transition Archives

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

This RTS is one of “history’s most beloved PC games” – now only $5 on Steam

Steam, developed by Valve Corporation, is a digital distribution platform that offers a vast library of games and user-friendly features. It fosters a vibrant community through forums, reviews, and user-generated content, supported by regular updates and seasonal sales. Recent enhancements include Steam Deck compatibility for portable gaming, improved social features for easier connection among users, and personalized game recommendations based on user preferences. Additionally, Steam supports indie developers with tools and resources to reach a global audience, diversifying the gaming landscape.

Winsage

June 8, 2026

Hands on with Intelligent Terminal, an AI-powered Windows Terminal

Microsoft has introduced an open-source version of Windows Terminal called Intelligent Terminal, which integrates artificial intelligence into the terminal environment. It functions as a built-in assistant, helping users with error explanations, command drafting, and troubleshooting within the terminal interface. Key features include an AI agent that assists when commands fail and retains memory of active and past sessions for context continuity. Upon first use, users can select their preferred AI agent, including options like GitHub Copilot, Claude, Codex, and Gemini. Intelligent Terminal allows customization with toggles for Automatic Error Detection and Automatic Error Suggestion. The interface includes an AI pane, session management capabilities, and the ability to resume previous sessions. Intelligent Terminal is available for download from the Microsoft Store or GitHub, and it is offered as a separate application rather than being included with standard Windows installations.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Every game, trailer, and announcement in the PC Gaming Show 2026

The PC Gaming Show 2026 featured over 60 games, including more than 20 world premieres. Notable titles include: - Wielders of the Essence: Available now on Steam. - Warhammer 40,000: Darktide - Skitarii Class: Debuts on June 23; wishlist available on Steam. - Spellsided: Demo available on Steam. - Serious Sam: Shatterverse: Playtest sign-up available on Steam. - Control Resonant: Releases on September 24; pre-orders available on Steam. - There Are No Ghosts at the Grand: Demo available; wishlist on Steam. - Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions: Early access launches on June 11; demo available on Steam. - Happy Bastards: Combat demo available on Steam. - AfterQuest: Wishlist available on Steam. - SlashZero: Wishlist and playtest sign-up available on Steam. - Void/Breaker: Significant update available on Steam. - Wind Runners: Demo available on Steam. - Planet Zoo 2: Pre-orders open on Steam. - Empulse: Early access launches on June 24; explore during Steam Next Fest on June 15. - Arkheron: Playtest sign-up available on the game's website. - ReVamp: Playtest sign-up available on Discord. - Wardogs: Wishlist and playtest sign-up available via trailer's QR code. - Shroom and Gloom: Demo available. - Rivage: Demo available. - Mr Magpie’s Harmless Card Game: Wishlist available on Steam. - Ascenders: Beyond the Peak: Demo available on Steam. - Outward 2: Beta currently accessible. - Exo Rally Championship: Available on Steam. - Beast of Reincarnation: Launches on August 3; pre-orders available on Steam. - Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent: Shadow dropped; available now. - To Kill a God: Demo available. - Armatus: Wishlist available. - Dave the Diver In the Jungle DLC: Wishlist available on Steam. - Total War: Warhammer 40,000: Beta opportunities forthcoming; wishlist on Steam. - About Fishing: Demo available on Steam. - Vampire the Masquerade: Eternal Whispers: Details not specified. - Valheim 1.0: Launches on September 9, 2026; new update features. - P.O.N: Wishlist available on Steam. - Locator: The Search for Abigail Lidari: Wishlist available on Steam. - Exodus: Wishlist available on Steam. - Remothered: Red Nun's Legacy: Wishlist available on Steam.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 Edition of the Windows 11 Field Guide!

The Windows 11 Field Guide has been rebranded as the Windows 11 Field Guide 2026 edition, covering all supported versions of Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, and 26H1) and highlighting new and existing features. The guide will evolve throughout 2026, with updates requiring considerable effort and likely unfolding over several editions. Outdated content has been removed, including chapters on Mail, Calendar, Microsoft 365, Movies & TV, and the Microsoft Store. Chapters have been consolidated for clarity, with three upgrade chapters merged into one and four installation chapters also consolidated. New chapters have been added on Microsoft Paint, Notepad, Quick Machine Recovery, and account security basics. Existing chapters, such as those on Desktop and Passkeys, are being revised. The focus has shifted from assisting users transitioning from Windows 10 to supporting the over one billion Windows 11 users, with all "Where did it go?" sections eliminated. Visuals have been refined to optimize file sizes, and a new companion book, De-Enshittify Windows 11, has been created. Future editions will be year-based rather than version-based, with free updates for existing owners through the release of Windows 11 version 26H2 in late 2026. Thurrott Premium members will have complimentary access to the 2026 edition.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Microsoft is bringing 10 new features to Windows 11’s taskbar and Start menu

