quality Archives

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

August 2025 is the month of remakes and remasters

August is a subdued month for new video game releases, particularly original titles, but features several remakes and remasters. Key releases include: - Dawn of War: Definitive Edition launching on August 14, which consolidates all expansions and multiplayer modes, enhances textures, supports 4K resolution, and improves lighting, reflections, and modding capabilities. - Gears of War: Reloaded releasing on August 26, featuring significant graphical enhancements, modern features like cross-play and DLSS, and an optional streamlined control scheme. - Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, a remake of Harvest Moon DS, set to launch on August 27, promises gameplay efficiency improvements. - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, releasing on August 28, is a full remake with new features like the Fox Hunt multiplayer mode and real-time wear and tear mechanics, marking Konami's first major MGS project since Hideo Kojima's departure.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

Dig Donkey Kong Bananza Check out this new hole game next

In 2025, the concept of "hole" is highlighted as significant in gaming, particularly through the release of Mashina, a game developed by Talha and Jack Co. Mashina features an egg-shaped robot that digs holes to gather minerals, drawing gameplay comparisons to Steamworld Dig. Players navigate a 2D mine, managing resources in a puzzle-like inventory while completing quests for upgrades. The game employs a lo-fi aesthetic and stop-motion animation, creating a unique experience despite some gameplay challenges, such as a clumsy building system and repetitive elements in the later stages. The animation style adds a human touch, and the game evokes a sense of tranquility through its atmosphere and sound design.

Winsage

July 31, 2025

Opera complains over Microsoft Edge persuasion tactics

Opera has filed a complaint with Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) against Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive practices that favor the Edge browser. The complaint claims that Microsoft uses "all-or-nothing" bundled rebates to ensure PC manufacturers pre-install Edge as the default browser and employs "dark pattern tactics" that disregard users' browser choices and restrict switching from Edge in Windows "S mode." In Brazil, Opera's market share is 6.78%, compared to Edge's 11.52% and Chrome's 74.95%. Opera's General Counsel, Aaron McParlan, advocates for a browser choice screen similar to one previously mandated by the EU. Additionally, Opera has filed an appeal with the EU General Court regarding the European Commission's decision not to classify Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. Microsoft has not yet commented on the complaint.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Adobe makes good on its promise and delivers more native Windows on Arm apps, with a few catches

Adobe has released beta versions of After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, and Media Encoder for Windows on Arm, following the earlier introduction of Illustrator. Users on Snapdragon devices should note that some features are missing or may not be implemented. For After Effects, limitations include: - Lack of support for formats like ProRes, ARRIRAW, SWF, GoPro CinePro, JPEG20000 in MXF, and WMV. - No import capabilities for MotionJPEG and MKV. - Absence of hardware-accelerated playback and export for H.264 and HEVC in MP4. - Missing features such as Keylight and Mocha. - The Cinema 4D renderer and related features are not included. - Third-party plugins will not work with the native builds. Adobe is working with third-party developers to update plugins and plans to release an SDK for Windows on Arm soon. For Premiere Pro, the beta will not include: - Loudness Radar effect (replaced by Loudness Meter). - Export to Wraptor DCP. - Import and export of the GoPro CineForm codec. - Export to the P2 Movie format. Future updates for Premiere Pro will include: - Support for third-party extensions and plugins. - ProRes support for import/export and proxies. - Import/export of JPEG2000 in MXF. - Hardware-accelerated playback/export for H.264 and HEVC in MP4. - Support for various raw video files, including Apple ProRes RAW and ARRI ARRIRAW.

