Featured

Sneaking Early Gemini Features Into Google Home

on
Gemini for Home still isn’t officially rolled out, but there’s a workaround floating around that lets you access part of the Gemini experience early: the upgraded Gemini voice pack, which is normally tied to the upcoming Home assistant revamp. On your phone, pop this into your browser: googlehome://assistant/voice/setup This deep-link forces the Google Home app to launch the new Voice Setup UI — the same one Google is reserving for the Gemini transition. If you’re using Chrome, pick the second option when it appears. The first one is just a Google search. You might see a “Continue to Home?” prompt,  hit Continue. You’re immediately given a choice of ten new voices, polished, ultra-natural, and clearly modeled after the more expressive Gemini TTS engine: Amaryllis – soft, airy, almost therapeutic Calathea – deeper, grounded Croton – bright, youthful Yarrow – calm, articulate They have that Gemini warmth, the same energy Google used in its AI Studio demos, not the old rob...
0

Unlocking Hidden Windows Features with ViveTool

on

When Microsoft tests new features in Windows, they don’t always roll them out to everyone right away. Instead, many updates are tucked away inside the system, waiting for Microsoft to flip a switch through A/B testing or staged rollouts. That’s where ViveTool comes in—a command-line utility that lets you enable (or disable) these hidden features before they officially reach the general public.

What is ViveTool?

ViveTool is a free, open-source utility created by Rafael Rivera and Albacore, two well-known Windows enthusiasts. It allows you to interact with Feature IDs inside Windows. Each experimental or upcoming feature has an associated ID, and ViveTool gives you direct control over toggling them on or off.

This tool has become especially popular with Windows Insider users who want early access to things like redesigned Settings pages, new Start menu layouts, taskbar tweaks, or advanced features Microsoft is quietly testing.

How ViveTool Works

  • Features in Windows are controlled by Feature Flags.

  • Microsoft enables or disables them server-side, but the code is already on your PC.

  • ViveTool lets you manually enable these flags via PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Example workflow:

  1. Download ViveTool from its official GitHub page.

  2. Extract it into a folder (for example, C:\ViveTool).

  3. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator.

  4. Use a command like:

    vivetool /enable /id:<feature_id>

  5. Restart your PC to apply the change.

To turn something back off, swap /enable for /disable.

Why Use ViveTool?

  • Access upcoming features early: See what Microsoft is working on before it’s public.

  • Experimentation: Try hidden UI elements, new animations, or backend improvements.

  • Control: Turn off features that Microsoft forces but you don’t like.

Risks and Considerations

  • Stability: Features are hidden for a reason—they may be incomplete or buggy.

  • Compatibility: Some changes can break apps or system processes.

  • Updates: Microsoft may overwrite your changes with new builds.

Always note the Feature ID you enable so you can easily disable it if problems arise.

Comments

Post a Comment