content consumption Archives

Winsage

April 11, 2025

The new Windows 11 Beta update makes widgets better than ever before

Microsoft's latest update for Windows 11 Beta introduces the ability to read MSN articles directly from the Widgets feed, allowing users to access full articles, slideshows, and videos without using a browser. Users can customize the visibility of the MSN feed on their Widgets board. The update also enhances Copilot+ PCs with an AI-powered semantic search bar for natural language queries and improves the Narrator feature, which now analyzes screen content to provide descriptions of images and visual elements for visually impaired users.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

I set out to see if the Razer Blade 16’s redesign, AMD, and RTX 50-series put the laptop back on top

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) starts at a price of ,999.99 and features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. The fully upgraded version costs ,899.99 and includes a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, RTX 5090 graphics, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage. The laptop is approximately 21-32% thinner and 13% lighter than its predecessor, with a CNC-milled unibody aluminum chassis. It has a 16-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. The Blade 16 features five USB ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a full-sized SD card slot. Battery life is limited, draining significantly in one hour of standard usage, and performance throttling occurs when unplugged. The keyboard has been redesigned for deeper key travel, while the touchpad has issues with palm rejection. It includes a FHD webcam, dual-array microphones, and a six-speaker system with THX Spatial Audio, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.

Winsage

February 23, 2025

WinApps: Virtualized Windows Apps On Linux, Plus Windowing

Linux users can now run the latest version of Photoshop on Linux machines with access to a dedicated mobile GPU, thanks to innovative open-source solutions. This is achieved through the WinApps project, which integrates a virtual machine into the Linux desktop using Remote Desktop Protocol, allowing Windows applications to run alongside native Linux programs. The setup requires significant effort, particularly in recognizing the GPU, but it enables heavy-duty applications to function effectively on machines like the HP Envy 16 with an Intel i7-12700H processor and 32GB of RAM. While WinApps offers substantial benefits for users relying on Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office 365, it is best suited for casual use due to potential bugs and performance issues. The development of WinApps reflects the contributions of various open-source teams, including those at Red Hat, and suggests future enhancements may improve accessibility for users.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

YouTube Said to Be Testing ‘Play Something’ Floating Action Button in App

YouTube is testing a new feature called Play something in its mobile app for Android users, designed to help users choose content. This feature appears as a floating action button (FAB) in the YouTube Android app version 19.50. When engaged, it plays videos within the YouTube Shorts interface and can also play standard YouTube videos in portrait layout, with interactive features like liking, disliking, commenting, and sharing. A timeline scrubber appears for navigation, but the FAB disappears when the YouTube mini-player is activated. Additionally, YouTube is testing a vertical scroll gesture for video navigation and has expanded its AI-driven auto-dubbing feature for transcribing and translating videos between English and various languages.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

YouTube for Android testing ‘Play something’ FAB

YouTube has introduced a floating action button (FAB) labeled “Play something” in its mobile app, which leads users to content in the Shorts player and regular videos in a portrait interface. The layout includes buttons for liking, disliking, commenting, and sharing, with a timeline scrubber at the bottom. When the miniplayer is activated, the “Play something” button disappears. This feature has been tested since last year and is available in version 19.50 for Android devices.

TrendTechie

December 23, 2024

Дмитрий Стешин: Дополню уважаемого слесаря – именно Крым, должен был стать оплотом компьютерного пиратства, базой для всех торрент-трекеров

Crimea has been discussed as a potential hub for computer piracy, particularly after the imposition of sanctions in 2022, which created opportunities for a resurgence in digital piracy. Experts suggest that lifting sanctions might lead to a decline in piracy as the region could shift towards legitimate digital content distribution. In 2018, Yatsenko, the Minister of Information for the Donetsk People's Republic, proposed creating a digital ecosystem to rival Western offerings, though implementation faced challenges. The ongoing conflict and prioritization of traditional industries over the tech sector may hinder progress in fostering a digital piracy landscape. Historical examples, such as lobbying by Latvian fishing interests in Moscow, raise questions about the potential for IT sector lobbying in Crimea. There is speculation about the possibility of a virtual pirate republic or a unique Russian iteration reflecting local culture and identity.

AppWizard

November 4, 2024

Google TV finally shows app update progress on the home screen

Google TV has introduced a feature that enhances visibility into app updates by allowing users to monitor the progress of updates directly from the home screen. This new design includes a visual cue, a ring around the app icons, indicating the update status, similar to update indicators on Pixel smartphones. The feature is already available on several Google TV devices, although some users may not have noticed it. Additionally, Google TV has integrated with Google Home, enabling users to control smart home devices from the interface.

AppWizard

October 18, 2024

‘Listen to this page’ in Chrome for Android gets background playback

Google has updated Chrome's "Listen to this page" feature with support for background playback, allowing users to listen to audio content while using other applications. This feature was introduced in Chrome 130, enabling users to exit the browser without interrupting playback. The media player now appears in notifications, offering controls for rewinding, skipping audio, and a scrubber timeline. Users can customize playback speed, choose from ten voices, and enable features like "Highlight text & auto scroll." A new play button can be added for easier access. The rollout of Chrome 130 for Android is currently underway.

AppWizard

October 16, 2024

Android 15: All the new features, eligible devices, and release date

Android 15 has officially been released on October 15, 2023, starting its rollout to eligible Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series and newer models. The update will be available for devices such as Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet. Major manufacturers like Honor, Xiaomi, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, iQOO, Nothing, Realme, Lenovo, Sharp, and Tecno are preparing to adopt Android 15 for their devices. Key features of Android 15 include: - Theft Detection Lock, which uses AI and the phone's accelerometer to secure devices during theft attempts. - Private Space, allowing users to lock sensitive applications with additional authentication. - Notification cooldown, which reduces notification volume from the same app when received in quick succession. - A system-wide toggle for keyboard vibration and a slider for haptic feedback intensity. - Haptic feedback for the brightness slider. - Partial screen recording for capturing specific applications. - Enhanced Bluetooth tile functionality for easier device management. - Support for edge-to-edge displays in applications. - Improved continuity and multitasking for foldable devices. - Introduction of the Android Dynamic Performance Framework for better optimization. - High-quality webcam mode for video calls. - An always-active taskbar for Pixel Fold and Android tablet users. - Capability to share audio across multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The stable version of Android 15 is rolling out to Pixel devices, with other manufacturers expected to follow suit.

Winsage

August 9, 2024

Microsoft plans new mixed-reality VR headset to rival Apple Vision Pro — may run Windows apps via the cloud

Microsoft has entered into an agreement with Samsung to procure "hundreds of thousands" of micro-OLED displays for a new mixed reality headset focused on content consumption, particularly gaming and movies. This headset aims to target consumers rather than enterprises, diverging from the HoloLens line. The development follows the cancellation of a third-generation HoloLens and the discontinuation of the Windows Mixed Reality platform. Recent patent filings suggest a design similar to the Apple Vision Pro, featuring OLED displays and passthrough cameras. Microsoft is also developing a cloud-based solution, codenamed “Williams Bay,” which will allow mixed reality headsets to run full Windows desktop applications and enable developers to enhance these applications with 3D extensions. The launch timeline for the headset is unclear, with suggestions it may not be ready until 2026.