battery Archives

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

5 Android Tablets With The Longest Software Support

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra offers seven years of updates, ensuring support until at least 2032. It features a 14.6-inch AMOLED display, 120 Hz refresh rate, 1,600 nits peak brightness, 12 MP front camera, dual rear cameras (13 MP wide and 8 MP ultrawide), and an 11,600 mAh battery with 45 W fast charging. The tablet was launched in 2025 at ,200 and is now available for ,095 on Amazon. The Honor MagicPad4 provides six years of OS and security updates, launched in early 2026, with a 12.3-inch OLED display, 165 Hz refresh rate, and 2,400 nits peak brightness. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip and starts at £599.99 in the U.K. The Google Pixel Tablet, released in mid-2023, initially promised three years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which were extended in 2026 to five years of OS updates. It features a 10.95-inch IPS display and a Tensor G2 processor. The OnePlus Pad Go 2 offers five years of major Android updates and six years of security updates, running on OxygenOS 16. It has a 12.1-inch IPS display and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chip. It was launched at a starting price of 9. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro debuted in 2026 with four Android OS updates and six years of security updates. It features an 11.2-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and runs on Android 16 with Xiaomi's HyperOS 3 interface, starting at approximately €499 in Europe.

Winsage

August 2, 2026

Microsoft Weekly: Xbox outage, fake Windows apps, new Windows 11 updates, and more

Microsoft has released two Cumulative Update Previews: KB5101681 for Windows 11, which includes calendar-based Windows Update pausing, a quieter Widgets experience, and enhanced accessibility features; and KB5101684 for Windows 10, which introduces Voice Isolation for Voice Access and new precision touchpad gesture controls. The company reported a record billion quarter for fiscal year 2026, with an 18% year-over-year increase, and Azure's annual revenue surpassed billion for the first time. Microsoft 365 Copilot's paid seat count exceeded 30 million. Xbox experienced a significant outage due to a failure in a shared licensing service, but services have since been restored. The Windows Insider Program released two Future Platforms builds that include features like Voice Isolation and a new scheduling system for updates. Wintoys transitioned to .NET 10 and Windows App SDK 2.3.1, while Notepad, Calculator, Clock, and Media Player received minor updates. Excel's July update added Power BI support and eliminated the AutoSave requirement. Microsoft confirmed its presence at Gamescom 2026, celebrating Xbox's 25th anniversary with 140 gaming stations and 25 playable titles. Double Fine laid off 23 employees, and Ubisoft canceled Project Maverick but is developing a new project. Xbox console owners can unlock PC versions of select games on Ubisoft Connect at no extra cost. Gears of War: E-Day introduced a new 12-player Horde Siege mode.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

I can’t get the Pixel’s Now Playing feature on my Android phone, but one of my long-time favorite apps gets the job done

The Now Playing feature on Google Pixel phones allows users to identify songs playing nearby, but Google has no plans to extend this feature to other Android devices. Shazam is a popular alternative for song identification, offering an Auto Shazam feature that works in the background on nearly all Android devices. This feature processes song identification on-device, conserving battery life and data usage. Shazam is often one of the first apps downloaded when setting up a new phone, making it a key tool for music discovery.

Winsage

August 1, 2026

Windows 10 users were right: Microsoft admits its end of support was the real Windows 11 sales driver

Microsoft has reported a significant revenue of billion in its fiscal fourth-quarter report for 2026, exceeding Wall Street predictions, despite a 7% decline in Windows OEM and Devices revenue and a 5% drop in Windows OEM revenue. The company has extended support for Windows 10 until October 2027, acknowledging that many users are not ready to upgrade to Windows 11. Approximately 30% of HP's installed base remains on Windows 10, which HP views as an opportunity for growth. Dell has shifted its focus away from AI PCs to gaming and hardware quality due to the limitations of the AI PC narrative. Microsoft is facing challenges with sluggish Windows 11 adoption rates and is focusing on enhancing the platform's core functionalities.

