annotation Archives

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.9 Pre-Release 1

The copper age update introduces enhancements focused on copper golems, adjustments to mannequins, and various bug fixes. Key changes include: - Copper golems can now only attempt to open adjacent chests when acting as passengers. - Notifications now use the format minecraft:notification/ instead of notification:. - The Data Pack version has been updated to 87.1. - Mannequin descriptions are now configurable, and they can accept the minecraft:profile component from spawner items. - New data fields for mannequins include pose (with valid entries such as standing, crouching, swimming, fall_flying, sleeping), immovable, description, and hidedescription. - The spawnpoint command now accepts a pitch argument, and the setworldspawn command is no longer restricted to the overworld. - The fetchprofile command provides clickable text to summon a mannequin with the resolved profile. - Modified entity data for players includes required fields for yaw, pitch, and dimension. - New context values for loot functions have been added. - Multiple bugs have been fixed, including issues with copper golems, mannequins, and game crashes. Pre-releases are available for Minecraft: Java Edition, and users are advised to back up their worlds before testing.

AppWizard

September 3, 2025

Top 15 Best Android Apps

As of September 2025, the Android ecosystem offers a variety of applications aimed at enhancing productivity, customization, entertainment, and more. Key apps include: Productivity Tools: - Photo to Calendar: Converts photos/screenshots of schedules into calendar entries automatically. - Compose PDF: Merges PDFs and images offline without watermarks or internet dependency. - Forstop Helper: Manages device performance by force-stopping apps with a single tap. Customization and Utility Apps: - Installer X Revive: Advanced APK installer with features like auto-permissions and batch installations. - Material Capsule: Turns camera cutouts into functional widgets for notifications and controls. - Tap Tap Lock: Locks the phone with a tap gesture using an invisible widget. - Nothing Glyphify: Enhances glyph light functionality for Nothing Phone users with customizable notification patterns. - Icon Theming Hack: Aligns home screen icons with Material You themes using third-party icon packs. Photo and Media Management: - Photo Swooper: Organizes photos in the gallery using swipe-based actions. - Convert It: Converts audio files across multiple formats. Entertainment and Lifestyle: - Awake: An interactive alarm clock requiring puzzle-solving to turn off. - Score Peak: Displays live sports scores on the always-on display. - Widgetify for Spotify: Customizes Spotify widgets for easy access to playlists and albums. Creative Tools: - Draw Anywhere: Allows annotation or drawing over any app or content on the screen. Smart Home Integration: - Edge Smart Things: Integrates smart home controls into the Samsung edge panel for easy access.

Winsage

August 18, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows Update ‘Failure’—Do Not Save These Files

Microsoft's recent Windows 11 update has been linked to multiple SSD failures, particularly during large data writes, causing drives to become non-functional. Users have reported that affected drives "disappear from the OS," making SMART data unreadable, and leading to potential file corruption due to a suspected malfunction in the drive cache. SSDs with over 60% usage may be particularly susceptible after about 50GB of continuous writing, with issues also observed in some HDDs. SSDs utilizing Phison NAND controllers, especially DRAM-less models, are noted to be more prone to these problems. The affected SSDs include Corsair Force MP600, Phison PS5012-E12 controller-equipped SSD, KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS G4, Fikwot FN955, and SanDisk Extreme PRO M.2 NVMe 3D SSD. The root cause may be a storage driver or kernel-level regression introduced with the update, which mishandles long sequential writes. Users are advised to avoid executing long sequential write operations until Microsoft provides official guidance.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

How to disable Gemini AI on Android and keep control of your apps

Google is integrating its AI, Gemini, with Android systems, allowing access to applications like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone, starting July 7, 2025. This integration may override existing privacy settings unless users disable Gemini. Users can restrict Gemini's access to apps through the Google Gemini app settings or uninstall it. If Gemini is not pre-installed, it will not be automatically installed on devices. Disabling Gemini maintains previous privacy settings, but conversations may still be reviewed by human reviewers for AI training, with data retention lasting up to three years. Users are advised to avoid sharing sensitive information in Gemini chats.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Chrome for Android finally lets you view PDFs without leaving the browser

Chrome for Android has introduced a native PDF reader that allows users to view and annotate PDF files directly within the browser, eliminating the need for third-party applications. This feature is currently available on Android 15, with availability on earlier versions yet to be confirmed. Users can access various annotation tools, including a pen, highlighter, eraser, undo, redo, and visibility options, and can customize line widths and colors. The built-in search functionality enables users to locate specific text within documents. The feature was hinted at in February of the previous year and became operational in December, initially accessible only through flags for devices running Android 12 and later.

