Engineers Archives

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Silent Hill 4, Deus Ex And F.E.A.R. Among Latest Games To Enter GOG’s Preservation Program

GOG has launched its Preservation Program to ensure over 100 classic video games remain accessible on modern systems. Recently, the program expanded to include titles such as Silent Hill 4: The Room, Deus Ex, and the original FEAR. GOG has committed to maintaining these games for compatibility with modern PCs indefinitely. The program also includes Fallout 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, Alone In The Dark 1 to 3, all eight original Ultima games, and the first three Tomb Raider titles. Silent Hill 4 has been enhanced with previously unreleased scenes. Many of these titles are currently available at significant discounts.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Why Minecraft’s Bedrock and Java Editions Feel Like Two Different Games

Minecraft has two distinct editions: Java and Bedrock. Java Edition is exclusive to PC and supports extensive modding, while Bedrock Edition is accessible across multiple platforms, including consoles and mobile devices. Bedrock is optimized for performance on a variety of devices, whereas Java offers superior visuals but requires a more powerful PC. Java's Redstone mechanics and combat system differ from Bedrock's, affecting gameplay. Multiplayer in Java is limited to other Java users and community servers, while Bedrock allows cross-play among all platforms. Java has a wider selection of fan-operated servers compared to Bedrock.

BetaBeacon

March 11, 2025

How to Stream PC Games to Your iPhone or Android Device

- Apps allow you to connect a gamepad to your iPhone or Android device through Bluetooth settings or USB OTG cable - Steam Link app allows you to stream games from your PC to your mobile device on the same network - Moonlight app reverse-engineers Nvidia's GameStream feature to stream games from your PC to any device - Alternatives to Steam and PC games for streaming include Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and Remote Play features for Xbox and PlayStation consoles

Winsage

March 8, 2025

Microsoft Copilot on Windows Begins To Roll Out New Features and Improvements to Windows Insiders

Microsoft is updating its Copilot application from a web-based interface to a native version for Windows, nearly a year after its initial launch. The new version features a refined user interface with a side panel for easier conversation initiation and chat history review. Members of the Windows Insider Programme, which allows early access to new features, can test and provide feedback on updates. The updated Copilot app is being distributed via the Microsoft Store and is expected to reach all Windows 11 PCs soon. The update, version 1.25023.101.0 and higher, is being rolled out gradually across Insider Channels. Users can access the app using the Alt + Space keyboard shortcut or the Copilot Key on compatible PCs.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Facebook Messenger is down worldwide as

Users worldwide are experiencing significant disruptions with Facebook Messenger, starting around 10:30 AM ET, affecting regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, South America, and Asia. Facebook Messenger has about one billion users as of early 2025. Meta's other messaging platform, WhatsApp, faced similar issues during this outage, with over 8,200 complaints logged on Downdetector in the United States. This incident is reminiscent of a previous outage four years ago that lasted seven hours and resulted in a significant revenue loss, attributed to a faulty update. During that outage, access systems at Facebook's Menlo Park campus were also disrupted. The current situation has led to user frustration and raised concerns about the reliability of major tech firms' infrastructure.

AppWizard

February 25, 2025

Why People Still Love Minecraft After 15+ Years — What Makes the Game Timeless?

Minecraft has been popular for over 15 years, appealing to millions due to its creativity and community-driven experience. It features an open-world sandbox that allows players to build freely without strict objectives. The game evolves continuously through regular updates that introduce new content, ensuring fresh experiences. Players can choose from different modes, including survival, creative, and hardcore, catering to various playstyles. The vibrant community enhances the game through content creation and modding, offering extensive customization options. Nostalgia plays a role in attracting returning players, while ongoing innovation keeps the game relevant. Minecraft is accessible at affordable prices through digital marketplaces.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Game Pass: 2 new games are playable today on Xbox and PC

Game Pass has added two new titles: EA Sports F1 24 and Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, both available starting February 20 through Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. On February 28, nine titles will be removed from Game Pass, including F1 22, Gris, Maneater, PAW Patrol World, Space Engineers, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, Yakuza 3 Remastered, and Yakuza 4 Remastered. Earlier in the month, titles such as Far Cry New Dawn, Madden NFL 25, and Another Crab’s Treasure were added, along with the RPG Avowed.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

The Windows 95 setup was text-based for a good reason, Microsoft employee reveals

When installing Windows 95, users encountered a text-based environment rather than a graphical interface. The Windows development team integrated three distinct operating system environments to streamline the installation process. MS-DOS had limited graphical capabilities, requiring the setup team to potentially develop a graphics library from scratch. The minimum requirements for Windows 95 included a VGA video card, and the setup program needed to support ideogram-based languages and simple animations. The final setup utilized the Windows 3.1 runtime, which managed graphics under MS-DOS. This practice of code recycling continues in contemporary Windows versions, which require a "miniature" operating system known as the Windows Preinstallation Environment for setup and repair purposes.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

Upgrade Your Windows 11 Experience with These 10 Free Alternatives to thew Standard Apps

- ImageGlass is a fast and versatile replacement for the default Photos app, supporting various image formats and basic editing tools. - Files App is a modern alternative to File Explorer with features like split tabs, compact views, and smooth navigation. - LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that provides alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. - GIMP is a powerful, open-source image editing tool with advanced features like layer management and color correction. - ShareX, Lightshot, PicPick, and SnipPaste are enhanced screenshot tools offering features like screen recording, annotations, and workflow automation. - ScreenBox is a VLC-based media player with robust format support and a sleek design. - Nora is a modern audio player with dynamic controls, playlist management, and an equalizer. - PDF Gear offers advanced PDF features like annotation, editing, and built-in OCR. - Zen Browser is a privacy-focused web browser built on Firefox, emphasizing security and customization. - Fluid Cast is a dedicated podcast app with offline downloads and progress tracking. - Qalculate! is a versatile calculator supporting basic and complex calculations, while SpeedCrunch is a keyboard-focused calculator for quick calculations.

Winsage

February 7, 2025

Installing Ubuntu on WSL Just Got Much Easier

A new tar-based distribution format for Ubuntu has been introduced for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing developers and system administrators to install and manage Ubuntu WSL instances without using the Microsoft Store. This format enables local hosting of images, providing enterprises with more flexibility and simplifying deployment. Users can install Ubuntu by executing the command wsl --install ubuntu in the Windows Terminal or by downloading an image and double-clicking the .wsl file. Both methods require WSL version 2.4.8 or higher. The new tar-based format will become the default, while the older appx format will still be supported.