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Windows 10 Is Finally Getting An Improved Screenshot Tool (theverge.com)

Today, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17661 to insiders, which includes a new screenshot experience for the upcoming major update. The Verge reports: Screen Sketch, previously bundled with the Windows Ink feature of Windows 10, is now being made into a separate app that can take screenshots and provide options to annotate them. Microsoft has experimented with a variety of screen snipping tools over the years, but a new winkey + shift + S keyboard shortcut will now bring up an area select tool to snip a screenshot and share it instantly from the clipboard. The app will also trigger a notification so you can annotate the screenshot and share it. You can also replace the print screen button on a keyboard with this feature, making the button a lot more useful than today's winkey + printscreen combo.

143 comments

  1. Greenshot by foxx1337 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Windows already has the ability to run Greenshot. So... thanks Microsoft?

    1. Re:Greenshot by Joce640k · · Score: 2

      Yes, but this isn't just a screenshot, it's a whole new "experience"!

      Today weâ(TM)re taking the first step toward converging our snipping experiences. The new modern snipping experience is here...

      https://blogs.windows.com/wind...

      --
      No sig today...
    2. Re:Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Snaggit is a million times better than greenshot.

    3. Re:Greenshot by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      If Greenshot also has dumb "sharing" features built in, then at least they have the excuse that they arent the damn operating system.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    4. Re:Greenshot by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Didn't Apple copyright having an experience on a computer yet?

      Personally I am pretty glad if I don't have an experience with my computer and instead get it to work properly.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    5. Re:Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only in marketing team slideware a screenshot capture evolves into a experience. So the UX-idiots broke that feature now also? Will it simplify the screen content by removing the distracting clutter and produce beautiful, blank white screenshots?

    6. Re: Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad you mentioned snaggit, I've been using greenshot for years, but after watching some snaggit videos, looks very cool!

    7. Re:Greenshot by Joce640k · · Score: 2

      It looks like the Microsoftee who typed that blog (the one I copied/pasted the quote from) is using an Apple product to type his apostrophes.

      --
      No sig today...
    8. Re:Greenshot by Joce640k · · Score: 2

      Yep. From reading that blog I fail to see how this new experience is different from (Alt)PrintScrn followed by pasting into Windows Paint.

      --
      No sig today...
    9. Re:Greenshot by turp182 · · Score: 2

      Yes, Greenshot FTW!!!! (set to copy to clipboard and also open in editor). When sharing my screen it amazes people how fast I can capture and markup an image.

      My company gave me a paid license of SnagIt, but it's a trash heap of complexity. It Snags my brain.

      --
      BlameBillCosby.com
    10. Re:Greenshot by Mr0bvious · · Score: 1

      I had an experience on my computer just a while ago.

      No Apple involved though.

      --
      Never happened. True story.
    11. Re:Greenshot by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      No Microsoft beat Apple to it. Windows XP as Marketed as Windows eXPerience. Having used XP I have yet learned to fly. I guess I was using Windows XP wrong, or without having to take some Drugs. Because I never really got any sort of eXPerience with Windows XP. It was painful at first, then it once it got fixed it got boring. But I am still happy they got rid rid of the Phisher Price theme.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    12. Re:Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well you say no apples involved, but is that apple juice down there?

    13. Re:Greenshot by LesFerg · · Score: 1

      Because you get to select an area to copy I guess, instead of catching the whole screen.

      --
      If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
    14. Re:Greenshot by war4peace · · Score: 2

      So... what was wrong with the Windows Sniping Tool?

      https://support.microsoft.com/...

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    15. Re:Greenshot by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      Didn't Apple copyright having an experience on a computer yet?

      They did, but only in context of reducing the quality of that experience, like removing the escape key, making keys that stick, removal of useful ports, etc.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    16. Re:Greenshot by dysmal · · Score: 1

      Greenshot is free. Snaggit is not.

      That's enough for me and every company I've worked for.

    17. Re: Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Today weÃ(TM)re taking the first step toward converging our snipping experiences"

      You mock it but I have to say all the Linux snipping tools I've tried SUCK
      Startup Too slow or too many steps for something that should be quick
      The snip gets thumbnailed after the snip - half the time I'm doing a snip is to save information that I need to be able to read at full res

    18. Re:Greenshot by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      cmd-shift-4 to capture a section of the screen to a file
      cmd-shift-control-4 to capture a section of the screen directly to the clipboard with no file involved

      ('3' variants capture the whole screen(s)).

