All articles tagged with #desktop app
Google has released a native Gemini app for Windows 10 and 11, mirroring its Mac rollout, with a quick Alt+Space launch, Gmail/Drive integration, and access to Gemini-powered image/video tools via Nano Banana and Gemini Omni, while Google promises it’s lightweight and more native desktop features are coming.
Meta released a native Mac desktop app for Meta AI (1.0 beta) built for Apple Silicon on macOS 15+, using an AppKit/SwiftUI shell with WebKit. It offers a richer, non-Electron experience with features like Quick Invoke (Option-Space), a dictation shortcut, window attachment to conversations, screen recording with necessary permissions for context gathering, and a sidebar for Media, Artifacts, tasks, and history. The app can run without a Dock icon and is designed to enhance productivity beyond the mobile experience, continuing Meta’s broader AI push on macOS.
Five downsides are highlighted: no native crossfade (gapless playback exists for Premium but no seamless crossfading), the highest audio bitrate tops out at 256 kbps (no lossless like some competitors), shuffle can repeat after around 50 songs on large playlists, there is no dedicated desktop app (browser workarounds exist), and the mobile app can be buggy at times—paired with comparisons to Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer and practical fixes.
OpenAI president Greg Brockman described the merged ChatGPT and Codex desktop app interface as “kind of a mess” but framed it as incremental progress toward a tab-free future, with plans to eventually remove the Work tab and seamlessly fold its features into ChatGPT. The interview notes strong early adoption for Codex (up to 10 million users) after the merger, while Brockman emphasizes broader aims to bring more people to AI and enable agent-based capabilities, alongside discussions of ChatGPT Voice and other initiatives.
OpenAI updates the ChatGPT desktop app with GPT Voice, powered by GPT-Live, enabling voice-driven task coordination across Chat, Work, and Codex on macOS and Windows; users can start, check, or steer tasks by talking, enjoy Appshots that reference the active window on Mac, and leverage local files and plugins, plus improved multi-folder local project support; rollout is global today.
Anthropic unveiled a redesigned Claude Code desktop app that adds an integrated terminal, a side-context chat, an improved diff viewer, an in-app editor, and rearrangeable panes. The update aims to streamline agentic coding across multiple repos by making sessions easier to manage, enabling context-aware side chats without interrupting the agent, and streaming responses for faster interaction. Claude Code remains available to Claude subscribers and API token customers, with the update emphasizing reliability and speed across the coding workflow.
Anthropic released a redesigned Claude Code desktop app featuring a new multi-session sidebar, drag-and-drop workspace, built-in terminal and editor, an enhanced diff viewer, expanded previews, and SSH support on macOS and Linux. The update also brings CLI parity for plugins and three view modes, plus a new Routines automation option that runs Claude Code-based tasks on the web with plan-based run caps.
OpenAI has released a new ChatGPT desktop app for Mac, but it's currently only available to select users with M-series chip Macs. However, users can manually download the app and use a workaround to gain access by quitting the app at a specific point during login. This method has been shared on social media and Reddit, though it may not fully enable all features like voice chat. It's recommended to wait for an official invite for a smoother experience.
Authy, the two-factor authentication app, will discontinue its desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux in August 2024, directing users to switch to the mobile version instead. The move is part of Twilio's effort to streamline focus and provide more value on existing product solutions. Users with Macs with M1 or M2 silicon can still use the iOS version, while others are advised to switch to the mobile app and manually sync with their computer. Twilio is also relocating Authy's customer support hub to its own website after January 15th, 2024.
Twilio, the vendor of the Authy authenticator app, will discontinue its desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux in August 2024, urging users to switch to the mobile version. The decision is part of a restructuring effort to focus on areas with higher demand. Users are advised to transition to the iOS or Google app, enable backups for synchronization, and inform platforms using Authy's API. Alternative desktop apps are suggested for those unable or unwilling to use a mobile device for 2FA, with cautionary steps outlined to avoid being locked out of accounts during the transition.
Proton Mail, the secure email service known for its focus on privacy, has released a desktop app in beta. The app aims to provide users with a convenient and secure way to access their Proton Mail accounts on their desktop computers. With its end-to-end encryption and other privacy features, Proton Mail continues to be a popular choice for those seeking a more secure email experience.
Proton has launched a desktop app for its encrypted email service, Proton Mail, allowing users to access their emails and calendar offline. The app, currently in beta, is optimized for Windows and macOS and offers end-to-end encryption for sent emails. While offline access to emails will be available soon, users previously had to configure their accounts with the Proton Mail Bridge to access emails offline through other email clients. The desktop app also introduces encrypted auto-forwarding for paid users, with improvements made to Proton Calendar. Initially, access to the desktop app is limited to paid "Visionary" tier users, with plans to make it available to all users in early 2024.
Google has fixed the bug in its Google Drive desktop app that caused files to go missing, and has provided instructions on how to recover them. Users affected by the bug should update their app to the latest version and can recover their files either through a backup from the Drive for desktop app or via a command line interface. Google recommends using Windows Backup or macOS Time Machine if the files do not appear after recovery attempts.
The Weather or Not GNOME extension allows Ubuntu users to view current weather conditions and temperature in the top panel without the need to open a separate app. By clicking on the panel icon, users can access the GNOME Weather app for more detailed information. This extension is aimed at users who have GNOME Weather installed and want weather information to be visible on their desktop. It also offers the flexibility to choose the position of the weather indicator in the panel.
Spotify has redesigned the "Your Library" and "Now Playing" interfaces of its desktop app to make them more aligned with its smartphone app. The new library helps users save time by providing a better overview, while making it easier to switch between playlists. The "Now Playing" view takes up the right-hand side of the app, showing the currently playing song or podcast. The desktop app revamp began rolling out on Tuesday and will eventually make its way to all users over the next week.