Massive Improvements

Say Goodbye To Blurry Old Videos On Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has unveiled an experimental video upscaling feature called Video Super Resolution (VSR) for its Edge web browser, which uses machine learning to increase the resolution of low-quality video. VSR technology can remove blocky compression artifacts and improve text clarity for video platforms like YouTube. However, the feature is currently restricted to half of the users running the Canary channel of Edge in Microsoft's Insider program. VSR will only work on video resolutions of 720p or lower; the video itself cannot be protected with DRM technology. The device running VSR must also contain either an Nvidia RTX 20/30/40-series graphics card or an AMD Radeon series GPU from the RX5700 through to the RX7800. Microsoft's VSR technology is not unique; other companies like Intel and Nvidia are also developing video upscaling features.

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Microsoft Is Testing A Redesigned Windows 11 Audio Mixer

Microsoft is redesigning the Quick Settings volume mixer in Windows 11 to make managing multiple audio devices and adjusting sound levels on a per-app basis easier. The updated interface allows users to enable spatial sound and adjust volume output for each app, which cannot be done with the current design. Microsoft has also added a dedicated shortcut to make accessing the feature faster. The new volume mixer is reminiscent of the popular EarTrumpet mod. There is no word yet on when Microsoft plans to roll out the latest Windows Insider features to regular users.

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Users May Begin Rejecting Whatsapp Updates

WhatsApp has reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) following controversy over its early 2021 privacy policy change. As part of the agreement, WhatsApp will make it easier for users to reject updates to the terms of service and "clearly explain" when rejecting those terms will limit the use of services. The company also confirmed that it is not sharing personal data with other Meta brands, including Facebook, for advertising purposes, nor with third parties. The EU's Consumer Protection Cooperation Network will monitor WhatsApp's application of these promises with future policy updates, and any violations could prompt fines and other penalties.

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Say Goodbye To Background Noise on Google Meet Calls On All Devices

Google Meet is expanding its noise cancellation feature to phone users. The technology eliminates background noises that are not clearly those of a human voice, such as typing, closing doors, and room echo. However, it will not filter out sounds from other sources like TVs, radios, or people talking in the room. The feature is available for customers of certain Google Workspace tiers and can be toggled on or off in the settings. It is off by default for users in educational tiers. Noise cancellation is not available in certain areas and should be turned off for electrolarynx users.