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Hands-on: Listary is a lightweight launcher that levels up your productivity on Windows
Winsage
March 7, 2025

Hands-on: Listary is a lightweight launcher that levels up your productivity on Windows

Listary is a hybrid app launcher and file search tool designed to enhance productivity by providing quick access to applications and files. Users can launch apps by pressing Ctrl twice, which opens a search bar for swift navigation, reducing reliance on the Windows Start menu. It features fast file search capabilities, allowing users to customize their search index and filter results based on content types and modification dates. Listary includes a Quick Switch feature for instant folder access and integrates with various third-party applications. However, it lacks extensive extensibility through plugins, offering limited advanced capabilities compared to competitors.
The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)
AppWizard
March 7, 2025

The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)

January allowed players to enjoy late-2024 titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, while February introduced several new games, including Civilization VII and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Early 2025 releases include: 1. Monster Hunter Wilds - A game featuring big-game hunting in a Mesozoic ecosystem, focusing on ecological balance and cinematic experiences. 2. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - A narrative-adventure game where players shape the story of Swann, an aspiring filmmaker, influenced by ’90s underground music and film. 3. Keep Driving - A driving simulator that emphasizes road trip experiences through small decisions, exploring themes of time and connection. 4. Citizen Sleeper - A sequel set in a distant galaxy where players navigate a vibrant universe as a robot worker escaping a gang boss, combining narrative depth with engaging mechanics. 5. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders - A skiing game that offers breathtaking visuals and immersive environments, blending the thrill of time trials with a serene atmosphere.
You might mock Microsoft's new emoji button in Windows 11 but as someone that's explained how to quickly access emojis and special characters too many times, I get it
Winsage
March 3, 2025

You might mock Microsoft’s new emoji button in Windows 11 but as someone that’s explained how to quickly access emojis and special characters too many times, I get it

Microsoft has introduced a dedicated emoji button in the taskbar of the latest beta build of Windows 11, allowing users to quickly access various emojis, including the thumbs-up. This feature can be activated using the Win + . shortcut, which brings up a window with emojis, emoticons, gifs, clipboard options, and special characters. Microsoft aims to improve the discoverability of this emoji panel, acknowledging its importance in a blog post. The feature is currently being tested in beta update 22635.5015 and is expected to be integrated into the main version of Windows soon. Users can also enable or disable system tray icons for a minimalist interface.
‘Dredge’ Review (Android, iOS): 2025’s Best Mobile Game (So Far)
BetaBeacon
March 2, 2025

‘Dredge’ Review (Android, iOS): 2025’s Best Mobile Game (So Far)

Dredge is a mobile game that puts players in the role of a fisherman in the town of Greater Marrow. During the day, players fish and upgrade their boat, while at night Lovecraftian horrors emerge. The game balances peaceful fishing mechanics with creeping dread, enhanced by a fear system and time-based resource management. The mobile port of Dredge runs smoothly on devices like the Google Pixel 7a, with intuitive controls. The game is praised for its deep experience and unsettling atmosphere, making it worth the price on the Apple and Google Play stores.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
March 2, 2025

I wrote one-sentence reviews of over 70 Steam demos to help you decide which to try before Next Fest ends

During the recent Steam Next Fest, 83 game demos were explored, with impressions shared on 72 titles. Highlights include: - Monster Train 2: A more intricate version of the original. - Sandustry: A blend of Noita and Factorio with unique mechanics. - Nomad Idle: An action RPG mixed with idle game elements. - Deliver At All Costs: Early GTA-inspired package delivery game. - Machine Mind: Resource gathering and base defense in a Borderlands-inspired setting. - Mech Havoc: A top-down shooter combining Brigador and MechWarrior elements. - Solarpunk: A survival game lacking depth. - Tempest Rising: A revival of Command & Conquer. - Mecha Break: Overwhelmed by free-to-play design choices. - Void War: Combines FTL and Warhammer 40k. - Wizdom Academy: Falls short as a wizard school management sim. - Settler's Domain: A minimalist colony-builder that encourages rapid gameplay. - Behind the Sword: An indie grand strategy 4X game with a unique spherical grid. Additional notable titles include: - RoadCraft: Relaxed truck logistics game. - Grit and Valor - 1949: Dieselpunk mech micro-RTS. - Drop Duchy: City builder with randomization issues. - He is Coming: Lo-fi roguelike RPG. - Desperate Place: Sci-fi iteration of Thronefall. - Roman Triumph: Survival City Builder: Interesting city builder with subpar AI art. - Icaria: Worker-programming factory game. - Rise of Industry 2: Lacking gameplay mechanics despite appealing aesthetic. - Windward Horizon: Complicated crafting and RPG mechanics. - Guntouchables: Co-op action roguelike with potential. - Game of Thrones: Kingsroad: Brief and unengaging demo. - Darkwater: Potential premise hindered by discomforting field of view. - War Rats: The Rat em Up: Chaotic experience added to wishlist. Other games mentioned include Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids, Outworld Station, As We Descend, Railgods of Hysterra, City Tales: Medieval Era, Task Force Admiral, Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall, Dark Moon, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone, The Horror at Highrook, Radiolight, Is This Seat Taken?, God Forsaken, Total Chaos, Nordhold, Missing Banban, Wheel World, I Am Legion: Stand Survivors, Labyrinth of the Demon King, Unyielder, Reignbreaker, Urban Jungle, Dagger Directive, Star Crafter, Blightstone, Redemption of Liuyin, Cybertaxi: Lunatic Nights, MechaKnights Legends, Jitter, Rock Crusher, Chaos Front, Savara, Pochemeow, Death Ring: Second Impact, Mystical Tactics, Uber Urban, Sweep, Anoxia Station, Starless Abyss, Scarecrow, Wanderstop, and Conquest Dark.
Other Browsers Need to Steal Opera’s Multitasking Sidebar
AppWizard
March 1, 2025

