Windows Archives - Jonathan Wylie

How to Play Xbox Game Pass on iPhone and iPad

Did you know that you can now use your iPhone or iPad to play Xbox Game Pass games? Microsoft has been talking to Apple about this for years. They wanted to release an app, similar to what they have on Android, where iOS users could browse through the Game Pass catalog and then stream the games they want to play. However, Apple has steadfastly refused to allow that format on the App Store. They said it was a store within a store and that all games had to be listed separately. So, Microsoft found a workaround. Here’s how it works.

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Windows 11: Release Date, New Features & More

A desktop computer and monitor with a keyboard and mouse on a table.

Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest vision for the operating system that powers millions of devices. At its core, it shares a lot of the same DNA as Windows 10, but a new visual design, combined with some great new features, makes Windows 11 a compelling upgrade. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Use a Clipboard Manager

A clipboard manager is a very handy utility to know about. It solves a problem that you probably didn’t know you had, but it also has the potential to fundamentally change the way you use your computer. Sounds important, right? Well, if you like to copy and paste text, it very well could be. By default, when you right-click and select the Copy command on your computer, it only remembers the last thing that you copied. If you copy something else, it overwrites your previous clipping. This is the problem that a clipboard manager solves. It remembers everything you copy and stores it all on a clipboard for when you need it. Here’s how it works.

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Loom for Education: Free for Schools

Loom for Education is a free premium tool for teachers and students at K-12 schools, universities, or educational institutions. It can be used for screencasting or video messaging and is an increasingly popular alternative to Screencastify or Screencast-o-matic. Loom is available as a desktop app, Chrome extension, and a mobile app for iPhone and iPad. Here’s why you might want to take a look at this great free screencasting tool.

A Great Free Video Editor for Schools

A boy in bed, illuminated by the screen of a laptop. Text reads, Animotica: Free for schools

For the last couple of weeks I have been playing with a free video editor for Windows 10 called Animotica. It’s available from the Windows Store. As you might expect, the free version does come with an optional in-app purchase and that means if you want to take full advantage of all the available features, you need to upgrade to the Full Pro account. However, the Full Pro plan is just $16 for a lifetime license and there are no monthly subscription fees. Better still, schools can get a Full Pro license for free.

Record Your Screen for Free on Windows 10

black Xbox controller. Text reads, Record you Screen with the Xbox game bar. Learn more jonathanwylie.com

The ability to record your screen and share it with others is one of those skills that I think we should all have in our back pocket. It’s a great way to share knowledge with others or demonstrate mastery of a concept. Today, there are all kinds of apps that let you do this. Many are free, others are not. It just depends on how polished you want the final product to be. In this post, I am going to take a look at a hidden feature in Windows 10 that allows anyone to record and share their screen for free.

The 5 Best Ways to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10

A Microsoft Surface on a dark surface. Text reads, How to take screenshots in Windows 10.

When a screencast is overkill and a GIF is just too much trouble, the humble screenshot is exactly what you need. Whether you are reporting bugs, capturing evidence, or creating tutorials, the ability to take screenshots is a valuable skill to have. In this post, I am going to show you five ways to take screenshots in Windows 10.

How to Install Chrome Extensions in Microsoft Edge

Woman using a Microsoft Surface computer at a table

Microsoft’s latest attempt at a return to browser supremacy is finally here. The new Chromium version of Edge, (Microsoft’s default web browser for Windows computers), is now available for Windows and MacOS. Chromium was developed by Google and is used as the foundation for the Chrome web browser. However, because it is an open source project, other developers are free to adopt it for their own uses. Opera, Vivaldi, and Brave are just a few of the third-party browsers that currently use Chromium to power their products, and now Microsoft have joined their ranks. This means you can now install Chrome extensions in Edge. Here’s what you need to know.

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How to Publish to the Apple Books Store on Any Device

How to Publish to the Apple Books Store by Jonathan Wylie

A recent update to Apple’s publishing standards has allowed more flexibility in the creation and sharing of eBooks on the Apple Books Store. Previously, all books had to be submitted to the store via the iBooks Author app for MacOS. However, you can now use Pages on an iPhone, iPad, Mac or online at iCloud.com. Here’s how it works.

How to do Green Screen Photos Without the Green Screen

How to create green screen photos the easy way

Earlier this week I saw a tool going around Twitter called Remove Image Background. It’s a clever, web-based tool that uses artificial intelligence to identify a person in a photo and remove the background behind them. It’s free, it works on all devices, it doesn’t require a login, and it removes backgrounds surprisingly well. I am sure that it could be used for all kinds of graphic design projects, but like many things, it made me think about green screen.