Iris Archives

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Revisiting Microsoft’s biggest canceled devices — from revolutionary phones to dual-screen PCs

Microsoft has scrapped several notable hardware projects over the years, including: - Microsoft Courier (2010): A dual-screen device with a 5.5-inch FHD LCD display and 3D Touch technology, shelved in 2014 due to complexities and costs. - Surface Mini (2014): An 8-inch Windows RT tablet designed for touch and pen input, canceled shortly before its announcement due to a shift away from Windows RT. - Xbox Joule (2014): A fitness watch intended to sync with Microsoft Kinect, canceled in early 2014 before the launch of Microsoft Band. - Microsoft Band 3 (2016): A refined wearable with improved features, canceled as Microsoft exited the fitness wearables market. - Surface Andromeda (2018): A dual-screen phone designed for pen and digital ink capabilities, shelved in 2018, with its hardware repurposed for Surface Duo. - Surface Neo (2021): A dual-screen computer with two 9-inch screens, canceled in 2021 alongside the discontinuation of Windows 10X. - Surface Cronos (2022): A planned mid-range variant of Surface Duo, canceled as Microsoft shifted focus away from new phone hardware.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

No Sleep For Kaname Date will have us dreaming of AI: The Somnium Files’ deranged detective again this July

Yesterday's Nintendo Direct event announced several highlights for PC gamers, including a remaster of Saga Frontier 2, a remake of a PlayStation 2 Shin Megami Tensei spinoff, and a next-gen Super Robot Wars game in English. The reveal of No Sleep For Kaname Date, the latest installment in the AI: The Somnium Files series, is set to launch on Steam in July. The game features the return of detective Kaname Date, who will rescue Vtuber Iris Sagan. The series consists of story-driven point-and-click adventures where players solve crimes by diving into dreams, aided by AI companion Aiba. This installment will include 'real-world' escape rooms with more coherent puzzles. Kotaro Uchikoshi takes on the role of assistant scenario director, while Kazuya Yamada is the primary writer. The game is anticipated to explore the B-plot from the previous game, The Nirvana Initiative.

Winsage

March 9, 2025

Compare Dell Latitude 5420 Laptop Intel Core i5 11th Gen-1135G7 Intel Iris Xe 8GB 256GB SSD Windows 10 vs Lenovo ThinkBook 15 21A4A09TIH Laptop AMD Ryzen 3 5300U/8GB/512GB SSD/Windows 11 – Dell Latitude 5420 Laptop Intel Core i5 11th Gen-1135G7 Intel Iris Xe 8GB 256GB SSD Windows 10 vs Lenovo ThinkBook 15 21A4A09TIH Laptop AMD Ryzen 3 5300U/8GB/512GB SSD/Windows 11 Comparison by Price, Specifications, Reviews & Features

The Dell Latitude 5420 is powered by an Intel Core i5 11th Generation processor (1135G7), Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 features an AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Dell Latitude 5420 runs on Windows 10, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 comes with Windows 11. The Dell Latitude 5420 is positioned as a premium option, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 is a more budget-friendly alternative.

Winsage

March 6, 2025

Compare Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (D560774WIN9S) Laptop Intel Core i3-1215U (12th Gen)/8GB/512GB SSD/Windows 11 vs Dell Latitude 7420 Laptop Intel Core i7 11th Gen Intel Integrated Iris Xe 8GB 128GB SSD Windows 10 – Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (D560774WIN9S) Laptop Intel Core i3-1215U (12th Gen)/8GB/512GB SSD/Windows 11 vs Dell Latitude 7420 Laptop Intel Core i7 11th Gen Intel Integrated Iris Xe 8GB 128GB SSD Windows 10 Comparison by Price, Specifications, Reviews & Features

The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (D560774WIN9S) is powered by an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, has 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and runs on Windows 11. It is designed for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. The Dell Latitude 7420 features an Intel Core i7 processor from the 11th generation, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and operates on Windows 10. It is tailored for business professionals needing to run demanding applications. The Inspiron 14 7420 is typically priced lower, making it suitable for budget-conscious consumers, while the Latitude 7420 is priced higher due to its advanced specifications.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

5 unimplemented Minecraft features Mojang should add to the game in the future

- Shaders are a highly desired unimplemented feature that could enhance the game's visuals, with partial integration in versions 1.16 and 1.17, but ultimately abandoned. - Fallen trees have been requested since 2012, potentially adding complexity to gameplay by serving as obstacles and hiding spots. - The fletching table lacks purpose and was initially teased for enhancement before the 1.15 release; upgrading it could introduce new gameplay mechanics related to hunting and gathering. - The concept of seasons, mentioned during Minecon 2013, remains unimplemented and could lead to visual transformations and changes in mob behaviors. - The Birch Forest biome was set to receive enhancements during the Wild Update announced at Minecraft Live 2021, but the anticipated features did not make it into the final version.

