portability Archives

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

I’ve found every major Memorial Day sale that’s relevant for PC gamers, and handpicked my favorite deals

Memorial Day weekend features sales for PC gamers, offering discounts on gaming rigs, laptops, and accessories. Notable deals include the Alienware Aurora R16 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and RTX 5080 for ,349.99 at Dell, and the HP Omen 45L with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and RTX 5090 for ,189.99. The HP Omen 35L, featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and RTX 4070 Super, is available for ,349.99, down from ,679.99. For laptops, the HP Omen Max 16 is priced at ,799.99. Monitor deals include the 32" Alienware AW3225QF 4K 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor for ,199.99 and the 32" Dell S3222DGM QHD 165Hz monitor for 9.99.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad

Microsoft has updated Notepad to include the Copilot feature for text generation, requiring users to sign in with their Microsoft account to access the Write feature. Users can generate text by selecting the Write option from the Copilot menu, which can then be reviewed, saved, or refined. Microsoft has also introduced AI-driven features in Paint, including a sticker generator and a smart selection tool. These updates reflect Microsoft's efforts to innovate its built-in Windows applications, although some users question the necessity of AI in simpler tools like Notepad.

Winsage

May 19, 2025

Microsoft Triumphs: Resolves Long-Standing Windows Bug from Last Year

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update, version 24H2, released in May 2025, resolves a dual-boot issue caused by the Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) feature that made Linux partitions unbootable for many users. Additionally, Microsoft has launched a new 13-inch Surface Laptop, which is the lightest and thinnest version ever produced, weighing 2.7 lbs, and emphasizing portability and performance with advanced AI features.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

Microsoft finally squashed a Windows bug that’s been around since last year

Microsoft has resolved a dual-booting issue caused by a patch released in 2024 that incorrectly applied Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) settings to custom dual-boot configurations, preventing users from booting into Linux. This issue has been fixed in the May 2025 Windows 11 update (version 24H2), allowing seamless dual-booting. Additionally, Microsoft launched a new 13-inch Surface Laptop, which is the lightest and thinnest laptop the company has produced, weighing 2.7 lbs and featuring enhanced performance and advanced AI capabilities.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

WSL is the best feature added to Windows in the last decade

Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August 2016, initially as a tool for developers. WSL debuted as a beta version with a native-kernel translation layer, allowing Windows to run unmodified Linux ELF binaries. Its early performance was limited, leading users to prefer Linux virtual machines for full compatibility. The launch of WSL2 in May 2020 replaced the translation layer with a lightweight, real Linux kernel running in a Hyper-V utility VM, providing near-native performance and comprehensive syscall coverage. WSL2 has since seen continuous improvements, including GPU-compute and CUDA support in 2021, full GUI support for X11 and Wayland applications in 2022, and systemd support in September 2022. WSL2 approaches the performance of bare-metal Linux while integrating seamlessly with Windows, allowing users to launch a Linux shell easily. It enables developers to access the C drive and interact between Windows and Linux environments without dual-booting. WSL2 enhances productivity for data science workflows, allowing the use of tools like PyTorch with CUDA. It also offers features for non-developers, such as creating aliases for launching Windows applications and running Linux GUI applications. WSL's integration into Windows represents a significant shift, providing opportunities for users across various domains to explore Linux functionalities.

Winsage

May 13, 2025

I replaced my laptop with Microsoft’s 12-inch Surface Pro – here’s my buying advice a week later

The 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro is available for preorder, starting at 9 for the Platinum color and ,099 for the Violet and Ocean colors. It features a thin and lightweight design, a fast-charging battery, and a Snapdragon X Plus processor. The base model includes 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a maximum storage option of 512GB. Essential accessories like the keyboard, mouse, and power adapter are sold separately. The device has a resolution of 2196 x 1464 and offers up to 16 hours of battery life, achieving over 15 hours during video playback. It can charge to 50% in 30 minutes and 80% in an hour. The Surface Pro is designed for everyday users and supports AI-driven applications.

Tech Optimizer

May 13, 2025

If I would ever install an antivirus, this open-source tool would be my choice, and here is why

ClamAV is a free, open-source antivirus tool that allows public scrutiny of its code, ensuring security and integrity. It is compatible with multiple platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is suitable for self-hosted servers and virtual machines. ClamAV includes features like SigTool for managing the virus signature database and ClamBC for advanced dynamic detection capabilities. It operates through a command-based interface, which may be intimidating for some users, and requires initial configuration. Despite its thorough scanning process, it may not perform as quickly as other antivirus solutions. ClamAV is recognized for its ability to identify a wide array of potential threats without financial investment.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Introducing all-new Surface Copilot+ PCs: The Surface Pro, 12-inch and Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Copilot+ PCs are a new category of personal computing devices designed to enhance AI experiences and productivity. Microsoft has introduced the Surface Laptop (13-inch) and Surface Pro (12-inch) as part of this lineup, both featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors with Neural Processing Units (NPU). The Surface Laptop, available from May 20, 2025, starts at 9, is the thinnest and lightest model yet, and offers up to 23 hours of video playback. It has a full HD touchscreen, AI-enhanced camera, and a keyboard with a fingerprint reader. The Surface Pro, also powered by the Snapdragon X Plus, weighs 1.5 pounds and features a detachable keyboard and adjustable kickstand. Both devices incorporate sustainable materials, with the Surface Laptop using 100% recycled cobalt in its battery and the Surface Pro made from 82.9% recycled content. They provide access to AI tools for productivity, including features like Recall and Click to Do. Pre-orders for both devices are available, with the Surface Pro starting at 9 and the Surface Laptop at ,199.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

The new Boox Go 7 series, a Kindle rival, finally makes Android apps on E Ink colorful

Boox has launched the Go 7 series, which includes the Go 7 and Go Color 7 (Gen II) e-readers. The Go 7 features a 7-inch E Ink Carta 1300 monochrome display with a 300 ppi resolution, while the Go Color 7 uses a Kaleido 3 color E Ink panel. Both models operate on Android 13, have 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and support a microSD card. They weigh 195 grams, have adjustable front lights, and include features for handwriting with the Boox InkSense stylus. The Go 7 is priced at 9.99, and the Go Color 7 is also priced at 9.99, positioning them against competitors like the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra 2.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

5 alternatives to the Windows Task Manager that you should be using

Windows Task Manager has been enhanced in Windows 11, featuring a streamlined interface and improved functionality. Alternatives to Task Manager include: - System Informer: A free, open-source tool that monitors system resources with real-time performance graphs and detailed process information. It displays CPU, memory, and disk usage, tracks file access, and offers advanced features like call stack traces. - System Explorer: Integrates system monitoring with security features, providing a clean interface for exploring processes, modules, and network connections. It includes a built-in file database and VirusTotal integration for security assessments. - Process Lasso: Extends Task Manager capabilities by allowing users to adjust CPU priority and core affinities. Features include ProBalance for automatic CPU adjustments, performance mode for optimizing CPU usage, IdleSaver for power management, and SmartTrim for memory optimization. - Process Explorer: A Sysinternals tool that offers a detailed view of running processes in a hierarchical tree format, showing user, PID, and resource usage. It includes a search capability for identifying resource usage and integrates with VirusTotal for security checks. - Task Manager DeLuxe (TMX): A portable task management tool that consolidates system stats across multiple tabs, providing quick access to CPU and memory usage, along with graphical representations of network and disk activity. It allows filtering and searching for processes and can be run from a USB drive.