location 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 27, 2025

Windows Blue screen of death axed after 40 years, but BSOD still remains — will be replaced by new black Windows 11 ‘unexpected restart screen’

Microsoft has introduced a new black variant of the "blue screen of death" (BSOD) for Windows, which will provide essential information like stop codes and fault system drivers. This update is part of the "Windows Resiliency Initiative" aimed at improving product robustness. The sad emoticon face will be retired, and the new BSOD is scheduled for release in Windows 11 later this summer, featuring a user interface update and a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature. Other upcoming features include Connected Cache, Universal Print, Hotpatch Update, and Windows 365 Reserve. Users on older Windows 10 systems will still see the traditional BSOD with the frowning face emoji.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

The Windows Resiliency Initiative: Building resilience for a future-ready enterprise

Resilience is now a strategic necessity for organizations, prompting Microsoft to launch the Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI) to integrate resilience and security into the Windows platform. In September 2024, Microsoft held the Windows Endpoint Security Ecosystem Summit (WESES) with endpoint security vendors and government representatives to discuss enhancing resilience. Following the summit, collaboration with Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI) partners has increased, focusing on improving Windows security and reliability through rigorous testing and safe deployment practices. Next month, Microsoft will begin a private preview of a new Windows endpoint security platform for select MVI partners, allowing security solutions to operate outside the Windows kernel for better reliability. Microsoft has released the Windows Resiliency Initiative e-book to guide organizations in building resilience. Innovative products introduced under the WRI include: - Quick machine recovery (QMR) for faster recovery from unexpected restarts, reducing downtime to approximately two seconds. - Microsoft Connected Cache to enhance bandwidth efficiency during updates by caching content locally. - Universal Print anywhere for secure printing from any location. - Hotpatch updates for critical security updates without requiring a restart. - Windows 365 Reserve for secure access to a temporary Cloud PC during device disruptions.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

Microsoft confirms Family Safety blocks Google Chrome from launching

Microsoft's Family Safety parental control service is experiencing a significant issue that prevents users from launching Google Chrome and other web browsers on Windows systems. This problem has been reported since early June, with users facing unexpected crashes when trying to access Google Chrome. A bug in the web filtering tool requires children to seek parental approval to use alternative browsers, as new versions of approved browsers are inadvertently blocked after updates. Microsoft is updating its block list to include the latest versions of these browsers. The issue affects devices running Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 22H2 or later. Users are advised to enable the 'Activity reporting' feature to ensure proper parental approval requests. Microsoft is working to resolve the absence of consent prompts and the unintentional blocking of updated browser versions.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

4 beloved features from Windows history that Windows 11 got rid of

Users have expressed dissatisfaction with Windows 11 due to the removal of familiar features. Key grievances include the elimination of local accounts, which required users to create Microsoft accounts for access; a static Start menu that lacks customization options; a Taskbar with reduced customization capabilities; and a revamped right-click menu that is more minimalist and less intuitive. Many users feel that these changes have made the operating system less user-friendly and hope for the reinstatement of beloved features.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Forget about Steam in the Xbox PC app — I want Game Pass in the app I actually use

Microsoft plans to integrate the Xbox PC app with leading PC gaming stores to streamline access to games, allowing users to manage their libraries from a single location. This update is currently available to Xbox Insiders for testing and may roll out more broadly with the launch of the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X later this year. Users will be able to launch games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other significant PC storefronts, but Steam is not included in this initial list. The Xbox app has faced criticism for its usability compared to Steam, with issues like bugs and slow download speeds. The primary barrier to bringing PC Game Pass to Steam is likely financial, as Valve takes a percentage of transactions on its platform. As of February 2024, Game Pass has 34 million subscribers across Xbox and PC. The new game aggregation feature in the Xbox PC App is being rolled out, allowing users to select which third-party storefronts to display.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Building a Windows Storage Dashboard, Part 2: Collecting Historical Data

The process of gathering historical data for a Windows storage dashboard involves two steps: creating a PowerShell script to collect and save the data, and configuring the Windows Task Scheduler to run this script at set intervals. The script collects data on file system drives using the Get-PSDrive cmdlet, creating a custom PowerShell object with columns for Timestamp, Drive, UsedGB, FreeGB, and TotalGB, which is then exported to a CSV file. The script specifies the CSV file path, appends new data without overwriting existing data, and excludes type information from the header. The generated CSV file includes a header row and records for each drive with their respective usage statistics.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Android’s youthful new design will change the way you make and answer calls

The latest iteration of the Phone by Google app features a refreshed design aimed at enhancing user experience, currently being rolled out to select public beta users. The update includes a simplified bottom menu bar with three options: “Home,” “Keypad,” and “Voicemail.” The Home tab displays favorite contacts in bubbles and a straightforward call log that lists each call as a distinct entry. A new gesture feature allows users to swipe horizontally to answer or decline incoming calls. The incoming call screen has a playful design with contacts in a lumpy circular frame. The update is expected to roll out in September and includes a new “Pixel VIP” widget for Pixel devices, offering enhanced details about favorite contacts.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Iran encourages citizens to use a messaging app previously flagged as a state surveillance tool

Iranian authorities are promoting the domestic messaging app Bale for communication with family abroad amid a near-total internet blackout since June 18, 2025. Bale has 16.5 million monthly active users as of May 2023, with increased adoption following restrictions on Western apps after 2022 protests. A security audit by the Open Technology Fund revealed critical vulnerabilities in Bale and two other Iranian messaging apps, Eitaa and Rubika, including the lack of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and potential state surveillance through a state-owned service called the Message Exchange Bus (MXB). Bale's encryption could compromise sensitive data and shares location data during authentication. Experts recommend more secure alternatives like Signal and advise against using Bale for sensitive communications. Since the blackout, internet connectivity remains poor, with the government urging citizens to delete WhatsApp and imposing restrictions that have increased VPN usage by over 700%.

BetaBeacon

June 23, 2025

How to Run PlayStation 3 Games on Android With aPS3e

aPS3e is an open-source PS3 emulator for Android based on RPCS3. It requires a powerful device for smooth performance and does not support all PS3 games. It supports decrypted PKG and ISO files for games. Controls can be configured using touch controls or a controller. Performance settings can be adjusted to improve gameplay. Custom drivers can be installed for a performance boost.