All posts tagged: desktop

OpenAI drastically updates Codex desktop app to use all other apps on your computer, generate images, preview webpages

OpenAI drastically updates Codex desktop app to use all other apps on your computer, generate images, preview webpages

Published by skeptic

Confirming it has reached 3 million weekly developers, OpenAI is massively updating its Codex developer environment via its Mac and Windows desktop apps today to bring it closer to the “Super App” the company has confirmed it is pursuing. Before today, Codex was primarily an environment for using OpenAI’s underlying language models to write, edit, debug and ship software as directed by the user. Now, Codex will be able to access all of the other apps on your computer, surface relevant information from within them to you when asked or proactively, take actions as directed in said applications, and, in the case of Mac users, even do so while you continue manually using your computer simultaneously to your agents working in the background. Andrew Ambrosino, an OpenAI technical staffer on the Codex team, described the change plainly in an embargoed press briefing I attended virtually yesterday: “Codex can actually click on apps, launch apps, and type into apps. This works with any apps on your machine.”  Codex on desktop is further getting its own built-in …

We tested Anthropic’s redesigned Claude Code desktop app and ‘Routines’ — here’s what enterprises should know

We tested Anthropic’s redesigned Claude Code desktop app and ‘Routines’ — here’s what enterprises should know

Published by skeptic

The transition from AI as a chatbot to AI as a workforce is no longer a theoretical projection; it has become the primary design philosophy for the modern developer’s toolkit. On April 14, 2026, Anthropic signaled this shift with a dual release: a complete redesign of the Claude Code desktop app (for Mac and Windows) and the launch of “Routines” in research preview. These updates suggest that for the modern enterprise, the developer’s role is shifting from a solo practitioner to a high-level orchestrator managing multiple, simultaneous streams of work. For years, the industry focused on “copilots”—single-threaded assistants that lived within the IDE and responded to the immediate line of code being written. Anthropic’s latest update acknowledges that the shape of “agentic work” has fundamentally changed. Developers are no longer just typing prompts and waiting for answers; they are initiating refactors in one repository, fixing bugs in another, and writing tests in a third, all while monitoring the progress of these disparate tasks. The redesigned desktop application reflects this change through its central “Mission Control” …

I tried Google’s new desktop app, and I’ll never search the old way again

I tried Google’s new desktop app, and I’ll never search the old way again

Published by skeptic

mustafaU/E+ via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Google has a new desktop app for Search. Pressing Alt-Space opens a bubble over your current window. The app can access your Gmail, Drive, Photos, and more. Last fall, Google introduced an experimental Windows version of its app that ZDNET’s Lance Whitney called “your next big productivity hack.” That app is now available to all users, and after spending a morning with it, I can tell you it’s worth a download. At its core, this is just a faster way to access tools like Gemini, Lens, and Search. That doesn’t mean it’s not useful, though. Also: Google just gave you control over your Search results – how to see your favorite sites first You open the Google desktop app with Alt-Space, which is quicker than opening a browser to search and even quicker than opening a new tab. A bubble pops up over top of what you’re working on, and you don’t even have to click into it …

Anthropic Rebuilds Claude Code Desktop App Around Parallel Sessions

Anthropic Rebuilds Claude Code Desktop App Around Parallel Sessions

Published by skeptic

Anthropic has released a redesigned Claude Code experience for its Claude desktop app, bringing in a new sidebar for managing multiple sessions, a drag-and-drop layout for arranging the workspace, and more. The new sidebar displays every active and recent session in one place, and users can filter by status, project, or environment, with the option to group sessions by project. A new side chat shortcut (Command + 😉 also lets users branch a question off a running task without feeding extra context back into the main thread. Anthropic has also dropped more of the developer workflow into the app itself. There’s now an integrated terminal for running tests and builds, an in-app file editor for spot edits, a rebuilt diff viewer aimed at large changesets, and an expanded preview pane that handles HTML files and PDFs alongside local app servers. Each pane is also drag-and-drop friendly, so the layout can be arranged to suit. In addition, the desktop app now matches Claude Code’s CLI for plugin support, while SSH sessions are supported on Mac as …

Anthropic Brings Full Desktop Control to Claude Code

Anthropic Brings Full Desktop Control to Claude Code

Published by skeptic

Anthropic’s latest upgrade to Claude Code introduces AI-powered desktop automation, a feature that enables native computer control for macOS users. This enhancement allows tasks like mouse and keyboard navigation, screen recording and remote task execution to be automated directly on the desktop. For example, users can organize files in Finder, automate repetitive workflows in legacy applications, or even execute commands remotely via mobile devices using the new Dispatch feature. Nate Herk | AI Automation highlights how these capabilities can streamline workflows and reduce manual effort, though the macOS exclusivity and certain functional constraints leave room for future development. Explore how this update can enhance your productivity through practical applications like automating recurring tasks, debugging software in a sandbox environment, or managing browser-based workflows. Gain insight into the accessibility permissions required to activate these features and how they ensure secure interaction between the AI and your system. You’ll also learn about the planned expansion to Windows and potential improvements in browser automation, offering a glimpse into how this technology could evolve to meet broader user needs. …

