How to install Windows 11 today

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

The wait for the final version of Windows 11 ends today. Microsoft has taken the wraps off its latest operating system, and anyone interested in a softer UI design, animations, drop shadows, updated ribbons, improved security, new iconography, fonts, snap layouts, sounds, and more, can read below on how to get started.

Step 1: Ask yourself if you have the time for the upgrade?

To begin, you need to consider this: to upgrade to Windows 11 and receive official support from Microsoft, Microsoft is requiring that devices have TPM 2.0 enabled prior to upgrading.  You also need to check and see if your PC has a compatible processor, too. Windows 11 only works with PCs that have an Intel 8th generation or newer processor, or an AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer processor. Of course, select PCs with Qualcomm processors are eligible too. That processor list is here.

To some fortunate degree, Microsoft does provide a tool at least to get the ball going on whether or not a Windows PC is capable of upgrading to Windows 11. We have more on that in the next section. Otherwise, continue below for some of the other minimum specs suggested by Microsoft. These are not very different from Windows 10’s.

  • CPU: a 1 GHz or faster dual-core or higher processor on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Storage: 64 GB
  • TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
  • Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
  • Display: A display 9 inches or larger, with a resolution of 720p or higher

Once you confirm that you can move on to the second step. This is where the action truly begins and when you can start downloading the new operating system.

Note that if you’re on an unsupported system that don’t meet these requirements, skip to the end of this piece. We have an important note for you on how you might be able to run Windows 11 anyway using the Media Creation Tool.

Step 2: Download PC Health Check App

Now that you’ve committed to the upgrade process and the time it might take to get your PC updated with all of the new goodies of Windows 11, head over here to download the app for more device compatibility.

There was a separate link for Insiders established when Windows 11 was in testing, but the above link has now become the official way to test PCs both as Insiders and non-Insiders alike.

Once downloaded, run the .exe file to get started and follow the Install prompt. There will be two options to choose from to diagnosis your PC, I recommend Show All because it will also incorporate device-specific qualifications. The process (scan) should take less than 3 minutes to complete.

For those who need a straightforward answer, using the Device Specifications option will bounce you out to a web page with a clearly marked Will Run, Will Not Run prompt as well as some further FAQs about the process. Now you know if your PC truly will run Windows 11.

Step 3: Upgrade to Windows 11 via Windows Update

Assuming the fork in the road guides you to a device that will run Windows 11, you can then head to Windows Update to check if your PC has the new operating system ready for download. Go Settings, then click Update & Security, and then Windows Update. Choose Check for updates, and you’ll see a window show up with Download & install. Click this.

Note that Microsoft is taking a “phased approach” to rolling out Windows 11. It wants to ensure that the operating system only shows up for you when it’s ready. Depending on the age of your PC, you might not see Windows 11 in Windows Update right away. Microsoft says new devices will be offered the upgrade first. Then upgrade will then roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of the device, and other factors that impact the upgrade experience.

When all is said and done, if you have Windows 11 for you in Windows Update, follow the on-screen prompts. The download and installation portion of Windows 11 could take anywhere from 20 to 40 mins, dependent on OTA downloading speeds in your area. I’ve upgraded four devices from Windows 10 to Windows 11 via the Insider program and each device took roughly 35 mins to complete the download, install and restart the process for Windows 11.

Alternatives: Use the Installation Assistant, or Media Creation Tool or Windows Insider Program

Windows Update is the best way to get Windows 11, but there are some alternatives if it’s not available for you. As an alternative, you can check out the Windows Meda Creation Tool or Windows 11 Installation Assistant. The Installation Assistant will let you upgrade to Windows 11 without going through Windows Update. However, installing with this tool might lead to a lot of bugs on your PC as it won’t undergo verification through Windows Update. It’s best to wait it out and download the right way through Windows Update.

Note that the Media Creation tool will also work to upgrade or install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, according to Microsoft. However, going this route will leave your PC in an unsupported state, and you won’t get critical security updates or driver updates.

If all else fails, users can join the Windows Insider Program to get the operating system right away to start testing, playing, and living with Windows 11.

You can begin by going to the Windows Insiders webpage here to register, or simply visit your PC’s Windows Update Settings page. Make your way over to the Windows logo in the taskbar and use it to open up the Settings page. Navigate to the bottom and select Windows Update & Security.

Next, select the Windows Insiders tab to approve or disapprove of Microsoft collecting diagnostic data and hit the Get Started Prompt. Pair a Microsoft account with the Insider program for notifications, prompts, and account sync.

Once a Microsoft account has been linked, you will be able to choose your channel of upgrades and updates with the options including a Dev Channel for “highly technical users,” a Beta Channel for “early adopters,” and a Release Preview, for those who only prefer minor “fixes for certain key features.” I recommend the Beta Channel to the most up-to-date features of Windows 11 as it is the most stable with fewer bugs. The Dev Channel, however, will be the most unstable with the most chances of messing up your PC.

Hot Wheels Unleashed game review: An amazing arcade racer

Posted on by Robby Bisschop

There are two types of racing games: the ones that aim to emulate real driving and want to comes as close to being a simulation as possible and the arcade racing games which let go of all rules and just aim for 100% fun. Hot Wheels Unleashed is definitely the latter and possibly one of the best the genre has to offer.

We all know the Hot Wheels brand, whether we’ve played with them ourselves in our childhood or not. The tiny metal cars are iconic toys, as are the bright orange road pieces that you could use to build ridiculous tracks. This game proudly brings them both into an amazingly fun videogame experience.

Pure unadultered fun

Fun. It’s such a simple and short word, yet it’s so important. Hot Wheels Unleashed earns the adjective with flying colors. You’ll be racing down angled slopes, driving over boost pads to pick up extra speed before a looping, and then shifting into a magnetic strip that has you racing upside down.

Who doesn’t love loopings?

The entire game is just such a thrilling experience with many different elements adding to the enjoyment. Don’t expect to just stick to the railing and boost your way out of trouble the entire time. If you want to have a shot at that coveted gold medal, you’ll need to align your jumps, dodge obstacles, and even avoid traps like giant spiders shooting webs at you.

A sticky situation

In fact, most of the challenge doesn’t come from the opposition but from trying to stay on the road. You’ll need to pick up speed to prevent you from falling down when the road gets curvy, and there are plenty of jumps where you’ll need to correct your trajectory mid-air so you’ll land on the track again.

Fail to do so and you’ll have to respawn your car, losing precious time and probably whatever lead you had on the cars behind you.

The good news is that players who spend the time to learn the tracks inside & out will find some very useful shortcuts here and there. They’re tricky to perform, but when you’re aiming for the gold, every second counts.

Healthy mix of difficulty

Confession time: I usually play games on easy. I like to enjoy myself and I’m often on a deadline to review games around the embargo date and making it harder on myself just doesn’t feel like it would add any fun.

When I played Hot Wheels Unleashed for an hour or so, however, I quickly changed the difficulty setting to Medium. Easy is fine for young players, but if you want a bit of a challenge at least and if you crave feeling like you earned that spot on the podium, you’ll need to amp it up a little.

And if even the Hard AI doesn’t provide enough challenge for you, you can always invite over some skilled friends or try your luck in the online competitions.

Local split-screen multiplayer!

When an arcade racing game doesn’t include a local split-screen option, it automatically loses a few points in my book. So you’ll be happy to hear that Hot Wheels Unleashed provides! There’s nothing as fun as having friends over for drinks and games and hanging out on the couch and I’m pretty sure this one will stay installed on my Xbox Series X for just that occasion.

Single player campaign provides hours of fun

Ex marks the spot.

Solo players will not have a dull moment either. Hot Wheels Unleashed features a lengthy single-player campaign in which you move across a map and unlock new races, time trials, and boss levels as you go. There is tons of content here, but looks can be deceiving: you’ll be playing the same levels over and over again.

While there are indeed only 6 locations in the game, there are a ton of track variations to spice things up. That doesn’t mean you won’t be replaying the same combinations however, the game doesn’t shy away from repetition. In fact, you’ll even be revisiting specific races with specific cars to unlock some of the secrets.

Unlocking this one was peanuts

And that’s perhaps where the secret ingredient of Hot Wheels Unleashed lies: there’s always something on the brink of unlocking. Every race will give you either Gold or Gears, the former can be used for buying cars or loot boxes containing random cars, the latter can be used to upgrade your vehicle (Normal > Rare > Legendary).

You will even get items to decorate your basement with posters, collectibles, different patterns for the walls or floors. It’s a neat idea to let us customize this because it’s the same area used in the game when racing. I just haven’t figured out yet how to fill the empty display units.

Eat. Sleep. Game. Repeat.

My only complaint: the races don’t pay out enough and progression just happens a little slower than I would have liked. It makes finding a hidden loot box all the more satisfying though. But be prepared: finding all cars and leveling them to legendary will be quite the grind, but more on that later.

Share your creativity

It’s not just the basement you get to decorate, you can make your very own levels with a custom track builder. There are a lot of tools here at your disposal but to me, it was a bit overwhelming. Especially because the tracks can bend and curve however you like.

I’m totally bent out of shape

I had issues with the simplest of things like finding the finish block, but I guess that’s just my lack of experience with track builders like these. It’s a feature I explore for reviews, but wouldn’t be caught spending a lot of time with on my own clock. That being said, it adds hours upon hours of possible game time by downloading the creations of people with more know-how and I’ll be sure to check those out.

what I do love, is playing around with the aesthetics of all kinds of things. You can also create your own liveries for every car and even with the simplest of modifications, you can achieve cool results. Just look at this Rip Rod that I painted in the Joker’s famous purple & green colors.

The Joker

One last thing you can express yourself with is the photomode. Any game that includes this has a step up from the competition in my book. At any point in time, you can freeze the action and angle your camera just right to snap some cool pics to share on social media.

Picture Perfect

The game looks fantastic, with the cars actually looking like their real toy counterparts thanks to the great use of lighting and textures. The level textures did experience some loading issues, however, even on Xbox Series X, but only in the short fly-over before the actual race, so nothing really bothersome.

Grinding your teeth

Well, that’s a mouthful

So far, I’ve done nothing but sing its praises, but there are a few things that bothered me while playing Hot Wheels Unleashed, most of all …the music. While the soundtrack isn’t terrible per se, it isn’t very memorable or noteworthy either.

Most of the music that plays in the background is of the type you’d expect an indie game with a limited budget to buy from stock footage, repeated loops, nothing catchy, and not adding anything to the thrilling experience that the rest of the sound design offers through screeching tires and boosts.

Worst of all, when you do boost with most of the cars, it deforms the music in what the English language so kindly describes as “off” or “out of tune” but where my own dutch use of “vals” falls more in line with “I hate it, please make it stop.”

Don’t let the Twitter clips fool you, I edited my own music into the video to make it more exciting. But it just goes to show how much great audio can add to the sensation of a game.

Another small regret is that the game doesn’t support Quick Resume on Xbox Series X|S. This feature has been a blessing for me, as I usually play multiple games at the same time, and not having this option for a game that would be perfect for a daily quick race is a shame. I’ll definitely keep the game in my daily rotation, but this is a slight bump in how easily accessible it is.

Achievements and Completion

Beating the single-player campaign takes around 14-15 hours, provided you win every race on the first attempt. If you’re going for the full 100% completion, however, you’ll be in for the long stretch.

There are plenty of cars to unlock and you’ll need some luck with the loot box system or pay with hard-earned gold in the daily deals. As I already said earlier though, getting a sufficient amount of cash will require some grinding.

*Empties wallet*

The Achievement list is a grind as well, here’s a list of the ones you’ll be working on for hours:

  • Box Collector (90G) – Open a total of 100 blind boxes
  • It’s over 9000 (10G) – Upgrade the rarity of 15 rare vehicles
  • Unbridled luxury (30G) – Get a total of 100,000 Coins
  • What do I do with so many? (30G) – Get a total of 25,000 Gears.
  • Faster than light (15G) – Use the Boost for a total of 60 minutes.
  • Master of drift (15G) – Drift for a total of 500,000 centimetres (196,850 inches).

So yeah, we’re talking dozens of hours to grind out the full 1000G here. If you’re the type of gamer who needs a 100% completed check on your games: know what you’re getting yourself into.

And yes, before you ask, there are a few online multiplayer achievements (We all hate those)

Final thoughts on Hot Wheels Unleashed

Pros
Incredibly fun racing experience
Tons of unlockables to keep you going for hours
The multiplayer and custom tracks adds long-lasting value
Cons
The audio could have been better
Only 6 locations available
No quick resume on Xbox Series X or S

Final Score: 4.5/5

Hot Wheels Unleashed is pretty much the perfect arcade racing experience: It’s fun, it’s fast and it’s got plenty of content to last. Sure, there could have been a few more locations to spice things up, and collecting everything is a bit of a grind, but between the meaty single-player campaign and endless custom user-generated tracks, you’ll be boosting for hours on end with a smile on your face.

