Introduction

Microsoft has been revitalizing its decades-old Windows applications, and one standout is the classic Notepad, a simple text editor that has undergone significant improvements since early 2021. While it maintained a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the '90s and 2000s, the app is now stepping into the modern age with a suite of updates including a fresh visual design, spellcheck, autocorrect, and the much-requested window tabs.

Introducing the Rewrite Feature

In its latest iteration, Notepad introduces a groundbreaking generative AI feature called "Rewrite." Currently available in preview for users in the Canary and Dev channels, this innovative option allows users to highlight text before generating three different rewritten versions tailored to their desired length, tone, or phrasing. If none of the suggestions appeal to users, they can simply prompt the app to generate new options—making content editing smoother than ever.

Cloud Processing and Availability

What's particularly fascinating is that the Rewrite feature utilizes cloud processing similar to Microsoft's Copilot assistant, meaning it requires users to sign in with their Microsoft accounts. At this stage, the initial preview is accessible to users in the United States, France, the UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany, sparking excitement and curious anticipation from writers and professionals.

Performance Enhancements

For those uninterested in the AI aspect or without a Microsoft account, there’s good news: this update also focuses on performance. Microsoft claims that the new version of Notepad will offer a staggering improvement in launch times—most users can expect launch speeds to increase by more than 35%, with some even experiencing improvements of over 55%.

AI in Other Applications

But Notepad isn't the only app embracing the power of AI. Microsoft Paint is also on the receiving end of exciting enhancements. The app now includes generative fill and erase features, further augmenting its AI-driven capabilities. Users can select portions of an image and employ prompts to fill in those areas with AI-generated content, while the generative erase tool can expertly remove selected objects and attempt to reconstruct the surrounding background. It's worth noting, however, that the generative fill feature is limited to PCs powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip, while the erase function is available on any Windows 11 device.

Technical Upgrades to Prism

Moreover, the recent Windows Insider Canary channel update introduced technical upgrades to Prism, Microsoft's revamped x86-to-Arm app translation layer designed for Arm-powered devices. This update adds support for newer x86 CPU instructions, which are particularly vital for running demanding games and professional applications like Adobe Premiere Pro. While the new extensions now support all apps, the absence of AVX512 support remains, a feature that has seen reduced adoption even among modern Intel processors.

Conclusion

As Microsoft continues to fuse innovation with practicality, users can expect Notepad and Paint to evolve even further, marking a significant step forward for classic utilities in the digital age. Stay tuned for more updates as they unfold!