testing software

Winsage
November 27, 2024
Apple no longer supports Boot Camp for running Windows on Silicon Macs, but alternatives exist. Microsoft recommends Windows 365 for remote access and Parallels Desktop for virtualization. UTM, an open-source application based on the QEMU emulator, allows users to create a virtual machine for running Windows alongside macOS. UTM supports both the Arm version of Windows, which runs efficiently on Apple Silicon, and emulation of the x86 version, though with potential performance drawbacks. UTM is not ideal for gaming due to the lack of GPU emulation. To set up Windows on a Mac using UTM, users need to download UTM from GitHub or the Mac App Store and obtain a copy of Windows 11. After downloading the Windows ISO, users create a new virtual machine in UTM, choosing to either virtualize or emulate the operating system. Users allocate memory and storage, select a shared folder, and then start the virtual machine to install Windows. After installation, drivers must be installed to enhance functionality, allowing for better display resolution and internet access.
Winsage
August 4, 2024
In a performance analysis comparing Windows 10 and Windows 11 for gaming, both operating systems were tested on four hardware configurations using the latest versions available. The "core isolation" feature was disabled on Windows 11 to align it with Windows 10's default setting. The testing involved 13 games, with results showing that Windows 10 outperformed Windows 11 in five of the titles tested. 1. Baldur's Gate 3: No performance differences between Windows 10 and 11. 2. The Last of Us Part 1: Windows 10 marginally outperformed Windows 11 by 1-2%. 3. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty: Windows 10 showed a 10% increase in average frame rates for the 7800X3D and 3% for the 7700X; Intel CPUs had increases of 6% and 7%. 4. Hogwarts Legacy: No significant performance differences. 5. Assetto Corsa Competizione: Windows 10 performed slightly better with margins of 3% and 2%. 6. Spider-Man Remastered: No significant performance disparity. 7. Homeworld 3: Windows 10 favored with performance boosts of 6% for the 7800X3D and 4% for the 7700X; Intel CPUs improved by 3-5%. 8. A Plague Tale: Requiem: Windows 10 had a 10% increase for the 7800X3D and 5% for the 7700X; Intel processors gained 3-4%. 9. Counter-Strike 2: Windows 10 outperformed Windows 11 with a 3% advantage for the 7800X3D and a 10% increase for the 7700X; Intel processors improved by 11% and 7%. 10. Starfield: Windows 10 provided a 4% boost for the 7800X3D and 2% for the 7700X. 11. Horizon Forbidden West: No performance differences. 12. Hitman 3: Maximum variance of 1.5% between Windows 10 and 11. 13. Watch Dogs: Legion: Windows 10 showed frame rate differences of up to 2%. Overall, the analysis suggests that if users are satisfied with Windows 10, there is little reason to upgrade to Windows 11, which may explain its slow adoption rate among gamers.
AppWizard
July 31, 2024
Microsoft is experiencing service outages affecting its cloud-based offerings, impacting products like Outlook, Xbox Live, and Minecraft. The outages began around 7:45 a.m. ET, attributed to an "unexpected usage spike" in Azure cloud services. Reports peaked for Minecraft around 9:30 a.m. ET, with improvements noted after 10 a.m. ET, but no estimated time for complete resolution was provided. This incident follows a significant outage caused by a software update from CrowdStrike that affected approximately 8.5 million PCs worldwide. The previous outage disrupted operations for airlines and airports, leading to potential legal action from Delta Airlines against CrowdStrike. Microsoft’s VP for Windows services emphasized the need for "mission critical resiliency" and a shift from on-premises solutions to cloud management alternatives.
Winsage
July 26, 2024
Microsoft is advocating for changes to Windows to restrict security vendors like CrowdStrike from accessing the Windows kernel, following an incident where 8.5 million PCs went offline due to a faulty CrowdStrike update. CrowdStrike's software operates at the kernel level, allowing unrestricted access to system memory and hardware, which can lead to Windows crashes. Microsoft is emphasizing the need for collaboration to enhance security measures and is considering restricting kernel-level access within Windows.
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