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Winsage

February 21, 2025

Microsoft Paint’s AI features for Windows 11 out in more regions, including Image Creator

Microsoft is expanding the accessibility of its MS Paint application on Windows 11, introducing an update that enhances the Paint Creator mode for users outside the United States. This update includes the "Image Creator" button, which uses Bing's AI capabilities to generate images, now available to a broader audience. Users need a Microsoft 365 subscription and Copilot Pro to access the Paint Image Creator, which operates on OpenAI’s DALL-E technology. The process involves entering a text description, selecting a style, and generating three image variants. Users must have a Microsoft account to track usage and a Microsoft 365 subscription to utilize the Paint Image Creator with an increased limit on AI credits. The Paint Creator operates on an “AI Credits” system, providing 60 credits monthly for image generation. Additionally, Microsoft is rolling out the Generative Erase feature, allowing users to remove objects from images using AI.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

RiverDogs release 2025 Promo Schedule, headlined by Drone Light Show, A Minecraft Movie Night

The RiverDogs will begin their 2025 season on April 4th with a 66-game home slate, featuring various promotional events. Highlights include: - Opening Weekend (April 4-6) with giveaways such as a magnet schedule, limited-edition replica jerseys, and a "comeback" yo-yo for children. - Fight Night (April 19) with a Pillow Fight Night and a live boxing match. - Golf Night (May 10) with golf-themed games and a giveaway. - Minecraft Movie Night (May 11) with themed activities for Mother's Day. - TP/Mischief Night (May 31) encouraging playful toilet papering. - Charlie’s Not-So-Spooky Halloween (June 1) for kids' trick-or-treating. - Dino Night (June 14) featuring life-sized dinosaurs. - Carolina Day (June 28) with a drone light show. - Star Wars Night (June 29) with themed activities. - Margaritaville Night (July 12) honoring Jimmy Buffett. - A Knight at The Joe (August 2) with medieval-themed activities. Weekly promotions include: - Dog Day Tuesday - Wild Card Wednesday - Thirsty Thursday - Boeing Red Shirt Friday with post-game fireworks - Saturday Show at The Joe - MUSC Health Family Sunday with family-friendly activities.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Buckle up: Android Automotive has 70 new apps to keep you entertained (in the parking lot)

Google will soon introduce nearly 70 new applications for Android Automotive, increasing the total number of available apps to nearly 300. The new apps include popular streaming and gaming titles like Farm Heroes Saga, Paramount Plus, Plex, F1 TV, Red Bull TV, and NBC News. These apps will only function when the vehicle is parked to ensure safety. Android Automotive is an embedded operating system in vehicles, distinct from Android Auto, which connects a phone to a vehicle. Currently, around 100 vehicle models feature Android Automotive, including the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, 2023 Honda Accord, 2025 Ford Explorer, and 2024 Nissan Rogue. The rollout of the new apps will initially target select Volvo and Polestar models, with broader availability expected soon. Google is working with various vehicle manufacturers to enhance the app ecosystem for automotive screens.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Here are 12 free Steam games worth trying on your Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or Legion Go right now

A selection of 12 free games available for PC and handheld users includes: 1. A Cat’s Way Home - A simulation game focused on building relationships with cats. 2. Farm Wars - A real-time PvP strategy game involving crop planting and animal transformation for sabotage. 3. Starling - A game where players build a base using local resources as a Starling Corp employee. 4. A Very Merry Nightmare - A 3D first-person adventure set in a twisted Christmas world, evading an AI enemy. 5. Little Robot - A 15-minute exploration game featuring a melancholic robot in a backyard. 6. Cedric & Odious - A 2D hack-and-slash adventure in a dark fantasy realm. 7. Paw Pirates - A multiplayer game focused on chaotic battles between pirate ships. 8. Realm Traveler - An RPG-style game where players choose a class and embark on quests. 9. Strange New Tides - A 2.5D sandbox experience in Saltbay Cove, involving relationship building and home construction. 10. Templar - A 2D hack-and-slash game where players battle demons as the last Templar knight. 11. Popo & Rob - A fast-paced first-person shooter with team-based matches. 12. The Machine Arena - A game featuring dynamic 4v4 PvP battles or solo PvE matches with short gameplay sessions. Additionally, Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti GPU launches today, with listings available from major retailers.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

New PC Game Sale Includes Hundreds Of AAA Hits For Low Prices

Fanatical has launched the Gaming Legends Sale, offering discounts of up to 90% on a wide range of PC games, including AAA titles and indie games. Customers spending over a certain amount will receive a bonus game or coupon code. Featured discounts include: - Control Ultimate Edition for .19 (originally .99) - Lies of P for .99 (down from .99) - System Shock Remake for .99 (previously .99) - Frostpunk for .44 (was .99) - Frostpunk 2 for .99 (originally .99) Major publishers like Capcom, Sega, and Bethesda are also participating, with discounts on titles such as: - Skyrim Anniversary Edition for .49 (down from .99) - Dragon's Dogma 2 for .39 (originally .99) - Metaphor: Refantazio for .99 (was .99) Preorders are available for upcoming titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Lika A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, along with additional preorder discounts on games such as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Bundle deals also qualify for the bonus promotion on orders exceeding a certain amount.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

