personalization options Archives

Winsage

May 16, 2025

I made the Windows 11 taskbar truly my own with these customizations

Windows 11 offers taskbar customization options that enhance user experience. TranslucentTB is a free tool that allows users to change the taskbar's color and transparency, adapting its appearance based on different scenarios. ExplorerPatcher enables users to restore the Windows 10 taskbar design, providing individual buttons for features and customizable flyouts. Windhawk is a modding tool that offers unique themes for the taskbar, transforming its appearance into styles reminiscent of other operating systems. Start11 allows users to pin folders to the taskbar for easier access. Windhawk also provides mods to enhance taskbar labels and customize the clock. ObjectDock offers a macOS-style dock as an alternative to the traditional taskbar, featuring animations and visual customization options.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Google’s Find My Device gets a much-needed update

Google's Android operating system update on May 13 rebranded Find My Device to Find Hub, adding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tag support and satellite connectivity for improved tracking. Google plans to partner with airlines to enable Bluetooth tag location sharing for lost luggage recovery, launching early next year. The update is part of the Android 16 revamp, which includes personalization options and the introduction of Material 3 Expressive. Additionally, Google I/O announced the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini Live across various platforms for a more intuitive AI experience.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Android and Wear OS are getting a big refresh

The introduction of Material 3 Expressive enhances customization options for Android devices, allowing for a more personal expression of style. It features natural animations that create delightful interactions, such as adjacent notifications responding when one is dismissed and providing tactile feedback through haptic rumble. This design evolution emphasizes both functionality and the emotional connection users have with their devices.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Microsoft’s overlooked Android launcher showed me everything Pixel Launcher is missing

Microsoft Launcher is an Android launcher developed by Microsoft, offering extensive customization options that surpass those of the default Pixel Launcher. It features up to ten customizable gesture options for enhanced usability, particularly for one-handed operation. The launcher includes a component called Your feed, which consists of Glance and News; Glance allows users to curate a personalized experience with scrollable cards from Microsoft apps, while the News section serves as a shortcut to MSN News but is criticized for excessive ads. Users can customize the home screen layout by removing or rearranging default widgets, and the app drawer has a spacious 5×8 grid layout with an alphabetical jump list. However, users may experience occasional animation glitches typical of third-party launchers on Pixel devices. Overall, Microsoft Launcher is considered a superior option for Pixel users seeking more features and customization.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

Replace your Windows 11 Start menu – I found 3 apps that are way better

The Windows 11 Start menu has faced criticism for its layout and limited customization options, prompting Microsoft to make minor adjustments, including the introduction of folder creation for shortcuts in late 2022. A significant redesign is expected in 2025. Third-party alternatives like Start11, StartAllBack, and Open Shell Menu provide users with more customizable options. Start11 costs .99 and offers seven distinct layouts, extensive customization features, and enhancements for the Taskbar. StartAllBack, priced at .99, provides three themes and similar customization options. Open Shell Menu is a free alternative that allows users to choose from various layouts and customize the Start button's appearance.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

Is Windows 11 Finally Better Than Windows 10 For Gaming?

Windows 11 has introduced several gaming-focused enhancements that are not present in Windows 10, including: - DirectStorage: Optimized for Windows 11, this technology allows games to load data directly from an NVMe SSD to the GPU, reducing load times. - Auto HDR: Enhances older games by automatically applying high dynamic range lighting effects for users with HDR-capable monitors. - Improved Scheduling for Hybrid CPUs: Offers better task scheduling for Intel's 12th or 13th generation CPUs, resulting in smoother frame rates during CPU-intensive gaming sessions. Benchmark tests show minimal performance differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11, with slight FPS improvements in some titles on Windows 11, especially when using advanced hardware and DirectStorage. As of March 2025, over 55% of Windows users on Steam have transitioned to Windows 11, indicating growing confidence in the operating system among gamers. Windows 11 has addressed many early bugs and driver issues, providing robust stability on compatible systems. Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10, including the need for TPM 2.0 and UEFI secure boot. Windows 10 remains supported until October 2025, making it a viable option for users with older hardware. Windows 11 features a redesigned interface with a centered Start Menu and Taskbar, rounded corners, and expanded personalization options. It also simplifies the update process with annual feature updates and smaller, faster security updates. Windows 11 enhances integration with Microsoft services, supports Android apps through the Amazon Appstore, and introduces productivity tools like Snap Layouts and improved Task View. Security improvements include mandatory TPM 2.0, enhanced Windows Defender, and a redesigned privacy dashboard for better user control over app permissions. Despite its advancements, Windows 11 has limitations such as ongoing stability issues, driver compatibility concerns, and a simplified taskbar that lacks certain functionalities from Windows 10. Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 devices through Windows Update.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

Hands-on: Google will soon let you customize icon shapes on your Pixel’s home screen

The Pixel Launcher will soon allow users to customize the shape of their app icons, introducing six distinct shapes, including a traditional circle. This feature aims to enhance personalization options, which have been limited in the stock launcher compared to third-party alternatives. The capability for icon shape customization was previously available in Android 11 but was removed. Initial hints of this feature appeared in November, and it has been activated in the third beta of Android 16. The customization process applies a mask to all app icons on the home screen, app drawer, and folders, but does not affect their appearance in other contexts. The six available icon shapes are: “circle,” “square,” “four-sided cookie,” “seven-sided cookie,” “arch,” and “complex clover.” This feature is part of ongoing development for the Pixel wallpaper app, which has been in progress since August of the previous year.

Winsage

March 5, 2025

5 reasons you should swap from Windows to Linux

Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems globally, but Linux offers several advantages as an alternative. Linux is free and open-source, allowing users to access its source code and customize their experience. It does not come with pre-installed applications (bloatware), enabling users to install only the software they need, thus saving storage space. Linux provides extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their desktop environment and system settings. It has enhanced security features due to its smaller user base, which makes it less of a target for cybercriminals, and its approach to application permissions reduces the risk of malware. Linux can run efficiently on older hardware, with many distributions designed for less powerful systems. Additionally, there are various Linux versions available that cater to both technical and non-technical users.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

The least used app on my Android phone is… the Google app?!

The Google app, launched over 15 years ago, enhances mobile search capabilities on Android devices and serves multiple essential functions, including powering the search widget, the Discover feed, Circle to Search, Google Lens, the Saved tab, and ad personalization options. A poll indicates that 34% of users utilize the app daily, 9% use it often, 16% rarely, and 41% never use it. Despite its perceived redundancy, the app is an uninstallable system app, crucial for maintaining various Android features and functionalities.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Microsoft finally allows customizing Windows 11 lock screen widgets, here is how to do that

Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 11, designated as 22635.4870 (KB5050087), in the Beta Channel. This build introduces the ability to customize lock screen widgets, allowing users to select which widgets are displayed when their PC is locked. The customizable feature is currently being rolled out to Windows Insiders using this build. To enable it manually, users need to download ViVeTool, run specific commands in Command Prompt, and restart their computer. The customization requires an activated Windows installation.