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Go straight to sell! Windows second-chance setup hawks Microsoft services at IT's expense
Winsage
April 26, 2026

Go straight to sell! Windows second-chance setup hawks Microsoft services at IT’s expense

Months after acquiring a laptop, users may encounter a prompt from Windows 11 stating, “You’re almost done setting up your PC.” This leads to a series of inquiries about adopting Microsoft’s recommended browser settings, linking a phone for SMS notifications, and acknowledging Office installation. Users may feel compelled to click through these prompts, which can include advertisements, such as for Xbox Game Pass Premium at .99 per month. This series of prompts is referred to as the Second Chance Out of Box Experience (SCOOBE), which can resurface due to Windows updates and may lead to unnecessary support calls and potential unauthorized subscriptions in organizational settings. Users can disable SCOOBE by adjusting settings in Windows or Group Policy, but ongoing vigilance is required due to the evolving nature of Microsoft’s software.
I've used Pixel Weather for 2 years — here's why I'm ditching it for Gradient Weather
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

I’ve used Pixel Weather for 2 years — here’s why I’m ditching it for Gradient Weather

Google's Pixel Weather app was launched with the Pixel 9 series in 2024 and is known for its clean interface and robust pollen tracking. However, the author has shifted their preference to Gradient Weather, an Android weather app that aggregates data from multiple sources for improved accuracy. Gradient Weather features an intuitive bar graph for hourly forecasts, user-friendly color-coded alerts, and additional functionalities like a sunrise and sunset widget, moon phases, and a compass. Its map functionality includes filters for various weather conditions and allows users to report real-time weather phenomena. The app offers extensive notification customization and aesthetic options, including theme modifications and widget arrangements. While Pixel Weather has advantages such as a pollen tracker, Gradient Weather's premium features and rapid development make it a compelling choice for Android users.
Microsoft Replaces Copilot in Windows 11 Notepad With Writing Tools Update
Winsage
April 26, 2026

Microsoft Replaces Copilot in Windows 11 Notepad With Writing Tools Update

Microsoft has updated the Notepad application in Windows 11, renaming the Copilot feature to "Writing tools." The Copilot button has been removed and replaced with a small pen icon that accesses the Writing tools menu. This update is being gradually rolled out to users, aiming to enhance the interface while retaining existing AI capabilities for writing tasks.
Fix: You'll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link
Tech Optimizer
April 26, 2026

Fix: You’ll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link

The message “You’ll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link” indicates issues with the Windows operating system when the Windows Security app fails to launch via the windowsdefender protocol. This can prevent users from accessing the security dashboard, despite Microsoft Defender continuing to operate in the background. Common scenarios leading to this error include clicking on Virus & Threat Protection, trying to open Windows Security from the Start menu, interacting with a Defender notification, or following the uninstallation of third-party antivirus software. Root causes may include corrupted Windows Security app registration, damaged system files, third-party antivirus interference, misconfiguration of the Security Center service, or malware interference. To resolve the issue, users can verify that required services are running, repair system files using SFC and DISM, re-register the Windows Security app, check for third-party antivirus conflicts, and perform a repair installation of Windows. Specific steps include checking the status of the Security Center and Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service, executing repair commands in CMD, re-registering the Windows Security app using PowerShell, uninstalling third-party antivirus software, and performing an in-place upgrade if necessary.
Ring’s Billion-Scale Semantic Video Search with Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and pgvector
Tech Optimizer
April 26, 2026

Ring’s Billion-Scale Semantic Video Search with Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and pgvector

Users of Ring's semantic video search can quickly find specific moments in video data, such as "a dog in my backyard" or "a package delivery," using a system that employs PostgreSQL and pgvector for video data handling. The system utilizes vector embeddings to represent visual content, allowing for efficient storage and similarity searches. When a user queries a term, the system converts it into a vector to retrieve similar video frames in under two seconds. Ring's video search operates on a global scale, processing billions of read requests daily across four continents and nine AWS regions, with strict latency requirements for millions of users. Key metrics include storing 100–200 billion embeddings, generating approximately 2 billion new embeddings daily, and maintaining a data footprint of 140–150+ TB across three PostgreSQL clusters.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

NVIDIA Neural Texture Compression: AI-powered compression aims to alleviate VRAM pressure in PC games

NVIDIA's Neural Texture Compression (NTC) improves memory efficiency in PC gaming by using small neural networks to compress texture data, achieving up to eight times better memory efficiency compared to traditional methods. In a technical demo, NTC reduced a scene's VRAM requirement from 6.5 GB to approximately 970 MB, an 85 percent reduction. The RTX Neural Texture Compression SDK has seen enhancements, including a 20 to 40 percent increase in inference speed. NTC is compatible with RTX hardware and Tensor Cores, but its real-world performance impact is yet to be determined. Microsoft is developing Cooperative Vectors and DirectX methodologies to support machine learning in graphics, which may facilitate broader adoption of NTC. The successful integration of NTC will depend on its stability, documentation, and economic viability for developers.
‘Shutdown, Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows On 1 Billion PCs
Winsage
April 26, 2026

‘Shutdown, Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows On 1 Billion PCs

Microsoft has announced changes to the Windows operating system to improve user experience concerning updates, restarts, and shutdowns, impacting over a billion users. Key enhancements include the ability to skip updates during the out-of-box experience, extend update pauses indefinitely, always-available options to shut down and restart without updating, and more insights on available updates. These changes are currently rolling out to Windows Insiders and those in the Experimental channels, with plans to extend to all users soon.
Microsoft rolls out revamped Windows Insider Program
Winsage
April 26, 2026

Microsoft rolls out revamped Windows Insider Program

Microsoft is overhauling its Windows Insider Program to enhance the reliability of Windows 11 and improve user feedback responsiveness. The program will now consist of two channels: Experimental, which replaces the Dev and Canary channels for testing experimental features, and Beta, which will provide immediate access to all features listed in the release notes without gradual rollouts. The transition will occur in phases, starting with users in the Dev Channel moving to Experimental. Users from the Canary Channel will also be transitioned to specific versions of the Experimental channel. Beta Channel users will experience a new Beta setup, with minor adjustments possible. Microsoft is updating build details, with the latest builds including Build 26220.8283 for Beta, Build 26300.8289 for Experimental, Build 28020.1873 for Experimental 26H1, and Build 29576.1000 for Experimental Future Platforms. Additionally, a new Windows Update experience will allow users to pause updates and avoid unexpected reboots.
Microsoft explains why Windows 11 File Explorer scrolls smoothly in some places, but not everywhere
Winsage
April 26, 2026

Microsoft explains why Windows 11 File Explorer scrolls smoothly in some places, but not everywhere

Users have reported an inconsistent scrolling experience in Microsoft’s File Explorer, with smooth scrolling in the Gallery and Home views but jagged scrolling in standard folders. This discrepancy is due to the Gallery and Home views utilizing the WinUI 3 framework, while standard folders rely on legacy Win32 code. Microsoft is modernizing aspects of File Explorer but has not yet rewritten its foundational elements, leading to different rendering paths. The traditional folder views retain essential functionalities but sacrifice some modern UI features. Touch support issues are acknowledged, with current interactions prioritizing mouse and keyboard over touch gestures. Microsoft is addressing performance and reliability issues, with improvements in folder view consistency and reduced crashes noted in recent preview builds. These updates are expected in the May 2026 update, while smooth scrolling enhancements are planned for the future.
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