Series Archives

Winsage

May 8, 2025

6 changes I make immediately to make the Windows 11 experience less irritating

Upon initiating a fresh installation of Windows 11, essential adjustments can enhance the user experience and productivity. Winhance is a utility that helps implement these changes. Key modifications include: - Notifications: Users can reduce the number of notifications by navigating to Settings -> System -> Notifications and toggling off notifications from specific apps. Scheduling notifications and using the Focus feature can also help minimize distractions. - Disable Microsoft ads: To eliminate subtle promotional content, users should uncheck options in Notifications settings and disable recommendations in Settings -> Personalization -> Start. - Move the Start button: Users can reposition the Start menu to the left corner by adjusting the “Taskbar alignment” in Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar behaviors. - Adjust visual effects: To improve system responsiveness, users can disable animations and transparency effects by accessing sysdm.cpl and Settings -> Accessibility -> Visual effects. - Change the default browser: After installing a preferred browser, users can set it as the default in Settings -> Apps -> Default app, ensuring it is set for various file types. - Disable News widget: Users can turn off the news widget by going to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar and toggling off the Widgets option. These adjustments can be completed in about 20 minutes and help create a more productive environment in Windows 11.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Minecraft details raft of new licensees across accessories, footwear, gaming gear and more

Minecraft has announced new partnerships in various sectors, including accessories, footwear, and gaming gear, as part of its licensing initiatives. Hanna Willis, Head of Consumer Products for Minecraft, expressed enthusiasm about the brand's global licensing program and the diverse new partners. The partnerships are expected to introduce new products appealing to both fans and newcomers, leveraging the expertise of different companies while capturing the essence of the game.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Starbreeze reclaims Payday 3 publishing rights from Plaion, says it will ‘significantly accelerate our content development roadmap’

Starbreeze Studios has secured the publishing rights to Payday 3 from Plaion, aiming to enhance content development for the game, which has faced challenges since its September 2023 launch. This acquisition establishes a long-term collaboration between Starbreeze and Plaion for future Payday franchise projects. Despite setbacks, including leadership changes, Payday 3 has struggled to maintain a player base, while Payday 2 remains popular. Starbreeze's involvement may lead to expedited updates and improvements for Payday 3, and the company is exploring broader strategic opportunities for the franchise.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

EA thinks it got Battlefield right this time, projecting confidence to investors in advance of a summer reveal: ‘When we get it right, Battlefield is a giant franchise and often the biggest shooter in the year’

EA is committed to incorporating player feedback into the next Battlefield game following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. CEO Andrew Wilson stated that this initiative represents "the biggest playtesting initiative in franchise history," with a dedicated group of playtesters already logging thousands of hours. The upcoming title, often referred to as Battlefield 6, is being developed under the leadership of Vince Zampella and involves multiple studios, including Ripple Effect, Motive, and Criterion. EA plans to expand its Battlefield Labs testing program to include more players ahead of a summer reveal, with only a brief 10-second clip released so far. Rumors suggest the new game will maintain the core elements expected by fans.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Windows 10 support is ending — but End of 10 wants you to switch to Linux

Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning users will no longer receive feature updates or security patches. A grassroots movement called "End of 10" is advocating for users to switch to Linux instead of upgrading to Windows 11, which has stringent hardware requirements that many older PCs do not meet. The movement highlights the benefits of Linux, such as operating without ads or telemetry, reducing e-waste, and being a free, open-source alternative. There are 240 million PCs that may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. The End of 10 movement provides resources and support for users interested in transitioning to Linux, with a directory of shops and tech collectives primarily located in Germany.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

I pride myself on keeping up with Steam’s under-the-radar gems, but April was packed with enough new games to keep me busy for the rest of 2025

In April 2025, over 100 games launched, with notable titles including Blue Prince and Clair Obscur, the latter receiving significant attention. Clair Obscur was released on April 22nd and has a 94% rating from 39 reviews. Maliki: Poison Of The Past, inspired by a French comic, was released on April 20th. Mythical Concept Starnaut, a narrative-driven game, was released on April 28th with a 97% rating from 45 reviews. Bionic Bay, a stylish platformer, was released on April 17th and has a 90% rating from 264 reviews. Asura The Striker, released on April 23rd, has a 93% rating from 49 reviews. Traveler's Refrain, an action RPG, was released on April 11th with a 92% rating from 26 reviews. Voidborn, a low-fi shooter, was released on April 7th with a 90% rating from 262 reviews. I, Robot, a reimagining of an arcade classic, was released on April 17th and has a 95% rating from 20 reviews. Lab Rat, a dystopian comedy, was released on April 15th with a 97% rating from 188 reviews. Peppered: An Existential Platformer, released on April 7th, has a 95% rating from 266 reviews. Repose, a workplace horror game, was released on April 14th and has a 90% rating from 74 reviews.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

A New Start Menu and More Major Upgrades Are Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft announced significant upgrades for Windows 11, including enhancements to the Start menu, Copilot AI, and utilities like Paint and the Snipping Tool. The Start menu will become larger, more customizable, and user-friendly, allowing users to view all apps at once, hide recommended shortcuts, and increase the size of the pinned apps panel. A "phone companion" feature will be integrated into the Start menu. These changes are expected to roll out to the Windows Insider channel within the next month. File Explorer will introduce AI actions for document summarization and image editing directly from the right-click menu. Notepad will gain AI text generation and summarization features, along with lightweight formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and Markdown support. Copilot Vision will allow users to interact with AI regarding on-screen content. Some features will debut on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chipsets, including an AI agent in Settings to assist users with adjustments and the Click to Do feature for scheduling meetings and launching Immersive Reader mode. The Photos app will introduce a relight feature for dynamic lighting control. Paint will gain capabilities for creating custom stickers from text prompts and an AI-powered object select tool. The Snipping Tool will receive enhancements like intelligent screenshot cropping, text extraction, and a color picker. The Narrator on Copilot+ PCs will be upgraded to provide rich descriptions of images.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

As support for Windows 10 counts down, End of 10 asks ‘why not Linux?’

Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users whose hardware does not meet the requirements for upgrading to Windows 11 have alternatives, such as transitioning to Linux. The End of 10 initiative encourages Windows 10 users to consider Linux as a way to rejuvenate their existing hardware, especially for those with machines not primarily used for gaming. To upgrade to Windows 11, users need a processor from Intel's 8th generation or AMD's Ryzen 2000 series at a minimum. The End of 10 website provides resources for users hesitant about installing Linux and addresses concerns about electronic waste, highlighting that 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2022, with projections of 82 million tonnes by 2030.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Jack Black’s ‘Minecraft’ Smash Gives The Actor A Career-Best High

Jack Black's song "Steve’s Lava Chicken," featured in the film A Minecraft Movie, has gained significant popularity, reaching the top 10 on multiple music charts in the United Kingdom. It has achieved No. 8 on the Official Singles Downloads chart, No. 9 on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles charts, and No. 10 on the Official Streaming chart. This marks Jack Black's first entry into the top 10 across all four rankings, despite previous attempts with other songs.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

I just picked up five legendary Bethesda PC games for $15, here’s how I built the bundle

Fanatical has launched a Bethesda bundle deal that allows players to select their own games from a variety of titles, including Fallout: New Vegas, Oblivion, Dishonored, and The Evil Within 2. The pricing starts at .99 for two games and goes up to .99 for five, reducing the cost per game. Notable titles available include Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate, Fallout 3 GOTY, Morrowind, Oblivion, Elder Scrolls Online, the Dishonored Trilogy, RAGE 2, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and The Evil Within 2. This offer is available for a limited time.