jump onto the wings of any aircraft or even parachute down to the ground.
Other new features include more realistic vegetation and extensive weather effects, including dense snow, tornadoes, and auroras. All four seasons will be simulated in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The first trailer from Xbox Games Showcase 2024.
On top of all that, overall engine that drives Flight Simulator will be significantly improved with shorter loading times (thanks to cloud streaming) and lighter system requirements. However, more detailed information isn’t yet available.
Which aircraft are available in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Microsoft has yet to announce a full list of the aircraft that will be available in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
According to the developers, however, there will be several new airliners that weren’t previously included. We assume that the selection will be huge, also due to the new types of transport.
When will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be released?
According to Microsoft, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be released on November 19, 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. The predecessor Xbox One is unfortunately being left behind. (But you’ll be able to play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 via Xbox Cloud Gaming!)
Related: Which cloud gaming service is right for you?
How much will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 cost?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is expected to cost between $59.99 and $69.99 at launch, depending on the platform. However, if you’re subscribed to PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you’ll receive the flight sim free of charge on day one as part of the subscription.
Related: Game Pass just got Microsoft 365’d
How big will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 be?
According to initial statements by Microsoft Flight Simulator head Jörg Neumann, the 2024 version will only take up 50GB of storage space. That’s tiny when you consider the sheer size of the world.
Microsoft will store and process the 2.5 petabytes (that’s about 2,500 terabytes) of pure aerial image data in its own cloud to enable fast loading times on as many systems as possible.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
What will happen to the current Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Since Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a new standalone game, the previous version of Microsoft Flight Simulator won’t be required — and if you’re already playing that, you don’t have to worry about losing all the content you’ve purchased for it.
Microsoft promises that all official aircraft and airports included in Microsoft Flight Simulator as well as practically all Marketplace add-ons will also be supported in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and won’t need to be purchased again.
There may be exceptions, particularly when add-on developers aren’t able to port their content to the new version. (Microsoft elaborates in the official FAQ.) But access to all content via the Flight Simulator Content Manager remains guaranteed for the time being.
For content that’s already been purchased in MSFS 2020, upgrades to content produced by Microsoft (e.g., Reno Air Races, Local Legends, Famous Flyers, Expert Series) will be free of charge for players. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  |  |
|
 |
 | Top Stories |

RUGBY
Is Michael Cheika about to receive a second chance with the Wallabies? The former coach - who's coming off contract in the English Premiership - has been spotted meeting with Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh in Sydney More...
|

BUSINESS
Meridian Energy's reached an agreement to purchase NZ Windfarms Limited More...
|

|

 | Today's News |

 | News Search |
|
 |