process Archives

Winsage

October 22, 2026

Windows 11 cuts back some AI features — but that’s overshadowed by a Microsoft exec admitting the design team is using… AI

Microsoft is streamlining some Copilot features in Windows 11 by removing certain options from the right-click context menu. Users can still access Copilot features through the 'Ask Copilot' icon. Diego Baca, Microsoft's Vice President of Design for Windows, mentioned that AI has accelerated the design team's workflow, allowing designers to contribute to code fixes, which has received mixed reactions online. Critics have expressed skepticism about Microsoft's coding practices and raised concerns about software reliability, linking these issues to the introduction of AI. The dissatisfaction appears to stem from ongoing problems with Windows 11's bug testing and update reliability rather than the use of AI itself.

AppWizard

October 21, 2026

Android Prototype Recommends Eyeglasses by Detected Face Type

A mobile research prototype has been developed that integrates image processing, deep learning, and internet-connected hardware to provide personalized eyeglass style recommendations based on facial type. The system operates through an Android application that captures or selects a user’s photograph, enhances it, and sends it to a connected device for analysis using deep-learning algorithms. The analysis determines the user's face type and generates a list of suitable eyeglass styles. The process involves four key components: image acquisition, image enhancement, remote analysis, and recommendation presentation. The smartphone acts as the user interface while computational tasks are handled by the connected device. The study does not provide quantifiable results on the accuracy of face classification or the quality of recommendations, nor does it specify details about the neural network architecture, training datasets, or criteria for facial categories. There is also no information on the dataset's size or composition, methods for determining face types, or evidence of improvements in appearance or fit.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Steam is a better way to run Windows apps on Linux than Wine, and it’s not just for games

Many users are considering switching from Windows to Linux, but a challenge is the lack of native Linux versions for popular Windows applications. Tools like Wine and Steam's Proton compatibility layer help address this issue, with Proton built on Wine and offering enhancements. Steam can create separate Windows filesystems for applications, allowing for independent operation and customization. Setting up Windows applications through Steam is straightforward, and they are stored in a specific directory. However, not all applications work perfectly; results vary, with some applications performing well while others encounter issues. Steam provides a practical way to manage Windows applications on Linux, though it may not offer the same flexibility as other solutions like Bottles.

AppWizard

October 21, 2026

Nvidia’s latest GPU driver brings a new way to speed up PC games

Nvidia has released GPU driver version 621.01, which includes Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery technology to improve gaming by speeding up game launches and eliminating mid-game shader compilation issues. This technology uses cloud resources to precompile shaders for various hardware configurations, allowing developers to capture shaders into a State Object Database (SODB) using DirectX 12, Windows 11, and the Microsoft Agility SDK. Games like Gears of War: E-Day and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 support this feature when downloaded through the Xbox PC app, and it is compatible with games purchased on other platforms like Steam. The system achieves a near-100 percent cache hit rate, reducing CPU spikes and frame stutters. The driver update is available for download, and Advanced Shader Delivery also works with AMD GPUs (Adrenalin version 26.6.1 or higher) and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 series (driver version 2026.08.3 or higher).

BetaBeacon

October 21, 2026

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Remake Reaches Android Thanks to Fan Port

An unofficial Android port of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake has been released by developer Nycolazs. The port includes touch controls and runs smoothly on a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE with Snapdragon 865, but may have performance issues on other devices. Users need a device running Android 11 or newer, a legitimate copy of the game for Nintendo Switch, and the necessary keys to run the port.

AppWizard

October 21, 2026

Gemini’s Personal Intelligence Makes Its Way to Android Auto

Google has introduced the Personal Intelligence feature on Gemini for Android Auto, enhancing the driving experience by integrating with Google apps to provide personalized responses. This feature began rolling out today and will be available in the coming months for Google built-in cars. Users who have previously activated Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app will have their settings automatically applied in their cars, while new users can enable it through the Gemini settings. Personal Intelligence utilizes data from various Google applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Maps, to deliver precise answers to user inquiries. The feature is currently available for personal Google accounts for users aged 18 and older, but not for Workspace business, enterprise, or education accounts. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the UK, and Nigeria do not have access to this feature at this time.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Why Windows 11 keeps 64-bit files in System32 and 32-bit files in SysWOW64, according to Microsoft

Microsoft does not produce a 32-bit edition of Windows 11 but supports 32-bit applications through two system folders: System32 for 64-bit files and SysWOW64 for 32-bit files. The WOW64 file system redirector directs 32-bit applications to SysWOW64 when they request System32. On a Windows 11 26H2 system, both folders contain kernel32.dll, but the files differ in size. The System32 folder contains files corresponding to the operating system's architecture, while SysWOW64 is reserved for 32-bit applications. A 32-bit process cannot load a 64-bit DLL, necessitating the WOW64 redirection. There are six subfolders within System32 that 32-bit applications can access without redirection. Microsoft has announced that 32-bit Arm applications will no longer be supported on Arm PCs, and only x86 applications will continue to operate through Prism emulation.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 gets support for quick machine recovery

Microsoft has introduced a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature for IT administrators managing Windows Server 2025, enabling quick recovery from boot failures after the October 2026 security update without physical access to systems. When activated, QMR boots the system into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot issues, collecting crash data for remote assistance from Microsoft. Cloud remediation is disabled by default but can be enabled through Group Policy. Administrators can disable QMR by turning off 'Enable Cloud Remediation' and 'Enable Auto Remediation.' QMR was initially introduced in November 2024 as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative and began testing in March 2025, with improvements made by November 2025.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 Gets Support for Quick Machine Recovery

Windows Server 2025 introduced Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) in the October 2026 cumulative update to improve IT recovery processes during boot failures. QMR automates the detection of boot failures using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and can autonomously download and apply fixes via Windows Update. Organizations must manually enable QMR through Group Policy, as it is disabled by default. The feature enhances Windows Startup Repair with cloud-based remediation capabilities and requires a reliable network connection, supporting wired networks and WPA/WPA2 password-based Wi-Fi configurations.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows 10 users were right: Windows 11 still can’t drag the taskbar, so Microsoft is testing a menu instead

Windows 10 allowed users to drag the taskbar to any screen edge, a feature missing in Windows 11, which initially frustrated users. Microsoft is currently testing a new right-click menu in Insider Preview Build 26340.9750 that enables users to reposition the taskbar without accessing the Settings menu. This menu includes buttons for moving the taskbar to the left, top, right, or bottom of the screen. Although the menu is available in the Experimental channel, it remains hidden from casual users and has not been officially announced. Testing confirmed that the taskbar can be moved smoothly between positions, although some minor inconsistencies with the Start menu were noted. The right-click menu concept has been in development for some time, as indicated by a previously deleted video from a Microsoft engineer. Users previously had to navigate through Settings to change the taskbar position, and while Microsoft reintroduced some movement capabilities, the process is still cumbersome. The auto-hide feature is only available when the taskbar is at the bottom, limiting customization options. Microsoft is also exploring additional features, including different taskbar positions per monitor and the potential return of drag-and-drop functionality.