working from home Archives

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Like going to the office in Animal Crossing: my most productive work-from-home experience this year was spending all day online in this virtual co-working game

The game On-Together has emerged as a social platform for remote workers, allowing up to 16 players to create avatars and engage in mini-games while working. It incorporates the Pomodoro Technique to encourage productivity through 25-minute work sprints followed by breaks. The game fosters a sense of community by allowing friends to join in, enhancing focus and efficiency compared to traditional task management tools. Co-developer Ilgın Saçan draws inspiration from early 2000s online chatrooms and emphasizes that remote work can be fulfilling without the loneliness often associated with it. On-Together is currently available as a free demo on Steam and will launch its full version on January 19, featuring new customization options and group areas.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

Immersive productivity with Windows and Meta Quest: Now generally available

The Mixed Reality Link and the Windows App for Meta Quest are now generally available, enabling full capabilities of Windows 11 and Windows 365 for mixed reality headsets. Users can connect to their local Windows PC or Windows 365 Cloud PC, access multiple high-resolution virtual monitors, and create private workspaces. The v81 release of Meta’s Horizon OS allows all users to access this experience without experimental settings. Connecting a Meta Quest 3 or 3S headset to Windows involves installing Mixed Reality Link and pairing the device. Feedback from the community since the Public Preview in December 2024 has led to improvements in connection reliability and higher resolution virtual monitors.

AppWizard

October 5, 2025

Rust developer is fed up with survivors cowering in their homes, so it’s reworking progression to ‘get players back out of their bases’

Facepunch Studios is introducing an update to Rust that encourages players to leave their virtual homes and engage with abandoned monuments, which are key locations for intense combat. The update includes a new progression system for workbenches, requiring players to find blueprint fragments within these monuments, which are tied to puzzles and high-end loot. Monuments have been revamped for increased interactivity, with expanded keycard puzzles and upgraded challenges. The update aims to promote player engagement in territorial battles and slow down clan dominance. Additional changes include shuffled loot crates, drones with storage capabilities, rebalanced primitive mode weapons, and new resource crates for beginners. This update is the last significant patch before the upcoming Naval update in November, which will introduce nautical gameplay elements.

Winsage

July 20, 2025

Just hours left to grab MS Office Pro 2021 for $40

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is available for a one-time payment of .97, reduced from its regular price of 9.99. This offer is valid until July 20, providing a lifetime license for essential productivity applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and the free version of Teams. The purchase does not require a Microsoft 365 subscription, allowing permanent access to the software without recurring charges.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

4 idle games I play while working on my PC

Idle games are designed for those working from home, allowing for minimal interaction and automated progress. They provide engaging yet low-maintenance entertainment, often developed by indie creators. Examples include: - Rusty's Retirement: A farm simulation where players set up their farm while automated assistants manage daily tasks. - Cauldron: An idle game featuring turn-based battles and resource gathering from five mini-games for upgrades. - Cast n Chill: A fishing game that allows players to actively fish or switch to an idle mode for automated fishing. - Bao Bao's Cozy Laundromat: Players manage a laundromat for pandas, with a focus timer to maintain productivity while engaging in gameplay. These games offer non-intrusive experiences, allowing players to check in at their convenience without the pressure of failure.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

This free Android app helps me optimize my workflow

Saeed Wazir is a freelancer who uses Clockify, a time-tracking tool, to manage his work and family responsibilities. Clockify allows him to track his working hours, categorize them as billable or non-billable, and streamline his invoicing process. Previously, he used an Excel spreadsheet for logging work, which was time-consuming and error-prone. Clockify's Timesheet feature provides a detailed breakdown of his weekly work, helping him assess productivity and plan future tasks. The Reports feature offers an overview of total hours worked, categorized by project, allowing for better workload management. Clockify syncs between his phone and laptop, providing flexibility to access time-tracking data from anywhere. While he finds the free version sufficient, he notes that the mobile app lacks some features present in the desktop version. Clockify also offers subscription plans for larger teams with advanced features.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