Hot Wheels Unleashed costs $49.99 and is available on Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4 and Playstation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Developed and Published by Milestone.

*Disclaimer: Reviewed on Xbox Series X. Review copy provided by Koch Media Benelux.

How to upgrade to Windows 11

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

Since Windows 11 will begin its official rollout process tomorrow, October 5th, we thought that it was important to also show you how you can upgrade from Windows 10 to this new OS.

Don’t be alarmed, thinking that it’s going to be a hard process, taking up most of your day to complete. In fact, it will be as simple as downloading and installing an update.

Let’s dive right into it and see exactly what all this is going to be like.

How do I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?

First of all, as we mentioned before, it’s important to keep in mind that the Windows 11 rollout will be a slow process, and it could actually take months before it’s available on your device.

Of course, new PCs will get the upgrade first, and all compatible devices are expected to receive it by mid-2022, depending on device age and hardware. 

So, before expecting Windows 11, make sure that the machine you are planning on running it on is compatible, using the PC Health Check app.

However, when your time comes, this is what you have to do in order to move from one operating system to the other:

  1. Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
  2. Select the Windows Update category. windows update
  3. Press the Check for updates button.check for updates

If you are eligible and Windows 11 is available for you, you will see it as you would a regular update. Except, this is everything but regular, as we are talking about a new step in our lives.

Upgrading from Windows 10 will be a walk in the park, but doing so from a previous version of the OS is a different story entirely.

If you are running Windows 7, or 8, you are first required to upgrade to 10, only afterward being able to make the transition the Windows 11. So also keep this in mind when the time comes.

What happens to all my files when I upgrade?

If you simply perform an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, all your stored files will be OK, so there is nothing for you to worry about.

This being said, if your system requires you to clean install the new operating system, then the situation changes drastically. You will have to erase everything, so a backup is recommended.

And speaking of backups, it is wise to have all your important files stored in a cloud, or a personal device, such as an HDD, just in case disaster strikes.

This is the first major change to Microsoft’s operating system since Windows 10 launched back in 2015. Rumors about a major Windows redesign have been circulating for the past year, but nobody was expecting a new OS.

We were all surprised at the Microsoft Build developers conference on May 25, when CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft was planning one of the most significant updates of Windows of the past decade.

That was basically the confirmation that a major change was on the horizon for the 1.3 billion users of the OS in 2021.

And in mid-June, Microsoft quietly announced that it would end support for Windows 10 in 2025 as leaked images of Windows 11 spread.

That was the beginning of a four-month-long journey of speculating, anticipating, and testing this new operating system.

Now, all we have to do is be patient and wait for our turn in this massive rollout process that, as we said, will prioritize newer devices.

Are you ready for receiving Windows 11 on your device? Let us know in the comments section below.

How to Connect Your Meeting Room System to Microsoft Teams

Posted on by Alin Lazar

The pandemic pushed companies all over the world to adapt to an online work environment. Therefore, as more and more people started working remotely, the demand for online meetings also grew.

As a result, companies such as Microsoft started focusing on improving and expanding the features of their meeting services.

They developed, overhauled, and added new changes to Microsoft Teams, striving to make it the best online meeting tool.

Using MS Teams is simple, but to benefit from all of its tools and customization, a company planning to hold huge meetings needs to ensure that it’s easy to join meetings no matter what type of meeting room system you’re using.

Use meeting room hardware

If you’re part of an organization that has thousands of employees scattered across the world, regular meetings with the team are key to staying in touch.

Organizations need to make it easy for employees in the office to meet with colleagues who are working from home.

Offices set up to ideally accommodate a hybrid workforce ensure that there are plenty of video meeting rooms dedicated to holding online meetings.

Board rooms and huddle rooms must be equipped with gear that facilitates clear and concise collaboration between coworkers and guests.

Beyond the video system, meeting rooms need high-quality microphones, a control device, displays, and tables or desks and chairs.

How do I connect a meeting room system to MS Teams?

1. Connect your physical equipment

The first thing you need to do when creating a meeting room for your company is to make sure you have all the necessary hardware.

A central unit that acts as a console is required, which you will use to connect all the other peripherals needed for the room.

The central unit should have a tablet or other touchscreen-enabled device connected to it that will serve as a command center.

Ethernet connection is also recommended to make sure there is enough bandwidth for video and screen sharing.

Connecting the display TVs, the microphones, and the other peripherals can be done through cables (HDMI is the best choice) or wirelessly if the devices support it.

Now, in order to access Microsoft 365 services, all the devices need Dynamic IP addresses instead of static ones until the initial configuration is completed.

2. Ensure all employees and guests can connect to Microsoft Teams meetings

Not all participants will be in front of a computer when joining a Microsoft Teams meeting. For the best meeting experience, colleagues at the office will likely want to join from a dedicated video meeting room.

External guests may also be joining from their video systems. To ensure that everyone can join a Microsoft Teams meeting from any device, a Cloud Video Interoperability solution is needed.

Certified Cloud Video Interop (CVI) solutions for Microsoft Teams enable everyone to securely join the meeting, no matter what device they’re using.

3. How to use a third-party CVI solution

It’s easy for meeting participants to use a CVI solution to connect to a Microsoft Teams call.

Pexip enables any standards-based video conferencing systems on SIP and H.323 to connect to Microsoft Teams meetings seamlessly. Participants need to apply the following steps:

3.1. Using a remote control or touch screen

When using the remote control or the VTC’s touch screen, you can call into the meeting either via a Virtual Reception or by directly dialing the meeting address.

3.2. Dialing in via the Virtual Reception

  1. Find the address in the meeting invitation and enter it using the remote / touch screen. Typically, the address is similar to [email protected].
  2. Enter the Conference ID on the VTC system.
  3. If the VTC is registered on the Pexip Service under the same company as the CVI Service for MS Teams or is a trusted device, it is allowed automatically into the meeting.
  4. If not, it is placed into a Teams lobby waiting to be admitted.

3.3. Dialing the address directly

  1. Open the invitation and click on the Alternate VTC dialing instructions link.
  2. Enter the address found under Join directly.
  3. If the VTC is registered on the Pexip Service under the same company as the CVI Service for MS Teams or is a trusted device, it is allowed automatically into the meeting.
  4. If not, it is placed into a Teams lobby waiting to be admitted.

4. Using the Pexip mobile app

The user needs to download and install the Pexip mobile app and allow the app to read the calendar used for Teams invites. See Downloading the apps for more information.

When using the Pexip mobile app to join a Teams meeting with a VTC you can either join from a list of VTCs or use QR code scanning.

4.1. Joining from a list of VTCs

These options require an active endpoint subscription if your organization has adopted them.

  1. Open the Pexip mobile app on your phone.
  2. Go to the Meetings tab and select your Teams meeting.
  3. Choose Video system and select the VTC you want to use.
  4. Answer the incoming call to your VTC room on the touch panel or remote control.

4.2. Scanning a QR code

This option requires an active Pexip endpoint subscription. If your organization has adopted QR codes to join video meetings, see Using your smartphone to join video meetings with MeetingConnect for instructions on how to join the meeting.

5. Meeting room mode

Meeting room mode (MRM) is a simple way to join scheduled video meetings with a single click. It works by integrating your video conferencing units, the Pexip mobile app (running on a shared mobile device), and your company’s existing calendar/room booking system.

See Meeting room mode (MRM) setup guide for more information.

Thankfully connecting systems to MS Teams is a breeze thanks to companies such as Pexip, which uses Cloud Video Interoperability (CVI) that enables SIP and H.323 video conferencing system to join MS teams.

These systems will work as if they were native Microsoft clients, letting authenticated systems participate in the conferences without lobby bypasses or other additional user interaction.

Pexip lets you connect to different meeting room systems using different methods. The service also provides both a downloadable app or a web-based version.

The easiest way to join a VMR (your own room, or one hosted by somebody else) is by accessing a Pexip room invite link.

You can also join using a remote control or touchscreen device:

  1. Download and install Pexip.
  2. Open the Calendar invite.
  3. Enter the address found under Join directly.
  4. Otherwise, select the joining options.
  5. Open the invitation and click on the Alternate VTC dialing instructions link.
  6. If the VTC is registered on the Pexip Service under the same company as the CVI Service for MS Teams or is a trusted device, it is allowed automatically into the meeting. 
  7. If not, it is placed into a Teams lobby waiting to be admitted.

Microsoft Teams receives constant support

Microsoft dedicated a huge amount of resources and time to developing Teams. They are still coming up with new features as we speak.

One of the company’s priorities is security. Since lots of big organizations rely on MS Teams for their conferencing and meetings, the risk of data leaks is high. This is why it’s key that you trust the third-party solutions that are integrated into MS Teams.

The Redmond giant rolls out weekly security updates to stop any possible data breaches. Besides the security updates, they also add new features that will improve your experience with the software.

That’s how you can set up a meeting room system and connect it to Microsoft Teams. We included all the steps and procedures that need to be followed.

Even more, learn how to create Breakout rooms in Teams and take advantage of them, since they come with various customization options so you can control the flow of the meeting.

We also have a guide on how to set up Teams Walkie Talkie feature, and great guide on what to do if Breakout Rooms in Teams aren’t working.

Leave a comment in the section below and tell us what you think about the article, or share any other feedback regarding the subject.

Windows 11 starts rolling out to compatible devices tomorrow

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

Well, after so much talk and the seemingly endless emotional rollercoaster of the last three months, it is finally happening. Windows 11 has been declared a finished product and is coming to our devices.

But don’t go thinking that everything we saw throughout these past months will be there from the start. Some features will be released in the near future, as they weren’t quite ready to make the initial cut.

And we know that you are all expecting it, so this can only be good news.

Its finally time to welcome Windows 11

Since we first learned about the new operating system, back in June, we all started speculating on what it might look, sound, and feel like.

We’ve seen it grow from the messy and buggy first versions, and we helped mold it into what it’s about to become.

Therefore, now, eligible Windows 10 devices will get a free upgrade to the next-generation OS, but you’ll need to make sure your laptop or desktop meets the necessary requirements to run it.

Remember that you can check if your gadget is eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade by downloading and using the PC Health Check app.

Another important factor to take into consideration is that Microsoft is making this rollout a phased and measured process.

This actually means that some Windows 10 users aren’t likely to get the upgrade until later this year or even 2022.

Redmond officials specified that the reason behind this is that, basically, Microsoft will prioritize the Windows 11 rollout based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device, and other factors. 

So, starting tomorrow, compatible laptops, PCs, and tablets will start upgrading to Windows 11 for free. You better get ready for this new chapter of your life, because you might just be among the first ones to actually get it.

If your device is outdated and doesn’t meet the criteria for running the upcoming operating system, there are plenty of options for you out there, including Microsoft’s latest Surface products release.

Not to mention that there are also tons of other alternatives, provided by big companies like Lenovo, Dell, or Asus, who already announced Windows 11-ready devices.

Another reason to be excited for tomorrow is the fact that Office 2021 is also coming, according to what the Redmond tech giant had to say a few weeks ago.

All in all, we have a lot of reasons to be happy about this new launch, so all we can do now is just wait for this free upgrade to become available to us and simply jump on the opportunity.

If you have a compatible device but don’t get it right the second it launches, don’t be alarmed, as your turn will surely not be forgotten and Windows 11 will also come to your machine.

Make sure to also check our Windows 11 dedicated section, in order to catch up and be up to date with everything that happened with the operating system, ever since its early stages.

Are you ready to upgrade to Microsoft’s new OS? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Best Windows 11-Ready Laptops [2026 List]

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

As the much anticipated Windows 11 presentation has already taken place, we now know what the new OS will look like and some of the most important features it will bring.

Added to that, the official information about the system requirements has been released, and based on this, we can safely assume which PCs could be used to run the OS.

8065 users from 152 countries have completed a thorough survey regarding Windows 11 which covers their expectations, wishes, and wants, so make sure to check it out to explore the subject in depth.

8% of responders have stated that they are sure to invest directly in a Windows 11 ready computer, while 92% prefer upgrading the system they already own.

To get a clearer picture, here are the actual requirements for running Windows 11, or explore the more detailed version.

  • Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores
  • System memory: 4 GB minimum
  • Storage: 64 GB minimum
  • System firmware: UEFI
  • Security: TPM required, UEFI Secure Boot
  • Display: 9-inch minimum in diagonal, High definition (720p), 8 bits per color channel
  • Graphics: DirectX 12 API, WDDM 2.0
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth (excluding desktop PC), Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
  • Digitizer: Precision Touchpad (if the touchpad is present)
  • Hardware buttons: Power button and volume up and down buttons required
  • Ports: USB ports (at least one), video output required

Keep in mind that these are just the basic requirements to install Windows 11 on a PC. To find out exactly if your system will work with Windows 11, simply download and run the PC Health Check application.

A powerful gaming laptop that can run Windows 11 will have some different capabilities compared to the options in this list. That being said, all gaming laptop options can be used with everyday tasks, but the same can’t be said about most non-gaming laptops.

How we choose the best Windows 11 laptops

To create this comprehensive list, our panel of expert testers have researched laptops across the web, and have meticulously compared their systems to choose the best devices for running Windows 11.

Because the official release of the Windows 11 OS is coming soon, and thus, manufacturers can’t yet provide you with devices that already have Windows 11 installed, it is safe to say that the offer will increase exponentially in the next couple of weeks.

Tip icon Tip
Editor’s tip:

To exemplify the exact elements that were considered while choosing the best laptops for running Windows 11, here is a useful list of things you should consider as well:

➡ Processor speed
➡ System memory
➡ System firmware
➡ TPM 2.0 capability
➡ Internet connectivity

Taking these features into consideration while choosing the best Windows 11 capable laptops is essential.

Added to this idea, the usual features needed to be considered as well, thus enabling our testers to choose the best PCs from the list of Windows 11-enabled devices.

Some features that were also taken into consideration to make a distinction between the capable laptops, were the GPU, storage, and design.

What to consider when choosing the best Windows 11 laptops?

Besides the normal elements that you would take into consideration when choosing a capable laptop, to run Windows 11 optimally on it, some specific requirements need to be fulfilled.

Processor speed

Even though the processing speed is an incredibly important element whenever you’re exploring the capabilities of any PC, this element is even more important if you’re interested in a device that can run Windows 11 without problems.

Windows 11 will work on your laptop if you have a 1 GHz or faster processor with at least 2 cores. More is going to help considerably in this case.

Even though almost all new PCs in the last few years have a CPU that offers better speeds than 1GHz, and most already have 2 or more cores, this shouldn’t pose much of a problem, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless.

Of course, the processors we chose for this list will not only offer you the capability to run Windows 11, but we chose options that will allow your entire laptop experience to go smoothly.

System memory

For your system to be able to run Windows 11, you will need to have at least 4GB of system memory. System memory is not the same as rapid access memory (RAM), but it is the size allocation that enables the elements that construct your Windows 11 to run properly.

This means that 4 GB of your SSD or HDD should be available to allocate solely for running the actual Windows 11 OS.

System firmware

The firmware of your PC is extremely important to consider because Windows 11 works only with UEFI, which also enables the OS to run the UEFI Secure Boot feature to improve security levels.

Of course, all the products we will present to you in this list will have this element already checked out and confirmed, so you can rest assured you won’t need to dive deep into the details of the computer you’re interested in.

TPM capability

As Windows 11 is also bringing new levels of security to the table, the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is an essential element of this setup, thus being included in the system requirements list for the OS.

TPM is a microcontroller that is designed to secure hardware through a variety of cryptographic keys that are integrated into the system.

Internet connectivity

Even though almost all PCs are capable of connecting to the internet, you must understand that to run Windows 11 for the first time, you need your device to be connected to the internet.

If you’re going to invest in a new PC, even though chances are that it will capable of connecting to the internet, consider if you can connect it when installing Windows 11.

Tip icon Tip
Buyer’s tips:

➡ If you’re interested in very good processing speeds, sturdy and multi-joint construction, and multi-touch that resists high pressures, the Spectre x360 Convertible 13-AW1002NR is the best choice for you.

This powerful device will of course enable you to run Windows 11 without issues, while also offering enough processing speed to run almost any software.

➡ In case you’re more inclined towards a system that offers specific gaming capabilities, then you don’t need to look any further than the powerful OMEN 15T-EK100 from HP.

To make things even better, HP allows you to customize it even further. You can choose a better CPU, GPU, SSD, and even keyboard by using the toggles from the website.

➡ For those of you who are more artistically inclined, the ASUS ZenBook Flip S 13 proves to be a great contender for the previously mentioned devices, as it offers an incredibly powerful CPU, a great amount of RAM, and pressure level output for using it with digital pens and styluses.

The 360u00b0 ErgoLift hinge easily transforms the laptop into a drawing tablet and vice-versa, while also proving very useful in case of presentations in meetings.

➡ If you find yourself interested in a laptop that offers decent power, a good number of ports, military-grade toughness, and a 14-inches display that offers a great color spectrum, then the Acer TravelMate P6 is the perfect choice for you.

Now that we’ve covered the most important aspects you need to consider when investing in a Windows 11-enabled device, let’s see what the results of our research show.

Spectre x360 Convertible 13-AW1002NR

  • Intel Core i7-1065G7
  • Intel Iris Plus Graphics
  • Multitouch-enabled display with Gorilla Glass
  • 16 GB LPDDR4-3200 MHz RAM
  • 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD
  • GPU could be better
imageCheck price

The Spectre x360 Convertible 13-AW1002NR is an incredibly powerful laptop that comes prepared for a fruitful and smooth interaction with Windows 11.

Even though at this point in time Windows 11 doesn’t come pre-installed, having your laptop ready for the moment Microsoft makes the official release is very important.

Powered by an Intel Core i7-1065G7 with 4 cores, that can run up to 3.9GHz with the useful Intel Turbo Boost Technology. The processor has an 8MB L3 cache, making it extremely adaptable no matter what tasks you want to run.

The GPU is called Intel Iris Plus Graphics, and its power is put into perspective by using a 13.3 inches FHD and IPS monitor. This display is multitouch-enabled and uses an anti-reflection Corning Gorilla Glass NBT to ensure that it is resistant to almost any kind of shock.

Added to this, the edge-to-edge glass with a micro-edge takes advantage of every centimeter available, thus allowing you a more seamless experience while using it.

The 100% sRGB color gamut ensures that your movie-watching sessions or color-intensive work will be able to be displayed without issues.

The device comes with 16 GB RAM which will allow you to run multiple instances of the same program, or multiple different applications without any problems, while also giving you enough processing power to run graphic-intensive games as well.

As storage is always an important element, and the speed at which it runs can prove a great advantage, this HP laptop comes with a 512 GB NVMe SSD.

Everything is powered by a 65 W USB Type-C power adapter, making the battery lasts up to 11 hours and 30 minutes of heavy usage.

OMEN 15T-EK100

  • Intel Core i5-10300H
  • 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  • 512 GB PCI NVMe SSD
  • Custom configuration options for all components
  • No touch display
imageCheck price

The OMEN 15T-EK100 from HP is a very good option if you want to run the latest games on your new laptop besides simply running Windows 11 at full capacity.

This laptop can be customized before the purchase, which enables any user to modify the CPU, GPU, display, RAM, keyboard, camera, and storage space and type.

When it comes to the CPU, you can choose between an Intel Core i5-10300H processor that can reach up to 4.5 GHz, and a more powerful i7-10870H processor which can work at 5.0 GHz and has a set of 8 cores with 16MB L3 caches.

In the GPU department, the first configuration offers you an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB. , and as an alternative, you can choose the 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 with a Max-Q design.

As mentioned before, you can customize the size of the storage, and its type, thus, you can choose between a 512 GB PCI NVMe SSD, a 1 TB version, or two 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD’s with Raid 0 configuration.

You even have the option of choosing what software you want pre-installed on your PC, with the capability to choose between a Microsoft 365 suite and different versions of Microsoft Office. The same applies to security software, where you can opt for a variety of McAfee annual subscriptions.

To complete the setup entirely, the device comes with Audio by Bang & Olufsen, DTS:X Ultra, and HP Audio Boost, thus ensuring that your music and gaming experience will sound amazing.

Connectivity will be extremely easy, as you will have access to 1 Thunderbolt 4 port with USB4 Type-C, and two SuperSpeed USB Type-A ports.

ASUS ZenBook Flip S 13

  • Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU
  • 16GB RAM
  • 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • 360° ErgoLift hinge
  • 133% sRGB colours
  • Pressure level output could be better
imageCheck price

The ASUS ZenBook Flip S 13 offers you everything you need to run Windows 11 optimally, and also a processor that can take on any task you choose without problems.

Besides the 13,3 inches 4K OLED touch display that offers incredibly crisp colors, this device comes with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU with 12M Cache, runs up to 4.70GHz.

To ensure that you would not need to worry about running multiple applications at once, or using multiple displays to work in tandem, this powerful laptop is equipped with 16GB RAM.

The 1TB SSD ensures that you will have enough space to install any game or program your heart desires, and at the same time leaving you with enough space for personal files like pictures, videos, and documents. Being a PCIe NVMe M2 SSD, you are sure to get the best processing speeds available on the market.

The versatile 360° ErgoLift hinge allows you to use this device as a tablet, present, and also get the keyboard out of the way when you just want to watch your favorite show.

The combination of Jade Black color and Red Copper diamond-cut highlights make this device look absolutely incredible while showing the built-in quality on the exterior as well.

Being ASUS Pen and Windows Ink capable, with 4096 pressure level output, it ensures that you can draw, write, or sketch in any app with incredible precision.

The display also comes into play here, offering a 100% DCI-P color gamut with 133% sRGB colors. With this setup, you are a sketch away from incredible art, and a click away from a seamless and professional video-editing experience.

Acer TravelMate P6

  • Intel Core i5-8265U
  • 14 inches Full HD LED-backlit display
  • 8 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • Good number of ports
  • Military-grade toughness
  • Small storage space
  • Fingerprint scanner doesn't work perfectly
imageCheck price

The Acer TravelMate P6 is a thing and light laptop that uses a 14-inches FHD IPS display, powered by an Intel Core i5-8265U which is sure to be able to run Windows 11 without issues.

The processor runs with up to 3.9 GHz, and the widescreen LED-backlit display will surely offer you an immersive experience no matter if you’re watching your favorite shows or using the laptop for editing photos.

Even though it doesn’t have as much storage space as the other options presented in this guide, the 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD is sure to run at very high speeds.

This computer has 8 GB DDR4 onboard memory that enables you to run multiple applications at the same time without any problems.

You also get one Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB-3 1 Gen ports of which one features USB charging, and one HDMI 2.0 port as well.

The battery enables you to use this device for up to 20 hours and allows fast charging to 100% in just two hours.

In case you want to feel secure when it comes to third parties accessing your webcam randomly, you have great security features included. With a TPM 2.0 module installed, this ensures that your data is safe and the fingerprint reader makes sure that you’re the only person capable of accessing the device.

To ensure even more privacy, the camera can be covered with a special button which ensures that even if people connect to it, they won’t be able to see a thing.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

  • Intel Evo i5-1130G7
  • Intel Iris Xe GPU
  • 16:10 IPS Display
  • 16 GB LPDDR4 RAM
  • 512 GB PCIe NVME SSD
  • Small display
imageCheck price

The ThinkPad X1 Nano laptop from Lenovo is another very powerful laptop that offers full support for Windows 11 OS.

Even though smaller than the previous models we discussed in this list, measuring 13 inches only, don’t judge it by its size, as you might find the powerful components to be quite a surprise.

The IPS display with 450 nits is incredibly crisp, with a 2K resolution of 2160×1350, offering you a great visual experience even though smaller.

Having a reduced size is not for everybody, but if you need a laptop that can be easily carried wherever you’re going, this laptop is unbeatable.

This nice laptop offers you an Intel Evo i5-1130G7 processor, a backlit keyboard, and 16 GB of RAM. To round it off, it comes with a 512 GB PCIe SSD, to ensure you can store and run data at very high speeds.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU is not the latest and greatest, but it offers enough power for you to be able to use this laptop at work, or in the comfort of your own home, browsing the internet and watching TV shows.

Added to this, the ThinkPad X1 Nano comes bundled with a 720p HD webcam built into its upper lid panel, a fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1.

When it comes to connectivity, this laptop doesn’t disappoint, being set up with 2 USB 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, and comes with a WOOV 32 GB Micro SD card included. 

Bottom runners

Besides the options presented above, our research has unearthed some more Windows-11 capable devices that didn’t make the list for a variety of other reasons.

The fact that they didn’t make the list, doesn’t imply that they’re not worthy of a mention, so here is a small list containing them:

➡ ASUS ExpertBook P5440

This 14-inches device, even though a good contender, didn’t make the list because of its sub-par GPU unit, which entails a variety of issues with the device.

