Guides for Windows 11 https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/ 2026-11-14T09:00:00Z Mythic Brain https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/what-is-a-radial-menu/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

What a radial (pie) menu is, why Fitts's law makes it faster than a list, what the 1988 and marking menu studies found, and when a list is still better.

A radial menu, also called a pie menu, puts its options in a circle around the pointer, and you choose one by direction instead of aiming at a row in a list. Every option is the same short distance away and has a large wedge-shaped target, which Fitts's law predicts is quicker to hit. In a 1988 study, pie menus were about 15% faster than linear menus and caused fewer errors. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/best-radial-menu-apps-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

A comparison of radial and pie menu apps for Windows 11 in 2026: Kando, AutoHotPie, Radial Menu, Wradial, RadialWheel, hardware wheels and OceanBreeze.

Start with Kando if you want a free, open source pie menu that is actively maintained; it also runs on macOS and Linux. Radial Menu on the Microsoft Store is a simpler free launcher, and if you own a Surface Dial, Wacom tablet or Logitech MX device, check the radial menu that comes with it first. OceanBreeze ($1.99 once) is for a Caps Lock ring with built-in tools and AI actions on selected text. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/remap-caps-lock-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

Four ways to remap Caps Lock on Windows 11: PowerToys Keyboard Manager, the Scancode Map registry value, SharpKeys and AutoHotkey, plus what to map it to.

The easiest way to remap Caps Lock on Windows 11 is Microsoft PowerToys: open Keyboard Manager, choose Remap a key, set Caps Lock in Select and the new key in To send, then choose OK. For a remap that needs no app running, use the Scancode Map registry value or SharpKeys, which writes it for you and needs a sign-out or restart. For tap and hold behavior, such as a hyper key, use AutoHotkey. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/clipboard-history-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

Turn on Windows 11 clipboard history with Win + V, learn its 25-item limit, pinning, sync and privacy, and see what Ditto, CopyQ and PowerToys add on top.

Press Win + V and select Turn on, or go to Settings > System > Clipboard and switch on Clipboard history. Windows then keeps your last 25 copied items (text, HTML and images up to 4 MB each) and clears all but pinned items when you restart. For more items, search or other paste formats, add a clipboard manager such as Ditto, CopyQ or PowerToys Advanced Paste. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/ai-on-selected-text-windows/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

Compare ways to rewrite, summarize or translate selected text on Windows: chatbots, Copilot, Click to Do, PowerToys Advanced Paste and select-then-act tools.

The simplest way is to copy the text, paste it into a chatbot such as Copilot, and copy the answer back. To act on a selection without leaving the app, use Click to Do (Win + Q) on a Copilot+ PC, PowerToys Advanced Paste with your own AI provider, or a select-then-act tool such as OceanBreeze's Text ring, which can rewrite or translate the selection in place, or summarize it in a panel. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/run-ai-locally-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

Run AI models on your own Windows 11 PC: install Ollama or Foundry Local, pick a model that fits your RAM and GPU, and connect apps to it through localhost.

Install Ollama from ollama.com, open a terminal and run `ollama run gemma4:e2b`, or install Microsoft's Foundry Local with `winget install Microsoft.FoundryLocal` and run `foundry chat qwen2.5-0.5b`. The model downloads once, then runs on your PC with no internet connection and no per-use cost. Apps connect to it through a local address such as http://localhost:11434. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/speech-to-text-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

How to use Win + H voice typing on Windows 11, what it sends to Microsoft, when Voice access fits better, and which Whisper apps keep dictation on your PC.

Click into any text field and press Win + H to start voice typing; it uses Microsoft's online speech recognition, so it needs the internet and your voice goes to Microsoft. Voice access recognizes speech on your PC after a one-time language download, and also lets you control apps by voice. For dictation that stays on your PC in any app and language, use a Whisper-based app such as Handy, Buzz or OceanBreeze. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/snap-windows-keyboard-shortcuts/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

Every Windows 11 snap shortcut in one table, how Snap Layouts and snap groups work, where to change snap settings, and when FancyZones is worth adding.

Press Win + Left or Win + Right to snap the active window to half the screen, Win + Up to maximize it, and Win + Z to open Snap Layouts, with more layouts to pick from. Win + Shift + Left or Right moves the window to the next monitor. For layouts Windows doesn't offer, PowerToys FancyZones lets you draw your own zones and snap windows into them by holding Shift while you drag. https://oceanbreeze.io/blog/app-launchers-windows-11/2026-11-14T09:00:00Z2026-11-14T09:00:00Z

The fastest ways to open apps on Windows 11: Start search, Win + number, PowerToys Command Palette, Flow Launcher, Raycast and a pointer ring, compared.

Windows 11 has three fast launchers built in: Win + S to search for an app by name, Win + a number for the app pinned in that taskbar position, and Win + R to run a command. For one box that also handles files, commands and calculations, install PowerToys Command Palette (Win + Alt + Space), the successor to PowerToys Run, or Flow Launcher (Alt + Space). If your hand is usually on the mouse, a pointer launcher such as OceanBreeze's Apps ring opens your eight most used apps with a flick.