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VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven't forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig
Winsage
January 12, 2026

VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven’t forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig

The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.
Snapragon X2 PCs ship with Windows 11 26H1 by April 2026. Existing PCs will get Windows 11 26H2
Winsage
January 6, 2026

Snapragon X2 PCs ship with Windows 11 26H1 by April 2026. Existing PCs will get Windows 11 26H2

Qualcomm will start shipping new PCs with the Snapdragon X2 chipset by April 2026. This coincides with Microsoft testing Windows 11 26H1, which is designed for these new CPUs and will only be available on new Arm64 PCs. Windows 11 26H1 is not an update for existing PCs and will not be accessible to Intel or AMD users. Since November 2025, Windows Insiders have been testing this version, which is based on a platform release codenamed ‘Bromine’ and includes support for Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme models. Microsoft has stated that 26H1 is aimed at supporting new processors and may involve changes to power states and scheduling. The build number for this version is 28000, and while there are minor user interface improvements, significant changes are expected in the upcoming Windows 11 26H2 release, anticipated for October 2026.
Meet the new fastest gaming CPU in the world, so far
AppWizard
January 6, 2026

Meet the new fastest gaming CPU in the world, so far

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has been officially launched as a new gaming CPU, featuring an eight-core, 16-thread configuration and a peak clock speed of 5.6GHz, up from 5.2GHz of its predecessor, the 9800X3D. It utilizes the AMD Zen 5 architecture and 3D V-Cache technology, with a TDP of 120W. The CPU is compatible with existing AMD AM5 motherboards, requiring a BIOS update for recognition. Internal testing indicates a 27% average frame rate improvement over the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, while performance compared to the 9800X3D shows an estimated increase of around 8%. The launch is scheduled for Q1 2026, with expected pricing above the 9 MSRP of the 9800X3D.
Android Central's Best of 2025 Awards: The best phones, smartwatches, tablets, apps, and more
AppWizard
December 29, 2025

Android Central’s Best of 2025 Awards: The best phones, smartwatches, tablets, apps, and more

The OnePlus 15 was named Best Android Phone, featuring a fast chip, three-day battery life, and a 165Hz display. The Google Pixel 10 Pro won Best Camera with its Gemini-powered photo system. The Nothing's CMF Phone 2 Pro was recognized as the best budget option. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was awarded Best Foldable Device, while the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 was named Best Flip Phone. Samsung was recognized as the most improved brand. The Google Pixel Watch 4 won Best Smartwatch, and the Oura Ring 4 was the top smart ring. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 was the best smart glasses, with the Oakley Meta Vanguard for athletes and the Xreal One Pro as Best XR Glasses. Marvel's Deadpool VR won Best Single-Player VR, and Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked was Best Multiplayer VR Game. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 was the Best Chromebook, and the OnePlus Pad 3 was the best tablet. The Amazon Kindle Scribe was awarded Best E-Reader. Spotify was named Best Music Streaming Service, and Netflix was Best Video Streaming Service. The Gemini app won Best Android App, and Pokémon TCG Pocket was Best Android Game. Spigen was recognized as Best Phone Case Manufacturer, Anker was the top charging brand, Sony WH-1000XM6 won Best Wireless Headphones, and Apple AirPods Pro 3 were the best earbuds.
Windows on Arm had another good year
Winsage
December 29, 2025

Windows on Arm had another good year

The tech landscape is expected to see significant advancements in chips and software by 2026, particularly with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series enhancing Arm-based Windows laptops. The Snapdragon X chips improved performance and battery life, making Windows on Arm laptops more viable, especially in Microsoft’s Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines. However, challenges with app compatibility persisted, limiting users to simplified versions of software like Adobe Lightroom. In 2025, software enhancements allowed more creative applications to run natively or through improved emulation, including Adobe Premiere Pro and a functioning version of Lightroom Classic on lower-end Snapdragon X Plus chips. Gaming options improved with advancements in emulator technology, and compatibility for Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat was established. The Xbox game launcher expanded to support local installations on Arm devices. Despite the growing appeal of Windows on Arm laptops, traditional x86 options remain dominant for gaming. The first generation of Snapdragon X chips set new benchmarks for battery life, but competition from Intel’s Lunar Lake and AMD’s Strix Point chips is emerging. Nvidia is rumored to be developing an Arm-based chip for Alienware laptops, indicating a competitive landscape. The gap between x86 and Arm Windows laptops is narrowing, with Arm laptops becoming more accessible, though x86 systems are likely to remain preferred for gamers. Microsoft’s evolution of Windows into an “agentic OS” raises questions about the future of Windows laptops.
SSDs on some Windows machines with BitLocker enabled are about twice as fast thanks to BitLocker hardware acceleration.
Winsage
December 26, 2025

SSDs on some Windows machines with BitLocker enabled are about twice as fast thanks to BitLocker hardware acceleration.

Windows 11 Pro has introduced a hardware-accelerated version of BitLocker, enhancing storage encryption without compromising performance. This update allows compatible devices to maintain storage read and write speeds similar to when BitLocker is disabled. The hardware-accelerated BitLocker utilizes the encryption processor in the System on Chip (SoC) to streamline encryption and decryption processes. It is available on devices with a supported built-in encryption processor and uses the XTS-AES-256 encryption algorithm. Users can check if hardware BitLocker is enabled by executing the command manage-bde -status in the command prompt. Performance metrics indicate that CPU cycles during storage access remain consistent with machines that have BitLocker disabled, and benchmarks show that hardware BitLocker can double sequential read and random write speeds. The integration of the XTS-AES-256 encryption processor into Intel's upcoming third-generation Core Ultra processor, Panther Lake, suggests future advancements for hardware-accelerated BitLocker.
Microsoft's Hardware-Accelerated BitLocker Brings Massive Performance Gains
Winsage
December 25, 2025

Microsoft’s Hardware-Accelerated BitLocker Brings Massive Performance Gains

Microsoft has introduced a hardware-accelerated BitLocker encryption system for Windows 11, which shifts the encryption workload from software to dedicated accelerator units in future CPU microarchitectures. This new system is available in Windows 11 version 25H2 and Windows Server 2025 following the September update. Initial testing shows that certain workloads can achieve double the storage performance and reduce CPU usage by over 70%. The encryption processing is offloaded to a fixed-function cryptography engine within the system on chip (SoC), and encryption keys are hardware-wrapped for enhanced security. The initial rollout focuses on Intel vPro platforms with Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, with plans to extend support to other vendors. Performance data indicates that while sequential read and write speeds are similar between software and hardware approaches, random 4K operations show significant improvements, with hardware-accelerated BitLocker being 2.3 times faster in RND4K Q32T1 tests and demonstrating a 40% speed increase for single-queue random reads and a 2.1 times speed increase for single-queue random writes.
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