    19. Re:Greenshot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still too much effort. Open Snipping Tool -> Click 'New' -> Select region -> Manually save image file. In Linux (and OSX I believe) I can hit one key, select an area, and have the selection automatically saved as a .png on the desktop. Or press a different button and have it on the clipboard instead. The whole process takes under 5 seconds.

      Dunno if the new W10 thing will do that, but inferior print screen functionality is hundreds of items down on the list of reasons I'm never installing Windows 10.

    20. Re:Greenshot by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      Because you get to select an area to copy I guess, instead of catching the whole screen.

      Yeah, that'll save loads of time. Selecting an area in Paint is soooo tedious.

      --
      No sig today...
  2. Innovation leader by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 5, Funny

    All these AI stories are completely ridiculed by Microsoft innovative software: we had previously a new version of Paint, and now the ability to take screenshots. Wow! Microsoft, please, don't be too hard on competition.

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    1. Re: Innovation leader by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      QQ had this ability to take arbitrary screen shots of anywhere on the display since at least 2010 or so. Alibaba Trade Manager too. But it's not innovation until Microsoft bungles it.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    2. Re:Innovation leader by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      No it's just a stupid article. The screenshot tool has been "improved" with continuous changes with every single release of Windows. This article is like saying "Windows 10 finally gets a new build number".

    3. Re:Innovation leader by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All these AI stories are completely ridiculed by Microsoft innovative software: we had previously a new version of Paint, and now the ability to take screenshots. Wow! Microsoft, please, don't be too hard on competition.

      I hear they're going to change the calculator back so you don't have to hit enter twice to get a total.

    4. Re:Innovation leader by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Noone is claiming this is some huge innovative breakthrough. It's just a new app.

    5. Re:Innovation leader by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But they have already "improved" the windows UI, privacy and stability. Now they must find new areas to work on. Otherwise the great leaders and their legions of designers would get unemployed. Perhaps they will now start improving "Character map" or "Microsoft Fax"?

    6. Re:Innovation leader by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 1

      I wish they wouldn't hide the cursor. Kind of annoying when you're trying to generate technical documentation.

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    7. Re:Innovation leader by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      When Windows finishes becoming a Linux distribution, you'll be able to use Spectacle.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  3. Is this a rebrand of Snipping Tool? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Is this a rebrand of Snipping Tool, or is this a whole new thing? Snipping tool was very nice.

    1. Re:Is this a rebrand of Snipping Tool? by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      But you can draw on it like a pen!
      I mean not useful features such as censoring out information you don't want to share. Like Recognizing text box elements, and being able to flood fill them.
      Or being able to fade most other elements out so the information you want to show is more prevalent.

      Lets be real here. For fun stuff people are using their phones and tablets. People who are using Windows and Linux (not the Android version) are mostly using it for work stuff. There should be more features targeted towards more professional usage of the OS's Not silly pen drawings, but features to pinpoint data that needs to be shown, or hide data that needs to be censored. We need Workstation features, the Desktop PC is dead, The Workstation PC is the future of the technology.

      For our home stuff and enjoyment where people use to use a PC for has been moved to tablets and phones. Windows needs to stop trying to be cool, it needs to get a hair cut and get a real job.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:Is this a rebrand of Snipping Tool? by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 2

      the Desktop PC is dead

      You know people have been saying that since the late 90s, right?

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    3. Re:Is this a rebrand of Snipping Tool? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      We need Workstation features, the Desktop PC is dead, The Workstation PC is the future of the technology

      AMEN! I miss working on my old VAX workstation, using the terminal to control some chunk of a server down the hall, the way my use was limited based upon what other people were doing, and my files were never local - only remote - so easier to lose or get "misplaced" when a tape drive was unmounted... Let's bring back those golden days of thin clients and workstations and central/big brother controlling all!

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  4. Winkey-shift-s already does screen capture. by FaxeTheCat · · Score: 1

    Not sure if the artcle author is quite up to date, as I have been using winkey-shift-s since I was upgraded to Windows 10 quite some time ago.
    The Windows-s (no shift) worked in Windows 7 with OneNote installed, and I assumed it was the OneNote function that had changed shortcut key on Win10.

