portable Archives

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

This Real-Life Minecraft Compass Points the Way to the Nearest Lodestone

Minecraft has evolved over 15 years from a basic game to a complex platform that allows players to craft advanced tools, including a compass that can guide them to specific locations. Chaosgoo has created a DIY compass that replicates the in-game compass in real life, allowing users to set destinations via a companion app. The compass uses a custom printed circuit board (PCB) featuring an ESP32-C3-MINI microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a USB connector, a lithium battery charger, and a digital compass. It includes 42 individually addressable RGB LEDs and a light diffuser that creates a voxel-like appearance for the compass needle. The device is designed for 3D printing and is portable. Documentation for building the compass is primarily in Chinese, but resources are available on MakerWorld, OSHW Hub, and GitHub.

Winsage

May 31, 2025

New Malware Compromise Microsoft Windows Without PE Header

A new strain of malware has been operating undetected on Windows systems for several weeks, utilizing advanced evasion techniques that corrupt its Portable Executable (PE) headers to avoid detection. Security researchers discovered this malware embedded in the memory of a compromised system during an investigation, using a 33GB memory dump that revealed its presence in a dllhost.exe process with process ID 8200. The malware, classified as a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) by Fortinet, employs batch scripts and PowerShell commands for its attack and has capabilities for screenshot capture, remote server functionality, and system service manipulation. Its command and control infrastructure uses encrypted communications, complicating detection efforts. The malware's distinctive feature is the deliberate corruption of DOS and PE headers, which hinders reverse engineering and complicates the reconstruction of the executable from memory dumps. Researchers had to manually locate the malware’s entry point and resolve complex import tables for it to function in a controlled environment.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Nvidia GeForce Now Steam Deck Review: The Best Way to Play AAA PC Games on Handheld

The Steam Deck is a popular handheld gaming device that, while affordable and visually impressive, faces limitations in running demanding games. Nvidia's GeForce Now has released a dedicated app for the Steam Deck, improving the gaming experience by allowing access to high-quality titles without the need for complex setup. The app enhances battery life, enabling four to five hours of gameplay compared to two hours with native 3D games. It supports resolutions up to 4K and 60 fps with an Ultimate subscription, although it is limited compared to the PC version. The Steam Deck can access games from various platforms, including Xbox, Epic Games Store, and GOG, with GeForce Now simplifying this process. The app requires a minimum internet speed of 45 Mbps for optimal performance and offers different subscription tiers, with the free version having session limits and resolution caps.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

REDMAGIC 10S Pro gaming phone supports PC games (thanks to emulation and an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite processor)

The REDMAGIC 10S Pro is a gaming phone available in China for 4,999 CNY, set to launch globally on June 5, 2025. It features a pre-installed PC emulator for playing select Windows games, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Edition processor with speeds up to 4.47 GHz and a RedCore R3 Pro chip for enhanced haptic feedback and audio quality. The phone includes an ICE-X cooling system, RGB lighting, and various configurations ranging from 12GB of RAM with 256GB storage to 24GB of RAM with 1TB storage. It has a 6.85-inch display with a resolution of 2688 x 1216 pixels, an adaptive refresh rate of 44 Hz, and peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The device is equipped with a 7500 mAh battery supporting 120W rapid charging, stereo speakers, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. Specialized gaming features include a 2500 Hz touch sampling rate and shoulder triggers with a polling rate of 520 Hz. The camera setup consists of dual 50MP rear cameras and a 16MP front camera. There are two versions: the standard model with 12GB/256GB or 16GB/512GB and 80W charging, and the REDMAGIC 10S Pro+ with 120W charging, available in 16GB/512GB or 24GB/1TB configurations. Both models have dimensions of 163.4 x 76.1 x 8.9mm and weigh 229 grams.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Iron Marines 2 Invasion, Dune Imperium, more

Amazon is currently holding a Memorial Day sale with various deals, while Best Buy is also offering promotions. Notable discounts include Google Find My Device trackers starting at .50, a 0 discount on Bose’s SoundLink Max Portable Speaker, and upcoming offers on the OnePlus Pad 3. The GoPro HERO13 Black action camera is available at a significant discount, and the Google Pixel 9a is highlighted as a smartphone upgrade option. Discounted apps include Iron Marines 2 – Invasion, Dune: Imperium, Tokaido, Munchkin, and Raiders of the North Sea.

Winsage

May 21, 2025

5 Windhawk modules I couldn’t use Windows 11 without

Windhawk is a tool for customizing the Windows 11 interface, allowing users to make significant modifications to their operating system. It provides various mods, including: - Vertical Taskbar Mod: Restores the ability to reposition the taskbar and customize its width and jump list alignment. - Taskbar Labels Mod: Allows users to display labels for app icons, customize label text, combine apps, and adjust taskbar width, with options for increasing label font size. - Start Menu Syler Mod: Enables users to apply themes to the Start menu, including options that mimic the Windows 10 look. - Classic Explorer Navigation Bar Mod: Restores familiar items to the File Explorer navigation bar, enhancing user experience. - Classic Context Menu Mod: Reverts the context menu to a more familiar format, improving accessibility to options. Windhawk also offers a portable installation option and encourages users to create a restore point before installation to safeguard against potential issues. The platform features a marketplace for various modules, allowing users to customize their experience further.

BetaBeacon

May 21, 2025

Google just laid out its game plan to make you (and developers) care about Android XR

Google showcased how apps like Google Maps, Messages, Calendar, and Photos will function on Android XR glasses.

Winsage

May 19, 2025

Huawei’s new foldable laptop might be the thinnest yet

Huawei has launched the MateBook Fold, a thin folding laptop measuring 7.3mm when unfolded and 14.9mm when closed. It is currently available in China for approximately ,300. The device features an 18-inch OLED display that folds at a 90-degree angle, creating a 13-inch upper screen with a digital keyboard. It weighs 1.16kg and offers a 3.3K resolution (3296 x 2472) with peak brightness of 1600 nits. The MateBook Fold includes up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. It also introduces Huawei's HarmonyOS 5 to the PC market, following the company's loss of access to Microsoft Windows due to U.S. sanctions.

BetaBeacon

May 19, 2025

Retroid Pocket 5 Gaming Handheld Is Now Available At Amazon

The Retroid Pocket 5 is a powerful Android gaming handheld device with a 5.5-inch 1080p touch screen, two thumbsticks, D-pad, and standard gaming buttons. It is equipped with an Adreno 650 GPU, Snapdragon 865 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage. The device is compatible with high-end native Android games, retro games, and sixth- and seventh-generation console games. It is available on Amazon for with free shipping, but due to high demand, there may be delivery wait times of around two weeks.

BetaBeacon

May 17, 2025

The 5 Best New Apps for Android and iPhone this Week

- EA SPORTS FC Tactical is a mobile game that offers a turn-based system for making strategic decisions during key moments of a football match. - The game combines realistic player models with stylized animations and a rock-paper-scissors-style attribute system to determine the outcome of encounters. - The game features a unique approach to traditional football elements and offers a cinematic experience with dynamic music and visual effects.