Offering an i5-8265U CPU and 256 GB SSD, this device will surely be able to run Windows 11 and is a good choice if you’re not inclined to use it for graphic-intensive work.

➡ ASUS ExpertBook P3540

The cousin of the previously-mentioned device, the ExpertBook P3540 offers a good array of features but lacks in the same department as its family member – the GPU.

Having the same GPU as the option above, and with a lower spec capability overall, even though not the best choice, this device still offers a stable platform to run Windows 11 on.

As you can see, our list of the best PCs that are capable of running Windows 11 includes a variety of options with different capabilities and advantages.

You can also check the best Windows 11 ASUS laptops and PCs if you’re more inclined to go with a well-known company. All these options will allow you to choose the perfect fit for your needs.

We hope that this list has given you all the information needed to make a decision based on your personal needs.

Feel free to share your thoughts about this subject by using the comment section found below this guide.

Cash Register Software: 7 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you are looking for a reliable software that will register and calculating transactions at a point of sale, we have compiled the best cash register software for PC in order to get you started.

The cash register itself is usually attached to a printer that can print out receipts and even a drawer for keeping storing cash. While cash register software for PC simplifies the sales process, ensures payment is made securely and organizes the sales recording.

A new business just starting out can appear more legitimate and professional by making use of cash register software, otherwise known as a point of sale (POS) system.

There are many cash register software for PC out there, and you might probably get lost while searching for the right one. We have compiled a list of the best cash register software for PC guaranteed to streamline your sales process and boost your productivity.

Cash register software for PC

Square

Square is a versatile all-in-one business management software that comes with a powerful point-of-sale integration.

It can be used both for online and in-person sales. For in-person transactions, it offers the Square Reader which works both with insertion and contactless.  

When it comes to online businesses, Square gives you a variety of options, including local delivery and click and collect. 


With Square, you can easily set what kind of payments your business accepts. You can choose from pretty much all possible options: Credit Cards, Apple Pay and Google Play, Gift Cards, Cards on Fire, Invoices, Transfers, and more. It also assists you with processing refunds.

Other key features of Square include:

  • Monitors payments for suspicions transactions
  • Safe, encrypted payments
  • PCI compliance
  • 2 step verification 
  • Helps you create receipts
  • Integrated preset tip amounts
  • Create automatic discounts 

Square is a paid service with custom plans, based on your transaction rates.

Square

Square

Keep your business running with safe payments, receipts, click and collect, and more.
Check priceVisit website

Copper POS

Copper is a POS software for all types of business. You can manage your store, your stocks, your finances, and even the currencies. This software includes a lot of features that are extremely useful for business owners. The most important are:

  • Client management
  • Inventory control
  • Support for multiple currencies
  • Multiple payment forms
  • Tax exemption
  • Refunds

You can find almost all of these features in the free (demo) version of the software. However, if you will need to use it on a daily basis at a ‘full throttle’ you will need to upgrade to the Pro version.

Copper POS

Copper POS

Manage financial transactions of all kinds and with multiple currencies.
Free trialVisit Website

Vend

First of all, Vend is the leading cash register software in the USA, streamlining the sales process for retailers. It works with top merchant providers around the world enabling businesses to choose the best way available to accept payments ranging from gift cards, credit cards, and debit cards. Also, cash register software for PC, Vend is very efficient on almost all Windows systems.

Some of its key features include:

  • It works well on Windows PC, iPad, Mac
  • Custom receipts with logo
  • It works offline (Automatically sync when you are back online)
  • Add discounts and notes to specific items
  • Track all cash movement from cash float to cash register
  • Create individual staff accounts and track sales

Most noteworthy, this cash register software offers a range of pricing structures with the Starter package available at a cost per month and is designed for a single outlet with three users. It is a paid service, but it does offer a 14-day free-trial so you can see how it works for you before proceeding with the purchase.

⇒ Get Vend

Brilliant Cash Register Express

Also, Brilliant CRE makes an excellent cash register software with the cash register express software. The software is remarkable due to its faster customer checkout, accurate inventory tracking, and employee management. It is available for any business ranging from small shop outlets to large multi-store chains.

Some important features of Brilliant CRE are:

  • Track inventory and employee hours/activity
  • It comes with free gift card processing
  • Web portal for multi-location management
  • Sales and inventory reports

Also, Brilliant CRE gives retailers the option to build their own POS or download a free trial. Brilliant CRE is compatible with major Windows OS including Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

⇒ Get Brilliant Cash Register Express

Nextar

Another easy-to-use cash register software for PC is Nextar. The free version can be installed used instantly.

Some of Nextar’s innovative features include:

  • Sales tracking
  • Revenue report generation
  • Faster checkout service
  • Cash register management
  • Create individual staff accounts

In addition, this software works well as a faster cash register software for PC on any Windows system. Nextar has a limited, free plan but Pro and Premium packages are available

⇒ Get Nextar

Chromis POS

This Windows-friendly cash register software for PC can run on all Windows versions (XP through 10). Due to its customization options for screen and receipts layouts, Chromis comes with kitchen screen software that can integrate with the POS, if you want to send orders back to a separate monitor.

Some important features of Chromis include:

  • CSV import for product list
  • Barcode supported, including variable price or weight (GS1 standard)
  • Built in reporting and reports
  • Supports USB printers
  • Customer database

Most noteworthy, Chromis is an open-source cash register software with support for almost nine separate locations.

⇒ Get Chromis POS

Floreant POS

Finally, built especially for restaurants, Floreant is a free and open-source cash register software. It can run on Windows and other operating systems. You can easily take and track orders using Floreant by using the bar tabs feature. Kitchen printers are connected to Floreant which makes it easier to manage menus and recipes.

Some of the core features of Floreant are:

  • Friendly interface for managing food menu, prices, beverages, cooking instruction.
  • Create separate bar tab
  • Cash terminal for magnetic card, giftcard and coupon
  • Kitchen control
  • Financial reports generation
  • Supports free/commercial plugins for purchase, warehouse and many more.
  • Tax deduction

Furthermore, Floreant is hardware-friendly because it offers hardware support for java tablets, kitchen printers, magnetic cards, and barcode scanners. Therefore, Floreant is the best cash register software for a restaurant setting.

⇒ Get Floreant

These were our top cash register software for PC that we picked for you. Check them all out on your Windows system and stick with the one that fits your sales process needs.

Xbox teams up with Rockstar Energy to offer exclusive Halo Infinite content and prizes

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Xbox team has announced today a new partnership with Rockstar Energy Drink to promote the upcoming release of Halo Infinite. For a limited time, Halo fans can purchase five limited-edition Halo Infinite Rockstar Energy cans and win exclusive in-game content and prizes thanks to the digital codes included with every can.

The different prizes include Challenge Swaps and 2XP bonus for Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer modes, as well as free cosmetics for the game’s vehicles and weapons, which you can see below. Each can purchase will also provide Halo fans the opportunity to win a free copy of Halo Infinite and an Xbox Series X prize bundle including a console, a digital copy of the game, a Razer Raptor 27” monitor, and a Razer Kairo Pro Halo Infinite headset.

Exclusive In-game Content and Prizes

In the US, Xbox and Rockstar Energy Drink will also be offering the ultimate Grand Prize, which is a custom Jeep Gladiator that would make Xzibit and his colleagues from the Pimp my Ride TV show drop their jaws. “Inspired by the power of Master Chief, the custom vehicle will feature Master Chief-colored protective coating, massive 43” extreme traction tires, stylized body armor, performance upgrades and pro-level suspension ready for any level of terrain from rock crawling to cruising the pavement,” the blog post reads.

Last year, the Xbox team announced a similar partnership with Monster Energy to promote the upcoming release of Halo Infinite, though this was before the game was delayed to 2021. This time, Xbox and Rockstar Energy Drink have also partnered with five acclaimed artists to create the five limited-edition cans inspired by Halo’s Master Chief.

The promotion will be available until the launch of Halo Infinite on Xbox and PC on December 8. To redeem under-the-tab codes, consumers will need to visit Halo.RockstarEnergy.com, where you can also learn more information about the partnership.

Disney+ app now available on Windows 10 & Windows 11 Microsoft Store

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It used to be that you needed to set up Disney+ as a PWA on Windows to get the best experience, but that’s no longer the case. An official app is now available for download on both Windows 10 & Windows 11, letting you get into the best of Disney’s action natively on your PC without having to use a web browser.

Overall, this new app is pretty visually similar to the web-based experience but it is an exciting arrival for Windows fans at a time when Microsoft is heavily advertising the revamped Microsoft Store. Disney+ was a missing piece on the store, and it’s now the latest heavy-hitting streaming service to arrive on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Apps were already available for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, though an Apple TV has yet to appear on the Store.

Anyway, once you install the app and sign in, You’ll see the various Disney+ media categories in a bar up top, as well as the same listings page for movies and other shows.  We tested the app on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and everything works fine. It weighs in at around 80 MB, and you can download it via the link below. Check it out now and let us know if you’re enjoying it by dropping us a comment.

Disney+
Disney+
Download
QR-Code

Disney+
Developer:
Disney
Price:
Free+

Microsoft news recap: Google claims “Google” is most searched term on Bing, Xbox Cloud Gaming expands, and more

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!

Google is “by far” the most popular search term on Microsoft’s Bing, Google says

In an attempt to appeal a $5 billion antitrust fine issued by the EU, Google has claimed that “Google” is the most searched term on Microsoft’s Bing, arguing that people use Google because they choose to do so.

Google Antitrust Cropped

Xbox Cloud Gaming officially launches in Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan

Microsoft’s game streaming ambitions continue to pick up pace, as the company has officially expanded its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan, opening up game streaming to a much larger audience.

Microsoft starts testing Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox consoles

In other Xbox Cloud Gaming news, game streaming is now being tested on Xbox consoles. The feature allows Xbox Game Pass games to be played without downloading them, and will eventually allow Xbox One console owners to play next-gen games. Testing is available to some Xbox Insiders.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella looks back on TikTok acquisition talks, “the strangest thing I’ve ever worked on”

Looking back on talks that took place to acquire TikTok, CEO Satya Nadella has said that they were “the strangest thing” that he’s ever worked on, though the talks never led to an actual acquisition. Read more about what Satya Nadella had to say here.

Tiktok microsoft windows 11

That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.

WSL2 vs Ubuntu: Performance & Speed Compared

Posted on by Don Sharpe

With only a few days remaining until the release of Windows 11 and Ubuntu 21.10 on October 5 and October 14 respectively, Phoronix decided to test and compare the two operating systems and from the results, it seems that they are on the same wavelength.

The tests

Phoronix put to test three systems; Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) in Windows 11 system, Ubuntu 21.10 and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. in the test equipment, similar hardware was used which included;

  • Windows 11 Build 22454
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
  • GeForce RTX 3090
  • 16GB memory (8GB for WSL).
  • WD Black SN850 1TB (2 275GB virtual disks of WSL)

Performance

When compared to Ubuntu, it seems that WSL 2 on Windows 11 performs exceptionally well under moderate CPU-intensive conditions. The conditions change when the CPU is overloaded or the memory and I/O system come into play. This causes the system to lag.

In the Nginx web server benchmark test, WSL 2 on Windows 11, seems to take the lead by a significant margin, beating Ubuntu 21.10 and 20.04 LTS. In the 130 tests performed, it was found that Windows 11 WSL 2 is up to 6-7% slower than Ubuntu 21.10. The percentage goes lower for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

It is important to note that the tests performed were for the Windows 11 Dev channel version hence its performance may be slightly different from the Windows 11 public version set to be released on October 5.

If you wish to find a more detailed evaluation, you can visit here.

What do you think of the performance metrics for the two operating systems? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Microsoft: New volume sliders for Windows 11 coming soon

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Windows Insiders have been requesting redesigned volume sliders for a long time coming. Well, it looks like their requests did not fall on deaf ears as Microsoft has confirmed it is working on new sliders.

Currently, the Windows 8 design is the one that has been in use, and Microsoft is yet to give details on whether they will be changing the design. Apps such as Photos have been receiving updates to align with the Windows 11 design, so a lot of users may be expecting the same for the volume sliders.

New designs

Windows 11 has been rolling out new designs such as the Start menu, taskbar, and notification center. However, the Windows 8 flyouts for volume, brightness, and more have remained the same. The volume pop-out usually appears when you adjust the volume on your device, showing media controls for audio playback.

According to users, the flyout has been looking out of place, and one cannot deactivate the function. From the features that Windows 11 is releasing, the design is sleek, and maintaining the same flyout may be out of place if it remains unchanged.

