ARM Archives

Winsage

September 24, 2026

86Box Setup Guide 2026: Emulate a Windows 98 PC in 13 Steps

86Box is an emulator that meticulously reconstructs vintage PCs, allowing users to boot operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP. The latest version, 6.0, was released on May 31, 2026, featuring a native Windows ARM64 build and discontinuing support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra. It has approximately 2,400 monthly searches in the U.S., indicating a demand for setup guides among enthusiasts. Unlike DOSBox, which creates a generic DOS environment, 86Box emulates specific hardware components for authentic execution of various operating systems. Originally a fork of PCem, 86Box has expanded its supported motherboards and developed a community of contributors. Version 6.0 has established it as the preferred choice for retro-PC builders in 2026. Before installation, users need a minimum of a 64-bit Intel Core 2, AMD Athlon 64, or ARMv8 CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and a compatible host operating system. The installation process involves downloading the appropriate build, sourcing a legal ROM set, and configuring the virtual machine using the 86Box Manager. Users can select specific graphics cards and sound hardware to replicate the original systems accurately. The setup requires installation media for the guest operating system, which must be sourced legally. Common pitfalls during setup include ensuring the BIOS ROM is available, matching CPU speed to software era, and installing the correct drivers. A properly configured virtual machine should display a BIOS POST screen and boot the selected operating system. Troubleshooting common issues often involves checking for missing ROMs, uninstalled drivers, or performance settings. 86Box is open-source and legal to use, but users must ensure they have legitimate licenses for any software used within the emulator.

BetaBeacon

September 24, 2026

Move over, Claude and ChatGPT: This Android brand’s open-source AI model builds 3D games on demand

Xiaomi has open-sourced its omnimodal AI model, MiMo-V2.6 Pro, which can generate interactive 3D worlds from text or visual prompts. The model is claimed to be the most capable open-weight model on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index benchmark.

BetaBeacon

September 19, 2026

Dave the Diver mobile port makes a splash on Android and iOS

Dave the Diver, an indie hit originally launched in 2023, is now available on Android and iOS for .99 on the Google Play Store. The game offers a vast amount of content to explore and includes the Dredge DLC crossover for free. The mobile version features adjustable touchscreen layouts, gyro tilt controls, and a fast-travel feature for quicker progression.

Winsage

September 19, 2026

Microsoft Surface Pro 13″ (12th Edition) Review: Is ARM Windows Finally Good?

The 13-inch Microsoft Surface Pro 12th Edition is the first model to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2. The review unit has an X2 Plus processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It runs Windows 11 Home in its ARM variant, allowing for the installation of applications like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, which now run natively. However, some limitations exist, such as missing features in Premiere Pro and longer export times. The device is available in two configurations, with the higher-end variant featuring the X2 Elite processor. Benchmark results show improved performance over its predecessor, particularly in Geekbench 6. The easily swappable SSD is a notable feature, and the device can become warm during intensive tasks. The gaming performance is mixed, with some titles running well while others struggle. The display is a 13-inch PixelSense LCD with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 pixels and a brightness level of 600 nits. The audio features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos. The build quality is premium, with a weight of 895 grams and a thickness of 9.3 millimeters. Connectivity includes two USB-C ports with USB4 and DisplayPort capabilities, but lacks USB-A and a headphone jack. The device has an IR scanner for face recognition and a front camera that captures 1440p video. It offers three keyboard options and includes the Slim Pen 2 in some bundles. Battery life is approximately 7.15 hours while looping an HD YouTube video at maximum brightness, with efficient charging options available.

Winsage

September 17, 2026

Microsoft Calls In NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang For Its Biggest Windows Event In Years

Microsoft will hold a Windows event on October 7 in San Francisco, marking its first major dedicated Windows gathering in over two years. The event will feature CEO Satya Nadella, Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, focusing on the impact of local AI on personal computing. A highlight will be the Surface Laptop Ultra, designed to compete with the MacBook Pro, featuring a custom NVIDIA RTX Spark SoC, an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, up to 128GB of RAM, and the ability to run complex AI models on-device. Microsoft has also introduced a Workload Profile Scheduling system for efficient task distribution across CPU cores and optimized its Prism emulation layer for legacy x86 applications on ARM systems. The event is not expected to announce Windows 12, as Microsoft will focus on enhancing Windows 11. Major hardware partners like Dell, Lenovo, and ASUS are also involved in the RTX Spark ecosystem.

