utility Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Esoteric Ebb Review

Esoteric Ebb is a role-playing game inspired by Disco Elysium, focusing on exploration rather than combat, and features a narrative rich in literary and political themes. The game blends narrative depth with mechanics similar to Dungeons & Dragons. - Price: £21 - Release Date: March 3, 2026 - Developer: Christoffer Bodegård - Publisher: Raw Fury - Reviewed on: Steam Deck, Windows 11 (Core i5 12600K, RX 9070 XT, 32GB RAM) - Steam Deck: Verified - Official site link available Gameplay includes strategic challenges, such as an early ambush by an assassin where players can use spells creatively. Some minor complaints include a cluttered user interface on the Steam Deck, cumbersome inventory management, typographic errors, and occasional UI glitches. There are also reports of bugged feats affecting gameplay. Despite these issues, the game is considered compelling for RPG enthusiasts and offers good value for its price.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Cara Ellison, senior narrative designer on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 before Paradox switched developers, discusses her love of Troika’s original RPG: ‘Everyone on the team helped really make that maximum goth’

Cara Ellison is a narrative designer whose journey in gaming began with a BBC Micro and the 1987 game Acheton. She has worked as a games journalist for publications like PC Gamer and transitioned into game design, contributing narratives to titles such as Dishonored 2, Void Bastards, God of War: Ragnarok, and Ghost Town. Her latest project is Sleight of Hand, a deckbuilding stealth game inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines. She has a fondness for the original Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines, despite its technical challenges, and has logged 103 hours in Kentucky Route Zero. Ellison keeps Sunless Sea installed on both her work and personal computers, appreciating its narrative depth. For her writing, she uses Scrivener, which she utilized for Void Bastards. Her desktop is relatively tidy, featuring a mix of business and leisure icons, with a wallpaper from Vertigo.

Winsage

March 1, 2026

Windows 11 Pro Upgrade Now $12.97 in Rare Deal

A Windows 11 Pro license is available for .97, representing a 93% discount from the standard retail price of 9. This license activates on one machine and includes features such as BitLocker full-disk encryption, Windows Sandbox, Hyper-V virtualization, Remote Desktop host, Group Policy, and Domain join support. Windows 11 Pro also integrates Microsoft’s Copilot for AI-assisted tasks and offers workflow enhancements like Snap Layouts and multiple desktops. To qualify for Windows 11, a PC must have a compatible 64-bit CPU, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, at least 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Users upgrading from Windows 11 Home typically retain their files and applications. Caution is advised regarding the purchase source to avoid gray-market or region-locked keys. Key differences between Windows 11 Pro and Home include enhanced security and management features, making Pro suitable for users handling sensitive data or requiring remote access.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

I love Spotify, but its Android app still gets one thing wrong

Spotify's interface relies heavily on gesture controls for playback and queue management, which some users find frustrating due to their mandatory implementation. Users can swipe to add or remove songs, toggle the Now Playing screen, and navigate tracks, but these gestures can lead to errors, especially for those unfamiliar with them. There is a desire among users for more control over gesture settings, as the current setup does not allow disabling specific gestures. Proposed enhancements include a menu to toggle gestures on or off and the ability to rearrange or hide buttons on the Now Playing screen. This customization could improve usability and cater to diverse user needs.

Winsage

February 27, 2026

Windows Server finally gets ReFS boot support

Microsoft has introduced boot support for the Resilient File System (ReFS) in Windows Server, allowing insiders to boot the server operating system directly from a ReFS volume. This feature has been made available in the latest Windows Server Insider Preview build after a fourteen-year wait since ReFS was launched in 2012. ReFS can detect corruption early and address issues online, eliminating the need for chkdsk, and supports volumes up to 35 petabytes. It also includes block cloning and sparse provisioning technologies for efficient file management. To use ReFS boot, organizations must install the latest Windows Server vNext Insider Preview with a minimum build number of 29531.1000.260206-1841, format the system partition as ReFS, and ensure UEFI firmware is used.

