Microsoft Photos now supports Super Resolution and OCR on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft has unveiled a preview of super resolution for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, alongside Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support and other enhancements to the Photos app. This update is available to Windows Insiders using Windows 11 across all Insider Channels.
Super resolution, now accessible in the Photos Editor, employs AI to magnify and enhance images up to eight times their original size. This feature is designed for refining low-quality photos, optimizing images for large-scale prints, and allowing tight cropping without loss of detail. It utilizes the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on Copilot+ PCs to perform these enhancements locally and efficiently.
The introduction of OCR in the Photos app aims to increase productivity by detecting and copying text from images directly to the clipboard. This functionality supports over 160 languages and can be used on photos of documents, notes, or screenshots. Additional improvements to the Photos app include single-click support in the gallery, enhanced zoom capabilities, and various bug fixes, further refining the user experience.
- Image Viewer
- Free • Proprietary
Related news
External links
- Microsoft Photos update with super resolution begins rolling out to Windows InsidersMicrosoft • Official source
- Finally: Microsoft catches up to Apple with its integration of OCR in the Windows Photos app - a major leap for accessibilityTechRadar
- Microsoft starts testing image upscaling and OCR in Windows 11's Photos app on Copilot+ PCsNeowin
- This new Microsoft Photos update may make Copilot+ actually usefulXDA
- Windows' Photos app now lets you copy texts you see on an imageMSPoweruser
- Microsoft Photos can now upscale and enhance images using AIPCWorld
Comments
Microsoft is really trying hard to put AI in any piece of software, even in this Photos app that nearly nobody use. They should soon realize that people want smooth experience and not some more bloatware to useless pieces to software. And the most popular alternatives are already very good at it. So, is Microsoft using AI to fix this problem? To the contrary.