I love Steam Link, but this new streaming app is better in every way

Razer's Nexus app is a new alternative to Steam Link for local game streaming, featuring remote play functionality that requires the installation of both the Nexus app and the Razer Cortex app on the desktop. The setup process takes about five minutes, slightly longer than Steam Link. The Nexus app is based on Moonlight, an open-source streaming software, and offers enhanced performance by automatically adjusting settings for high-refresh-rate displays. It works well with PC Game Pass titles but has limitations with non-Steam games, which may require manual control adjustments. Users must create an account, and the app promotes paid games and includes display ads. Alternatives like Artemis/Apollo exist but require more complex installation.

Winsage

February 20, 2025

5 most useful SysInternals tools for optimizing your Windows PC

SysInternals is a suite of 74 utilities from Microsoft designed to enhance the performance and reliability of Windows PCs. Users can download the entire suite or select individual tools from the Microsoft SysInternals Learn page. 1. AutoRuns: Identifies unnecessary background processes and obsolete registry entries, providing detailed information about each entry. It allows users to review installed drivers and spot potentially harmful entries. Launched via Start menu or by typing Autoruns.exe in the Run dialog. 2. TCPView: Monitors all TCP and UDP connections in real-time, categorizing them by version and displaying ports and connection timestamps. It helps identify bandwidth-hogging processes. Launched via Start menu or by typing tcpview.exe in the Run dialog. 3. RamMap: Provides an in-depth analysis of memory consumption across processes, helping identify memory-hogging applications and diagnose memory leaks. It offers options to clear memory, including emptying working sets, standby lists, and modified lists. Launched via Start menu or by typing rammap.exe in the Run dialog. 4. DiskView: Offers detailed insights into hard drive usage with a color-coded map of disk sectors, helping users identify fragmentation and unused space. Launched via Start menu or by typing diskview.exe in the Run dialog. 5. CacheSet: Optimizes the Windows file system cache by allowing users to adjust cached data management settings and clear the cache with a single click. Launched by typing cacheset.exe in the Run dialog. The SysInternals Suite is cost-free, effective, and compatible with Windows Recovery mode, making it a practical choice for users looking to enhance their PC's performance.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Spencer: Xbox isn’t trying to move players away from owning games

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, clarified that Microsoft is not trying to move players away from game ownership but aims to provide various options for gaming, including traditional ownership and subscription models like Xbox Game Pass. He reassured gamers about the future of hardware and the ability to continue playing their games, emphasizing the company's commitment to maintaining players' libraries through features like backward compatibility and Play Anywhere. Spencer stated that players can purchase any game available on Game Pass, reinforcing the flexibility in gaming experiences. He acknowledged the need for profitability while focusing on maximizing options for gamers. Additionally, he noted that embracing Windows and cloud technology has been crucial for Microsoft's growth, particularly in Asia, where cloud and PC gaming are expanding rapidly.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

The Play Store sucks, so here’s what I use instead

As of early February 2025, there are nearly 2.1 million apps available on the Play Store, with over 1,100 new apps introduced daily, resulting in an average of almost 42,000 new options each month. The search function on the Play Store is often ineffective for broader queries, and users face challenges due to the lack of sorting options and transparency regarding app updates. F-Droid is a platform for free and open-source software (FOSS) applications, requiring sideloading or the use of clients like Neo Store or Droid-ify. Obtainium is a tool that allows users to access open-source applications and updates directly from their sources, supporting over a dozen repositories including GitHub and GitLab, and enables users to export curated app lists and track updates without downloading them.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