Desktop particle accelerators are opening new frontiers in physics

Desktop particle accelerators are opening new frontiers in physics

Published by Jenni Sidey

A beam of electrons crossed just a few millimeters of plasma, then helped trigger an effect that usually belongs to massive research sites. In this case, the light produced fell in the extreme ultraviolet range, at wavelengths from 27 to 50 nanometers. The result points toward a future where some accelerator technology may shrink from building-sized systems to something much smaller. “Our work has made several substantial improvements over previous techniques, allowing us to achieve free-electron laser amplification at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths,” lead author Zhan Jin said. Proof-of-concept experimental setup used to generate an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser (FEL) driven by a laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) electron beam. (CREDIT: University of Osaka) Taming a difficult accelerator Traditional particle accelerators, including radiofrequency linear accelerators and synchrotrons, have pushed physics forward for decades. They are also expensive, physically large, and limited in how strongly they can accelerate particles over a given distance. Laser wakefield acceleration offers a very different path. Instead of relying on long conventional structures, it sends a powerful laser through plasma, where it …

Meet Claude’s Autonomous Desktop Assistant : Computer Use

Meet Claude’s Autonomous Desktop Assistant : Computer Use

Published by skeptic

Claude’s ability to control a Mac computer introduces a new dimension to AI-driven task management. Developed by Skill Leap AI, this feature enables the AI to perform actions like clicking, typing and navigating applications, mimicking human input. For instance, the Dispatch feature allows users to manage tasks remotely by connecting their smartphone to their desktop, making sure productivity even while on the move. While this technology offers convenience and flexibility, it also requires specific permissions, such as screen recording and accessibility access, raising important considerations about privacy and security. Explore how Claude can assist with automating repetitive tasks, such as file organization or data entry, while also supporting creative workflows like generating website code or summarizing documents. Gain insight into the practical requirements for using this feature, including its exclusive compatibility with macOS and the need for a paid subscription. You’ll also learn about its current limitations, such as slower task execution and challenges with ambiguous instructions, helping you evaluate whether it fits your needs effectively. How Claude Computer Use Works TL;DR Key Takeaways : …

I disabled this hidden setting and got a faster GNOME desktop

I disabled this hidden setting and got a faster GNOME desktop

Published by skeptic

There’s a special kind of annoyance reserved for systems that aren’t technically slow, but still feel … busy. Like your computer is constantly doing something just out of sight, breathing a little too loudly in the background. That was my setup for months. Apps opened fine, nothing crashed, and CPU usage looked normal at a glance. And yet, the whole experience had this faint, persistent hesitation. Not enough to blame anything specific, but enough to make me slightly irritated every time I sat down. Turns out, it wasn’t my imagination. It was GNOME Tracker quietly chewing through resources in the background, indexing files I didn’t need indexed, at times I didn’t ask for. And once I dealt with it, my system stopped feeling haunted. Not faster, exactly, but finally at peace. The system felt busy, not slow When tools say “fine” but your brain says “nope” Screenshot: Roine Bertelson/MUO This is the worst kind of performance issue to troubleshoot, because every tool you trust insists everything is fine. CPU usage behaves, RAM isn’t screaming, and …

25 years later, this app is still the best way to customize your Windows desktop

25 years later, this app is still the best way to customize your Windows desktop

Published by skeptic

I’ve seen more friends than I can think of using programs like Wallpaper Engine to give their PC a bit of extra flair. But back in 2001, and subsequently since then, a little application called Rainmeter has been the customization king. If you’re hoping to make your PC look unlike anything else, this is the app that can make it happen. Wallpaper Engine and other similar programs can absolutely make your PC look pretty, but if you’re hoping to have a constant stream of information about your computer available every time you go back to the desktop? It may be time to pick up Rainmeter and see what it can do for you. Rainmeter offers unparalleled freedom Aesthetics are just as important as information with Rainmeter While I’ve used Wallpaper Engine myself, I’m also incredibly curious about what’s going on with my PC at any given time. Seeing what makes it run is just as fascinating as building one yourself, and I’m always hungry for more data about my computer. I mean, that’s one of …

Don’t ignore your desktop PC’s empty M.2 slots – they’re more useful than you think

Don’t ignore your desktop PC’s empty M.2 slots – they’re more useful than you think

Published by skeptic

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Most desktop users have at least one M.2 slot in their PC.  These slots aren’t just for storage.  Options include upgraded internet bandwidth and additional USB ports. I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but if you have a desktop PC in 2026, you’re probably not using its M.2 slots to their fullest potential. If it’s from the last five to ten years, chances are you have unused M.2 slots that could be put to use with additional accessories.  M.2 slots aren’t just for NVMe SSDs; they can enable devices for several different purposes, including a faster Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection, a USB port expansion, or an extra GPU. With a little investment, one or more of these devices can significantly improve the value of your PC. Also: The best M.2 SSDs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed M.2 slots connect directly to your motherboard’s PCIe lanes, which are several orders of magnitude faster than older interfaces like SATA. They’re also …