stability improvements Archives

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Google Pixel July 2025 Update Brings Android 16 Fixes: Pixel 6a Gets Battery Controls, Pixel 9 Series Sees Wi-Fi and App Improvements

Google has begun rolling out the July 2025 update for Android 16, specifically for Pixel devices, with the build number BP2A.250705.008. This over-the-air (OTA) update focuses on bug fixes and performance enhancements, particularly for network connectivity and app rendering. The Pixel 6a is now part of the Google Battery Performance Programme, which aims to improve battery longevity and safety by introducing background controls that limit charging speed and capacity after around 400 charge cycles. Users may qualify for free repairs, partial refunds, or trade-in bonuses for battery-related issues. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 series receive performance enhancements, especially in app visuals and Wi-Fi stability. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series see general stability improvements, while the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold experience app optimization for display orientation. Notably, the update does not include the July Android security patch or a list of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). The update is available for the Google Pixel 9, 8, 7, 6, 6a, Fold, and Tablet.

Winsage

July 8, 2025

Microsoft Deprecates PowerShell 2.0 in Windows 11 Over Security Flaws

Microsoft has rolled out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27891 to the Canary Channel, which includes the removal of Windows PowerShell 2.0. The update features several critical system fixes, including: - Correction of the “Reset this PC” feature under Settings > System > Recovery. - Resolution of an issue affecting the taskbar's acrylic material effect. - Fix for Windows Update downloads that stalled at 2%. - Correction of character rendering problems for languages like Vietnamese and Arabic. Enhancements in File Explorer include a dropdown menu in the address bar that shows the complete folder path. Stability improvements in Settings aim to prevent crashes when accessing microphone properties or Bluetooth settings, although a new known issue may cause crashes in Settings > System > Power & Battery. Task Manager now features updated CPU utility calculations. The Microsoft Store has been updated to allow users to install apps and games directly from the top featured sections. Known issues include potential loss of Windows Hello PIN on Copilot+ PCs, graphical distortion for Remote Desktop users on Arm64 PCs, and incomplete localization of some features. Transitioning out of the Canary Channel requires a clean installation of Windows 11.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Minecraft Update Adds New Painting and Lava Chicken Music

Minecraft: Java Edition has released update version 1.21.7, introducing a painting titled "Good Boy" by Sarah Boeving and a music disc called "Lava Chicken" obtained by defeating a Baby Zombie riding a Chicken. The Data Pack is upgraded to version 81 and the Resource Pack to version 64. Bug fixes include corrections for rendering errors on Qualcomm graphics devices, such as an incorrect moon display (MC-297748) and map rendering faults (MC-298448). Other fixes address z-plane conflicts for text elements (MC-298681), glyph placement for TrueType Font (MC-298710), graphical glitches in droppers and dispensers (MC-298832), and underwater fog effects (MC-298856). A memory leak in ItemStackRenderState (MC-299071) and startup crashes on AMD graphics setups (MC-298879) have also been resolved. Server stability improvements include preventing crashes when specific mobs ride turtles (MC-299126) and ensuring accurate recording of new DataVersion entries (MC-299110). Texture management during resource reloads has been optimized (MC-298898).

Winsage

June 28, 2025

7 quick things I did that instantly sped up my Windows PC

Transitioning from Windows to macOS can create nostalgia for the Windows interface, but many professionals still need access to Windows for work. Older machines may hinder performance, but improvements can be made without new hardware. To enhance the performance of an aging Windows PC: 1. Restart the system regularly to clear memory leaks and unresponsive processes. 2. Turn off visual effects to improve responsiveness, especially on older machines. 3. Delete unnecessary files and applications to free up storage space. 4. Uninstall third-party antivirus software in favor of Microsoft Defender, which is resource-efficient. 5. Disable unnecessary startup programs to enhance boot times and system responsiveness. 6. Close multiple browser windows and tabs to conserve RAM. 7. Regularly update the Windows operating system for speed and stability improvements.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Rematch surpasses 1 million players in its first day of full release