100+ run commands that can help you work efficiently on Windows

Windows 11 and 10 provide run commands that streamline workflow by allowing quick access to various system tools, applications, settings, and diagnostic features. Administrative Tools: - compmgmt.msc: Opens Computer Management. - devmgmt.msc: Launches Device Manager. - diskmgmt.msc: Opens Disk Management. - services.msc: Manages background services. - eventvwr.msc: Opens Event Viewer. - secpol.msc: Opens Local Security Policy. - regedit: Opens Registry Editor. - taskschd.msc: Opens Task Scheduler. - gpedit.msc: Opens Group Policy Editor (Pro & Enterprise). System Diagnostics and Troubleshooting: - msinfo32: Opens System Information. - dxdiag: Launches DirectX Diagnostic Tool. - verifier: Opens Driver Verifier Manager. - resmon: Opens Resource Monitor. - perfmon: Opens Performance Monitor. - mdsched: Runs Windows Memory Diagnostic. - msdt: Opens Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool. - dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth: Repairs Windows image. - sfc /scannow: Scans and repairs system files. - chkdsk: Runs Check Disk. - winver: Checks Windows version. - cleanmgr: Opens Disk Cleanup. File and Storage Management: - cleanmgr: Launches Disk Cleanup. - dfrgui: Opens Disk Defragmenter. - chkdsk: Checks and repairs disk errors. - diskpart: Opens Disk Partition utility. - onedrive: Opens OneDrive folder. - shell:AppsFolder: Opens all apps folder. - wab: Opens Windows contacts folder. - explorer: Opens File Explorer. - recent: Opens recent files and folders. - documents: Opens Documents folder. - downloads: Opens Downloads folder. - favorites: Opens Favorites folder. - pictures: Opens Pictures folder. - videos: Opens Videos folder. - %AppData%: Opens App Data folder. - debug: Accesses Debug folder. - backup: Opens backup folder. - %systemdrive%: Opens system drive. Security and Maintenance: - firewall.cpl: Opens Windows Defender Firewall. - wf.msc: Launches Firewall with advanced security. - ms-settings:windowsdefender: Opens Windows Security. - sigverif: Verifies file signatures. - verifier: Checks driver integrity. - msconfig: Opens System Configuration. - sfc /scannow: Runs system file checker. - dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth: Repairs Windows image. Launching Apps: - notepad: Opens Notepad. - calc: Launches Calculator. - snippingtool: Opens Snipping Tool. - mspaint: Opens Microsoft Paint. - winword: Starts Microsoft Word. - excel: Opens Microsoft Excel. - chrome: Launches Google Chrome. - msedge: Opens Microsoft Edge. - control: Opens Control Panel. - explorer: Opens File Explorer. - powerpnt: Opens Microsoft PowerPoint. - firefox: Opens Mozilla Firefox. - wmplayer: Opens Windows Media Player. - msra: Opens Windows Remote Assistance. - outlook: Opens Microsoft Outlook. Navigating Settings: - ms-settings: Opens main Settings app. - ms-settings:network: Opens network & internet settings. - ms-settings:display: Opens display settings. - ms-settings:personalization: Opens personalization settings. - ms-settings:windowsupdate: Opens Windows Update settings. - ms-settings:privacy: Opens Privacy settings. - ms-settings:bluetooth: Opens Bluetooth settings. - ms-settings:devices: Opens Devices settings. - ms-settings:system: Opens System settings. - ms-settings:accounts: Opens Accounts settings. - ms-settings:timeandlanguage: Opens Time & Language settings. - ms-settings:gaming: Opens Gaming settings. - ms-settings:region: Opens Region settings. - ms-settings:optionalfeatures: Opens Optional Features settings. - ms-settings:storage: Opens Storage settings. - ms-settings:notifications: Opens Notifications settings. - ms-settings:taskbar: Opens Taskbar settings. - ms-settings:start: Opens Start Menu settings. - ms-settings:lockscreen: Opens Lock Screen settings. Network and Connectivity: - ncpa.cpl: Opens Network Connections. - ipconfig: Displays IP configuration. - ping: Tests network connectivity. - control netconnections: Opens Network and Sharing Center. - ms-settings:network-wifi: Opens Wi-Fi settings. - ms-settings:datausage: View data usage. - ms-settings:network-vpn: Manage VPN. - ms-settings:network-proxy: Configures proxy settings. Display and Appearance: - desk.cpl: Opens Display Settings. - control color: Customizes window colors. - dpiscaling: Opens display scaling settings. - ms-settings:personalization: Opens Personalization settings. - ms-settings:themes: Changes desktop themes. - ms-settings:display-advanced: Adjusts advanced display settings. Accessibility: - magnify: Opens Magnifier. - narrator: Launches Narrator. - osk: Opens on-screen keyboard. - utilman: Opens Ease of Access Center. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-display: Opens display accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-cursor: Opens cursor accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-mouse: Opens mouse accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard: Opens keyboard accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator: Opens narrator accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-magnifier: Opens magnifier accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter: Opens color filter accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-highcontrast: Opens high contrast accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-closedcaptioning: Opens closed captioning accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio: Opens audio accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-eyecontrol: Opens eye control accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer: Opens mouse pointer accessibility settings. Power Management: - powercfg.cpl: Opens Power Options. - ms-settings:powersleep: Adjusts power and sleep settings. - powercfg /batteryreport: Generates a battery report. - powercfg /energy: Creates an energy efficiency report. - powercfg /hibernate: Enables or disables hibernation. - powercfg /deviceenablewake: Enables a device to wake the computer. - powercfg /devicedisablewake: Disables a device from waking the computer.