Microsoft has launched a novel feature in its latest Windows 11 dev build, allowing users to view their phone’s camera roll directly in the File Explorer Gallery.
The tech behemoth Microsoft has unveiled a fresh Windows 11 Insider Preview Build with a notable feature that lets users view their phone’s camera roll in the File Explorer Gallery. This is yet another step forward in Microsoft’s endeavour to seamlessly blend mobile and PC experiences, bridging the gap between these two crucial digital environments.
With this new build, users can add photos from their phones by clicking on a newly added button in the File Explorer’s command bar. As Microsoft explained in a recent blog post, “There is a new button in the Command Bar titled ‘Add Phone Photos’ that will help with setting up your PC to be ready to show these photos in Gallery.”
To kickstart the process, users can click this button, which will open a URL with a QR code. By scanning this QR code with their mobile phone, users can initiate the process of viewing their mobile photos in their PC’s Gallery. This added convenience not only promotes easier content sharing between devices but also offers a consolidated view of media files.
Introduction of New Natural Voices
In addition to the photo integration feature, the new Windows 11 build also introduces advanced text-to-speech voices for the Narrator tool in Spanish (Spain and Mexico). These ‘Natural Narrator’ voices utilise modern, on-device text-to-speech technology and, once downloaded, operate without the need for an internet connection.
This new development will significantly improve the experience for Spanish-speaking Narrator users, making it easier for them to browse the web and read and write mail, among other things. This is a clear testament to Microsoft’s continued commitment to enhancing accessibility features and broadening its global reach.
Cortana is No Longer a Standalone App on Windows
In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has also announced the phasing out of its virtual assistant Cortana as a standalone app in Windows, starting in late 2023. However, this change only affects Cortana’s presence in Windows. The assistant will continue to be available in Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms, thereby still providing users with virtual assistance in multiple digital spheres.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 dev build brings a series of updates aimed at creating a more integrated and enhanced user experience. By bridging the gap between the PC and mobile environments and enhancing its accessibility features, Microsoft continues to deliver on its promise of a more unified and inclusive digital ecosystem. As users explore these new features, they look forward to the next innovations the tech giant will bring to the table.