specifications Archives

Winsage

August 28, 2025

Windows 10 support shutdown offers window of opportunity for a Linux OS developed in Dublin

Windows 10 support will end in October, leaving users vulnerable to cyber threats, and many older laptops may not meet the requirements for upgrading to Windows 11, prompting the need for new laptops. Zorin OS, created by the Zorin brothers, is a user-friendly Linux-based operating system that has garnered over 10 million downloads and is preparing for its 18th release. The Zorin brothers emphasize their commitment to user feedback and community collaboration, contrasting their approach with that of major tech companies. The "End of 10" campaign promotes Linux as a viable alternative to costly Windows upgrades, encouraging users to retain existing hardware while adopting new software for cost savings and enhanced privacy. Zorin OS is noted for its intuitive interface and compatibility with popular applications accessible via web browsers, making it a practical choice for users seeking to maintain security and performance on older laptops.

Winsage

August 28, 2025

It wasn’t supposed to work, but someone booted this retro Windows OS on one of 2025’s fastest CPUs

A YouTuber named Omores successfully booted Windows 98 on a Ryzen 9900X CPU. This required various modifications, including BIOS tweaks, using a PCI SATA card to bypass modern SATA controllers, and employing a PCIe-to-PCI adapter. Additional adjustments involved disabling ACPI and using a Gen 5 NVMe SSD with a partition limited to 8.5 GB. The project demonstrated the capabilities of the vintage operating system, with successful benchmark results using retro graphics cards like the GeForce 7900 GS and ATI X700LE.

AppWizard

August 27, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25w35a

This week's update introduces a new Minecraft Server Management Protocol that allows real-time queries of player activity, adjustments to game rules, and updates to server settings. Several server properties have been transitioned into game rules, enabling modifications while the server is operational. Players can now use player icons in chat, and the copper golem has received enhancements along with various bug fixes. New features include support for the Halychian language. Changes to recipes now require Hanging Signs to be crafted exclusively with Iron Chains. The server list requires manual entry for new server names, and enhanced text input functionality allows text selection via mouse dragging. UI components will change the mouse cursor shape for better interaction, with a hand-shaped cursor for clickable text labels. Minor tweaks include adjustments to the hitbox of Copper Golems, which is now 0.98 blocks in height, and improvements to their functionality. The Data Pack version has been updated to 85.0, and the Resource Pack version is now at 67.0. Server properties have been streamlined, removing several in favor of game rules, including allow-nether, spawn-monsters, enable-command-block, and pvp. New server properties have been introduced to control the new protocol, including management-server-enabled, management-server-port, management-server-host, and status-heartbeat-interval. The new Minecraft Server Management Protocol is designed for dedicated servers, supporting querying and updating server state, notifying users of state changes, and complying with JSON-RPC 2.0 specifications. New game rules include pvp, allowEnteringNetherUsingPortals, spawnMonsters, and enableCommandBlocks. The text rendering component has been enhanced to support non-character objects within text, with new formats for object types. The chain has been renamed to iron_chain in both Data and Resource Packs. A comprehensive list of bugs has been fixed to enhance gameplay stability and performance. Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition, and users are advised to back up their worlds before installation.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Why Microsoft defined the modern PC with Windows 95

Windows 95 was released on August 24, 1995, in the United States, and became a cultural phenomenon, supported by a significant advertising campaign featuring the Rolling Stones' song "Start Me Up." The operating system introduced the "Start" menu and was technically advanced for its time, despite some user interface challenges. Microsoft faced intense competition from IBM's OS/2 and the growing home PC market, which included the rise of gaming consoles. Windows 95 was made available for testing through a beta program, and its launch was backed by a 0 million advertising budget. The operating system included a "Plug & Play" feature, although it often led to crashes. Windows 95 relied on a DOS substructure and introduced DOS version 7.0, allowing better use of 32-bit processors. Microsoft also launched "The Microsoft Network" (MSN) alongside Windows 95, but Internet Explorer was only available in the additional "Plus!" package. By the end of 1995, Microsoft sold 40 million licenses for Windows 95, which continued to receive updates until 2001. The startup sound composed by Brian Eno was later added to the US Library of Congress in 2025.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows 95 release was 30 years ago today, the first time software was a pop culture smash

Microsoft launched Windows 95 to the public three decades ago, marking a significant moment in tech history with a midnight launch event that attracted large crowds. The operating system combined Microsoft’s DOS and Windows products, introducing a new user interface featuring the Start Button. The official system requirements included an Intel 386DX processor, 4MB of RAM, a VGA display, and 55MB of hard drive space, with recommended specifications for enhanced features being a 486 or better CPU and 8MB of RAM. Windows 95 was packaged in a box with 13 to 15 floppy disks, and consumers could purchase a full installation or an upgrade from Windows 3.1, with a CD version also available. The launch price was , which is approximately 0 today, and on its first day, it generated million in sales, with one million copies shipped by the fourth day. By its one-year anniversary, Microsoft had shipped 40 million units globally. Windows 95 also influenced gaming, with 10 of the 11 top PC game publishers adopting it, and it coincided with the rise of web browsers optimized for the platform.

