Microsoft begins testing image enhancement and optical character recognition in Windows 11 Photos app for Copilot+ PCs

Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled the 24H2 update for Windows 11, alongside various innovative AI-driven features for Copilot+ enabled devices. A few weeks down the line, one of those exciting functionalities is now being made available to Windows Insiders.

According to a recent blog entry, users with Copilot+ PCs can now test out the Super Resolution image enhancement tool embedded in the default Photos application of Windows 11. This enhanced tool can upscale images by as much as eight times their original size, thanks to AI technologies and Neural Processing Units present in modern Snapdragon-equipped Windows devices. Microsoft emphasizes that this processing occurs locally on the device, ensuring rapid and efficient results.

Super Resolution is ideal for enhancing low-resolution images, preparing visuals for large prints and displays, and allowing for precise cropping without loss of quality, enabling users to hone in on specific content.

The updates extend beyond image upscaling. The latest iteration of the Photos app also features Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Simply tap the designated icon in the bottom bar to extract text from your images. Microsoft notes the app supports text extraction in over 160 languages.

Additional enhancements in this update include:

• Responding to user suggestions, a single-click option has been introduced in the Gallery, enabling users to open individual images with just one click for easier navigation. Users who prefer double-clicking can continue to do so as before.
• Improvements to the Zoom feature facilitate automatic resizing of larger images to fit the Viewer window and enhance the alignment between the zoom slider and the display of zoom selections.
• Bug fixes have been applied to the Image creator and Restyle image functionalities on Copilot+ PCs, aimed at enhancing overall performance.

These latest enhancements for Windows 11’s Photos application are available in version 2024.11100.17007.0 and later. If your Copilot+ PC is part of the Windows Insider program (across any channel), you can download it from the Microsoft Store.

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