desktop space Archives

Winsage

July 21, 2025

This lightweight Linux distro makes switching from Windows 10 easy

Lubuntu is a Linux distribution that combines the Ubuntu framework with the lightweight LXQT desktop environment, making it fast, reliable, and user-friendly, particularly for older hardware. The desktop interface is designed to be familiar to users, especially those accustomed to Windows, featuring a panel, start menu, system tray, and organized applications. The Configuration Center allows users to customize settings easily. Openbox is the default window manager, enabling theme and window behavior modifications. Lubuntu does not provide a straightforward method for sharing folders across a local area network using its default file manager. The operating system is notably fast, with applications launching quickly, making it a suitable alternative to Windows 10 for older machines.

Winsage

April 8, 2025

Windows 11’s rumored Start menu redesign could mean it eats up a huge chunk of desktop space for some users – although it can be tamed

Microsoft is considering a significant redesign of the Start menu in Windows 11, which includes integrating the Phone Link side panel for enhanced interaction with Android smartphones. The Phone Link app allows users to connect their Android devices for functionalities like text messaging and notifications directly from the desktop. The proposed redesign could expand the Start menu to occupy up to 75% of the desktop, merging two sections into one interface. Users will have the option to toggle the visibility of the Phone Link panel, allowing for a customizable desktop experience. The redesign is still in early testing phases, and the final implementation may vary from current observations.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Google preps new features for Android desktop windowing, including a minimize button

Google is enhancing the desktop windowing capabilities of Android with the upcoming release of Android 15 QPR1, which will introduce features such as buttons to minimize applications and the ability to open them in new windows. The desktop windowing feature allows users to operate multiple applications in resizable windows, with a taskbar for managing running and pinned applications. Users can activate desktop windowing by dragging a fullscreen app's pill or using a keyboard shortcut. A new “multi-instance property” for developers will enable apps to launch as multiple instances, and a minimize button will allow users to minimize and reopen application windows via the taskbar. The Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 release has also introduced an “app-to-web” feature for select applications, enhancing usability.

Winsage

August 30, 2024

Microsoft is trying to reduce Windows 11’s desktop spotlight clutter

Windows 11's Spotlight feature currently covers about 20% of the desktop space and directs users to Bing search results. Microsoft is refining the Spotlight experience in Windows 11 Build 22635.4145, introducing enhancements such as hotspots activated by right-clicking on the Windows Spotlight icon. The new design will feature a streamlined pop-up with a reduced flyout, and users can still access full-screen mode and the Bing landing page through right-click and double-click actions. The upcoming changes include animated hotspots for additional information without needing to navigate to Bing. Additionally, Build 22635.4145 updates the mouse settings in the Settings menu, allowing users to disable enhanced mouse pointer precision and adjust mouse scrolling direction.

Winsage

August 20, 2024

Don’t like the ‘News and interests’ panel in Windows 10? You’ll hate Microsoft’s new supersized version even more – but luckily, it’s easy to turn off

Windows 10 users are experiencing an increase in the size of the ‘News and interests’ panel, which is now approximately 50% larger than before and can occupy up to 60% of the screen in some configurations. The panel's size varies based on screen resolution and desktop settings, with some setups allowing it to cover nearly two-thirds of the display. It primarily displays news stories from the MSN feed and includes widgets for weather, stock updates, and traffic information, redirecting users to Microsoft’s Edge browser and Bing for more details. Users cannot adjust the panel's size, but they can disable the feature by right-clicking on the taskbar or the News icon and selecting the appropriate options.