anniversary Archives

Winsage

July 14, 2025

Windows 11 update changes critical warning that’s remained unchanged for 40 years

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) after nearly forty years, transitioning to a new error screen called the Black Screen of Death. The new screen will feature a black background, replacing the blue, and will provide clearer error messages, such as "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart." This change is part of a broader initiative to improve user experience during critical failures, including a significant reduction in reboot times to approximately two seconds. The redesign was influenced by the CrowdStrike outage and aims to enhance clarity and efficiency in troubleshooting. The rollout will begin with Windows Insiders and expand to millions of PCs globally.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Final Fantasy for cheap, bundled Borderlands, and free strategy games

Slitherine is offering three free titles on Steam for its 25th anniversary until July 17: Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, Fantasy General II, and Field of Glory II: Medieval. The Borderlands X Wonderlands package is available in three tiers, with the first tier including Borderlands 3, Borderlands 2, Borderlands 2 VR, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced. The second tier adds Tales from the Borderlands and its sequel, while the third tier includes Tiny Tina's Wonderland: Chaotic Great Edition. The Humblecraft RTS Rush bundle features 11 tactical games such as Men of War: Assault Squad 2 and Stronghold Definitive Edition. The Epic Games Store is offering Figment 2: Creed Valley and Sky Racket for free until July 17, when Civilization VI Platinum Edition will also be available for free. The Steam Summer Sale has ended, and the GOG store has new weekend offers following its summer sale.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Ken Levine wanted System Shock 2’s final level to be set in outer space, but the idea was shot down by its senior designers: ‘They’re like dude, we have 14 months to make this game’

System Shock 2 is a highly regarded PC game known for its storytelling and gameplay, but its final act, The Body of the Many, has received criticism for not matching the quality of earlier parts. This level features a challenging environment that can leave players unprepared for the final confrontation with the antagonist, Shodan. Ken Levine, the game's designer, acknowledged that the finale's shortcomings stemmed from his ambitious vision for a zero-gravity environment outside the ship, which was impractical given the tight development timeline. Despite his colleagues' skepticism, he created a level that differed significantly in appearance and gameplay, which he later admitted was not one of the game's strongest. Levine's initial concept of an exterior level influenced later games like Dead Space and Prey. System Shock 2 recently received a remaster from Nightdive, which has been well-received, while Levine is working on a new project called Judas.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

Have Windows 11 upgrade questions? Here’s everything you need to know – before you make the leap

Windows 11, launched in 2021, is the operating system for hundreds of millions of PCs worldwide and is built on the same architecture as Windows 10 but has stricter hardware compatibility requirements. Users must upgrade due to the end-of-support date for Windows 10. The user interface features a redesigned Start menu, taskbar, and Settings app, along with new functionalities like a Widgets pane and enhanced window management. Hardware-assisted security is mandatory, with features like Secure Boot enabled by default. Windows 11 can be acquired with new PCs or through free upgrades for valid Windows 10 license holders, while retail licenses are available at similar prices to Windows 10. As of January 31, 2023, Microsoft stopped retail sales of Windows 10 licenses. The compatibility requirements for Windows 11 include a 64-bit processor, a minimum of 4GB RAM, and at least 64GB of storage. User feedback indicates a mix of satisfaction and dissatisfaction regarding the interface changes. Windows 11 is reported to be more reliable and secure than Windows 10, with support for Windows 10 ending on October 14, 2025. Installation options include the Windows 11 Installation Assistant and USB media creation, with version 24H2 currently available and version 25H2 forthcoming.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