    1. Re:Winkey-shift-s already does screen capture. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This was a newbie thing two updates ago

    2. Re:Winkey-shift-s already does screen capture. by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      I normally use Alt-PrtScr for most of my screen captures, because I normally just want to get the active window I am working on.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  5. Ha... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are they adopting PNG as the standard format? Would be nice...

  6. Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Who wants to snip with a window with a mouse, when the built-in function Windows has always had works just fine? Granted, smaller clips require Paint, but Alt + PrtScn => Window Key + R => mspaint => Enter => Ctrl+V is second nature to me.

    1. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by Gaygirlie · · Score: 1

      but Alt + PrtScn => Window Key + R => mspaint => Enter => Ctrl+V is second nature to me.

      Winkey + PrtScrn is much, much faster than doing all that as it just takes a screenshot and saves it directly to a file -- no need to open anything and paste clipboard.

    2. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by Desler · · Score: 1

      But this is an experience!

    3. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by andrewbaldwin · · Score: 2

      You're obviously not with the trend.

      You forgot the intermediate steps of

      vectorisation -> 3d printing -> 3d scanning -> logging the result on a blockchain -> AI interpretation of model -> rasterisation -> colour correction -> writing to cloud -> retrieving from cloud -> sharing of images on (n+1) social media accounts -> copy to clipboard

      Each of which would be in a managed container.

      (The sending of files to Microsoft, NSA, Google, GCHQ.... is implicit here and not called out as a set of separate actions)

    4. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Granted it is second nature to me too. It isn't obvious. especially as Alt-PrtScn doesn't give you any user feedback that something happened. On iOS when you do a screen capture, the screen will blink white like there was a picture taken and the newer version would show the image in a thumbnail going to your photos.

      But the general rule of thumb is if the directions have more than 3 "then"s in it then it isn't an easy process. Your process had 5 steps.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by war4peace · · Score: 1

      Good luck with that if you have multiple monitors arranged differently.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    6. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

      I do (Alt +) PrntScrn, but use Irfanview, I always keep it's icon handy in the bottom left of the screen. Works great for 95% of everything I'd need it for, and cropping is stupid easy. I almost never use the Snipping tool. If I want a screenshot inside of a fullscreen game, F12 usually works for the ones I play.
      This really sounds like much ado about nothing.

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    7. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      FAIL! No step to add graphene...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    8. Re:Alt+PrtScn is all I ever use.... by dysmal · · Score: 1

      Until they kill off mspaint...

  7. Snipping tool? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is this different from binding the snipping tool to a keyboard shortcut?

    1. Re:Snipping tool? by mccalli · · Score: 2

      Follow through to the actual Microsoft post instead of the intermediate blog, and you can see what's happened. They've taken the tool and made it its own app, so with its own software update cycles etc., showing up in alt-tab...a few things. Otherwise it's not much different, but that's fine - this does seem to be an improvement to me. I mean, it's not life changing but it does make things a bit more organised.

    2. Re:Snipping tool? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Follow through to the actual Microsoft post instead of the intermediate blog, and you can see what's happened.

      They've taken the tool and made it its own app,

      Well of course. Now it is an APP because only a LUDDITE doesn't use an APP for everything.

  8. r.i.p snipping tool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    aka one of the nice things vista added to the windows install. with the "app", there's no reason for the *application* to be kept (they didn't keep calculator either, even though the "app" version sucks ass).

    i suspect the "app" screen shot tool will feature, among other things, user tracking and reporting, possibly even sending the actual images and annotation markup to microsoft as well (to improve cortana responses for you, of course).

    i hate the fucking "apps". they're designed to be poked and smeared, not caressed with the superior-on-a-PC mouse and keyboard.

    1. Re:r.i.p snipping tool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ever since they removed the old calculator I just open a python shell since it's easier than their new piece of crap.

  9. Re:Jesus appeared to me in a vision by Opportunist · · Score: 0

    I really command your worship of your Mexican gardener, but at least learn how to properly pronounce his name, dammit.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  10. LONG FILE PATHS, FFS ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A new screen shot tool, a new annoying paint, and a couple more settings screens use the Metro interface, but FILE EXPLORER STILL CRASHES WHEN HANDLING LONG FILE PATHS IT ITSELF CREATES.

