port Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows Central’s highest-rated laptops are already on sale ahead of Black Friday — save up to $640 with my shopping advice

As the holiday shopping season approaches, discounts on Windows laptops are becoming available, including high-end Copilot+ PCs and budget-friendly options. A curated list of the best deals for 2024 is being compiled, which will be updated as Black Friday nears. Windows laptops are categorized into three primary types: 1. Notebook: A classic clamshell design, often used for gaming. 2. Convertible: Heavier, pricier laptops with 360-degree hinges and touch displays, suitable for media and creative tasks. 3. 2-in-1: Devices with a detachable keyboard, allowing tablet-like use. AI PCs, equipped with processors that include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), are gaining attention in 2024. Examples include Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI 300. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program enhances the AI experience for laptops with NPUs. However, for most users, having an NPU may not be essential, and focusing on overall performance is recommended. The evaluation process for Windows laptops includes testing hinge strength, chassis durability, port speed, camera quality, speaker performance, fan noise, display quality, and battery life. All laptops in the Black Friday collection have ratings of four stars or higher. Black Friday 2024 is scheduled for November 29, 2024, with many retailers already offering deals. Cyber Monday will follow on December 2, 2024, focusing on online shopping, with some tech deals continuing from Black Friday.

BetaBeacon

November 8, 2024

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – November 2024 round-up

Bloons Card Storm is a turn-based card collecting game with multiplayer at its core, where players need to think about both attack and defense. The game has some balancing issues and a problem where if your opponent quits, you get a smaller reward.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

‘Palia’ Is the Game That Finally Convinced My Wife to Start PC Gaming

The author convinced his wife to try the game Palia, which she enjoys despite its performance issues on the Nintendo Switch. They experienced long loading times and frustration, leading them to set the game aside. In November, the author reinstalled Palia on the Switch and downloaded it on his Ayaneo portable PC, enhancing their gaming experience. He set up a second desk for her Steam account, allowing for shared gaming experiences. The transition from the Switch to PC improved the game's visuals and performance, making their exploration of Palia more enjoyable.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Atari has acquired Transport Tycoon

Atari has acquired the Transport Tycoon franchise from its original creator, Chris Sawyer. The financial details of the transaction are undisclosed. This acquisition allows Atari to publish Transport Tycoon both digitally and physically, and it opens opportunities for new entries in the series, as well as merchandising and branding efforts. Transport Tycoon was first released in 1994, with the latest version being a mobile port from 2013. Wade Rosen, the chair and CEO of Atari, expressed commitment to honoring and advancing the franchise. This acquisition is part of Atari's strategy to expand its portfolio, which also includes the Surgeon Simulator series and publishing rights for Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, along with earlier acquisitions of Nightdive and Digital Eclipse.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Proton VPN now supports Windows on Arm natively

Proton VPN has announced native support for Windows on Arm devices, aligning with other applications like Vegas Pro and ExpressVPN. The service will mirror the features of its x64 version, including a kill switch, Secure Core, port forwarding, and modern NAT. The recent improvements in the Prism emulator with Windows 11 version 24H2 have enhanced emulation speed, prompting Proton VPN to adapt to this architecture. The company anticipates an increase in Windows on Arm devices and believes that the availability of popular applications will broaden its user base. Proton VPN is a VPN solution focused on user privacy and security, offering various plan options.

Winsage

November 4, 2024

Windows Server 2025 released—here are the new features

Microsoft has launched Windows Server 2025, which will be generally available starting November 1, 2024. The new version includes features such as hotpatching, next-gen Active Directory, and SMB over QUIC alternative ports. Windows Server is available through the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and the Annual Channel (AC). Key enhancements include: - Hotpatching enabled by Azure Arc for automatic updates and backup options. - NVMe storage performance improvements, offering up to 60% more IOPs compared to Windows Server 2022. - Block cloning support using the ReFS file system. - New Active Directory functionalities, including AD object repair and improved security. - Credential Guard for safeguarding against credential theft. - SMB hardening with secure access to file shares over the Internet. - Delegate Managed Service Accounts (dMSA) for automated password management. - Accelerated Networking (AccelNet) for reduced latency and CPU utilization. - DTrace for real-time system performance monitoring. - Virtualization-based security (VBS) enclaves for enhanced security. - Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) for unique password generation and management. Microsoft is investigating known issues, including installation failures and BSOD errors for systems with more than 256 logical processors, boot issues in iSCSI environments, and language display problems during setup. Windows Server 2025 will reach its end of support on October 10, 2029, with extended support ending on October 10, 2034. A free 180-day trial is available through the Microsoft Evaluation Center.

AppWizard

November 4, 2024

Don’t look now, but Macs are finally getting good for gaming

The evolution of gaming on Mac has progressed significantly, with notable improvements in performance, particularly with the introduction of the M-series chips. The Mac Studio M2 Ultra and the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Max have demonstrated impressive gaming capabilities, with the latter achieving nearly 90 frames per second in Baldur's Gate 3 and maintaining around 50 FPS at high graphics settings. Historical data shows a clear trajectory of improvement in gaming performance across different MacBook models, with the M3 Max able to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 120 FPS at 1200p resolution. Despite these advancements, MacBooks still face challenges compared to dedicated GPUs from competitors like AMD and Nvidia. Upcoming M4 MacBooks are expected to further narrow the performance gap with Windows laptops, particularly as some Windows devices struggle with compatibility issues.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

Red Dead Redemption PC port review – looks and runs better than ever

Red Dead Redemption has been released on PC, allowing players to experience John Marston's story five years after Red Dead Redemption 2. The PC port includes modern upscaling features like DLSS and FSR, but some technical aspects feel outdated compared to the PS4 version. Keyboard and mouse controls are well-implemented, and the graphics menu allows adjustments to shadows and detail levels for geometry, trees, and grass. The game runs smoothly on high-performance PCs, achieving over 100fps at 4K resolution with DLAA enabled, although certain settings can cause performance drops. The port is stable with no significant bugs, and over a hundred community mods have emerged to enhance the game. Red Dead Redemption is now available on PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, and is playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Red Dead Redemption’s PC port is — surprisingly — the perfect Halloween game

The original Red Dead Redemption, first launched in 2010, is now available on PC, coinciding with the Halloween season. The game includes the Undead Nightmare expansion, offering a zombie-themed adventure. This marks the first significant release for PC and modern consoles, aside from a minimal Nintendo Switch version. Players assume the role of John Marston, tracking down former gang members to protect his family. The game features cinematic storytelling, heart-pounding missions, and a refined slow-motion shooting mechanic. The PC port allows for enhancements such as ultra-high resolutions up to 4K, refresh rates up to 144Hz, and support for ultrawide monitors. The Undead Nightmare expansion includes unique weaponry and the ability to tame the four horses of the apocalypse. The pricing for the port is set at £39.99 / .99.

BetaBeacon

October 30, 2024

Meta’s leaked ‘Avalanche’ could bring back Oculus Rift games, but I want more

Meta is actively working on bringing cloud VR gaming to Meta Quest, with a leaked app called Avalanche appearing briefly on the Quest Store. The company intends to launch cloud streaming on Quest when it's consumer-ready, enabling higher graphics than the Snapdragon XR2 on the Quest 3 and Quest 3S can natively handle. The challenges ahead include dealing with latency and high ping that comes with cloud streaming. The author dreams of a partnership between Meta and Microsoft to stream VR ports of popular first-person titles on Quest, such as Minecraft, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Forza, and Halo.