Anonymous look

We do not know what the new slider will look like, but it seems promising from the comments made so far, and Windows 11 fans should stay put. With Windows 11 only a few days away from release now, it looks like the volume sliders will come a little later.

As long as it’s coming, we can only wait.

Do you think the new volume sliders should retain their old design or be made to align with Windows 11 design? Let us know in the comment section below.

Among Us Crossplay Guide [PC, iOS, Android, Steam]

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Among Us is an online survival game, and it is all about deceit, with one team member being a hidden traitor who needs to be outed.

Two years after its launch, Among Us suddenly saw a massive increase in its player base, thanks to the popular live streamers picking it up.

The company launched the game on both PC (via Steam) and mobile platforms, including iOS and Android.

Some people were saying that Among Us crossplay is not working, but they have yet to read the workaround presented in this guide.

Is Among Us Crossplay with mobile?

Yes, you can use the software we describe in this guide to play Among Us from your PC with your friends that use a mobile device. Read on for more details about this topic.

How can I play Among Us cross-platform?

1. Play Amongs Us on PC with LD Player

LD Player is a high-quality Android emulator for Windows users that consumes little resources and provides lightweight performance.

It is designed to have a game that is available for your phone to play on your PC, with covered controls for the mouse and keyboard. 

The advantages of using LD Player are that you can play the game on your PC for free, enjoy multi-instance, macro support, high fps, smart key-mapping, and much more. 

To play Among US on PC, you will need to download and install LD Player on your computer. After launching, go to the LD Store and search for the Among Us app.

Click Install to begin launching the game on the freshly mirrored screen.

After following the steps, you will find the Among Us symbol on your emulator home screen, a click away to begin the game!

LD Player

LD Player

Because LD PLayer is a reliable emulator for cross-platform gaming, you’ll never miss a chance to play Among Us!
Free trialVisit website

2. Play Among Us in Private mode

Among Us crossplay
  1. Launch the game on your PC or mobile platform like iOS and Android.
  2. From the home screen, tap on Online.
  3. Next, select Private mode.
  4. Once you have selected the Private mode, you need to enter the room code to join the game with your friends.

If you already have the game on your PC installed via Steam, you can still play with other players from the Android and iOS platforms using the private mode in Among Us.

Entering the Private room will allow you to play cross-platform multiplier on PC and mobile with your friends if Among Us crossplay is not working via the emulator. The only downside to this is you can’t join random lobbies online.

If the game is not working on your PC, we have detailed troubleshooting guides under our Among Us section.

Among Us is a fun, little, addictive game that has overtaken the gaming community. If you are new to this crazy world of imposters, we hope this quick guide on Among Us crossplay has helped you get started with the game.

You can also review this guide on how to play Among Us on Windows to confirm your PC setup before you start troubleshooting crossplay issues.

As for those interested in Palworld crossplay, you can play together on Xbox and PC, as described in this article.

Looking for more games like Among Us? You can find more on our dedicated Gaming hub.

Completely uninstall Andy OS on Windows 10/11 [Full Fix]

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Andy OS is an emulator with which you can run Android apps on Windows 10. However, the software became associated with cryptocurrency-mining malware in 2018. It also hogs about 415 megabytes of hard drive storage.

So Andy users should consider uninstalling the emulator for the time being at least. This is how you can thoroughly uninstall Andy OS from Windows 10.

How do I manually uninstall Andy OS on Windows 10?

  1. Uninstall via the Control Panel applet
  2. Run the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
  3. Uninstall with the System Restore Utility

1. Uninstall via the Control Panel applet

  1. Right-click the Start menu button and select Run and input appwiz.cpl
  2. Click OK to open the window shown directly below.

  3. Then select Andy OS listed on the programs list. If you can’t see it, enter the keyword Andy in the search box.
  4. Press the Uninstall/Change button. An Andy OS uninstaller window will open.
  5. Select the Remove ALL User Progress and Data and Uninstall VMware Player Also options.
  6. Press the Next button to uninstall Andy OS.
  7. Restart Windows after you uninstall Andy.

You can easily uninstall the Android emulator with CCleaner in just a couple of minutes to be sure that all files will be removed after you uninstall the app. In this way, you won’t have to manually clean up the leftovers and your operating system will remain in optimal condition.

If you prefer to uninstall the Andy emulator as outlined above and not using additional software as mentioned above, look for the files and registry entries that are left behind.

You’ll need to manually clean up the leftover files and folders within File Explorer. These are some of the leftover folder paths that you should look for and delete in File Explorer:

  • C:/Users<user>/Andy
  • C:/Program Files/Andy/OfflineInstaller42
  • C:/Program Files/Andy/OfflineInstaller43
  • C:/Program Files/Andy/OfflineInstaller
  • C:/Program Files/Andy
  • C:/<user>/AppDataRoaming (enter ‘%appdata%’ in File Explorer’s path bar)

Also, note that the Oracle VM VirtualBox is a component that gets installed with Andy OS. You can uninstall Oracle VM much the same as Andy via the Programs and Features applet.

You’ll also need to clean up leftover registry entries after uninstalling Andy OS with the Windows uninstaller. The best way to do that is to add a third-party registry cleaner to Windows.

Then you can scan the registry with the software to erase leftover Andy OS registry entries.

2. Run the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

If you can’t uninstall Andy via Programs and Features, make sure you’re logged in to an admin account and that there aren’t Andy OS processes listed in Task Manager when you try to uninstall the software.

In addition, check out the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter that fixes uninstall errors. This troubleshooter repairs corrupted registry keys that block software from uninstalling.

Download the tool from the official webpage then open and run the program.

When you’ve opened the above window, click the Next button. Select the Uninstalling option. Then select Andy OS on the program list. The troubleshooter might then provide some resolutions that might fix Andy’s OS so you can uninstall it.

3. Uninstall with the System Restore Utility

The System Restore utility can delete Andy OS when the Windows uninstaller doesn’t remove the software.

System Restore will certainly uninstall the Andy emulator so long as you can select a restore point that predates the software’s installation. You’ll lose all third-party software installed after a selected restore point.

So that’s how you can uninstall Andy OS along with all its leftover remnants. After uninstalling Andy, you will, of course, need a replacement Android emulator.

  1. Press the Windows key + X and choose Run.
  2. Enter Rstrui in the open window.

  3. Click the Choose a different restore point option, and press the Next button.
  4. Select the Show more restore points option to expand the full list of restore points.
  5. Select a restore point that predates the date you installed Andy.

  6. To check the restore point removes Andy, press the Scan for affected programs button.

    That option shows you what software the restore point delets in the window below.
  7. Press the Next button, and then select the Finish option to confirm the restore point.
Tip icon Tip
If you’re looking for a different Android emulator that is far more resource-efficient and has never been tied to any type of malware, we suggest you give LDPlayer a try.

You can find the some of best freeware Android emulators for Windows in our software guide.

If you want to share with us your experience with the entire uninstall/reinstall process, feel free to use the comments section below.

Xbox head Phil Spencer expects next-gen consoles to remain supply-constrained next year

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Head of Microsoft’s Xbox division Phil Spencer spoke candidly to reporters this week about the chip shortage situation and its effects on next-gen console availability, this time with publication The Wrap.

Throughout the Fall of 2020 and ten months into 2021, fans of both leading next gen consoles in the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 have had to do a bit of scouring to find devices to purchase. In large part, the global pandemic put an early stranglehold on production, manufacturing and distribution across the globe, and video game consoles were not excluded from the crisis.

When discussing the chip shortage and its effects on Microsoft’s Xbox Series consoles in specific, Spencer attributes the lack of devices to more than a single vector.

I think it’s probably too isolated to talk about it as just a chip problem. When I think about, what does it mean to get the parts necessary to build a console today, and then get it to the markets where the demand is, there are multiple kind of pinch points in that process. And I think regretfully it’s going to be with us for months and months, definitely through the end of this calendar year and into the next calendar year.

While expressing his frustration with the situation, Spencer notes the effects a lack of available consoles is having on fans leaving many disappointed and despondent about this generation of gaming.

As Spencer explains, fans left dispirited about their inability to catch a flash sale or afford absorbent online pricing, will remain a reality for some time to come. Spencer’s candid outlook on the chip shortage, while dower, is still rather optimistic when compared to chip maker Toshiba. Director in charge of semiconductors at Toshiba predicts that, “some customers will not be fully served by their products until 2023.

Slack doesn’t connect to the Internet? We got fixes for it

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Slack connection issues are impossible to avoid when you have a painfully slow or unreliable Internet connection.

There are times when Slack is actually down and connection problems originate from their servers, yet you might not like what you’re about to read.

The main reason for your Slack connection issues isn’t related to their infrastructure but rather resides in your Internet connection.

Having to deal with unsent Slack messages or calls where the audio cuts in and out frequently is no scenario you want to be a part of for too long.

You don’t expect to get that from this popular messaging and collaboration app on a daily basis, yet this isn’t the time for losing patience.

In this article, we’re going to explore some of the best ways to fix Slack connection issues.

Note icon NOTE
Downdetector is reporting a server outage for Slack. If you’re not able to connect right now, note that the company says it’s working on a fix for the issue that’s been ongoing since around 12:30 PM ET/9:30 AM PT.

What can I do if Slack doesn’t connect to the Internet?

1. Check your Internet connection

Slack internet connection issues
  1. Open any other webpage.
  2. If that webpage doesn’t load either, reset your Internet connection.
  3. Try loading Slack again.

This sounds rather basic, but in some instances, your Internet connection can be the reason why Slack doesn’t connect to the Internet.

2. Run the Slack connection test

  1. Sign in to your Slack workspace.
  2. Access Slack testing page to check connections.
    Slack connection issues test
  3. Under the WebSockets section, see the results for both WebSocket (Flannel [Primary]) and WebSocket (Flannel [Backup]).
  4. A successful test will reveal the checked circle icon.
  5. A failed test will show instead the warning icon.
  6. In case of any errors, contact your network administrator or Internet service provider.

3. Clear your cache

  1. Open the Slack app.
  2. Click Help in your computer’s menu bar.
  3. Select Troubleshooting.
  4. Click Clear Cache and Restart.
    clear cache slack slack can't connect to the Internet

After clearing the cache, check if Slack still has problems connecting to the Internet.

4. Adjust your proxy to keep the connection to Slack open

  1. Visit Slack URL page.
    Slack connection issues sign in
  2. Here you must whitelist all specified URLs.
  3. Visit that page from each workspace if your environment requires access to multiple workspaces and/or orgs.
  4. Then, verify if your proxy is running SSL decryption.
  5. If it is, it’s time to exempt the following domains: *.slack-msgs.com wss-primary.slack.com wss-backup.slack.com wss-mobile.slack.com.

Always remember that proxies and firewalls often mess around with connection between Slack messaging servers and members’ apps.

This might be the case if there’s a WebSocket failure in our Slack connection test, or if it becomes impossible to connect from a specific location.

5. Collect and send Net Logs

  1. Open the Slack app.
  2. Click Help in your computer’s menu bar.
  3. Select Troubleshooting.
  4. Select the Restart and Collect Net Logs option.
  5. Once the app has restarted, reproduce the issue.
  6. Quit and restart Slack once more.
  7. It’s time to send Slack an email at [email protected] with Net Log file or use the contact form.
    Slack connection issues contact

Keep in mind that the name of the file must start with net-log.

We hope this guide managed to help you fix the Slack connection issues caused by the Internet itself, antivirus software or security settings, disruptions with third-party services, or errors with app storage or Slack servers.

Also, don’t forget that DNS failures come in a lot of forms but they all point to the fact that your browser can’t connect to the domain of a certain page.

Learn how to quickly solve DNS PROBE FINISHED NXDOMAIN Chrome errors and continue enjoying Slack as you normally do.

Do you know any alternative solutions? Just sound off in the comments below.

FIX: Slack is not automatically loading new messages

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Slack is among the most popular networks used to communicate with teammates and employees. However, sometimes it does not automatically load new messages when you need it to.

In this article, you’ll learn about the most simple methods used to fix this problem. It’s worth noting that these steps apply to both the Slack desktop app and the web version of it.

Note icon NOTE
Downdetector is currently reporting a server outage for Slack. If you’re having trouble connecting, keep in mind that the issue is been ongoing since around 12:30 PM ET/9:30 AM PT and Slack is working on a fix.

How can I solve Slack message loading errors?

1. Fix connection issues

slack connection

Here are the steps you need to take:

  1. Check your Internet connection.
  2. Do this by loading a new webpage.
    • If it doesn’t work, just reset the connection and try again .

