anniversary Archives

Winsage

September 4, 2026

Which came first, Windows 95’s taskbar or NeXT’s Dock? Neither

The tech community recently celebrated the 31st anniversary of Windows 95, sparking discussions about its design influences, particularly regarding the potential British roots of its interface. Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer's post on X led to exchanges among ex-Microsoft employees, including Joe Belfiore, who clarified that the Windows taskbar was not inspired by the NeXT dock but rather by developments from the Cairo team, specifically a persistent "tray" for file transfers. The debate references Paul Fellows, who led the Arthur project at Acorn, which introduced the first "icon bar" in 1987, influencing both NeXTstep and Windows. Acorn's Arthur, initially a BASIC demo, became RISC OS by 1989, maintaining its foundational design elements. The timeline shows that Acorn's icon bar predated NeXTstep's dock and the Windows taskbar, with Windows 2.0 and OS/2 1.1 released in late 1987 and 1988, respectively, showing visual similarities to NeXTstep. The Microsoft Cairo project, which ran from 1991 to 1996, coincided with Windows NT 4 development. The Windows 95 taskbar and NeXT's dock served different functions, but their historical context is significant.

Winsage

September 3, 2026

Windows 11 update sends some desktops into an unwanted goth phase

Microsoft's latest update for Windows 11 has caused some users to experience a default black background due to issues with personalization settings in the August update preview for versions 24H2 and 25H2. Users are unable to restore their preferred desktop backgrounds, and the update may also affect other desktop settings like slideshow configurations and contrast themes. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is working on a fix for a future update.

Winsage

September 1, 2026

ReactOS 0.4.16 serves ’90s Windows nostalgia with fewer bugs

ReactOS has released version 0.4.16, which includes a unified boot and live CD image, a graphical installer, and significant upgrades to video, audio, networking, and storage stacks. The update addresses compatibility issues with legacy software, particularly with video drivers and the kernel’s system page table entries, improving stability. A new HD audio bus driver has replaced an older implementation, and the UniATA driver has been replaced with a new ATA driver for better compatibility and boot times. Networking capabilities have improved with expanded support for adapters and asynchronous connections. A headless Server Core installation type has been introduced, and compatibility restrictions with Windows Server 2003 have been lifted. ReactOS remains in an alpha state, and version 0.4.16 is available for download.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Netflix’s Minecraft TV Show Gets a Huge Update After Years of Uncertainty

Netflix's Minecraft animated series is still in production, confirmed by Jens Bergensten, Chief Creative Officer at Mojang Studios. The series was first announced in 2024 and features an original narrative with new characters. Flying Bark and WildBrain are collaborating on the animation. The series is a 30-minute CG-animated action-adventure comedy, with Kevin Adams, Joe Ksander, and A.C. Bradley involved in the production. The last major update was at the Annecy festival in June 2025, and while there is no official premiere date, estimates suggest a potential debut in 2027 or 2028. The series may launch after the live-action sequel, A Minecraft Movie Squared, which is set for release on July 23, 2027.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

Minecraft animated series is still in development – Netflix and Mojang deny rumors of cancellation

The animated series based on Minecraft was announced in May 2024 to coincide with the game's 15th anniversary, with Netflix and Mojang collaborating on the project. Kevin Adams and Joe Xander were appointed as showrunners, and Ashley Bradley was brought in as the writer, with animation by Flying Bark Productions. Updates about the series have been sparse, leading to concerns about its potential cancellation, especially after a reveal at the Annecy Festival in 2026 did not occur. However, representatives from Netflix and Mojang have confirmed that the series is still in production, with development progressing as planned. The timeline for completion is uncertain, with reports suggesting production could extend until 2028, and no official release date has been announced.

Winsage

August 27, 2026

Windows Weekly 998: Laptop Fort

Leo, Richard, and Paul discussed various updates from Microsoft and the tech world, including new Insider builds, OneDrive for Mac enhancements, advancements in AI, and Xbox gaming news. A significant upcoming update for Windows 11, referred to as version 26H2, is anticipated. OneDrive for Mac will receive a native sync engine, and Proton Mail will introduce automatic category filtering. Bill Gates warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, while Adobe Firefly launched new capabilities for music and sound generation. The .NET Conf 2026 is scheduled for November, with .NET 11 expected to release. In gaming, Xbox is testing disc-to-digital entitlements, and the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X20 is available for 9. A limited edition Xbox Series X25 console is rumored for November, and the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection is confirmed for November 13. IKEA has launched Xbox-inspired furniture, and Rockstar Games is preparing to reveal GTA VI. Nvidia has expanded GeForce Now to Firefox. Google will allow users to filter news in the Discover feed, but the advice is to seek diverse viewpoints. PowerToys 0.101 has been released, and Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac is now available. This week's RunAs Radio episode features a discussion on PowerShell 7's security features. SpiceBox Spiced Whisky is recommended as a seasonal drink.

