Hardware Archives

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

HMD Asha 305: a sub-$75 Android phone with no Google apps

HMD is reintroducing the Asha brand with the launch of the Asha 305, priced at PHP 3,999 in the Philippines and around 2,390 baht in Thailand. The phone features a Unisoc SC9832E processor, options of 2–3GB of RAM, and 16–32GB of storage. It has a 5-inch display with a resolution of 854×480 pixels, a 5MP rear camera, a 2MP front camera, and a 2,500mAh battery with 5W charging. The Asha 305 operates on Android 14 Go without Google Mobile Services, offering around 100 pre-loaded apps. HMD has not announced availability or pricing for the US or UK markets.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Marvel Tōkon’s developer has apologised to PC players for the beta’s performance issues, with only a week until launch

The beta for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls lasted three days and faced significant challenges, including PlayStation Network outages on launch day and performance issues for PC players, such as severe stuttering and poor optimization. Some players reported a seamless experience, while others criticized the PC port as one of the worst in recent times. Arc System Works acknowledged the issues and is investigating solutions, promising updates and providing troubleshooting options. Speculation about the causes of performance problems included background processes from anti-cheat and PlayStation services. Despite these issues, the beta reached a peak of 33,233 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing previous records set by Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. The official release is scheduled for August 6, leaving developers with just over a week to address the feedback and performance issues.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

CachyOS Outperforming Windows 11, Ubuntu & Fedora On AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470

The BOSGAME VTA-439 mini PC features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 Gorgon Point SoC with a 12-core and 24-thread architecture, Radeon 890M integrated RDNA 3.5 graphics, 32GB of dual 16GB DDR5-5600 memory, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It ships with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro and has been benchmarked against Windows 11, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Fedora Workstation 44, and CachyOS to evaluate performance.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

One year later, XBOX’s Adaptive Joystick has changed our accessible gaming life for the better — as Microsoft’s efforts slow down

A year ago, the author invested in the XBOX Adaptive Joystick for their fiancée, who has a connective tissue disorder that makes traditional gaming controls uncomfortable. The joystick was intended to help her play PC-exclusive games like World of Warcraft. Microsoft is undergoing significant restructuring, resulting in approximately 3,200 layoffs, including the elimination of the Gaming Accessibility Lead and accessibility testers. The XBOX Adaptive Joystick is priced at .99 in the U.S. and £24.99 in the U.K., but its future is uncertain due to these layoffs. The joystick is not wireless but features a long USB cable and lacks pressure-sensitive triggers, which limits analog input options. Despite its limitations, it is considered user-friendly and adaptable for various gaming experiences.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

Windows 11 ruined my old laptop, but this lightweight Linux distro brought it back to life

An early 2019 Acer Aspire laptop, previously slow and deemed obsolete after updating to Windows 11, was transformed by installing Zorin OS Lite. The laptop, equipped with 4GB of RAM and an Intel Core i3-8145U processor, experienced significant performance improvements, including faster boot times and quicker application launches. The user found the transition to Zorin OS Lite seamless, with familiar keyboard shortcuts and a smooth interface. Performance metrics showed a Speedometer score increase from 5.68 on Windows 11 to 12.0 on Zorin OS Lite, and the system utilized less RAM while idle. The laptop regained functionality, suitable for travel and quick tasks, and the user felt encouraged to explore more complex Linux distributions.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

Microsoft moves to end pirated Windows activations

Microsoft is introducing the KMS Hardware Secured system to enhance Windows licensing security by making unauthorized activation methods more difficult. This system will use TPM-based attestation to authenticate the server managing activation requests, ensuring only legitimate devices are recognized. Readiness notifications for Windows Server 2025 will begin in August 2026, allowing administrators to prepare for the transition to TPM-based attestation, which is expected to become a requirement for KMS activation in a future Windows Server release. This initiative targets corporate clients using Windows volume licensing to complicate unauthorized activation. Additionally, Microsoft plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 4,800 positions, or nearly 2.1% of its global staff, as part of a corporate transformation strategy.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

