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Avowed advance access launch time and full release date
AppWizard
February 13, 2025

Avowed advance access launch time and full release date

Gamers are preparing for the launch of Avowed, with advanced access for the "Premium" edition available on February 13, 2024, at 10 am Pacific Time. The full launch is set for February 18, 2024, also at 10 am Pacific Time. The advanced access unlock times are as follows: - 10 am PST, February 13 (Los Angeles) - 1 pm EST, February 13 (New York) - 6 pm GMT, February 13 (London) - 7 pm CEST, February 13 (Berlin) - 5 am, February 14 (AEDT) - 7 am, February 14 (NZDT) The full launch release times are: - 10 am PST, February 18 (Los Angeles) - 1 pm EST, February 18 (New York) - 6 pm GMT, February 18 (London) - 7 pm CEST, February 18 (Berlin) - 5 am, February 19 (AEDT) - 7 am, February 19 (NZDT) Preloading for Avowed is currently only available on Xbox, with PC users likely needing to wait until the game officially unlocks to download.
Microsoft keeps improving its app store, and no one really cares
Winsage
December 9, 2024

Microsoft keeps improving its app store, and no one really cares

Microsoft has announced significant improvements to the Microsoft Store, including a 25% reduction in launch times and a 50% decrease in download hang-ups. Enhancements have been made in discoverability, navigation, update management, and installation methods for Win32 apps. Users can now update externally hosted apps directly through the Microsoft Store, streamlining the update process. However, the Store still lacks popular applications like Steam and Google Chrome, which raises questions about its viability. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a Multi-app camera feature in the Canary builds of Windows 11, allowing users to stream from a single camera to multiple applications simultaneously. This aims to simplify the user experience for video calls across different platforms. The feature is also positioned as a tool for users who are hard of hearing, although its connection to accessibility is unclear. Lastly, Microsoft has rolled out Copilot+ for Intel and AMD PCs.
Infinity Nikki launch times and release date
AppWizard
December 3, 2024

Infinity Nikki launch times and release date

Infinity Nikki is set to launch this week with 35 million pre-registrations. Players who pre-register will receive rewards including a 4-star outfit, 50,000 Bling, 300 Threads of Purity, and 20 Resonite Crystals. The game can be preloaded via the Epic Games Store or a dedicated launcher, with no early access required.
Turn on Windows 11's hidden OCR feature in Photos app. It's really good.
Winsage
November 22, 2024

Turn on Windows 11’s hidden OCR feature in Photos app. It’s really good.

Microsoft has added Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities to the Photos app, allowing users to extract text from images. This feature is off by default but can be activated through registry modifications. Users need to open the Registry Editor, load a specific hive, and create a .reg file with designated content to enable OCR. Once activated, a "Scan text" icon appears in the Photos app, enabling users to identify and copy text from images. The OCR feature shows high accuracy, even recognizing stylized text. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced other enhancements to the Photos app, including a Zoom slider and improved launch times, while also integrating Microsoft Designer for creative effects.
Here's when you can preload Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
BetaBeacon
October 21, 2024

Here’s when you can preload Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 preload times begin on October 21 - PC players will need 102GB of available storage space at launch - Activision recommends at least 12GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD equivalent, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the RTX 3060 or the AMD Radeon RX 6600XT for the GPU
Some Windows 11 stock apps might soon be much faster to load and more responsive in general
Winsage
September 18, 2024

Some Windows 11 stock apps might soon be much faster to load and more responsive in general

Microsoft has introduced native Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation for the Windows App SDK, aiming to enhance the performance of default applications in Windows 11. This advancement is expected to reduce loading times by up to 50% for apps like the stock Photos app and Phone Link, while also decreasing application package sizes by approximately eight times, leading to reduced memory usage. Existing applications will need updates from their developers to fully utilize this feature.
Microsoft promises major performance improvements for modern Windows 11 apps | Tom's Hardware
Winsage
September 18, 2024

Microsoft promises major performance improvements for modern Windows 11 apps | Tom’s Hardware

Microsoft has introduced enhancements to applications developed with the Windows App SDK, resulting in load times that can be up to 50% faster and reduced app sizes. These improvements are primarily due to Native Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation. The Windows App SDK connects Win32 and UWP, providing developers access to modern APIs. Microsoft acknowledged performance issues in its applications, such as Photos and Phone Link, which have slow launch times. A temporary solution suggested is running the app in the background. Native AOT support improves startup times and reduces memory usage, but developers must integrate this feature. Preliminary tests show applications loading up to 50% faster and app packages being eight times smaller. Apps in self-contained mode have seen size reductions of up to 2x. The management of the Edge WebView2 SDK has been revised to minimize app package sizes, although this does not directly improve performance. Applications built with Windows App SDK 1.6 featuring Native AOT are expected to show better performance and smaller file sizes over time, but issues with slow launch times will remain until developers update their apps.
Launching Windows 11 apps could get up to 50% faster thanks to this new tech
Winsage
September 18, 2024

Launching Windows 11 apps could get up to 50% faster thanks to this new tech

Microsoft has introduced native Ahead of Time (AOT) support in the Windows App SDK, which is expected to significantly improve application launch times for Windows 11. Internal testing indicates a 50% reduction in application start times and an approximate eightfold decrease in package size. The AOT feature allows applications to be compiled to native code in advance, bypassing the usual translation process during execution, thereby reducing workload and improving startup speed. However, the effectiveness of AOT will depend on developers updating their applications to utilize this capability, and improvements will take time to manifest as adoption varies among developers.
Final Fantasy 16 PC launch times and release date
AppWizard
September 18, 2024

Final Fantasy 16 PC launch times and release date

Final Fantasy 16 is set to launch on PC after a year-long wait, returning to traditional fantasy themes with a narrative centered on the character Clive. The game received mixed reviews upon its initial release, with critics offering varied perspectives. A demo is available on Steam and Epic Games, allowing players to experience the game's opening segment, with progress transferable to the full version. This launch is part of Square Enix's strategy to attract PC gamers, marking a step towards simultaneous releases for PC and console platforms. The launch times are specified for various global locations.
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