performance upgrades Archives

Winsage

March 25, 2026

Tested: Windows 11 now has a second taskbar, and it works surprisingly well

In 2026, Microsoft released PowerToys version 0.98, which includes the new Command Palette Dock feature. This Dock can be pinned to any edge of the screen and displays information such as CPU and memory usage while providing quick access to frequently used commands. Users can enable the Dock through the PowerToys interface without needing to restart their system. The Dock offers customization options, including repositioning, themes, and backgrounds. It integrates live system statistics, a clock, and allows users to pin commands and applications for a tailored workflow. The Command Palette Dock is designed to complement, not replace, the Windows 11 taskbar. Other enhancements in this update include a new Keyboard Manager, performance upgrades for the Command Palette, and improvements to CursorWrap and ZoomIt.

Winsage

March 23, 2026

Microsoft announces changes to Windows 11: movable taskbar, less Copilot and improved update control

Microsoft is rolling out enhancements for Windows 11 in test builds for Windows Insider members during March and April of 2026. Key updates include: - Users can now reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of their screens and access more personalization settings. - The integration of the Copilot feature will be reassessed across applications like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad, focusing on specific use cases. - Windows Update will allow users to skip updates during initial setup, shut down or restart without mandatory updates, pause updates for extended periods, and reduce the frequency of automatic restarts and notifications. - File Explorer will see performance upgrades, including faster startup times, fewer visual artifacts, and enhanced stability. - The Feedback Hub will have an updated interface for easier feedback submission and improved visibility of user messages. - Future developments for Windows 11 will focus on enhancing system performance, stability, and predictability, reducing resource consumption, boosting application speed, improving driver stability, minimizing crashes, enhancing peripheral connectivity, and ensuring reliable updates. - There will be ongoing improvements to the Windows Subsystem for Linux to enhance file operations between Windows and Linux environments.

Winsage

March 19, 2026

Windows 11 is quietly testing 10 upgrades you’ll actually notice

Microsoft has introduced several enhancements to Windows 11 through its Windows Insider Program in March 2026. Key updates include: - Users can now customize the profile folder name during the initial setup process. - The debloat policy for Enterprise and Education editions has been improved, allowing administrators to remove additional apps using MSIX and APPX packages. - The Point-in-time restore feature has been updated to allow users to view and edit restore point settings and specify reserved storage for restore points. - A new enforcement policy in the kernel will no longer trust cross-signed drives by default, enhancing security by ensuring only verified drivers are trusted. - An upgrade option for Microsoft 365 Family subscribers has been added to the Accounts page, which can be disabled if desired. - The Drag Tray feature has been renamed to "Drop Tray" and relocated within the "Multitasking" settings, with improvements to the peek view. - Pen settings now include an option for the pen tail button to launch the same app as the "Copilot" key. - The Administrator Protection feature has been re-enabled, creating a temporary, isolated account for elevation requests to enhance security. - File Explorer now supports Voice Typing for renaming files. - The "Cameras" settings have been updated in the Canary Channel to include new controls for pan and tilt, along with performance improvements.

Winsage

February 18, 2026

Releasing Windows 11 Builds 26100.7918 and 26200.7918 to the Release Preview Channel

Windows 11 Builds 26100.7918 and 26200.7918 (KB5077241) have been released for Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, covering versions 24H2 and 25H2. The update features a gradual rollout method for updates and includes various new features and enhancements: - Emoji 16.0 introduces a selection of new emojis. - Windows Backup for Organizations now includes a first sign-in restore experience. - Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) is activated for non-domain joined Windows Professional devices. - A built-in network speed test is accessible from the taskbar. - Taskbar improvements enhance the visual experience of the overflow area. - A new entry point in the account menu directs users to the Microsoft account benefits page. - Windows supports Microsoft Entra ID group and role SID resolution. - Users can control pan and tilt for supported cameras in the Settings app. - Sysmon functionality is now included natively in Windows for capturing system events. - Widget Settings now opens as a full-page experience in the Widgets app. - Users can set .webp image files as their desktop background. - The search process icon in Task Manager has been updated. - Storage Settings dialogs have been modernized, and performance for scanning temporary files has improved. - Enhancements have been made to Windows Update Settings for better responsiveness. - Reliability improvements have been implemented for the login screen and Nearby Sharing. - The Windows print service has been optimized for smoother performance during high-volume tasks. - File Explorer has received several improvements, including an extract all option for non-ZIP archive folders and enhanced reliability for displaying devices on the Network page. - Performance enhancements have been made to reduce resume-from-sleep time on heavily loaded systems. - Minor visual issues related to the taskbar, Windows Security pop-up credential fields, and the print dialog have been addressed.

