enhancement Archives

Winsage

June 9, 2025

The First Xbox Handheld Has Been Revealed

Microsoft has announced its entry into the handheld gaming market with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, developed in collaboration with Asus. The devices support native gaming and cloud streaming. Key features include a larger battery, ergonomic grips, a dedicated Xbox button, and an optimized operating system that reduces Windows 11's idle power consumption by about two-thirds, enhancing battery life and freeing up to 2GB of RAM for gaming performance. Exclusive Windows 11 features will initially be available only on these devices, with plans to extend them to standard ROG Allys by late 2025 and to other handheld gaming PCs in 2026. Specifications: - ROG Xbox Ally: AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD (upgradeable), 60Wh battery, 670g weight. - ROG Xbox Ally X: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD (upgradeable), 80Wh battery, 715g weight. Both devices can run Windows games from platforms like Xbox, Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect, and Steam. They are expected to launch during the Holiday season of 2025 in markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Mycopunk, the co-op shooter of the summer, gets a release date at the PC Gaming Show 2025

Mycopunk is a cooperative first-person shooter (FPS) set to be released on July 10, 2025. A demo is currently available for players to try out. In the game, players control "overpowered and underpaid" scrap bots that combat a fungal infestation on a planet. Each of the four bots has unique movement abilities, and weapons are not class-restricted. The enemy faction consists of a hive mind of fungi, and players can dismantle these enemies strategically. Players can upgrade their gear using materials collected during missions, with a modding system that requires strategic arrangement of attachments. The demo has showcased gunplay mechanics, and the full release is expected to introduce more gameplay elements, including vehicle missions.

Winsage

June 8, 2025

Microsoft is going to slow down Windows 11 later this year – but it’s for your own good

The Windows 11 25H2 update will introduce a feature called User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management, which reduces performance during periods of inactivity to conserve power. This feature is designed to activate automatically, allowing full performance to be restored when users return to their tasks. It aims to extend battery life for laptops and save energy for desktop users, although actual energy savings may vary based on device type, power mode, and whether the device is plugged in or running on battery.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

8 things you must try with the Linux Terminal app on your Android phone

Google introduced Linux Terminal support integrated into Android for Pixel users running the latest stable version of the operating system. The terminal operates within a virtual machine, ensuring separation from core device functions. A recent poll showed that 24% of users have enabled the Linux Terminal app, 51% are considering it, 10% do not want it, and 15% have phones that do not support it. Key commands include "help" for available commands and "man" for manual pages. Users can install system information tools like neofetch and htop, as well as terminal games such as Bastet, Pacman4console, Moon-Buggy, nsnake, and ninvaders. SSH can be installed for network device control, and text editor nano can be used for note-taking. Users can also install cmatrix for a Matrix-like display and stress testing tools. Nyan Cat can be displayed in the terminal as well. Future plans include full-scale Linux apps in Android’s desktop mode.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Google Messages could get a dedicated spot to see all media from your chats

Google is experimenting with a swipe feature in its Messages app to improve navigation through pictures and videos, allowing users to reply to media without being redirected to the main chat. This update includes a quick-access bar for reactions and comments on media, and a dedicated media overview section for accessing older shared images and videos. These features are currently in testing and are expected to be available to all users in the coming months.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

AI-powered Relight and Search now available in Microsoft Photos

The Microsoft Photos app has been updated on Windows 11, introducing new features for Copilot+ PCs. The Relight feature allows users to adjust lighting in images by positioning up to three light sources, changing light color, and setting a focus point, with additional brightness and intensity controls. Built-in presets are also available for quick application. This feature will initially be available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered devices coming soon. The app now includes improved photo search using natural language, enabling users to find images by descriptive phrases. For commercial users signed in with Microsoft Entra ID, access to Restyle Image and Image Creator is now available. Users should update their Photos app to version 2025.11060.5006.0 or higher to access these features.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

