Windows 11 deep dive: Snap Layouts and Snap Groups

Windows 11 is now widely available, but it’s still new for many of us. While Windows Insiders are continuously testing new features in preview, most users won’t know everything that’s new. We’re here to help by giving you a look at what’s new in Windows 11. This article will focus on Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, two new multitasking features in Windows 11.

These two new features build on top of Snap Assist, which was one of most useful features in Windows 10 (personally speaking, at least). While that gave you some options for easily snapping windows next to each other, Windows 11 makes it even easier and gives you more options too. Let’s take a look at what Snap Layouts and Groups bring to the table.

How to use Snap Layouts on Windows 11

Windows 11 makes snapping apps a much more discoverable experience compared to Windows 10. Before, you could drag an app to the edges of the screen to snap it to the side, or drag it closer to the corners of the screen to split the screen into four. With Windows 11, you can snap much more easily by hovering your mouse over the restore button on an app’s title bar. When you do this, you’ll see a few recommendations for snap layouts.

These layouts let you organize apps on your screen in different ways, and you can also choose which one of the slots in a layout the current app should take. You’ll see different layouts depending on the orientation and pixel density of your monitor, too. These are also far more layouts than you could have on Windows 10. You can have three apps side-by-side, and with different widths too.

Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2, you can also access Snap Layouts by dragging a window to the top center of the screen. This is so you can access the interface more easily with touchscreens, and you can just drop the window into the layout you want.

Once you snap the first app window to a position, Windows 11 will step in to help you finish setting up the layout. You’ll be able to choose from your open apps to fill each of the remaining slots in your layout, one at a time.

Once that’s done, you can see the apps you want in a single view. It’s also worth noting that, while using this mouse hover action is a new way to start layouts, there are new layouts you can create by dragging an app to the edges of the screen. For example, you can drag an app to the top of the screen to maximize it, but if you keep dragging along the top edge, you can snap it to a side (or the center) of the screen in a three-way split.

Snap Groups

Once you’ve set up your snap layout, Windows 11 saves that set of apps as a snap group. Technically, there isn’t much to this, but it’s very useful. Say you open another app on top of your snap layout, and you want to quickly get back to the layout you had before. When you move your mouse over one of the app icons on that taskbar, not only will you have the option to restore just that app, you can restore the entire snap group that app is part of. This way, you can quickly switch back to your setup, even if you opened other windows over it.

You can do this with any of the apps that’s part of that snap layout, so you don’t have to look for a specific one. If an app has multiple windows open, Windows can still remember which one was part of the snap layout. As we said, it’s not mind-blowing on a technical level, but it’s a super handy feature to have if you’re juggling multiple apps at the same time. With Windows 11 version 22H2, snap groups also show up in the task switcher by pressing Alt + Tab.

It’s also worth noting that these features work if you have multiple monitors too, so you can have different snap layouts on each monitor, and each of those layouts is saved as a group too.

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That’s all you need to know about Snap Layouts and Snap Groups on Windows 11. Multitasking and productivity are a big focus of this version of Windows. It also brings new virtual desktop improvements, and using multiple monitors is also better.

If you’re interested in upgrading to Windows 11, you may want to check out the system requirements first. You can also try to find out if your PC is on our list of PCs that will support the upgrade to Windows 11.

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These are the best cases to protect the MacBook Air in 2022

Apple revealed the MacBook Air 13 (2022) during the main keynote of WWDC22. This welcome addition to the expanding family of great Macs packs the M2 chip in an all-new, notched chassis. Considering this device category is popular among students, the Cupertino firm still sells the cheaper MacBook Air 13 (2020) for those not ready to pay as much. But starting at $999, it’s still quite an investment, and you probably want to protect it. To help you with that, we’ve dug up some of the best cases you can get for your MacBook Air — regardless of its release year.

