user experience Archives

BetaBeacon

June 25, 2026

Google Play Store Fees Will be Lowered Thanks to Epic Games Lawsuit, Settlement

Google Play Store fees are getting lower starting on June 30, with the service fee starting at 10% on the first million in annual earnings. Developers using Google Play's billing system will pay an additional 5% billing fee. The changes are a result of Epic Games' lawsuit against Google, which required the company to make structural changes to its Play Store operations. Apple also made changes to its App Store policies following a lawsuit from Epic.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Fixing a broken Windows 11 PC just got easier, and it won’t erase your files

Microsoft has introduced a new feature called point-in-time restore for Windows 11, which allows users to easily revert to previous system states. This feature is available across all editions of Windows 11, including Enterprise, Pro, and Home, and automatically generates restore points every 24 hours. Point-in-time restore captures a comprehensive snapshot of the system, including the operating system, applications, configurations, settings, and local files. It is enabled by default for Windows Home and Pro devices unless under enterprise management, while enterprise-managed systems require Windows 11 version 26H2 for activation. Systems with an OS volume smaller than 200GB have this feature disabled by default. Unlike the traditional System Restore, which requires manual image capture and does not include user files, point-in-time restore integrates user data and can be managed remotely by IT professionals. During its public preview, over two million devices enabled the feature, allowing Microsoft to refine it based on user feedback.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 is now five years old

Windows 11 was unveiled by Microsoft on June 24, 2021, marking its fifth anniversary. The operating system features a modern interface, improvements to virtual desktops, support for Android apps, integration of Microsoft Teams into the taskbar, a refreshed Microsoft Store, and enhanced security measures. However, it faced criticism for removing certain taskbar functionalities and imposing strict hardware requirements, leading to increased sales of TPM chips. Microsoft has begun to address user feedback by redesigning the Start menu, reinstating missing taskbar features, and enhancing Windows Update. Recent updates suggest a commitment to improving Windows 11, which is expected to remain relevant in the operating system market.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Morphe v1.32.0 brings back a heavily missed YouTube feature

Morphe has released its v1.32.0 patch bundle, which includes interface enhancements and bug fixes. Key features include a settings toggle to revert to the previous video action bar layout, restoring the dislike counter on YouTube (as estimates), and the option to hide the “Connect” button. Users can filter comments using a keyword-based comment blocker and open videos in fullscreen mode. The update also enhances the top toolbar with options to hide the Cast and live Chat buttons. Compatibility updates include experimental support for Reddit (version 2026.25.0), YouTube Music (version 9.24.51), and YouTube (version 21.25.523). Bug fixes address issues with link redirects, app crashes in tablet mode, player popup panels, and playback issues in YouTube Music. The update is available through the Morphe Manager application.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

This open source app unlocks the Fitbit Air’s premium features at no cost

The Fitbit Air is a screenless fitness wearable that allows users to subscribe to Google Health Premium for advanced health insights. An open-source desktop application named OpenFit, created by developer Flavio Adamo, replicates Google Health Premium's functionalities for free, providing comprehensive health data analysis from the Fitbit Air. OpenFit uses ChatGPT Codex to enhance user experience by interpreting health data. Another developer, Francesco Oddo, has created a similar open-source app, and both are considering collaboration. Users of Fitbit Air can access a three-month free trial of Google Health Premium, and subscribers to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra plans can use the service at no cost.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

A bunch of bugs that broke PowerToys have been squashed

PowerToys has updated to version 0.100.1, fixing critical bugs from version 0.100.0 that affected core features. - Color Picker: Resolved a bug causing the main window to appear within the zoomed-in picker view. - Command Palette: Corrected initialization of Run history in Ahead-of-Time builds, fixed "???" display in Performance Monitor after restart, adjusted Hibernate command to use the Sleep icon, and limited "pin to dock" dialog to enabled displays. - Keyboard Manager: Addressed remapped modifier keys being delivered as system-key events. - Power Display: Fixed monitor power-state control not waking monitors from standby and resolved display detection and brightness control issues on dual-GPU laptops. - PowerToys Run: Improved discovery of Visual Studio Code workspaces. - Quick Access: Fixed crashes in the Quick Access flyout due to unhandled XAML exceptions. - Shortcut Guide: Resolved a crash in the sidebar navigation, corrected number-key rendering in shortcut manifests, and updated bundled manifests for consistent rendering. - ZoomIt: Fixed a race condition in audio initialization for video recording.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows Secure Boot security deadline arrives today

Microsoft has announced enhancements to its Secure Boot certificate management to improve the security of Windows operating systems. Key features include improved certificate management for easier handling, automated updates for Secure Boot certificates to reduce manual intervention, and enhanced user guidance through resources on Microsoft Learn.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Windows 11 just got a major upgrade to PC recovery, and it finally protects your personal files

Microsoft has rolled out the point-in-time restore feature for all Windows 11 users, including those on Enterprise, Pro, and Home editions. This feature automatically generates restore points, allowing users to revert their systems to a previous state quickly, improving system recovery times from hours to minutes. Users need to have Windows 11 version 26H2 installed to utilize this feature.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

“This is the gaming handheld we’ve been waiting for” — MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ review of a masterpiece priced for the few

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a gaming handheld powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme processor, priced at 9.99. It features an 8-inch FHD+ display (1920x1200) with 500 nits brightness and supports variable refresh rates from 48Hz to 120Hz. The device includes Hall-Effect analog sticks, tactile buttons, and dual front speakers with Bluetooth Core 6.0 support. It scored 6,726 on the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. The 80Whr battery lasts approximately 3.5 hours on demanding games and over five hours on lighter titles. It has Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports for desktop functionality when docked.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

Leaked Google Pixel ‘Audio Memory’ poised to remember what you’ve heard

Google is developing a feature called "Audio Memory" for its Pixel phones, which aims to enhance user experience by capturing music and significant conversations, potentially transcribing them for future reference. This feature will allow users to recall music they've encountered and may transcribe important discussions to create notes. The discovery of Audio Memory was made during an exploration of the latest Android System Intelligence for Pixel devices, enhancing the existing "Music Recognition" capability. Google envisions Audio Memory as a tool to track what users hear throughout the day, although details on its application remain uncertain. Additionally, Google has introduced memory features in its Gemini app that leverage users' personal context to recall previous discussions. Concerns about privacy are anticipated, and Google is expected to implement controls for managing what devices remember.