launch event Archives

AppWizard

December 9, 2025

Samsung Galaxy XR Gets Realistic Face-Tracked ‘Likeness’ Avatars

The rollout of the first significant update for Google's Android XR on the Samsung Galaxy XR includes several new features: 1. Likeness (Beta): A beta version of an avatar system for video calls that replaces traditional video feeds with virtual representations, using advanced eye and face tracking capabilities. Users can create their avatar by scanning their face with their phone. 2. Travel Mode: A feature that enhances positional tracking while in motion, reducing the misinterpretation of vehicle movements as head movements by relying more on computer vision. 3. PC Connect (Beta): A feature that allows users to connect to and control their Windows PC as a virtual screen within Android XR, requiring a streamer app on the PC. Additionally, Android XR is getting an AI feature that can convert any 2D content into 3D.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

Windows turns 40 as the most influential software product in history

Microsoft Windows celebrated its 40th anniversary on November 20, 2025. The journey began with the launch of Windows 1.0 in 1985, designed as a graphical layer atop MS-DOS, requiring a graphics card and 256KB of RAM. Subsequent releases included Windows 2.0 in 1987, Windows 3.0 and 3.1 in 1990 and 1992, respectively, which introduced significant features like a 3D-styled interface and popular games. Windows 95, launched in the mid-1990s, introduced the Start menu and taskbar, selling over seven million copies shortly after its release. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the introduction of Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows XP in 2001, which was noted for its stability. Windows Vista was released in 2007, followed by Windows 7 in 2009, and Windows 8, which faced user backlash. Windows 10 was launched in 2015, adopting a Windows-as-a-Service model, and Windows 11 continues to evolve with new design and hardware requirements.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Black Ops 7’s finest “sickos” dreamed up a truly terrifying new Zombies enemy, but things will get even “crazier” in Season 1

Black Ops 7 features a Zombies experience with the debut round-based map, Ashes of the Damned, which is the largest in the series and pays tribute to the Tranzit map. It reunites iconic characters from Black Ops 6 with their Dark Aether counterparts, including Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen. Players can engage in four modes: Standard, Directed, Survival, and Cursed, with the return of Dead Ops Arcade. A new enemy, the Zursa, a zombified bear, introduces a fresh challenge, while Ol' Tessie, an upgradable pickup truck, serves as a significant navigational tool. The Cursed mode offers a greater challenge for dedicated fans. A new round-based map is expected to debut in Black Ops 7 Season 1, launching in early December.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Why I think Adobe’s Project Pulsar is Android XR’s first killer app

The Samsung Galaxy XR was recently launched, featuring various demonstrations of its capabilities, including Project Pulsar from Adobe, an immersive video editing application designed specifically for Android XR. Project Pulsar allows users to edit videos with an understanding of video depth, enabling sophisticated handling of 3D elements. During the launch, Max Spear from Google showcased the app by editing footage from a hot air balloon festival, using an AI assistant to generate creative captions and integrating them into the video. The app simplifies the process of creating advanced visual effects, allowing users to place text behind subjects without extensive VFX expertise. Adobe's partnership as a launch partner adds credibility to the Galaxy XR and positions it as a tool for content creation. Project Pulsar will be included in the “Explorer Pack” for all Galaxy XR purchasers.

BetaBeacon

September 26, 2025

The first next-gen Android flagships have a rear screen that turns into a Game Boy

Xiaomi has unveiled the Xiaomi 17 Pro phones with rear displays that can be used for gaming. Users can transform the phones into a gaming device resembling a Game Boy by using an optional case priced at 299 yuan. The case connects to the phones via Bluetooth and utilizes the rear screens as a gaming interface.

AppWizard

September 12, 2025

This new mini SSD for gaming handhelds looks so much better than a microSD card

Chinese manufacturer Biwin has introduced a mini SSD that may replace traditional microSD cards in handheld PCs. The mini SSD is slightly larger than a standard SD card and offers storage capacities from 512GB to 2TB. It will first be supported by OneXPlayer handhelds, adhering to PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4 standards, with read and write speeds of up to 3,718MB/s and 3,415MB/s, respectively. This performance exceeds that of microSD Express cards and typical microSD cards, which max out at 950MB/s and 240MB/s, respectively. The mini SSD measures 0.59 x 0.66 x 0.05 inches (15 x 17 x 1.4mm), making it more portable than M.2 2230 drives. Biwin plans to bundle the mini SSD with select OneXPlayer devices, pricing the 512GB model at approximately 399 CNY and the 1TB model at around 599 CNY, while the 2TB pricing is unconfirmed. The success of the mini SSD will depend on broader adoption by manufacturers beyond niche handhelds.

Winsage

August 26, 2025

Jump Start Me Up

Windows 95 celebrates its 30th anniversary, remembered for its launch event featuring Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. The Hackster community has created innovative projects inspired by the OS, including: 1. Retro Handheld PC by Changliang Li: A handheld device made from 90s components that runs Windows 95 and offers a retro gaming experience. 2. Windows Wrist Watch 2.0 by Michael Darby: A watch powered by a Raspberry Pi 3 that displays Windows 95 on a HyperPixel 4.0 screen. 3. Windows 95-Themed Vape by Jason Gin: A vape modified to feature Windows 95 graphics, referencing the OS's infamous Blue Screen of Death and hardware issues.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Windows 95: The system that changed the way we use computers

Branislav Bukmirović began using computers in 1985 with MS-DOS and experienced a significant turning point with the launch of Windows 95 on August 24, 1995. This operating system introduced a graphical user interface, including the "Start" button and desktop icons, which made computing more accessible. Windows 95 required upgraded hardware due to its 32-bit architecture, leading many users to invest in new components. The launch event featured the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" and cost Microsoft 0 million in marketing. Within a year, Windows 95 became the most widely used operating system, solidifying Microsoft's market dominance and funding further innovations. It integrated Internet access, making it easier for everyday users, although the initial version of Internet Explorer faced criticism. Windows 95's legacy continues to influence modern computing.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows 95 release was 30 years ago today, the first time software was a pop culture smash

Microsoft launched Windows 95 to the public three decades ago, marking a significant moment in tech history with a midnight launch event that attracted large crowds. The operating system combined Microsoft’s DOS and Windows products, introducing a new user interface featuring the Start Button. The official system requirements included an Intel 386DX processor, 4MB of RAM, a VGA display, and 55MB of hard drive space, with recommended specifications for enhanced features being a 486 or better CPU and 8MB of RAM. Windows 95 was packaged in a box with 13 to 15 floppy disks, and consumers could purchase a full installation or an upgrade from Windows 3.1, with a CD version also available. The launch price was , which is approximately 0 today, and on its first day, it generated million in sales, with one million copies shipped by the fourth day. By its one-year anniversary, Microsoft had shipped 40 million units globally. Windows 95 also influenced gaming, with 10 of the 11 top PC game publishers adopting it, and it coincided with the rise of web browsers optimized for the platform.