Winsage

February 27, 2026

Microsoft expands Windows restore to more enterprise devices

Microsoft has introduced a feature that allows enterprise users to restore personal settings and Microsoft Store applications from a previous Windows 11 device during their first login on a new or reimaged device using a Microsoft Entra ID account. This feature is part of Windows Backup for Organizations, which streamlines the migration process to Windows 11. The restore capability has been expanded to support hybrid-managed environments, multi-user device configurations, and Windows 365 Cloud PCs. Users will receive a prompt during the first login to either restore from a previous device's backup or set up the device as new, but those who bypass this step will not receive another prompt. IT administrators can manage this feature through Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. The feature will be available for devices with Windows updates released on February 24, 2026, and later. Windows Backup for Organizations was first announced in November 2024, reached public preview in May 2025, and became generally available in August.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

14 essential Android apps I install and update through Obtainium

Obtanium is an app that allows users to install, update, and manage apps from various platforms like F-Droid, GitHub, and the vivo Store. Breezy Weather is a weather app designed for Google Pixel users, providing comprehensive weather details and integrating with the Pixel Launcher. Nobook is a wrapper for Facebook Lite that offers ad-blocking features and customization options for a streamlined experience. Forkyz aggregates crossword puzzles from various sources, providing entertainment for crossword enthusiasts. Suntimes is an older app that tracks daylight hours, useful for planning outdoor activities. Canta helps users remove unwanted system-level applications, allowing for device decluttering. Shizuku grants system-level access to other applications, enhancing their functionality, particularly for power users. Kvaesitso is a launcher with infinite vertical scrolling and extensive widget support, offering customization options. Tubular is a lightweight alternative to the stock YouTube app, blocking sponsor segments and reintegrating the dislike counter. Aurora Store allows users to access Play Store apps without needing a Google account, appealing to privacy-conscious users. ColorBlendr enables users to customize their device's theme colors for a personalized look. Fennec is a privacy-focused browser based on Mozilla Firefox, eliminating trackers and supporting add-ons. SmartSpacer enhances the At A Glance widget by overlaying information from third-party apps. Exodus provides insights into installed apps, revealing trackers and permissions for privacy-conscious users. OSS Document Scanner is an open-source app that combines OCR capabilities with visual editing features for document management.

Tech Optimizer

February 25, 2026

Fix “kernel security check failure”: Step-by-step guide

The "kernel security check failure" error on Windows indicates corruption in critical system memory or internal data structures, triggering a bug check to prevent further damage. It is marked by the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) displaying the message “KERNELSECURITYCHECK_FAILURE” and stop code 0x139. Causes include outdated or incompatible drivers, corrupted system files, faulty RAM, disk errors, third-party software conflicts, faulty Windows updates, overclocking, and malware threats. Common fixes involve updating Windows and drivers, scanning for corrupted files, using Check Disk (CHKDSK), running Windows Memory Diagnostic, and performing System Restore. If unresolved, a clean installation of Windows may be necessary. Regular updates and avoiding unnecessary software installations can help prevent future occurrences.

Winsage

February 25, 2026

PowerToys Command Palette is already better than Windows Search — the gap is about to widen

Microsoft offers two alternatives to the built-in Windows 11 search feature: PowerToys Run and Command Palette. PowerToys Run is a versatile launcher that allows users to search for files, settings, websites, and execute terminal commands. Command Palette functions similarly to PowerToys Run and macOS Spotlight, enabling users to search their PC, run commands, and open webpages. A recent update on GitHub introduced a lightning-fast mode for these tools, which reduces visual distractions during result list updates, selects the first interactable result promptly, removes selection indicator animations, and adds a "Results" section header for consistent visuals. The latest version of PowerToys also includes a new utility called "CursorWrap," which allows the mouse cursor to wrap around the screen edges, with options for horizontal or vertical use.

Winsage

February 24, 2026

Classic Outlook bug makes users click blind — and the fix is the most Windows thing ever

Users of the classic Outlook desktop email client have reported that the mouse pointer disappears while navigating the application. This issue has led to numerous complaints on social media, with users expressing frustration over workflow disruptions. Microsoft has acknowledged that the cursor vanishes when hovering over the Outlook interface, although email color changes can still be seen. Similar reports have been noted for OneNote and other Microsoft 365 applications. Microsoft recommends that affected users have their administrators open a support case with the Outlook Support Team to submit diagnostic log files for troubleshooting. Temporary workarounds include selecting an email to prompt the pointer to reappear, opening PowerPoint and returning to Outlook, or restarting the computer. Many users are hesitant to switch from the Windows Mail and Calendar apps to the new Outlook app due to concerns about feature parity and design aesthetics.