Once the Internet connection is back up, you have to run the Slack connection test:

  1. Visit Slack’s connection test page.
  2. If any errors come up once the test is finished, contact your Internet provider for help and they should get you sorted out.

Moreover, when it comes to DNS failures, they most likely show up in your browser when you lose Internet access. Do not hesitate to solve DNS PROBE FINISHED NXDOMAIN Chrome errors and get things on the right track.

2. Clear cache memory

slack-not-automatically-loading-new-messages

We will show you how it’s done in Google Chrome, since this is the most popular browser today. Here are the steps you need to take in order to delete the cache memory in the browser:

  1. Launch Google Chrome.
  2. .Press Ctrl + Shift+ Delete.
    • A new window will pop up, where you must select the time period for which you want to delete the cache. Select All.
  3. Check the box where it says Images and Files in Cache.
  4. Finish by clicking Delete Browsing Data.
  5. Reload the site.

This method is suitable for those who are using Slack directly in the browser. If any of the new messages won’t start to load, there might be a good idea to clear the cache memory of the browser you are using. This is done differently, depending on the software in use.

3. Re-install the app

slack-not-automatically-loading-new-messages
  1. Press Start.
  2. Type in Slack.
  3. Right-click on the app’s icon.
  4. Click Uninstall.
  5. Download the app from the Slack official website and install it again like you did last time.

Most likely, this method will delete every issue that ever came up, meaning that your new messages will also appear when you log into your account.

As you can see from above, there are multiple ways to get Slack to load your new messages.

Depending on which version you’re using, try one of these methods. And if they won’t work, just re-install the app if you’re using the desktop version. This will surely get rid of the issue.

Do you know of any other methods that can efficiently solve this issue with Slack? Let us know in the comment section below.

Microsoft Forms starts rolling out new organization capabilities

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has announced some important updates that are coming to Forms this month. Indeed, the software giant has started rolling out a new feature to help users organize their surveys, quizzes, and polls into customized collections.

The firm says the ability to categorize their forms into collections has been among the much-anticipated features, and it was first spotted on the Microsoft 365 roadmap last month. “You can create as many Collections as you want to store quizzes and forms and access them anytime online. Edit your files in a Collection, copy a Collection, share a Collection out (coming soon), or delete them when you’re done. You can also switch to a list view if you’d like to have vertical view of all your Collections,” the company explained in the blog post.

In addition to the desktop experience, the Forms Collection feature is also supported on mobile devices. This means that users can now easily group all forms/quizzes/polls as desired on the go. This capability is also available for forms instances generated through other Microsoft 365 apps, including Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

The new Collections experience is gradually rolling out to targeted release customers, and it will become generally available later this month. The feature aims to increase productivity and give users greater control over their personal content. However, Microsoft Forms currently doesn’t provide an option to download or export collections. Collections are currently restricted to personal forms, and group forms are not supported yet.

Big updates for Teams, Visio, and more – what’s new in Microsoft 365 for September

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has pushed out a monthly recap of all the new features and capabilities added to Microsoft 365 in September. This time around, the company has outlined updates rolled out to each of the Microsoft 365 apps and services, including Teams, Yammer, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio. Here’s a look at what you need to know.

First of all, Microsoft has launched AI-powered Live captions and transcription capabilities in Teams meetings in 27 new languages. The list includes French, German, Brazilian, Portuguese, Hindi, Japanese, and more. Users will be able to access this feature in the Teams desktop app by selecting the menu (. . .) icon and clicking the “Change spoken language” option. It will help to increase participant engagement and make it easier to take post-meeting notes.

With real-time captioning, go to the more actions section within your Teams meeting and select your desired spoken language.

Next up are improvements to Microsoft Yammer. The enterprise social networking service is getting a new integration with Viva Topics to help employees discover information from Yammer communities and manage knowledge-sharing within an organization. This release will let licensed customers access all the Viva Topics features, such as Viva Topic cards. You can find more details on the Yammer Topic API changes blog to understand the changes.

Next up are improvements to the Office suite of apps. Last month, Microsoft announced that Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now support real-time co-authoring on encrypted and sensitive documents. This capability has previously been available on the web since 2019, and it is finally making its way to the Windows and macOS desktop apps. Visio on the web has introduced a new feature that brings support for fully custom colors in diagrams. This means that users can now access recently used or custom colors to highlight objects in the diagrams.

You can now co-author in encrypted documents in Microsoft 365 Apps.

Lastly, Microsoft has also detailed a few new capabilities for IT professionals that aim to help them deploy and manage new versions of operating systems. Microsoft Endpoint Manager’s analytics service has picked up day-one support for macOS 12 and iOS 15. The Redmond giant also added Windows metrics to analyze the number of machines running older Windows versions and determine which devices are ready for Windows 11.

The next Start11 update will bring more options to customize Windows 11 in ways that Microsoft won’t let you

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The folks at Stardock have announced another big update for Start11. Coming on October 7, the next update will bring additions like the ability to adjust the taskbar size, re-order quick access shortcut lists, and more. The update should let you customize Windows 11 to make it more personal, in ways that Microsoft won’t let you do it natively.

One of the big features coming in this update lets you move the taskbar to the top of the desktop in Windows 11, a feature that’s not available in the settings app. In addition, some of the other features include some new Start Menu layouts to choose from, restored context menus, and integration with Stardock’s Fences program. You can see a preview of what it looks like below.

The Start11 update will release on October 7th. The beta is currently available for $4.99, with an upgrade option for users of Start8 and Start10. We previously had a chat with Stardock about Start11 and the future of the app.

MSFS 2020 Crashing on Windows 11: How to Fix it

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Flight Simulator 2020 is compatible with both 64-bit Windows 10 and 11. So, you can enjoy MSFS 2020 in Microsoft’s latest Windows platform.

Some early users have encountered issues playing Flight Simulator 2020 in Windows 11. Certain players have reported MSFS 2020 crashing to the desktop in Windows 11. Others have spoken about update issues arising for that game.

Either way, players can’t play Microsoft Flight Simulator when such things happen. The potential resolutions below might fix such issues and make MSFS 2020 playable in Windows 11.

How come Microsoft Flight Simulator isn’t working in Windows 11?

Games often crash because of corrupted or missing files. Microsoft Flight Simulator is no exception in that regard. Therefore, reinstalling MSFS, or at least verifying its game files, can often Microsoft Flight Simulator issues.

Conflicting programs can also generate MSFS issues in Windows 11. For example, some players have confirmed uninstalling Sonic Studio 3 can fix Microsoft Flight Simulator crashing to desktop.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is also a graphically advanced game. Therefore, MSFS 2020 issues can arise on PCs with outdated graphics card drivers.

Flight Simulator can also frequently crash because of limited RAM (Random Access Memory). The game consumes eight gigabytes of RAM. Players with PCs that have eight GB RAM might need to increase virtual memory.

What are Microsoft’s Flight Simulator’s system requirements?

If you can’t play Flight Simulator after downloading it, double-check your PC meets the game’s minimum system requirements. The game might not start precisely because your computer doesn’t meet all minimum requirements:

Flight Simulator's system requirements windows 11 flight simulator issues

If your desktop or laptop does meet all Flight Simulator’s minimum requirements, however, go through the potential fixes for MSFS issues below. One of these resolutions might kick-start the game.

How can I fix Microsoft Flight Simulator issues in Windows 11?

1. Run the Windows Store App troubleshooter

  1. First, click Windows 11’s Start button.
  2. Type troubleshoot in the Settings’ search box.
    troubleshoot search windows 11 flight simulator issues
  3. Click Troubleshoot to bring up further options.
  4. Next, click Other trouble-shooters to view a list of troubleshooters.
    Troubleshooters windows 11 flight simulator issues
  5. Press the Run button for the Windows Store App troubleshooter.
    Windows Store Apps window windows 11 flight simulator issues
  6. Thereafter, wait for the troubleshooter to detect and repair app issues. It usually automatically repairs issues.

2. Reset the Microsoft Store cache

  1. Press the magnifying glass taskbar button to open Windows 11’s search box.
    Magnifying glass button windows 11 flight simulator issues
  2. Type wsreset.exe in the search utility’s text box as in the screenshot below.
    wsreset.exe windows 11 flight simulator issues
  3. Click wsreset.exe in the search results to run it.
  4. Next, wait for the MS Store window to automatically open.
Note icon NOTE
This resolution is more specifically for fixing MS Store update issues that can arise for the Microsoft Flight Simulator UWP (Universal Windows Platform) app.

3. Update Windows 11

  1. Click Start and select Settings on the menu. 
  2. Click the Windows Update tab.
    Windows Update windows 11 flight simulator issues
  3. Press the Check for updates button on that tab. Windows 11 might then automatically download and install new updates.

4. Update your PC’s graphics driver

  1. Right-click Windows 11’s Start button to open a shortcuts menu.
    A shortcuts menu windows 11 flight simulator issues
  2. Select Device Manager on that menu to bring up that utility’s window.
  3. Double-click Display adapters to view your PC’s graphics devices.
  4. Right-click your PC’s graphics adapter to select the Update driver option.
    Update driver option windows 11 flight simulator issues
  5. Next, click Search automatically for drivers option within the Update Drivers window that opens.
    Search automatically for drivers option windows 11 flight simulator issues
  6. Wait for the Update Drivers utility to install new driver.

Alternatively, try updating device drivers with third-party driver updater software. A driver update utility such as Outbyte Driver Updater will tell you if your graphics card’s driver is outdated and enable you to update it.

5. Reset the game (MS Store app fix)

  1. Click the Start tasbkar button to select Settings on the menu.
  2. Select Apps on the left of Settings.
    The Apps tab windows 11 flight simulator issues
  3. Next, click Apps & features to open the options below.
    Apps & features tab windows 11 flight simulator issues
  4. Click the three dots button for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
    Three dots button windows 11 flight simulator issues
  5. Then select Advanced options.
  6. Press the Reset button for the app.
    Reset button windows 11 flight simulator issues
  7. Click Reset again to provide further confirmation.

6. Verify its files in Steam (Steam fix)

  1. Open your Steam client software in Windows 11.
  2. Select Steam’s Library tab.
    Library tab windows 11 flight simulator issueshttps://cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-library-tab.jpg
  3. Right-click Microsoft Flight Simulator in the Library tab to select Properties.
  4. Click the Local Files tab.
  5. Press the Verify Integrity of Game Files button.
    The Verify Integrity of Game Files option windows 11 flight simulator issues
  6. Thereafter, wait for the validation process to complete. Press the Close button when it’s done.

7. Increase virtual memory allocation

  1. Right-click Windows 11’s Start button to open a menu full of shortcuts.
  2. Select Run on the menu.
  3. Type this text in Run’s Open box and click OK: SystemPropertiesAdvanced
  4. Click the Settings button.
    Settings button windows 11 flight simulator issues
  5. Select the Advanced tab.
    The Advance tab windows 11 flight simulator issues
  6. Click Change on that tab to open the Virtual Memory window.
  7. Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox.
    The Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox windows 11 flight simulator issues
  8. Select the Custom size radio button.
  9. Type the value 12288 in the Initial size box.
  10. Input 24576 within the Maximum size box.
  11. Press the Set button.
  12. Then click OK to exit the Virtual Memory window.

8. Erase Flight Simulator’s fspatch files

Note icon NOTE
This resolution is especially recommended for fixing update errors that arise for MSFS. For example, it can fix the issue whereby MSFS gets stuck on a Please Wait screen.
  1. First, click the File Explorer taskbar button.
    File Explorer button windows 11 flight simulator issues
  2. Open one of these folder paths in File Explorer:

    C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Official\OneStore (MS Store app)

    C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Official\Steam (Steam)

  3. Select all the .fspatch files in the folder path specified.
  4. Click the Delete button to erase the .fspatch files there.
    The Delete button windows 11 flight simulator issues

9. Uninstall Sonic Studio 3

  1. Open Run by right-clicking the Start button and selecting that accessory on the menu.
  2. To open Programs and Features, input this Run command and click OK: appwiz.cpl
  3. Select Sonic Studio 3 if it’s installed.
    Programs and Features applet windows 11 flight simulator issues
  4. Click Uninstall and Yes on confirmation prompts to remove Sonic Studio 3.

Some users prefer to utilize third-party uninstaller software for uninstalling apps. Third-party uninstaller utilities more thoroughly erase leftover residual files than the default uninstaller in Windows and IObit Uninstaller won’t disappoint you.