Other Browsers Need to Steal Opera’s Multitasking Sidebar

The Opera sidebar is a feature designed to streamline communication by serving as a hub for essential social media platforms and messaging services, allowing users to maintain focus while managing multiple applications. It has a minimalist design that can be expanded into popover tabs for easier access to messaging services without navigating away from primary tasks. Users can customize the sidebar by selecting from a variety of services, including AI tools, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Slack, and social media platforms such as Instagram and Bluesky. The sidebar helps prevent confusion from having too many tabs open, allowing for quick message replies and the option to pin apps for a split-screen view. Unlike other browsers, Opera allows browser extensions to operate within the sidebar, enhancing usability.
5 apps that give you the desktop widgets Microsoft won’t
Winsage
February 25, 2025

5 apps that give you the desktop widgets Microsoft won’t

Microsoft has reintroduced a side widget feature in Windows 11, but it lacks extensive customization options. Users nostalgic for Windows 7's desktop gadgets can explore several third-party applications to enhance their desktop experience: 1. Rainmeter: A powerful desktop customization tool that allows users to create and apply skins as widgets displaying various information, with a vibrant community providing thousands of skins and mods. 2. Widget Launcher: A simple application for adding various widgets like calendars and clocks to the desktop, allowing resizing, but includes ads during the installation process. 3. GadgetPack: Restores the classic Windows 7 gadget experience on Windows 10 and 11, featuring around 50 pre-installed gadgets that can be customized and placed anywhere on the desktop. 4. BeWidgets: A modern widget application for creating custom widgets for time, date, finances, and weather, designed with a minimalist aesthetic, though it requires manual creation of widgets each time. 5. Widgets Box: Offers a diverse collection of widgets, including digital clocks and calendars, but many features require a paid subscription. It includes unique tools like a browser search bar and a stylish flip clock.
12 Settings You Should Immediately Change On Your New Windows Laptop
Winsage
February 23, 2025

12 Settings You Should Immediately Change On Your New Windows Laptop

Windows 11 introduces new features and settings that may require adjustments for user preferences. 1. To clean up the lock screen, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen and set "Lock screen status" to "None" or select a relevant widget. Uncheck "Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen" for a minimalist appearance. 2. To move the Start menu back to the left, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and change the alignment to "Left." You can also customize pinned apps in the Start menu. 3. To trim down notifications, visit Settings > System > Notifications and disable unnecessary notifications or set up Do Not Disturb. 4. To disable the advertising ID, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General and turn off "Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID." Also, disable "Show me suggested content in the settings app." 5. To reduce Windows location permissions, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location and disable permissions for specific apps. 6. To disable inking and typing personalization, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Inking and Typing Personalization and toggle it to "Off." Consider disabling "Online speech recognition" under Privacy & Security > Speech. 7. To turn off diagnostic and feedback settings, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback and turn off "Send optional diagnostic data." 8. To disable delivery optimization, navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery optimization and set "Allow downloads from other PCs" to "Devices on my local network." 9. To disable Copilot, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and toggle off Copilot or uninstall it via Apps > Installed Apps. 10. To disable Recall, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots and turn off the "Save snapshots" toggle. 11. To remove unwanted apps, use tools like Geek Uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller to thoroughly uninstall applications and clean up leftover files. 12. PowerToys, a collection of utilities from Microsoft, can enhance productivity and can be downloaded from GitHub or the Microsoft Store. Disable any unused utilities after installation to conserve resources.
7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11
Winsage
February 19, 2025

7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11

Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.
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