calendar Archives

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Timed Silence: An Open Source Android App to Automatically Silence Your Phone

Timed Silence is a Kotlin-based application for Android, created by Felix Nüsse, that manages smartphone volume settings, allowing users to mute, vibrate, or ring with sound. The app requires initial setup permissions and features an intuitive interface with a pause/play button. Users can create custom schedules, including pre-defined ones for "Night" and "Day." The app effectively activates Do Not Disturb (DND) at scheduled times, muting notifications while allowing calls and messages from specified contacts. Additional features include Calendar integration, Keywords for managing volume levels, Bluetooth compatibility, and a Sanity Check for priority contacts. The app is available on F-Droid, with source code and APKs on GitHub.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Microsoft is building a new Outlook People app for Windows 11 (Microsoft 365 Companion?)

A new web wrapper application, tentatively named Microsoft 365 Companion or People, is being developed for Windows 11 users, based on Microsoft Edge. This application may signal the return of the People app from Windows 10, reimagined as a web-based tool integrated with Outlook.com. The original People app consolidated various accounts into a single interface for contact management and was integrated into the Windows 10 taskbar. With the transition to Windows 11, Microsoft discontinued support for the People app, directing users to manage contacts through Mail and Calendar apps. The new People app is currently in development and may initially cater to Microsoft 365 customers with work or school accounts, allowing access to contacts stored in Outlook. Preliminary tests show it features a Microsoft 365 icon, a sign-in option, and facilitates quick communication and event scheduling. The app supports calls via Microsoft Teams or Skype and allows users to view shared files. It is lightweight, under 2MB, but lacks a comprehensive feature set. There is a toggle option for a “Whole life” experience, which may enable support for personal accounts. Microsoft needs to enhance the new Outlook, as the current version does not match the feature richness of the classic Outlook or native applications.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

Amazon Prime ‘free’ games for November include Dishonored and Guardians of the Galaxy

Amazon is offering a selection of complimentary PC games for Prime members in November, including titles such as Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Mafia: Definitive Edition. The release schedule includes: - November 7: - Dishonored - Definitive Edition (GOG) - Duck Paradox (GOG) - Close To The Sun (GOG) - Disney•Pixar Cars (Amazon Games App) - Bang Bang Racing (Amazon Games App) - Snakebird Complete (Epic Games Store) - November 14: - Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App) - Chasm: The Rift (GOG) - House of Golf 2 (Epic Games Store) - Tomb Raider: Anniversary (GOG) - Blade of Darkness (GOG) - November 21: - Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (Amazon Games App) - Overcooked: Gourmet Edition (GOG) - Gloomy Tales: One-Way Ticket Collector's Edition (Legacy Games) - Super Meat Boy (Epic Games Store) - Moonscars (GOG) - Riot - Civil Unrest (GOG) - November 27: - Elite Dangerous (Epic Games Store) - Sir Whoopass - Immortal Death (GOG) - Jurassic World Evolution (Epic Games Store) - Mystery Case Files: The Dalimar Legacy Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App) - Shogun Showdown (GOG) October's offerings include A Plague Tale: Innocence and Death's Door, while Luna's Prime Gaming channel features games like Jackbox Party Pack 7 and Saints Row: The Third - Remastered.

Winsage

October 30, 2024

This clever trick will keep your Windows 11 PC free from the new Outlook

Microsoft is replacing the Mail and Calendar applications with the new Outlook for Windows, which has received mixed reactions from users. A workaround to revert to the Mail and Calendar app involves uninstalling the new Outlook and reinstalling the previous version from the Microsoft Store, but users may need to restart their systems for the changes to take effect. This workaround is temporary, as Microsoft plans to unify its email applications under the "One Outlook" strategy, which may eliminate this option in future updates.

Winsage

October 30, 2024

Arm and Qualcomm are fighting–what does that mean for Windows on Arm?

Qualcomm is currently engaged in a legal battle with Arm, which has issued a 60-day ultimatum threatening to revoke Qualcomm's license to its technology before a court date in December. This conflict stems from Arm's lawsuit initiated in 2022 over Qualcomm's acquisition of Nuvia and involves financial disagreements over licensing fees. Qualcomm generates approximately billion annually from using Arm's technology, and its potential loss of access could disrupt various manufacturers reliant on its chips, including major players like Microsoft and Android manufacturers. Arm accounted for about 10% of its total revenue from Qualcomm last fiscal year, indicating a mutual dependence between the two companies. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the broader technology sector.

