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I've been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything
Winsage
December 28, 2024

I’ve been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything

The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.
Android XR could be Google’s Daydream redemption, and VR games can help
BetaBeacon
December 22, 2024

Android XR could be Google’s Daydream redemption, and VR games can help

Daydream had issues such as draining phone batteries and lack of smartphone support. Google abandoned Daydream just as Quest began to take off. Google could potentially regain ground in the XR market by focusing on gaming, offering a curated selection of apps, supporting hand-tracking and controllers, and utilizing powerful hardware like Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. The success of Android XR will depend on how well Google can differentiate itself from competitors like Meta and Apple.
8 great games for your Steam Deck
AppWizard
December 19, 2024

8 great games for your Steam Deck

The Steam Deck remains a popular portable gaming device in 2024, enhanced by Valve's software updates. Notable games include: - Balatro: A card-based roguelike where players create poker hands to earn chips and shop for new cards. - Dragon Age: The Veilguard: A fantasy RPG with dialogue trees and character-building options, requiring some graphics adjustments for optimal performance. - Hades II: An early access action roguelike that expands on its predecessor with new weapons and characters. - Metaphor: ReFantazio: A turn-based game from Atlus with a quick battle system, suitable for short sessions. - Neva: A visually stunning game focused on platforming puzzles and storytelling, enhanced on the Steam Deck OLED. - The Rise of the Golden Idol: A mystery game with 20 point-and-click puzzles involving investigation and clue-solving. - Stardew Valley’s 1.6 Update: Introduces new festivals, a new farm type, and additional content to the beloved farming simulation. - Thank Goodness You’re Here!: A whimsical game set in an English village, featuring humorous interactions and a short completion time.
The objectively best AI tool on Copilot+ PCs is arriving on AMD and Intel chips
Winsage
December 19, 2024

The objectively best AI tool on Copilot+ PCs is arriving on AMD and Intel chips

Microsoft is enhancing its Copilot+ PCs with upgraded live captions and translation features, allowing real-time translation for over 44 languages. This capability is designed to improve communication during video calls, recordings, and streamed content. The feature is available on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs and requires enrollment in the Windows 11 Dev channel for access.
The Windows 11 experience (from someone in a hurry)
Winsage
December 18, 2024

The Windows 11 experience (from someone in a hurry)

The author needed to acquire a new laptop for a colleague and chose one at Costco after conducting personal research. Upon bringing the laptop home, the setup process was delayed by a lengthy update that took over 30 minutes, followed by an upgrade to version 23H2 that took an additional hour. The update process was complicated by the laptop entering sleep mode and requiring multiple updates, including a substantial 24H2. Additionally, the manufacturer’s software added 1.4 gigabytes of drivers, necessitating a reboot. The entire process stretched from around 6 PM to midnight, with significant data downloads involved. The author also faced issues with Microsoft Edge, which prompted unwanted notifications and settings imports despite instructions to keep browsers distinct.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
December 18, 2024

The Windows 11 experience (from someone in a hurry)

A colleague's laptop at work failed just before their month-long leave, prompting an urgent need for a replacement. The author went to Costco to choose between two laptops, receiving inadequate advice from a sales associate. After purchasing a laptop, the setup process involved lengthy updates, including a significant upgrade to version 23H2 and additional updates that extended the process into the night. The manufacturer’s software added complexity with further downloads and required reboots. The author noted excessive bandwidth consumption during the updates despite high internet speeds and encountered issues with the laptop entering sleep mode. Additionally, while setting up the laptop, the author accidentally visited a scam site and faced persistent marketing from Edge to switch default browsers.
Hear how it's been developing on Windows 11 on ARM for a whole year from an actual developer who's been using it
Winsage
December 18, 2024

Hear how it’s been developing on Windows 11 on ARM for a whole year from an actual developer who’s been using it

In 2024, Windows 11 on ARM has improved significantly due to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite series of chips, making it a strong competitor to Intel and AMD devices. Developer Michael Niehaus has reported that Windows 11 operates smoothly on a Snapdragon X Elite laptop, particularly with an ARM64 Linux distribution, indicating progress in the ARM ecosystem for software development.
BlueStacks Air is a new Android emulator that natively runs mobile games on Mac
BetaBeacon
December 16, 2024

BlueStacks Air is a new Android emulator that natively runs mobile games on Mac

BlueStacks Systems has released BlueStacks Air, a specialized version of the BlueStacks App Player emulator designed for Apple Silicon-powered Mac devices. This new emulator is optimized for Apple's M-series chips, promising swift performance and responsive gameplay for an authentic Android gaming experience on Mac.
Rising to the TOPS: How will NPUs and Windows AI grow in 2025?
Winsage
December 14, 2024

Rising to the TOPS: How will NPUs and Windows AI grow in 2025?

In 2024, Microsoft introduced the "Copilot+ PC" branding for AI-capable laptops, while Apple launched Apple Intelligence. These developments have led to mixed outcomes, with features like real-time translations and on-device speech-to-text being beneficial, but others, such as Windows Recall, still proving their value. By 2025, mainstream developers are expected to integrate on-device AI into Windows applications, influencing consumer purchasing decisions. The term "TOPS" (Trillions of Operations Per Second) is becoming important for evaluating the AI performance of Windows laptops, with a minimum of 40 TOPS required for Microsoft's "Copilot PC+" designation. Qualcomm's Copilot+ PCs reported around 45 TOPS, significantly higher than Intel's 11 TOPS. By the end of 2024, premium Windows laptops are expected to see a three- to four-fold increase in NPU performance compared to 2023 models. Analysts speculate further performance improvements may occur towards the end of 2025. Despite the potential for a two- to three-fold enhancement in on-device AI performance, experts caution against overemphasizing TOPS figures, which may not accurately reflect real-world performance. The lack of a unified API for leveraging NPU capabilities in Windows complicates matters for users of Copilot+ laptops without Qualcomm chips. Although AMD and Intel have released competitive chips, Qualcomm currently holds an advantage with exclusive support for certain applications. Microsoft is promoting its low-level machine learning API (DirectML) and the Windows Copilot Runtime, which may enhance the Copilot+ PC ecosystem. While cloud-based AI solutions remain an option, the cost of these services is expected to rise, making on-device AI more appealing. The introduction of ChatGPT Pro highlights the financial implications of cloud access compared to on-device NPU usage, which incurs no additional costs. The pace of on-device AI adoption in Windows' software ecosystem is anticipated to accelerate in 2025.
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