Microsoft has brought its AI-driven super resolution feature to Copilot+ PCs today, aiming to enhance the photo editing experience. The tool enables users to upscale photos up to eight times their original size, making them clearer without sending data to external servers.
It’s part of a broader Windows Insider release aimed at bringing advanced functionality to Microsoft’s higher-end laptops. The feature uses local Neural Processing Units (NPUs) to process images, ensuring privacy and fast performance.
New OCR Tool Enhances Productivity
Alongside the image enhancement, Microsoft has also introduced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to the Photos app. With OCR, users can quickly extract text from images like documents, signs, or even screenshots. The feature is now available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices and supports more than 160 languages.
After scanning the text, it’s easy to copy and paste it into other applications, removing the hassle of manually transcribing. Users who want to try out these new features should update to Photos version 2024.11100.17007.0 or higher from the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft’s push for AI features on its Copilot+ devices isn’t new. In June 2024, the company launched the Cocreator tool for MS Paint to all Windows 11 users, expanding the reach of AI-powered art generation.
Like the current AI features in Microsoft Photos, Cocreator relies on the local NPU for processing while needing an internet connection for full functionality. However, the tool, available only on Copilot+ certified PCs, has limited availability due to its hardware requirements, starting at $1,099.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite Display Failures Continue
Despite the positive updates on the AI side, users of Snapdragon X Elite-powered Copilot+ laptops are still grappling with major display limitations. These devices, including popular models like the Surface Laptop 7, were marketed as supporting 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rates on external monitors. Yet, in reality, they cap out at 4K and just 60Hz, causing frustration for users expecting high-end display performance.
Some have tried turning off Display Stream Compression (DSC) to bypass this, but success has been limited. Even with top-quality monitors like MSI’s MPG 321URX, which supports DisplayPort 1.4a, Snapdragon-powered devices couldn’t deliver the promised resolution and refresh rate.
High Expectations, Low Results
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chipset, found in these Copilot+ laptops, was promoted with support for DisplayPort 1.4, theoretically offering enough bandwidth for 4K at 120Hz or even 8K at 30Hz.
Yet, users are discovering that the reality doesn’t meet the marketing. This is especially frustrating for professionals and gamers who need high refresh rates on external monitors. On the Surface subreddit and elsewhere, customers have voiced their disappointment in the performance of these laptops, which seemed more than capable on paper but underperform in real-world use.
This isn’t the first problem to crop up with Snapdragon-powered laptops. As recently as early October 2024, gamers using Snapdragon X Elite systems reported difficulties running popular game titles, pointing to performance issues linked to the use of Arm architecture chips.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:23 pm CET
