flights Archives

Winsage

April 12, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551 (KB5055617) has been released to the Dev Channel. The Dev Channel has advanced to the 26200 series builds, and the option to switch to the Beta Channel is no longer available. This build is based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and shares features with the 26120 series in the Beta Channel. New features include enhanced Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs, allowing users to search for settings using phrases. Narrator now provides detailed image descriptions powered by AI for improved accessibility on Copilot+ PCs. Improvements are being rolled out for widgets, including the ability to read content directly from the MSN feed. Fixes include resolving crashes in Settings, File Explorer, and issues with app icons in the taskbar. Known issues include problems with Windows Recovery Environment and certain apps failing to launch post-update. The Dev Channel updates are based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and features may evolve or be removed based on feedback. Users can enable a toggle to receive updates more quickly.

Winsage

March 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (KB5053658) has been released to the Beta Channel for users on Windows 11, version 24H2. The update includes new features such as Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), which automatically detects and applies fixes for boot issues, and a speech recap feature in Narrator that allows users to access previously spoken content. The update also introduces a new UI for unexpected restarts, simplifies launching Copilot with the Win + C shortcut, and enhances the Click to Do feature with intelligent text actions in multiple languages. Additionally, the Windows share window now includes a visual preview and image editing capabilities. Various fixes have been implemented for issues in the taskbar, File Explorer, windowing, Windows Update, and Settings. Known issues include problems with Recall and File Explorer crashes for some users.

BetaBeacon

March 20, 2025

The three best airplane games for Android

Aviator is a unique game of chance where players must stop the plane at the right time to win. It requires intuition, equanimity, and knowing when to withdraw winnings.

AppWizard

March 16, 2025

New messaging app hopes to get travellers to fill idle time on flights by talking to others

Wingle is a mobile application that enables passengers to communicate with each other during flights without needing an internet connection, utilizing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The app allows users to send messages and book airport lounge services, and it was launched in Europe in July 2024, with a global rollout planned for January 2025. It has attracted over 20,000 active users, primarily from Europe. Users create profiles that include personal information and a personality diagram, and conversations are temporary, disappearing after the flight. Wingle generates revenue through commissions from booking services, and its reception has been mixed, with some users appreciating the opportunity for social interaction, while others express concerns about privacy and potential misuse.

Winsage

March 7, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808 has been released to the Canary Channel. There are no plans to release SDKs for the 27xxx series builds. A significant update to the Task Manager has been initiated, aligning CPU utilization metrics with industry standards, and a new optional CPU Utility column is available on the Details tab. Several fixes have been made, including resolving issues with popular games, printing bugs, blank search windows, Settings app crashes, inaccurate battery icon colors, and BitLocker performance. Known issues include a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches and a warning for Copilot+ PCs transitioning to the Canary Channel regarding the loss of Windows Hello PIN and biometrics. Enhancements to the Microsoft Store include a new spotlight design and updates to the Downloads page. Insiders in the Canary Channel are reminded that builds may not correspond to specific releases and may evolve or be removed. A clean installation is required to exit the Canary Channel.

Winsage

March 7, 2025

Windows 11 Canary build 27808 is out with better CPU monitoring in Task Manager and more

Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel can download build 27808, which includes enhancements to CPU monitoring in Task Manager and various fixes for gaming, printing, search, graphics, BitLocker, and more. Notable updates include a change in how Task Manager calculates CPU utilization, aligning it with industry standards, and the introduction of an optional CPU Utility column on the Details tab. Fixes include: - Resolved a bug causing games like Roblox to crash upon launch. - Corrected a printing issue that triggered crashes in certain applications. - Fixed a glitch resulting in a blank search window in the taskbar. - Addressed a crash issue in Settings when adding a color profile. - Rectified inaccurate color displays in the battery icon. - Improved performance for loading BitLocker UI elements and fixed a looping issue with BitLocker. - Resolved an error with the Get-BitLockerVolume command. Known bugs include issues with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for users transitioning from other channels, and ongoing investigations into a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Ten PC games I could have played, in full, during the time I spent failing to connect to Elden Ring: Nightreign on PS5

On Valentine’s Day, an attempt to engage with the network test for Elden Ring: Nightreign resulted in a three-hour experience with server issues on PS5. The test may have provided data for FromSoftware ahead of the game's May release. Alternative games suggested for exploration during the wait include: - Jazzpunk: A comedic game resembling a 60s spy thriller. - Mouthwashing: A compact horror game set in a stranded spaceship. - Thirty Flights of Loving: A brief narrative about a heist gone wrong. - Bernband: A low-resolution walking simulator in an alien city. - The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe: A follow-up mini-adventure with witty commentary. - Exo One: A visually stunning game focused on momentum-based traversal. - Stray: A feline-themed game with fluid platforming and intricate design. - Scanner Sombre: A techno-horror experience using a LiDAR scanner in darkness. - Minit: An adventure game where players solve puzzles within a minute-long lifespan. - Portal: An iconic puzzle-platformer known for its innovative mechanics.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 (KB5050087) has been released to the Beta Channel, available only to users who have not transitioned to updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2. New features include the rollout of lock screen widgets for Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing customization of widgets like Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic. A new group policy, "Disable Widgets On Lock Screen," is also introduced for IT administrators in the EEA. Changes and improvements include the addition of people icons in File Explorer for users signed in with a work or school account, showing Live Persona Cards from Microsoft 365. Fixes include resolving Start menu crashes, color discrepancies in the account manager flyout, and issues with File Explorer rendering and reliability. Known issues involve slow closing of File Explorer and crashes on the Settings Home page. Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 23H2, with features rolled out gradually. Features may evolve or be removed based on feedback, and localization will occur over time.

BetaBeacon

December 20, 2024

I’m having more fun with the Analogue Pocket than any mobile game I’ve played

The Analogue Pocket is a handheld device that allows users to play original GameBoy cartridges with modern upgrades like a better display and USB-C charging. The device does not require Wi-Fi and offers six to ten hours of gameplay on a single charge. The price of the device is steep, but the real cost comes from purchasing retro GameBoy cartridges, which have increased in value over the years. Despite the limited number of titles available, the Analogue Pocket provides a nostalgic gaming experience without the distractions of ads and microtransactions.

AppWizard

December 8, 2024

Google Wallet adds digital ID support in yet another US state

New Mexico has allowed residents to store their driver’s licenses and state IDs in Google Wallet, becoming the sixth state to do so after California, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland. Physical identification is still necessary for law enforcement and age verification, but many businesses and TSA checkpoints are using the NM Verifier app for smartphone-based verification. Google Wallet will soon introduce digital passport IDs, enabling users to store a digital version of their U.S. passport. Users can create a digital U.S. passport ID by selecting the option in Google Wallet and following on-screen instructions. Travelers are advised to continue carrying physical IDs until digital IDs are more widely accepted and to check the TSA’s map for supported states and airports when planning domestic flights.