availability Archives

Winsage

July 25, 2026

How Valve’s desperation to escape Windows 8 turned it into a Linux powerhouse

In 2012, Valve's CEO Gabe Newell expressed concerns about Microsoft's control over the PC market due to Windows 8, prompting the company to explore Linux and develop SteamOS. Valve addressed the "chicken and egg" issue of game compatibility on Linux by introducing Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux without separate versions. The company also began contributing to the Linux ecosystem by upstreaming improvements in graphical rendering and developing the RADV open-source Vulkan driver for AMD GPUs. Valve has made SteamOS available for free download and installation on personal computers, aiming to compete with Windows in the gaming sector and promote broader Linux adoption. As a result, Valve has become a significant player in the Linux landscape, enhancing the gaming experience and benefiting the open-source community.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Anno, Civilization, Monster Hunter, and more

Gamers can claim the narrative-driven card game Foretales for free on the Epic Games Store until July 30. The Humble Store has launched several bundles, including the Twin Sails Interactive collection, the Point Click Package bundle, and the Animal Style Bundle. Steam is featuring the Train Festival promotion with significant discounts. GOG is also hosting various sales this weekend. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Amid youth protests, Centre directs blocking of messaging app that works without internet: Developer

The Union Home Ministry has requested GitHub to remove repositories related to Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app that functions without internet connectivity, due to security concerns amid protests in central Delhi. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, shared the directive, which aims to suppress the availability of such technologies. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has expressed worries that decentralized communication tools like Bitchat could be misused for unlawful activities. The directive, issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, requires GitHub to disable access to three Bitchat-related repositories within three hours. The Internet Freedom Foundation criticized the government's lack of transparency and argued that concerns about potential misuse do not justify banning access to the app's code. The protests, initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party, are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged mismanagement of competitive examinations, with increased support following police actions against demonstrators.

Winsage

July 24, 2026

Microsoft finally lets you fix the worst key on your keyboard

The Copilot key on Windows PCs can now be remapped to function as the Context menu key or the Right Ctrl key with the latest update to Windows 11. Users also have the option to disable the key entirely. Microsoft has provided documentation on how to remap the key under the Bluetooth & devices section. Some users have reported inconsistent availability of the remapping option, which may require enabling a specific feature ID. Additionally, Microsoft’s PowerToys offers a keyboard manager utility for broader key remapping options.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

A Game About Penguins Arrives on PC on August 10. Free Prologue Available Now

A Game About Penguins, developed by CO's Entertainment, will be released on PC on August 10, 2026, with later availability on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game features a sandbox environment where players can engage in activities like fishing, snowball fights, and ice skating, with online co-op support for up to 12 players. A free prologue titled A Game About Penguins: First Catch has been available on Steam since July 22, allowing players to experience core mechanics and customization options. The game supports multiple languages and requires a minimum of Windows 10 64-bit, a quad-core processor, 8 GB RAM, and 2 GB of storage space.

TrendTechie

July 24, 2026

BitTorrent исполнилось 25 лет. Как программа одного человека изменила интернет и поставила Голливуд в тупик

On July 2, 2001, Bram Cohen announced the operational status of his program, BitTorrent, on a mailing list for peer-to-peer network developers. BitTorrent revolutionized file sharing by segmenting files into smaller pieces, allowing users to download from multiple sources simultaneously and share already downloaded data, which improved download speeds as file popularity increased. Unlike earlier peer-to-peer networks, BitTorrent did not have a built-in catalog, relying on external websites for users to locate torrents. The first major torrent catalog, Suprnova, emerged in 2002, followed by The Pirate Bay in 2003, making the protocol widely accessible. By 2004, BitTorrent accounted for nearly a third of all internet traffic. In 2004, Cohen founded BitTorrent Inc., which acquired the client µTorrent in 2006. The company launched the BitTorrent Entertainment Network in 2007, but it closed in 2008 due to competition from free pirated content. BitTorrent Inc. later explored various technologies but struggled to establish a sustainable business model. The protocol evolved with decentralization features like the distributed hash table (DHT) and magnet links. In 2018, BitTorrent was acquired by the blockchain project TRON for an estimated 0 million. BitTorrent Inc. claims around 54 million active users per month, with additional users on independent clients. Despite a decline in torrent traffic from its peak, the network has been experiencing growth, attributed to rising streaming costs and fragmented content availability.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand New Features in This Remake of A Classic

Halo: Campaign Evolved introduces significant enhancements to the original Halo: Combat Evolved, including Operation: METEORITE, which features three new bonus missions set a year before the main campaign, focusing on the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. The game allows up to four players to experience the campaign together online with cross-platform play, scaling weapon spawns and adjusting levels for larger squads. Familiar collectible Skulls have been relocated, and new ones with unique gameplay modifiers have been added. Collecting three Skulls unlocks the Campaign Remix mode, which introduces new gameplay twists and visual effects. Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to launch globally on July 28, 2026, with early access for Premium Edition owners, and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud, supporting cross-play and cross-progression.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved is Now Available in Early Access

Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, is in early access on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. The Premium Edition is priced at .99, with the base game available for Game Pass subscribers. Multiplayer supports up to four players with cross-platform play, and weapon spawns scale with player count. New missions, Operation: Meteorite, feature Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson, set a year before the original game. Visuals are enhanced in 60FPS Performance mode, and gameplay changes include the removal of health kits and the addition of a sprint button and third-person play. This is the first Halo title on PlayStation, with cross-play and cross-progression. The global launch is scheduled for July 28, 2026, with availability on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Free PC game giveaway will save $20, one for Baldur’s Gate 3 players

The Epic Games Store is offering the game Foretales for free from July 23 until July 30 at 4 PM BST. The game can be downloaded from the Epic Games Store and is yours to keep indefinitely. Foretales is a story-driven card game with turn-based combat, set in a fantasy realm, and features a narrative about a thief named Volepain who must stop a curse. It has a retail price of .99 and is also available on Steam for .99 until July 28. Foretales has a Metacritic score of 74 and an 86% rating on Steam, with gameplay lasting approximately 15 hours for the main story, 20.5 hours including side quests, and up to 32 hours for completionists. The game is narrated by Travis Willingham.

Tech Optimizer

July 23, 2026

Optimizing PostgreSQL on Azure directly in Visual Studio Code

Poor database performance can lead to missed SLAs, delayed releases, customer dissatisfaction, and lost revenue. Microsoft has enhanced PostgreSQL on Azure, transforming it into a fully managed platform that meets enterprise demands. Azure Database for PostgreSQL and the new Azure HorizonDB offer significant performance improvements, with HorizonDB being three times faster than self-managed PostgreSQL. The PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code integrates performance management into development workflows, providing tools for managing PostgreSQL throughout its lifecycle. Key features include a server metrics dashboard that displays performance indicators, Azure Advisor recommendations for actionable insights, improved query plan visualization, and AI-assisted query analysis. The extension also enhances schema design and query formulation experiences, ensuring secure and governed interactions with PostgreSQL. Azure HorizonDB is in public preview, designed for AI-native workloads. These advancements aim to reduce friction, enhance clarity, and enable faster actions for enterprise teams managing PostgreSQL at scale.