calendar Archives

Winsage

April 25, 2026

Hands-On: The New Windows Insider Program and Windows Update

Microsoft has released a pre-release wave of enhancements for Windows 11 through the Windows Insider Program, introducing three notable features: 1. A new Feature flags interface that allows users to toggle new features immediately. 2. An updated experience providing access to both Experimental and Beta channels. 3. The ability to pause Windows Updates indefinitely using a calendar interface. Users must enroll in the Windows Insider Program to access these features. The new "Pick a date" button for pausing updates replaces the previous drop-down menu, allowing users to select specific dates for update pauses. The Experimental channel has replaced the Dev channel, and users can now revert to a stable version with the "Unenroll Device" option. Additionally, users can pause updates for up to 35 days, with the option to extend this pause indefinitely. Future updates will also introduce an "Available updates" interface.

Winsage

April 24, 2026

Your Windows update experience just got updated

Windows Insiders are receiving enhancements to the Windows Update experience based on user feedback, focusing on providing more control and reducing disruptions. Key features include: 1. The ability to skip updates during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). 2. Extended options for pausing updates for up to 35 days, with the ability to re-pause as needed. 3. Separation of power actions from update actions, allowing users to shut down or restart without triggering updates. 4. Enhanced insights on available updates, including device class information for driver updates. Additionally, the update process will be unified to minimize reboots, with a single restart expected per month for most users. Updates will download in the background and can be manually initiated by users. Improvements also focus on reducing update times and implementing automatic recovery measures for update failures.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

20 tricks for more efficient Android messaging

The Google Messages app for Android has introduced a feature that allows users to locate and restore deleted messages. Users can personalize notification icons by transforming their face into an icon. The app includes a Priority conversation setting that lets users assign special sounds to individual messages. A snooze option allows users to temporarily dismiss messages without missing them, and timestamps in messages link to the user's calendar. Event creation has been simplified with a new button next to text suggestions, and users can send messages at any time. The search functionality is enhanced for finding conversations, and each conversation can be assigned a distinctive color for better organization. In-line video expansion and enriched web links improve content viewing, and customizable swipe actions streamline navigation within the app.

Winsage

April 23, 2026

Tested: Windows 11 setup screen now finally lets you skip forced updates, and go directly to the desktop

Microsoft has enhanced the Windows 11 setup process by introducing an "Update Later" toggle, allowing users to bypass forced updates during device setup. This feature enables users to continue with the setup while updates are checked in the background, granting them access to their desktop without interruption. Users can manage updates at their convenience once on the desktop. Microsoft is also considering removing the mandatory Microsoft account requirement for Windows 11 Home users and reducing upsells in the out-of-box experience (OOBE). Additionally, the company has introduced web-based Copilot into the OOBE, though its widespread deployment is not yet planned.

Winsage

April 20, 2026

I just heard about this free Windows 11 customization app despite it having 42 million downloads

ExplorerPatcher is a free and open-source application that has over 42 million downloads and 32,200 stars on GitHub. It aims to restore legacy Windows shell components in Windows 11, allowing users to manage settings more comfortably. The app is compatible with both x86-64 Windows and Windows on ARM. Users can revert the Windows 11 taskbar to its Windows 10 design, disable the Windows 11 context menu, and restore the control ribbon in File Explorer. ExplorerPatcher offers additional features such as improved multi-display taskbar support and customizable settings. It includes preset configurations like the "Classic Windows 10" option and allows for custom configurations to be saved and shared. Despite its popularity, ExplorerPatcher is not widely recognized due to security warnings from Windows, which flag it as a potential threat, and potential disruptions following major Windows updates.

Winsage

April 20, 2026

I tested this Windows 11 customization app with 42 million downloads — why aren’t more people discussing it?

ExplorerPatcher is a free, open-source application that has surpassed 42 million total downloads and received 32,200 stars on GitHub. It allows users to customize their Windows 11 experience by restoring features from older Windows versions, such as reverting the taskbar to its Windows 10 counterpart. The app is compatible with both x86-64 Windows and Windows on ARM. It offers a simple settings menu for adjusting the Taskbar, File Explorer, Start menu, and System Tray, as well as advanced features like improved multi-display taskbar support and a customizable Win+X menu. Users can save and share custom configurations, and there are preset options like the "Classic Windows 10" preset. Despite its popularity, ExplorerPatcher faces challenges such as being flagged by Windows' security systems and potential disruptions after major Windows updates.

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

This Android Setting Makes It Easy to Manage All Your App Permissions

In Android devices, users can manage app permissions through a privacy dashboard located in Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager. This includes permissions for the camera, microphone, location, and more. Users can specify access levels for these features, including allowing access all the time, only while using the app, or not at all. Special permissions, which allow apps to modify system settings or access sensitive data, require particular attention and can be reviewed in Settings > Apps > Special app access. Caution is advised for apps from outside the Google Play Store, as they may pose greater risks. Regular audits of app permissions are recommended to ensure that apps do not have more access than necessary.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Future Games Show returns this summer with more than 50 games: here’s how to watch

A trio of gaming showcases is scheduled for this summer, starting with the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12 PM Pacific, 3 PM Eastern, and 8 PM UK, followed by FGS Live from Los Angeles. The PC Gaming Show will take place on June 7 at the same times. Tom's Guide encourages followers to add them on Google News, subscribe on YouTube, and follow on TikTok for updates.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Future Games Show and PC Gaming Show Return on June 6th and 7th

June will feature several gaming showcases, including the Future Games Show on June 6th at midnight PDT, which will present world premieres and trailers. Following that, the PC Gaming Show will take place on June 7th at midnight PDT, showcasing over 50 PC titles. The Xbox Games Showcase is expected to reveal release dates for titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved in July and Fable in autumn, along with speculation about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Gears of War: E-Day, the latter of which will have a dedicated Direct with a gameplay reveal and is anticipated for release in the latter half of the year.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Tired of repeating AI prompts? Chrome’s new feature handles it for you

Chrome's new Skills feature allows users to save AI prompts as one-click tools directly from their chat history. Users can trigger these prompts using a forward slash (/) or the plus (+) button. Skills can operate on the current page while also pulling data from other open tabs. This feature is designed to streamline repetitive tasks and improve user experience by applying saved prompts without needing to reconfigure them for different pages. User consent is prioritized for significant actions, and the update is currently available to select users on Chrome desktop with English-US language settings. Saved Skills will sync across all desktop devices for signed-in users. Users can manage their Skills by typing the forward slash (/) and clicking the compass icon.