Video summary

This Microsoft app just cooked all productivity tools!

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary of the Video (Technology Focus)

The video argues that productivity on Windows often feels behind platforms like macOS/Linux—especially due to the lack of a “Spotlight”-style search experience and an always-available top bar. It highlights third-party solutions such as Flow Launcher, Yasb Top Bar, and Raycast, and then reviews Microsoft’s newest update to PowerToys, claiming it’s finally a serious, non-garbage entry in this category.

What PowerToys Adds (Features Covered)

1) PowerToys Utilities Overview + Configuration

  • The speaker explains the PowerToys UI:
    • utilities listed and toggleable
    • shortcuts overview
    • grouping/sorting by themes
  • They mention recommending multiple tools and specifically list seven as their personal set.

2) Recommended / Covered Add-ons

The walkthrough covers several PowerToys utilities:

  • Peek Quick image previews in File Explorer via a shortcut (e.g., the space bar or a custom key).

  • FancyZones A window layout manager featuring:

    • grid/canvas layouts
    • draggable zone borders
    • zone creation
    • placing windows using Shift

  • Color Picker Displays color codes from the currently shown desktop colors, with configuration for which codes appear.

  • Always on Top Pins a chosen window (e.g., Notes) above other content like a video, with customizable borders.

  • Workspace Captures currently open apps and their layout, lets you save a “workspace,” and later re-launch the full setup at once.

3) New “Top Bar” + Command Palette

The main review focuses on the new “Top Bar” experience:

  • Top bar widget Shows system resource info such as GPU/CPU/RAM and network speeds, and can also include app shortcuts.

  • How to enable Via PowerToys Settings → Command Palette add-on → Dock → enable.

  • Customization options mentioned

    • Position (top/side/bottom), with a preference for top
    • Size adjustments
    • Transparency for the background
    • Optional background imagery/colors (described as not great)

  • Limitation / comparison point Customization is said to be more limited than Yasb/Rainmeter “top bar/theme” tools. Informational widgets are presented as a strength versus some alternatives.

4) Command Palette (Launcher-like Search)

  • Open via Alt + Windows + Space or from the top bar.
  • Supports searching for:
    • apps
    • installed shortcuts/plugins

Additional command types discussed:

  • App search mode (filters to apps without recommendations)
  • PC commands (mentioned but not detailed; the speaker says they don’t use it)
  • Calculator
  • File search across the PC (the speaker complains it often misses files)
  • Browser search for instant web searches

UI/behavior tweaks mentioned:

  • opacity adjustment
  • single-click activation to avoid double-clicking

5) Extensions Ecosystem + Example Plugin

  • Mentions a small number of extensions from the Microsoft Store and via Winget.
  • Most are described as “boring,” except one “insane” example:
    • a YouTube downloader plugin that can download any YouTube video.

Comparison / Analysis vs Raycast and Flow Launcher

Missing Capabilities (PowerToys)

The speaker says Raycast and Flow Launcher have:

  • more extensive extension stores
  • more useful extensions (e.g., integrations with Google, AI, notes, WhatsApp, weather)
  • faster/more complete “everything” file search (PowerToys file search is criticized)

Overall, PowerToys is described as having fewer baked-in features and less depth than Raycast/Flow Launcher.

Raycast-Specific Features Mentioned

Raycast is described as including more built-in tools such as:

  • emoji search
  • notes
  • translator
  • writing practice mode

The speaker questions how necessary some of these are, noting that “AI built-in” is already common in modern apps (including those).

Personal Verdict Logic

  • If you want a simple top bar and basic launcher/search functionality, PowerToys is recommended.
  • If you want deep customization/theme richness and a huge extension ecosystem, the speaker says Flow Launcher is ahead (with Raycast also strong, but not as effective for personalization).

Key Takeaways

  • PowerToys now meaningfully targets “Spotlight/top bar + launcher” workflows, including:
    • a top bar showing resources/network + shortcuts
    • a command palette with app/web/file search and command execution
    • productivity utilities like Peek, FancyZones, Color Picker, Always on Top, and Workspace
  • Strengths
    • solid functionality
    • informative widgets
    • features that integrate well across PowerToys
  • Weaknesses
    • limited customization compared to Yasb/Rainmeter
    • less feature depth/extensibility than Raycast/Flow Launcher—especially file search and extension breadth

Main Speakers / Sources

  • Main speaker: the video narrator/reviewer (no specific name provided in the subtitles)
  • Primary source product: Microsoft PowerToys (especially the updated Command Palette add-on / Dock top bar)

Original video