innovations Archives

AppWizard

June 29, 2025

Xbox Game Pass Just Quietly Added The Most Influential Strategy Series Ever On PC

The divide between console and PC gaming has blurred, with genres crossing platforms. Classic computer games, like those in the Warcraft series, still benefit from mouse and keyboard precision. The Warcraft franchise has significantly influenced the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, with a remastered collection of the trilogy now available for PC players through Game Pass. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans set a new standard for RTS games, introducing intricate missions and online multiplayer. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness solidified the series' status with enhanced AI and user-friendly controls, while also being ported to PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Warcraft III redefined the series by emphasizing hero units and intertwining narratives, leading to the events of World of Warcraft. The remastered versions, including Warcraft III: Reforged, have improved significantly and are accessible through Game Pass, providing a convenient way to experience these influential titles. The Warcraft trilogy is available on PC and included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Watch us game on a $1,300 PC with Asus’ new RX 9060 XT card

Michael has a decade of experience in technology journalism, covering topics from Apple to ZTE. He is a keyboard enthusiast at PCWorld, focusing on achieving the perfect typing experience and often customizing mechanical keyboards. His portfolio includes contributions to publications like Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he has covered major tech events such as CES and Mobile World Congress. He resides in Pennsylvania and enjoys outdoor activities, including kayaking.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

PC gaming doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk in your spare time: Here’s how I built the perfect couch setup

Many console enthusiasts express concerns about the transition to PC gaming, citing high costs, time spent on settings, and discomfort from returning to a desk after work. Innovations like the Couchmaster Cycon2, which features memory foam cushions and an integrated mouse mat, provide comfort and convenience for gamers. Although the Cycon2 is no longer in production, alternatives like the CYWORX and CYBOSS are available, with prices at and 4 respectively, offering similar functionality with wooden worktops and efficient cable management. Investing in a quality 4K 144Hz TV can enhance the gaming experience, allowing for flexibility in playing positions.

Winsage

June 28, 2025

Mercedes-AMG Might Be Having a Windows Vista Moment With These Four-Cylinder Hybrids

Microsoft's Windows Vista, released in 2007, faced significant user dissatisfaction due to performance issues, compatibility problems, and crashes, despite its advanced features. Similarly, Mercedes-AMG's introduction of four-cylinder plug-in hybrid vehicles has led to discontent among enthusiasts, who miss the auditory excitement typical of high-performance cars. Reports indicate that Mercedes is shifting back to inline-sixes and V8 engines due to this disconnect with traditional customers. The four-cylinder AMG models, launched in 2022, may have a short legacy, with fewer than 100,000 units sold. AMG's boss, Michael Schiebe, acknowledged the need for better communication about the technology to customers and salespeople. The criticisms of the new models highlight a lack of the expected sound experience that performance car enthusiasts value.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam Summer Sale winners: 25 unbeatable deals on top-notch games

Michael has a decade of experience in technology journalism, covering a range of topics from Apple to ZTE. He is known as a keyboard enthusiast at PCWorld, where he tests and reviews new models and builds custom mechanical keyboards. His portfolio includes contributions to publications like Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he has covered major tech events such as CES and Mobile World Congress. He resides in Pennsylvania and enjoys outdoor activities, including kayaking.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Microsoft Launches “Mu,” New On-Device AI Model for Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft Corporation unveiled a small language model named Mu on June 23, designed for local operation on personal computers, particularly Copilot+ PCs. Mu is a 330 million parameter encoder-decoder language model optimized for deployment on Neural Processing Units (NPUs), allowing for quick responses with reduced power consumption and memory usage. It was pre-trained on a dataset of hundreds of billions of educational tokens and employs advanced fine-tuning techniques, including distillation and low-rank adaptation, along with transformer enhancements like Dual LayerNorm, Rotary Positional Embeddings, and Grouped-Query Attention. Users will access Mu's capabilities through the Windows operating system's Settings function, translating natural language inputs into system commands.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: MEGA MAN X DiVE, Ace Attorney Trilogy, GHOST TRICK, more