AI Inside the Messenger: How Gem Space Helps with Everyday Tasks

Gem Space is a multifunctional super app that integrates messaging, news feeds, AI tools, and various features to enhance productivity. It allows users to manage tasks from a single platform, utilizing AI for tasks like drafting emails, translating messages in real-time, and transcribing voice messages. Users can create content quickly within the app and receive curated news tailored to their interests. Additionally, it offers gift suggestions through its built-in AI and is testing a marketplace for delivery across Russia. The app aims to simplify daily tasks and improve work-life balance.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Facebook Messenger is down worldwide as

Users worldwide are experiencing significant disruptions with Facebook Messenger, starting around 10:30 AM ET, affecting regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, South America, and Asia. Facebook Messenger has about one billion users as of early 2025. Meta's other messaging platform, WhatsApp, faced similar issues during this outage, with over 8,200 complaints logged on Downdetector in the United States. This incident is reminiscent of a previous outage four years ago that lasted seven hours and resulted in a significant revenue loss, attributed to a faulty update. During that outage, access systems at Facebook's Menlo Park campus were also disrupted. The current situation has led to user frustration and raised concerns about the reliability of major tech firms' infrastructure.

Winsage

December 1, 2024

Rainmeter is an impressive Windows customization tool

Users are exploring alternatives to the default File Explorer in Windows 11, with OneCommander being a popular choice among enthusiasts. Various recommendations from the community include Total Commander and Directory Opus. A user experienced burn-in on their QD-OLED monitor after using a static image for a year but found relief by switching to dynamic wallpaper. They appreciate QD-OLED technology and plan to upgrade to a newer generation panel. The Linux ecosystem features numerous distributions, with the user rotating between NixOS, Pop_OS!, Debian, and Q4OS based on their needs. A user transformed an outdated dual-Xeon CPU and motherboard into a home lab and budget gaming system, highlighting its versatility. Despite being a professional writer, the user relies on four fingers for typing and feels retraining could hinder productivity. Their first laptop was a Dell Inspiron 8500, which sparked their interest in technology. Microsoft’s OneDrive integration in Windows 11 has mixed reviews, with some users disabling automatic backups for a cleaner workspace. The gradual rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2 has not introduced significant changes, leading some users to wait for broader adoption. A Discord server dedicated to co-working has helped one user maintain productivity while working from home. The challenge of non-repairable tech is noted, with companies like Framework promoting sustainability through repairable products. Opinions on drive partitioning vary, with some advocating for multiple partitions while others prefer a single partition for simplicity. Casual gaming with Vampire Survivors has become a favorite for low-stress gameplay. The need for RAM in gaming PCs is increasing, with 16GB being standard and 32GB ideal for many users. The user was motivated to build their first PC for better gaming performance, inspired by the original Titanfall game. They transformed an old PC into a smart home hub using Home Assistant, enhancing device management. Obsidian is being explored for running tabletop RPGs, showcasing its versatility. The user transitioned from the unreliable Snipping Tool to Greenshot for capturing screenshots. Odd-length M.2 drives are noted as scarce in consumer markets despite the rise of smaller NVMe SSDs. The user is exploring alternative browsers like Floorp and Vivaldi after years of using Chrome.

AppWizard

November 29, 2024

My favorite PC gaming accessory came to my rescue when I sprained my ankle and couldn’t sit at my desk — It’s on sale during Black Friday

A volleyball game resulted in a severe ankle sprain, leading to a doctor's visit. The following day, working from home became challenging due to the need to keep the injured ankle elevated. The Nerdytec Couchmaster CYCON² lapboard, typically priced at .99 but currently available for .00 on Amazon, has been essential for maintaining productivity while using a TV as a monitor. The lapboard allows for multitasking with a 49" monitor and enhances the work experience with split-screen capabilities. It has become necessary during recovery, providing a clutter-free environment and easy cable management. Assistance is required to position the lapboard due to crutches, but its lightweight design allows for easy adjustments. The lapboard's cushions offer additional support and compatibility with couch arm cushions. Lapboards provide a stable surface for tech devices, enhancing comfort and functionality, particularly for those who connect PCs to TVs for gaming. The value of a lapboard depends on individual usage and can be a worthwhile investment for frequent users.