themes Archives

Winsage

June 28, 2025

7 tools I use to customize my Windows 11 desktop

Microsoft Windows has a range of customization features, with third-party utilities emerging to restore lost functionalities and enhance user personalization. - Wallpaper Engine: Offers motion-reactive wallpapers and allows users to create dynamic backgrounds; available on Steam for a one-time purchase. - Rainmeter: A utility for creating desktop widgets that display system performance metrics; can be integrated with HWInfo for detailed monitoring. - Nexus Dock: A Mac-style desktop dock alternative that enhances desktop organization; available in free and Ultimate editions with various themes. - Translucent Taskbar: A lightweight utility that adds translucency to the Windows taskbar, allowing dynamic appearance changes based on user activity. - Custom Pointers: Users can enhance their experience with creative cursor designs available online, particularly on DeviantArt. - Tabbed Navigation for Windows: Stardock's Groupy 2 allows users to group applications into a tabbed interface, improving workflow; available for a one-time fee. - Hiding Your Icons: Users can hide desktop icons for a minimalist workspace, with a macro option for quick access. These third-party applications provide tools for users to tailor their Windows experience, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

20 indie games we saw at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona that you’ve got to check out

The Very Big Indie Pitch (VBIP) at PG Connects Barcelona 2025 showcased a variety of PC and console games, marking a significant milestone for the VBIP format and highlighting the indie game development scene in the city. Indie developers had five minutes to present their games to rotating panels of judges from publishing, development, and media sectors, receiving valuable feedback. The event featured dedicated pitches for PC, console, and mobile games, fostering networking opportunities among developers at different project stages. The pitching sessions are a key feature of PG Connects conferences, providing insights into global development scenes. A curated list of games presented during the event was available, with details for future participation on the Big Indie Pitch website.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

4K Blu-ray Review: A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie is the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2025, with ticket sales reaching 0 million and poised to cross the billion threshold. The film features Jack Black as the voice of Steve, who embarks on a journey in the Overworld after discovering the Orb of Dominance. Despite its humorous tone and strong visual and audio presentation, the film lacks character development and fails to explore deeper themes related to creativity and adulthood. It includes supporting characters like Garrett, Henry, and Natalie, but their potential is not fully realized. The 4K Blu-ray release includes special features such as behind-the-scenes content and actor experiences with the game.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Bring the “Windows 10 look” back to Windows 11 — Everything I changed to restore the desktop UI experience

Many users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 find the new design and interface changes challenging. Windows 11 features a centered Taskbar, a simplified Start menu, and an updated File Explorer and Settings app. Users can customize their Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10 by making several adjustments. To align the Taskbar and Start menu to the left, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select "Left" for Taskbar alignment. To show app labels in the Taskbar, users need to select "Never" for the "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" setting in the same menu. For those preferring the classic File Explorer, they can access it by searching for Windows Tools in the Start menu and selecting Home or This PC. Users can also change the color scheme by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting "Custom" mode, choosing a dark theme, and enabling accent colors for the Start and taskbar. To display classic desktop icons, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and check the desired icons. In Notepad, users can disable new features by adjusting settings in the app to revert to a more classic experience. For further customization, third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk can be used. ExplorerPatcher allows users to restore various interface elements from earlier Windows versions, while Windhawk provides a framework for modifying Windows 11 with community-created mods. Both tools can be installed via the Windows Package Manager and offer options to revert to classic aesthetics.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Türkiye’s answer to Disco Elysium just broke cover, featuring more lawyers, fewer cops, an indeterminate amount of communism and twin fistfuls of guilt and regret

Elyzio, a Turkish game studio, is set to release Pera Coda, a narrative-driven game inspired by Disco Elysium. Players will assume the role of Deniz, an attorney in a metaphysical struggle between life and death, exploring themes of guilt, regret, and inner peace. The game features an isometric camera and a painterly art style that reflects Istanbul's working-class life. The announcement trailer suggests a haunting and beautiful narrative guided by an unseen narrator.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Isometric narrative mystery adventure game Pera Coda announced for consoles, PC

