environment Archives

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

PC price rises to slow this year, says Asus, though not in time for the Steam Machine launch

Asus's Systems Business General Manager, Liao Yi-hsiang, indicated that while some price adjustments for Asus PC products are expected, they will likely be modest, falling within the 1-9% range. This comes in light of a recent decline in component prices, including memory and hard drives. Yi-hsiang noted that any price increases must consider consumer acceptance to avoid exceeding market tolerance. The adjustments are anticipated in the third quarter, coinciding with the peak tech sales season in Fall and Winter. Overall, there is a growing consensus that the market is stabilizing around current pricing structures, although significant price drops, particularly for products like the Steam Deck, are unlikely in the near term.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Making Windows a developer platform, again

Setting up a PC with the base Dev Config has been streamlined for developers, utilizing the Winget configuration service to install applications, execute updates, and apply developer settings on Windows. Users can access setup scripts by cloning a GitHub repository or downloading a zip archive, with clear instructions provided by Microsoft. The installation may require a reboot during the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installation, but the script resumes automatically afterward. The process installs applications such as PowerShell, Git, GitHub command-line interfaces, Windows App SDK, Visual Studio Code, and language support for Node.js, Python, and .NET. It also includes developer-friendly fonts and a theme engine for Windows Terminal, along with options for customizing File Explorer and the Windows Task Bar. After WSL installation, developers can use WSL Comfort scripts to install additional tools and personalize their Windows Terminal experience. This utility has two phases: the Windows component configures WSL and Ubuntu, while the Linux component fine-tunes the WSL environment, allowing for zsh and starship terminal display tools. It also integrates popular command-line interfaces and supports the Homebrew package installer, targeting existing Ubuntu instances without needing a new Linux distribution installation.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Microsoft admits 8GB RAM is fine for Windows 11, after years of pushing 16GB as the baseline

Microsoft has revised its Surface buying guide, now recommending 8GB of RAM for everyday tasks, while stating that 16GB or more is necessary for fully utilizing Copilot+ PC features. Previously, Microsoft had advocated for 16GB as the minimum for a satisfactory Windows 11 experience. Earlier this year, Microsoft suggested 32GB of RAM for serious gamers but retracted this recommendation due to backlash over costs. The introduction of Apple's MacBook Neo with 8GB of RAM at an attractive price has influenced Microsoft's stance, leading to the launch of Surface devices with 8GB of RAM. The buying guide promotes 8GB for everyday tasks, while an AI store assistant suggests 16GB for a "future-proof" laptop. Historically, Windows 10 had a minimum RAM requirement of 2GB, with 4GB recommended for optimal performance, but Windows 11 has increased these requirements. Microsoft's investments in AI infrastructure have contributed to a RAM shortage. The Copilot+ PC branding aimed for a new hardware tier but has not met expectations. The introduction of the MacBook Neo has prompted reactions from PC manufacturers, and concerns exist about the optimization of Windows 11 on ARM architecture.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

John Carmack apologizes after Sandy Petersen says ‘Quake ruined id Software,’ and for once John Romero doesn’t tell Sandy he’s wrong

The 30th anniversary of Quake on June 22, 2026, led to reflections from its creators, particularly Sandy Petersen and John Carmack. Petersen stated, "Quake ruined id Software," acknowledging the game's achievements but highlighting the intense workload that drained the team. Carmack described the project as "overly ambitious technically" and admitted to pushing the team too hard, recognizing the need for a more balanced approach to ownership and work environment. He noted that the original corporate stock arrangement created poor incentives. Petersen mentioned that working in a large room eliminated spaces for relaxation, contributing to team stress. John Romero echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the culture at id Software and praising designer American McGee's contributions. The founders recognized their past mistakes while appreciating the legacy of their work, with id Software continuing to thrive with franchises like Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

