startup Archives

Winsage

June 28, 2026

Microsoft denies WSL 3 exists, reveals Windows 11’s WSL Containers ship next week

Microsoft has clarified that there is no WSL 3 in development, as stated by Craig Loewen, the Product Manager for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The confusion arose from articles discussing a new feature called WSL Containers, which will be launched soon. WSL allows users to run Linux environments on Windows without dual-booting, while WSL Containers enable the creation and management of Linux containers directly within Windows, eliminating the need for third-party tools like Docker Desktop. WSL 1, introduced in 2016, served as a translation layer for Linux system calls, and WSL 2, launched in 2019, included a full Linux kernel in a lightweight virtual machine. WSL Containers is an enhancement to WSL, allowing developers to build, run, and deploy containers directly from Windows using the wslc.exe command. This feature is part of Microsoft's strategy to make Windows a more accessible platform for running Linux workloads, helping to retain developers who might consider switching to other operating systems.

AppWizard

June 28, 2026

The Steam client was hurting PC gaming on Android — Valve’s VR headset accidentally solved it

Playing Windows games on Android has become feasible due to Winlator and open-source technologies like Wine, Box64, and DXVK. User-friendly applications such as GameHub and GameNative have emerged, enhancing mobile gaming experiences to rival dedicated handheld consoles. A major challenge was the reliance on the x86 Windows Steam client, which was resource-intensive on mobile devices. GameNative 1.0 introduced an experimental feature that eliminates the need for the desktop Steam client by using Valve's native Android libraries, improving the gaming experience significantly. Valve released Steamworks SDK version 1.63 in November 2025, which included native ARM64 libraries for Android, allowing for essential Steam functionalities without a translation layer. GameNative integrated these libraries, replacing the desktop client with a more efficient "bionic" Steam client that operates without a user interface, streamlining DRM and matchmaking processes. GameNative now supports Steam Guard TOTP sign-in, enabling smooth authentication and access to the user's Steam library. It downloads games natively, supports cloud saves, and is compatible with most single-player games with Steam DRM. The application boasts a high compatibility rate, with 221 out of 241 games in one user's library showing as compatible. GameNative 1.0 has improved performance with a Vulkan renderer and reworked controller stack. Despite its success, GameNative is not yet available on the Play Store, with nearly a million users sideloading the application. Developers aim to create a Play Store version that complies with Google's policies for easier installation.

Winsage

June 27, 2026

Windows 11’s built-in apps are getting quiet but welcome improvements

Microsoft has released a preview version of its upcoming Windows update for members of the Windows Insider Program, enhancing several pre-installed applications including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Notepad, Paint, Photos, and Sound Recorder. Key updates include: - Calculator: Improved accuracy in square root calculations, high-contrast readability for settings, right-to-left language support, and a fix for startup issues. - Sound Recorder: Added Bluetooth microphone support, a streamlined interface, immediate access to features, disabled WAV file tags, a smoother deletion process, and a resolved memory leak issue. - Additional features: AI-generated image watermarks in Photos, a zoom slider in Camera, customizable subtitles in Media Player, and a new option to delay alarms by 15 minutes in Clock.

Winsage

June 26, 2026

Windows 11’s built-in apps are getting quiet but welcome improvements

Microsoft has released a preview version of an upcoming Windows update for members of the Windows Insider Program, enhancing several pre-installed applications including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Notepad, Paint, Photos, and Sound Recorder. The Calculator update includes improved accuracy for square root calculations, better readability in high-contrast designs, right-to-left language support for Arabic and Hebrew, and a fix for startup issues. The Sound Recorder enhancements feature an accurate live waveform display for Bluetooth recordings, a streamlined interface, immediate access to the "Highlight" button, disabled tags for WAV recordings, a smoother deletion process for multiple recordings, and a fix for a memory leak issue. Additional features include watermarks for AI-generated images in the Photos app, a zoom slider in the Camera app, customizable subtitles in Media Player, and a 15-minute delay option for alarms in the Clock app.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Minecraft Adventure Maps — okay so let me just tell you what actually works

Adventure maps in Minecraft allow players to experience curated gameplay without survival mechanics or resource gathering. These maps are designed in Adventure Mode, preventing players from altering the environments. They vary in length and complexity, with some lasting only 20 minutes and others several hours, often featuring custom dialogue and narratives. Quality adventure maps can be found on platforms like Planet Minecraft, MCPEDL, CurseForge, and the Minecraft Marketplace. It's important to check version compatibility to avoid glitches. Recommended adventure maps include Herobrine’s Mansion, Diversity 3, SkyBlock, The Forgotten, Chronos, and Parkour Paradise. Multiplayer maps should be labeled as such to avoid common issues like skipped puzzles and disrupted story pacing. Installing maps differs between Java and Bedrock editions, with Java scanning the saves folder and Bedrock requiring the opening of a .mcworld file. Players may face issues like command blocks failing or visual discrepancies due to missing resource packs or version mismatches. To evaluate a map's quality before downloading, check the download count and read comments for potential bugs. Java and Bedrock maps are not interchangeable, so verifying the edition and compatibility is crucial for a smooth experience.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

