modifications Archives

Winsage

April 29, 2025

New Windows 11 beta brings more changes to Control Panel settings

Microsoft is transitioning away from the traditional Windows Control Panel, moving settings to the Windows 11 "Settings" app. Recent updates have relocated keyboard character repeat delay and repeat rate options to the Accessibility > Keyboard section in the Settings app, although these changes are currently hidden and require manual activation by users. Additionally, all remaining options from the mouse properties dialog box have also been transferred to the Settings app. Despite these updates, keyboard options still exist in the traditional Control Panel. Microsoft began this transition in 2020 and plans to retire the Control Panel entirely, but the process is progressing slowly, with remnants of the Control Panel still present in Windows 10 and 11.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Medieval strategy sim Manor Lords is getting proper AI village-building, an upkeep system and fancier castles

In Manor Lords, a medieval strategy city builder by Slavic Magic and Hooded Horse, developers have announced updates as the game nears its first anniversary. Key updates include: - New buildings such as a quarry for stone mining and a lime kiln for construction. - Visual enhancements to the user interface and map resource nodes, along with improved castle components. - AI improvements allowing it to construct and manage small villages with new features like burgage plots. - Introduction of a new upkeep system requiring consistent resource flow for buildings like smithies and mines. - Modifications to the Record View for regional production and consumption tracking. - A rewritten pathfinding system for multi-story castles to improve unit navigation. The team has expanded since the game's early access debut and is focused on enhancing gameplay and AI capabilities.

TrendTechie

April 29, 2025

Релиз qBittorrent 5.1

On April 27, 2025, qBittorrent version 5.1 was released, developed using the Qt toolkit and available on GitHub under the GPLv2+ license. It supports Linux, Windows, and macOS. Key features include an integrated search engine, RSS feed subscription, remote management, and advanced torrent settings. The 5.1 release includes enhancements such as bug fixes, drag-and-drop support, external IP address display, configurable statistics saving, improved pseudorandom number generation, a new magnet link setting, tracker extraction from URLs, an announce_port setting, an enhanced search interface, over 50 web interface modifications, support for the Thunar file manager, and localization updates. Prior to this, version 5.0.1 was released in late October 2024, fixing a long-standing SSL/TLS certificate validation bug that posed a vulnerability to man-in-the-middle attacks.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Microsoft could be working on the next update for Windows 11 – but 25H2 could end up being a disappointment

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 25H2 update is expected to be a modest upgrade compared to its predecessor, as indicated by a reference to GE25H2 in the appraiserres.dll file found in a recent preview build. This component assesses whether a PC meets the criteria for the upgrade, suggesting that Microsoft is preparing for the 25H2 update, although no official announcements have been made. The update may function as an 'enablement package,' similar to the 23H2 update, which implies that new features are already integrated into Windows 11 and will be activated through this update. This approach may result in fewer bugs due to the limited changes involved.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Mystery of the vanishing seaplane: why did Windows 11 24H2 cause the vehicle to disappear from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?

A coding error within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas caused the Skimmer plane to launch into the sky after the Windows 11 24H2 update. The issue was traced to an incorrect calculation for the vehicle's Z axis in the configuration file, which had gone unnoticed until the update changed how the game processed positioning values. Prior to the update, the game read values from a previous vehicle, but the update introduced a new platform that altered this behavior, resulting in the plane receiving an excessively high Z value.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

7 things I learned while making the perfect, productivity-focused desktop environment on Windows

Windows 11 has challenges for users seeking a productivity-centric desktop experience, prompting many to seek alternatives and customization utilities. Key elements for enhancing productivity include effective file management, quick access to applications, and tools to streamline workflow. For file management, users can benefit from dual-pane file manager alternatives like XYplorer, File Pilot, Files, and Total Commander, which improve efficiency beyond the default File Explorer. Customizing the Start Menu by relocating it to the left and using tools like StartAllBack, Start11, and Windhawk can enhance productivity. Pinning frequently used apps to the taskbar allows for quick access and utilizes jump lists for recent documents. Disabling the News & Interests widget can reduce distractions, and many users choose to remove Microsoft's Copilot due to unmet expectations. For desktop customization, tools like StartAllBack, Windhawk, Rainmeter, and PowerToys can improve both appearance and functionality. PowerToys offers over 20 utilities, including FancyZones for window management and PowerToys Run for quick application access, making it essential for optimizing workflow. Overall, effective file management, application accessibility, and thoughtful customization are crucial for enhancing productivity on Windows 11.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

Windows 10’s April update stealthily removed this Start menu feature

Microsoft's April update for Windows 10, designated as KB5055518, has removed the jump lists feature, which allowed users to access recent files associated with applications. This change has caused frustration among users, and the reason for the removal is unclear, with no official statement from Microsoft. Users can restore the jump lists by uninstalling the update, but this would also eliminate important security enhancements included in it.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Change these 4 Windows settings for a more minimalist look

The text discusses ways to enhance the Windows user experience to make it more aesthetically pleasing and organized, similar to a Mac. Key modifications include: - Using the application TranslucentTB to make the taskbar transparent or hiding it in desktop mode. - Decluttering the taskbar by removing unnecessary icons through the right-click menu. - Shrinking desktop icons by selecting "Small icons" or hiding all icons for a cleaner look. - Pinning frequently used applications to the Start Menu for easier access and unpinning less essential apps to reduce clutter. - Emphasizing that a cleaner desktop can improve focus and productivity by minimizing distractions.

Winsage

April 18, 2025

Microsoft removes the paywall for Copilot Vision, but only for Edge users

Microsoft has introduced a feature called Copilot Vision in its Edge browser, which allows AI to perceive and interpret content on users' screens. This feature is currently free but limited to users in the United States. Concerns about privacy and data security have arisen, prompting Microsoft to take a cautious approach to its rollout. Both Copilot Vision and a previous feature, Windows Recall, which captures snapshots of a user’s PC, are optional and require user activation. Microsoft has made modifications to enhance the security of Windows Recall in response to privacy concerns.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Google could give the Home app a spring clean with these changes (APK teardown)

The latest version of the Google Home app for Android (version 3.32.69.1) includes several user interface enhancements. The settings menu has been integrated into the Google account menu in the top right corner, removing the need for a separate settings tab. A new floating action button for scanning QR codes has been added within the devices tab, simplifying the setup process for Matter-enabled devices. Additionally, a search button has been implemented in the favorites tab, allowing users to search for specific devices or actions. These updates aim to improve user experience and streamline smart home management.