Sloclap's 5v5 soccer game Rematch attracted nearly 93,000 concurrent players on Steam during its launch day and welcomed one million unique players within its first 24 hours. The studio released a small update to enhance stability and performance, addressing crash issues and a desynchronization problem when the ball hit the goalpost. Some players are still experiencing difficulties, and Sloclap is encouraging feedback. The update does not include crossplay functionality, which is being worked on but faced technical complexities. A basic version of crossplay exists, but further implementation is needed. The update includes fixes for ball sync issues, reduced crash frequency after scoring, various stability improvements, and updates to matchmaking.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

‘They listened! They listened!’: Stalker restores Soviet monument after angry fans tanked its Steam reviews, and they couldn’t be happier

GSC Game World released patch 1.0.1 for the Stalker trilogy to address issues following a negative launch, including stability improvements, settings retention adjustments, and the restoration of missing geometry on several levels. Players expressed dissatisfaction with blurry graphics and the removal of the Russian audio setting and iconic Soviet landmarks. GSC acknowledged player feedback and committed to ongoing improvements, although the reintroduction of Russian audio seems unlikely.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

Google rolls out Android 16 Beta 3.1 patch with crucial bug fixes

Google has released the Android 16 Beta 3.1 update, focusing on bug fixes rather than new features. This update addresses a crash issue in the Settings app, particularly when the device's language is set to anything other than English, and resolves performance-related problems, including excessive battery drain due to high CPU load and memory leaks in the system server. The update retains enhancements from the previous Android 16 Beta 3 release, such as Auracast support for wireless hearing aids and improved accessibility options. The update is available for enrolled devices and can be checked in the Settings under System > Software Update.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC Patch 5 Released, Bringing Various Performance & Optimization Improves

Nixxes has released Title Update 5 for the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which includes performance enhancements and optimizations. Key updates include: - Upgrade of DirectStorage to version 1.2.3 to reduce stuttering during city traversal, especially for GPUs with less than 8GB of VRAM. - Optimized performance when playing as Venom, fighting Symbiotes, and in related cinematics. - Improved DLSS Ray Reconstruction to reduce noise in shadows of facial details. - Fixes for UI issues during Prowler side quests when frame generation and upscaling were enabled. - Resolved issues with the Hunter Blinds minigame controls and Photo Mode responsiveness. - Improvements to screen space reflections to prevent flickering when viewing large bodies of water. - Various crash fixes, stability improvements, and performance optimizations. - Enhancements related to ray-traced reflections, ambient occlusion, and shadows. - General user interface bug fixes and improvements.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

New Spider-Man 2 Update Released on PC With Big Fixes

Insomniac Games has released a significant update, version 1.212.1.0, for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, addressing various bugs, crashes, and performance issues. The update includes crash fixes, stability improvements, and specific adjustments for AMD graphics cards. Key changes in the patch notes include: - Various crash fixes and stability improvements. - Temporarily removed Anti-Lag 2 to improve stability on AMD graphics cards. - Fixed a crash in the final Mysterio mission while wearing the Bodega Cat Suit. - Fixed a crash when closing the menu while an audio fragment is playing. - Improved adjustability of Mouse Sensitivity. - Improved screen space reflections. - Fixed a bug causing character eyes to appear darkened or flickering. - Nintendo Switch Pro controllers can now be used with Steam Input. - Resolved a New Game+ bug related to the Sleeping Dart prompt. - NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction can now be used at Native resolution and with Ultra Performance upscaling. - Fixed a bug with XeGTAO when disabling Anti-Aliasing or enabling Ray Reconstruction. - Resolved a timing-related bug during the Wind Tunnel tutorial. - Various user interface-related bug fixes. - Various visual bug fixes. Further improvements are planned for the future.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth PC 1.001 Patch Updates DirectStorage To Latest Version, Improves Game Stability and More

The first patch for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PC, version 1.001, has been released, weighing 17.65 GB. It includes stability improvements and enhancements, such as setting the graphics preset to Low on Steam Deck and DLSS as the default anti-aliasing option if supported. DirectStorage has also been updated. The patch notes do not mention specific performance improvements. Modders have released 4K texture packs and integrated characters like Sephiroth and Zack into the game, though these characters are incomplete. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available on PC and PlayStation 5.