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Windows finally makes the battery icon colorful

Changes based on battery level

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In today’s episode of “Why Didn’t They Think of This Before,” Microsoft has released a new update that improves how battery information looks like on Windows 11. The slight modification makes the icon more easily readable from a glance.

Currently, the operating system’s battery icon appears monochromatic, regardless of your device’s theme. It will look black or white to any user. Because of this, it’s fairly easy to mistake how much battery you have or its charging status.

In the most recent Windows 11 Insider Preview Build, the operating system changes the battery icon’s color. Starting with the update, the icon will appear green, yellow, or red, depending on the status.

By default, the battery will now appear as green. However, when the battery drops below 20 percent charge, the color changes to yellow. Finally, it will turn to red when the battery enters a critical state.

Additionally, the update also slightly changes how the icon looks when it’s charging. The new icon moves the lightning bolt to a less obtrusive position. You can more clearly see how much charge you’ve already accrued.

According to Microsoft, the feature is one of the most requested by users. If you’ve ever used a Windows laptop, you’ve likely experienced times when you thought you were charging but ended up with an unconnected laptop and a slowly draining battery. The new update is certainly one of the most helpful improvements, despite how small it is.

SEE ALSO: Even Microsoft Notepad has AI now

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TNT earns honors at 2025 International Business Awards

TNT Petmaloop campaign earns Gold Stevie

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Philippines network provider TNT, the value brand of PLDT’s mobile wireless subsidiary Smart, earned multiple honors at the recent 2025 International Business Awards.

At the 22nd edition of the IBA, TNT bagged a Gold Stevie for Brand Experience of the Year – Consumer. This was for the groundbreaking TNT Petmaloop Challenge.

The campaign gathered content creators nationwide to feature highlights of their hometowns that give them “saya” (joy) using TikTok.

It culminated in an uninterrupted stream that earned a Guinness World Records title for the Longest Travel Livestream after running for 26 hours, 15 minutes, and 29 seconds.

Moreover, TNT also received a Silver Stevie for Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year for its SIM Registration campaign. This blended creativity and humor in urging subscribers to register their SIMs on time.

TNT’s awards form part of the broader recognition received by the PLDT Group and Smart at the same awards, also known as The Stevies.

These reflect the integrated telecommunications provider’s continued investments in network development, innovation, and customer-focused initiatives.

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Apple gives up on making AI, inks a deal with Gemini to power Siri

Gemini gets another feather in its cap.

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In the not-too-long-ago past, the biggest names of the tech industry competed to build their own AI software. Now, though some brands are still on the hunt, it’s easier to name certain software that have more successfully drowned users in a flood of AI-powered features. Today, Google gets another win by adding Apple’s Siri to its Gemini cap.

In the past, Apple peddled Apple Intelligence, an upcoming AI-powered system to compete against the giants of the industry. However, much like other features from other brands, Apple Intelligence came out half baked with features still lacking months after the initial launch.

Now, Apple has signed a deal with Google to use Gemini for a revamped Siri. The former plans to launch a new version of Siri later this year. Because of the deal, the voice assistant will start using Gemini as a foundation for its own services. Currently, Samsung’s Galaxy AI already uses Gemini.

Formerly a battleground between so many competing brands, it’s now looking like a battle between two major companies: Google and OpenAI. Google now has a huge grip, though. Both Samsung and Apple are no slouches when it comes to owning market share in the world’s smartphones.

Now, as consumers, Apple’s deal probably doesn’t mean much besides the continued influx of features that add little to no value to a smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Google paid Samsung a lot of money to install Gemini on Galaxy

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Microsoft continues to shove Copilot where it’s not wanted

This time, it’s reportedly coming to File Explorer.

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If you look at a modern keyboard, you’ll find that the Copilot button is the cleanest one on the entire panel because no one ever willingly presses it. And yet, Microsoft still believes in the feature’s value. To show their odd commitment, the company is reportedly adding Copilot to File Explorer.

According to @phantomofearth from X (via Windows Central), a new Windows 11 preview build will add a button beside File Explorer’s navigation menu. Currently, the button is invisible and doesn’t do anything. However, the report says that the feature is tied to something called “Chat with Copilot.” It’s becoming clear that the system aims to add the AI software right inside the file organization app.

Besides revealing the potential addition of the egregious feature inside File Explorer, @phantomofearth also added mock-ups of a desktop with Copilot right on the taskbar, hinting at a potential nightmare of the feature lording itself over where it’s not wanted.

Thankfully, the preview build doesn’t always represent a final version of the system. There’s still a chance that Microsoft will not add the AI to the File Explorer.

As of late, Microsoft has received a lot of flak for persistently pushing Copilot onto users, regardless of how they feel about the feature. The company is also facing criticisms in the background for being a major proponent of AI data centers in the United States, which, in turn, have caused the prices of tech to skyrocket this year.

SEE ALSO: Dell admits AI PCs were a mistake

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