Winsage

February 14, 2026

Windows 11 is testing new 2026 features — and some of them are already changing how the OS feels

Microsoft is advancing the development of Windows 11 through the Windows Insider Program, releasing several preview builds that include enhancements such as revamped camera controls, a new design for account settings, expanded image format support for desktop backgrounds, AI-driven image descriptions in Narrator, and the introduction of the System Monitor tool. Version 26H1 will not be available for existing PCs and includes minor adjustments and fixes. The updated camera controls for adjusting pan and tilt are accessible via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras > Camera > Basic settings. Additionally, Sysmon has been transitioned into a native tool in recent builds, removing the need for separate installation.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

Minecraft 26.1: Features, New Mobs, Biomes, Release Date & More

The Minecraft 26.1 update is expected to focus on visual enhancements for baby mobs, including new models, textures, animations, and sounds. The release date is speculated to be at the end of March 2026, following Mojang's update patterns. The update may be titled "Cute Companions," although this has not been officially confirmed. There are currently no confirmed new biomes, but players are hopeful for additions like a Hot Springs biome. Confirmed features include revamped baby mob models for various animals, craftable Name Tags, changes to spawn eggs for easier access to baby animals, and improvements in visual quality, lighting, and performance. As of now, Minecraft 26.1 has not been released in a stable version, and there are no new hostile mobs planned for this update.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Tokyo Xtreme Racer review

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a racing game that emphasizes rivalry and strategy over traditional racing metrics like speed or lap times. Players engage in psychological competition against unique rivals, each with distinct vehicles and personalities. The game features a map for locating potential opponents, allowing players to choose their battles. Different areas of Tokyo present unique driving challenges, and players can engage with any car on the road, turning even nameless vehicles into rivals. Vehicle customization is extensive, enabling players to enhance performance and express individuality. The game blends intense racing moments with leisurely drives, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience.

Winsage

December 26, 2025

This Registry Hack Unlocks a Faster NVMe Driver in Windows 11

A new native NVMe storage driver has been introduced in Windows Server 2025, aimed at improving SSD performance by reducing CPU overhead and enhancing IOPS performance. Users have found a way to enable this driver on Windows 11 through manual registry edits, although Microsoft has not officially supported this for consumer versions. The driver implementation in Server 2025 could lead to an 80% increase in IOPS and a 45% reduction in CPU usage, but these figures are specific to server workloads. Community testing on Windows 11 version 25H2 has shown performance improvements of 10-15%. Enabling the driver requires editing the registry, and users must back up the registry or create a restore point beforehand. After activation, NVMe drives will appear under "Storage Media" in Device Manager. Some users may experience compatibility issues with SSD management utilities post-activation. To revert to the default NVMe driver, users can delete the added DWORD entries from the registry and restart the system. This adjustment is experimental and may not guarantee performance upgrades.

Tech Optimizer

December 6, 2025

PostgreSQL 12 progress update

The PostgreSQL development team provided a progress update on PostgreSQL 12, highlighting several enhancements: - Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation will be enabled by default, reducing memory consumption during COPY operations and function calls, and improving search performance for multi-byte characters. - Server configuration improvements will allow enabling/disabling cluster checksums via pg_checksums, reduce the default value for autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay to 2ms, and support micro-seconds for time-based server variables. - Speed improvements for btree index insertions will enhance space efficiency of page splits, reducing locking overhead and optimizing performance for UPDATEs and DELETEs with many duplicates. - Recovery parameters can be modified during reloads, including archive_cleanup_command, promote_trigger_file, recovery_end_command, and recovery_min_apply_delay, along with a new streaming replication timeout feature. - The peculiar behavior of OID columns will likely be phased out, but they will still be defined as type OID, requiring adjustments for operations on tables with OID-named columns. - Data types such as abstime, reltime, and tinterval are expected to be removed. - Enhancements to geometric functions and operators will improve results, and geometric types will be restructured to manage NaN, underflow, overflow, and division by zero scenarios.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Carmageddon: Rogue Shift looks like the Death Race game we’ve always deserved

Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is a new vehicular combat game inspired by the film Death Race, set to be released in early 2026. The game features a dystopian landscape where players engage in battles using modified vehicles equipped with weapons like miniguns and rocket launchers. Players will face zombies as adversaries while racing through a crumbling city. The game offers a variety of vehicles with unique stats and abilities, allowing for extensive customization as players progress and unlock additional weapons and upgrades. Fans can wishlist the game on Steam to stay updated on its development.