expanded support Archives

Winsage

May 26, 2025

A YouTuber claims that Windows was actively causing handhelds to run poorly, at least versus SteamOS

Valve has expanded support for handheld consoles, including the Lenovo Legion Go S, which now offers an option for SteamOS alongside Windows. A recent analysis by YouTuber Dave2D highlights that the SteamOS version significantly outperforms the Windows version in terms of framerate and battery life. The Windows version retails for approximately 9, while the SteamOS variant is priced at 9. In performance tests, the SteamOS version achieved 10-15 FPS higher in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, and provided over six hours of gameplay compared to the Windows version's two hours and 47 minutes. The Lenovo Legion Go S also surpasses the Steam Deck in framerate, achieving 10-15 FPS more at a 15W power draw, although the Steam Deck still has an advantage in battery life and pricing. The performance gap raises questions about Microsoft's upcoming handheld device running Windows and its ability to compete with the efficiency of SteamOS.

Winsage

May 20, 2025

Windows 10 and 11: Microsoft removes Store fees for individual app developers

Microsoft announced that starting June 2015, individual developers will no longer incur fees to register and submit their apps to the Microsoft Store. This makes the Microsoft Store the first global digital store to offer free app publishing. Corporate developers will still face charges. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing enhancements such as improved hosting for privacy policies, expanded support resources, a policy update for Win32 app installations, promotional campaign capabilities for developers, enhanced health reports, and visibility on when apps were last updated. Microsoft has previously allowed developers to retain all revenue from non-game apps using their billing system, while charging a 12 percent fee for games and a 15 percent fee for apps using Microsoft's retail platform. In 2021, Microsoft expanded the types of applications that can be submitted to the store.

BetaBeacon

March 14, 2025

You can now play Android games on your AMD-powered PC

Google has expanded support for Android games on PCs running on AMD hardware, which was previously unavailable. The updated Google Play Games app now includes support for integrated AMD graphics, provides information on game compatibility with hardware, and introduces new features such as multi-account and multi-instance support. Google is also collaborating with PC OEMs to pre-install the app on their computers to expand the reach of Android games beyond traditional devices.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

This apps adds features to Windows 11’s File Explorer I didn’t even know were missing

Windows 11's File Explorer has been enhanced over the years but still lacks certain features found in third-party alternatives. The Explorer Tab Utility is a free program available on GitHub that adds functionalities to File Explorer, such as opening windows as tabs, duplicating tabs, navigating custom paths, and reopening closed tabs with the CTRL+SHIFT+T shortcut. The utility aims to inspire further improvements to File Explorer, which has had a dark mode for years but still struggles with incomplete UI elements. The latest update, version 2.0.0, includes major architectural changes like complete COM integration, improved thread safety, and better state management, along with new features such as smart tab switching, tab history, and enhanced hotkey systems. Technical improvements include native Windows integration, elimination of UI automation dependencies, and better handling of race conditions.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Brings a Series of IMPORTANT Updates to Windows 11, What You’ll Get on Your PC

Microsoft has released a significant update for Windows 11, now available globally, which includes enhancements for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Key features include an upgraded Windows Search that allows users to find files in OneDrive using descriptive phrases in the File Explorer search bar. This feature is currently available to Windows Insiders on Copilot+ and Snapdragon devices, with plans to extend it to AMD and Intel platforms soon. The update also introduces a revamped Settings home page for enterprise-managed devices, bug fixes, and performance improvements, including enhanced File Explorer stability and restored offline Outlook search functionality. Remote Desktop capabilities have been improved, and the Settings interface has been made smoother. The update is being gradually rolled out from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel, with further support for more hardware platforms expected in the future.

Winsage

December 1, 2024

Win one of two Microsoft Surface CoPilot+ laptops

Two readers of RUSSH will have the chance to win a Microsoft Surface Laptop or Surface Pro, both equipped with the Copilot+ PC, valued at a combined total of ,049. The Copilot+ PC features include a Recall function for retrieving information, Click to Do for intelligent action suggestions, photo enhancement capabilities, an improved Windows search function, and support for popular applications. The devices offer all-day battery life and come in four color options. The competition closes on December 17, 2024.

Winsage

November 9, 2024

Microsoft doesn’t like you downloading Windows 10 even from official source anymore

Microsoft has expanded support for new Intel processors in Windows 10 LTSC 2021. Windows 10 will reach its end of support on October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft will charge for extended security updates. Microsoft is displaying banners on its website warning users about the impending end of life for Windows 10 and encouraging a transition to Windows 11. The support document advises users to consider purchasing new PCs for upgrading to Windows 11. The installation media requirements have been updated, removing references to DVDs and emphasizing the use of USB flash drives. The previous version required a USB flash drive, external hard drive, or DVD, while the updated version specifies only a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. A product key may be needed, but many modern devices have the product key embedded in their firmware.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows on Arm apps are about to get access to the secret sauce Adobe used to get Premiere Pro 25 to work on Copilot+ PCs

Windows on Arm PCs with the Snapdragon X Elite processor are receiving a preview build of Windows 11 that enhances Prism emulation, specifically Build 27744. This update expands support for various CPU features, allowing non-native Arm applications to run more efficiently. The update increases the range of 64-bit x86 applications that can be emulated, integrating support for additional CPU extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C. Currently, only x64 applications are supported, and users can provide feedback on compatibility and performance issues. Additionally, the Start menu has been simplified, a new Gamepad keyboard layout is being introduced for Xbox controller navigation, the Task Manager's Disconnect and Logoff dialogs have been updated for dark mode and text scaling, and the detach virtual hard disk button has returned in the Settings menu.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Windows 11 Arm PCs are getting even better at emulation with the latest beta build

Windows 11 build 27744 in the Canary channel enhances the Prism emulator, allowing broader support for x86-based applications on Arm devices. This update includes support for additional CPU extensions such as AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C, improving compatibility with various applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro 2025. The new features are limited to 64-bit x86 applications, with future updates expected to address the limitations for 32-bit apps. Additionally, the build introduces a new gamepad keyboard, reinstates the option to detach a virtual hard disk from the Settings app, and includes minor improvements to Task Manager. Fixes address issues with NVIDIA GPUs, the Emoji Panel, Clipboard History, Windows Sandbox performance, dynamic refresh rates, and remote desktop connections. Users in the Canary channel can access the update by checking for updates on their PCs.

Winsage

October 9, 2024

Microsoft joins Google in push for password-less future with updated passkeys support

Microsoft is expanding support for passkeys in Windows 11, allowing third-party passkey providers like 1Password and Bitwarden to integrate seamlessly. Users can manage passkeys through an updated Windows Hello system, which prompts them to save passkeys to their Microsoft account or a third-party service. Passkeys can be synced across multiple Windows 11 devices using a Microsoft account, and they are secured with end-to-end encryption and the device’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM). These features will be rolled out to Windows 11 users soon, starting with the Windows Insider program.