Microsoft is bringing AI capabilities to its simplistic Notepad app, which is known for its plain text functions, such as saving in .txt files.
The new feature, called Rewrite will allow you to generate alternative text to fit your specific needs. You’ll be able to modify the text to be longer, shorter, or to be written in a certain tone or format. The feature will generate three variations for you to select, and you will also have the option to retry if none of the results meet your standards.
The feature works by highlighting your desired text and right-clicking with your mouse — or selecting Ctrl + I with your keyboard. This will bring up a text box displaying the alternative text options generated by AI, Microsoft said on its Windows Insider blog.
Microsoft is clearly not the only brand using AI to help users upgrade their writing. The Rewrite feature is similar to the Summarize and Refine features within Google Workspace, and the Help Me Write feature within ChromeOS.
Rewrite will be available as a software update for Notepad version 11.2410.15.0 coming to Windows Insider users under the Canary and Dev Channels. Microsoft has detailed that you need a Microsoft account to use the Rewrite in Notepad preview.
The feature is available on Windows 11 in the U.S., France, U.K., Canada, Italy, and Germany. Additionally, users in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand using subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Copilot Pro can use AI credits to use rewrite in Notepad.
Since Rewrite is being released as a preview, there is no word on whether the feature will be available as a full version rollout.
In addition to Rewrite, Microsoft also detailed updates to Paint, including Generative fill and Generative erase.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.