Sometimes, the tech world feels like a playground tug-of-war. Apple rolls out something shiny; Microsoft counters with its own gem. But what happens when one team’s innovation leaps the boundary rope and lands as an open-source gift for the other? That’s exactly what happened recently when an open-source app, aptly named Writing Tools, brought elements of Apple’s “Intelligence” suite to Windows 11. It's one of those moments where the two worlds collide, and Windows users reap the benefits.
Let’s deep-dive into what this new tool offers, how it works, and why it might just reinvent the way we approach everyday tasks on Windows. Oh, and it might also dethrone big-name productivity apps like Grammarly while it's at it.
Key features include:
The app shines in everyday use cases:
Some advantages Writing Tools offers over Grammarly:
For a Windows user, it represents the best of both worlds: Apple’s sleek AI capabilities, paired with good ol’ Microsoft versatility. Whether you're a student working on assignments, a professional polishing reports, or a casual user who just wants to sound a bit fancier in emails, this app is a game-changer.
Are you curious about trying this out, or do you have another favorite writing assistant on Windows? Let us know your thoughts over in the forum!
Source: Windows Latest Open-source app brings Apple Intelligence to Windows 11
Let’s deep-dive into what this new tool offers, how it works, and why it might just reinvent the way we approach everyday tasks on Windows. Oh, and it might also dethrone big-name productivity apps like Grammarly while it's at it.
Apple’s Intelligence Features: A Quick Primer
Apple recently introduced its "Intelligence" AI suite, packed into its ecosystem via macOS and iOS updates. It’s designed to act as your multi-talented assistant, capable of simplifying writing, summarizing articles, adjusting tones, and even auto-correcting your grammar on the fly.Key features include:
- Writing Tools: Proofreads with an almost-human touch, summarizes walls of text into digestible highlights, and adjusts your tone as per context.
- Image Playground: Some advanced graphic editing magic.
- Genmoji: (This one’s fun) Personalized generative emoji. Because who doesn’t want their text-based thumbs-up to look like… their actual thumb?
Enter Writing Tools: Bringing Apple’s AI Experience to Your Desktop
The Writing Tools app is an uncanny replica of Apple’s Writing Tools, but tailored for the Windows ecosystem. It’s an open-source project (yay for transparency!) and expands its capabilities by integrating with several leading Language Learning Models (LLMs). Whether you’re looking to proofread essays for school, generate quick summaries for work documents, or even stylize your writing, this app could be your new best friend.Features at a Glance
- Summarization: Ask the app to condense a lengthy article into something you can skim in seconds.
- Proofreading and Grammar Fixing: Spot typos and clunky sentences with surgical precision.
- Tone Adjustments: Need to draft a formal email but accidentally typed it in a sarcastic tone? The app can fix that.
- Translation: Multilingual writing made easy.
- Custom Prompts: Let’s say you want to generate a specific kind of output—be it an email template, a resume format, or a snazzy social media caption. One command is all it takes.
Setting Writing Tools Up on Your Windows PC
The app's setup process is intuitive, but let’s break it down into straightforward steps for you:- Download the Software
Go to its GitHub repository (just the absolute go-to for reliable open-source projects these days), and grab the download package labeled as "Writing Tools." - Install & Launch
After extracting the files, locate the.exefile and launch it. During setup, you’ll be prompted to configure a few settings, such as:- Shortcut Keys: By default,
CTRL+Spacewill summon the tool—this avoids clashes with other system-wide shortcuts. - LLM API: The app will ask you to link it to a Language Learning Model. Geminis are the quickest to set up, but feel free to use OpenAI's robust ecosystem if that's what you’re into.
- Shortcut Keys: By default,
- Finish Configuration
Hit the 'Finish AI Setup' button, and congratulations—you’ve just brought AI magic to your Windows desktop.
Offline Mode? Yes, Please!
For Windows users worried about privacy or lack of internet, Writing Tools can also be paired with a locally hosted LLM. Imagine getting all that AI juice without even going online.Performance & Real-World Use
We took the app for a spin across multiple platforms—Google Docs, MS Word, Telegram, and even the good ol' Notepad—and the results were nothing short of spectacular. When handed large blocks of text to summarize (for example, a lengthy news article about trends in AI), it swiftly returned nuanced, accurate highlights without losing key information.The app shines in everyday use cases:
- Draft emails in Google Mail faster.
- Create social media posts with the right tone for your audience.
- Proofread and optimize technical documents (because, let’s face it, your last report wasn’t all brilliant prose).
How Does It Compare to Microsoft Copilot?
Now, some of you might be scratching your heads and asking, Wait, doesn’t Microsoft already have Copilot? Yes, indeed. But here’s why Writing Tools fills an important gap:- Copilot’s Limitation: Microsoft Copilot specializes in ecosystem-wide assistance and integrations, especially when paired with Office 365 apps. Unfortunately, the features (proofreading, summaries, etc.) are siloed within Microsoft Word.
- Writing Tools’ Flexibility: Open-source and platform-independent, Writing Tools works across multiple apps and isn’t locked behind a subscription like Microsoft Office. It even connects to evolving machine-learning platforms, giving you access to top-of-the-line NLP.
The Big Question: Is This the End of Grammarly?
With Writing Tools being this robust, one can’t help but wonder what this means for popular writing assistants like Grammarly. Let’s face it—why pay for subscriptions if an actively developed, open-source alternative outshines it?Some advantages Writing Tools offers over Grammarly:
- No recurring fees (it’s free).
- Works offline (bye-bye, Internet dependency).
- Seamless integration into apps beyond just browsers or MS Word.
Final Impressions: Beyond a Mere Apple Clone
While Writing Tools borrows inspiration from Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools, it’s not a clone—it’s an evolution. By embracing open models, cross-platform compatibility, and advanced AI integrations, it offers even more freedom and functionality than its Apple counterpart.For a Windows user, it represents the best of both worlds: Apple’s sleek AI capabilities, paired with good ol’ Microsoft versatility. Whether you're a student working on assignments, a professional polishing reports, or a casual user who just wants to sound a bit fancier in emails, this app is a game-changer.
What’s Next?
As LLMs like Gemini 3.0 and OpenAI's GPT-5 push the boundaries further, we might see Writing Tools evolve even more. But for now, it’s an exciting addition to the Windows digital toolbox.Are you curious about trying this out, or do you have another favorite writing assistant on Windows? Let us know your thoughts over in the forum!
Source: Windows Latest Open-source app brings Apple Intelligence to Windows 11
