audio quality Archives

Winsage

March 20, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1743 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1743 has been released to the Canary Channel. New features include: - A shared audio feature that allows two users to share audio with individual volume sliders for each listener and a taskbar indicator for audio sharing. - The context menu now displays the “Open” verb that matches the icon of the file's default application when right-clicking on .exe, .bat, or .cmd files. - An updated Feedback Hub app with a simpler feedback submission flow, improved navigation, a new compliment feedback type, options for private or public feedback, and enhanced screenshot capture tools. Additional notes for Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel include that features are rolled out gradually, a desktop watermark is present in pre-release builds, some features may appear in other channels first, localization may be incomplete, and exiting the Canary Channel requires a clean installation of Windows 11.

Winsage

March 18, 2026

Spotify’s Windows 11 app gets a new quality feature FIRST, and high-end audio fans are going to love it

Spotify has introduced a feature called Exclusive Mode for Windows desktop users, which enhances audio quality by allowing Spotify to take full control of audio processing, ensuring Bit Perfect playback. This feature is currently exclusive to the Windows version, with plans for a Mac release in the future. To activate Exclusive Mode, users must use the latest version of the Spotify app on Windows 11 (version 1.2.84 or higher) and select a specific output device that is not set to the system default. While Exclusive Mode is enabled, no other audio applications can be used through the selected device, and it is designed solely for music playback.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Spotify Android App Draws Ire For Rigid Gestures

Spotify's Android app relies on mandatory swipe gestures that cannot be disabled, causing usability issues that conflict with Android's navigation system. This design choice has led to accidental actions, such as skipping tracks or altering playlists, particularly affecting users with motor or dexterity challenges. Research indicates that invisible gestures can lead to unintended activations, and guidelines recommend providing multiple input methods. A proposed solution is to introduce a Gestures menu for user customization, allowing users to disable or modify swipe actions. With Android's market share at around 70% and Spotify having approximately 626 million monthly active users, minimizing accidental actions could enhance user experience and provide a competitive advantage.

Winsage

February 27, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7934 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7934 (KB5077242) has been released to the Beta Channel. Key updates include: - Enhanced security and performance for batch files with a new secure mode that ensures batch files remain unchanged during execution, improving performance and security. - Shared audio feature now includes individual volume sliders for each listener and a taskbar indicator for ongoing audio sharing sessions. - A new command for Narrator users allows reading the status bar contents in applications like Word and Excel. - The rollout of improved taskbar animations has been temporarily paused. - Reliability improvements for removing Windows Update files and windows.old files. - Enhanced typing reliability with the ADLaM keyboard. - The Paint app has introduced a freeform rotate feature for shapes, text, and selections. Insiders can access these updates through Settings > Windows Update, and features may be gradually rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. A desktop watermark is displayed for Windows Insider pre-release builds.

Winsage

February 27, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7939 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7939 (KB 5077243) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features and improvements. Key updates include enhanced security and performance for batch files through a new secure mode, individual volume sliders for shared audio between Bluetooth LE Audio devices, a new Narrator command to read status bar contents in applications, improved reliability for removing Windows Update files, and enhanced typing reliability with the ADLaM keyboard. The rollout of improved taskbar animations has been temporarily paused. Updates are gradually being rolled out to Insiders who have opted in through Settings > Windows Update.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

Apple Music is sneakily becoming the best music streamer for Android

Apple services have expanded beyond their ecosystem, with Apple Music now available on Android, Windows, Google TV, and ChromeOS, as well as through a web app. Apple Music offers features like Dolby Atmos and lossless audio support, making it competitive against Spotify and YouTube Music. Spotify's recent price increase has made it more expensive than Apple Music and YouTube Music. YouTube Music, while bundled with YouTube Premium, struggles as a standalone service and has audio quality limitations. Apple Music provides high-resolution lossless audio, Dolby Atmos support, and a user-friendly experience on Android, priced at .99 per month. It allows users to import libraries from various services, enhancing its appeal across different platforms.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Deezer rolls out new Android TV app for the big screen

Deezer has launched a completely reimagined Android TV app that enhances the music experience on television. The update features a modern interface, smoother navigation, and Hi-Fi audio quality. It emphasizes music discovery with personalized recommendations through Deezer Flow and offers access to "100%" artist playlists and track mixes. The app includes an immersive player view, enhanced artist profiles, and a revamped lyrics feature for real-time display. The updated app is currently rolling out to compatible Android TV devices via the Google Play Store, with plans to extend to Fire TV through the Amazon Appstore.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

Android Central’s Best of 2025 Awards: The best phones, smartwatches, tablets, apps, and more

The OnePlus 15 was named Best Android Phone, featuring a fast chip, three-day battery life, and a 165Hz display. The Google Pixel 10 Pro won Best Camera with its Gemini-powered photo system. The Nothing's CMF Phone 2 Pro was recognized as the best budget option. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was awarded Best Foldable Device, while the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 was named Best Flip Phone. Samsung was recognized as the most improved brand. The Google Pixel Watch 4 won Best Smartwatch, and the Oura Ring 4 was the top smart ring. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 was the best smart glasses, with the Oakley Meta Vanguard for athletes and the Xreal One Pro as Best XR Glasses. Marvel's Deadpool VR won Best Single-Player VR, and Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked was Best Multiplayer VR Game. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 was the Best Chromebook, and the OnePlus Pad 3 was the best tablet. The Amazon Kindle Scribe was awarded Best E-Reader. Spotify was named Best Music Streaming Service, and Netflix was Best Video Streaming Service. The Gemini app won Best Android App, and Pokémon TCG Pocket was Best Android Game. Spigen was recognized as Best Phone Case Manufacturer, Anker was the top charging brand, Sony WH-1000XM6 won Best Wireless Headphones, and Apple AirPods Pro 3 were the best earbuds.

Winsage

December 9, 2025

Windows PC gaming in 2025: Handheld innovation, Arm progress and DirectX advances

Windows has been a key platform for PC gaming, evolving significantly by 2025 with advancements in handheld gaming and performance. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Series processors, were introduced, enhancing handheld gaming experiences. The Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) was launched for these devices, optimizing gaming interfaces. Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) was implemented, reducing load times by over 80% for some titles. System-level performance improvements included tuned power management and lower CPU overhead. Windows also focused on Arm devices, enabling local game installations through the Xbox PC app and expanding compatibility with the Prism emulator. Native anti-cheat support was introduced for Arm devices, enhancing competitive gaming. DirectX 12 advancements included features that improved ray tracing performance by up to 2.3×. Bluetooth LE Audio support was added to enhance audio quality for gamers. Upcoming innovations include expanding FSE to more Windows devices, further ASD support, and a preview of Auto Super Resolution for improved visuals in games.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Grab a HyperX Cloud III for just $39, if you’re quick – that’s a saving of over $60 on our favorite wired gaming headset

The HyperX Cloud III is a gaming headset known for its comfort, audio quality, and microphone performance, currently available at a 61% discount. It is ranked as the top wired headset and offers both analog and USB inputs, with the USB connection enabling DTS Spatial Audio virtual surround sound. The headset features cushioned earcups, a customizable headband, and 53mm drivers for balanced audio. It includes a removable boom mic with sound clarity and an LED indicator for mute status. The main cable has a 3.5mm analog jack and comes with adapters for USB-C and USB-A connections. The headset is priced at .99, frequently discounted to .99, making it an affordable option for gamers. The current deal is available only in light gray and red.