fonts Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

OK Google, it’s time to support app icon packs on Pixel phones

The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update introduces new features, including Material 3 Expressive and a "Themes" tab in the Wallpaper and Style app, indicating potential customization through unreleased "Pixel Customization Packs." While the full capabilities of Pixel themes are unclear, they may include new wallpapers, fonts, and app icon designs, addressing the current limitations of app icon customization on Pixel phones. Future updates promise customizable app icon shapes, but lack of support for third-party icon packs remains a significant drawback compared to competitors like OnePlus and Samsung. The introduction of Pixel themes raises hopes for enhanced personalization, particularly regarding icon pack support, which has been a long-standing request from Pixel users.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

WordPad is dead in Windows 11, but Notepad is absorbing its skills

Microsoft has announced updates to Notepad, integrating "lightweight formatting" capabilities that include support for markdown input and file formats, bold and italic fonts, and hyperlinks, accessible via a new toolbar. These features are not in testing and will be available on Windows PCs soon. This shift follows the retirement of WordPad in late 2023, leaving a gap for basic text editing. The enhancements position Notepad as a viable replacement for WordPad. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing the Edit app, an open-source command-line interface, to complement Notepad's new features and improve user experience.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Windows 10 KB5058481 update brings seconds back to calendar flyout

Microsoft has released the optional KB5058481 preview cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2, which includes seven changes, notably the restoration of seconds to the time display in the calendar flyout. This update is part of the routine "optional non-security preview updates" and does not address security vulnerabilities. Users can install the update by navigating to Settings and manually checking for updates. Upon installation, Windows 10 22H2 will be updated to build 19045.5917. The update also includes enhancements for user experience and addresses a known issue with NOTO fonts appearing blurry at 96 DPI, particularly affecting CJK text in Chromium-based browsers. A temporary solution is to adjust the display scaling to 125% or 150%.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

The ‘End of 10’ is nigh, but don’t bury your PC just yet

The "End of 10" website is a collaborative initiative aimed at educating users about alternatives to purchasing new computers as Windows 10 approaches its end of life. The official launch is set for May 28, and the site features a comprehensive list of over 70 locations worldwide for Linux support, with a significant concentration in Germany. Recent data shows that Windows 11 has a market share of 16.5%, while Windows 10 has 15.5%. Approximately 400 million Windows 10 machines cannot upgrade due to hardware limitations. The UK's Consumer Association magazine suggests converting to ChromeOS Flex for those unable to upgrade or purchase new hardware. Which? recommends Ubuntu for users willing to learn a new system, and alternatives like Linux Mint or Ubuntu flavors are suggested for those transitioning from Windows. The discussion also mentions the longevity of Windows 10 LTSC and the maturity of tools like Snap and systemd in recent years.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

APK Full Form in Android: Explained for Gamers and App Lovers

APK stands for Android Application Package, which is a file format essential for distributing, installing, and managing mobile applications on the Android platform. An APK contains all the necessary code, resources, and instructions for an app to run on Android devices. Key components of an APK include DEX files (app code), assets and resources (images, sounds, layouts), certificates and security signatures (for verification), and the AndroidManifest.xml file (which outlines permissions and components). When an app is installed, the APK is unpacked, permissions are granted, and its integrity is verified through digital signatures. APK files support various applications and games, allowing for manual installations and updates, and they ensure universal compatibility across devices. Users can adjust security settings to allow installations from unknown sources, but Android restricts this by default for safety.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Lightweight Windows 11 version finally gets an update

Microsoft has released version 2504 of Validation OS, a streamlined version of Windows 11 designed for hardware validation, error diagnosis, and quality control in Windows device production. This version includes enhancements in .NET support, driver management, and USB boot capabilities. It operates through a command-line interface (CLI) and supports Win32 applications. Key features of the 2504 release include support for WPF applications via the Microsoft-WinVOS-WPF-Support package, inclusion of Surface Dock drivers, improved USB boot functionality with RAM disk size configuration through DISM, separation of CJK fonts from the general font package, and an upgrade to the latest .NET implementation. Some known issues remain, such as instability with Bluetooth and Serial Console packages on ARM64 systems. The update builds on previous releases that added features like the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) and Hyper-V-compatible VHDX images. Validation OS is not intended for end users but benefits manufacturers and IT professionals in hardware production and validation. The latest build is available for download from Microsoft's official page.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

I tried the Windows Snipping Tool’s new text extraction feature and here’s how it went

A recent update to the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 has introduced an OCR feature, currently available only to beta channel users. This feature allows users to extract text from images and standard web pages easily, with a straightforward activation process. Users can draw a box around the desired text, and once recognized, a button appears to copy the text to the clipboard. The tool successfully retains formatting when extracting text from web pages. It performs well with clear printed text in images but struggles with handwritten text, producing numerous errors. The Snipping Tool is effective for recognizing simple fonts, enhancing productivity in text extraction.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

10 Facts you probably didn’t know about Windows as Microsoft turns 50

- Windows was originally named "Interface Manager" before being changed to "Windows" prior to its launch in 1985. - Early versions of Windows (1.0, 2.0, and 3.x) operated on top of MS-DOS and required users to boot into MS-DOS before launching the graphical interface. - The Briefcase folder was an early tool for synchronizing files between computers, which became obsolete with the rise of cloud storage solutions. - Prior to Windows XP, user profiles were basic and lacked robust security; full user accounts were implemented with Windows NT. - Several applications from Windows 1.0, including Calculator, Paint, Notepad, Clock, and Control Panel, are still present in Windows 11 in modernized forms. - The "Format" dialog in File Explorer has used the same code for over 30 years, although updates for FAT32 support are being developed. - TrueType fonts were introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992 through a licensing agreement with Apple, improving font rendering quality. - The "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" shortcut was created by IBM engineer David Bradley as a debugging tool and later adopted by Microsoft for secure attention sequences in Windows NT. - Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256KB of RAM at its launch in 1985, while Windows 11 requires at least 4GB.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5674 to the Release Preview Channel

The Windows Insider Program Team has released an update for Windows 10, specifically the Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5674 (KB5053643), available in the Release Preview Channel for version 22H2. Key features and improvements include: - Introduction of Noto CJK fonts for enhanced linguistic capabilities. - Updates to Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles for better mobile connectivity. - Fix for thumbnail crashes in File Explorer. - Secure storage of temporary files in “C:WindowsSystemTemp” to reduce unauthorized access risks. - Resolution of issues with Get-Help troubleshooters in Remote Desktop sessions. - Enhanced support for Windows Search within the European Economic Area (EEA). - Fix for printers using Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) drivers that output incorrect text.

Winsage

February 27, 2025

This Windows app is like File Explorer on steroids

File Explorer has been criticized for its sluggish performance and cumbersome interface, leading some users to explore alternatives. File Pilot has emerged as a new file management application that offers remarkable speed, opening folders almost instantaneously and providing a seamless browsing experience. It features a slider-based system for smooth transitions between viewing modes and includes productivity enhancements such as tabbed browsing, split-screen view, and an inspector mode for previewing folder contents. The app also boasts a fast search capability and extensive customization options, allowing users to remap shortcuts, adjust fonts, and toggle animations. However, File Pilot currently lacks support for network browsing and cannot be set as the default file manager without registry modifications, although developers are working on improvements.