    And all because Microsoft's File Explorer does not use a flag MICROSOFT THEMSELVES ADDED TO WINDOWS, to enable apps to HANDLE LONG FILE PATHS !!!

    Maybe they need to hire a programmer to help them with their code ?

    1. Re:LONG FILE PATHS, FFS ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of us here are programmers. Some of us would work for microsoft, then there are the rest of us with talent.

  11. Snipping Tool by ledow · · Score: 5, Informative

    Seriously?

    Have you people never heard of Snipping Tool?

    Bundled with Windows since at least 7.

    Takes screenshots, partial screenshots, saves as PNG, allows you to draw over them, emails, puts in clipboard.

    It's probably one of the best features of the default Windows installs, as sad as that is.

    1. Re:Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is amazing how many people don't know that Snipping Tool exists and has existed for ages. This isn't even remotely a new windows feature.

    2. Re:Snipping Tool by jawtheshark · · Score: 1

      Mod up. Came here to say exactly this.

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    3. Re:Snipping Tool by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Seriously?

      Have you people never heard of Snipping Tool?

      I think this article is written by the type of people who just discovered that when you hit the power button on a computer the power LED lights up. Every single release of Windows has changed screenshotting. It's about as consistent as a change in the build number.

      Snipping Tool? That's soo old school. Windows ink spaces auto-magically launching with you double tap the pen button, that's a screenshotting tool, and it's been part of Windows 10 since (2 years ago, because who the fuck can keep track of windows 10 release names).

    4. Re:Snipping Tool by Nidi62 · · Score: 2

      Seriously?

      Have you people never heard of Snipping Tool?

      Bundled with Windows since at least 7.

      Takes screenshots, partial screenshots, saves as PNG, allows you to draw over them, emails, puts in clipboard.

      It's probably one of the best features of the default Windows installs, as sad as that is.

      The snipping tool makes my job so much easier. I actually use that more in my daily work than I do Word and Excel combined. My main workspace is an internal web application (coded so horribly that the website doesn't scale-for it to be readable without getting a headache you have to use a separate monitor with the resolution turned down to zoom in the content without distorting it) with no real, convenient way to export the content, so screenshots are a sanity saver.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    5. Re:Snipping Tool by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      The snipping tool is nice but it has it's drawbacks compared to say Snagit. One of those drawbacks is the inability to freeze the screen to take a screen capture. The alternative is to use the time delay function but that's hit and miss. With Snagit, one press of the print screen button freezes the screen and then you can crop the capture immediately before it is captured. No window pops up until after the capture is done. Another problem is that the Snipping tool doesn't keep a catalog of screen captures. If you forget to save one, you are SOL. Snagit keeps a catalog of all unsaved screen captures for a set period of time and that time is configurable. Want to keep 4 months of captures? No problem. Go back later and save it before the 4 months is up and you are good to go. The final issue is that the drawing features are garbage. Snagit allows shapes to be drawn that are filled or not and can be modified later because they sit on a different layer than the capture.

    6. Re:Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use the snipping tool every day to explain stuff to people in emails. I snip A LOT of screenshots.

      The snipping tool startup time sucks. A snipping tool should lightweight and darned near instantaneous to start up (milliseconds), but it is not (it takes 1-5 seconds). Also if you have multiple monitors, it doesn't remember which monitor it's supposed to be on, and always reverts to the wrong monitor after a snip.

      There are many UI boo-boos. I may get a 3rd party snipping tool one of these days. The only thing the Snipping Tool has going for it is that it is universal.

    7. Re:Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed. Snipping tool has saved countless hours for me; all my clients know about it, and a quick screenshot with some yellow highlighting has saved hours explaining on phone or email.

    8. Re:Snipping Tool by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      Exactly. I use it constantly every day for testing applications and user troubleshooting. Had a colleague point it out to me as I was oblivious that it even existed. I still have to print screen and paint certain things like menus that close when you try to select the tool, so that would be a nice option but other than that it is pretty complete, though being able to insert text would also be good (you can hand write using pen, but messy).

    9. Re:Snipping Tool by antdude · · Score: 1

      I am old school. I still use print (sometimes with alt key), crop, and save in another program. :/

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  12. Re:Jesus appeared to me in a vision by MrL0G1C · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I had to read that several times to fathom it's meaning, where's edit or delete post when you need it. Is there a missing?

