Microsoft has announced a major update to its cloud storage service, OneDrive, that brings a new design and improved consumer features. The new design, previously available only for business users, is now rolling out to all OneDrive users across the web, mobile, and desktop platforms.
The new OneDrive design aims to make it easier and faster for users to access and manage their files, photos, and videos in the cloud. Some of the key changes include:
A simplified navigation bar that lets users switch between files, recent, shared, and recycle bin views with one click.
A new command bar that shows contextual actions based on the selected items, such as share, download, delete, and more.
A revamped details pane that shows more information about the selected items, such as file size, date modified, sharing status, and activity history.
A new photo view that automatically organizes photos by date and location, and lets users create albums, slideshows and edit photos with built-in tools.
A new video player that supports streaming and downloading of high-quality videos, and lets users trim, rotate, and add captions to videos with built-in tools.
A new personal vault feature lets users store their most sensitive files in a secure folder requiring an extra layer of authentication to access.
Microsoft says that the new OneDrive design will enhance the user experience and productivity of its cloud storage service, which currently has over 250 million active users. The update will also bring OneDrive in line with the Fluent Design System, Microsoft’s design language for its products and services.
The new OneDrive design is rolling out gradually to all users over the next few weeks. Users can check for updates in their OneDrive settings or visit the OneDrive website to try out the new design.
If you are looking for a powerful and accessible tool to help you with everyday tasks, you might want to check out the free Seeing AI app from Microsoft. This app uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to describe the world around you, whether it’s reading text, recognizing faces, identifying colors, scanning barcodes, or more. You can use the app with your smartphone’s camera or a connected device like the Pivothead smart glasses. The app also supports multiple languages and voice options and works offline for some features.
In this blog post, I will show you how to download and use the free Seeing AI app and share some tips and tricks to make the most of it. Whether you are blind, low vision, or just curious about the app, you will find it useful and fun to explore.
How to download the free Seeing AI app
The free Seeing AI app is available for iOS devices running iOS 12 or later. You can download it from the App Store by searching for “Seeing AI” or by following this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seeing-ai/id999062298
The app is about 200 MB in size, so make sure you have enough space on your device and a stable internet connection before downloading. The app will ask for permission to access your camera and microphone, which are necessary for its functionality. You can also enable notifications to get updates and tips from the app.
How to use the free Seeing AI app
The free Seeing AI app has several channels that you can switch between by swiping left or right on the screen. Each channel has a different purpose and functionality. You can also customize the order of the channels in the settings menu. Here are the channels and what they do:
Short Text: This channel reads any text that appears in front of the camera, such as signs, labels, menus, etc. It reads the text aloud as soon as it detects it, without needing to take a picture. You can also pause or resume the reading by tapping on the screen.
Document: This channel helps you scan and read documents, such as letters, bills, forms, etc. It guides you to align the document in the camera view, and then takes a picture and analyzes it. You can then hear the text read aloud, or explore it by swiping on the screen. You can also save or share the document as an image or a PDF file.
Product: This channel helps you identify products by scanning their barcodes or QR codes. It beeps when it finds a code, and then reads the product name and information aloud. You can also access more details about the product online, or save it to a favorites list.
Person: This channel helps you recognize people’s faces and emotions. It tells you how many people are in the camera view, and their approximate age, gender, and emotion. You can also teach the app to recognize specific people by entering their names and taking their pictures. The next time the app sees them, it will say their names aloud.
Currency: This channel helps you identify currency bills of different countries. It tells you the denomination and value of the bill that is in front of the camera. You can also change the currency type in the settings menu.
Color: This channel helps you identify the colors of objects or clothes. It tells you the name and shade of the color that is in the center of the camera view. You can also use a flashlight button to illuminate dark areas.
Scene: This channel helps you describe scenes or environments around you. It takes a picture and analyzes it using artificial intelligence. It then tells you a brief description of what it sees, such as “a living room with a couch and a TV” or “a street with cars and pedestrians”.
Handwriting: This channel helps you read handwritten text, such as notes, cards, signatures, etc. It works similarly to the document channel, but it is optimized for handwriting recognition. You can also save or share the handwritten text as an image or a text file.
Light: This channel helps you detect light sources around you. It uses a tone that varies in pitch depending on the brightness of the light. The higher the pitch, the brighter the light. You can use this channel to find windows, lamps, switches, etc.
