user Archives

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Your Windows 11 PC is getting a dozen small upgrades this week

Recent updates to Windows 11 have introduced several enhancements, including: - File Explorer now displays file sizes in more intuitive units (MB or GB for larger files, KB for smaller files). - Users can open folders in new tabs using the middle mouse button from the address bar and Start page. - Voice control improvements filter out background noise for clearer command recognition. - Windows Search provides smarter results even with typographical errors. - Touchpad gesture settings have been updated to adjust scroll and zoom speeds and enable accelerated scrolling. - Windows Hello now supports external fingerprint readers. - An expansion of updated Secure Boot certificates has been announced for more PCs. - After the August Patch Tuesday update, Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 have build numbers 26200.9165 and 26100.9165, respectively, with features being rolled out gradually.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

How to Turn Your Idle Home PC into a File Server Using Built-in Windows Features

Many individuals are repurposing older PCs into home file servers, especially those not eligible for the Windows 11 update. This process utilizes built-in Windows features, allowing families to share files across devices without additional software, making it cost-effective since it leverages existing hardware. The setup involves four steps: preparing storage, creating a local account, creating shared folders, and accessing them from other PCs. Guidelines suggest around 500GB for photos and 1TB for videos. Compared to commercially available NAS devices, repurposing a PC incurs virtually no cost, while NAS options range from approximately ¥30,000 to ¥80,000. Performance tests show that mini PCs as file servers can achieve read speeds of about 4.8GB/s and write speeds of around 4.5GB/s on a 2.5GbE network. This method is particularly appealing for older PCs, allowing users to maximize resources rather than discard them, while also addressing the growing demand for efficient file sharing in households. Data backup and security measures are essential considerations when operating a file server.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Images of Microsoft’s Canceled Windows Surface Phone Have, Well… Surfaced

A recent leak has revealed images of a Microsoft smartphone prototype believed to date back to 2013 or 2014, speculated to be a Surface-branded Windows Phone that never reached the market. The images show a sleek phone with a silver metal frame, navigation keys beneath a 720p display, and a Microsoft logo on the back. The device operates on an early internal build of Windows Phone 8.1 from September 2013. Key specifications hinted at include an unidentified Qualcomm processor, a micro-USB port, a headphone jack, a SIM slot, volume controls, and a dedicated camera button. However, details such as the chipset model, RAM, storage capacity, battery size, or camera specifications are not disclosed. The design resembles Microsoft's early Surface devices, but there is no definitive evidence it was intended for commercial release. This leak follows Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business, which was announced in September 2013 and finalized in April 2014, potentially explaining the decision to shelve this smartphone design.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Microsoft begins unified Copilot app rollout: Reveals major plan to merge Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot across all platforms, along with updated branding

Microsoft is unifying its Copilot applications by merging the consumer and productivity versions into a single app branded as "Copilot." This change aims to simplify user experience and will feature a cohesive design and improved navigation. Certain features will be retired, including: - Group Chat: All threads, messages, and images will not carry forward after August 18, 2026. Users should manually copy or download any content they wish to retain. - Podcasts: The Podcasts feature will be fully retired on August 18, 2026, after which users will be unable to create or access podcasts within Copilot. Individual podcast files can be downloaded before the retirement date. - Deep Research: This feature will be retired for consumer users starting August 18, 2026, although existing content will remain accessible. The unified app will be available for both personal and work/school accounts, with security measures in place to protect organizational data. All existing Copilot data, except for the phased-out features, will transition automatically to the new app. The rollout will begin today in phases, starting with mobile users, followed by updates for Windows and macOS by mid-September. The complete rollout schedule includes: - Mid-August 2026: Global rollout begins for mobile and web apps; early-access opt-in opens for Windows and Mac apps. - Late August 2026: Standard rollout of the URL redirect begins. - Mid-September 2026: Global rollout for Windows and Mac apps commences. - Late September 2026: Deferred rollout of the URL redirect begins for the web app.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

“I’m not interested in bypassing DRM” – Preservationist brings back physical PC games using discs and even mechanical HDD “cartridges”

