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AppWizard
August 2, 2026
A Chromebook can be used for productivity, gaming, and entertainment, and users can sideload Android apps when they are not available on the Google Play Store. Sideloading involves installing Android Package Kits (APKs) directly onto the device, but caution is advised as these apps have not been verified by Google. Users should research APKs to ensure they are legitimate and free from malware. To sideload an app, users can enable Linux on their Chromebook and use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This requires enabling ADB debugging in the Linux development environment and using the Terminal to install the APK. Alternatively, users can run APKs using an emulator in Android Studio, which involves setting up Android Studio and creating an Android Virtual Device to install the APK.
TrendTechie
August 2, 2026
American pilot Sean Torrente from Victory Team won the inaugural Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan on August 2, 2026, part of the Formula 1 H2O World Championship. He completed 41 laps, finishing 4.731 seconds ahead of Swedish driver Erik Stark from Team Abu Dhabi, who secured second place, while Norwegian racer Marit Strømøy from Stromoy Racing finished third, 8.414 seconds behind Torrente. Torrente earned 20 points for his victory, with Stark and Strømøy receiving 15 and 12 points, respectively. The race featured 18 pilots from eight teams and was held at an altitude of 1,607 meters on a 1,929-meter track. Kyrgyzstan was added to the Formula 1 H2O World Championship calendar in April 2026.
Winsage
August 2, 2026
Microsoft is expanding the testing of its redesigned taskbar for Windows 11 to the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider Program with the release of Beta Build 26220.9022 on July 31, 2026. This update allows selected participants to reposition the taskbar along any edge of the screen—top, left, right, or bottom—and introduces a more compact variant that reduces icon size and overall height. Users can adjust their taskbar position through the Settings menu under Personalization, and Windows will adapt associated flyouts and animations accordingly. The implementation aims to restore flexibility lost when Windows 11 was launched, where the taskbar was fixed to the bottom of the screen. However, some features remain under development, and limitations exist for alternative positions, including incomplete touch gestures and a simplified search box. The compact taskbar feature currently only supports reduced height at the top or bottom positions. Microsoft is also exploring taskbar positioning across multiple monitors but has not guaranteed different positions for each screen. The recent updates include renewed certificates for the Windows Insider Program and additional builds, with the timeline for stable release of these taskbar adjustments still uncertain.
AppWizard
August 1, 2026
Guillermo del Toro expressed admiration for the game Dead Cells but requested a mode to reduce frustrations from its difficulty. Motion Twin, the game's development team, clarified that an Assist mode already exists, allowing players to resurrect at the beginning of the current biome or at the nearest checkpoint instead of restarting the entire run. Del Toro's concerns were mainly about the roguelike mechanics that cause significant setbacks upon death. His oversight regarding the Assist mode is noted as a common experience among gamers who often overlook basic gameplay features.
Winsage
July 29, 2026
Microsoft reassured Windows 11 and Windows 10 users that their PCs will continue to boot normally and receive updates even if they have not yet received the new Secure Boot 2023 certificates. The rollout of these certificates is expected to continue over the upcoming months. The initial Secure Boot certificate expired on June 24, 2026, and Microsoft has been replacing older 2011 certificates since 2024. The latest update, KB5101650, transitioned Windows 11 to OS builds 26200.8875 and 26100.8875 for versions 25H2 and 24H2, respectively. The 2023 certificates replace older certificates with modern cryptographic standards, allowing Microsoft to deliver DBX revocation updates without interruption. Devices using the 2011 KEK can only receive DBX updates signed with that key, which is no longer valid after June 24. Microsoft has been rolling out the 2023 certificates for the past two years, and many devices remained in a yellow or red status by the June deadline. To check Secure Boot status, users can navigate to Windows Security > Device Security. A green checkmark indicates successful application of the certificates, while yellow and red alerts indicate compatibility issues or firmware incompatibility. PCs that are older or operating in Legacy BIOS mode will not receive the updates. Windows 10 also receives Secure Boot updates, but enrollment in Extended Security Updates (ESU) is required.
Winsage
July 28, 2026
A user on Reddit reported that Windows Explorer was using over 21GB of memory, which can cause performance issues on systems with less than 8GB of RAM. One cause of excessive memory consumption is third-party shell extensions, which can be identified by booting into Safe Mode. A tool called ShellExView can help locate problematic extensions. To create a system restore point, users can press Win + R, type systempropertiesprotection.exe, click Create, enter a description, and click Create. Windows Explorer may also retain large caches of temporary data, leading to high memory usage. To clear temporary files, users can press Win + I, navigate to System > Storage > Temporary files, check the relevant boxes, and click Remove files. They can also manually clean the thumbnail and icon cache by deleting specific files in the %localappdata% directory. Corrupted system files can contribute to high memory usage, and users can run DISM and SFC tools to repair these files by accessing the Terminal (admin) and executing the commands DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and sfc /scannow.
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