Winsage

July 31, 2026

Announcing new builds for 31 July 2026

New Windows Insider Preview Builds have been released for both the Beta and Experimental channels, featuring renewed Windows Insider flight certificates valid until August 11, 2026. The Experimental channel has already incorporated these renewed certificates. Notable new features include: 1. Adaptive Hibernate Policy: Enhancements to improve instant-on resumes from Modern Standby and battery preservation, with less frequent hibernation above 80% battery and earlier hibernation below 10%. 2. Alternate Taskbar Position: Users can change the taskbar's position to bottom, top, left, or right through Settings. Tooltips, flyouts, and animations will function in alternate positions, but some features are still in development. 3. Smaller Taskbar: A new, smaller taskbar option is available for maximizing screen space, particularly on smaller devices, allowing for smaller icons and reduced height. Users can adjust this setting in Taskbar behaviors.

BetaBeacon

July 30, 2026

Google Maps’ “hidden” battery-saving mode: Why isn’t this game-changer available on all Android phones?

Google Maps' full dark mode offers a more comfortable look for users, replacing bright maps with a darker, soothing appearance. This feature is available on almost every Android phone and can help reduce power usage on OLED devices. Users can choose between "Always dark theme" or "Same theme as device" settings. While not as significant as the Pixel 10's exclusive feature, dark mode enhances day-to-day visual comfort during navigation.

Winsage

July 30, 2026

ThinkPads from 2008 are some of the hottest used laptops right now — Here’s how (and why) they’re being turned into Windows 11 PCs

The ThinkPad X210Ai is a modified laptop that combines the chassis of older ThinkPad models (X200/X201) with a modern mainboard from TP Art, featuring Intel Core Ultra processors, DDR5 RAM support, dual M.2 SSD slots, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1. The modification allows users to retain the original display and keyboard while requiring some chassis adjustments. TP Art offers a kit starting at 9, with complete builds beginning at 9, excluding RAM and storage. The popularity of the X210Ai has surged due to rising RAM prices and the demand for reliable, customizable machines. The modified board allows compatibility with Windows 11 and various Linux distributions. Processing times for orders can take up to six months, and cancellations are not allowed once placed.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

I’ve used these 7 shortcuts in Windows 11 more than anything else — stop using Ctrl+Alt+Del and learn something better

- To create a local account in Windows 11, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt and enter the command: start ms-cxh:localonly. User creation is possible, and passwords are optional. - To check battery health, open the Start menu, run Command Prompt as administrator, and enter the command: powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:battery_report.html" to generate a report on the C: drive. - To access Task Manager quickly, right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. - To enable Clipboard history, press Windows + V. - To access the desktop, press Windows + D or click the blank Taskbar space to the right of the clock. Pressing Windows + , briefly reveals the desktop. - To move off-screen apps on multiple monitors, press Windows + an arrow key, ensuring the desired app is in focus by pressing Alt + Tab if needed.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

Microsoft Intune Adds macOS Compliance and Samsung Update Controls

Microsoft's July Intune update includes enhancements for IT administrators, such as real-time monitoring of Windows device sync progress, custom compliance settings for macOS, and improved firmware update management for Samsung devices. The Intune admin center now allows real-time monitoring of sync progress for Windows devices, enabling simultaneous updates across various management aspects. Custom compliance settings for macOS enable organizations to define specific compliance requirements beyond Apple's standard checks, allowing for a unified compliance management experience across Windows, Linux, and macOS. The update also enhances Samsung Galaxy firmware management through Samsung Knox E-FOTA, allowing administrators to control firmware version deployment and update schedules. Additionally, the update clarifies that newer Windows Autopilot methods allow provisioning of Windows 11 devices without prior registration.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

Windows 11’s August Patch Tuesday update brings several important changes, and I break down the biggest ones

Microsoft will release the Windows 11 August 2026 Security Update on August 11, 2026, featuring new functionalities and enhancements. Key additions include Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, the ability to uninstall AI models from Copilot+ PCs, new touchpad gestures, voice isolation for Voice Access, Fluid Dictation for Voice Typing, and a redesigned Start menu with parental controls notice. File Explorer improvements include displaying file sizes in appropriate units, middle-clicking to open folders in new tabs, and fixes for bugs. Users can manage AI models through Settings, and the Lock screen will default to the Weather widget. Touchpad settings will allow customization of scroll and zoom speeds. Fluid Dictation will be deactivated by default, with tooltips for guidance, while Voice Access will feature enhanced speech recognition settings. The Account Control interface will be redesigned for clarity, and power settings will apply across all plans. Windows Update will provide better progress estimates and improved post-update cleanup. Enhancements to system sounds in dark mode will also be included.