Preservationists are finding innovative ways to keep physical media alive, including modern PC games. Archades Games, led by Ryan Enstrom, offers options to transfer new titles onto discs and cartridges. At the Utah Retro GameXpo, Enstrom showcased discs compatible with platforms like Steam, GOG, and the Xbox app. He uses GOG's DRM-free installers, emphasizing adherence to licensing agreements. Enstrom notes that most games released before 2020 can run from mechanical drives, and the Xbox app can dynamically detect drive changes, unlike Steam. He has developed a custom user interface for multi-carts and created custom Blu-rays for retro games. While these products are not for sale, there is potential for publishers to adopt this idea, promoting physical PC games. Archades Games provides video tutorials and resources for those interested in converting digital collections into physical formats.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Hands-on with AltTabby, Stardock’s replacement for the Windows 11 Alt+Tab experience

Stardock has introduced AltTabby, an alternative app switcher for Windows 11 that features customizable layouts, smart grouping, application pinning, and keyboard shortcuts. It integrates with other Stardock utilities, allowing users to customize how Groupy organizes applications. AltTabby offers five distinct views, with the carousel view being highlighted for its fluid navigation and customization options. The icons view and classic icons view are noted to be compact and potentially overwhelming, though the icons view includes a search box for added functionality.

Tech Optimizer

August 13, 2026

PSA: Don’t trust that Chrome update popup

Users of Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome, Brave, and Opera, are experiencing deceptive pop-ups that falsely claim a "Critical Update Required" or "Update available." These notifications are part of a scam designed to trick users into downloading malware disguised as software updates. Clicking on these prompts can lead to the download of harmful scripts, such as .vbs or .exe files, which traditional antivirus software often fails to detect. The issue is linked to compromised browser extensions that fetch malicious scripts from external servers. A specific extension, QuickLens – Search Screen with Google Lens, has been identified as a source of these pop-ups and has been removed from the Web Store. Other extensions, like “Enable Right Click & Copy Smart Unlock + OCR,” have also been implicated despite their popularity. Users are advised not to click on any links or run downloaded files and to check their browser settings for legitimate updates, as well as to audit and disable suspicious extensions.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

I tried to love ‘second brain’ apps. Here’s why I abandoned them — and what I’m using instead

Megan Ellis explored various "second brain" apps like Notion and Obsidian for personal knowledge management but found them to decrease her productivity instead of enhancing it. A poll revealed that 64% of users found these apps too complicated, while only 14% loved them. Ellis noted that the setup process for these tools can be overwhelming, leading to frustration. She experienced challenges with apps like Gemini Notebook, which, while good for content generation, did not serve as a comprehensive productivity tool. Her neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism, made it difficult to adapt to complex systems. Limitations in functionality, such as Gemini Notebook's Android app issues and Notion's manual offline mode, further hindered usability. Ultimately, she found greater success with simpler, purpose-built applications like Notesnook for note-taking and TickTick for task management, which better aligned with her workflow and reduced overwhelm.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Gemini hits 1 billion monthly users, and Google just revealed what’s next

Gemini, Google's app, has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, making it the fastest-growing product in the company's history. Google plans to enhance Gemini's functionality with new integrations, connecting it to popular applications like Ticketmaster, Otter.ai, Wix, OpenTable, Zocdoc, and Pandora. These integrations aim to streamline user experiences, allowing for seamless task management within a single conversation. Users will soon be able to manage meeting outcomes more directly with Granola and Otter.ai, edit websites through Wix, and plan social activities with services like Fever and GetYourGuide. Additionally, Gemini will assist in home management and entertainment through partnerships with iHeartRadio and Pandora, as well as services like Angi and Thumbtack. The rollout of these new services is expected in the coming weeks.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Windows 10 users are getting locked out of new Microsoft 365 features in a bid to push for Windows 11

Microsoft will stop providing new features for Microsoft 365 to users on Windows 10 once stable version 2608 is released. After that, Windows 10 users will only receive security updates until October 10, 2028, which is the end of extended security support for Windows 10. Devices on Windows 10 will remain on version 2608 and will not receive new features, except for the OneDrive desktop app, which will continue to receive updates until October 2028 for users on Windows 10 version 22H2. The current stable version of Microsoft 365 is 2607, and version 2608 is in the release preview channel.