Google Play is offering significant discounts on select Capcom titles. Samsung is providing a complimentary credit for the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Fold 7, and Galaxy Watch 8. The Galaxy Watch 7 is at an all-time low price on Amazon, and the Samsung Galaxy S25+ has a discount of [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Your mid-week Android game and app deals have arrived, offering a delightful array of discounts and promotions. Google Play is currently showcasing significant price reductions on select Capcom titles, making it an opportune moment for gamers to expand their collections. Additionally, Samsung is enticing customers with a complimentary credit applicable towards the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7. This offer is complemented by attractive deals on the Galaxy Watch 7, now available at an all-time low on Amazon, and the Samsung Galaxy S25+, which is seeing a generous 0 discount. For those in the market for a versatile device, HP’s OmniBook X Flip convertible Copilot+ PC is also being offered at an impressive 0 off. Below, we delve into the details of today’s Android app deals. Reserve your FREE credit towards the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7, Galaxy Watch 8, and more In addition to the enticing discounts, customers can secure a free credit that can be utilized for the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7, as well as the Galaxy Watch 8. This promotion not only enhances the value of your purchase but also adds an element of excitement as you prepare for the latest innovations from Samsung. Android app and game deals still live: Among the standout offerings is the much-anticipated MEGA MAN X DiVE, which has recently introduced an offline version. This game reimagines the beloved Mega Man X series, allowing players to experience thrilling side-scrolling action in a fresh context. MEGA MAN X DiVE features: Mega Man X DiVE transports players into Deep Log, a digital realm where the game data of the Mega Man X series has been meticulously archived. However, a mysterious bug has caused this data to become fragmented. With the guidance of a cryptic navigator named RiCO, players embark on a journey to restore order within this digital landscape. As you take control of Hunter Programs—recreations of iconic characters such as X and Zero—you will face off against various forms of Irregular Data, striving to mend the fractured game data and bring harmony back to the world of Mega Man. Stay tuned for more updates and explore the exciting deals available today!" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"]. HP’s OmniBook X Flip convertible Copilot+ PC is also available at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Your mid-week Android game and app deals have arrived, offering a delightful array of discounts and promotions. Google Play is currently showcasing significant price reductions on select Capcom titles, making it an opportune moment for gamers to expand their collections. Additionally, Samsung is enticing customers with a complimentary credit applicable towards the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7. This offer is complemented by attractive deals on the Galaxy Watch 7, now available at an all-time low on Amazon, and the Samsung Galaxy S25+, which is seeing a generous 0 discount. For those in the market for a versatile device, HP’s OmniBook X Flip convertible Copilot+ PC is also being offered at an impressive 0 off. Below, we delve into the details of today’s Android app deals. Reserve your FREE credit towards the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7, Galaxy Watch 8, and more In addition to the enticing discounts, customers can secure a free credit that can be utilized for the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7, as well as the Galaxy Watch 8. This promotion not only enhances the value of your purchase but also adds an element of excitement as you prepare for the latest innovations from Samsung. Android app and game deals still live: Among the standout offerings is the much-anticipated MEGA MAN X DiVE, which has recently introduced an offline version. This game reimagines the beloved Mega Man X series, allowing players to experience thrilling side-scrolling action in a fresh context. MEGA MAN X DiVE features: Mega Man X DiVE transports players into Deep Log, a digital realm where the game data of the Mega Man X series has been meticulously archived. However, a mysterious bug has caused this data to become fragmented. With the guidance of a cryptic navigator named RiCO, players embark on a journey to restore order within this digital landscape. As you take control of Hunter Programs—recreations of iconic characters such as X and Zero—you will face off against various forms of Irregular Data, striving to mend the fractured game data and bring harmony back to the world of Mega Man. Stay tuned for more updates and explore the exciting deals available today!" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] off. The game MEGA MAN X DiVE has introduced an offline version, allowing players to restore fragmented game data in a digital realm called Deep Log. Players control Hunter Programs, including characters like X and Zero, to face Irregular Data and mend the game data.

Tech Optimizer

June 25, 2025

Meet the new features for Avast Free AV and Avast Premium Security

Avast has millions of active users and is recognized in the cybersecurity field for its effective solutions and commitment to user security. Avast Free Antivirus includes real-time behavioral analysis for proactive malware detection, enhanced Network Inspector and Firewall modules for network security, improved intelligent quarantine and cloud scanning, and the new Scam Guardian feature, which includes Web Guard for browsing protection and Avast Assistant for scam guidance. Avast Premium Security offers additional features for heightened privacy, including Sensitive Data Shield, Webcam Shield, Data Shredder, and Hack Alerts for monitoring password leaks. The Pro version introduces Email Guard, which uses AI for intelligent email filtering to detect phishing attempts. Avast's tools enhance online shopping safety, email security, public Wi-Fi connections, and protection of sensitive files and credentials.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

How to create custom AI stickers on a Google Pixel phone

Google has introduced the Pixel Studio app for the Pixel 9 series, allowing users to access custom AI-generated images and stickers. The custom AI stickers feature was launched with the June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop and is exclusive to the Google Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This functionality is available for devices set to English, Japanese, or German. Users must update to Android 16 and may need to update Gboard and Pixel Studio via the Google Play Store to access the feature. To create custom AI stickers, users can open the keyboard in any app, tap the emoji symbol, press the AI sticker button, and follow the prompts to generate and save their stickers. Custom AI stickers cannot depict anything resembling a person. The base-model Google Pixel 9 supports the latest AI innovations, including custom AI stickers.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Android users get another option to pay later with Klarna on Google Pay

Klarna has integrated with Google Pay, enhancing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options for consumers during online checkout. This integration began on June 24 and will be available on select Android apps and websites that support Google Pay. Klarna's chief commercial officer, David Sykes, stated that this partnership advances the company's mission to offer transparent and adaptable payment solutions. Google Pay has been expanding its BNPL offerings since 2024, incorporating providers like Affirm and Zip. Additionally, Google has updated its card information interaction methods to include biometric security measures. There are also indications of a new feature for Google Wallet that would allow users to add cards via NFC technology, although users will still need to enter the card's CVV for security. The NFC Forum has suggested plans for broader NFC technology capabilities.