April 12 tech news roundup: Recall is coming to Windows 11, Apple Maps on the web comes to Android, Age of Empires 2 is coming to PlayStation 5

Microsoft releases Recall for Windows 11 Insiders

Microsoft is inching closer to releasing Recall for Windows 11. Recall was designed to help users search for previously seen or utilized content on their PCs. It works by capturing screenshots every few seconds, to extract the data on the screen and saves it in a searchable database, and helps them quickly locate previous activities. But Recall’s introduction sparked backlash from users, and experts, due to concerns surrounding user security and privacy. Microsoft wanted to launch Recall along with Copilot+ PCs in June last year, but decided to delay its initial rollout until the privacy issues could be addressed. It then planned to launch a newer version of Recall in October 2024, but it was again delayed for similar issues.

Microsoft says that it has made necessary improvements to mitigate user fears with the new iteration of Recall. The tool now requires users to opt in to save snapshots, which it describes as “images of your activity”. In addition to this, users will need to enroll in Windows Hello to securely access the snapshots. Microsoft also points out that users are in control of which snapshots are saved, and lets users pause saving snapshots.

Recall integrates with Copilot+ PC, to provide a more intuitive search experience. Users can reopen an application, website or document, or use “Click to Do” via the Snipping Tool’s menu to take actions on any image or text that the snapshot contains. The new version of Recall is currently available to Windows Insiders, and will roll out gradually to testers.

Google Docs’ Audio Overviews will help you catch your writing errors

Google is introducing a new AI-powered feature to Google Docs. This tool will read aloud the contents of your document, and is called Audio Overviews. Google says that the feature is designed to assist users catch mistakes in their writing. The Mountain View company also says that AI-voice uses a “natural-sounding” narration, which is closer to human voice quality. Google Docs users can opt to listen to their documents in two ways; a podcast-style summary that highlights the important points, or a full narration of the document.

Audio Overviews is quite similar to the feature that is available in Google’s NotebookLM platform. Besides helping users correct their writing, it can be useful for students and professionals who work on documents every day, and even more helpful for individuals with visual impairments or reading difficulties. Audio Overviews can also be a handy way to listen to documents while multitasking.

Google says that Audio Overviews will be available in alpha in the coming weeks.

Apple Maps on the web is now available for all devices

Apple has launched Apple Maps on the web for all devices. The navigation service’s web version had debuted in beta last year, but has now exited beta. It was originally available for desktop web browsers and tablet devices, but now it supports mobile phones too. Yes, it’s true, Apple Maps on the web supports Android devices, Windows PCs, and Linux computers.

Users can access Apple Maps on the web at https://maps.apple.com/. It allows you to explore maps, search for addresses, businesses, find directions, and access curated Guides. Apple recently launched a new feature for its navigation service called Look Around, which offers a 360-degree panoramic view, which is quite similar to Google’s Street View. But it should be noted that the web-based app does not offer all the features that are available in the standalone apps. You cannot view transit map, 3D building views, or access saved places and custom guides. You do not need to sign up for an account to access Apple Maps on the web.

Fans are not happy with Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebrations

A little company that was founded on April 4th, 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, turned 50 years old this week. Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary by releasing a host of digital goodies. This includes some new profile themes for Xbox, new Dynamic Backgrounds for Xbox, some Xbox badges, themes for Solitaire, Microsoft Edge, etc. Among these were some new 50th anniversary wallpapers featuring the Windows logo, Microsoft Mahjong, Cascading Solitaire, and Yellow Tulips. These images come in 2 versions each, one for light themes and one for dark mode setups.

However, the celebrations did not please the Redmond company’s fans as expected. Many users criticized the appearance of the wallpapers, terming them terribly-designed and dull. A lot of fans took to social media to express their disappointment, stating that they were underwhelmed by the celebration, and that they had expected something better from Microsoft.

Meta announces Llama 4 with powerful AI models

Meta has announced the next-gen version of its artificial intelligence technology, Llama 4. The update brings three new AI models called Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth. Each model has its own strengths and is suited for specific tasks.

Maverick is a general-purpose AI assistant that is designed to understand content in text and images. It supports a large volume of parameters with in-depth knowledge on topics. But, it is not designed for contextual memory, and hence may struggle to recall data from lengthy conversations that you may have had with the AI. Scout is a multimodal model, which can process various data types including images, text and audio content. It excels in contextual memory, and can analyze large volume of texts, processing 5 million words instantly, which makes it a powerful tool for summarizing documents like data from research papers, meetings, and also capable of providing intricate reasoning across large databases.

Behemoth offers an experience that combines Scout and Maverick, thus providing extended contextual understanding and in-depth knowledge. Meta says that Behemoth is still being trained. Scout and Maverick are available via Llama’s website and the Hugging Face platform.

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition’s new DLC will introduce 5 new civilizations

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios and World’s Edge have revealed the release data for the next expansion pack for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. The DLC is called “The Three Kingdoms“, and focuses on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in China.

Fans will be able to play 5 new civilizations: Shu, Wei, Wu, Jurchens, and Khitans. The DLC comes with a variety of unique units focusing on China’s history. In addition to this The Three Kingdoms will come with 15 new single player missions across three campaigns, featuring great leaders like Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan. Players can experience the campaigns in a unique way, as heroes can be leveled up to become powerful.

Microsoft continues to port Xbox games over to Sony’s console, and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is set to release on PlayStation 5 on May 6, 2025, along with the latest DLC.