FYI Calendar: Dive into “A Minecraft Movie” at Wilson Park Pool on July 18

Arts One Presents is staging “The Wizard of Oz” from July 17-20 and July 24-27 at the Pat Ellis Performing Arts Center, 667 Hylton Road, Springdale. The Fort Smith Little Theatre is presenting “Oklahoma!” from July 17 to August 2 at 401 N. Sixth St., Fort Smith. The Walk and Talk Book Club is on July 11 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Library Park, 1507 W. Pine St., Rogers. Writers Night is on July 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Casa Magnolia, 414 Holcomb St., Springdale. The School For Advanced Studies is hosting a Latin Dance Night on July 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 121 W. Poplar St., Rogers. The Fayetteville Public Library has a weekly unwind session on July 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Ann Henry Board Room. The Fayetteville Downtown Square & Gardens hosts a Farmer’s Market every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Handpoke Tattoo Pop-Up by Oatmilk Pokes is on July 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Two Friends Books, 801 S.E. Eighth St., Unit 47, Bentonville. Smokehouse Cycles in Fayetteville is hosting a Bike Swap on July 13 from noon to 5 p.m. Puritan Coffee & Beer has Musical Bingo every Monday in July at 7 p.m. The “Scrap” exhibition opens on July 11 at Fenix Arts gallery and runs until August 30. The “To M(end” exhibition at Midnight Gallery runs through September 29, with an Artist Talk on July 20. The Springdale Public Library is holding a Library Card Design Contest with a submission deadline of July 26. The Scott Family Amazeum is celebrating its 10th anniversary on July 12 with a Birthday Bash. Kids can participate in the Kids Club event on July 12 at the downtown Bentonville Farmers Market. Swim Night at the Rogers Aquatic Center is on July 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Movies in the Parks features “Shrek” on July 11 at Walker Park, Fayetteville. City Park Fayetteville is screening classic films every Friday in July. Wags to Riches Pet Grooming is having a grand opening on July 19 at 1003 S.E. 28th St., Bentonville. An Art Supply Swap is on July 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Fayetteville Public Library. Grace Underfanger will discuss selling art online on July 12 at the Fayetteville Public Library. The Bella Vista Community Band performs on July 15 at Blowing Springs Park at 7 p.m. Opera in the Ozarks is performing “Carmen,” “Into the Woods,” and “The Merry Widow” through July 25 at Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, Eureka Springs. Hotvine Wine Shop offers Frozen Drink Fridays throughout the summer. Rabbit Hole continues its Wabbit Wednesdays series on July 16 starting at 5 p.m. at Arsaga’s Mill District, Fayetteville. Two Friends Books is hosting a “summer mezze” feast on July 14 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Winsage

July 7, 2025

Windows 11 is Now The Most Popular Version of the OS According to Statcounter

Windows 11 has a market share of 52% as of July 2025, up from 47.98% in June. Windows 10's market share has decreased from 48.76% to 44.59% during the same period. Since January, Windows 11's share has increased by 15.35 percentage points from 36.65%. The end of support for Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025. Microsoft has introduced an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers that offers one year of free security updates. A new enrollment wizard for the Windows 10 ESU program will be rolled out this month. For organizations, the ESU program costs per device for one year, with annual price increases for up to three years of support. Windows 11 version 25H2 is anticipated to be released in October, with new features gradually rolled out to version 24H2 through enablement packages.

AppWizard

July 6, 2025

Warren Spector was so desperate to make Deus Ex that it almost became a Command & Conquer RPG: ‘I was going to find a way to make it one way or another, even if it meant making another damn sci-fi game!’

Deus Ex recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. In an alternate reality, PC gamers are celebrating a different 25th anniversary for a first-person Command & Conquer game that could have been created by Warren Spector, who initially conceived a game called "Troubleshooter" in 1994. Spector aimed to create an open-ended near-future simulation featuring a supercop named Jake Shooter. He managed to persuade Westwood Studios to invest in a version of his game set in the Command & Conquer universe, intending to combine genre elements and player choice. However, he later joined Ion Storm after receiving an invitation from John Romero, leading to the development of Deus Ex, with Jake Shooter evolving into JC Denton.

Winsage

July 5, 2025

Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 in worldwide market share after nearly four years

Windows 11 has officially surpassed Windows 10 to become the most popular Microsoft operating system globally. This shift occurs as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life date this October, leading to a decline in its user base. Data from StatCounter indicates that while Windows 10 had a stable user count for several months, its share has recently decreased significantly, prompting users to transition to Windows 11. Despite the availability of free options for extending Windows 10 security support, many users have chosen to upgrade to Windows 11, reflecting growing confidence in its capabilities. Windows currently holds a collective market share of 70.14%, compared to OS X at 9.87% and both Linux and macOS around 5%.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

Microsoft finally adds a Windows 11 lock screen feature that should have been there since day one

Windows 11, approaching its fourth anniversary, has received mixed feedback from users, particularly regarding its limited customization options for the Start menu and taskbar. A recent beta update introduced a battery icon on the lock screen, which displays the remaining battery percentage and changes color. This feature was not included at launch, leading to user concerns that updates should focus on adding new features rather than fixing omissions.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

Deus Ex devs say they honestly weren’t thinking about politics when they made one of the most political games of all time: ‘What I think is the right future for humanity is irrelevant. It’s all about what each player thinks’

Deus Ex is recognized as a significant video game that explores complex themes beyond entertainment. A conversation between two NSF troopers highlights the reduction of individuals to functionality, which impacted a young gamer named Josh. The game's allies, the NSF and Silhouette, reflect real-world political dynamics, with billionaires acting in self-interest. Developers admitted that political considerations were not a primary focus during the game's creation. Designer Ricardo Bare expressed that he was more excited about the gameplay than political agendas, while project director Warren Spector aimed to keep his personal views out of the game, believing players should interpret the narrative based on their choices. The game features multiple endings, allowing players to make impactful decisions. Despite the radical elements within the game, it may embody a fundamentally liberal ethos, as suggested by protagonist JC Denton's line about due process and terror.