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Massive Valve shipment rumor may hint at the Steam Machine's launch window, but I have my doubts
AppWizard
May 1, 2026

Massive Valve shipment rumor may hint at the Steam Machine’s launch window, but I have my doubts

A significant shipment of "Game Consoles" has arrived at Valve's warehouses, sparking rumors of an imminent Steam Machine launch. Brad Lynch reported that Valve is receiving a large quantity of these consoles, but it is unclear whether they are Steam Machines or restocks of the Steam Deck. The previous rumor about the Steam Controller had verifiable sources, while this latest rumor lacks such confirmation. The timing of the current shipment does not align with the schedule of the Steam Controller leak, raising skepticism about its authenticity. Valve has a self-imposed early 2026 deadline for the Steam Machine launch, with only eight weeks remaining until July.
New ROG Xbox Ally Updates: Docking Improvements, Auto SR Preview, Collective Library, Enhanced Vibration, and More
AppWizard
May 1, 2026

New ROG Xbox Ally Updates: Docking Improvements, Auto SR Preview, Collective Library, Enhanced Vibration, and More

Six months ago, ASUS and AMD launched the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X in 45 countries, combining Xbox capabilities with Windows 11 in a portable format. Player feedback has led to continual updates, optimizing hundreds of games for handheld play and introducing features like Default Game Profiles and expanded Xbox mode. Recent updates include automatic gameplay transition to TV when docked, support for HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate on certain docks, a Display Widget for adjusting settings via the Game Bar, improved controller pairing, and the Gamepad Cursor feature for non-controller supported applications. Automatic Super Resolution is now in preview for Xbox Insiders on the ROG Xbox Ally X, enhancing visual quality. The Xbox Wireless Headset now supports Bluetooth LE Audio for reduced latency and improved battery life. The Xbox PC app has been revamped to consolidate games from various storefronts into one library. Over 1,000 PC games are now compatible with handheld play, and features like Default Game Profiles and Advanced Shader Delivery have been introduced. Popular games supporting these features include Ninja Gaiden 4, Grounded 2, and others, with more titles expected in the future.
Why aren’t there more PC-first gamepads? Valve don’t know, but they "did see an opportunity" for the new Steam Controller
AppWizard
April 30, 2026

Why aren’t there more PC-first gamepads? Valve don’t know, but they “did see an opportunity” for the new Steam Controller

Valve's new Steam Controller is set to launch on May 4th, focusing specifically on the PC gaming experience. Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Steve Cardinali discussed the lack of PC-specific controllers in a market dominated by console peripherals. They noted that existing controllers are primarily designed for consoles, with 59% of Steam users currently using Xbox controllers and 26% using PlayStation controllers. The new Steam Controller aims to address the needs of PC gamers by incorporating familiar thumbsticks and inputs, as well as Deck-style trackpads for enhanced utility. It is priced at £85 and is designed to work seamlessly with the Steam platform. Yang and Cardinali also mentioned potential features for future iterations of Valve's gaming hardware.
FinalWire releases AIDA64 8.30 with FPS tracking and next-gen CPU support, but drops 32-bit Windows support
Winsage
April 28, 2026

FinalWire releases AIDA64 8.30 with FPS tracking and next-gen CPU support, but drops 32-bit Windows support

FinalWire has released AIDA64 version 8.30, featuring the AIDA FPS module for real-time FPS data capture in DirectX 11 and 12 games, available exclusively in the Extreme edition. The update includes an optimized performance test for APX SHA3 for Intel Diamond Rapids and Nova Lake processors, support for Turing 4.6 and 12.3-inch LCD displays, compatibility with Intel Core Ultra 250K Plus and 270K Plus, enhanced support for Intel Wildcat Lake and Nova Lake processors, preliminary support for AMD Zen 6 architecture APUs, support for Aqua Computer Ampinel and Thermal Grizzly WireView Pro II sensors, extended support for Adaptec RAID controllers, USB-NVMe pass-through support for Realtek RTL9220 controllers, support for EXPO 1.2 memory profiles, and detailed GPU information for Intel Arc Pro B65 and B70 as well as NVIDIA RTX Pro 4500 Blackwell Server Edition. The update enhances support for Intel's Nova Lake CPUs and introduces a new SHA3 benchmark optimized for APX architectures. It also lays groundwork for support of AMD's upcoming Zen 6 Medusa Point mobile processors and introduces support for AMD's EXPO 1.2 technology. AIDA64 version 8.30 discontinues support for 32-bit Windows and Windows XP x64, requiring users on those platforms to revert to an earlier version. The new web-based AIDA64 SensorPanel Tools allows users to create image sets for SensorPanel Manager. The update is available across the Extreme, Engineer, Business, and Network Audit editions.
Valve’s new Steam Controller has a major problem for PC games not on Steam
AppWizard
April 28, 2026

