Word Archives

BetaBeacon

May 7, 2025

Grab These Apps for iOS & Android While They’re Free!

Free Android apps and games are currently available for a short time. Some of the free Android apps include IPTV Smart Player Pro, Reminder Pro, Equalizer & Bass Booster Pro, Countdown Widgets, and Color wheel. Free Android games include Cytus 2, Cartoon Craft, Water Color Sort - Premium, Mini Crossword, and Crafterok - Lords of Survival.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft unveils new AI agents that can modify Windows settings

Microsoft has introduced a suite of Windows experiences for Copilot+ PCs, featuring AI agents that help users adjust settings on their computers by interpreting user intent and automating tasks with consent. Users can communicate in natural language to receive guidance or have changes executed directly. This feature will initially be available to English-speaking Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered devices, with plans for broader support. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing Windows search capabilities and expanding Click to Do actions, allowing users to schedule meetings, send messages, consult M365 Copilot, convert data in Excel, and draft documents in Word. Creative tools like Photos, Paint, and the Snipping Tool are receiving updates, including dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a sticker generator in Paint, and new capture capabilities in the Snipping Tool. Upcoming features for Windows 11 Insiders include a phone companion for the Start menu, AI-driven actions in File Explorer, and a new writing function in Notepad for generating text from prompts. Microsoft is also testing a "Draw & Hold" feature in the Snipping Tool and has introduced a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite."

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

This game has 100 endings, and it’s pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a visual novel and turn-based tactics hybrid developed by Too Kyo Games, a studio formed by the creators of Danganronpa and Zero Escape. Despite positive reviews and notable sales, studio CEO Kazutaka Kodaka has expressed concerns about the studio's financial future, stating that the chances of further console releases for the game are "very slim." The game features a complex narrative with an estimated 80% narrative to 20% action ratio, requiring over 130 hours for 100% completion. The production process took over five years, including a complete reboot, and Kodaka described it as a gamble where he invested his skills and money. The game is currently available on Steam for £50.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft quietly fixed broken Windows 10 jump lists

Microsoft acknowledged a problem affecting Windows 10 users related to jump lists on the Start menu, which began with the release of update KB5052077 on February 25, 2025. This issue affected users' ability to access jump lists for applications pinned to their taskbars, particularly for Excel and Word. The disruption was caused by a feature rollout aimed at enhancing account control experiences in Windows 10 version 22H2, which started in March 2025. Microsoft halted this rollout on April 25, 2025, and implemented a service change that automatically resolves the issue for affected systems. The problem primarily impacted Windows 10 version 22H2 Home and Pro editions, while Windows 11 users were unaffected. Users need to ensure their devices are connected to the internet to receive the automatic resolution after rebooting.

BetaBeacon

May 5, 2025

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – May 2025 round-up

- Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE is a game included with Apple Arcade subscription where players roll katamari to make them bigger in a mock livestream format. - The gameplay of Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE remains similar to its original version from 2004, with some minor changes in controls and influencer window dressing.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ crashed some Windows laptops for years

Playing Janet Jackson's 1989 hit "Rhythm Nation" near certain laptops manufactured from 2005 onward can cause malfunctions, particularly affecting their hard drives. This issue was highlighted by Microsoft employee Raymond Chen, who noted that a major computer manufacturer had to create a custom audio filter to address specific sound frequencies that could disrupt 5,400 RPM hard drives. The problem was serious enough to be listed in the NIST National Vulnerability Database. The audio filter remained in use until at least the Windows 7 era, and there was a hardware vendor that sought an exception to a rule requiring users to disable all audio processing, citing potential physical damage to computers if the audio processing was disabled. Chen expressed uncertainty about whether this rule still exists today.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

I use these 5 free tools to search files on Windows 11, and they are a lot better than Windows Search

Finding files swiftly and efficiently is essential for productivity, but Windows Search often falls short. A range of third-party tools exists that can significantly enhance your file search experience on Windows 11, offering superior speed, features, and user experience. 1. Everything: This lightweight application indexes files quickly, creating a searchable database with real-time updates. It has a minimalist interface and uses minimal system resources. 2. Listary: Integrates with File Explorer, offering instant search capabilities and customizable commands. It allows easy navigation between directories and serves as a launcher for files and applications. 3. DocFetcher: An open-source tool that indexes not just filenames but also the contents of text files, supporting formats like PDFs and Word documents. It requires initial indexing but provides quick search results afterward. 4. SearchMyFiles: Offers customizable search options with advanced filters and can find duplicate files. It is portable and user-friendly, suitable for various users. 5. FileSeek: A versatile tool for both simple and complex searches, capable of searching file contents and defining specific parameters. It offers search profiles for quick access and has a trial version that reverts to a free version. These tools outshine Windows Search due to their rapid speed, advanced search options, file content indexing, and lightweight operation.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is selling more than twice as fast as other JRPGs on PC, analyst says

Sandfall Interactive's game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has sold one million copies within three days of its release and surpassed 785,000 copies sold on Steam in its first week. It has also sold over 350,000 copies on PlayStation. The game has more than 1.5 million wishlists on Steam. Its success is attributed to quality visuals, a rewarding turn-based combat system, a compelling narrative, and a strategic pricing decision. The game is available on Xbox Game Pass, which has positively impacted its sales through increased visibility and word-of-mouth promotion. Expedition 33 has outperformed recent titles in the Japanese RPG genre, including Atlus's Metaphor Re:Fantazio, and has even surpassed Oblivion on Steam's global sales charts.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

‘Minecraft’ On Another Level With $817M Global, ‘Sinners’ Holdover Halo Takes WW To $162M, ‘Revenge Of The Sith’ Galactic At $42M+ Reissue & ‘Accountant 2’ Puts $38M On The Books

Warner Bros and Legendary's A Minecraft Movie has earned 6.6 million worldwide after four weekends, with a 44% drop from the previous Easter holiday session. Ryan Coogler's Sinners saw a 14% decline from its opening weekend, earning .5 million across 71 markets for a global total of 1.6 million. The Accountant 2 debuted in 71 international markets, earning .7 million for a worldwide total of .2 million. Disney's reissue of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith grossed .2 million globally, bringing its lifetime earnings to 2.2 million. It performed well in various international markets, achieving No. 1 rankings in Germany, Norway, Chile, and Bolivia, and secured the second-highest opening of the year in Germany with .6 million.