AppWizard

August 27, 2026

Blue Dragon has been stuck on the Xbox 360 for 20 years, but no longer: a fantastic unofficial PC port unlocks the FPS, goes 4K, and even adds mod support

Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker after leaving Square Enix in the early 2000s. Blue Dragon, a title from Mistwalker, is now available on PC due to a fan-made port created by programmer Tom, who used his toolset ReXGlue to recompile the game. This port integrates original game files into a single executable, enhances graphical fidelity, and resolves compatibility issues. Tom's work allows the game to run at 1080p resolution and 60 fps on systems with as little as one gigabyte of VRAM. The port was released on GitHub to coincide with the 19th anniversary of Blue Dragon's U.S. release, and future updates and mods are planned, including the introduction of characters from the Nintendo DS sequel.

Winsage

August 26, 2026

Windows XP turns 25. It’s still beating Windows 8 in market share

Windows XP was launched to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, and became available for purchase on October 25, 2001. It was built on the Windows NT architecture, offering enhanced stability and security compared to its predecessors. Microsoft described it as “the most important version of Windows ever,” and its legacy continues to influence modern operating systems.

Winsage

August 26, 2026

Windows XP’s most famous pirated key wasn’t a hack, and a Microsoft engineer explains why

The FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 key is a notorious Windows XP product key that became widely associated with the operating system, which was released on October 25, 2001. Unlike modern free upgrades, Windows XP required users to purchase a physical copy, making the product key essential for installation. The FCKGW key was a legitimate Volume License Key that was misappropriated and allowed users to bypass Microsoft's Windows Product Activation (WPA) system, which linked product keys to specific hardware to combat piracy. This key was whitelisted in the activation logic, enabling installations without activation prompts. Although it is still technically usable on older discs, Microsoft's servers no longer validate it, and the key has been blacklisted. Microsoft recently released a new version of the Windows Bliss wallpaper to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Windows XP.

AppWizard

August 26, 2026

GBA Emulator Android: My Boy! vs John GBAC vs RetroArch

Game Boy Advance emulation on Android has gained significant traction in 2026, with key applications like My Boy! priced at .99, John GBAC receiving an update on May 19, 2026, and RetroArch enhancing its mGBA core for free use. The search term "gba emulator android" sees around 8,100 monthly searches in the U.S., reflecting a resurgence in interest, particularly among former GBA owners now in their late 20s and 30s who prefer using their smartphones for gaming. All five apps—My Boy!, GBA.emu, John GBAC, RetroArch, and Lemuroid—can run the entire GBA library at full speed on devices from the last six years. The main differences lie in software quality, including save state management, cheat code reliability, controller mapping, and update frequency. My Boy! and GBA.emu utilize cores derived from VisualBoyAdvance (VBA), while John GBAC uses a custom core, and RetroArch and Lemuroid rely on the mGBA core. In terms of features, all apps support save states, but My Boy! offers multiple named slots with thumbnail previews, while RetroArch has a more complex system. Cheat code support is available across the board, with My Boy! and GBA.emu accepting GameShark and CodeBreaker formats, and RetroArch providing a built-in cheat database. My Boy! stands out for its link-cable emulation, allowing local multiplayer connections, whereas RetroArch's netplay is designed for online gaming. All apps support external controllers, but RetroArch excels in visual enhancements with its extensive shader options. The setup process for all five apps is similar and typically takes under ten minutes. GBA ROMs are small, ranging from 4MB to 32MB, making them easy to store on modern devices without significant battery drain. Common issues include save files not loading, audio problems, and cheat codes failing to apply, with solutions often involving file management and settings adjustments. Users can migrate save files between emulators by ensuring the correct file naming and directory structure. Pros and cons of each app include: - My Boy!: Ad-free, strong multiplayer support, but lower rating and closed-source. - GBA.emu: High rating and broad support, but outdated and lacks a free trial. - John GBAC: Free and recently updated, but lower rating and ad-supported. - RetroArch: Free and feature-rich, but complex setup. - Lemuroid: User-friendly and actively maintained, but limited shader options. All five apps are legally available on Google Play, as they do not distribute copyrighted ROM files. Users are advised to source their ROMs legally, ideally by dumping from their own physical cartridges. GBA emulation remains an accessible entry point into retro gaming on Android, especially compared to more demanding systems like the PS2 or GameCube.