Microsoft is planning to introduce several new features and improvements to the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu in response to user feedback. Users will soon have the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top, left, or right of the screen, with options for icon alignment. A new “Show smaller taskbar buttons” toggle will reduce the physical height of the taskbar, providing more screen space. These features are currently available in the Insider Experimental channel and are expected to roll out to all PCs soon. The Widgets board will also see changes, with the MSN feed being disabled by default and the “Open on hover” behavior eliminated. In the Start menu, users will gain section-level toggles to hide or show the Pinned, Recent, and All Apps sections. The Start menu can be resized to either Small or Large, and a new privacy mode will hide account names and profile pictures. The “Recommended” section will be renamed to “Recent,” and improvements will be made to file relevancy. Additionally, the Start menu will transition to a new modular engine, enhancing responsiveness and addressing previous criticisms regarding performance.

Tech Optimizer

June 6, 2026

Avast Free Antivirus for Windows and Mac: Core Features Explained

Avast Free Antivirus is a cybersecurity application from Gen Digital that provides malware and phishing protection for Windows and Mac users, specifically targeting home and small office devices. It is available as a free download for personal use, with optional paid upgrades. The software features real-time protection, on-demand scanning, and utilizes cloud-connected threat intelligence to enhance its threat detection capabilities. It serves as a vital security solution for US households and very small businesses, particularly those using older devices. Avast Free Antivirus is part of Gen Digital's portfolio, which includes other brands like Norton and AVG, and competes with built-in security tools and other antivirus solutions in the market.

Winsage

June 6, 2026

Nearly 70% of Steam users now run Windows 11

Windows 11 powers nearly 70% of surveyed PCs, with a market share of 69.76%, an increase of 2.02 points since the previous month. Windows 10 accounts for 23.99% of users, a drop of 1.64 points. Windows 7 is used by approximately 0.07% of participants. Overall, 93.85% of users run Windows, while Linux has a share of 3.99% (down 0.53 points) and macOS has 2.16% (up 0.15 points). Intel processors dominate with 53.94% market share compared to AMD's 46.06%. Six-core processors represent 28.02% of the total, and 41.14% of users favor 16 GB of memory. NVIDIA leads the graphics card market at 72.42%, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 being the most popular at 3.85%. The average VRAM is 8GB, used by 25.89% of users, and 1920x1080 pixels is the most common display resolution at 51.89%.

Winsage

June 6, 2026

I break down 4 new Windows 11 tools from Build 2026 that genuinely stood out and show where the OS is heading

During the Build 2026 developer conference, Microsoft announced several updates for developers using Windows 11. Key announcements included: 1. Coreutils: A utility that enhances the experience of toggling between operating systems, allowing developers to install it via GitHub or the Windows Package Manager with the command "winget install Microsoft.Coreutils." 2. WSL Containers: A built-in container runtime that eliminates the need for third-party platforms like Docker, facilitated by a new command-line tool "wslc.exe" and an accompanying API. 3. Intelligent Terminal: A feature that integrates AI agents into the terminal, providing context-aware assistance directly within the command line. It can be installed via the Microsoft Store or with the command "winget install Microsoft.IntelligentTerminal." 4. Windows Developer Configurations: A configuration file (dev-config.winget) that automates the installation of essential developer tools and settings with a single command, simplifying the setup process for new development or testing machines.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Now that Pixel Studio is dead, here are 5 other apps you should use instead

Google has discontinued Pixel Studio, a generative AI tool for creating stickers and editing images on mobile devices, following the rollout of the v2.3 update. Users are now redirected to alternatives within Google's ecosystem, with Gemini positioned as the direct successor to Pixel Studio. Gemini offers cloud-based image generation and excels in understanding natural language prompts. OpenAI's ChatGPT app, featuring the GPT Image 2 model, provides a conversational interface for image generation and accurately renders text within images. Microsoft Designer is designed for creating high-resolution digital assets and combines AI-generated imagery with traditional graphic design tools. Adobe Firefly emphasizes commercial compliance and offers a comprehensive editing suite for professionals. Picsart, while less polished, provides a wealth of features for community-driven photo editing and graphic design.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Google just pulled the plug on Pixel’s AI image generator

Google has discontinued the Pixel Studio image generation app, redirecting users to the Gemini app for image creation using Nano Banana models. Pixel Studio version 2.3 has disabled image creation, following previous feature removals. Existing images in Pixel Studio remain accessible for viewing and sharing. The app was launched alongside the Pixel 9 series in 2024 but struggled to gain a substantial user base. Users are now prompted to use the Gemini platform for their image generation needs.