Tech Optimizer

August 23, 2025

How to load test PostgreSQL database and not miss anything

Practitioners face challenges during load testing of Tantor Postgres databases using pgbench, primarily due to insufficient documentation of the testing environment, leading to non-representative results and the need for repeated tests. The pg_perfbench tool has been developed to address these issues by ensuring repeatability, safeguarding data, and simplifying result comparisons through a cohesive template. It automates pgbench execution, collects metadata about the testing environment, and generates structured reports. pgbench operates on a TPC-B model, providing performance metrics such as transactions per second (tps), average latency, and the number of processed and failed transactions. A Bash script can be used to automate pgbench tests with varying client numbers, logging results into separate files. The pg_perfbench tool captures extensive data regarding the database environment and generates reports that include system properties, common database information, benchmark details, and test results. It facilitates the comparison of multiple load test results and ensures that environments being compared are consistent in terms of PostgreSQL versions and system parameters. The tool also allows for the evaluation of performance impacts from changes to PostgreSQL settings by generating separate reports for different configurations. It verifies compliance of specified parameters before joining reports, ensuring accurate comparisons. The final reports are structured in JSON and HTML formats, enhancing analysis and collaboration efforts.

AppWizard

August 22, 2025

Steam Drops 9 Free Games You Can Keep Forever, Zero Subscriptions Needed

Steam has released nine new free games for users to download. The games include: 1. FlipSum: A puzzle game inspired by Sudoku. 2. Cheese Run: A game where players roll down a hill in pursuit of a runaway wheel of cheese. 3. Kimchi: A puzzle platformer featuring a cat. 4. Clean Break: A narrative experience set in a quiet house. 5. Haus Of Irndrous: A first-person horror game in a creepy mansion. 6. MetaDOS: A battle royale where time is used as currency. 7. Fourmiworld: An open-world ant farm metroidvania. 8. Psycutlery: A 2D platformer with a mind-controlled spork. 9. Wish Upon a Cat: An interactive fiction game about searching for a runaway cat. Users can access these games by visiting their store pages on Steam and clicking the “Play Game” button, ensuring their PC meets the necessary specifications.

AppWizard

August 22, 2025

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Review (PC) – Still The Boss Of Stealth-Action Games

In 2004, Konami and Hideo Kojima released Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. A remake/remaster titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to be released on August 28th, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game is developed by Konami with support from Virtuos and features the original storyline centered around the Virtuous Mission in the 1960s. The gameplay remains largely unchanged, with enhancements such as a new over-the-shoulder camera angle and modern controls. The visuals are powered by Unreal Engine 5, offering a blend of realism and anime influences. The audio includes the return of David Hayter for voice-over work, but some original recordings remain. The PC version runs at 60fps with limited customization options. A review copy was provided by Konami for review purposes.

Winsage

August 21, 2025

Microsoft quietly updated Windows 10 — here’s what’s new in 2025

Microsoft has continued to enhance Windows 10 with cumulative updates since the release of version 22H2 in October 2022. Notable updates include: 1. A redesigned "About" page in the Settings app that displays key technical specifications and includes a FAQ section. 2. Introduction of a System Components page that consolidates essential OS components. 3. Relocation of the Optional features page for better accessibility. 4. A new Manage devices feature that enhances connectivity with mobile devices. 5. Updates to the Taskbar Calendar, including the display of seconds and expanded calendar views. 6. Enhancements to the Windows Backup app that allow file transfer to a new PC during setup. 7. Updates to the File Explorer context menu, including an Ask Copilot option. 8. Redesign of icons on the Settings home page to feature solid colors. 9. Improvements to Windows Search for European users, allowing changes to the default web search provider. 10. Changes to the default browser configuration process for European users, allowing broader link types and the option to uninstall Microsoft Edge. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, with an option for users to enroll in the Extended Security Update program until October 2026.

AppWizard

August 21, 2025

Amazon looks to ditch homegrown software for Android in Fire tablet revamp

Amazon is transforming its Fire tablet lineup by introducing a premium tablet model featuring the Android operating system for the first time, internally called "Kittyhawk." This shift aims to improve app availability and compatibility with other Android devices. The new tablet is expected to be priced around 0, nearly double the cost of the current Fire Max 11 tablet, which retails for approximately 0. Amazon is also exploring the launch of lower-priced tablets powered by its Linux-based Vega operating system. The Kittyhawk project may face delays or cancellation due to financial considerations.