launch times Archives

Winsage

April 16, 2025

I disabled these 5 Windows services to improve my PC performance

Windows operating systems have numerous background services that can consume system resources and slow down performance. Users can improve responsiveness by disabling non-essential services. 1. Windows Search: Indexes files and data for quick searches; can tax CPU and RAM. To disable: press Ctrl + R, type services.msc, locate Windows Search, stop the service, and set Startup type to Disabled or Manual. 2. SysMain (formerly Superfetch): Preloads frequently used applications into memory but can lead to unnecessary disk activity on SSDs. To disable: access services.msc, find SysMain, stop the service, and set Startup Type to Disabled. 3. Windows Update Delivery Optimization: Shares update files with other PCs, consuming bandwidth. To disable: go to Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced Options and turn it off. 4. Remote Desktop Services: Enables remote connections, which can drain resources and pose security risks. To disable: locate Remote Desktop Services in services.msc, stop it, and set Startup type to Disabled. 5. Connected User Experiences and Telemetry: Collects usage data and can transmit sensitive information. To disable: turn off the service and navigate to Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Diagnostics & Feedback to disable Diagnostic data. Additional services that may be disabled include Print Spooler, Fax, Bluetooth Support, and Windows Error Reporting Service for further performance optimization.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered launch times and release date

The PC port of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is set to launch shortly after its release on PlayStation 5. The remastered edition includes improved graphics, performance enhancements, and new gameplay modes, notably the No Return mode, which features permanent death and randomized combat scenarios. The unlock times for the game are as follows: Los Angeles at 10 am PST, New York at 1 pm EDT, Brasilia at 2 pm BRT, London at 5 pm BST, Berlin at 6 pm CET, Cairo at 7 pm EET, New Delhi at 10:30 pm IST, Jakarta at 12 am WIB, Tokyo at 2 am JST, Sydney at 4 am AEDT, and Auckland at 6 am NZDT on April 3-4. Preloading is available on Steam, with a download size of approximately 100 GB.

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Microsoft Office apps will soon preload on Windows boot for faster launch

Microsoft has introduced a feature called Startup Boost for its Office applications on Windows, aimed at reducing launch times. This feature preloads essential components of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into memory upon Windows startup, keeping them in a paused state until needed. Startup Boost requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space to function effectively and will disable itself in Energy Saver mode. Users can disable Startup Boost through Office settings, but it will be automatically reactivated with the next Office update. The rollout is expected to begin in mid-May, starting with Word, followed by other Office apps.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

Windows 11 will add a new way to talk to Microsoft Copilot — no Copilot key required

Microsoft is testing a new press to talk functionality for its Copilot feature on PCs, allowing users to engage with the AI tool using a keyboard shortcut (Alt + Spacebar for two seconds) to start a voice conversation and Esc to end it. The update is being rolled out via the Microsoft Store, requiring the app version to be at least 1.25024.100.0. Additionally, a revamped Copilot app for Windows 11 is being previewed, featuring a native app UI framework for better integration, faster launch times, and the option to start automatically upon boot. Some users have expressed surprise at the chosen keyboard shortcut, suggesting a preference for a dedicated Copilot key.

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.

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.

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.

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.

BetaBeacon

November 12, 2024

Pokémon is coming to iOS and Android with a new official collectible card game

Players can unlock two booster packs daily for free in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

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