October Archives

BetaBeacon

October 22, 2026

Free Cloud Gaming on iPhone and Android: 13 Steps

- Free cloud gaming on a phone in 2026 is offered by three separate companies: NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Amazon's Luna. - NVIDIA's GeForce NOW streams PC games you already own, Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming offers free-to-play titles without a Game Pass subscription, and Amazon's Luna provides access to a library of games for Amazon Prime members. - Apple's App Store rules do not allow cloud-gaming apps, so GeForce NOW on iPhone runs through a browser-based web app while it is available as an installable app on Android. - Users need accounts for each service they want to use, as well as accounts for Steam and/or Epic Games Store if they want to stream games they already own. - Browser choice is important for cloud gaming, with Safari being the only realistic option for GeForce NOW on iPhone and Chrome being the safest default for Android. - It is recommended to turn off battery-saver or data-saver modes on the chosen browser before a session to avoid performance issues. - Each service offers a free tier with different features, and it is important to compare them side by side to understand what each one provides.

Winsage

October 22, 2026

Microsoft says it’s optimizing Windows 11 for 8GB PCs, so I tested 26H2 on an 8GB laptop

Following the Windows 11 26H2 update, users with 8GB PCs reported a significant reduction in RAM usage. One user noted a decrease from 5GB to 3.3GB after a restart, while tests on a virtual machine showed RAM usage drop from 4.1GB to between 2.8GB and 3.2GB. Microsoft has optimized RAM usage for 8GB PCs, aiming for improvements through 2026, with anecdotal evidence suggesting a reduction of 1GB to 2GB in boot RAM usage. Specific improvements include Windows now retaining up to 2GB more active data in memory and allowing Widgets to load only when accessed, freeing over 200MB for other tasks. The separation of Widgets from the Discover feed has also contributed to reduced RAM usage.

AppWizard

October 22, 2026

Building the Ultimate Game Night: Domino’s® and Minecraft Dungeons II Team Up for a Block-Shaped Collaboration

Domino’s Pizza Inc. is launching a promotion in conjunction with the release of Minecraft Dungeons II starting October 26. Customers who purchase the new single-serving pizza called the Domino will unlock various rewards, including collectible boxes featuring characters from the game and a chance to win one of 20,000 digital copies of Minecraft Dungeons II. Each Domino purchase grants customers one of six collectible boxes. Domino’s Rewards members can unlock exclusive in-game items with their purchases, such as a unique skin, a cape, and a pet. From October 26 to November 4, Domino’s will give away 2,000 game tokens daily for customers to download the game for free, valid for PC and Xbox. An interactive Minecraft Dungeons II-themed Domino’s Tracker will also be introduced.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Microsoft says October updates didn’t actually fix VPN issues

Microsoft has acknowledged ongoing connection issues with its Always On VPN feature, which were initially reported as resolved in the October 2026 cumulative updates for Windows 11. However, these issues persist, particularly affecting users with automatic protocol selection using IKEv2 and SSTP. A service alert revealed that the bug was mistakenly marked as resolved and has since been changed to "Mitigated." Microsoft is working on a proper fix and has provided a temporary workaround for affected users by advising IT administrators to select a single tunneling protocol instead of automatic protocol selection. The September cumulative updates have also caused various other problems for users, prompting Microsoft to release emergency out-of-band updates to address critical issues.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 gets support for quick machine recovery

Microsoft has introduced a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature for IT administrators managing Windows Server 2025, enabling quick recovery from boot failures after the October 2026 security update without physical access to systems. When activated, QMR boots the system into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot issues, collecting crash data for remote assistance from Microsoft. Cloud remediation is disabled by default but can be enabled through Group Policy. Administrators can disable QMR by turning off 'Enable Cloud Remediation' and 'Enable Auto Remediation.' QMR was initially introduced in November 2024 as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative and began testing in March 2025, with improvements made by November 2025.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 Gets Support for Quick Machine Recovery