AppWizard

December 5, 2024

Intel releases new GPU driver with fixes for Minecraft and CoD Black Ops 6

Intel has released WHQL driver version 32.0.101.6314 for various graphics cards and processors with integrated graphics. The update addresses performance issues in applications like Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Minecraft Bedrock Edition. Specific concerns include: - Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products: Performance in DaVinci Resolve Studio may not meet expectations on certain workloads. - Intel Core Ultra (Series 1 and 2) with built-in Intel Arc GPUs: - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may show texture corruption on water surfaces. - Minecraft Bedrock (DX12) may display texture corruption when altering anti-aliasing settings. Ongoing issues include: - Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products: - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may present darker shadows in specific campaign scenarios. - Topaz Video AI could encounter errors during video exports. - Topaz Gigapixel AI may experience intermittent crashes during exports. - Intel Core Ultra Series 1: - SPECworkstation3.1 might exhibit system instability. - PugetBench for DaVinci Resolve Studio V19 may show intermittent errors. - DaVinci Resolve Studio v19.0 could face rendering issues. - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (DX12) may display flickering corruption. - Intel Core Ultra Series 2: - Adobe Premiere Pro may produce corrupted output videos after 8K AV1 encodes. - DaVinci Resolve Studio v19.0 may encounter rendering issues. - Star Wars Outlaws (DX12) may sporadically crash. The driver is compatible with 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 and supports various Intel graphics products, including discrete and integrated GPUs. The driver can be downloaded from Intel's official website.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Asus now lets you update the BIOS without unzipping the file on Z890 boards

Asus has introduced a new feature in its EZ Flash utility for Z890 motherboards that allows users to apply BIOS updates directly from compressed ZIP files without needing to unzip them first. The BIOS interface resolution has also been upgraded to 1920 x 1080. Intel's 0x12b microcode update addresses instability issues with Raptor Lake CPUs, while users have reported compatibility challenges with the Windows 11 24H2 update on systems using Intel's Core Ultra 200S series CPUs paired with Z890 motherboards, particularly related to the integrated Iris Xe-LPG graphics. Workarounds include disabling the integrated GPU in BIOS before the update or installing available BIOS updates for Z890 motherboards. Major manufacturers like Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI are rolling out patched BIOS versions. Accessing the BIOS and updating may vary by manufacturer, but many modern boards allow direct downloading and application of updates through the BIOS interface.

AppWizard

October 28, 2024

10 brilliant PC games you can enjoy without a graphics card

Modern PC gaming faces criticism for high hardware requirements, making it inaccessible for some gamers. Many AAA games have frequent issues, but there are numerous engaging titles that can run on lower-spec systems, including laptops with integrated graphics. 1. The Red Strings Club (2018) - A narrative-driven indie game that runs smoothly on virtually any system. 2. Mirror's Edge (2009) - An innovative parkour game that performs well on integrated graphics. 3. Animal Well (2024) - A Metroidvania puzzle-platformer that requires minimal GPU power. 4. BioShock Infinite (2013) - A highly regarded game that runs well on systems with an 11th Gen Intel Core CPU. 5. Ultrakill (2020) - A retro-inspired FPS that runs smoothly on any computer. 6. Firewatch (2016) - A narrative-focused game that runs well on integrated graphics. 7. Rocket League (2015) - A multiplayer game that remains visually appealing even on lower settings. 8. Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (2013) - An accessible RPG that can run on GPUs with 256MB of VRAM. 9. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series (2020) - A narrative-driven game with modest system requirements. 10. Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (2014) - An action-adventure game that runs well on integrated GPUs from the last decade. Honorable mentions include Little Nightmares, Borderlands 3, Subnautica, Counter-Strike 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Sid Meier's Civilization V (and VI), and FIFA 22.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

Z890 motherboards are having instability issues with Windows 11 24H2 — BIOS updates or disable iGPUd required to update Windows

A significant number of Intel Z890 motherboards have experienced issues following the Windows 11 24H2 update, particularly affecting users of Intel's Core Ultra 200S series CPUs with integrated Iris Xe-LPG graphics. The problems coincide with the launch week of Arrow Lake. Users may need to update their BIOS, which can vary by motherboard model, but many can download and apply updates directly within the BIOS. Additionally, the Windows 11 24H2 update has been associated with other issues, including BSOD incidents for Western Digital NVMe drive users, an 8.63 GB cache error, and compatibility problems with Easy Anti-Cheat affecting certain games. Despite these challenges, there have been optimizations in the update process and improvements in newer Windows 11 previews.

Winsage

October 16, 2024

Windows 11’s 2024 update finally kills this once-promising feature

Microsoft has officially phased out Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) with the release of the Windows 11 24H2 update, marking the end of support for the platform that began in 2017. The update renders previously compatible devices inoperable and discontinues support for Steam VR applications. Users can continue to use mixed reality devices until November 2026 if they do not install the 24H2 update, and WMR remains accessible on Windows 10. Microsoft's mixed reality initiative struggled to gain market interest compared to competitors like Oculus and Sony, leading to a strategic shift towards other areas, including AI-driven technologies.