Tips and tricks for using the free Seeing AI app
Here are some tips and tricks to help you use the free Seeing AI app more effectively:
Use headphones or earphones when using the app, especially in noisy environments. This will help you hear the app’s voice more clearly, and also protect your privacy.
Adjust the voice speed and volume in the settings menu according to your preference. You can also choose from different voice options and languages.
Use voice commands to control some functions of the app without touching the screen. For example, you can say “switch” to change channels, “help” to get instructions, or “pause” to stop the reading.
Explore the app’s features and settings by tapping on the menu button at the top left corner of the screen. You can find more options and information there, such as tutorials, feedback, updates, etc.
Have fun and experiment with the app. You might discover new things or ways to use it that suit your needs and interests.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about the free Seeing AI app. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you liked this post, please share it with your friends and family who might benefit from this app. Thank you for reading!
Microsoft announced today that it will lay off 1,900 employees as part of a restructuring plan to streamline its operations and focus on its core businesses. The layoffs will affect employees across various divisions, including engineering, sales, marketing, and finance. Microsoft said that the majority of the affected employees will be notified by the end of March and will receive severance packages and transition assistance.
The company said that the layoffs are necessary to adapt to the changing market conditions and customer demands, as well as to invest in new areas of growth and innovation. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement: “We are taking these steps to ensure that Microsoft remains a leader in the technology industry and a trusted partner for our customers. We are grateful for the contributions of our employees and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.”
Microsoft also said that it will continue to hire in strategic areas, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, gaming, and cybersecurity. The company said that it expects to create more than 2,000 new jobs in these fields by the end of the year. Microsoft said that it aims to become a more agile and efficient organization that can deliver value to its customers and shareholders.
Microsoft has announced that its AI-powered reading tutor, Microsoft Reading Progress, is now free for anyone with a Microsoft Account. This means that students, teachers, parents and anyone else who wants to improve their reading skills can access the tool from any device and get personalized feedback and guidance.
Microsoft Reading Progress is a web-based app that helps learners practice their reading fluency and comprehension. It uses speech recognition and natural language processing to analyze the learner’s reading performance and provide metrics such as accuracy, rate, expression and pronunciation. It also highlights the words that the learner misread, skipped or inserted, and gives suggestions on how to improve.
The app was originally designed for educators and students in grades K-8, but Microsoft says that it can be used by anyone who wants to enhance their reading abilities. The app supports 15 languages and dialects, and allows users to choose from a variety of texts or upload their own. Users can also adjust the difficulty level and the feedback mode according to their preferences and goals.
Microsoft Reading Progress is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to democratize education and empower learners of all ages and backgrounds. The company says that it hopes that by making the app free for everyone, it can help reduce the learning gaps caused by the pandemic and foster a culture of lifelong learning.
To use Microsoft Reading Progress, users need to sign in with a Microsoft Account, which they can create for free if they don’t have one already. They can then access the app from any browser on any device, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Users can also integrate the app with Microsoft Teams if they want to collaborate with others or share their progress.
Microsoft Reading Progress is a powerful and innovative tool that can help anyone improve their reading skills and confidence. Whether you are a student who wants to ace your exams, a teacher who wants to support your students, a parent who wants to help your child, or just someone who loves reading, you can benefit from this app. You can start using it today by visiting https://aka.ms/readingprogress.
If you are looking for a way to boost your productivity and creativity as a developer, you might want to check out Copilot Pro, Microsoft’s premium subscription that gives you the most advanced AI capabilities. Copilot Pro is more than just a code completion tool. It is a smart assistant that can help you write better code, faster and easier. Copilot Pro can:
Suggest entire lines or functions based on your context and intent
Generate tests, documentation, and comments for your code
Refactor and optimize your code with best practices and design patterns
Detect and fix bugs, errors, and vulnerabilities in your code
Integrate with your favorite IDEs, languages, and frameworks
With Copilot Pro, you can save time and effort, improve your code quality and security, and learn new skills and techniques from the best developers in the world. Copilot Pro is powered by OpenAI Codex, the most advanced AI system for natural language and code generation. Copilot Pro learns from billions of lines of public and private code, and adapts to your style and preferences.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, working on a hobby project or a professional one, Copilot Pro can help you achieve your goals faster and easier. Copilot Pro is the ultimate tool for developers who want to take their coding to the next level.