This app has been shipping with Windows for decades, and it needs to go away

The Character Map is a tool in Windows designed to help users access uncommon characters and symbols not available on the keyboard. However, it is considered convoluted and unnecessary due to its complicated access process and cumbersome selection method. Microsoft has introduced a more efficient emoji keyboard in Windows 11, which allows users to quickly select symbols by pressing Windows + . (period) and is more user-friendly than the Character Map. The emoji panel saves the last twelve used symbols for easy access. It is suggested that the Character Map would be better suited as a feature within Microsoft Office, where symbol selection is more relevant. The Character Map is viewed as one of several outdated features in Windows 11 that may need removal to improve the user experience.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Snowflake to buy Crunchy Data to enhance its AI Data Cloud

Snowflake intends to acquire Crunchy Data, a developer of cloud-based database software, with the deal potentially valued at around [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: AI Data Cloud company Snowflake has announced its intention to acquire Crunchy Data, a notable developer of cloud-based database software. While specific financial details remain undisclosed, sources cited by CNBC suggest that the deal could be valued at around 0 million. Enhancing AI Capabilities with Snowflake Postgres The acquisition is set to bring Snowflake Postgres into the fold, an AI-ready, enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database designed with developers in mind. This new offering aims to ensure full compatibility with Postgres while adhering to the governance, security, and operational standards essential for mission-critical AI applications. By integrating Crunchy Data’s technology, which is recognized for its enterprise readiness in FedRAMP-compliant environments, Snowflake Postgres will simplify the processes of developing, deploying, and scaling production-ready AI agents and applications. This enhancement is expected to significantly benefit customers and partners, including Blue Yonder and LandingAI, who rely on PostgreSQL for their operational data needs. Paul Laurence, co-founder of Crunchy Data, emphasized the company's commitment to stringent security and comprehensive compliance, stating, “Our deep-rooted commitment to stringent security and comprehensive compliance has made us the trusted Postgres partner for organisations across regulated industries, including federal agencies, Fortune 500 financial institutions, and high-scale SaaS companies.” Upon the acquisition's completion, Snowflake plans to continue supporting the Postgres community and existing Crunchy Data customers, while seamlessly integrating the latter’s capabilities into Snowflake Postgres. Vivek Raghunathan, senior vice president of Snowflake Engineering, articulated the company’s vision: “Our vision is to deliver the world’s most trusted and comprehensive data and AI platform to our customers. Today’s announcement of our proposed acquisition of Crunchy Data represents another reason why Snowflake is the ultimate destination for all enterprise data and AI needs.” The completion of this acquisition is contingent upon regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Earlier this year, in February 2025, Snowflake unveiled the Silicon Valley AI Hub at its Menlo Park campus, which boasts nearly 30,000 square feet dedicated to fostering the AI community." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million. The acquisition will integrate Crunchy Data’s technology into Snowflake Postgres, an AI-ready PostgreSQL database, enhancing its compatibility and compliance for mission-critical AI applications. Snowflake aims to support the Postgres community and existing Crunchy Data customers post-acquisition. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

Painkiller RTX is a path-traced upgrade to a classic but almost forgotten shooter

Nvidia's RTX Remix is a tool that allows game modders to enhance classic PC games with path-traced visuals. One notable project is the transformation of the 2004 game Painkiller into Painkiller RTX, currently at version 0.1.6. This project utilizes a custom rendering technology called PainEngine, replacing the original Direct X 8.1 rendering with a path tracer, resulting in improved visuals such as real-time shadows and moving lights. The gameplay retains its fast-paced action focus, with enhanced mechanics through Havok physics, allowing for dynamic interactions with the environment. Painkiller RTX features significant upgrades in lighting, including dynamic lighting that interacts with moving objects and improved texture quality using Quixel megascan assets. However, the path-tracing technology requires robust hardware for optimal performance, and even mid-range GPUs like the RTX 4060 may struggle with frame rates during intense gameplay.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft now testing Notepad text formatting in Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced text formatting capabilities in the Windows 11 Notepad application, allowing users to utilize Markdown-style input. This feature is part of the Windows 11 24H2 update for Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Users can apply formatting options such as bold, italic, hyperlinks, lists, and headings, while also having the option to revert to plain text easily. The update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels with version 11.2504.50.0 of the app. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to modernize Notepad, which has included features like multiple tabs, a built-in character counter, spell check, autocorrect, and AI-powered text summarization and generation. Users can disable new AI functionalities or uninstall the app to revert to the classic notepad.exe program.