manager Archives

Winsage

July 4, 2026

Ex-Microsoft engineer rebuilds Notepad in 2.5KB using nothing but stuff Windows already had

Dave Plummer, a retired Microsoft engineer, has developed TinyRetroPad, a Notepad-like application that is only 2.5 kilobytes in size. TinyRetroPad includes features such as Open, Save, Find and Replace, printing, font selection, word wrap, and an unsaved changes prompt. It is built on existing Windows components, allowing it to function efficiently without extensive resources. TinyRetroPad is based on Dave’s Tiny Editor and utilizes RICHEDIT50W for text handling. The application's file size increased incrementally with each feature added, with the final size being 2,476 bytes. Crinkler, a compression linker, was used to optimize the executable. TinyRetroPad is still in development, facing issues like high memory consumption and compatibility problems. In contrast, Windows 11's Notepad has become larger and more complex, weighing approximately 352KB and incorporating features that some users find unnecessary. Windows 11 LTSC retains the classic Notepad without modern features, while TinyRetroPad aims to demonstrate the potential for simplicity in application design.

Winsage

July 4, 2026

Ex-Microsoft engineer rebuilds Notepad in 2.5KB using nothing but stuff Windows already had

Dave Plummer, a former Microsoft engineer, is recreating Notepad in 2.5 kilobytes with a project called TinyRetroPad, which includes features like Open, Save, Find and Replace, printing, font selection, word wrap, and unsaved changes prompt. TinyRetroPad leverages existing Windows infrastructure, utilizing built-in resources to function efficiently. It is based on Matt Power’s Dave’s Tiny Editor and operates as a wrapper around RICHEDIT50W. The size of TinyRetroPad increased with each feature added, reaching 2,476 bytes with printing. The project uses Crinkler, a compression linker, to optimize the executable. TinyRetroPad currently lacks a dedicated Releases page and may trigger false positives from antivirus software. Users have reported issues such as excessive memory usage and compatibility problems with older Windows versions. In contrast, the modern Notepad in Windows 11 has grown to approximately 352KB, with a total disk footprint nearing 5MB, leading to user backlash over its complexity. Windows 11 LTSC retains the classic Notepad, while TinyRetroPad aims to demonstrate the potential of leveraging existing OS capabilities rather than adding unnecessary features.

Tech Optimizer

July 3, 2026

Why identity theft protection now matters just as much as antivirus

Cybercrime has shifted focus from targeting individual devices to stealing credentials and personal data for identity theft. In 2024, consumer losses due to fraud reached billion, a 25% increase from the previous year, with over a million identity theft reports filed. Stolen passwords and session cookies are central to most breaches, making credential theft the primary enabler of attacks. Password reuse is a significant vulnerability, with 65% of individuals reusing passwords, leading to increased risk of account takeovers through credential stuffing. Bitdefender offers features like Scam Protection Pro, which protects against fraud across email, chat, and SMS, and identity monitoring in Ultimate Security that alerts users to data leaks in real-time. In 2025, researchers identified approximately 2 billion unique leaked credentials, emphasizing the need for identity protection alongside traditional antivirus solutions.

Winsage

July 2, 2026

Microsoft’s new Azure Linux 4.0 is here, and it could replace Windows Server in the enterprise

Microsoft has released Azure Linux 4.0, transitioning it from an internal tool to a server operating system that users can install on their own servers and virtual machines. Azure Linux 4.0 is built on Fedora Linux, allowing the use of RPMs and ensuring compatibility with Azure's cloud platform. The beta version features a hardened Linux kernel 6.18, optimized for performance on Hyper-V and Azure virtual machines, and incorporates SELinux-based security measures without a graphical user interface. In the Azure Marketplace, it is marketed as a "Microsoft-built Linux distribution for Azure," with formal support available for deployments on Azure but not for standalone hardware. The Azure Linux GitHub repository provides transparency into the distribution, encouraging community engagement while Microsoft retains control over the base image's contents. Azure Linux is positioned as a free, Azure-optimized server operating system for hybrid environments, potentially signaling a shift away from Windows Server.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Bottles is how you should actually run Windows apps on Linux

