ports Archives

Winsage

December 28, 2024

I’ve been a Windows on Arm user for years — Snapdragon X Elite has changed everything

The author has been using Arm-based computers, specifically an M1 Mac Mini and a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows two-in-one PC, and has found Apple's silicon consistently impressive while Microsoft's offerings have lagged. In April 2024, Microsoft introduced the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipsets, enhancing the compatibility layer for applications on Windows on Arm through a new emulator called Prism, which matches the efficiency of Apple's Rosetta 2. Testing the Honor MagicBook 14 Art, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, revealed significant improvements, including native support for previously struggling applications like Google Drive and ExpressVPN. The MagicBook features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, offering seamless application launch and multitasking without the random freezes seen in earlier models. Its thermal performance is commendable, achieving around ten hours of usage in "Balanced" mode. The device also includes a Neural Processing Unit for enhanced AI capabilities. Compatibility advancements allow mainstream applications to run natively, and upcoming Windows updates promise to expand this further. The MagicBook 14 Art is priced at approximately ,750, featuring 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a detachable webcam for privacy. Despite the progress, the market for Snapdragon X computers remains niche, and Qualcomm's disputes with Arm could impact future sales.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Alan Wake 2 set such a high technical bar last year that few games in 2024 came anywhere near, but it wasn’t all abject disappointment

Alan Wake 2 debuted late last year, leading to assumptions of a 2024 release. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched in March but had excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance. Nixxes Software's port of Horizon Forbidden West showcased effective traditional rendering. In May, Nixxes also released the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which lacked ray tracing but was well-executed. June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring, which did not include engine updates, causing performance issues for PC gamers. In August, Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws featured ray tracing but faced performance issues. September brought a port of God of War Ragnarök and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, both performing well. The Silent Hill 2 remake encountered glitches and performance issues on PC, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled at launch. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had visual appeal but suffered from performance problems and required patches for stability. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed well on lower-end hardware but was glitchy. High-profile titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are anticipated for 2025.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Fan-made PC port of Star Fox 64 is out now

A new PC port of Star Fox 64, called Starship, has been developed by a team known for their PC ports of Nintendo titles. This project does not include copyrighted assets, requiring users to provide their own data files from a legitimate copy of the game. The current build is for Windows users, with Linux and Mac versions in progress. The developers are seeking contributions from Linux and MacOS developers and have made the source code available on GitHub. Takaya Imamura, the designer of Star Fox, expressed mixed feelings about the project on social media, acknowledging potential issues with Nintendo while also expressing happiness about the initiative. Further details can be found on the project's GitHub page.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

Another N64 classic has been quietly ported to PC by fans

An unofficial PC port of the Nintendo 64 game Star Fox 64, called 'Starship,' has been released by the Harbour Masters team, who previously created PC ports for Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. The port features enhanced capabilities such as higher frame rates and ultra-widescreen resolutions, and players must use their own legally sourced ROMs to access it. The development involved reverse-engineering the original game while ensuring compliance with copyright laws. Original Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert expressed hope for the franchise's future, noting the absence of a new game for eight years since Star Fox Zero on the Wii U. He discussed the game's inspirations and the importance of character development in the franchise.

AppWizard

December 22, 2024

6 reasons I’m excited for the future of PC gaming

PC gaming has experienced a surge in popularity, with both established studios and indie developers producing exceptional titles. Linux gaming has improved significantly, particularly with Valve's Proton compatibility layer allowing Windows games to run on Linux without requiring ports. Handheld devices like the Steam Deck have transformed gaming by enabling play on the go. The distinction between PC and console gaming is diminishing, with more console titles being ported to PC and subscription services like Xbox Game Pass providing access to console games on PCs. Display technology has evolved, offering monitors with vibrant colors and high refresh rates, enhancing the gaming experience. Apple Silicon has made Macs more viable for gaming, allowing demanding games to run smoothly, although more game ports are needed. There is a growing focus on accessibility in gaming, with studios prioritizing features for inclusivity. Despite concerns about rising graphics card prices, the PC gaming platform remains strong, supported by millions of users on platforms like Steam and Epic Games.