Turkish game developer Elyzio and its subsidiary Falan have announced Pera Coda, an isometric narrative mystery adventure set in a surreal reimagining of Istanbul. The game features a protagonist named Deniz, an attorney navigating a subconscious limbo between life and death, focusing on themes of guilt, regret, and the search for peace. Players will engage in impactful dialogue choices and solve layered environmental puzzles, exploring Deniz’s traumatic memories. The game draws inspiration from titles like Disco Elysium and Outer Wilds, and emphasizes a rich psychological narrative with branching dialogue and puzzle integration. Pera Coda utilizes an accessible point-and-click mechanic and is designed with visually striking environments that reflect the emotional depth of the story. Specific console and PC platforms have not yet been disclosed, nor has a release date been confirmed.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Death Stranding 2 launch times and release date

The launch times for the standard edition of Death Stranding 2 are as follows: 9 pm PT on June 25 (Los Angeles), 11 pm CT on June 25 (Chicago), 12 am ET on June 26 (New York), 12 am NZST on June 26 (Wellington), 10 pm AEST on June 25 (Sydney), and 8 pm AWST on June 25 (Perth). The early access launch times are: 9 pm PT on June 23 (Los Angeles), 11 pm CT on June 23 (Chicago), 12 am ET on June 24 (New York), 12 am NZST on June 24 (Wellington), 10 pm AEST on June 23 (Sydney), and 8 pm AWST on June 23 (Perth). Players can preload Death Stranding 2 on PS5 consoles. The game will not be launching on PC at the same time as the console release.

Winsage

June 22, 2025

I used Winaero to customize Windows, and here’s how it went

Winaero Tweaker is a free application that offers a suite of tools for customizing Windows 11, organized into sections for appearance, behavior, and more. It allows users to enable or disable features such as the Copilot and automatic updates, modify Windows Explorer options, and enhance visual settings. Users can enable the classic full context menu, modify the Windows Explorer Window, resize scroll bars, and prevent Windows themes from changing mouse pointers and desktop icons. The Context Menu Tweaker allows customization of right-click options, adding shortcuts for functions like the Control Panel and Snipping Tool. Winaero also provides tools for modifying support and maintenance settings, including automatic registry backups and creating multiple System Restore points. It offers features to restore classic Windows functionalities and install legacy applications. While Winaero presents many options to enhance the user experience, users should be cautious as some features may pose security risks or performance issues. The application includes a Recent Changes feature for reviewing modifications and reverting to default settings if necessary.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

NetEase’s ‘first AAA singleplayer’ game is Blood Message, and it looks amazing in its first trailer

Blood Message is a new action-adventure game developed by NetEase's 24 Entertainment Lin'an Studio, marking the company's first AAA single-player title. It is designed to provide a cinematic experience using Unreal Engine 5 and will be available on PC and consoles. The game features a narrative centered around a father and son during a righteous uprising in Shazhou, Dunhuang, exploring themes of duty and family. The development team emphasizes the importance of ordinary individuals in history. The trailer highlights the game's historical context, showcasing a fictionalized restoration of a mural related to the Dunhuang uprising. More information and updates can be found at blood-message.com.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Starts Streaming Today. Here’s How and Where to Watch it

A Minecraft Movie is currently available for streaming on the Max platform, following its theatrical release. Directed by Jared Hess, the film features a cast that includes Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. It is a PG-rated comedy that follows protagonists navigating the Overworld to return to their real lives. The movie includes mid- and post-credits scenes and features elements like piglins and zombies riding chickens. It became available on Max on June 20 at 3:01 a.m. ET, with an American Sign Language version also offered. Max has various subscription options, including an ad-supported plan and ad-free plans, as well as a bundle option with Disney Plus and Hulu. A Minecraft Movie can also be rented on platforms like Amazon and Fandango at Home.