local installation Archives

Winsage

February 10, 2026

10 open-source apps I recommend every Windows user download

Open-source software provides flexibility and control for users, particularly on Windows. Notable applications include: 1. LibreOffice: A comprehensive office suite with a customizable interface, supports MS Office formats, and is free to download. 2. Flow Launcher: A file search and application launcher that enhances efficiency, customizable, and free to use. 3. Duplicati: A zero-trust backup solution with encryption and scheduling features, free for personal use. 4. Nextcloud: An open-source cloud service for file storage and collaboration, free to install on Windows. 5. Franz: Consolidates multiple messaging platforms into one interface, free to install and use. 6. YAZB: Allows users to create custom top bars for system information and quick access controls, enhancing the user experience. 7. File Converter: Simplifies file conversion and compression within the Windows file manager, available for free. 8. Bitwarden: A password management tool with a free version and additional paid features for collaboration. 9. AutoHotKey: Automates tasks on Windows through scripting, free to install and use. 10. Ollama: An open-source AI interaction tool that prioritizes privacy, free to use on Windows.

Winsage

December 25, 2025

10 free Windows apps that improved my productivity (and I’d easily pay money for)

Open-source software provides flexibility and control for users. Notable applications for Windows include: 1. LibreOffice: A free office suite with tools similar to MS Office, offering a modern or classic interface and local data privacy. 2. Flow Launcher: A rapid file search and app launcher that is customizable and visually appealing, available for free. 3. Duplicati: A backup solution that allows data backup to various destinations, including cloud services, with features like scheduling and remote management, free for personal use. 4. Nextcloud: An open-source cloud service for file storage and collaboration, installable on Windows at no cost. 5. Franz: An application that consolidates multiple messaging services into one interface, free to install and use. 6. YAZB: A customizable top bar for Windows that displays system information and provides quick access to controls, enhancing desktop aesthetics and functionality. 7. File Converter: A tool for converting and compressing files directly from the Windows file manager, free to use. 8. Bitwarden: An open-source password manager with essential features, free to use with a premium option for advanced features. 9. AutoHotKey: A tool for automating tasks through scripting, available for free installation. 10. Ollama: An open-source AI solution with a user-friendly interface, free to install and use on Windows.

Winsage

August 14, 2025

The Xbox app for Windows on Arm will soon let you download games

Microsoft is enhancing the gaming experience on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs by rolling out new features that expand the library of playable games. Users can now download ARM64 compatible games directly through the Xbox app for Windows on Arm, a feature currently available for Windows Insiders. This allows local installation of games instead of relying solely on Xbox Cloud Gaming, which was the previous limitation for Qualcomm-powered devices like the Surface Pro 12. A selection of ARM64 games from PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will now be accessible on these devices. Collaboration between Microsoft's Windows and Xbox teams has been crucial for ensuring compatibility with the Game Pass catalog, and the company is developing additional features to support more games on Arm-based PCs. The ARM64 version of the Xbox app was initially launched in 2022, but natively compiled games were limited at that time. Users can check the Windows on Arm ready site to see which games perform well on their devices.

Winsage

May 13, 2025

How to install and use Ollama to run AI LLMs on your Windows 11 PC

The current landscape of artificial intelligence interactions includes cloud-based tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, but some users, especially developers, prefer running large language models (LLMs) locally. Ollama provides a solution for this preference. To run LLMs effectively, hardware requirements include a GPU, with larger models needing more computational power. For example, Google's Gemma 3 has a 1 billion parameter model requiring 2.3GB of VRAM and a 4 billion parameter version needing over 9GB. Meta's Llama 3.2 has similar requirements. A modern PC with at least 8GB of RAM and a dedicated GPU can utilize Ollama. To install Ollama on Windows 11, users download the installer from the official website or GitHub and follow the installation process. Once installed, it operates in the background, indicated by an icon in the taskbar, and can be accessed via localhost:11434 in a web browser. Ollama primarily uses a command-line interface (CLI), requiring users to use PowerShell or WSL. Key commands include "ollama pull" to install LLMs and "ollama run" to execute them. For instance, to install the 1 billion parameter Google Gemma 3 LLM, users would enter "ollama pull gemma3:1b". Running the models opens a chatbot interface for user interaction, and exiting can be done by typing "/bye". Setting up Ollama is user-friendly and requires minimal technical expertise.