As the MacBook Air is such a popular laptop, there are actually a lot of choices for cases here. With most other laptops, it’s rare we get to include a case that actually attaches to your laptop, but we have a few options here. Nonetheless, we’ve also included a few sleeves and carrying cases if that’s what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that, especially for cases that attach to your laptop, you have to make sure you have the matching model. This list includes cases for both the 2020 and 2022 MacBook Air models.

Cases for the 2020 model

MOSISO Hard Shell, Keyboard Cover and Screen Protector

Tons of Colors

The MacBook Air only comes in three color options so you may want to add your own splash of color withone of these cases. It comes in dozens of color options, but there's also a transparent one.

View on Amazon

CiSoo hard shell case for MacBook Air

A Touch of Personality

If flat colors aren't your style, this CiSoo case comes in a variety of patterns that definitely stand out. The case snaps into the laptop so you can leave it on while you use it, and it even comes with matching keycap covers.

View on Amazon

Incase Textured Hardshell in Woolenex

Classy and Textured

This Incase hardshell case can protect your MacBook Air, but it also looks really stylish. It's covered in a woven pattern that adds a sense of class, though it's a bit pricey. It comes in a few different colors, too.

View on Amazon

Cases for any 13-inch MacBook Air

Comfyable Laptop Sleeve

Sleek and Stylish

This faux leather sleeve is a sleek and simple way to protect your MacBook Air while carrying it around and without adding bulk. It's made with faux leather on the outside and soft felt on the inside, and comes in a few colors.

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Londo Genuine Leather Sleeve

Genuine Leather

For lovers of genuine leather, this Londo sleeve might be more to your taste. In addition to the leather edges and flap, the center is adorned with a few different patterns that add a touch of personality.

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Inateck Laptop Sleeve Case

Elegant

This classic Inateck laptop sleeve comes with a carrying handle for easier transportation. It has an elegant and subdued design that looks good without being too flashy. Plus, it gives you some space to store accessories.

View on Amazon

V Voova Slim Laptop Carrying Case

With Pockets

Available in nine different colors to choose from, this carrying case from V Voova has a handle for convenience and includes multiple pockets for accessory storage.

View on Amazon

tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Bag

Water Resistant

This water-resistant case is available in multiple colors and has several pockets for accessories. It's ideal for those who frequently commute to work and are worried about rainy days.

View on Amazon

Kinmac 360° Protective Laptop Case

Super Soft

This Kinmac case offers a lot of padding around your MacBook Air for extra soft protection, plus a hard shell to protect from harder drops. And it comes in many different styles for every taste, too.

View on Amazon

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That should give you a few great options for cases to protect your MacBook Air from drops and other dings. Taste is very personal, but there’s a bit of variety here to suit everyone. Personally, I’d probably end up getting one of the carrying cases — most likely the one from Kinmac — since it makes carrying the MacBook Air around easier.

If you’ve chosen one of these cases but haven’t bought the MacBook Air yet, you can do it using the links below. If you’re still considering other options, we have a roundup of the best laptops you can buy today that you may want to check out.

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2020)

The 2020 MacBook Air comes with the original Apple M1 chipset, which is both powerful and efficient. It has no active cooling, which helps make it lighter and more silent.

View on Best Buy

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022)

The 2022 MacBook Air offers the M2 chip and a redesigned, notched chassis with MagSafe support and more color options.

View on Best Buy

Which of these MacBook Air cases will you be buying? Let us know in the comments section below.

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OnePlus will launch another pair of affordable TWS earbuds in India next month

After announcing the OnePlus 10T launch event earlier this week, OnePlus has now revealed that it will also launch a pair of affordable TWS earbuds in the Indian market days before the event. The upcoming earbuds, called the OnePlus Nord CE, will be the second earbuds in OnePlus’s Nord lineup and will be available for under ₹3,000 (~$38).

For the unaware, OnePlus launched the first TWS earbuds in the Nord lineup earlier this year in April. The OnePlus Nord Buds offered 12.4mm dynamic drivers, up to 7 hours of continuous music playback, four noise-canceling microphones, and fast charging support for just ₹2,799 (~$35). In addition, the earbuds also featured an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, Bluetooth 5.2, and a low-latency mode.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE is coming on 1st August to continue the legacy of amazing sound quality and great designs.

— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) July 22, 2022

Given that OnePlus uses the CE moniker for affordable versions of existing Nord devices, we suspect that the OnePlus Nord Buds CE could be more affordable than its predecessor. If that’s the case, it might not offer some of the premium features, like fast charging support and an IP rating, found on the older model.

A teaser image of the earbuds shared on Twitter further reveals that it won’t feature the same design as the OnePlus Nord Buds. While the Nord Buds featured a flat stem and silicone tips for a snug fit, the upcoming earbuds seem to feature a rounded stem and no silicone tips.

At the moment, we don’t have any further details about the OnePlus Nord CE, but a teaser page on OnePlus’ website states that the company will share more information in the days leading up to its launch on August 1.

Are you looking forward to the OnePlus Nord Buds CE? Let us know in the comments section below.

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WhatsApp might soon let you hide your online status

WhatsApp has released several new features over the last few weeks, and the Meta-owned messaging app doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. After rolling out new visibility options for last seen, profile photo, and status, Android-to-iOS chat transfer support, and support for larger group chats, WhatsApp is now prepping another new feature.

According to a recent WABetaInfo report, WhatsApp is now readying a feature that will let you hide your online status from your contacts. The feature was first spotted in a beta build of WhatsApp for iOS a few weeks ago and it has now made its way to the Android app on the beta channel. Although it is not live in the latest WhatsApp beta release (v2.22.16.12), WABetaInfo has managed to grab the following screenshot of the in-development feature.

Credit: WABetaInfo

As shown in the screenshot, the upcoming online status visibility feature will show up in a new section within WhatsApp’s Last Seen privacy settings. It will include two options — “Everyone” and “Same as last seen.” If you pick the former, everyone will be able to see when you’re online. But if you go with the latter, WhatsApp will automatically pick the visibility option you selected for the Last Seen feature.

Depending on the option you picked for the Last Seen feature, you’ll be able to limit your online status to your contacts or your contacts except for the users you’ve blocked for the Last Seen feature. You’ll also be able to block everyone from viewing your last seen and online statuses by selecting the option labeled “Nobody.”

As mentioned earlier, this feature is still in development and it’s not available in the latest WhatsApp beta release. We don’t have any information regarding its rollout at the moment, but we’ll let you know as soon as it starts rolling out on the beta or stable channels.

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Via: WABetaInfo

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Fitbit app gets redesigned charts to improve readability

Fitbit is rolling out a fresh update for its app on Android with redesigned charts for health metrics. The new charts offer better readability, making it easier for users to understand their health and fitness data.

According to 9to5Google, the redesigned charts are rolling out with version 3.64.4 of the Fitbit app. The update doesn’t seem to be available widely at the moment, but it should reach more users in the next few days. Once you do receive the update, you’ll see an introductory prompt when you open a chart with details about the redesign. The redesigned charts are reportedly available for steps, miles, calories, zone minutes, sleep, heart rate, stress, etc.

Credits: 9to5Google

As you can see in the attached screenshots, the new charts have a white background. Within each chart, you’ll see navigation tabs at the top to help you easily switch views by week, month, three months, or year. Underneath the tabs, you’ll find navigation arrows to cycle through older data, followed by the chart itself and buttons to help you quickly view various metrics like resting heart rate, cardio fitness, sleep score, hours slept, sleep schedule, and more.

Credits: 9to5Google

It’s worth noting that the redesigned charts are not available on the Fitbit app for iOS at the moment. You might not see them on your Android devices right away, either, as the update doesn’t seem to be widely available. You can check whether the update is available on your device or not by following the Play Store link below. Note that the update was not available on any of our devices.

What do you think of the redesigned charts in the Fitbit app? Do they really make it easier for you to understand your health and fitness data? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Via: 9to5Google

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What colors does the MacBook Pro 13 (2022) come in?

