launchers Archives

Winsage

June 15, 2025

I’ve used a lot of Windows launchers, but this is the best one by far

Flow Launcher is a desktop productivity tool for Windows 11 that excels in speed, opening instantly with a keyboard shortcut and providing audio cues. It features an extensive library of plugins, allowing users to enhance functionality with ease, including pre-installed plugins for searching bookmarks, managing files, and executing system commands. The plugin store offers a variety of extensions, catering to diverse needs, including tools for OneNote, Spotify, and gaming. Flow Launcher is highly customizable, enabling users to adjust extension functions, search result priorities, and activation shortcuts. It also allows the creation of custom hotkeys for quick access to frequently used tools, such as an enhanced clipboard history.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Yep, PlayStation’s PC Games Will Be Playable on Xbox’s New Handheld System

Microsoft announced the ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld device developed in collaboration with Asus, designed to function as a handheld PC operating on the Windows platform. It allows gamers to access their entire Xbox library, play games natively, utilize cloud gaming services, or engage in remote play. The device is compatible with various PC launchers and storefronts, including Steam and the Epic Games Store, enabling users to play titles beyond the Xbox ecosystem. This includes the opportunity to play Sony's first-party titles, such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, and Horizon Forbidden West, on the Xbox Ally.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Microsoft enters handheld games PC fray with Asus partnership

Microsoft has partnered with Asus to launch its first portable Xbox consoles, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, which run on Windows 11. These devices aim to enhance gaming compatibility with various platforms and integrate Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. An optimized version of Windows 11 for gaming has been introduced, and the consoles feature user-friendly elements such as an immersive full-screen experience and an aggregated gaming library. The launch is anticipated towards the end of 2025, though pricing details are not yet available.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft dives into the handheld gaming PC wars with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft has unveiled the Asus ROG Xbox Ally hardware line, a Windows-powered handheld gaming device. The Xbox Ally devices run on Windows 11 and provide access to a wide range of games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect through an aggregated gaming library. This library simplifies access to games across different platforms and aims to improve user experience compared to SteamOS devices. The Xbox Ally supports applications like Discord and Twitch and allows for downloadable game mods. It features a unique "Xbox Experience for Handheld" interface that hides the Windows desktop to enhance gaming focus and performance. A dedicated Xbox button offers quick access to the Xbox Game Bar overlay for settings and performance monitoring. Microsoft is also creating a program to identify Windows titles optimized for handheld gaming.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Report: Microsoft Gives Windows-Based Gaming Handhelds the Priority Over its Own Xbox Model

Microsoft has decided to prioritize enhancing Windows 11's performance for third-party gaming handhelds over its own Xbox handheld project, which may delay its launch originally planned for 2027. The company remains committed to developing its Xbox handheld in the long term but is currently focusing on optimizing Windows 11 for devices like ASUS's upcoming “Project Kennan.” This shift may be influenced by the competitive landscape, particularly the rise of Valve’s SteamOS, which offers advantages such as being free for hardware manufacturers and providing a user-friendly experience. SteamOS is currently supported on devices like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S, and Valve is working to expand its compatibility. Jason Ronald, Microsoft's VP of Next Generation, indicated the company's goal to create a seamless Xbox-like experience on PCs, but the competitiveness of Windows 11 against SteamOS for gaming handhelds remains uncertain.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

PC Games Arrive On Smartphone: RedMagic 10S Pro Series With Built-In PC Emulator Launched

RedMagic has launched the RedMagic 10S Pro and RedMagic 10S Pro+ in China, featuring a built-in PC emulator for running Steam and Epic Games launchers. Both models are powered by a 3nm octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They include RedMagic’s Red Core R3 Pro processors and advanced liquid metal cooling technology. The camera setup consists of a dual rear camera with a 50MP primary and a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, plus a 16MP front camera. They run on RedMagic AI OS 10.5 based on Android 15. Pricing for the RedMagic 10S Pro includes: - Dark Knight/Day Warrior: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 4,999 - 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,499 - Deuterium Front Transparent Silver Wing: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 5,299 - 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,799 - Mingchao Limited Edition: 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,999 Pricing for the RedMagic 10S Pro+ includes: - Dark Quantum: 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,999 - 16GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 6,299 - 24GB RAM + 1TB storage - CNY 7,499 Both models feature a 6.85-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and a touch sampling rate of up to 960Hz. The RedMagic 10S Pro has a 7050mAh battery with 80W fast charging, while the Pro+ has a 7500mAh battery with 120W fast charging. All models are available for order in China, with the Mingchao Limited Edition launching in June 2025.

Winsage

May 26, 2025

In an embarrassment for Microsoft, SteamOS seems to destroy Windows 11 on gaming performance and battery life, as well as usability

Early comparisons between SteamOS and Windows 11 on identical hardware show that SteamOS offers significantly better gaming performance, particularly in battery life. The Lenovo Legion Go S, when running SteamOS, provides over six hours of gameplay on 2D games like Dead Cells, while the Windows version only achieves 2.75 hours. Despite Windows 11's compatibility with various gaming platforms, it has faced criticism for performance issues and unnecessary features. Windows holds a dominant market share of about 70% in desktop operating systems, but the rise of SteamOS may challenge this position.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

This new Android launcher is my new must-have app for foldable phones

Foldable smartphones often face software limitations, particularly with launchers, leading users to choose between restrictive first-party options and inadequate third-party alternatives. Octopi Launcher has emerged as a promising solution, recently launching in beta on the Play Store. It offers unique configurations tailored to both the smaller cover screen and the larger display of foldable devices, allowing users to customize layouts for different orientations and purposes. Users can create up to four distinct layouts, with options for portrait and landscape modes, and can easily set up new layouts with intuitive prompts. Octopi excels in widget management, allowing independent sizing of widgets and app icons without compromising icon size. It supports overlapping and stacked widgets, enhancing visual appeal. The app drawer offers customizable options, including traditional icon shapes or tiles that display app names. While Octopi is impressive, it is still in development, with limitations in its gesture library and basic search functionality. It is best suited for foldable phones, although it can still benefit traditional devices. Overall, Octopi Launcher is tailored for heavy customizers and shows promise for future updates.

Winsage

May 17, 2025

Windows 11 Home vs Pro for Gaming: Which One Should You Choose?

Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro does not yield significant benefits in gaming performance, compatibility, or features for most gamers. Both editions provide identical gaming performance, supporting the same core gaming technologies such as DirectStorage, Auto HDR, and Game Mode. Windows 11 Home supports up to 128 GB of RAM and one CPU socket with 64 cores, while Windows 11 Pro supports up to 2 TB of RAM and two CPU sockets with 128 cores. Pro includes additional features like BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V virtualization, and Group Policy management, which are not typically utilized by gamers. The price of Windows 11 Home is lower than that of Pro, making it a more cost-effective choice for gaming. Both editions meet the hardware requirements for modern gaming, and compatibility with major games and platforms is consistent across both versions.

BetaBeacon

May 10, 2025

Everything you need to turn your phone into the ultimate gaming handheld

Various phone controllers are available to enhance mobile gaming experiences, such as the GameSir G8 Plus, ASUS ROG Tessen, and Backbone One. Additionally, options like Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus Premium, and Amazon Luna allow console and PC gamers to play from anywhere. Emulators like RetroArch can handle games up to PS2, and launchers like ES-DE and Console Launcher can enhance the gaming experience on phones. Ultimately, phones are capable of playing a wide range of games, including emulation, making them versatile gaming devices.