Winsage

December 21, 2024

Core Ultra 9 285K is faster in Linux than in Windows

Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K shows an average performance increase of 6% on Ubuntu 24.10 compared to Windows 11 with the 24H2 update. Upgrading to Linux kernel version 6.13 provides an additional 2% boost, totaling an 8% improvement. The processor struggles with tasks like rendering, ray tracing, and encoding on Windows, performing nearly double the speed on Ubuntu in encoding tests. The 14900K slightly outperformed the 285K in benchmarks, but no gaming tests were conducted due to limited Linux game ports. The P-State performance governor did not enhance speed as expected, and Intel's Battlemage B580 GPU also performs better on Linux but still lags in gaming compared to Windows.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Sweet aunt Petunia! GSC just announced updates for the 3 classic Stalker games 15 years after release

GSC Game World plans to release a "next-gen patch" for the original Stalker titles—Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat—on consoles in 2025. The studio also intends to update the PC versions of these games in response to community requests. Speculated enhancements may include higher-resolution cutscenes, improved visuals and performance, and controller support. Additionally, GSC will unveil a content roadmap for Stalker 2 in early 2025, detailing two expansions and future DLC. The recent 1.1 patch for Stalker 2 addressed the game's A-Life system.

Winsage

December 17, 2024

Leaving Windows 10 for Linux? 5 security differences to consider first

Linux is generally considered to offer superior security compared to Windows, with the author having experienced only one significant security incident in nearly three decades of use. 1. Windows 10 includes Windows Defender as a default firewall, while many Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu and Fedora, do not have their firewalls enabled by default. Linux firewalls allow for detailed configurations, although default settings are often sufficient for most users. 2. In Windows, administrative tasks can often be performed with a simple confirmation, whereas Linux requires users to enter their password for administrative actions using the sudo command, enhancing security. 3. Windows 10 has limited user-configurable permissions, while Linux provides comprehensive control over file and folder permissions through both command line and GUI options, contributing to its enhanced security reputation. 4. Antivirus and antimalware solutions are essential for Windows users to protect against threats, while Linux does not require such software due to its design prioritizing user permissions and advanced security measures. 5. Linux responds rapidly to vulnerabilities, often releasing patches within hours, unlike Windows, which may take weeks to address vulnerabilities and follows a Patch Tuesday schedule for updates.

Winsage

December 17, 2024

FBI spots HiatusRAT malware attacks targeting web cameras, DVRs

The FBI has issued a warning about HiatusRAT malware that targets vulnerable web cameras and DVRs, particularly focusing on Chinese-branded devices lacking security updates. In March 2024, HiatusRAT actors conducted a scanning campaign against Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. They exploit known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2017-7921, CVE-2018-9995, CVE-2020-25078, CVE-2021-33044, and CVE-2021-36260, as well as weak vendor-supplied passwords. Primary targets include Hikvision and Xiongmai devices with telnet access. Attackers use tools like Ingram and Medusa to exploit devices with exposed TCP ports such as 23, 26, 554, 2323, 567, 5523, 8080, 9530, and 56575. The FBI recommends limiting the use of affected devices and isolating them from broader networks. Previous attacks linked to HiatusRAT include targeting a Defense Department server and compromising businesses through DrayTek Vigor VPN routers. Lumen, a cybersecurity firm, noted that HiatusRAT is designed to deploy additional payloads and turn compromised systems into SOCKS5 proxies. The targeting strategy aligns with broader Chinese strategic interests as highlighted in the 2023 annual threat assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Winsage

December 16, 2024

Horror classic Clock Tower’s Windows 95 port jabbed a giant pair of scissors through my rose-tinted glasses

Pasokon Retro highlights the history of Japanese PC gaming, focusing on the 1997 release of Clock Tower, a suspenseful point-and-click adventure developed by Human Entertainment for Windows 95. The PC version featured a lackluster CG intro and inferior graphics compared to earlier versions, with intentional visual shortcomings such as dithered mist effects and smudgy softness. Despite these issues, the game maintained an engaging experience with intuitive mouse controls and randomization of key item locations, allowing for varied playthroughs. The game ran smoothly on Windows 11, showcasing its compatibility with modern systems.