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Windows 11 26H2 update arrives: What's inside and who should install it ASAP
Winsage
October 1, 2026

Windows 11 26H2 update arrives: What’s inside and who should install it ASAP

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 26H2, an "enablement package" designed for quicker installation. There is no direct upgrade from Windows 11 26H1, which was only for Snapdragon X2 Arm devices, but users with versions 25H2 or 24H2 can upgrade easily. The rollout is gradual, and users can check eligibility via Settings > Windows Update. The update can also be accessed through Microsoft's Download Windows 11 website. Version 26H2 compiles feature and security updates from the past year, including enhancements like a customizable Start menu, improved Windows Search, and better support for fingerprint readers. Support for version 23H2 has ended, 24H2 will end on October 13, 2026, and 25H2 will end on October 12, 2027. Version 26H2 will receive support until October 10, 2028.
PS5 emulator successfully runs six titles at a playable 60 FPS — PS5 emulation continues to gather momentum as developers improve shader translation and Vulkan support
AppWizard
September 28, 2026

PS5 emulator successfully runs six titles at a playable 60 FPS — PS5 emulation continues to gather momentum as developers improve shader translation and Vulkan support

Developers of SharpEmu, an experimental open-source PS5 emulator, have achieved playable frame rates of 60 FPS for six out of 55 tested PS5 titles. The six titles that reached this milestone are Dreaming Sarah, Void Terrarium, New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Tetris Forever, Hoa, and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. This achievement coincides with the release of SharpEmu v0.0.4-release.2, which includes improvements such as enhanced SPIR-V shader translation and updated Vulkan API support. SharpEmu is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, and utilizes Vulkan and MoltenVK for graphics API calls. The emulator leverages the PlayStation 5's AMD Zen 2 x86-64 CPU to execute console CPU instructions natively on PCs. Currently, only 12 of the 55 tested titles are in a game-ready state, with six playable at 60 FPS. SharpEmu is intended for research and educational purposes and does not include copyrighted system firmware or game data. Additionally, another emulator, KytyPS5, has run the PS5 version of GTA V at approximately 40 to 60 FPS, though it experienced crashes after the opening mission.
How to open the auxiliary lines in Part 6 of Silent Hill: Townfall
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

How to open the auxiliary lines in Part 6 of Silent Hill: Townfall

Players must acquire the key in the command center, using access code 0825, to enter the auxiliary room. Inside, they need to retrieve a floppy disk from a locker and input it into a terminal to reveal clues for operating levers. The levers must be positioned according to specific patterns for three auxiliary lines: - Auxiliary Line 1: - Pattern: vertical, horizontal, vertical, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, vertical. - Auxiliary Line 2: - Pattern: vertical, horizontal, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, vertical. - Auxiliary Line 3: - Pattern: horizontal, vertical, vertical, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical. Correctly executing these patterns will illuminate the corresponding lights green, allowing players to progress. After completing the tasks, players should exit the auxiliary room and return to the elevator.
It's tough to stand out in today's games industry, but 'sorta like Helldivers 2 except dog people' worked on me
AppWizard
September 25, 2026

It’s tough to stand out in today’s games industry, but ‘sorta like Helldivers 2 except dog people’ worked on me

Gravhounds is a co-op wave shooter currently in early access on Steam, available for free during its open playtest. The game features polished gameplay, allowing players to team up against waves of enemies. It includes unique movement mechanics, enabling players to glide across buildable cables, and introduces light resource mining and tower defense elements using a gravity gun. The characters are designed as dogs with human bodies, adding a whimsical touch, and players respawn with a humorous cone of shame. Gravhounds distinguishes itself from traditional military-themed shooters through its creative design and engaging mechanics.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
September 23, 2026

BigDiskBuster PoC Blocks Windows Defender Updates

A new tool named BigDiskBuster has been released on GitHub, which disrupts Microsoft Defender Antivirus by preventing it from installing updates. It does this by consuming available disk space during the update process, causing Defender to remain on its current version and unable to receive new platform or signature updates. BigDiskBuster operates as a local denial-of-service technique and requires prior access to the target machine to execute. The tool was created by researcher Abdelhamid Naceri, known as Nightmare Eclipse, who has previously worked on similar projects. As of now, there is no CVE identifier, patch, or advisory from Microsoft regarding this issue.
Windows has been so buggy I paused monthly updates, and now I wait for reports before installing anything
Winsage
September 22, 2026

Windows has been so buggy I paused monthly updates, and now I wait for reports before installing anything

Users frequently express frustration with Windows updates due to unexpected restarts and frequent breakdowns, leading to a perception of being beta testers for Microsoft. Problems often arise with updates, including significant disruptions from routine maintenance updates. Recent issues included difficulties with the Windows Subsystem for Linux and copy-paste functionality in Microsoft Excel. In July, Microsoft paused an update due to unexpected shutdowns on some Dell PCs. Users are increasingly adopting a wait-and-see approach before installing updates, utilizing Windows 11's ability to pause updates for several weeks. Historically, Windows lacked robust update management, but recent changes have extended the pause period. There is a significant concern regarding the limited control users have over updates and the need for improved quality control from Microsoft.
Microsoft Defender is causing slow VLC startups. Here’s the fix
Winsage
September 22, 2026

Microsoft Defender is causing slow VLC startups. Here’s the fix

Recent investigations have shown that a specific update to Microsoft Defender has caused performance issues for VLC Media Player, particularly a slowdown in startup times. Jean-Baptiste Kempf, a VideoLAN developer, attributed this sluggishness to a bug in the Microsoft Defender update, which quarantined VLC's plug-in cache. The problematic Defender signature update is version 1.455.50.0, linked to Windows Update KB5121003 released on August 11th. Users can reset the plug-in cache to improve performance by either reinstalling VLC or using the built-in functionality to regenerate the cache with vlc-cache-gen.exe. Alternatively, users can reset preferences and cache files by searching for "VLC" and selecting the reset option. Microsoft has not yet provided a fix for these issues, and users may need to set an exclusion in Microsoft Defender for VLC Media Player to prevent unnecessary scans, enhancing its performance.
Pigs Must Be Flying: Google Brings Back the Signal Bars to Android Auto
AppWizard
September 20, 2026

Pigs Must Be Flying: Google Brings Back the Signal Bars to Android Auto

Google is rolling out a fix for the cellular signal icon bug on Android Auto, which has been missing but does not affect the app's performance. The fix is currently available to beta users, with the cellular signal icon reappearing after installing the latest beta build. The rollout is phased, and it is unclear who will receive the fix initially. A broader announcement is expected when Android Auto version 17.8 is ready for production devices. Additionally, Google plans to introduce support for widgets and video apps, with YouTube being one of the first apps to offer this functionality. The update to version 17.8 is anticipated to be approved through the Google Play Store by the end of the week.
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