Valve’s new Steam Controller has a major problem for PC games not on Steam

The new Steam Controller lacks native Windows drivers, making it dependent on the Steam application for functionality. This means it cannot be used effectively with games from other platforms like the Epic Games Store or Xbox Game Pass, as it cannot interface with locked files on Windows 11. Gamers wanting to play titles like Forza Horizon 6 via Game Pass must purchase them directly from Steam to use the controller. While Valve could release standard Windows drivers to address this issue, there is skepticism about their willingness to do so. The gaming community previously developed a tool called GlosSI to enable the original Steam Controller to work with non-Steam applications, and a similar solution may emerge for the new model.
How to Record Windows 11 Internal Audio with Audacity for Free
Winsage
April 28, 2026

How to Record Windows 11 Internal Audio with Audacity for Free

Windows 11 does not have a built-in option to record internal audio directly from PC speakers. The Stereo Mix feature, which allowed easy recording of audio output, has been phased out on many modern devices. Microsoft's Voice Recorder app only captures microphone audio. Audacity, a free and open-source audio editor, can be used to record internal audio by configuring it to use the Windows WASAPI audio API with a loopback function. This method captures the digital audio stream without quality loss. To record internal audio with Audacity, users need to download and install the software, set the audio host to Windows WASAPI, select the appropriate loopback device, set recording channels to stereo, and then hit record while playing the desired audio. The recorded audio can be exported in various formats such as WAV, MP3, or FLAC. If the WASAPI loopback does not work, users can try enabling Stereo Mix if available or using a virtual audio cable like VB-CABLE. Tips for cleaner recordings include setting the project rate to 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz, disabling audio enhancements, and closing distracting applications. Common issues include no audio recorded, loopback devices not showing up, distorted sound, low volume, and microphone access denial, which can usually be resolved through settings adjustments or driver updates.
"Average Steam Deck framerate" graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve's handheld — Will users ever see this data
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

“Average Steam Deck framerate” graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve’s handheld — Will users ever see this data

Valve has introduced new beta Steamworks tools for game developers as part of its Steam Deck Verified Games initiative. These tools allow developers to monitor average framerates over the past 30 days and access user survey results regarding the Verified status of their games. Participation in data collection is opt-in, ensuring user privacy. The user survey appears after at least ten minutes of gameplay, allowing users to agree or disagree with a game's Verified status and provide feedback on various criteria. The Steam Deck Verified program assesses game compatibility based on four criteria: Controller input, Display, Seamlessness, and System support. Games are rated as Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown, with these ratings displayed in the Steam store. Valve may potentially make the collected data accessible to the public in the future.
This is the finest VR headset image quality I've ever experienced, but it comes at a price
AppWizard
April 21, 2026

This is the finest VR headset image quality I’ve ever experienced, but it comes at a price

The Pimax Crystal Super 57PPD virtual reality headset features a resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye and a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz. It has a weight of 879g without the cable and approximately 1kg with a 1m cable. The headset offers a 106-degree horizontal field of view and utilizes inside-out tracking via four cameras. It includes a single cable with DisplayPort and USB-C connections, and comes with two controllers. The headset's displays use QLED technology with local backlight dimming, providing vibrant colors and contrast, though it does not achieve the infinite contrast of OLED. The Crystal Super has eye tracking technology for automatic interpupillary distance adjustments and foveated rendering. The headset is modular, allowing users to swap out the screen and optics for different configurations. It is priced at ,599, reduced from ,799, with an additional 2% discount available.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
April 21, 2026

Microsoft releases Windows Server update fix to fix its April update fixes

Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to fix a restart loop issue affecting certain Windows Server devices after the April 2026 update. The problem arose after installing the April 2026 Windows security update (KB5082063), causing domain controllers in multi-domain environments using Privileged Access Management (PAM) to experience LSASS crashes during startup, leading to repeated restarts and potential domain outages. The update targets Windows Server versions 2016 through 2025 and includes hotpatches for failed installations. Only Windows Servers were affected, while some enterprise devices may need to enter their BitLocker recovery key after the first restart post-installation. Microsoft has issued similar updates recently, raising concerns about the frequency of these occurrences.
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