simplicity Archives

Winsage

January 17, 2026

Tired of Copilot? Winslop lets you easily purge Windows 11’s AI features

A new application named Winslop has emerged for Windows 11, allowing users to remove AI features like Copilot that they find unnecessary. Winslop operates locally on users' systems and provides a user-friendly interface to identify and eliminate these functionalities. It has received positive feedback for effectively removing Copilot prompts and other AI elements, enabling a more traditional computing environment. Winslop is not an official Microsoft product, and users are advised to proceed with caution as it operates outside of Microsoft’s ecosystem. It follows the release of another tool, FlyOOBE, which was also designed to disable Copilot functionalities. Discussions at CES 2026 indicated that many PC manufacturers recognize the confusion caused by AI for consumers, suggesting a potential shift away from AI-centric devices. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the importance of balancing innovation with user preference in technology.

Winsage

January 17, 2026

Microsoft rolls out tables in Notepad for all Windows 11 users, though I’d feel happier about this if I knew this was the final addition to my favorite little app

Notepad has undergone significant enhancements since 2022, including spell checking, dark mode, tabbed windows, state preservation, basic formatting capabilities, and the introduction of tables. The AI text streaming feature is currently available only on Copilot+ PCs but will eventually be rolled out to all Windows 11 systems. Users appreciate Notepad's simplicity and minimalistic design, though there are concerns that adding too many features may compromise its core functionality.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

A phenomenal new Android calendar power-up

Toki is a platform that simplifies event management by allowing users to engage through natural speech or text, transforming input into structured event formats. It features instant confirmation for event details and enables users to adjust events, including relocating them to different sub-calendars. Users can also send screenshots of relevant materials to Toki, which streamlines the planning process. The platform allows users to quickly turn ideas into actionable events, enhancing efficiency and user experience.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

6 Free Apps To Automate Tasks on Android

In daily life, people engage in repetitive phone actions that shape their routines, such as turning off Wi-Fi or silencing notifications. Android devices offer basic automation features, but true automation potential lies in apps that allow personalized routines. Samsung Galaxy users can utilize Modes and Routines, integrated into One UI 5.1, to create preset profiles and custom automations based on triggers like time and location. Google’s Action Blocks enable users to create customizable shortcuts for complex tasks with a single tap, leveraging Google Assistant. Automate by LlamaLab uses a visual flowchart interface for routine creation, allowing users to design automation flows with over 320 building blocks available. aProfiles focuses on profile-based automation, adjusting settings based on time and location, while IFTTT allows users to create applets for connected services, with limitations on custom applets for free users. MacroDroid offers a three-part structure for automations, with over 100 triggers and actions, and a template library for pre-made macros, while the free version limits users to five macros.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Windows 2000 still earning its keep running a rail ticket machine in Portugal

A ticket machine in Portugal is still running on Windows 2000 Professional, an operating system retired by Microsoft in 2010. The kiosk shows signs of wear but continues to function, highlighting the operating system's durability and reliability. Windows 2000 was originally launched as a successor to Windows NT 4.0 and was praised for its performance on modest hardware. Despite the lack of mainstream support for over two decades, it remains operational in various devices worldwide. The presence of a keyboard in the kiosk evokes nostalgia for earlier technology, and the simplicity of navigating Windows 2000 is manageable for experienced users.

Winsage

January 11, 2026

Make 2026 the year you cancel subscriptions for good — MS Office is a flat $35

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 is available for a one-time purchase of .97, reduced from its regular price of 9.99. This purchase provides a lifetime license for essential applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. The offer eliminates ongoing subscription fees and includes instant license delivery and complimentary customer support.

Winsage

January 10, 2026

How to edit text files directly from Command Prompt and PowerShell on Windows 11 — using Microsoft Edit just like Linux’s Nano

Windows 11 includes the Microsoft Edit command-line tool for editing text files directly within Command Prompt or PowerShell. The tool is under 250KB in size. To install Microsoft Edit, users can open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command: winget install --id Microsoft.Edit. Alternatively, it can be downloaded from GitHub, but manual configuration is required. To use Microsoft Edit, users can launch it by typing PLACEHOLDERb167be8248c505bb in Command Prompt or PLACEHOLDER4905f66b5f26fc6f for administrator access. Existing text files can be edited using the command edit filename.txt, and new files can be created with the same command. Basic editing options include undo, redo, cut, copy, paste, and find and replace. Files can be saved with "Ctrl + S" and exited with "Ctrl + Q". The tool is designed for straightforward text editing without the need to switch applications.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

Is today’s puzzle game scene interesting? ‘No, I don’t think it is,’ says Jonathan Blow, even though there are ‘really good games in the past’ devs could look to for inspiration

Jonathan Blow has unveiled his new project, Order of the Sinking Star, at last year's Game Awards. The game has been in development for nearly a decade and is described as a "game design supercollider," combining four distinct puzzle games into a vast puzzle chimaera with 500 hours of content. Blow considers Stephen's Sausage Roll one of the best puzzle games, despite its difficulty, and found Trifolium: The Adventures of Gary Pretzelneck interesting due to its deceptive simplicity. He has not encountered many recent puzzle titles that have impressed him.

Tech Optimizer

January 7, 2026

Norton in 2026: Is the Old-School Antivirus Brand Still Worth Your Trust?

Norton has evolved into a comprehensive cybersecurity suite by 2026, transitioning from traditional antivirus software to a holistic solution under Gen Digital Inc. Its offerings include Norton 360, which provides real-time malware and ransomware protection, a built-in unlimited data VPN, password management, dark web monitoring, and identity protection on higher tiers. The Norton 360 Deluxe plan is popular for households, offering high protection scores, a usable VPN, dark web monitoring, cross-platform support, and identity protection features. Users appreciate its ease of use, strong protection record, and the value of the VPN, while some express frustration with upselling, auto-renew pricing, and performance on older machines. Norton competes with brands like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and McAfee, with its all-in-one convenience being a key advantage. It is suitable for families and less tech-savvy users but may not be ideal for those preferring minimalist setups or who have older hardware.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

An instant Android search upgrade

Pixel Search offers a comprehensive search experience that provides everything-together search results, enhancing efficiency and intuitiveness. It allows users to find and act on a wide range of items, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. Users can customize their experience through various settings, but the default configuration is designed to meet most needs without additional adjustments. The Pixel Search widget combines a familiar appearance with advanced capabilities, encouraging users to explore its full potential for an enriching search experience.