price increases Archives

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Windows 11 migration heats up… on desktops

Businesses are upgrading their desktop PCs in anticipation of the end of support for Windows 10, which is less than four months away. Recent data shows a 22 percent increase in desktop shipments to enterprise customers in Europe during April and May, with revenue rising by 17 percent. Desktops accounted for nearly 17 percent of total PC revenues in early Q2, the highest level in two years. Germany saw significant sales growth, leading to availability issues, while the UK and Poland also experienced increases in desktop sales. Despite this surge, Windows 10 still held a 53.9 percent share of the global desktop Windows market in May, compared to 43.22 percent for Windows 11, with some customers hesitant to adopt the new OS due to economic factors and hardware incompatibilities. Major PC manufacturers have noted a delayed refresh cycle, but signs of growth are emerging. Notebook sales have increased modestly, with unit sales up 2 percent and revenue up 7 percent, driven by AI-ready devices, though adoption is limited by application availability and higher prices. Desktops are crucial for businesses transitioning to Windows 11.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Humble Choice Explained: How The Xbox Game Pass PC Alternative Works

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass offers subscribers access to a wide array of games for a monthly fee, but access is revoked if the subscription lapses. In contrast, Humble Choice allows subscribers to keep the games they acquire, regardless of subscription status, and supports charitable causes. Humble Choice charges a monthly fee or an annual subscription fee and provides a selection of games each month, which are owned indefinitely by the subscriber. The service is more focused on indie titles and offers discounts on games in the Humble Store. It is particularly suited for gamers who enjoy indie games and those with older gaming PCs.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Windows 11 market share stalls ahead of Windows 10 cutoff

User adoption of Windows 11 is slowing, with its market share decreasing from a peak of 43.72 percent in May to 43.22 percent in early June 2025. In contrast, Windows 10's market share has increased to 53.19 percent. Expert Kieren Jessop from Canalys notes that while the figures may seem concerning, they align with forecasts, and a monthly increase in Windows 11 adoption of 0.5 to 1.5 percent is anticipated through October. Canalys projects an 8.1 percent growth in commercial shipments of Windows-only devices in the US for 2025, but a decline in consumer shipments is expected, with a -2.5 percent decrease in the US and a -0.7 percent decrease globally.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

All the The Elder Scrolls games are up to 75% off in Bethesda’s weekend sale, with 20% off Oblivion Remastered

The Elder Scrolls series is currently experiencing heightened interest due to the release of Oblivion Remastered and updates from modding projects like Tamriel Rebuilt and Skyblivion. Bethesda has launched a sale on the entire Elder Scrolls catalog, with notable discounts including: - Oblivion Remastered at a 20% discount, now priced at £40, with the Deluxe version at £44. - The Elder Scrolls Online at £4, including the base game and Morrowind chapter. - Skyrim Special Edition and Anniversary Edition upgrade both priced at £8.74. - Skyrim VR at a 75% discount, now priced at £12.49. - The Elder Scrolls Redguard and An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire each at £1.95, reflecting a 60% discount. - Morrowind at a 60% discount, now priced at £5.19. The sale will be available throughout the weekend, concluding on Thursday, June 5.

Winsage

April 10, 2025

Pay Just $30 Once and Get Microsoft Office Office for Life

Around 60% of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are seeking affordable technology solutions, according to McKinsey. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is currently available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9. This lifetime license includes essential applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with no ongoing subscription fees. Office 2019 is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 and offers improved inking tools, advanced data analysis features in Excel, and new presentation capabilities in PowerPoint. The one-time purchase model eliminates monthly fees and hidden costs, providing long-term stability for users.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Microsoft is turning 50. Is it ready for the next technological frontier?

Satya Nadella made a significant investment in OpenAI at the end of 2022, positioning Microsoft as a leader in the AI sector and boosting its valuation by over a trillion dollars. As of early 2025, Microsoft faces challenges including reduced data center investments, disappointing stock performance, tensions with OpenAI, and declining market enthusiasm for AI technologies. The company's shares have dropped approximately 16% since peaking in July 2024, and it has experienced a 7% decline this year, making it the only member of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks without a gain over the past twelve months. Microsoft has retreated from ambitious AI infrastructure plans, scrapping data center projects that would have increased its computing power by about 14%. The company is also developing its own AI models while struggling with the market traction of Copilot, which has not advanced beyond initial testing for many organizations. Broader trends indicate a slowdown in AI adoption growth rates among U.S. workers and growing apprehension among CIOs regarding AI expenditures.

AppWizard

March 6, 2025

Console Game Sales Projected To Leave PC Games In The Dust By 2030

The console gaming market is projected to grow to an impressive billion by 2030, a 52% increase from billion in 2023. Key players in this expansion include Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, leveraging advancements like AI and hybrid gaming devices. In contrast, spending on PC gaming software is declining, with console game sales potentially doubling those of PC games by 2030. The mobile gaming sector is expected to reach sales nearing 0 billion by 2030, significantly outpacing both console and PC platforms. Console games currently generate significantly less revenue than mobile games, which produce 2.5 times more earnings. Cloud gaming is gaining traction due to GPU challenges and advancements in technology, while VR and AR gaming remain niche.

Winsage

December 8, 2024

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for just $32.97

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is currently available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9. This version includes essential applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, and OneNote. It is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 and is a one-time purchase, eliminating ongoing subscription fees. Documents created in Office 2019 are compatible with Office 365 and Office 2021.

Winsage

November 16, 2024

Should you get this $27 version of MS Office instead of the new one?

Microsoft Office 2019 is available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9. This offer is valid until November 21 and includes a lifetime license with no recurring fees. The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. The latest Microsoft Office 2024 version costs 9.99 and includes only five applications, with Outlook available separately for an additional . Office 2019 is a more economical choice compared to Microsoft 365, which requires ongoing payments. Interested buyers can download Office 2019 for .97 until November 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with no coupon necessary, while supplies last.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

This app helped me track my monthly subscriptions, but it’s no silver bullet

SubX is a subscription tracker app for Android that features an extensive database of subscriptions, allowing users to easily add services tailored to their region. It notifies users of price increases and provides historical pricing data, helping users stay informed about their financial commitments. The app displays total subscription expenses prominently on the home page, alongside income figures if provided. However, SubX requires a one-time payment to unlock additional features and has a free version limit of four entries. The user interface can feel cluttered, though users can hide unnecessary elements. Alternatives to SubX include Tilla, which has a more user-friendly interface but fewer advanced features, Recurring Expense Tracker, which offers a clean design and biometric security, and Subscriptions, which has shifted to a subscription model.