    --
    Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
  13. Meh by MrL0G1C · · Score: 1

    Paint Shop Pro 5 FTW.

    --
    Waterfox - a Firefox fork with legacy extension support, security updates and better privacy by default.
    1. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're such a luddite, Paint Shop Pro 7.04 is the definite version.

    2. Re:Meh by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Amen to that.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    3. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Photoshop CS is nice and all, but Paint shop Pro 7.04 is 'From my cold, dead hands' territory.

    4. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just bought Paint Shop Pro 2018 and it's really nice. I tried Affinity Photo on a recommendation first, but I refunded it because it, like Windows 10, has built-in spyware (every time you run it, it tries to make contact with a bunch of servers and you can't disable that). I'm glad that I did, because Paint Shop Pro is way better, like actually on par with the latest version of PhotoShop.

    5. Re:Meh by ayesnymous · · Score: 1

      Paint Shop Pro 8 or 9, since they support scripting.

  14. I can finally upgrade to Windows 10! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just kidding.

  15. Why challenge with a shitty tool? by skovnymfe · · Score: 1

    Greenshot. Is there any reason for Microsoft to even begin competing?

    1. Re:Why challenge with a shitty tool? by PsyMan · · Score: 1

      For the same reason that Microsoft Paint completely destroyed Photoshop back in the day. OneUpManShip.

  16. Screenshot "Experience" by Misagon · · Score: 2

    Wow. The screenshot tool is now an experience.
    So cool.... or not.

    You know, that when Don Normal and his group at Apple back in the '80s coined then term User Experience, they defined it as:

    Encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products.

    It goes beyond the user interface of a piece of software to include also how the product is packaged, sold, bought, installs; how the user manual is written (remember user manuals? ;-P ), how to get support and support is done, and then how dispose of install media and how to uninstall the software.

    Please stop this nonsensical misuse of the term!

    My next rant is going to be about: "Solution". Until then: Cheers!

    --
    "We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
    1. Re:Screenshot "Experience" by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Please stop this nonsensical misuse of the term!

      English is a continuously evolving language. Mind you the same evolution which brought us the White Royal Horse also brought us the Naked Molerat so make of that what you will.

  17. Just more bloatware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just how much crap are they going to keep including with this so called OS. We don't want it or need it.

    1. Re:Just more bloatware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On next version this screenshot "experience" will be a separate DLC, only available via Microsoft and a nominal monthly fee of $9,99.

  18. Just stop messing with the EXISTING stuff. STOP! by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

    OneNote (desktop not the "tablet" abomination) had (has) a perfectly good snipping tool. However from Win7->8 they changed the combination from WinKey-S to Win-Shift-S (and used the former for search). It was bad for a while but got used to it.

    Now with some W10 update (aniversary, FC? doesn't matter) they took the Win-Shift-S for their stupid screenshot tool (which when triggered looks exactly the same as OneNote's except that nothing happens afterwards which makes you think something is messed up with OneNote). And while you can disable completely Win-Shift-S you can't assign it back to OneNote (and changing OneNote's hotkeys is something well hidden in registry anyway).

  19. I prefer the tried and true by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

    Alt-PrtScrn for the window, Shift-PrtScrn for the whole screen. Paste it into Paint (or whatever) and do whatever to it.

    Always hated sitting down to someone else's Windows computer and having heaven knows what third party tool pop up when using those key combos. At least they are using a new key combo ...

  20. Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by syntap · · Score: 3, Informative

    Years ago I started assigning a keyboard shortcut to Snipping Tool, which allows you to do pretty much everything they are describing. Copies to clipboard, or you can save in a couple of formats. And... annotate! (at least with highlighting and lines, would be good if they added text).

    Rt-click Snipping Tool icon, in start menu, Open File Location, get Properties in shortcut, define a shortcut key combo.

    One other nice thing with Snipping Tool is you can define a capture delay. So if you want to screen-cap a menu option that would otherwise lose focus and disappear by hitting a key sequence, you can set Snipping Tool to fire at a set time delay so you can mouse through and get it looking like you want before the screen capture hits.

    You can select the area of the screen to capture, no more capturing everything, pasting into Paint, and cropping.

    This "Innovation" has been around since at least Windows 7.

