notification

Winsage
April 6, 2026
A network notification reading "Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable…?" appeared on a billboard outside London's Stratford station, drawing attention from passersby and tech enthusiasts. This incident was noted by a reader of The Register and highlights the unpredictable nature of technology. Stratford station, established in the early 19th century, features modern amenities and is near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a legacy of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The display serves as a reminder of the user interface changes introduced with Windows 8, which was released in 2012.
Winsage
April 5, 2026
Windows 11 allows users to customize background images, themes, accent colors, and the Start menu and Taskbar. However, for more significant changes, Windhawk offers a modular approach to modify the operating system without risky file modifications. To install Windhawk on Windows 11, users can use the Windows Package Manager (winget) by running the command: winget install --id RamenSoftware.Windhawk. Notable mods available for Windhawk include: - Windows 11 Taskbar Styler: Provides control over the Taskbar's visual elements with three levels of customization. - Taskbar on Top for Windows 11: Allows users to reposition the Taskbar to the top of the screen. - Taskbar Height and Icon Size: Enables adjustments to the Taskbar's height and icon size without affecting DPI scaling. - Windows 11 Start Menu Styler: Offers complete customization of the Start menu's appearance using themes and custom XAML/CSS. - Windows 11 File Explorer Styler: Allows control over the File Explorer interface by injecting custom XAML styles. - Windows 11 Notification Center Styler: Modifies the layout, transparency, and aesthetics of the Notification Center and Quick Settings. Windhawk uses dynamic code injection to implement changes without altering system files, minimizing risks associated with traditional modifications.
AppWizard
April 5, 2026
DoNotNotify is an Android app that allows users to manage their notification settings with a high degree of customization. Key features include: - Real-time notification blocking using Android's NotificationListenerService. - Creation of deny and allow lists for specific notifications. - Support for simple partial matching and regular expression patterns to filter notifications. - Scheduling rules to be active during specific time frames. - Over 40 pre-configured rules for popular applications. - Automatic addition of relevant rules when compatible apps are installed. - Customizable notification retention and review of received alerts. - Tracking of blocked notifications through a block history feature. - Ability to import and export rules as JSON files. - Offline operation without data collection. To install the app, users can download it from the Google Play Store, enable notification access, and manage rules through the app's interface. Users can create new rules based on their notification history and customize settings, although advanced filtering may require experimentation.
Winsage
April 3, 2026
Microsoft Outlook has been criticized for performance issues, exemplified by an incident during a NASA livestream where an astronaut reported two malfunctioning Outlook applications. Additionally, a tech commentator shared a video showing Outlook taking over 15 seconds to display an email after a notification was selected, which was not linked to recent Windows updates. Outlook faces competition from alternatives like Samsung Email, Gmail, and Apple Mail, which are considered superior due to their use of native user interface frameworks. Microsoft is working on replacing web-based applications with fully native counterparts for Windows 11 to improve performance and restore user confidence.
AppWizard
April 3, 2026
Insights from the GameDiscoverCo newsletter highlight trends in game discovery and sales data for March 2026. Key points include: - The introduction of The Rage Index and The Abandonment Leaderboard by GDCo's Insights Lab. - The U.S. PlayStation hardware price analysis indicates challenges for the PlayStation 5 due to AI-related component shortages and inflation. - Valve has updated the Steam homepage in desktop Beta with enhanced features for user navigation. - The Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 154% increase in sales month-on-month following the launch of Pokémon Pokopia. - PlayStation Plus announced its April titles, including Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, while Xbox introduced Barbie Horse Trails and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Game Pass. - Antoine Mayerowitz discussed the need for better base pricing strategies for PlayStation. - Roblox’s Rivals gained popularity due to ranked play modes. - Amazon Luna is releasing a Masters Of The Universe-licensed game and free games for Prime members. - Indie.io is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service for PC indie games. - Rec Room is closing on June 1st, and Sony is acquiring Cinemersive Labs. - Slay The Spire 2 sold over 5 million copies, while Crimson Desert sold 2.2 million on Steam. - Slay The Spire 2 leads new releases revenue with over 0 million gross, followed by Crimson Desert. - MLB The Show 26 sold over 1 million units in the U.S. - Valve's changes to wishlist notification statistics aim to help developers optimize marketing strategies.
AppWizard
April 3, 2026
Google Pay's Tap to Pay feature, launched in 2020, allows contactless payments using NFC technology. Initially compatible with only two banks, it now works with most major debit and credit cards in India. Users can add their cards to Google Pay, and payments can be made by selecting the card and tapping the phone near a point-of-sale machine. The feature supports most Visa and MasterCard cards issued in India, while American Express cards are excluded. There are no transaction limits, and a PIN is required for high-value transactions. The setup process involves adding card details and authenticating via SMS. Tap to Pay can also be used internationally, except in China.
Winsage
April 3, 2026
Transitioning from Windows to Linux reveals a wealth of open-source software that enhances user experience. A key moment was switching from Fedora to openSUSE Tumbleweed, where Snapper, a snapshotting tool, was encountered. Snapper allows users to take snapshots of system files, enabling easy reversion to previous states without data loss. It automatically tracks significant changes, while Timeshift offers similar functionality in distributions like Linux Mint. KDE Plasma provides a fully customizable desktop environment, allowing users to personalize their experience with widgets, themes, and KDE applications. KDE Connect connects phones to Linux, enabling notification mirroring, file sharing, and media control, surpassing Microsoft's Phone Link. Linux package managers offer users significant control over their operating system, providing detailed information about downloads and dependencies. Although the command-line interface may seem intimidating initially, it becomes a preferred method for software management. Additionally, Linux distributions typically come with a wide range of high-quality applications pre-installed, enhancing the overall user experience.
Winsage
April 1, 2026
The Windows 11 Pro license is currently available for .97, significantly reduced from its standard retail price of 9. This offer is found on the Tech Deals website and is intended for Windows machines needing a new license, not for devices already running Windows 10 that cannot access a free upgrade. Minimum system requirements include a 1GHz processor with at least 2 cores, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, UEFI Secure Boot capability, TPM version 2.0, a GPU compatible with DirectX 12 or later, a display of at least 9 inches with 720p resolution, and internet connectivity for activation. Activating Windows 11 Pro removes the "Activate Windows" watermark, unlocks personalization options, ensures access to updates and technical support, and provides enhanced security and remote management features compared to the Home version.
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