NewApp Digest
search bot

quality of life

Microsoft gears up to ship major Taskbar and Start menu updates for Windows 11
Winsage
August 15, 2026

Microsoft gears up to ship major Taskbar and Start menu updates for Windows 11

Microsoft is set to roll out significant updates for the Start menu and Taskbar in Windows 11 next month, which include the ability to move and resize the Taskbar and customize the Start menu. These features have recently transitioned to the Windows 11 Release Preview Channel, indicating they will be available to all users soon. Typically, features in this channel are released within two to three weeks. Users who have the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle enabled can expect the updates to begin rolling out later this month. Microsoft aims to make the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 easier by incorporating familiar functionalities. Additional quality of life improvements for Windows 11 are planned for release towards the end of this year and into 2027.
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition Gets Shadow Drop on Modern Consoles and PC
AppWizard
August 12, 2026

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition Gets Shadow Drop on Modern Consoles and PC

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has been re-released on modern consoles and PC, remastered by Aspyr. It is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC, priced at .99 until August 25th, after which it will increase to .99. The remaster features 60fps, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements, including enemy lock-on and character hot swapping. Originally launched in November 2011, the game received mixed reviews, with IGN rating it 7/10. It includes an online co-op feature and a narrative that runs parallel to the events of the books and films. War in the North was the first in the franchise to receive an M for Mature rating. Aspyr hinted at the possibility of more Lord of the Rings re-releases in the future, though specific titles have not been disclosed.
Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What's new in the full release version?
AppWizard
August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.
Microsoft blocks Windows 11 KB5101650 update for Dell PCs after reports of "unexpected shutdowns, poor performance, increased heat, and battery drain"
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Microsoft blocks Windows 11 KB5101650 update for Dell PCs after reports of “unexpected shutdowns, poor performance, increased heat, and battery drain”

Microsoft has blocked the rollout of the Windows 11 July Patch Tuesday update (KB5101650) for Dell PCs due to reports of significant issues such as unexpected shutdowns, overheating, and diminished performance following a related preview update. The KB5101650 update, which started on July 14, aims to improve user experience but is currently unavailable to Dell PC users.
Star Citizen's next update will switch focus to fixing its bug-riddled previous update, with bigger changes shunted to a later patch
AppWizard
July 11, 2026

Star Citizen’s next update will switch focus to fixing its bug-riddled previous update, with bigger changes shunted to a later patch

Star Citizen's Alpha 4.8 update reset the game's universe and introduced new features but also caused a surge of bugs. Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has reassessed its bug prioritization process, identifying nearly 100 critical issues affecting gameplay, with about 20% already addressed. The development team has temporarily paused work on some features to focus on stability, delaying the Siege of Orison event to update 4.10, scheduled for mid-August. The game has surpassed a billion in player funding, and the single-player component, Squadron 42, is set for a 2026 release.
Microsoft should be jealous of what this file explorer just shipped
Winsage
July 7, 2026

Microsoft should be jealous of what this file explorer just shipped

The latest update to the Files application, version 4.2, introduces a Tree View feature that allows users to navigate folders and subfolders in an expandable hierarchy from the sidebar. Additional upgrades include the ability to split the view into multiple panes, reorganized context menus, a cleaner breadcrumb bar design, and various UI improvements such as quick access to compatible apps, always showing file extensions when renaming, and enhancements to media file metadata. Other notable highlights include proper font thumbnails in the Windows Fonts folder, automatic selection when creating a new archive, and the addition of a "Skip" button in the File In Use dialog.
Factorio's next major update will also be its last, as its developer announces it has 'reached a good place to conclude active gameplay development'
AppWizard
May 31, 2026

Factorio’s next major update will also be its last, as its developer announces it has ‘reached a good place to conclude active gameplay development’

Wube Software is concluding its development of Factorio after 13 years, with the upcoming 2.1 patch being the final significant update. Post-release support will transition to minor quality of life patches. The 2.1 update will not introduce major new features but will include quality-of-life improvements, minor new features, polish, bug fixes, and enhancements to modding support. The studio is exploring new ideas for future projects and has added three new team members to facilitate this transition.
StarCraft 2 development ended 6 years ago, but Blizzard still won't stop messing with it
AppWizard
May 29, 2026

StarCraft 2 development ended 6 years ago, but Blizzard still won’t stop messing with it

Blizzard has released a new update for StarCraft 2, focusing on enhancing the early and mid-game experience. The update introduces changes to allow players to maintain competitiveness on one to three bases longer and makes non-warped Gateway play a more viable strategy. Key economic adjustments include reducing starting workers from 12 to 8 and modifying mineral and gas resource counts. Specific changes for Zerg, Terran, and Protoss include adjustments to unit supplies, costs, and abilities. Bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements have also been implemented, addressing various gameplay issues.
Search