10. Reinstall Flight Simulator

  1. Open Apps & features in Settings as outlined within the fifth resolution.
  2. Select the Microsoft Flight Simulator app.
  3. Click the three dots button for MSFS and select Uninstall.
    Uninstall option windows 11 flight simulator issues
  4. Restart Windows after removing Microsoft Flight Simulator.
  5. Thereafter, open the MS Store page for your MS Flight Simulator. Download the game from there to reinstall it.
Note icon NOTE
Steam users can uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator in their client software. To do so, right-click MSFS on Steam’s Library tab and select Uninstall. Then reinstall the game via your client software.

Who can I contact to fix Flight Simulator issues?

You can contact Flight Simulator’s support service. Open the Microsoft Flight Simulator FAQ page in your browser. Then click the Submit a Request link on that page. Fill out the form that opens and press the Submit button.

The above resolutions can feasibly fix a wide variety of crashing and updating issues that can arise for MSFS. If your Flight Simulator often crashes at startup or during gameplay, give them a try.

Moreover, let us guide you if you happen to encounter the Flight Simulator X error 1722. The message shows that there is a problem with the Windows Installer so you need to act fast and correct it.

Finally, keep in mind that those aren’t necessarily all the resolutions to apply when experiencing Microsoft Flight Simulator issues. Players who have fixed MSFS crashing with other methods are welcome to share their fixes in the comments area below.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits game review

Posted on by Mick Fraser

At first, I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was stopping me from falling head over heels with Kena: Bridge of Spirits. On the surface, there’s a lot to be enamored by. For a start, it’s beautiful.

The forest is brought vividly to life by the geniuses at Ember Lab, making it at the same time both whimsical and mysterious. The backdrops are stunning, evoking Disney-Pixar adventures at their best.

Gleaming lights play against warm stone, motes of luminescence dance and chase one another through canopy shadows, ponds and rivers gleam in the sunlight.

High spirits

Until you happen to come upon the Corruption that Kena is sworn to eradicate, at which point the once-beautiful woodland twists and gnarls into thorny roots and tendrils that jut from the ground, holding aloft pulsating red flowers that spit abominations into the world.

To clear the way and restore peace to the forest, Spirit Guide Kena must join forces with the Rot, ironically-named Woodland spirits whose cleansing powers can dispel the Corruption and allow her to shepherd the restless spirits of the forest to their final destination.

The Rot is the kind of cute that usually comes from committee meetings where corporate suits tailor something designed as much to sell merchandise as to tell a story. And yet I couldn’t help smiling whenever they did something endearing, or I got to dress them up in silly little hats made of mushrooms and bird’s nests.

Shrine and dandy

Kena is able to use an energy pulse to interact with shrines and special relics that can open doors or reveal secrets. It’s this pulse that also dispels Corruption and reveals where more Rot is hiding. Collecting them and adding them to your ever-growing entourage allows you to level up, which gives you points to spend on Rot abilities or combat skills.

Because you’ll need to search high and low for Rot to level up, it’s a slow process, and you won’t feel like you’re always in the Skill Tree tweaking stuff. It’s a more gradual and organic progression.

Armed with her father’s staff, which later doubles as a magical bow, Kena is introduced to us mid-quest. She has reached the forest, where she finds her way barred by a powerful, malevolent spirit in an ornate mask. It’s here you’ll get your first taste of combat in Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

Like most of the rest of the game, combat is nothing we haven’t seen before. Heavy and light attacks, an evade roll, a timed parry, etc.

What’s different is that to heal you’ll need the Rot to cleanse nearby flowers, which are limited in number, or you can use them to harass an enemy to give you breathing space. To do this though, you’ll need Courage.

Rot and roll

The Rot are not creatures of action, generally, and so at the first sign of trouble, they’ll scarper as Kena bravely brings her staff to bear. Defeating enemies causes them to drop golden orbs that represent the physical manifestation of Courage. Collecting them allows you to call on the Rot mid-fight, to heal you, help you out, or cleanse the nearby Corruption.

Despite the overall lack of originality, the combat is mostly enjoyable and spread out enough to act as a nice change of pace. Except for the boss fights, that is.

Now and then you’ll come up against a powerful agent of Corruption and Kena will go decidedly Dark Souls on you. Healing options are few, and the bosses have specific mechanics you’ll need to learn in order to win. Okay, they may not be quite as taxing as Souls bosses, but some of them gave me genuine pause and took three or four attempts.

This in itself wouldn’t be so bad if the checkpointing was more consistent. Often losing to the boss will require you to go back a little way, but sometimes you’ll respawn right by the fight. The latter is preferable, as the former can become irritating with repeated retries.

While Kena is not exactly a Metroidvania, it has some of the elements of one. As you progress you’ll unlock new abilities and tools, such as the aforementioned bow.

This weapon, in particular, allows Kena to grapple onto special flowers, or hit distant switches. You can also water magical plants that allow the Rot to dispel the Corruption that blocks your path. Sometimes you’ll need the Rot to move objects, like stone blocks to reach higher levels or switches that need to be repositioned.

Hats off

None of these environmental puzzles are overly difficult, but they’re enough to give you a sense of accomplishment and break up the jumping, climbing, and fighting.

Chests are dotted around containing either new hats for the Rot or currency to buy said hats, which are really just there to up the cute factor and give you something to collect, which is fine though not essential.

Kena herself is a likeable enough protagonist, even if her personality could have been lifted from two-dozen different animated movies or games of this ilk. She’s brave and focused and forthright, and that’s more or less all you get.

There aren’t many speaking NPCs for her to bounce off, but what dialogue there is, is well-written and well-acted. The world is fascinating, though, and the plight of the forest is something that can be taken as an allegory for any of a hundred real-world or personal issues.

Playing on an RTX 2060 Super graphics card, I was able to adjust the default settings up and still run Kena: Bridge of Spirits without issue once I’d updated my Nvidia drivers. For a game so consistently beautiful, it runs very well, even during more intense moments like combat encounters.

Achievements and completion

Built as a PlayStation 5 and PC game, Kena comes with a full suite of achievements which lead to a Platinum on the PS5. Despite the existence of a work-around, you will need a second playthrough to unlock one of the achievements “legitimately”.

A playthrough for 100% completion will take upwards of 12 hours, whereas simply finishing the story and seeing credits will take closer to 8 or 9. I finished in just under 9 and spent only a short amount of time poking about for secrets and hidden collectibles.

Final thoughts on Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Pros
Looks gorgeous
Great mix of combat and exploration
Doesn't outstay its welcome
Cons
Very little originality
Boss fights can be frustrating

Final Score: 4/5

Although not particularly fresh in its approach or original with its content, there’s something effortlessly likable about Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

Some of the boss fights will undoubtedly frustrate people, and younger gamers attracted by its stellar animation and whimsical appearance may struggle to overcome the challenge at times.

However, if you’re looking for a straightforward adventure that tells a story without bloating itself with side-quests, filler, and endless trinkets to collect, then Kena: Bridge of Spirits comes highly recommended.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous game review

Posted on by Mick Fraser

In many ways it’s hard to believe that Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous began its life as a Kickstarter project. Although, it’s easy to see why a Kickstarter launched in February 2020 has borne a game so vast in such a short time.

It was funded out the door in no time (thanks in part to the popularity of Pathfinder: Kingmaker), with developers Owlcat Games raising 2 million USD on an original target of just 300,000.

It’s fair to say though, that they’ve put it to very good use.

Pick from a pre-made hero, or create your own

A truly epic quest

Wrath of the Righteous is huge. It’s an 80 – 100 hour game per playthrough, with scope for scores of playthroughs. Set in the vast world of the Pathfinder tabletop RPG, it introduces new characters in a storyline totally separate from the previous game.

The character creator is one of the most in-depth I’ve seen. Not in terms of visual tweaks necessarily (you can’t sculpt faces like in Skyrim, for example), but rather in terms of building a truly unique character.

There are 12 playable races, from humans and elves and half-elves, to dark-elves and halflings. The lore of the Pathfinder universe is very similar in the broad strokes to the Forgotten Realms, so anyone familiar with D&D will feel immediately at home among the races of Golarion.

But there are also 25 Classes to choose from, each with as many as six specializations that completely alter the initial skills and abilities of the class. You can even multi-class if you want to, and cherry-pick skills from multiple classes as you progress.

Some of the classes are locked to specific races, others to specific alignments. This affects base stats and starting weapons, while other elements are directly influenced by the deity your character worships and which intrinsic skills you select.

You could be a charming rogue, an evil spellcaster; you could be a reckless healer or a softly-spoken swordsman. The choices feel endless, and it’s easy to spend a solid hour or more creating your character before you even begin the game.

Stay awhile and bicker

Tell me a story

Keeping this spoiler-free, it’s suffice to say that an evil force is ravaging Golarion once again and you’re the only one who can stop it. So far, so CRPG, right? Well, that’s fair.

But Owlcat games have poured hours and hours of dialogue (spoken and written) into a wildly branching narrative that takes into account hundreds of player choices both large and small.

From big decisions such as sparing an apparent enemy to smaller ones like which dungeon to delve into first, everything can and often will have an effect on the story.

As you travel the lands you’ll meet and potentially recruit 13 companion characters. You can select five at a time to accompany you, and as usual, the onus is on picking companions who complement your protagonist’s skills.

If you’re a tanky warrior, you’ll need a healer, some ranged support, and maybe a couple of spellcasters to harry the enemy.

Deeper yet, outside combat you’ll need a character who can pick locks, spot traps; maybe one with high Agility to help you reach certain areas. Bring along a character with high lore or arcane knowledge to glean a better understanding of the world at large.

All of these elements have a bearing on not only the way you play but also on what content you play, as you can lock off whole storylines or unlock new ones by your choices alone.

Later, a mythic path becomes an option, allowing you to specialise your character even more, and opening up even more choices and interactions.

Battles can be in real time, or turn-based

Swords and sorcery

Combat is deftly handled, as Owlcat gives you an impressive list of options to customise the proceedings. You can opt to play fights turn-based, if you want to, allowing for greater strategic control and a more traditional tabletop experience.

Or, you can leave it in real-time with a tactical pause to assess the fray, allowing you to stack commands and course-correct a battle that’s quickly going south.

The former certainly makes things easier, but you can tweak the combat difficulty to the umpteenth degree anyway, reducing the damage of critical hits, for example, or completely restricting the enemy’s use of special skills.

Every fight feels different, with certain enemies requiring specific tactics. You can group your party together to focus fire, or split them to tackle multiple foes at once.

There are spells and special attacks, items, scrolls, pets, summons, traps, and environmental hazards, and on higher difficulties, you’ll need to use everything at your disposal to stay alive. Including good old trusty save-scumming to quick save and quick load your way out of trouble.

But combat is only one ingredient. The role-playing element here is arguably one of the best I’ve played. Decisions matter, as I said, but that’s not the be-all and end-all of an RPG.

Equally as important are the supporting characters and NPCs, but especially your party members. Each is as well-written as a single protagonist in many games.

The player characters you recruit are a diverse bunch

Dungeon party

They have views and opinions, likes and dislikes; some are fickle in their beliefs while others will straight up leave the group or turn on you based on how you lead. You can re-spec their skills and change their gear, but you’ll have to contend with their personalities as though they were real people.

As you travel the world map from point you’ll come across points of interest and random encounters, and even these can change depending on your party and character choices.

A wealth of side-content spins multiple yarns that take you around and through story missions, in ways that feel so organic, you’ll occasionally lose track of which is the critical path. Luckily, the journal and quest-tracking systems work well.

After a certain point in the story (again, no spoilers) you’ll unlock the Crusader Mode, wherein you’ll command entire armies at war to reclaim fallen cities and lost outposts. You will need to make camp, provision your troops, hire reinforcements and choose generals to lead them for you.

It’s an odd element to juxtapose with Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous’ epic campaign, but it kind of makes sense in practice.

If I have a complaint though, it’s that the Crusades feel bland and mechanical next to the colour and pizazz of the campaign. Yes, you’re in control of an army, but Total War this is not, and after a while, you’ll just want to auto-complete battles to move on.

Party battles are simply more fun and feel more real given the game’s CRPG nature. If Crusade mode wasn’t present, no one would be asking for it, let’s put it that way.

Explore a vast world of danger and excitement

Achievements and completion

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is gargantuan. It’s hard to put an exact hour-count to it because you could possibly rip through the main campaign on the easiest possible difficulty inside 30(-ish) hours.

If you want a truer experience, it’s a minimum of 70 to 80. If you want everything? Well, see you some time next year, we guess. You can also play through it multiple times and I couldn’t begin to guess how many runs you’d need to see all possible storylines and side quests.