You heard wrong, Microsoft isn’t ending pirated Windows 11 with TPM, and the new rule only affects enterprise KMS servers

On July 22, Microsoft announced the KMS Hardware-Secured requirement, linking Windows volume activation servers to a TPM chip. This initiative is aimed at organizations using Key Management Service (KMS) servers to enhance security by ensuring that KMS hosts verify their identity and integrity through the TPM before activating Windows machines. The motivation behind this requirement is to prevent unauthorized activation methods that exploit fake KMS servers. Organizations are advised to ensure their KMS hosts are certified and that TPM is enabled. The KMS Hardware-Secured measures do not target individual users with pirated copies of Windows, as most current piracy methods do not involve KMS servers. Microsoft has not pursued legal action against minor piracy instances, focusing instead on maintaining user engagement through subscriptions and services.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

The new ‘backward compatible’ Xbox games on PC run on an OG Xbox emulator inside an Xbox 360 emulator, and people have already used it to run other Xbox 360 games

The four original Xbox titles made available for "Backward Compatibility on PC" are using a double layer of Xbox console emulation. The new backwards compatibility layer is an Xbox 360 emulator operating with XeFu, the original Xbox emulator designed for the 360. Developers can run dumped backwards-compatible Xbox 360 and Xbox Original games on PC using Microsoft's PC port of XeO3 and components of XWine1. This approach reuses existing technology rather than creating a new emulator from scratch. The XWine1 project indicates that it is possible to run other original Xbox and Xbox 360 games on PC, although success may vary.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved Looks Worse Than Master Chief Collection on Steam Deck and Xbox Ally

Halo: Campaign Evolved has been released for early access. It features impressive visuals on high-end PCs and current consoles but struggles on lower-end hardware, particularly handheld devices like the Steam Deck. The game requires an Intel Core i7-10700K and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, which are beyond the capabilities of the Steam Deck and base Xbox Ally. On the Xbox Ally, the game runs at 1280x720 resolution with Very Low settings and achieves around 30 fps, occasionally dipping into the mid-20s. Despite being technically playable, the visual quality is poor, with bland textures and a lack of environmental detail. In contrast, the Master Chief Collection runs at 65-70 fps on the Xbox Ally and offers superior visual fidelity. The Steam page claims Campaign Evolved is Steam Deck Verified, although performance is lacking compared to other titles. For those wanting to experience the original Halo campaign on the Steam Deck, the Master Chief Collection is recommended.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

I checked Reddit to see which Windows 11 features people truly find “life changing”, and the community had some surprising answers

Windows 11 includes several features that enhance productivity, many of which are underutilized by users: 1. Clipboard History: Activated with "WIN + V", it allows users to access a history of copied text and images, improving multitasking by enabling retrieval of multiple copied items. 2. Snipping Tool: Beyond screenshots, it includes screen recording, text extraction (OCR), basic image editing, and GIF creation, streamlining workflows by reducing the need for third-party applications. 3. End Task from Taskbar: Users can terminate unresponsive applications directly from the Taskbar, simplifying the process compared to using Task Manager. 4. Windows Sandbox: Provides a temporary Windows environment for testing untrusted software without risking the main system, available only on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. 5. Winget Command: The Windows Package Manager simplifies app installation and updates via command line, saving time compared to searching for applications online. 6. Snap Layouts: Activated with "Win + Z", it enhances window management by allowing users to arrange applications efficiently on larger monitors. 7. Windows Key + Shift + Arrow: This shortcut enables quick movement of windows between multiple monitors, improving productivity for users with dual or multiple displays. 8. Voice Typing: Activated with "Win + H", it allows dictation in nearly any text field, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. 9. Reliability Monitor: Accessible via "perfmon /rel", it presents system issues on a timeline, making troubleshooting easier and potentially preventing unnecessary reinstallation of Windows 11. 10. Advanced Display Settings: Users can check and adjust their monitor's refresh rate in Settings, ensuring optimal performance, as many monitors default to 60Hz even if they support higher rates.