Winsage

September 16, 2026

Microsoft Sets October 7 Event to Detail Local AI Push for Windows and Surface

Microsoft will unveil its vision for the future of personal computing at an event in San Francisco on October 7 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, focusing on the role of on-device artificial intelligence in Windows and Surface hardware. Key figures including CEO Satya Nadella and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will discuss innovations across Windows, NVIDIA RTX Spark, and the PC ecosystem. The RTX Spark platform, introduced earlier this year, features a system-on-a-chip with 128GB of memory, an NVIDIA GPU, and an Arm-based CPU for high-performance AI workloads. Microsoft has announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, built on the RTX Spark platform, but details on pricing and release dates are not yet available. The event will emphasize how local AI will shape the future of PCs, with a focus on hardware capable of running AI models directly on devices. Attendees can also expect enhancements to the Windows operating system, though a surprise announcement regarding Windows 12 is unlikely. The event will be streamed live, starting at 10 a.m. PT and 1 p.m. ET.

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Valve has ported Half-Life: Alyx to ARM, and it’s free with Steam Frame

Valve has released the Steam Frame, its first VR headset since 2019, priced at ,059, bundled with Half-Life: Alyx. The game has been ported to run natively on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 chip, allowing it to operate without a traditional desktop PC. The Steam Frame features eye-tracking technology and foveated rendering, enhancing performance by focusing on areas where the user is looking. Valve invested a year in software development for the headset, benefiting not only Half-Life: Alyx but also other games on the platform. The Steam Frame supports various games without extensive porting and can run Windows games through translation and emulation layers. Valve has not been developing new VR content since 2025, though speculation about Half-Life 3 persists.

Winsage

September 13, 2026

NVIDIA CUDA 13.4 Adds Windows on Arm Support [2026]

NVIDIA released CUDA Toolkit 13.4 on September 9, 2026, introducing native CUDA support for Windows on Arm. This update allows developers to compile and run CUDA applications on Windows Arm64 systems, closing a gap that existed since CUDA's inception in 2007. The toolkit offers two workflows: native compilation on Windows Arm64 machines and cross-compilation from x86-64 systems. Developers must install an R616-series Developer Driver to utilize the new features. The release aligns with the upcoming launch of NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops, built on the N1X Arm platform. The toolkit is designed for RTX Spark devices, which leverage NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPU architecture. Current Windows on Arm devices can also begin using the toolkit in preparation for the hardware launch. The initial feature set for Windows Arm64 is narrower compared to x86-64, but developers are encouraged to adapt their applications for the new environment.

AppWizard

September 13, 2026

Overwatch’s newest hero is a robo-vampire, and reworks are on the way for Roadhog and Sombra

Blizzard Entertainment unveiled a new Overwatch hero named Doctrine, a vampire character with a cyborg arm and mechanical bats, during the Blizzcon opening ceremony. A story trailer suggests a connection to Doomfist. A hero trial for Doctrine is currently available and will last throughout the weekend. The exact release date for Doctrine has not been announced. Last month, another hero, D. Mon, was introduced on August 11. Players can explore Doctrine's abilities and gameplay style during the trial.

AppWizard

September 12, 2026

GAMES Nintendo Switch can now be statically recompiled for PC

Enthusiasts in the emulation community have acquired a toolkit for the static recompilation of Nintendo Switch games on PCs, following the final update of the suyu emulator, which introduced Recompiler mode. This tool pre-compiles static code from the ARM AArch64 architecture into instructions for modern 64-bit x86 chips, allowing game logic to operate natively and reducing CPU overhead. The implementation is about 50% complete, focusing on code execution, while the graphics and audio components still rely on high-level emulation. Fully functional native ports will require third-party developers to create their own renderers for the Tegra GPU's graphics calls. The codebase allows the community to explore game structures, develop modifications, and create semi-native executables for PCs.