purchase Archives

BetaBeacon

April 23, 2025

Xbox will soon let you purchase games in its mobile app

Xbox is now allowing beta testers to purchase games, DLC, and more directly from its app on Android and iOS. The update also includes the ability to sign up for Game Pass, but remote play within the Xbox app will no longer be available.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Someone made ‘Windows’ for the Game Boy Color, and you can buy it

The Game Boy Color, launched in 1998, features a project called GBS Windows that mimics Windows 3.1, developed using GB Studio. This homage is available as a physical cartridge from an Etsy shop named RubenRetro, complete with a retail box that combines Game Boy and Windows 3.1 designs. The cartridge offers applications like Minesweeper, a game called “Cannon,” a MIDI piano, a media player, and a Paint program for pixel art. It includes a faux BIOS screen showing the “American Megatrain” text and the Game Boy Color's eight kilobytes of memory. The initial stock sold out quickly, but new retro boxes and accessories will be produced regularly. The package is priced around USD, with varying shipping costs from Spain.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

If you’re getting Oblivion Remastered, save $9 by grabbing a Steam key from Fanatical’s day-one sale

Oblivion Remastered has been released by Bethesda, featuring updated graphics for the classic RPG. The remastered edition is priced at a midpoint that has sparked discussions among players. Fanatical is offering the Steam version at a 17% discount, bringing the price down to a more appealing amount, which includes new horse armor at no extra charge.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Thank Todd: The Oblivion remaster is here and you can play it right now

Bethesda has released a remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion on the same day it was announced. The remaster has modest system requirements, making it accessible to a wide audience. Its existence was hinted at in a leaked Microsoft presentation from September 2023. The remaster features enhanced visuals with a file size of 125 GB, which is 2600% larger than the original game. It is available for purchase on Steam and the Microsoft Store.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Oblivion Remastered is available now, here’s how to save 17% for PC gamers on Steam

Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has launched, offering PC gamers a chance to explore Tamriel. The standard edition is priced at .79 on Fanatical and .99 on Green Man Gaming, down from .99, providing a 17% discount. The Deluxe Edition costs .79, reduced from .99, and includes additional quests, exclusive gear, an artbook, and a soundtrack app. The game is rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, supporting 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, and includes expansions like The Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, along with new content such as Fighter's Stronghold, Mehrune's Razor, and Wizard's Tower. Minimum system requirements are 125GB storage, 16GB RAM, and either a Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel i7-6800K, while recommended specs include 32GB RAM and an RTX 2080 or Radeon RX 6800XT. The remake features modernized controls, a revamped leveling system, full voiceovers for each race, and the addition of sprinting.

Tech Optimizer

April 21, 2025

PostgreSQL 12 High Availability Cookbook

The server-class CPU market is primarily dominated by AMD and Intel, both of which offer dedicated lines of CPUs for server applications. AMD's Threadripper chips are strong competitors to Intel's Xeon processors, with AMD often providing higher core counts that enhance performance for multi-threaded applications. The price-to-performance ratios of both manufacturers are relatively comparable, but each has unique strengths. Prospective buyers are encouraged to research using resources like AnandTech, Tom's Hardware, and the official sites of Intel and AMD for benchmarks and comparative analyses.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

I got my hands on the redesigned successor to 2024’s best gaming laptop for most people — I’m confident that I’m going to love it, but there is ONE downside

Lenovo has introduced the Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10), a gaming laptop featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core processor, and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs, including the RTX 5090 with 24GB of VRAM. It supports upgradeable DDR5 RAM and SSD storage, with plans for PCIe Gen5 options. The laptop has a redesigned CNC-milled aluminum chassis and a QHD+ OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.5ms response time. The charging adapter has increased from 330W to 400W to support a peak TDP of 250W. The Legion Pro 7i is slightly larger but about 8% lighter than its predecessor. It features improved thermal management and retains essential connectivity options, including HDMI 2.1, gigabit Ethernet, USB Type-C, and a new Thunderbolt 4 port. Initial gameplay tests show performance improvements, achieving 158 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 and 134 FPS in Gears 5. The starting price is ,599.99.

Tech Optimizer

April 20, 2025

Do you really need to pay for antivirus software?

Investing in antivirus software is debated in cybersecurity, but some form of protection is necessary to guard against threats like malware, spyware, and ransomware. Windows Defender is a free built-in antivirus option for Windows, providing basic protection. Norton 360 Deluxe is a comprehensive paid option with advanced features. Other free antivirus programs include Bitdefender Antivirus Free, Avast, Avira, and AVG, each with varying levels of effectiveness and features. Paid antivirus software typically offers better security, advanced features, and dedicated customer support, making it worthwhile for users needing more than basic protection. Free trials for paid antivirus solutions are often available for evaluation.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

Dwarf Fortress sells 1 million copies on Steam, so now Bay 12 Games can afford that ‘little party’ it planned

Dwarf Fortress has sold over 1 million copies on Steam since its launch, as announced by publisher Kitfox Games. The game, previously available for free for nearly two decades, gained popularity after its Steam release in late 2022, selling half a million copies in two months. The updated user interface and hand-drawn tiles attracted both new and long-time players. Following an adventure mode update, sales predictions were confirmed less than three months later. Tarn and Zach Adams, the game's creators, have hinted at celebrations for this milestone. Kitfox indicated that the game is entering a new development phase with a focus on new features and enhancements. Ongoing projects include improvements to siege mechanics, site building in adventure mode, and revisions to subterranean layers.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

PC is the definitive way to play The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

Sony's exclusives on PlayStation hardware are known for their seamless performance, but PC ports can vary in quality. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered has been released on PC, offering a polished experience and various customizable graphics settings, including level of detail, texture quality, shadow quality, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency, AMD Anti-Lag 2, and upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. While the gameplay experience is generally smooth, some minor graphical glitches may occur. The game has received patches since launch to improve performance. It retains a stunning aesthetic, enhanced by modern PC capabilities, making it a worthwhile investment for both newcomers and those who have played it on PS4 or PS5. Players are encouraged to check their system's specifications to ensure compatibility for an optimal experience.