design elements Archives

AppWizard

August 27, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 feels like a much more ambitious RPG than its predecessor: I played its prologue three times with different builds, and each run felt unique

Anticipation for The Outer Worlds 2 has increased following a 45-minute hands-on demo of the game's prologue, showcasing a richly crafted universe. The character creation process includes extensive customization options, such as hair, eye choices, and robot prosthetics. The gameplay mechanics have been streamlined, replacing attributes with a system of backgrounds, positive traits, and tagged skills, enhancing depth and dialogue opportunities. The demo features immersive design elements reminiscent of previous Obsidian titles, allowing for stealth or aggressive gameplay, and includes a bullet time mechanic. Players can engage in various skill checks, interact with environmental elements, and experience dynamic NPC interactions with consequences based on dialogue choices. The design encourages exploration and experimentation, raising expectations for the full game.

Winsage

August 27, 2025

Windows 95 XNUMXth Anniversary: The Start Menu That Changed the World | mashdigi – Technology, New Products, Fun Facts, Trends

In August 1995, Microsoft launched Windows 95, which sold over one million units within four days. It introduced a user-friendly interface with the Start Menu, long file names, plug-and-play capabilities, and a 32-bit multitasking architecture. The minimum hardware requirements were an Intel 386 DX processor, 4MB of RAM, and a VGA graphics card, with a launch price of approximately . Windows 95 significantly impacted gaming and internet access, leading many developers to release compatible titles. Its design principles, such as the Start Menu and multitasking, continue to influence modern operating systems like Windows 11.

AppWizard

August 25, 2025

The OnePlus Pad 3: The OnePlus Laptop Hiding Inside A Tablet

The OnePlus Pad 3 features a sleek design with a 13.2-inch display and eight speakers, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It includes a full-sized keyboard and a wide kickstand, enhancing its usability for productivity tasks. Users can access Google Docs through the Chrome browser, which offers a more comprehensive experience compared to the Android app. While Android has improved support for tablet apps, some applications, like Reddit, still face compatibility issues. The Pad 3's larger screen encourages web usage and facilitates multitasking. Overall, it resembles a laptop in functionality and design, despite some ergonomic challenges.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

Surface Pro 12-inch vs iPad Air? Sales just tipped the scales.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 12-inch is currently available at its lowest price ever, with a discount of 0, bringing the price down to 9. The accompanying keyboard is also discounted for the first time, priced at 7.12. The Surface Pro 12-inch received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 in a review, praised for its fanless design, performance, and 90Hz display. It is designed to be compact and portable, making it suitable for students and professionals. The Surface Pro 12-inch shares design similarities with the iPad Air, featuring a boxy chassis and rounded display corners. The Surface Pro 12-inch is priced at 6.11, which is lower than the retail price of the 13-inch iPad Air with an M3 processor, while the iPad Air can be found discounted to as low as 9. The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air costs 9, which is significantly more than the Surface Pro 12-inch keyboard.

Winsage

August 7, 2025

Microsoft’s anniversary edition Windows XP-themed Crocs are definitely a look, but I’m not entirely sure I could carry them off

Microsoft has released a special anniversary edition of Crocs inspired by Windows XP, featuring a design that replicates the iconic Bliss wallpaper. The upper part of the footwear showcases fluffy white clouds against a blue sky, while the soles depict lush green grass. A worldwide launch is expected, though no specific dates have been provided. The Bliss image, captured by photographer Charles O’Rear in 1996 and acquired by Microsoft before Windows XP's release in 2001, depicts a hill in Sonoma County, California, which has since become a vineyard. Bliss was once one of the most viewed photographs globally, reflecting the popularity of Windows XP.

Winsage

July 27, 2025

Five things Windows 10 never fixed

Microsoft announced in 2015 its intention to phase out the legacy Control Panel in favor of the Settings app, but the transition remains incomplete nearly a decade later. The Windows Recovery Environment error 0x80070643 has persisted for over a year without an automated fix from Microsoft, leaving users to troubleshoot manually. Tablet Mode, intended to provide a touch-friendly interface, has not significantly improved productivity, with users often preferring to use a keyboard. Windows Search prioritizes Bing, which can lead to unsatisfactory search results for users. The Fluent Design scheme introduced in 2017 has been inconsistently applied, resulting in a mix of modern and legacy design elements and uneven implementation of dark mode across Microsoft applications.

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

Adidas x Minecraft 2025: New kids collection drops for back-to-school

Adidas has launched a collaboration with Minecraft, creating a collection of clothing and footwear for kids and juniors. The collection includes green and white sneakers with pixelated designs, black sweatshirts with green striped sleeves, Minecraft-themed graphic t-shirts, and backpacks featuring the Minecraft logo. Each item displays both the Adidas logo and Minecraft characters in a blocky style, characterized by bold colors and playful designs.

Winsage

July 17, 2025

Hate Windows 11? Here’s how you can make it work more like Windows 10

User feedback has significantly influenced the evolution of Windows 11, particularly regarding changes to the user interface that differ from Windows 10. Early adopters expressed frustration, but many have adapted over time, while some still prefer the previous interface. Microsoft removed a considerable amount of legacy code, overhauling key components like the taskbar, Start menu, and File Explorer, which has disoriented some users. Microsoft has responded to feedback with updates, including the reinstatement of the Task Manager option in the taskbar's right-click menu and improvements to search functionality in version 22H2, as well as a redesign of File Explorer in version 24H2. Users can reposition the taskbar and Start button, but the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen is still missing. A significant redesign of the Start menu is being tested. Keyboard shortcuts can help users navigate the new layout, and users can disable the widgets feature through Taskbar settings. Third-party applications like ExplorerPatcher, Open Shell, Start11, and StartAllBack offer customization options to revert to a more traditional layout, though they may pose compatibility risks with future updates.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Rivian partners with Google Maps for enhanced EV navigation experience

Rivian has introduced a new navigation system that integrates Google Maps technology, specifically designed for Rivian vehicles. This system includes real-time traffic updates, detailed place information, accurate range estimates, and charging scores tailored for electric vehicle users. It offers features such as real-time rerouting, satellite imagery, and comprehensive location information. The mobile app complements the in-car navigation by allowing users to view range estimates, share destinations, and explore new place photos and descriptions. Charging stops are curated based on individual preferences and compatibility with various networks, including the Rivian Adventure Network and Tesla Superchargers. Rivian's charging score system evaluates stations based on real-time data for reliability. The navigation system features a refreshed map aesthetic that highlights natural landscapes and improved visual clarity, while the app provides additional functionalities like destination sharing and incident reports.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Here’s a first look at the Google Personal Safety app’s Expressive redesign (APK teardown)

Google's Personal Safety app is undergoing visual enhancements in its latest version (2025.06.12.772866699.3-release), aligning with Material 3 Expressive design. Updates include bold headers, white boxes for information fields, redesigned toggles showing an “X” or tick for status, and a new pill-shaped green button for adding contacts. A three-dot button for each contact allows for easier removal and reordering, although removal may be slightly more complex. These design changes are currently exclusive to Android 16 QPR1, which is also updating its Safety and Emergency section.