Microsoft may be trying to sneak Bing into one of Windows 11’s apps – and some users won’t be happy
Windows 11’s Snipping Tool is getting more and more useful updates during testing, although it looks like Microsoft wants to throw Bing into the mix here too.
The Snipping Tool update is currently rolling out to testers in the Canary and Dev channels, and is accompanied by a minor update to the Paint app, so let’s get that out of the way first (and we’ll get back to that big Bing change later).
The new version of Paint (v11.2404.42.0) comes with a small but noticeable change. Microsoft has decided that its AI feature that creates images for the user on demand will no longer be called ‘Cocreator’, but will now be called ‘Image Creator’.
As for Snipping Tool, with version 11.2404.37.0, Microsoft introduces the ability to place emoji in screenshots, which you can move or resize before placing them in the image.
Also new is functionality that detects QR codes in screenshots, allowing you to immediately track where the code links.
Finally, Microsoft has added the ability to change the opacity of a shape fill, and the ruler tool has returned.
Please note that this is all still in testing phase and you can find the full details of the changes in Microsoft’s blog post.
Analysis: Bing search in the mix
Most of these changes to the Windows 11 Snipping Tool have already been spotted and hidden in test builds, so it’s no surprise to see them formally appear in the app. And speaking of hidden features, there’s another one that was just pointed out by leaker PhantomOfEarth on X (formerly Twitter).
Another feature coming soon to Snipping Tool (yes, more!): visual search with Bing. pic.twitter.com/h6HOblr0RqMay 9, 2024
As mentioned at the beginning, it looks like Microsoft is cramming Bing into yet another of its products through a ‘Visual Search with Bing’ option. This is functionality that initiates an image search, using the Bing engine, for the current screenshot. While we don’t know yet how it will work, it could present results in-line in the app (in a panel perhaps), or more likely open the search in Edge. (Microsoft will never miss an opportunity to get Edge open, let’s face it).
While this feature could honestly be useful to some, others might consider it a cluttered clutter of the Snipping Tool menu. In any case, this isn’t actually being tested yet – it’s not being rolled out yet anyway, but the leak suggests it’s likely to happen soon.
As for the name change to Paint: Image Creator is a more direct and apt name for the function than Cocreator. Not only does this bring it in line with Microsoft’s use of this name elsewhere, but it can also be read as an indication that Paint’s AI powers won’t be extended beyond image generation. (As Cocreator might suggest an assistant with more far-reaching powers).