    1. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      The time delay function is garbage to be honest. A better implementation would be to freeze the whole screen upon hitting the shortcut and then allow cropping. Instead, if I want to capture a dropdown menu with snipping tool, I have to set time delay, go hover over the dropdown and hope I get there in time and don't accidentally move off of it before the timer counts down.

    2. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You can sort of do this using the print screen button. Get your screen like you want it and hit the button to capture the entire desktop to the clipboard. Then open paint, paste the static image in there, and use the snip tool to clip out the portion you want.

    3. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by chispito · · Score: 1

      Years ago I started assigning a keyboard shortcut to Snipping Tool, which allows you to do pretty much everything they are describing. Copies to clipboard, or you can save in a couple of formats. And... annotate! (at least with highlighting and lines, would be good if they added text).

      Rt-click Snipping Tool icon, in start menu, Open File Location, get Properties in shortcut, define a shortcut key combo.

      One other nice thing with Snipping Tool is you can define a capture delay. So if you want to screen-cap a menu option that would otherwise lose focus and disappear by hitting a key sequence, you can set Snipping Tool to fire at a set time delay so you can mouse through and get it looking like you want before the screen capture hits.

      You can select the area of the screen to capture, no more capturing everything, pasting into Paint, and cropping.

      This "Innovation" has been around since at least Windows 7.

      The problem with the Snipping Tool is that you can't set a global hotkey to take you into instant capture. Capturing always requires you to click through the UI. Contrast that with Greenshot, or some commercial offerings, where you simply invoke the hotkey an instantly start capturing, then are immediately taken to the annotation interface.

      Also, nobody was calling this an "innovation." I' say it's more of a quality of life enhancement.

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    4. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      Yes, I get that. However, that is a lot of steps and not very efficient at all.

    5. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      This "Innovation" has been around since at least Windows 7.

      As fun as it is to pick on the word innovation in this sense, I double tap the Surface pen button and I end up with a screenshot dumped right into a drawing panel where I can instantly freehand annotate, crop, and finally save or dump the result to clipboard, and if you insist on using a keyboard shortcut then winkey+printscreen will achieve the same thing.

      The Snipping tool may have been nice, but its replacement is nicer and equally userfriendly.

      Interestingly on Windows 10 the snipping tool doesn't automatically enter screenshot mode when you open it which is a bit of a pain. The cynic in me would suggest this is MS trying to cripple the tool and drive people to its replacement.

    6. Re:Assign a Shortcut to Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Greenshot is garbage. Every single fullscreen shot I have tried to take using it ended up just taking a shot of my desktop wallpaper or a black screen.

      GeForce Experience is much better. You can actually take screenshots of full screen apps.

  21. Ughhh screenshots.... by codeButcher · · Score: 2

    Screenshots do have their place, but when trying to figure out bugs, there are a couple of things that makes them problematic:
    * Can't copy text from them to paste into your search box, SQL editor, etc.
    * Users only snipping what they think is important, not other on-screen info ("this field does not work!!!!one")
    * Some people reduce the size of the image (for e-mailing), making the text unreadable.
    * And it doesn't show steps the user took to get to the error point.

    Hopefully someday someone will come up with a better app to help users and testers with bug reports... (and user training material).

    For interest's sake: are there any other uses for screenshots?

    --
    Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
    1. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by swb · · Score: 1

      I use screenshots to document some software installs that request a bunch of information that is important to have, sometimes years away, but is easily lost.

      I'd love something that would record the display as a series of stills, like 15 frames per minute or something where I could just pick the individual frames to keep after.
        It's the stopping, snipping, pasting thing that makes it tedious.

    2. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, Microsoft already did that too. Easy to talk an end user through or train your testers in using:
      * Press start button / windows key
      * Type "Steps" and pick "Steps Recorder"
      * Press the record button
      * Do whatever it is that didn't work
      * Press stop
      * Press save, and then mail me the file

      Gives you a record (including full screen shots) of everything the user actually did, including the filenames of programs they're interacting with (so you don't have to remember that weird local name they're using for something generic)

    3. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by houghi · · Score: 1

      Not a complete answer, but http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/s... is already a good start.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    4. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      * Users only snipping what they think is important, not other on-screen info ("this field does not work!!!!one")

      My pet peeve right there ... browser screenshots without the address (URL) field, or even with no browser chrome at all so you can't see what browser it even is.