Windows Server 2025 introduced Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) in the October 2026 cumulative update to improve IT recovery processes during boot failures. QMR automates the detection of boot failures using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and can autonomously download and apply fixes via Windows Update. Organizations must manually enable QMR through Group Policy, as it is disabled by default. The feature enhances Windows Startup Repair with cloud-based remediation capabilities and requires a reliable network connection, supporting wired networks and WPA/WPA2 password-based Wi-Fi configurations.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server OS Configuration on Bare Metal: Enterprise ERP and MSSQL Deployments

Onlive Server announced specialized operational guidelines as part of its Day 37 digital expansion initiative on October 12, 2026, from Redmond, WA. The company emphasizes the importance of optimized Windows dedicated server hosting for businesses requiring consistent uptime, low-latency data routing, and stringent data governance. Their offering aims to maximize bandwidth throughput and ensure robust hardware isolation for enterprise ERP and MSSQL deployments. Key features include dedicated bare-metal resources, optimized regional network routing, and enterprise security with Tier-III datacenter standards. Onlive Server provides global web hosting solutions, including bare-metal dedicated servers, VPS hosting, and cloud infrastructure across multiple regions, supported by 24/7 technical assistance.

AppWizard

October 21, 2026

Google brings Gemini Personal Intelligence to Cars with personalized answers

Google has launched its Gemini feature, now available on Android Auto and vehicles with Google built-in technology. The rollout includes Personal Intelligence, which integrates information from various Google services with user consent to provide tailored responses during in-car conversations. Key features include checking flight details, finding restaurants based on preferences, navigating to appointments, recognizing places from photos, and returning to previously discussed locations. Users can choose which apps to connect for privacy and can disable the feature anytime. Gemini will handle standard tasks without personalization. The rollout for Android Auto begins on October 21, 2026, with availability for cars with Google built-in expected soon. Eligible accounts are personal Google accounts for users aged 18 and older, while Google Workspace accounts and users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria are excluded.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows 11 Auto-Recovery: Cloud Repair Off by Default on Corporate Devices, Forcing IT Departments to Weigh the Pros and Cons

Microsoft's Quick Machine Recovery feature, integrated into Windows 11, is disabled by default for enterprise-managed devices due to a significant incident in July 2024 when a faulty security update caused many devices to be unable to boot. The feature identifies devices that fail to boot multiple times and connects to Windows Update via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to search for fixes. It is available in Windows 11 version 24H2 (build 26100.4700) and later, with default settings varying based on device management status: disabled for Enterprise/Education editions and domain-joined Pro editions, and enabled for Home and unmanaged Pro editions. Administrators can configure options such as enabling/disabling cloud repair, automatic repair, and setting remediation check frequencies. A test mode is available for devices in the Windows Insider Program. Additionally, starting October 13, 2026, Microsoft will implement restrictions on external storage devices formatted with ReFS, which will be audited by default, with enforcement beginning in January 2027. Users will need to transition data from ReFS to supported formats by this date. A registry and Group Policy setting named "RefsRemovableDeviceMountPolicy" will allow customization of this restriction.

AppWizard

October 21, 2026

Personal Intelligence hits the road: Google brings Gemini’s tailored assistance to Android Auto

Google plans to integrate its Gemini's Personal Intelligence into vehicles equipped with Android Auto, enhancing the driving experience by providing personalized assistance similar to that on Android phones. The feature will allow the AI to connect to Workspace apps, Gmail, Photos, and Search for tailored help, and can resume previous conversations, find restaurants, and provide directions. The rollout of Personal Intelligence for Android Auto will begin in the coming months, allowing users who have set it up on their phones to enjoy the same experience in their vehicles without additional configuration. Users can also set it up through the Gemini settings if they haven't done so already. Since its debut in January, Gemini's Personal Intelligence has been introduced across various platforms, offering intuitive and contextually relevant interactions, such as meal suggestions based on dietary restrictions and assistance with vehicle-related inquiries.