Windows search is getting a ginormous upgrade with a tool called PowerToys Run, which launched Tuesday. It's a super-duper-early-stages, but promising, search box that could put the Start menu and Windows key-R shortcut to shame.
The new search tool pops up in the middle of your screen with a big query box, just like Spotlight. It launches with the Alt-Space shortcut, and it's insanely fast at finding files, programs and a few other items. It's way faster than the current Windows search tool. But Microsoft promises to make PowerToys Run seriously impressive. It will be a catch-all launcher box that Microsoft said could eventually be a starting point for every kind of query. For example, it could eventually run search queries on the internet for casual users -- on the browser of your choice -- and at the same time fully replace Windows key-R for power users, who will be able to use all the same commands they've become familiar with.