John Carmack apologizes after Sandy Petersen says ‘Quake ruined id Software,’ and for once John Romero doesn’t tell Sandy he’s wrong

The 30th anniversary of Quake on June 22, 2026, led to reflections from its creators, particularly Sandy Petersen and John Carmack. Petersen stated, "Quake ruined id Software," acknowledging the game's achievements but highlighting the intense workload that drained the team. Carmack described the project as "overly ambitious technically" and admitted to pushing the team too hard, recognizing the need for a more balanced approach to ownership and work environment. He noted that the original corporate stock arrangement created poor incentives. Petersen mentioned that working in a large room eliminated spaces for relaxation, contributing to team stress. John Romero echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the culture at id Software and praising designer American McGee's contributions. The founders recognized their past mistakes while appreciating the legacy of their work, with id Software continuing to thrive with franchises like Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

You can finally turn Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat off when you’re not playing a game

Riot Games is updating its Vanguard anti-cheat system to an "on-demand" model, which will only activate during gameplay and stop once the game ends. This change addresses concerns over Vanguard's previous persistent background operation and kernel mode access. Players must meet specific security criteria to use the new feature, including enabling pre-boot security mechanisms and Windows' native protection features. Approximately 35% of players already meet these conditions, while 3% using older hardware will not have access to the on-demand option until they upgrade. Vanguard will continue its current operation for those unable to meet the requirements. The update is influenced by advancements in Windows and PC hardware security and aims to enhance anti-cheat measures while keeping the process optional for most players.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot update released to all, hours ahead of expiry

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update to eligible Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs ahead of the expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 on June 24, 2026. This update enhances device targeting data for automatic Secure Boot certificate updates. Secure Boot is a firmware-level security feature that verifies digital signatures of boot components to prevent rootkits and bootkits. The certificates for Secure Boot were first issued in 2011, with subsequent expirations for related certificates occurring in June and October 2026. Users can check their Secure Boot certificate status through the Windows Security app or System Information. If a PC does not receive the update, it will still boot normally but will lose the ability to receive future boot-level security updates. Multiple restarts after updates are expected due to the Secure Boot certificate process. A new folder, C:WindowsSecureBoot, is not malware but is used for staging cryptographic certificate files. Windows 10 users enrolled in the Extended Security Updates program will also receive the Secure Boot update, while those not enrolled will not. The expiration of the KEK CA 2011 means Microsoft will not be able to sign new Secure Boot revocation payloads using the old key, but existing signed payloads will remain functional.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot update released to all, hours ahead of expiry

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update for eligible Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs ahead of the expiration of the original certificates on June 24, 2026. The update includes additional device targeting data to increase coverage for automatic updates. Devices receive the new certificates after demonstrating successful update signals. The original Secure Boot certificates were issued in 2011, with expiration dates set for June 24, 2026, June 27, 2026, and October 19, 2026. Microsoft has been distributing replacement 2023 certificates since 2024, with the June 2026 update expanding eligible devices significantly. Users can check their Secure Boot status through the Windows Security app or System Information. If a PC did not receive the update, it will still function normally but may not receive future boot-level security updates. Multiple restarts after updates are expected behavior, and the SecureBoot folder in Windows is not malware. Windows 10 users in the Extended Security Updates program are also receiving the Secure Boot update. The expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 on June 24 means no new Secure Boot revocation payloads can be signed with the old key, but existing signed payloads will continue to function.

Tech Optimizer

June 22, 2026

The database that refused to die: How Postgres survived its own creators

Postgres, originally developed by Michael Stonebraker in the early 1980s, is an open-source database system that evolved from Ingres. It was designed to handle complex data types and introduced user-defined data types, operators, and functions, leading to the support for abstract data types (ADTs). The initial commercialization of Postgres occurred through a startup named Illustra, later acquired by Informix. In 1995, graduate students Andrew Yu and Jolly Chen revived Postgres, transitioning it from QUEL to SQL, resulting in Postgre95, which evolved into PostgreSQL. Today, Postgres is one of the most popular database systems globally, known for its extensibility and high code quality. However, it currently lacks features like file-level encryption (TDE), which are standard in commercial systems, relying instead on the operating system for encryption. Efforts to implement TDE have faced challenges due to the complexity of required code changes.