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Winsage
December 28, 2024
The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.
Winsage
December 28, 2024
Microsoft has introduced new camera features for Windows 11 that enhance video quality and user experience. Users can now adjust camera brightness, contrast, resolution, and frame rate, allowing for better visibility in various lighting conditions and catering to different bandwidth needs. Additionally, users can utilize their camera in multiple applications simultaneously, enabling multitasking during video calls. However, these features may not be available on all devices immediately, as some older camera models may not support them, and the rollout will occur gradually. Users interested in trying these features early can join the Windows Insider Program and download version 26120.2702.
Winsage
December 27, 2024
Microsoft has enhanced the camera capabilities within Windows 11, introducing features such as adjustable brightness and contrast settings, camera resolution and frame rate adjustments, and the ability for multiple applications to access the camera simultaneously. These updates aim to improve user experience and productivity, although their availability may vary by camera model. Beta testers can access these features by downloading version 26120.2702 from the Windows 11 Dev channel.
TrendTechie
December 27, 2024
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been released without Denuvo protection, leading to its immediate availability on torrent sites. This allows players in regions where the game is not officially available to access it for free. The absence of traditional digital rights management may prompt discussions about intellectual property protection versus wider access for players.
TrendTechie
December 25, 2024
Links for the installation of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl appeared on torrent trackers ninety minutes after the game's official release. The circulating version lacks patches or fixes, leading to potential bugs and issues. The game is set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where players control a character named Skif. Lawmakers and public figures have taken notice of the game, and while there is no ban on purchasing it, many illegal content distributors have avoided hosting copies. Streamer Ilya Maddyson Davydov achieved a record for online viewership during his playthrough of the game.
AppWizard
December 24, 2024
Steam's annual Best of The Year feature for 2024 showcases top-selling games organized into categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Platinum category includes standout releases such as Space Marine 2, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Elden Ring, and Baldur's Gate 3. Free-to-play titles like Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and Destiny 2 also contribute to this group. Cyberpunk 2077 has made a comeback in the Gold category with a Very Positive rating. The Silver group features Dragon's Dogma 2, Diablo IV, and Stalker 2, which sold a million units within two days of its launch. The Bronze category includes budget-friendly titles like Balatro, Silent Hill 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and No Man's Sky. Every game from last year's Platinum category is present in 2024, except for Starfield. Steam tracks peak concurrent players, with titles like Black Myth, Elden Ring, and Path of Exile 2 reaching 450,000 or more players. Popular Steam Deck games include Balatro, Dave the Diver, and Hades, while new releases like Manor Lords and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero are in the Platinum section.
Winsage
December 23, 2024
Microsoft has enhanced camera capabilities in Windows 11, allowing users to adjust settings like brightness, contrast, and sharpness through Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Camera. However, these features are not universally available across all cameras. In tests, the DJI Osmo Action 3 did not support these adjustments, while an HP Spectre did. Microsoft has acknowledged that some cameras may not appear on the Camera Settings page. In the Windows 11 Dev Channel Build 26120.2702, two new advanced camera options have been introduced: a Multi-app Camera feature that allows multiple applications to access the camera simultaneously, and a Basic Camera mode for troubleshooting. A third option is planned to let users select camera resolution and frame rate, with current options of 1920×1080 (16:9) and 1280×720 (16:9) at 30 FPS available for all cameras.
Winsage
December 23, 2024
Microsoft's Windows Embedded and Windows IoT products began in 1999 with Windows NT Embedded, codenamed Impala. Windows XP Embedded, known as Mantis, expanded toolkit capabilities with tools like Target Designer and Component Designer. Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 catered to the point-of-sale sector, maintaining a consistent kernel across consumer and embedded versions. Windows CE supported mobile devices with various architectures and reached its end of support in 2023. Windows Embedded 7 Standard and Windows 7 for Embedded Systems required special licensing agreements. Windows Embedded Standard 8 did not succeed in the industrial market, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, launched in 2015, introduced LTSB/LTSC options with a decade of security updates. A tiered licensing structure was introduced for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, accommodating different CPU performances. The Base license allowed Windows 10 IoT Enterprise on industrial Arm devices, specifically the NXP i.MX8 family. Windows 11 21H2 established the General Availability Channel for IoT, with Windows 11 IoT Enterprise 2024 LTSC set to debut in May 2024. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC supports Arm Qualcomm CPUs and introduces features like USB 4.0 and Wi-Fi 6/7 support, along with a commitment to 10 years of security updates. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC will remain supported until 2031.
TrendTechie
December 21, 2024
On November 20, GSC Game World will release S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, which will not include Denuvo anti-piracy protection and will be available on the GOG digital store without DRM. It is expected that pirated versions of the game will appear on torrent sites within hours of its release. The minimum system requirements for the game are Windows 10, Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580, 8 GB RAM, and 150 GB disk space (SSD recommended). The recommended requirements are Windows 10/11, Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super or AMD RX 5700 XT, 16 GB RAM, and 150 GB disk space (SSD required). Initial impressions from major publications and gaming expos are positive, highlighting the game's visual fidelity, mechanics, NPC intelligence, nonlinear quests, and expansive map, though some concerns were raised about a lengthy introduction and technical glitches. Journalists were not allowed to record gameplay footage, which has led to apprehensions about the unfiltered gameplay experience.
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