longevity Archives

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds reviews hit “Overwhelmingly Negative” on Steam — players cite the game’s weak endgame and PC performance

Monster Hunter Wilds sold over 10 million copies and had more than a million concurrent players on Steam at launch. Despite receiving a 4/5 star review from Windows Central, it is now facing backlash, with players review-bombing it and causing its rating to fall to "Overwhelmingly Negative" on Steam. Critics and fans have noted that the game's challenge has decreased due to simplified mechanics and a forgettable story campaign. Technical issues such as frame rate drops and graphical glitches have also been reported. The player base has declined, with Monster Hunter: World, an older title, currently having twice the number of concurrent players. The endgame content in Monster Hunter Wilds is considered disappointingly brief. Future Title Updates, including one for Lagiacrus in June 2025, are expected to address these issues. Monster Hunter Wilds is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is getting Minecraft characters and Hatsune Miku to make sure people are “not just playing it when it comes out, having fun, and that being it”

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will feature crossover characters from franchises such as Minecraft, Yakuza, Hatsune Miku, and Joker from Persona 5, aiming to create a 'Hall of Fame' atmosphere. Producer Takashi Iizuka stated that the game seeks to pull from the best elements of previous racing titles to enhance player engagement. A Season Pass will provide new content, including characters and courses, for a year after launch, with Minecraft being the first major addition. This strategy is intended to maintain player interest in a competitive gaming landscape, particularly against titles like Mario Kart.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

LibreOffice adds voice to ‘ditch Windows for Linux’ campaign

The LibreOffice project is encouraging users to transition from Windows to Linux as Windows 10 approaches its end. The Document Foundation is developing LibreOffice version 25.8, which will remove support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, as well as deprecate x86 (32-bit) Windows builds. The latest version is 25.2, released in February, with version 25.8 expected in August. Users on Windows 7 can access both "fresh" and "stable" releases, with the current stable version being 24.8.7, which will still support Windows 7 after the release of version 25.8.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2025

Norton Antivirus Review 2025: Solid Value for Fast, Effective Protection

Norton Antivirus has a score of 8.6 out of 10 and was established in 1982. The Norton 360 Deluxe package includes features such as real-time protection, manual and automated scans, the Genie Scam Detector, a password manager, and 2GB of cloud backups. It offers four plans: Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus, each with varying identity protection features and cloud backup space. The installation process is user-friendly, and the software operates efficiently, using minimal CPU and disk space. Norton has maintained a perfect security ranking from AV-Test for over a decade but has experienced a data breach in the past five years. Customer support includes a knowledge base, community forum, and 24/7 live chat and phone support, with an overall customer support score of 8 out of 10. Norton’s pricing is competitive, particularly for higher-tier plans, resulting in a value ranking of 8 out of 10.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

Windows 11 is finally getting a smarter energy saver plan

The Energy Saver mode on Windows 11 helps extend battery life but has limited customization options. Microsoft is currently beta testing a new Adaptive Energy Saver mode that adapts to user behavior and device usage patterns. This feature, discovered by a user named PhantomOfEarth, is functional and reportedly reduces battery usage effectively in the Dev and Beta environments. It suggests that Microsoft may roll out this feature in future updates, enhancing users' control over energy management.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Arm says Windows game compatibility is up to developers

Arm-powered Windows devices using Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are noted for their sleek designs and long battery life. While core compatibility issues have been largely resolved, gaming remains a challenge due to anti-cheat program compatibility, which can prevent games from launching. Chris Bergey from Arm Holdings mentioned that most users spend about 90% of their time on applications with native Arm versions. Major developers like Epic Games are exploring ways to improve compatibility with Arm-based systems. Additionally, anti-cheat issues affect the Steam Deck, which operates on an AMD processor but lacks native versions of several popular anti-cheat systems. As Arm-based Windows devices gain market share, game developers are expected to prioritize support for these platforms. The integration of Windows and Steam into Arm-based handheld devices could transform the gaming landscape, especially with improved battery life and efficiency.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Playdate Season 2 unearths the best game about digging since Minecraft

Dig Dig Dino is a game from Playdate's Season 2 that allows players to excavate dinosaurs and treasures using a team of anthropomorphic animals. Players dig through layers of soil with limited energy, using a shovel and drill to overcome obstacles like rocks. After each excavation, players can use their finds to purchase upgrades that enhance gameplay. The game features multiple areas to explore, offering a variety of skeletons and artifacts, and incorporates puzzle elements that require strategic thinking. It is designed to encourage repeated play and showcases the potential of the Playdate handheld device.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

Did Microsoft Change Windows 11 Requirements? – Here’s the Truth

Microsoft has not changed the official requirements for Windows 11 since its launch. Users need a compatible 64-bit processor (1GHz or faster with at least two cores), a minimum of 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Essential features include UEFI firmware that supports Secure Boot and TPM version 2.0, DirectX 12 compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver, and displays of at least 9 inches with a resolution of 720p. Microsoft allows experienced users to manually install Windows 11 on unsupported devices at their own risk, but this is not advisable due to potential issues. The strict requirements are intended to enhance security and performance. Users can check compatibility with the PC Health Check Tool. Microsoft will support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025, after which there will be no official support. For those whose systems do not meet the specifications, upgrading hardware or purchasing a new PC may be necessary.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

Three ways to run Windows apps on a Linux box

If you're transitioning to Linux and need to run Windows applications, you have several options, including dual-booting, using a virtual machine (VM), or employing a compatibility layer like WINE. For virtualization, VirtualBox is a popular open-source choice, while VMware is another option that has been free since late 2024. Both require a Windows ISO, which can be obtained for free from Microsoft. VirtualBox suggests allocating 2GB of RAM and one processor core, but 8GB of RAM and two cores are recommended for better performance. Running a VM requires significant resources, and a valid Windows license is necessary for the guest OS. Dual-booting allows both Windows and Linux to run natively, providing full hardware access and optimal performance. WINE translates Windows application calls into Linux commands and is included in most Linux distributions. Its effectiveness varies by application. Bottles is a user-friendly wrapper around WINE that simplifies installation. For enhanced compatibility, CodeWeavers CrossOver is a premium alternative to WINE, with a free evaluation version available. For gaming, Lutris and Valve’s Proton are tools that facilitate running Windows games on Linux.

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.