components Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 29, 2025

Intego Mac Internet Security

PCs were introduced before Apple’s Macintosh, leading to the emergence of PC viruses and the establishment of antivirus companies, with Macintosh protection being less prioritized. Intego focused on Macintosh security from the start, offering Intego Mac Internet Security, which includes a firewall that manages network permissions and defends against external attacks. Intego has been effective against Mac malware, achieving a 99.1% malware detection score in independent lab tests, although it lacks phishing protection, a feature offered by competitors Norton 360 Deluxe and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. Intego's pricing is competitive, with a standard annual fee of .99 for a single license and .99 for three licenses. A five-device subscription costs .99, while the Mac Premium Bundle starts at .99 annually and includes additional features. A 14-day free trial is available, and free alternatives like Avast and AVG are also on the market. Intego supports older macOS versions back to Mavericks (10.9), but the latest version requires High Sierra (10.13) or later. The installation process for Intego is straightforward, requiring a restart and granting necessary permissions. The main interface includes components for updates, firewall, and antivirus, with user-friendly access to scanning options. Intego has received certification from AV-Comparatives and detected 100% of Windows malware samples in tests. Its quick scan takes about two and a half minutes, while a full system scan takes seven minutes. Intego's Safe Browsing feature checks existing browser protections but lacks a dedicated antiphishing solution. The NetBarrier firewall allows users to classify their network and manage traffic permissions effectively, although it may be complex for some users.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Medieval strategy sim Manor Lords is getting proper AI village-building, an upkeep system and fancier castles

In Manor Lords, a medieval strategy city builder by Slavic Magic and Hooded Horse, developers have announced updates as the game nears its first anniversary. Key updates include: - New buildings such as a quarry for stone mining and a lime kiln for construction. - Visual enhancements to the user interface and map resource nodes, along with improved castle components. - AI improvements allowing it to construct and manage small villages with new features like burgage plots. - Introduction of a new upkeep system requiring consistent resource flow for buildings like smithies and mines. - Modifications to the Record View for regional production and consumption tracking. - A rewritten pathfinding system for multi-story castles to improve unit navigation. The team has expanded since the game's early access debut and is focused on enhancing gameplay and AI capabilities.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

This is the notification manager Google should’ve built for Android years ago

Buzzkill is a premium application designed to help users manage notifications on their devices through customizable "rules." It allows users to dictate responses to notifications based on the application sending them, the content of the notification, and the desired action. Buzzkill offers 25 actions, including dismissing notifications, obfuscating content, reading notifications aloud, and triggering device functions. Users can create rules to suppress spam, prioritize important messages, copy one-time PINs, batch news notifications, and manage smartwatch alerts. The app is priced at .99 and requires regular updates and adjustments to maintain effectiveness.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I spent $3,000 on a PC only to play a $20 game. I have zero regrets

Building a personal computer can be expensive, especially with high-end graphics cards. The tendency to overspend, driven by fear of missing out (FOMO), can lead to exceeding budget constraints. The author initially set a budget of ,000 but ended up spending ,000 on a PC primarily for gaming. After upgrading from an Nvidia GTX 1060 to an RTX 4080, the author found that despite the powerful setup, their most-played game was the inexpensive Spelunky 2, which they played for over 600 hours, while high-profile games remained unfinished. The author reflects that a more modest setup could have sufficed and questions whether the extra spending on top-tier components was truly necessary.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

Oblivion Remastered PC: impressive modernisation blighted by dire performance problems

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered utilizes an Unreal Engine 5 wrapper to enhance the original game, but it carries over some of the original's issues and suffers from significant performance challenges, including frequent stuttering. Digital Foundry analyzed the remaster against the original 2006 version, highlighting advancements in graphics but also noting that the remaster struggles with limited polygon budgets and basic effects. The remaster's performance is inconsistent, especially on mid-range CPUs, leading to poor experiences even on high-end hardware. Disabling hardware RT-based Lumen global illumination can improve performance by about 35%, but at the cost of visual quality. Lowering settings yields only marginal performance improvements, and the game fails to deliver an attractive experience compared to the original. A recent patch did not resolve the stuttering issues, indicating that fundamental CPU-related problems remain unaddressed.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Blame your phone for killing off this traditional Windows app