Wine enables users to run Windows applications on Linux by translating Windows calls into POSIX calls. It has evolved significantly, especially with contributions from Valve's Proton project, but can be complex and unpredictable, leading to potential glitches with updates. Bottles enhances this experience by creating isolated containers for each application, allowing users to run specific versions of Wine tailored to individual applications. This approach improves compatibility and organization, as users can group applications with similar settings. Bottles also features Eagle, a tool that recommends optimal Wine setups, and allows easy backup and restoration of configurations, ensuring a clean system.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Former Microsoft engineer shrinks Notepad down to size

Dave Plummer, a former Microsoft engineer, has created TinyRetroPad, a minimalist text editor that is only 2.5 kilobytes in size. It aims to provide a simple text editing experience, reminiscent of older software like Notepad, which has become bloated over time with unnecessary features. TinyRetroPad includes essential functions such as Open and Save As dialogs, font selection, and printing capabilities, while using assembly language and the RICHEDIT50W from the WinAPI. The application requires more system resources to run effectively but focuses on maintaining lean code and binaries.

AppWizard

July 1, 2026

Massive Samsung Galaxy Glasses leak gives sneak peek into manager app and gestures

A leak has revealed details about the Galaxy Glasses manager app, which will serve as the main hub for managing Samsung's upcoming smart glasses. The app will assist users in pairing the glasses, installing updates, and adjusting settings. It will feature menu options such as Camera, AI assistants, Read notifications aloud, Advanced features, Accessibility, and Find my glasses, with additional settings accessible only when connected to the glasses. Users can also automatically import photos and videos taken with the eyewear. The leak also describes intuitive buttons and gestures for user interaction with the Galaxy Glasses. Users can swipe to navigate music tracks and adjust volume, tap to pause or resume media playback, and use a button on the arm to capture photos or record videos. The glasses will have two LED lights to indicate recording status. Captured images and videos will be available in the Now Bar for previewing and reframing, with functionality expected to extend to the Galaxy Watch. Additionally, a Galaxy Glasses Controller app is in development for Galaxy Watches, and the upcoming Galaxy Ring will support gesture controls for enhanced user experience with the smart glasses.

Winsage

June 30, 2026

Microsoft 365 apps downloaded via MS Store is losing support on Windows 11, verify if you’re affected

Microsoft has announced the end of support for the Microsoft Store version of Microsoft 365 Apps. Support for this installation type will cease, with new feature updates ending in October 2025 and security updates concluding in December 2026. Users with the Store installation must upgrade to the Click-to-Run installation type. The Store installation uses Appx packaging and aligns updates with Windows Update, resulting in slower feature rollouts, while Click-to-Run allows for faster updates and better enterprise management. The transition to Click-to-Run is necessary due to limitations in the Store installation, including a lack of support for XML configuration and essential enterprise management tools. Users can check their installation type through the Account section of any Microsoft 365 app. Transitioning to Click-to-Run involves downloading the Office Deployment Tool, which will automatically remove the Store version and reinstall Office using Click-to-Run. IT administrators can also use the Office Deployment Tool for automatic transitions across multiple devices.

Winsage

June 30, 2026

Bypassed Windows 11 shows surprising stability on ancient, completely unsupported hardware

Windows 11 has elevated system requirements, necessitating four times the memory and storage for AI-driven applications. It can technically run on a minimum of 4GB of memory, but current hardware pricing is challenging due to a silicon shortage affecting various memory types. A retro hardware enthusiast named Omores installed Windows 11 on a DDR1-based system using an ASRock ConRoe865PE motherboard, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, 3GB of DDR1 RAM, and an ATI Radeon HD 4650 AGP graphics card. He overcame the lack of AGP support in Windows 11 by using legacy drivers, achieving satisfactory performance for older applications and games. However, Windows 11 version 24H2 requires SSE4.2 CPU instructions, which are not supported by processors from the AGP era, making version 23H2 the last compatible release for such systems.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

Forget the Steam Summer Sale, Fanatical’s new bundle has a better offer on 11 Steam Deck-compatible games

Steam has launched its Summer Sale, offering discounts of up to 90% on thousands of games. Fanatical has introduced the Very Positive Deluxe Collection bundle, which includes 11 Steam Deck-compatible titles. The pricing for the bundle is tiered: .50 per game for three or four titles, and per game for five or more. Purchasing the entire bundle costs .98, a 79% discount from the original price of 4.89. The bundle includes games such as Ancient Kingdoms and The Smurfs – Dreams, with seven games verified for Steam Deck compatibility and four rated as playable.