So, you’ve decided you want a new Apple laptop, and you naturally want one of the best Macs, so that’s one with the newest M2 chip inside. Like the MacBook Pro 13 (2022), which while a minor refresh from the outside, boasts the latest and greatest on the inside. But which one to get? Quite rightly, you want to make sure you spend your money wisely and get the one you really want, and that includes getting the right color.

Apple has been less restrictive on its choice of colors in recent years. Are there some outrageous choices for the newest MacBook Pro 13? Alas, no. It’s a more clear-cut choice here.

MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has two colors only

The MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is available in only two colors. And they’re both variants of grey. You can get it in either Apple’s signature Space Grey, or you can get it in Silver, the same shade as has been available on pretty much every MacBook Pro to date.

In a pinch, we’d suggest the Space Grey version looks the best. The darker tone suits the MacBook Pro 13 well. You’re perhaps a little disappointed in this selection, but if you want something else, there is another way.

MacBook Air comes in four colors

The latest MacBook Air also boasts the Apple M2 chip and similar specs all-round to the MacBook Pro 13 (2022). It’s a similar size, too, but it also has a wider range of colors to choose from. The MacBook Air is available in a total of four different colors:

• Midnight
• Starlight
• Space Grey
• Silver

Two of these are the same as the MacBook Pro 13 (2022), but the MacBook Air has the addition of Midnight and Starlight. The former is the darkest hue available, with a hint of navy blue in it, while the latter is essentially a gold MacBook Air. It’s a more subtle gold than its predecessor, though, and better looking overall.

So, if you wanted something a little different, the MacBook Air is a decent alternative. Prices are similar to the MacBook Pro 13 (2022) as well as being a little more striking on the color front.

MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2)

The MacBook Pro 13-inch now comes with Apple's M2 processor, promising up to 39% more performance in games and image processing compared to the M1 model while delivering long-lasting battery life.

See at Best Buy

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022)

The 2022 MacBook Air offers the M2 chip and a redesigned chassis with MagSafe support. It's available in four colors to choose from.

View on Best Buy

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Magisk v25.2 marks the beginning of the project’s Rust-ification

Back in 2021, we saw the first baby steps toward the adoption of the memory-managed Rust programming language into the Android codebase. John Wu, aka XDA Senior Recognized Developer topjohnwu, has apparently been thinking along the same lines for the Magisk Project. As per Wu, the experimentation had already begun after releasing the v25.0 build of Magisk via stable channel. Now, topjohnwu has rolled out a new stable build of Magisk in the form of v25.2, with the whole logging infrastructure transitioned to Rust.

A majority of Magisk’s low level components are written in C++. However, as a nonmemory-managed language, it opens the programmer up to memory leaks and buffer overflows. Rust, on the other hand, provides the raw speed, flexibility, and most of the direct mapping to hardware functionality that C++ would while offering a memory-safe environment. Although we don’t expect to see a full implementation of Magisk in Rust anytime soon, this early work on integrating Rust code into the project’s logging infrastructure is likely to be very important.

Magisk XDA Forums

Notably, an intermediate v25.1 build came out just twelve days after the v25 release went live, but it was a minor bug-fix update. The latest stable release of Magisk, however, is a full-fledged maintenance update that also features a number of MagiskInit-related improvements.

Below you can find the complete changelog for Magisk v25.2:

• [MagiskInit] Fix a potential issue when stub cpio is used
• [MagiskInit] Fix reboot to recovery when stub cpio is used
• [MagiskInit] Fix sepolicy.rules symlink for rootfs devices
• [General] Better data encryption detection
• [General] Move the whole logging infrastructure into Rust

If you want to check out the v25.2 release in full detail, go ahead and download it to your device right now from the link below. In case you happen to run into any problems with the latest build, make sure to file a bug report on the “Issues” section of the project’s GitHub repository.

Download Magisk v25.2

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Source: John Wu on Twitter

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