Microsoft has announced that Windows Maps will be deprecated by April, with the app being removed from the Windows Store by July and ceasing to receive support thereafter. A July update will deactivate the Maps app entirely. Personal data saved in the app will remain intact but will not function after July 2025. New PCs running future versions of Windows 11 will not come preinstalled with the Maps app beyond the current 24H2 release. Users can still access mapping services through Bing’s dedicated maps page.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Windows 11 KB5055627 update released with 30 new changes, fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5055627 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, which introduces new features and bug fixes. This update is part of optional non-security preview updates and does not include security updates. Users can install it via Settings under Windows Update or download it directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update elevates Windows 11 24H2 systems to build 26100.3915 and includes features such as Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), improved Windows Search, Narrator enhancements, Phone Link, interactive Widgets, curated views in File Explorer, updated Settings for app recommendations, and Windows Studio Effects. It also addresses bugs related to blue screen errors, DHCP Client connectivity issues, Windows Hello functionality, and provides estimated offline times for updates. Notable issues include potential installation blocks for Citrix components and download issues for Roblox players on Windows Arm devices, with workarounds available.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Speed up your Windows 11 PC: 12 must-do tweaks and tips

Users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 often accumulate unnecessary files, creating an opportunity for digital cleanup to reclaim storage space. It is recommended to use Windows' built-in tools for this process. To start, users can launch the Disk Cleanup application to select and delete various categories of files, such as Lifetime Optimization Files from Windows Update. The Downloads folder should also be checked for large, unneeded files, which can be sorted by size for easier identification and removal. Additionally, outdated components can be removed via the command prompt using the commands: 1. dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /AnalyzeComponentStore 2. dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup This method can free up significant space, with reports of nearly five gigabytes reclaimed even on fresh installations. While third-party software is generally discouraged, programs like Wiztree are exceptions, as they efficiently scan disks and display files by size, aiding in the cleanup process. Users should avoid deleting files from critical folders and verify any uncertain files through web searches.

Tech Optimizer

April 24, 2025

4 things I wish somebody told me about Windows before I switched to it

The ongoing rivalry between Windows and Mac sparks passionate discussions among tech enthusiasts, with users appreciating the unique advantages of each platform. The Apple ecosystem offers limited premium models with consistent performance, while Windows provides a vast array of options, leading to significant performance variability based on specifications. Windows has a large selection of software, but its quality can be inconsistent compared to Apple's App Store. Additionally, Windows is more vulnerable to viruses and online threats, requiring robust antivirus solutions. Users may encounter more error messages and compatibility issues on Windows, necessitating more frequent restarts. Syncing files from an iPhone to a Windows PC can also be challenging for those accustomed to the Apple ecosystem.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Trojanized Alpine Quest app geolocates Russian soldiers

Russian soldiers are facing a digital threat from a modified Android application, Alpine Quest, which has been tampered with to track their locations and extract sensitive information. The malware, known as Android.Spy.1292.origin, was embedded in an older version of the app and distributed as a free upgrade to Alpine Quest Pro via a fraudulent Telegram channel. Once installed, the trojan collects various types of information, including geolocation, downloaded files, phone numbers, and app versions, and can download additional modules to exfiltrate specific files. Additionally, researchers at Kaspersky discovered a backdoor hidden in counterfeit software updates for ViPNet, a secure networking suite. The malware, disguised as msinfo32.exe, connects to a command-and-control server to steal files and deploy more malicious components. On the Ukrainian side, Russian operatives are conducting a phishing campaign targeting Ukrainian officials and allies, using social engineering tactics to hijack Microsoft 365 accounts. Attackers contact victims via messaging apps, invite them to video calls, and trick them into providing OAuth codes, granting access to their accounts.