success Archives

Winsage

December 28, 2024

Microsoft’s wins, fails, and WTF moments of 2024

In 2024, Microsoft made significant advancements and faced challenges. The Surface Pro 11th Edition, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, showed improved compatibility with applications like Slack and Google Drive. The Microsoft Recall feature encountered skepticism due to delays and privacy concerns. The Windows 11 2024 Update confused users with multiple release channels and contradictory hardware requirements. The Surface Laptop 7 received praise for its battery life and design. Game Pass evolved into a complex array of tiers, complicating user experience. The Surface Studio 2+ was discontinued, disappointing fans. Microsoft’s Copilot initiative faced challenges, and the HoloLens 2 quietly exited the commercial market. Flight Simulator 2024 struggled with technical issues at launch. Microsoft integrated generative AI into core applications like Paint and Photos. The Windows95Man Paperclip emerged as a cultural phenomenon.

Winsage

December 28, 2024

Unable to install security updates after freshly installing Windows 11? You’re not alone

A bug in the recent installation media for Windows 11 prevents users from installing the latest security updates if the media includes the October 2024 or November 2024 security patches. Microsoft has acknowledged that this issue occurs only when using installation media, such as CD and USB flash drives, created in the last few months with these updates. The problem does not affect devices that receive the updates via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. Users are advised to avoid installation media with the October or November 2024 patches and instead use media with the September 2024 or December 2024 patches. Some users have found success using the "Fix Windows Update" button in the Recovery section of Windows Settings, and the official Windows 11 ISO tool can create an installation image without the problematic patches.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Best PC Game of 2024 — Best New PC Games This Year

PC gaming in 2024 featured a variety of innovative titles, with Hades 2 winning the Best PC Game of 2024. Hades 2, which entered early access in May, follows Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, as she attempts to thwart Chronos, the Titan of Time. The game introduces new mechanics, including a Magick Bar and a sprint ability, and offers multiple exploration paths. It can be completed in under 20 hours, but completionists may invest nearly 60 hours. Other notable nominations for Best PC Games of 2024 include: - I Am Your Beast: Released in September, this fast-paced action game features 25 levels designed for quick play sessions, appealing to speedrunners. - UFO 50: A collection of 50 distinct games that pays homage to retro console games, showcasing a variety of genres. - Frostpunk 2: A city-builder set three decades after the original, allowing players to manage complex societal issues and construct larger cities. It won the Best Gameplay award at the Gamescom Awards 2024.

TrendTechie

December 26, 2024

Overclockers.ru: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle появилась на на торрентах за несколько дней до релиза

The game "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" experienced a piracy incident shortly before its official release, with early access owners inadvertently leaking a complete version. Although the developers did not use Denuvo DRM, the game was protected by an internal Steam mechanism that was eventually bypassed by hackers. The online performance on Steam has been disappointing, with a peak of just over 2,196 concurrent players. The game has received a 92% positive rating on Steam and an average score of 86 on Metacritic. The official launch is set for December 9, 2024.

AppWizard

December 26, 2024

The director of one of this year’s best Xbox and PC games shares thoughts on a possible sequel

On December 25, 2024, Katsura Hashino, the creator of Metaphor: ReFantazio, stated in an interview that there are currently no plans for a sequel, but he is hopeful for the franchise's future. He hinted at the possibility of a sequel set during Japan's Sengoku period. Metaphor: ReFantazio has been well-received, recognized for its combat, exploration, character design, and narrative, winning "Best Story Direction" at the Windows Central Game Awards 2024. The game sold over one million copies within 24 hours of its release on October 11, 2024, making it Atlus' fastest-selling title, surpassing Persona 3: Reload.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

Remedy’s CONTROL is free to own on Epic Games Store

Epic Games is offering a free copy of the game CONTROL to PC gamers until tomorrow. CONTROL, released in 2019, is a third-person action adventure game featuring stunning visuals, exceptional gunplay, and destructible environments. Players take on the role of Jesse Faden, the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, in a surreal world. The game utilizes the Northlight Engine and includes advanced technologies like Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.0. CONTROL does not officially support DLSS 3, but players can enable FSR 3.0 Frame Generation using Optiscaler. A video guide is available for installing FSR 3.1.1 Frame Generation. CONTROL 2 is currently in development by Remedy.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

If 2024 proves anything, it’s that mainstream success hasn’t made PC gaming any less weird—and thank God for that

PC gaming has transitioned from a niche hobby to a significant competitor against consoles, highlighted by the success of titles like Baldur's Gate 3. The Steam wishlist charts showcase a diverse range of games, including janky survival games, indie debuts, and obscure titles that gain unexpected popularity. Notable games this year include a survival game with 25 million players, a poker roguelike, and Stalker 2. Discussions around Game of the Year awards featured unconventional games, reflecting the eclectic nature of PC gaming. Despite the rise of console-first releases on PC, the platform continues to embrace a variety of genres and interests, maintaining its unique identity and charm.

Tech Optimizer

December 24, 2024

PostgreSQL vs. the Cloud for GenAI? 4 Things To Consider

Generative AI (GenAI) is expected to transform industries by improving productivity and revenue. A Deloitte report states that 80% of enterprises with advanced AI capabilities plan to increase AI investments. Companies must modernize legacy systems and tackle data challenges to implement GenAI, but many still use outdated technology, leading to costly transitions and downtime. Nearly half of US generative AI decision-makers expect returns on their investments within three years, which may underestimate the complexities of AI implementation. While cloud computing offers scalability, managing costs can be difficult, prompting many enterprises to adopt financial operations frameworks (FinOps). Concerns about third-party cloud services are leading businesses to consider on-premises and hybrid solutions, with predictions that by 2025, half of enterprises will use on-premises models for AI development. Choosing the right database is crucial for GenAI development, with PostgreSQL being a strong option due to its extensibility, seamless integration, open-source benefits, and deployment flexibility. Successful GenAI strategies focus on rapid development, cost-effective failures, and effective scaling, with Percona offering support to help organizations achieve these goals.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Steam’s Best of the Year highlights the top-selling and most-played games of 2024

Steam's annual Best of The Year feature for 2024 showcases top-selling games organized into categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Platinum category includes standout releases such as Space Marine 2, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Elden Ring, and Baldur's Gate 3. Free-to-play titles like Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and Destiny 2 also contribute to this group. Cyberpunk 2077 has made a comeback in the Gold category with a Very Positive rating. The Silver group features Dragon's Dogma 2, Diablo IV, and Stalker 2, which sold a million units within two days of its launch. The Bronze category includes budget-friendly titles like Balatro, Silent Hill 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and No Man's Sky. Every game from last year's Platinum category is present in 2024, except for Starfield. Steam tracks peak concurrent players, with titles like Black Myth, Elden Ring, and Path of Exile 2 reaching 450,000 or more players. Popular Steam Deck games include Balatro, Dave the Diver, and Hades, while new releases like Manor Lords and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero are in the Platinum section.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Controversial messaging app Telegram is profitable, says its founder. Here’s how it makes money.

Encrypted messaging service Telegram has achieved profitability after 11 years of operation, with revenue surpassing billion in 2024 and cash reserves of 0 million. CEO Pavel Durov attributed this success to advertising and premium subscriptions. The company introduced initiatives like a revenue-sharing model for content creators and a premium subscription tier priced at .99 per month. Telegram has reduced its billion debt and noted a significant turnaround from the previous year, when it reported a loss of million on revenues of million. Despite its financial success, the platform faces global scrutiny over misinformation and limited content moderation, with bans in several countries and a history of being prohibited in Russia from 2018 to 2020.