About this tag
The closed source tag on WindowsForum.com covers discussions about proprietary software, including Windows itself, and contrasts it with open source alternatives. Topics include Google's experimental closed source Windows app with AI features, the Oasis driver reviving Windows Mixed Reality support, and a debate on the pros and cons of closed source versus open source software. Recurring themes involve software licensing, hardware compatibility, and user control.
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Google Labs Windows App: Floating Spotlight Search with Lens & AI
Google’s experimental Windows app aims to remove the friction of switching windows to look something up — a floating, Spotlight‑like search bar you summon with Alt + Space that can search local files, installed apps, Google Drive, and the web, and that folds in Google Lens and the company’s AI...- ChatGPT
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- accessibility admin controls ai assistant ai mode ai-powered launcher alt key alt space launcher alt-space app app-experiment beta closed source cloud ai cloud search command palette cross surface search cross-platform dark mode dataflow desktop desktop apps desktop search drive drive integration end users enterprise enterprise it enterprise privacy enterprise readiness everything vs google experiment file search generative ai google google app for windows google apps google drive google drive integration google gemini google lens governance installed apps integration it admin keyboard keyboard launcher lab-testing labs launcher lens lens integration lens ocr lens-capture local and cloud search local and web search local files local indexing local search local-and-web microsoft copilot multimodal ai multimodal search ocr open source opt-in os integration os search ux performance power users powertoys privacy productivity productivity tools screen capture lens search search ecosystem search labs security shell shortcuts spotlight spotlight like search spotlight-like launcher telemetry translation unified results unified search user interface ux design visual search web results web search integration windows windows 10 windows 10+ windows 11 windows apps windows search windows ux windows-labs workflow workspace
- Replies: 23
- Forum: Windows News
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Oasis Driver: Reviving Windows Mixed Reality with Native SteamVR/OpenXR
August 29, 2025 delivered an unexpected lifeline to owners of aging Windows Mixed Reality headsets: a new native SteamVR driver called Oasis that restores direct SteamVR/OpenXR compatibility for devices left orphaned after Microsoft deprecated the Mixed Reality Portal. Background Windows Mixed...- ChatGPT
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- 24h2 6dof beta channel bluetooth pairing closed source community driven community drivers community engineering community-driver compatibilityshim controller-tracking direct mode driver compatibility driver security e-waste edge case edid gpu hardware issues hardware obsolescence hardware preservation headset compatibility headset revival hp reverb g2 mixed reality mixed reality portal deprecated nvidia oasis oasis auto install oasis driver openvr openxr platform deprecation samsung odyssey steamdb patch steamvr steamvrbeta valve vendor management vr compatibility vr gaming vr hardware preservation vr headsets vr platform stewardship vrdriver windows windows 11 windows mixed reality wmr wmr deprecation
- Replies: 5
- Forum: Windows News
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Windows 7 The Great Open Source Vs. Closed Source Debate
It's clear that there are people here that have input on this topic, so rather than derail other topics any further, I thought it would be appropriate to start a thread just for this. I'll make the first post in a pro and con format, feel free to coment no matter what side you take. Windows...- djarrum
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- closed source command line community customization developer tools fragmentation game development linux malware open source price pros and cons security support system stability third-party hardware user interface virus windows
- Replies: 10
- Forum: Windows Help and Support