    5. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're ready to be done with this forever, check out FullStory.

      I don't work there, but I use the product extensively.

      Incalculable value you're responsible for developing/maintaining UI.

    6. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      Are you a wizard?

    7. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am going home now. Nothing else nearly this life changing can happen to me today.

    8. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well, probably to show how different the color is from someone's copy...

    9. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows Key P S R
      (the problem step recorder)

      Handy tool.

      https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/22878/windows-10-record-steps

    10. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft has something for this to. Try it out, it is called Problem Steps Recorder. It's been installed on every machine since windows 7.

      Start -> Run -> PSR.exe

      Every click gives you another screenshot , and it tells what they clicked on and sometimes tells what text was captured, and allows users to put in text.

    11. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean like every software install and user guide? That's what I use screenshots for the most. Documenation.

    12. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Ryanrule · · Score: 1

      Windows has a recording tool for just that. Been around for years.

    13. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.screentogif.com/ - ScreenToGif - Portable, free, allows recording of any section of your screen, resizable.
      You can chose the amount of frames per second, and different modes of recording, gif, avi, and I believe jpg or png, which will fill a defined folder with still frames.
      You can edit the "gif" and remove frames after recording.

    14. Re:Ughhh screenshots.... by strikethree · · Score: 1

      You mean like "Steps Recorder"? I forget what it was called in previous versions but in Windows 10, under Accessories, there is a tool called Steps Recorder and it does exactly what its name says it does. It used to be limited to 99 steps, I am unsure what its limitation is now.

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  22. candy crush by enrique556 · · Score: 1

    Wow screenshot ability! If only they could work out how to add the "delete" context menu item to the candy crush ad in the start menu, then we'd really have a useable version of windows 10!

  23. GUIs: self-documenting. Hotkeys: inscrutable! by macraig · · Score: 1

    I've always found it ironic that an operating system that began its long dubiously glorious reign on the back of the self-documenting capability of GUIs has evolved to have more inscrutable fucking hotkeys than I can possibly remember. Give me a GUI button for it or give me death.

  24. Microsoft's Windows is a toy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Microsoft's Windows is a toy.
    A broken one.
    For rather retarded kids.

    Face it.

  25. yay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Another Win10 application that I will have to remove.

  26. Microsoft has become AMAZINGLY wacky. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    I agree: "Just stop messing with the EXISTING stuff. STOP!" That is one more crazy issue with Windows 10.

    Microsoft has become AMAZINGLY wacky. It seems that no one is in control, or even doing any coordinating. Apparently Microsoft wants Windows 10 to copy the abuse of Google's Android. The result is that Microsoft abuses customers and users.

    Some of the huge number of stories:

    Windows 10 is possibly the worst spyware ever made.

    7 ways Windows 10 pushes ads at you...

    Microsoft is infesting Windows 10 with annoying ads

    Years of bugginess: Windows 10 bugs

    Problems, limited to this year: Windows 10 problems 2018

    Update problems, limited to this year: Windows 10 update problems 2018

    My opinion: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is not capable of managing Microsoft.

    1. Re:Microsoft has become AMAZINGLY wacky. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      H1-B faggot Indians ruined microsoft, starting with the office bar.

  27. Problem Steps Recorder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Check out the Problem Steps Recorder. Built into Windows 7.
    http://www.hanselman.com/blog/HelpYourUsersRecordAndReportBugsWithTheProblemStepsRecorder.aspx

  28. Re:Just stop messing with the EXISTING stuff. STOP by foeclan · · Score: 1

    I got it switched back to Win+S using instructions from this page. I think the second answer on that page was sufficient.

  29. Paint? by FaxeTheCat · · Score: 1

    I do.

    windows-shift-s - drag the area you want - ctrl-V

    Granted, if you need the entire current window, fine.
    In my case, I pretty much never want the entire window, so I have used the snipping tool since I discovered it.

  30. Welcome to the 1990s by Gr8Apes · · Score: 2

    I actually had to read everything here to realize (again) how backwards Windows is. OSX has come with Grab that dates all the way back to NeXT. So I guess we can welcome MS users to the 1990s.