Winsage

March 18, 2025

You Can Try Notepad’s New AI Summarizer in Windows 11 Now (If You Pay)

Microsoft is enhancing its Notepad and Snipping Tool applications in Windows 11 with new AI features. Notepad now includes a Summarize feature that allows users to summarize text by using the Copilot menu or pressing Ctrl-M, but it requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and Copilot Pro AI credits for full access. Additionally, Notepad will show recently opened files, accessible via File > Recent, and users can clear this list if desired. The updates are part of Notepad version 11.2501.29.0. The Snipping Tool has been updated to allow users to draw arrows that automatically convert into straight lines with pointers, streamlining the annotation process, available in Snipping Tool version 11.2502.18.0. To access these features, users must join the Windows Insider program and may need to run unstable builds of Windows 11.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

Upgrade Your Windows 11 Experience with These 10 Free Alternatives to thew Standard Apps

- ImageGlass is a fast and versatile replacement for the default Photos app, supporting various image formats and basic editing tools. - Files App is a modern alternative to File Explorer with features like split tabs, compact views, and smooth navigation. - LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that provides alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. - GIMP is a powerful, open-source image editing tool with advanced features like layer management and color correction. - ShareX, Lightshot, PicPick, and SnipPaste are enhanced screenshot tools offering features like screen recording, annotations, and workflow automation. - ScreenBox is a VLC-based media player with robust format support and a sleek design. - Nora is a modern audio player with dynamic controls, playlist management, and an equalizer. - PDF Gear offers advanced PDF features like annotation, editing, and built-in OCR. - Zen Browser is a privacy-focused web browser built on Firefox, emphasizing security and customization. - Fluid Cast is a dedicated podcast app with offline downloads and progress tracking. - Qalculate! is a versatile calculator supporting basic and complex calculations, while SpeedCrunch is a keyboard-focused calculator for quick calculations.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Native PDF support is coming to Chrome for Android, and you can try it now

Google Chrome for Android will soon support native PDF file opening without third-party applications, allowing users to search and annotate PDFs directly in the browser and save them to Google Drive. This feature was discovered by Chrome expert Leopeva64 in February and has been confirmed to be operational on devices like the OnePlus Open running Android 14. The PDF viewer in Chrome is minimalistic but effective, with navigation and search capabilities. Users can annotate PDFs using a toolbar that includes options for pens and highlighters. This functionality is supported by the Jetpack PDF support library, which is included in Android 15 but also available for older versions through Google Play System Updates. Users need to enable specific flags to access this feature, which is available in Chrome 132 or later, currently in Beta.

Winsage

November 30, 2024

5 reasons you should use the Windows Snipping Tool instead of third-party apps

The Windows Snipping Tool is preinstalled on Windows 11, allowing users to access it easily with the keyboard shortcut Windows + Shift + S. It features a user-friendly interface for easy annotation of screenshots, including tools for drawing, shapes, emojis, and handwriting. The tool offers a visual search feature that enables users to search for information about images using Bing. It includes text recognition capabilities for copying text from images and a redact feature for protecting sensitive information. Additionally, the Snipping Tool can record screens with system and microphone audio, providing a built-in solution for creating tutorials or guides.

Winsage

November 2, 2024

4 Windows Snipping Tool tips and tricks you need to know

The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 allows users to capture screenshots and annotate images. It can be accessed quickly using keyboard shortcuts, such as Windows + Shift + S to open the tool and Print Screen to launch it if enabled in settings. The tool includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for extracting text from screenshots, which can be copied or edited. Users can utilize a delay feature to capture pop-up menus or tooltips. Additionally, the Snipping Tool now supports video recording, allowing users to capture screen activity along with audio. Alternatives like ShareX are also available for users seeking more features.