Leads Archives

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

These are the 5 weather apps I recommend, but one of them stands out from the rest

- Pixel Weather is exclusive to Pixel devices, ad-free, and features an hourly report and a 10-day forecast, but its weather map lacks accuracy. - Weather & Radar has a user interface that could improve and contains ads, but offers precise weather map functionality for rain and hail predictions. - Today Weather features a clean design with subtle animations and a visual representation of the sky, but includes ads that are less intrusive than in other apps. - Weather Underground is user-friendly, offers an animated temperature display, and provides severe weather notifications; it is free and ad-free during usage, with a premium version available. - Ventusky focuses on weather maps, allowing users to toggle between data types, and provides a quick forecast; it is free to use with a premium version offering limited additional features.

Winsage

June 29, 2025

This app makes my Windows 11 PC look like Windows 7 — but it’s not for everyone

Explorer 7 is a customization tool designed to restore the Windows 7 taskbar and Start menu for users of Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. It allows users to modify accent colors and integrates familiar Windows 7 UI elements, although it lacks the Aero effect in app windows and retains a modern appearance in File Explorer. Setting up Explorer 7 requires registry edits and Windows 7 installation files, with no built-in method to revert changes. Limitations include compatibility issues with UWP apps, lack of support for multiple taskbars on different monitors, and potential inconsistencies with autoplay features. The project is aimed at enthusiasts seeking a Windows 7 experience, but its compatibility with future updates of Windows 10 and 11 may be uncertain.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

I played Lovecraftian doctor simulator Do No Harm, and let me tell you, my brother in Cthulhu, I did some serious harm

The protagonist, humorously named "Dr. Doctor Eadful," operates in a Lovecraftian world where he faces challenges in his unconventional medical practice. A mishap with a patient named Victor Harlow triggers a series of unfortunate events. Players engage in narrative adventure and light puzzles, diagnosing patients based on the four humours and administering treatments, which become increasingly complex. Incorrect treatments can lead to severe consequences, including patients worsening or dying, impacting the doctor's reputation and financial stability. The protagonist is pressured to make ethically questionable decisions, including accepting a proposition from a gravedigger to misadminister treatments for profit. The game explores the tension between ethical medical practice and survival, leading to a descent into madness.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

A second Windows 11 bug takes suspicious aim at Google Chrome — and the same Microsoft app is to blame

Windows 11 users experienced issues launching Google Chrome due to Microsoft's Family Safety feature, prompting a response from Chrome’s support manager, Ellen T. A workaround was suggested: disabling the “Filter inappropriate websites” option or renaming the Chrome.exe file. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledged another issue affecting Chrome users, where the content filtering feature was ineffective because the latest version of Chrome was not included on the block list used by Family Safety. Microsoft is working to update this block list. Another bug causes Chrome to close unexpectedly when Parental Controls are enabled, but only if the Activity reporting feature is disabled. Users are advised to enable Activity reporting to restore normal functionality. These issues affect Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2. Microsoft is committed to resolving these problems and will update its support documentation accordingly.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Epic Games Store’s First Free Game of Summer Is a Good One

From June 26 to July 3, 2023, Epic Games Store users can download the open-world exploration game Sable for free. Developed by Shedworks and published by Raw Fury, Sable was released in 2021 and is available on PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PS5. The game has Metacritic scores between 71 and 76, with an Epic Games Store user rating of 4.5 out of 5 and an 87% approval rating on Steam. The main storyline takes approximately 7 to 8 hours to complete, while side quests can extend gameplay to 15 to 16 hours, and completionists may spend up to 24 hours. Normally, Sable costs .99 on the Epic Games Store, and users can keep the game permanently once claimed with a free Epic Games Store account.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

This month 25 years ago in PC gaming, our biggest concerns were pro gaming, moral panics about violent games… and we still thought Halo was a PC exclusive

In June 2000, PC Gamer UK highlighted the emerging world of esports, featuring professional gamers Amir Haleem and Sujoy Roy, who had earned significant prize money and were considering transitioning to full-time gaming careers. The magazine suggested that gaming could become a viable profession, drawing parallels to sports figures like David Beckham. By 2025, Haleem became CEO of a blockchain company, while Roy led partnerships at OG esports, reflecting the evolution of professional gaming careers amid ongoing concerns about sustainability and burnout. The 2000 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary 'Video Nasties' sparked debates about violent video games, claiming they could influence players' perceptions of real-world situations. Anticipation for Team Fortress 2 was high, with promises of innovative gameplay elements, while Bungie's Halo was initially expected as a PC-exclusive but was designed for console controls. The summer of 2000 saw few notable game releases, with The Longest Journey receiving modest reviews. Additionally, Bluetooth technology was beginning to gain traction in the market, although its use in competitive gaming was met with skepticism.

BetaBeacon

June 23, 2025

Doodle God: Infinity Alchemy Merge goes free as this week’s Epic Games Store mobile offering

Doodle God: Infinity Alchemy Merge is free from June 19th to 26th.

Tech Optimizer

June 21, 2025

New OLTP: Postgres With Separate Compute and Storage

Reynold Xin, co-founder of Databricks, highlighted the outdated nature of online transaction processing (OLTP) databases, which have not evolved significantly since the 1990s and face issues like over-provisioning and performance challenges. Databricks is introducing Lakebase, a product that separates compute from storage to enhance the efficiency of transactional databases, particularly for AI applications. Lakebase allows for instantaneous branching of databases, significantly improving workflow efficiency. Built on open-source Postgres, it supports various open storage formats and offers a copy-on-write capability to reduce costs. The separation of compute and storage is essential as streaming data becomes more integral to enterprises, enabling scalability and timely insights. Databricks aims to manage the entire data lifecycle, ensuring data remains within its ecosystem for rapid reporting and analytics. The integration of Lakebase with existing infrastructure enhances developer experience and operational maturity. The architecture supports extensive experimentation at minimal cost, fostering innovation. As AI agents become more prevalent, the focus on data evaluation and reliability will grow, necessitating a deeper examination of model accuracy.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Grounded 2: All the key details on the shrunken survival-crafter

Grounded 2 is a sequel to the original game, announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, and is set to expand the gameplay beyond the backyard. The game takes place in 1992, two years after the first game, where four teenage protagonists have disappeared while shrunken down to the size of ants. Players will navigate dangers in the park and work to regain their original size. The game hints at the identity of a fifth child, whose fate is uncertain and may play a significant role in the story. Grounded 2 features a map three times larger than its predecessor, introduces insect mounts called buggies for faster travel and exploration, and includes a new Omni-tool that combines multiple tools into one for easier inventory management.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

‘Minecraft,’ ‘Frozen’ the musical, plus more movies and TV shows to stream this weekend

New movies available for streaming include "A Minecraft Movie" on Max, featuring Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge, and "Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical" on Disney+, starring Samantha Barks. The documentary "Sally," about NASA pioneer Sally Ride, is available on Disney+ and Hulu. The BBC docuseries "Walking with Dinosaurs" has been revived and is available on PBS. The action-comedy series "Peacemaker," starring John Cena, is available on Max. "The Accountant 2," featuring Ben Affleck, is now streaming on Prime Video.