    --
    The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    1. Re:Welcome to the 1990s by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I actually had to read everything here to realize (again) how backwards Windows is. OSX has come with Grab that dates all the way back to NeXT. So I guess we can welcome MS users to the 1990s.

      LOL! Good one

  31. A feature that already exists is new! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This already exists with OneNote since around 2010... Why is this news?

  32. Meanwhile in Wayland world.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    still no easy way to take screenshots in wayland that works across WM's.

    At least you could do that forever in Windows.

  33. Umm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Microsoft has experimented with a variety of screen snipping tools over the years,"

    Citation needed, as I'm only aware of the one that has been with us since Vista. Regular screenshot hotkeys don't really count. Microsoft's little charcoal briquette of a heart appears to be in the right place on this one, however, so I'll give them credit where it's due.

  34. Re:GUIs: self-documenting. Hotkeys: inscrutable! by thegreatbob · · Score: 1

    I generally prefer the use (or at least availability of) keyboard shortcuts, but there's just too much going on in a relatively modern, graphical environment. Having multiple ways of accessing the same functionality may seem redundant to some, at a glance, but is incredibly useful at times. Alt+PrtScr is handy (captures just the current window), as is Alt+WinKey+PrtScr (same, but saves it to a file automatically on Windows 8+)

    --
    There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
  35. Snagit. by TigerPlish · · Score: 1

    I don't even mess with the built-in "snipping" toy WIndows has, I just use Snagit.

    I've written plenty of documentation and "THIS is how you do it!" emails with it, it's an IT nerd's best friend.

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
  36. Re:Jesus appeared to me in a vision by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 0

    I think he meant commend instead of command.

    --
    "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
  37. They needed to do something after killing mspaint, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How else were we going to save a screenshot to file? Irfanview? LviewPro? FRAPS? RivaTuner... Oh, wait, we already do.

  38. Re:Jesus appeared to me in a vision by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like I said, Nazis are illiterates.

  39. The "Snipping Tool" program is shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The "Snipping Tool" program is shit.

  40. Snipping Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't think I have used the "printscreen" method since about NT 3.51. Every Windows in that past decade of more has shipped with the "Snipping Tool".

  41. Re:GUIs: self-documenting. Hotkeys: inscrutable! by macraig · · Score: 1

    I still remember these with utter lack of fondness.

  42. different proposal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everyone, who matters, knows how to do Screenshots.

    What Windows 10 really needs is an improved Linux-Installer. With the current one, Windows 10 is still on the disc, and even worse, running at each start of the computer

  43. Solved problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    no more changes are needed, these aren't improvements, it's a waste of everyone's time

  44. Blue Rectangle by nukenerd · · Score: 1

    It just gives me a blue rectangle. Is that right?

  45. Re:GUIs: self-documenting. Hotkeys: inscrutable! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    GUIs are great for when you want to get started with something.

    Hotkeys are important for when you know what you are doing, and want to get it done fast!

    Both are important.

  46. Re:GUIs: self-documenting. Hotkeys: inscrutable! by macraig · · Score: 1

    Knowing what you are doing has NOTHING to do with it. A person can "know what he is doing" and still be frustrated a keyboard full of hotkeys, for no other reason than he has poor recall. Rote memorization, which is all that remembering a bunch of fucking hotkeys is, is NOT the same as expertise.

  47. so long awaited... i mean waiting by bobmajdakjr · · Score: 1

    hopefully it is just as awesome as when they âoeupgradedâ calc from the fast one to the new metro that takes a year to initially render.

  48. Explorer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hopefully M$ go full circle and bring back Windows 7 explorer and search features. Windows 10 abominations they call a UI is as useless as tits on a bull. I really cannot fathom why it is as bad as it is. Unless it is a global psychological experiment to lull the newcommers into believing this is the best way and then blow them away 5years from now by bringing back a search that actually works! (Albeit claiming innovation in the ux world) Or just an explorer ui that isn’t aborted and crippled.

  49. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am still waiting for an improved gui and menu system.
    Hell, Windows 3.1 menus would be an improvement to the metro garbage.

    Screenshots are easily handled in other ways and using add-on software.

  50. Windows is unusable by kbg · · Score: 1

    Ok how about a usuable text editor? This company has billions of dollars but can't even create a simple usable text editor.
    Or a usable text search. Holy shit why can't I search for simple text in any file? Are these people just impeciles?