price increase

AppWizard
March 24, 2026
The author experienced frustration with Evernote due to unnecessary AI features, stability issues, and unreliable syncing after over a decade of use. A price hike in 2026 prompted a search for alternatives. The author found Notesnook to be a suitable replacement after resolving a previous issue with its search function, allowing for seamless data transfer from Evernote. Notesnook offers automatic syncing across devices, a user-friendly interface, robust security, and an open-source foundation. It has a free tier with limitations, an Essential tier at .99 monthly or .99 annually, and a Pro tier at .99 monthly or .99 annually, all featuring end-to-end encryption. Notesnook's pricing is considered reasonable compared to Evernote's higher fees.
BetaBeacon
March 19, 2026
Epic Games and Google have settled their dispute, allowing Fortnite to return to the Play Store on March 19. Google reduced its commission on in-app payments, and Epic Games agreed not to make negative comments about the Play Store publicly until 2032. Fortnite Save the World will become free-to-play in April.
Winsage
March 6, 2026
The author experienced frustration with the Xbox Ally X handheld, which, despite its impressive hardware, feels unfinished and struggles due to limitations of Windows 11. An update intended for the device led to a critical failure, displaying a message that the device couldn't be repaired, potentially due to corrupted boot files from the update. This incident raises concerns about the reliability of future Xbox devices built on PC architecture, especially if simple updates can result in system failures.
AppWizard
February 12, 2026
Microsoft is considering merging its two Game Pass tiers, PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Premium, to create a more cohesive gaming experience. Currently, PC Game Pass offers access to Game Pass titles on PC, EA Play, and first-party games at .99 / £13.49 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Premium includes console, PC, and Cloud libraries but excludes EA Play, priced at .99 / £10.99 per month. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier has increased in price to .99 / £14.99 per month. Upcoming titles for Xbox Game Pass include High on Life 2. Microsoft may also explore a free version of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
AppWizard
February 11, 2026
Microsoft is planning to restructure its Xbox Game Pass tiers to simplify the subscription model. The current Game Pass structure includes the Essential tier at £6.99, the PC Game Pass at £13.49, the Xbox Game Pass Premium at £10.99, and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at £22.99. Reports suggest a potential merger of the Premium and PC Game Pass tiers into a streamlined subscription. Microsoft is also focusing on enhancing the Ultimate experience by integrating third-party services like EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics. Additionally, there are indications that the next-generation Xbox, expected in 2027, may operate on a Windows 11 hybrid environment, which could change the subscription model by eliminating the need for separate PC and console categories.
AppWizard
January 26, 2026
Apple services have expanded beyond their ecosystem, with Apple Music now available on Android, Windows, Google TV, and ChromeOS, as well as through a web app. Apple Music offers features like Dolby Atmos and lossless audio support, making it competitive against Spotify and YouTube Music. Spotify's recent price increase has made it more expensive than Apple Music and YouTube Music. YouTube Music, while bundled with YouTube Premium, struggles as a standalone service and has audio quality limitations. Apple Music provides high-resolution lossless audio, Dolby Atmos support, and a user-friendly experience on Android, priced at .99 per month. It allows users to import libraries from various services, enhancing its appeal across different platforms.
Winsage
December 31, 2025
In 2025, Microsoft faced challenges including a slow migration to Windows 11 after the end of Windows 10, with many users opting to stay on the older system due to free Extended Security Updates. The anticipated rush to Windows 11 did not occur, partly because many older PCs did not meet the new system requirements. Microsoft increased its focus on AI integration in Windows 11, but this initiative faced backlash from users concerned about unnecessary features and existing bugs. The annual upgrade brought only minor improvements, and persistent bugs continued to affect user experience, particularly for gamers, who faced disruptions amid rising competition from platforms like SteamOS. Additionally, a significant price increase for Xbox Game Pass led to subscriber cancellations, although revenue remained high. Xbox console sales dropped by 70% year-on-year, while the Surface hardware division did not achieve the same success as the previous year, with new devices failing to generate excitement.
AppWizard
December 20, 2025
The 256GB LCD model of the Steam Deck is set to be discontinued, with production officially ceased by Valve. Once sold out, the next available option, the OLED model, will see a price increase from £349 to £479. Some regions are already showing the LCD model as "Out of stock." The discontinuation may be due to rising RAM and storage costs.
AppWizard
December 18, 2025
The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is expected to have a price point higher than its predecessor, the 9800X3D, with leaks suggesting a price of .09, which is a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Recent leaks concerning the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D price have stirred the pot among tech enthusiasts, revealing a price point that exceeds that of its predecessor, the 9800X3D. While the increase may not be drastic, it does dampen expectations for those hoping for a more affordable entry into AMD's latest offerings. Price Insights and Comparisons The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has established itself as the premier gaming CPU, thanks to its advanced Zen 5 architecture, eight-core design, and the innovative 3D V-Cache technology that significantly enhances gaming performance. The upcoming 9850X3D is anticipated to maintain these core features while offering a modest boost in clock speed, which is expected to yield slight improvements in gaming performance. However, the latest leaks suggest that consumers will need to pay an additional for this incremental upgrade. Two primary sources have emerged for these price leaks, both linked to the well-known tech leaker @momo_us on X. The first comes from SHI, a US-based IT infrastructure company, while the second is a Swiss retailer named Orderflow. According to Orderflow, the price in USD is projected to be 3.09, marking a .09 increase over the 9800X3D's launch MSRP of 9. The other source indicates a price of 473.55 Swiss francs, translating to an even steeper 6.34 USD. This price increase represents approximately a 15% rise based on the MSRP, which is significantly higher than the anticipated 5% improvement in clock speed associated with the new chip. Previous leaks suggest that the 9850X3D will achieve a peak clock speed of 5.6GHz, a step up from the 5.2GHz of its predecessor. For context, the AMD 9950X boasts a higher peak clock speed of 5.7GHz and features double the cores at 16. However, it lacks the additional 3D V-Cache chip that characterizes the X3D models, resulting in noticeably slower gaming performance compared to the 9800X3D. AMD is aware that a segment of gamers is willing to invest in the highest frame rates, making the 9850X3D an appealing option for this demographic. Despite the intriguing pricing leaks, it is essential to approach this information with caution. AMD has yet to provide any official confirmation, and there is a possibility that the prices mentioned are merely placeholders, not indicative of actual market values. Therefore, it may be wise to temper expectations for a sub-0 price tag. On a brighter note, the current pricing for the 9800X3D remains relatively stable, available for 5 in the US and £398.90 in the UK. While still a premium product, it stands out as one upgrade that has not been significantly impacted by the ongoing DRAM price fluctuations affecting other sectors of the industry." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].09 increase over the 9800X3D's launch MSRP of 9. This represents approximately a 15% rise based on the MSRP. The 9850X3D is anticipated to maintain the core features of the 9800X3D while offering a modest boost in clock speed to 5.6GHz, compared to the 5.2GHz of the 9800X3D. The current price for the 9800X3D is stable at 9 in the US and £398.90 in the UK.
AppWizard
December 4, 2025
AMD graphics card prices are expected to rise due to increasing RAM costs. Reports indicate that AMD has communicated a price increase for graphics cards with 8GB and 16GB VRAM configurations. The suggested price increase is approximately 10% for both types. AMD's business model involves selling GPUs and VRAM together, meaning any cost increases are passed on to consumers. Additionally, AMD has informed partners of a second price increase across its entire product line, though the timing is unclear. No new AMD products are expected to launch until 2027, suggesting a prolonged absence from the market.
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