Galaxy Note 20's expanded Windows support lets you control phone apps on your PC

Samsung’s integration with Windows 10 is getting tighter with the arrival of the Galaxy Note 20. The smartphone maker has expanded its Microsoft partnership with features that should make it considerably easier to work with content on your phone.

Most significantly, Your Phone now lets you control the Note 20’s mobile apps directly from your PC. You currently have to run one at a time (multi-app support will come later in 2020), but it can operate in a window alongside other desktop apps. This could be helpful if you need to keep up with a conversation in a messaging app, or just want to run something that has little to no PC support.

Notetakers will also appreciate an impending upgrade. Samsung Notes will soon sync your drawings with your OneNote feed in Outlook on the web or through OneNote as an image. You could see your notes from a class or meeting on your PC moments after you’ve written them.

Samsung Reminders will also sync with Windows 10 through Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and To Do.

Read more: What is cloud gaming?

And yes, the connection between Samsung phones and Xbox gaming is improving. The Xbox Game Pass app will be available from Samsung’s Galaxy Store on September 15 to access content and stream games using Project xCloud. If you pre-order the Galaxy Note 20, there’s an option for a Gaming Bundle that includes three months of Game Pass Ultimate as well as a PowerA MOGA XP5-X controller. You’ll need to live in one of 22 cloud gaming-friendly markets (including North America, Europe, or South Korea) to take advantage of this.

The expansion goes beyond smartphones as well. The Galaxy Watch 3 will use Outlook as its native email app, helping you keep tabs on work (and beyond) from your wrist. This probably won’t be the decisive factor in choosing a Samsung watch over alternatives, but it could be helpful if you’re already deep into Microsoft’s ecosystem.