Winsage

October 29, 2024

Microsoft’s AI Agents idea for Windows 11 is insane, it could change how you use PCs

Microsoft is developing a project called Windows Agent Arena, which aims to create AI agents that can perform tasks on Windows 11 PCs. This open-source framework allows developers to build and test AI agents capable of understanding screen content and executing commands. The AI agents can automate various tasks, such as adjusting privacy settings in Microsoft Edge, installing extensions in VSCode, and modifying settings in applications like VLC and Paint. Researchers have indicated that the initial model can manage up to 150 different tasks, with a specific AI agent named Navi achieving a 19.5% success rate in task completion. Microsoft has also open-sourced a screen-understanding model called "Omniparser" to assist developers in creating more effective agents.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Microsoft heard you like Windows updates, so it updated how updates update

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which includes improvements to the update installation process, resulting in a 45.6% faster installation, 39.7% quicker restart times, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU consumption compared to version 22H2. Key enhancements include parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Traditional feature updates are now approximately 200 MB smaller due to certain inbox applications being updated through the Microsoft Store. Notable features in the update include: - Integration of Phone Link with the Start menu. - Simplified layout for the taskbar system tray. - Revamped Quick Settings for improved speed and customization. - Windows Spotlight image as the default wallpaper. - Animated taskbar app preview thumbnails. - Support for HDR images as desktop wallpapers. File Explorer updates include: - Updated home tab layout with shared documents. - Ability to duplicate tabs via right-click. - Enhanced context menu layout. - Support for .7z and .TAR archive formats. - Direct viewing of Android phone file systems. New apps and features include: - A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contacts. - Updated Copilot as a standalone web application. - AI features in Photos for generative erase and background editing. - A new Recall app for information retrieval using AI. - Paint with generative AI capabilities. Settings updates include: - Windows Update with checkpoints and hot patching. - Voice Clarity using AI to eliminate background noise. - Simultaneous configuration of power settings. - A new Energy Saver mode. - Configurable mouse scroll wheel direction. - Support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware. - A new PRISM emulation layer for x86 apps on Arm devices. - Enhanced performance for Arm-based devices. - AutoSR using AI to improve gaming performance. - Live Captions translating languages into English in real-time. - Advanced Windows Studio Effects for webcam enhancement.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

7 reasons to use Evernote over OneNote on Windows

Evernote has introduced several new features to enhance its functionality, making it a strong competitor to OneNote. Version 10 includes a Home menu for personalized dashboards, allowing easy access to notes, tasks, and tags. It integrates tasks directly into notes with reminders and due dates, eliminating the need for a separate to-do app. Evernote also offers calendar integration, allowing users to manage events within the app and sync with Gmail. The modern editor features a slash command for inserting various elements and supports a dynamic table of contents. Users can link related notes easily using the @ symbol, create notes tied to calendar events, and utilize a robust tagging system for better organization. These improvements position Evernote as a compelling choice for power users.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

Microsoft Is Finally Making Installation of Windows Updates a Breeze

Steve DiAcetis from the Windows Fundamentals team announced that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update will enhance the update installation experience by streamlining the process, resulting in reduced installation times, quicker restarts, and lower CPU usage. Initial tests showed a 45.6% faster installation time, a 39.7% improvement in restart times, and a 15.3% reduction in CPU usage when upgrading from Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2. A separate evaluation on a device that hadn't received updates for 18 months revealed a 43.6% faster installation speed, a 33.5% quicker restart, and a 25% reduction in CPU usage. Additionally, the size of feature updates has been reduced by approximately 200 MB by integrating system applications into monthly updates, while other applications will require updates through the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Microsoft Is Finally Making Installation of Windows Updates a Breeze

Steve DiAcetis, Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft, announced that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update will significantly improve the update installation experience by reducing installation times, restart durations, and CPU usage. The update will provide a 45.6% faster installation time compared to Windows 11 22H2, a 39.7% reduction in restart time, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU usage. Tests on a PC that hadn't received updates for 18 months showed a 43.6% increase in installation speed, a 33.5% faster restart time, and a 25% reduction in CPU usage. The servicing stack for Windows 11 22H2 is comparable to 23H2, indicating that improvements in 24H2 may apply to earlier versions as well. Feature updates will be approximately 200 MB smaller, achieved by integrating system applications into monthly updates, while other applications will be updated through the Microsoft Store.