archive formats Archives

Winsage

February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.

Winsage

December 14, 2024

10 features you didn’t know were in the Windows 11 File Explorer

The File Explorer in Windows 11 includes several features to enhance file management: 1. Gallery: A section to view all images stored on the PC and OneDrive, organized by date. 2. Optimize folders: Users can customize folder appearances based on content type through the Properties menu. 3. Change default launch location: Users can set File Explorer to open to This PC or OneDrive instead of the Home folder. 4. Classic context menu: Users can access the traditional context menu by holding the Shift key while right-clicking. 5. Clear File Explorer history: Users can reset the history of visited folders for a fresh start. 6. Managing OneDrive files: Users can manage cloud files directly from File Explorer and identify local versus cloud storage. 7. Selecting multiple files with the keyboard: Users can use arrow keys and Control to select multiple files efficiently. 8. Extracting and creating archives: Users can create and extract various archive formats, including 7z and RAR, without third-party applications. 9. Move files to Android phone: Users can transfer files between a Windows PC and an Android device using Phone Link integration. 10. Rename files in bulk: Users can rename multiple files simultaneously by selecting them and entering a new name with a counter for differentiation.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Microsoft heard you like Windows updates, so it updated how updates update

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which includes improvements to the update installation process, resulting in a 45.6% faster installation, 39.7% quicker restart times, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU consumption compared to version 22H2. Key enhancements include parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Traditional feature updates are now approximately 200 MB smaller due to certain inbox applications being updated through the Microsoft Store. Notable features in the update include: - Integration of Phone Link with the Start menu. - Simplified layout for the taskbar system tray. - Revamped Quick Settings for improved speed and customization. - Windows Spotlight image as the default wallpaper. - Animated taskbar app preview thumbnails. - Support for HDR images as desktop wallpapers. File Explorer updates include: - Updated home tab layout with shared documents. - Ability to duplicate tabs via right-click. - Enhanced context menu layout. - Support for .7z and .TAR archive formats. - Direct viewing of Android phone file systems. New apps and features include: - A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contacts. - Updated Copilot as a standalone web application. - AI features in Photos for generative erase and background editing. - A new Recall app for information retrieval using AI. - Paint with generative AI capabilities. Settings updates include: - Windows Update with checkpoints and hot patching. - Voice Clarity using AI to eliminate background noise. - Simultaneous configuration of power settings. - A new Energy Saver mode. - Configurable mouse scroll wheel direction. - Support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware. - A new PRISM emulation layer for x86 apps on Arm devices. - Enhanced performance for Arm-based devices. - AutoSR using AI to improve gaming performance. - Live Captions translating languages into English in real-time. - Advanced Windows Studio Effects for webcam enhancement.

Winsage

October 10, 2024

Windows 11 bug steals 8.63GB of storage space that you can’t get back

Users of the Windows 11 2024 Update are facing a storage issue where an 8.63GB set of files remains on their systems, found in the "Windows Update Cleanup" section of Temporary files. This problem has been reported widely across forums and confirmed through tests on multiple PCs. Despite this storage challenge, the update introduces several enhancements, including a revamped File Explorer, improved multitasking features, new archive formats, seamless access to Android file systems, an upgraded Outlook app, enhanced Photos app capabilities, optimized Windows Update processes, AI-driven Voice Clarity technology, customizable power settings, support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware, and various improvements to the Taskbar and Quick Settings.

Winsage

October 6, 2024

Controversial artist ironically seeks millions of dollars in compensation for AI-generated collections as OpenAI sidesteps bankruptcy with $6.6 billion in funding from Microsoft and NVIDIA

Jason M. Allen, an artist, claimed that "art is dead" after winning a digital art competition with a piece generated by Midjourney, sparking debates on the ownership and ethics of AI-generated artwork. Microsoft rolled out a major update for Windows 11, elevating it to version 24H2, which includes new features, performance enhancements, and improved support for Arm devices. Key enhancements include a revamped File Explorer, the ability to duplicate tabs, an improved context menu, support for new archive formats, direct access to Android file systems, a new Outlook app, updates to Microsoft Copilot, AI-enhanced features in Photos, faster Windows updates, Voice Clarity technology, energy-saving configurations, Wi-Fi 7 support, and Phone Link integration into the Start menu. OpenAI raised .6 billion from NVIDIA and Microsoft, increasing its valuation to billion, while requesting investors not to support competing AI firms. Microsoft unveiled Office 2024, a standalone suite available for a one-time purchase, featuring a refreshed interface and enhancements over Office 2021. Reviews highlighted the ASUS ProArt PX13 laptop for its innovative touchpad design and the Razer Kraken V4 headset for comfort and sound quality. The expansion for Starfield, titled Shattered Space, received mixed reactions from players. Early discounts are available ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event starting on October 8, 2024, with retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy offering competitive pricing.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Windows 11 2024 Update even gives unsupported PCs a performance boost

Microsoft recently released the Windows 11 2024 Update, also known as version 24H2, which includes new features and performance enhancements for PCs. The update is generally available and reportedly improves performance even on unsupported PCs. Key features of the update include an updated File Explorer with a new home tab layout, the ability to duplicate tabs, a revamped context menu, support for .7z and .TAR archive formats, direct access to Android phone file systems, a new Outlook app, enhanced Copilot, AI-driven photo editing tools, improved Windows Update processes, AI-based voice clarity, simultaneous power settings configuration, a new Energy Saver mode, adjustable mouse scroll wheel direction, Wi-Fi 7 hardware support, a new PRISM emulation layer for x86 apps on Arm devices, integration of Phone Link into the Start menu, a simplified taskbar system tray layout, redesigned Quick Settings, and default Windows Spotlight images as wallpaper.

Winsage

September 19, 2024

What’s new on File Explorer on Windows 11 2024 Update (version 24H2)

File Explorer in Windows 11 version 24H2 will feature a new wizard for creating and extracting various archive formats, including Tar, 7z, and Zip files, accessible via the context menu. The wizard allows for multiple compression methods and retains hard and symbolic links. Thumbnail previews will show the name of the focused tab and the total number of open tabs, and users can now view and edit metadata for ".png" files. The Home page has been redesigned, merging "Favorites" and "Recent" into a tabbed interface and adding a "Shared" tab. Users can share files more easily with connected Android devices, and if linked, access phone storage through File Explorer. Additionally, users can drag and drop files in the address bar and duplicate tabs, along with various performance improvements.