BetaBeacon

July 29, 2025

GameHub update promises improved Windows game emulation on non-Snapdragon Android phones

Android Authority released a comprehensive review of the latest Android smartphones, praising the new flagship smartphone from Samsung for its impressive camera setup, long-lasting battery, sleek design, and smooth performance. The review also highlighted the budget-friendly smartphone from Xiaomi for its solid performance and decent camera quality.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Microsoft is finally addressing my biggest issue with the Taskbar and multi-monitor support on Windows 11

Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 preview builds that allows users to access the notification center and calendar flyout on secondary displays. Previously, users could only interact with the system tray on their primary monitor. This enhancement aims to improve the multi-monitor experience by enabling users to see their calendar and a larger clock on any monitor. The feature is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels, with general availability expected soon. Other recent updates include improvements in energy saver functionality, a revamped BSOD screen, and a customizable Start menu.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Windows 10 is 10 years old today — let’s look back at 10 controversial and defining moments in its history

On July 29, 2015, Microsoft unveiled Windows 10, integrating the live tile interface with the classic Start menu and focusing on the desktop experience. It was developed with public collaboration through the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8 users for one year, which was later extended until 2023, resulting in 100 million devices running Windows 10 within two months of its launch. The "Get Windows 10" app aggressively promoted the upgrade, leading to user backlash and its eventual removal. Windows 10 faced criticism for extensive data collection practices, with no option for complete telemetry disablement. It introduced "Windows as a Service" with a biannual update schedule, though it faced issues, including data loss in the October 2018 Update. The OneCore project aimed to create a universal Windows core for various devices but ultimately faltered. The dark mode feature had inconsistencies, and Windows 10 Mobile struggled in the smartphone market, leading to its discontinuation in 2017. The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) faced adoption challenges, and the Fluent Design System delivered minimal updates. The My People feature was disabled by default due to poor adoption rates. Windows 10 played a crucial role in shaping the current Windows landscape and laid the groundwork for future developments.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

WhatsApp Might Soon Introduce a Dedicated Night Mode in Camera Interface

WhatsApp is adding a night mode feature to its Android app, aimed at improving photography in low-light conditions. This feature has been identified in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.25.22.2 and includes a moon icon in the camera interface for manual activation. The night mode enhances image clarity and brightness by adjusting exposure and minimizing noise, allowing users to capture more details in dim environments. It is currently available to select beta testers and is expected to roll out to a wider audience in future updates.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

Windows 10 is turning 10: Here are top 10 features and changes it introduced

Windows 10, approaching its tenth anniversary on July 29, has played a significant role in Microsoft's history as mainstream support nears its end. Key achievements include: 1. The Windows Insider Program, launched in late 2014, allowed over 1 million users to provide feedback on Windows development. 2. Windows 10 was the first version that allowed free upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.1, resulting in over 350 million devices upgraded in the first year. 3. It introduced the concept of "Windows as a Service," with bi-annual feature updates. 4. The activation process was improved by linking licenses to Microsoft accounts, allowing users to retain licenses after hardware changes. 5. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) was introduced in 2017, enabling users to run Linux applications directly within Windows. 6. Windows Hello provided a modern biometric authentication method, supporting facial recognition and fingerprint scanners. 7. The Start menu was redesigned to combine elements from Windows 7 and 8, receiving positive feedback. 8. The Xbox Play Anywhere program allowed users to purchase games once and play them on both PC and Xbox, syncing progress across platforms. 9. Microsoft Defender was included as a built-in antivirus solution, offering robust protection. 10. A proper dark mode was introduced, enhancing user experience, especially for those working late or using OLED displays.

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers’ latest patch accused of faking internal render resolution to boost FPS — game runs at ‘Quality’ upscaling even when the render scale is set to 100% native

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has experienced performance issues since its launch, leading to player frustration despite positive reviews. Publisher 505 Games has released patches to improve performance, but these updates may have misled players about the game's graphics settings. Hardware analyst Daniel Owen found that the internal rendering resolution is capped below native levels, even when the resolution scaling slider is set to 100%. The patch notes for version 1.3 included vague references to adjustments in super sampling resolution limits, which some believe obscured the true nature of the changes. Instead of providing a real performance boost, the update seems to have implemented a forced upscaling mechanism that inflates frame rates while reducing visual quality. This has resulted in a softer or more pixelated appearance for players, despite maxed-out settings. The optimization patch has only yielded a modest 2-3 FPS improvement at non-native scaling. The lack of clear communication from 505 Games regarding these changes may provoke further backlash from the gaming community.