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Microsoft is giving the Windows 11 treatment to a handful of core apps in the next Insider Preview build of the upcoming operating system. Mail, Calendar, the Calculator, and the Snipping Tool are all being revamped, and if you’re running the latest Insider Preview, you should be able to grab these updates from within the Windows Store app starting today.

The changes in Mail, Calendar, and Calculator appear to be largely cosmetic, ejecting the squared-off corners of Windows 8 and 10 for a softer, more rounded look that fits in with the rest of the operating system. The one “new” app is a revamp of the Snipping Tool that unifies the features of the old Snipping Tool and the Windows 10 Snip & Sketch app (this update brings the useful side effect of finally getting rid of the annoying message telling you that the Snipping Tool is going away every time you open it up).

The new Snipping Tool still gives you buttons for changing what kind of screenshot you’re trying to take and whether you want it to happen on a delay. Its annotating tools for screenshots have been given a more modern facelift, too (the old ones were stuck in the Windows 7 era). Snip & Sketch users can continue to access that handy UI by using the Windows + Shift + S keyboard shortcut.

The new apps will roll out to Windows Insiders on the less-stable Dev Channel first. Microsoft began releasing Windows 11 builds to the more-stable Beta Channel in late July, and you’ll need to keep waiting if you want to use these new features on a less bleeding-edge iteration of Windows. You can always change your channel from the Windows Update section of the Settings app.

As with all Insider Preview builds so far, Microsoft is not enforcing Windows 11’s new security requirements just yet, so most computers that run Windows 10 will still be able to run new Windows 11 builds and these updated apps.

Spotify’s updated Wear OS app is releasing “over the coming weeks,” Spotify has announced, and it’ll support offline playback on smartwatches running Wear OS 2.0 and up. The new functionality was announced in May alongside the news of Google’s collaboration with Samsung on the next-generation of the wearable operating system, Wear OS 3.

The fact that offline downloads will be available on Wear OS 2 means that it’s not exclusive to upcoming Wear OS 3 watches like Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Spotify says it should work on watches from the likes of Fossil, Mobvoi, and Suunto. Meanwhile Google’s new YouTube Music Wear OS app, which also supports offline listening, is exclusive to Wear OS 3.

Similar to Spotify’s offline listening on the Apple Watch, which launched in May, you’ll need a Premium subscription to use the feature. Spotify says you’ll be able to download music or podcasts by hitting the “Download to watch” button in the Wear OS app. A small green arrow will appear next to a playlist, album, or podcast once it’s available for listening offline. Free users will be able to download podcasts directly to the watch for offline playback, but when it comes to music they’ll have to stream in shuffle mode over Wi-Fi or cellular.

Besides wallpapers, Google lets owners customize the Pixel experience by making available a large collection of ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds. Android 12 Beta 3 introduces a trio of additions to the Sounds app, and they’re very likely the new/next Pixel defaults.

Update 8/11: With Android 12 Beta 4 today, “Your New Adventure” is now available to use in Settings > Sound & vibration > Phone ringtone > Pixel Sounds.

It’s a full 10 seconds longer than the previous default (“The Big Adventure”) and a bit more lively throughout. Your New Adventure’s availability with this release reflects how Google is finalizing even more user-facing aspects of the operating system before the public launch this fall. Beta 4 also sees the official Android 12 Easter egg with dynamic colors.

Old: The Big Adventure

New: Your New Adventure

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Original 7/14: At the start of this year, Google introduced a new tone when Cast is initiated on Smart Displays and speakers. Softer and less jarring, it very much reflected the friendly Nest visual and auditory design language.

A similar upgrade has now come to Pixel phones with version 2.8 of the Sounds app included with Android 12 Beta 3. “Bright Morning” is the current “Default alarm sound” and comes in at 12 seconds. It’s still available, but Google has added “Fresh Start” to the collection. It shares the same structure and can best be seen as a softer evolution. This refinement is also much longer at 31 seconds.

Old: Bring Morning

New: Fresh Start

Meanwhile, “Eureka” looks to replace “Popcorn” as the “Default notification sound.” Like the Cast update, Eureka is not as sharp and somewhat less surprising. Both start out strong, but the new addition ends smoother.

Old: Popcorn

New: Eureka

There should also be an updated “Phone ringtone” called “Your New Adventure” to replace “The Big Adventure.” Unfortunately, it fails to download, but this is the clearest example of the lineage between the old and new sounds.

You can currently set Fresh Start and Eureka today if you’re running the Android 12 Beta 3. They will very likely be the new default sounds on future devices. Google will presumably not change the defaults for existing users. It notably comes as the Pixel setup experience was also revamped today.

The broader launch of this new Pixel trio (via the updated Google Sounds app) will presumably occur with the public Android 12 launch in the third quarter. That said, it’s possible Google just rolls out via the Play Store with a monthly security, though there are no more Android 11 Feature Drops scheduled.

Thanks Sir Henry!

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Zoom announced this week some updates to its popular video conferencing platform. The app is rolling out a new “Focus” mode today that is designed primarily to keep students from getting distracted during online classes.

As online classes have become more than necessary around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, audio and video calling apps are constantly adding new features and improving their services for a better experience. Now Zoom is offering a Focus mode, which can be used by anyone but is perfect for teachers.

The company first revealed the feature in a blog post (via The Verge) earlier today. Once the host enables Focus mode, the other participants will no longer be able to see each other on the call. The host will still have access to all participants’ webcams, but other people will not be distracted by the live videos of their peers.

Focus Mode allows educators to see their students’ videos, and students to see their teachers without seeing other class participants. With this feature, teachers can supervise their class, but students won’t be distracted by their peers’ video feeds or feel self-conscious about turning on their own camera. 

According to Zoom, the feature can be enabled for accounts, groups, or even individual users. Focus mode is accessible through the More button that shows up while in a call.

Focus mode in iOS 15

iOS 15 also comes with a new feature called Focus mode. However, it works in a different way than the new option added to Zoom.

With Focus mode on iOS, users can create focus profiles for different activities like sleeping, working, or studying. Each profile can have different apps and contacts allowed, so all others not included in the list will not notify you when that mode is enabled. Users can also hide apps from the Home screen when Focus mode is on, and even schedule a profile for a specific time or location.

iOS 15 is expected to be available to all users this fall.

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