PowerToys replaced tools I used to install on every Windows PC

Raycast for Windows, a productivity app, was initially a valuable tool for launching applications and executing actions quickly. However, the introduction of the Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys provided similar functionality, leading to Raycast being less essential for the user's needs. The user found that the Command Palette effectively served as a fast app launcher, integrating well with other PowerToys features. The user also transitioned from GlazeWM, a tiling window manager, to FancyZones in PowerToys for better window management, as FancyZones offered more tailored window layout options. Additionally, Text Extractor in PowerToys streamlined the user's optical character recognition (OCR) tasks by allowing easy text extraction from images. Overall, PowerToys consolidated several utilities into one suite, enhancing the user's productivity while reducing the need for multiple separate applications.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

The Useful Feature That Isn’t Enabled By Default On Your Windows 11 Laptop

The Night Light feature reduces blue light impact from screens, creating a warmer visual experience. Devices like Macs, iPhones, and iPads have a similar feature called Night Shift. Utilizing Night Light can enhance comfort during late-night work and alleviate eye strain. The 20-20-20 rule, lowering screen brightness, and enabling dark mode can further help with eye care. To enable Night Light on Windows, users can press Win + A to access Quick Settings or go through the Settings app by pressing Win + I, selecting System, then Display, and toggling the Night Light option. Third-party applications like f.lux can provide additional customization. Once activated, users can adjust the warmth using a "Strength" slider in the Night Light settings. Night Light also offers a scheduling feature to automate activation from sunset to sunrise or at specific times set by the user.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Sorry, Xbox fans: GTA 6 “will play best on PS5,” Sony declares, but with no PC version in sight, I can’t say I’m surprised

Sony claims that Grand Theft Auto 6 will provide its best experience on the PlayStation 5, with pre-orders starting at midnight in various time zones. Rockstar Games has released information about the game, including pricing and details about the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition, noting that physical copies will only contain a code and that GTA Online will not be available at launch. Mary Yee, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SIE, stated that "Grand Theft Auto 6 plays best on PS5" and highlighted the PS5's advanced hardware capabilities, including the DualSense controller and 3D audio technology. European retailers have suggested that the game may feature performance and quality modes, although skepticism exists regarding these claims.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Fixing a broken Windows 11 PC just got easier, and it won’t erase your files

Microsoft has introduced a new feature called point-in-time restore for Windows 11, which allows users to easily revert to previous system states. This feature is available across all editions of Windows 11, including Enterprise, Pro, and Home, and automatically generates restore points every 24 hours. Point-in-time restore captures a comprehensive snapshot of the system, including the operating system, applications, configurations, settings, and local files. It is enabled by default for Windows Home and Pro devices unless under enterprise management, while enterprise-managed systems require Windows 11 version 26H2 for activation. Systems with an OS volume smaller than 200GB have this feature disabled by default. Unlike the traditional System Restore, which requires manual image capture and does not include user files, point-in-time restore integrates user data and can be managed remotely by IT professionals. During its public preview, over two million devices enabled the feature, allowing Microsoft to refine it based on user feedback.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Android app purchases are changing as Google Play opens up billing options

Google is enhancing the payment landscape of its Play Store by allowing developers to implement their own billing systems alongside the existing Google Play Billing, initially available in the US, UK, and EEA. Starting June 30, 2026, the Play Store commission will be divided into a 10% service fee for the first million in annual revenue and a 5% billing fee for transactions through Google Play Billing, with no extra charge for alternative billing systems. The phased implementation will first affect the US, UK, and EEA, followed by Australia on September 30, 2026, and Japan and South Korea on December 31, 2026, with global access expected by September 30, 2027.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 Adds Point‑in‑Time Restore for System Recovery

Point-in-time restore is a new feature for Windows 11 that allows administrators to revert systems to a previous stable state, streamlining recovery from issues like problematic updates or software conflicts. It automatically generates restore points every 24 hours, retaining them for up to 72 hours and using a maximum of 2 percent of disk space. This feature is available on Windows 11 version 24H2 and later across all editions, including Enterprise, Pro, and Home. Administrators can initiate the restore process through the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) by selecting a restore point. Future enhancements will include remote restore capabilities through Microsoft Intune.