Final thoughts on Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Pros
A huge, involving world that reacts to your choices
An in-depth character creator
Excellent writing and world-building throughout
Cons
Crusade mode is take-it-or-leave-it
Deep, complex systems may overwhelm newcomers

Final Score: 4/5

Playing this on a fairly decent PC I ran into zero issues with input lag, screen tear, frame rate, or load times. It’s a fantastic CRPG that is as accessible to genre newcomers as it is to veterans who cut their teeth on the original Baldur’s Gate.

The story has so many twists and turns and branching paths that you will never fully predict what’s coming, and you won’t want to. Discovering the depth of this world is part of the fun, and something you’ll only truly manage with countless hours invested.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous has some spectacular writing at times, while the vast campaign, immense character progression systems and stellar combat will keep you hooked.

If anything, Owlcat would have lost little by snipping the Crusade mode out, but it’s churlish to complain about being given more of something, right?

Disclaimer: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is currently available on PC for around $34.99 on G2A, Kinguin, GreenManGaming and GOG, and is coming to consoles in the future.

Get the new Windows 11 Paint app experience [Insiders only]

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

Do you remember that we were actually talking about this system built-in tool a couple of weeks ago? Well, what we said back then has come to pass and this app has now completed its evolutionary process.

We were all announced that Microsoft is about to start tweaking Paint and that the results would be satisfactory for all of us.

Panos Panay has now hinted at the redesigned Paint app and users are more than curious and eager to try it out.

What’s new on the Windows 11 Paint app look and features?

Update: Microsoft announced in a Windows Blog post that they are beginning to roll out the redesigned Paint app for Windows 11 to all Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.

In the new announcement, we also have a new screenshot with the new Windows 11 Paint app and Microsoft touts a simplified toolbar menu, the round color palette, and drop-box menus.

The new drop-box menus

We also learned that there is a new text tool that can be accessed by clicking on the A icon in the toolbar.

Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer Panos Panay tweeted about the new Paint experience and followers were ecstatic to find out more. 

At first glance, the UI looks quite different from the version of Paint in Windows 10, but a much closer look shows very that very little has in fact changed.

For the trained eye, the only new features are a dark mode and the ability to change text alignment. Other than that, this all seems to just be simply a fresh coat of paint with some items moved around.

If you really make an effort, by looking carefully, you’ll see that the Edit in Paint 3D button has been removed.

Overall, this seems to be simply bringing the app up to the more modern design language of Windows 11.

All of the same features from the classic Paint are still here, and the UI tweaks aren’t beyond the limits of craftsmanship, so nothing out of the ordinary.

On Windows 10, Microsoft tried to promote a new app called Paint 3D for a couple of years, but the interface was radically different and not as intuitive.

All it did is it added a ton of 3D design tools that made it more complicated, too. With Windows 11, the company seems to have acknowledged that was a bad idea and is instead refining the Paint app everyone actually uses.

When will we see this new app make its way to Insiders? This is a question that we wish we’ve had the answer to, but unfortunately, we don’t.

We have yet to see the Focus Sessions feature teased a couple of weeks ago, so these early looks don’t necessarily mean it’s coming that soon.

But since we are talking about upgrades, last week, Microsoft also rolled out a couple of smaller UI updates for the Calculator app and announced a similar update for Mail and Calendar.

Are you excited about using the new Paint? Let us know in the comments section below.

PowerToys 0.47 is now available with shortcut guide and stability improvements

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has rolled out a new version of its PowerToys suite of tools with a bunch of stability and accessibility improvements. PowerToys version 0.47 also re-introduces a highly requested feature that lets users quickly enable Shortcut Guide by holding the Windows key.

In addition to this, the latest version of PowerToys brings some updates for PowerToys Run, including an option to choose between “universal English phrasing or system-localized translation” for commands in the utility. It also addresses an issue with the Video Conference Mute tool.

Here is the full changelog for PowerToys version 0.47:

Change log

  • Upgraded WinUI to 2.7.0.
  • Reduced installer size by compressing GIFs. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Replaced ShortcutTextContorl with MarkdownTextblock. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Added functionality to invoke SHCangeNotify SHCNE_ASSOCCHANGED when thumbnail providers are turned on/off. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
  • Consolidated nuget packages. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
  • Additional logging and error handling added to PowerToys Run. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Moved away from the legacy windevbuildagents pool.
  • Added support for embedded MSIX apps in PowerToys.
  • Replaced ListView with ComboBox for Image Resizer. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Build error fixes.

General

  • Fixed issue with new updates changing the PowerToys install location.
  • Fixed settings with NumberBox elements overlapping the delete button.
  • Fixed issue with the bug report tool not generating .zip files.
  • Updated the shortcut configuration experience in Settings. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Fixed inconsistent width of sidebar icons. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Fixed sidebar UI not scaling for longer text strings in certain localizations. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Fixed issue with settings not displaying invalid keystroke assignments. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Added user defined shortcuts when set to the “Welcome to PowerToys” instead of the default shortcuts.

Color Picker

  • Accessibility issues addressed. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Added CIELAB and CIEXYZ color formats. Thanks @RubenFricke!
  • Fixed bug where changing RGB values manually doesn’t automatically update the color displayed. Thanks @martinchrzan!

FancyZones

  • Fixed regression where restarting computer resets user defined layouts to the default selection.
  • Fixed issues with Grid layout editor not showing the “Save” and “Cancel” buttons.
  • Fixed accessibility issue where users could not add or merge zones using the keyboard.
  • Added a flyout describe the prerequisites for the “Allow zones to span across monitors” option.
  • Fixed various crashing bugs.

File Explorer add-ons

  • Added PDF Thumbnail Provider for Windows Explorer. Thanks @rdeveen!

Image Resizer

  • Added default values for newly added sizes. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Fixed regression where spaces in the filename format settings couldn’t be registered.
  • Corrected scaling issues with Image Resizer Window. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Fixed issue where PowerToys crashes when json settings are not formatted properly. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Keyboard Manager

  • Fixed crash when adding a shortcut.
  • Fixed issue with Re-mappings window not displaying.
  • Fixed issue when remapping a shortcut to Alt+Tab breaks the Alt+Tab navigation with arrow keys.

PowerToys Run

  • Improvements on subtitle layout for Settings plugin. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Added path filters for Settings plugin via > key. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Translation improvements for Settings plugin. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Added translation support for Settings Plugin. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Fixed issue with PowerToys Run not being in focus when launched.
  • Fixed crash on empty/deleted environment variables when updating variables after a change. Thanks @htcfreek!
  • Corrected Registry Plugin query results.
  • Fixed crash in Registry plugin queries.
  • Fixed crash when Windows shuts down.
  • Added better description in the global results settings for plugins. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Added a confirmation box before running system commands. Thanks @chrisharris333 and @davidegiacometti!
  • Added option to use system localization our universal terminology for system commands. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Shortcut Guide

  • Re-added the long Win key press to activate utility.

Video Conference Mute

  • Fixed an issue with the first hotkey input in the settings being focused when the page loads. Prevents unintentionally shortcut reassignment. Thanks @niels9001!

Microsoft notes that it plans to release an experimental update of PowerToys (version 0.48) in the first week of October. This release will include enhancements for the much-awaited Video Conference Mute tool and all the improvements and bug fixes introduced in version 0.47.

If you are using PowerToys, you can head over to the General tab and click the “Check for updates” button to get the latest fixes and stability updates. The new PowerToys version is available to download from the official Github page.

Google is “by far” the most popular search term on Microsoft’s Bing, Google says

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

As part of an effort to appeal a $5 billion antitrust fine issued by the EU for anticompetitive practices, Google is using data it collected to prove that Google is “by far” the most common search query on its competitor’s platform, Bing.

As Google tosses Microsoft’s Bing search engine efforts under the bus, it does so as the company scrambles to appeal a $5 billion fine handed down by the EU back in 2018. Google’s recent defense against what the EU has established as an antitrust violation, is predicated on the sourced data that proves despite its mindshare, Google is a user’s preferred choice rather than it being “unfairly” pushed on people as a default on devices.

Earlier this week Bloomberg reported that Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. lawyer Alfonso Lamadrid issued the following statement along with sourced evidence to an EU court.

We have submitted evidence showing that the most common search query on Bing is by far Google. People use Google because they choose to, not because they are forced to. Google’s market share in general search is consistent with consumer surveys showing that 95% of users prefer Google to rival search engines.

While it’s an indictment of Microsoft’s molasses-like progress in competing with Google’s stratospheric popularity and use, it appears to be another aimless attempt by Google to appeal a fine issued based on its mobile search practices. Earlier this week, Google lawyer Meredith Pickfork criticized EU regulators adjudication of its antitrust case while simultaneously ignoring Apple’s own competitive practices.

The Commission shut its eyes to the real competitive dynamic in this industry, that between Apple and Android. By defining markets too narrowly and downplaying the potent constraint imposed by the highly powerful Apple, the Commission has mistakenly found Google to be dominant in mobile operating systems and app stores, when it was in fact a vigorous market disrupter [Android] is an exceptional success story of the power of competition in action.

Unfortunately, the EU commission was unphased by the critique, responding with “bringing Apple into the picture doesn’t change things very much.” Likewise, it would seem bringing in Microsoft’s unsuccessful attempts to counter Google’s dominance on desktop will do little to change a fine largely focused on Android and mobile competition.

The J-RPG Scarlet Nexus joins Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC, and Cloud today

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is continuing to add more high-profile Japanese games to Xbox Game Pass, and Scarlet Nexus is the latest J-RPG to join the catalog today. The game was released on Xbox consoles and other platforms back on June 25, and it’s pretty cool to see it coming to Game Pass just three months later.

Scarlet Nexus is available on Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC, and Cloud, and it supports cross-saves across all platforms. “Scarlet Nexus’ stunning anime and science-fiction-inspired new-gen visuals can be enjoyed in stunning 4K resolution and smooth 60 fps to give you a gaming experience that’s optimized for Xbox Series X|S,” the Xbox Wire blog post reads.

Scarlet Nexus earned praise for its art style and combat system, with the two protagonists being able to combine classic weapon-based attacks with psychokinesis powers. Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment previously described Scarlet Nexus as a “brain punk” game, which is set in a dystopian world where all humanity has evolved to gain a more developed brain.

Microsoft revealed this latest addition to Xbox Game Pass earlier today during its Tokyo Game Show digital event, where the company also announced the expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming to Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan this week. The company also showcased other games coming to Xbox Game Pass including Back 4 Blood, AI: Somnium Files, and Mighty Goose.

 

Xbox Cloud Gaming officially launches in Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to four new markets this week. The cloud gaming service will officially launch in Brazil and Mexico later today, with Australia and Japan to follow tomorrow.

The Redmond giant announced this latest Xbox Cloud Gaming expansion during its Tokyo Game Show digital event earlier today. Once again, the company reiterated its ambition to bring Xbox games to the 3 billion people playing games on the planet.

“With the expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming to gamers in Australia, Brazil, Japan, and Mexico, we’re now opening the opportunity for over one billion people in 26 countries across five continents to be able to play Xbox Game Pass games from the cloud on their phones, tablets, and PCs. Since cloud gaming is powered by custom Xbox Series X consoles, that means these games are being played on an Xbox in the cloud, bringing faster load times and improved frame rates to the gameplay experience”, said Catherine Gluckstein, VP & Head of Product, Project xCloud.

Xbox Cloud Gaming currently requires an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and in some markets, Microsoft is teaming up with mobile carriers to make that more accessible. In Australia, Telstra customers will be able to add an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on their monthly bill, no console or PC required.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently available on the web, the Windows Xbox app, as well as iOS and Android phones and tablets, but it’s coming soon to Xbox consoles as well. Microsoft has started testing the feature with select Xbox Insiders earlier this week, and this will eventually allow all Xbox gamers to try Xbox Game Pass games without installing them.

The latest Windows 11 install script bypasses TPM

Posted on by Don Sharpe

As we near the official release of Windows 11, there appears to be a new script that allows users to install the new OS on devices that do not meet the minimum requirements.

Microsoft has been releasing system requirements for devices that are compatible with Windows 11.

New gateway

Part of the OS system requirements includes TPM 2.0, newer CPUs, and many more. The new script works on virtual machines and allows them to upgrade to the latest Windows Insider build.

The script comes in a batch file released as part of the Universal MediacreationTool wrapper allowing users to create an ISO for any Windows version.

The main script is the MediacreationTool.bat that creates the ISOs and the Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd that configures your device and bypasses all mandatory hardware checks set for Windows 11.

When executed on a device, some of the tasks performed include:

  • Creates a ‘AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU‘ value.
  • Registers a WMI event subscription named ‘Skip TPM Check on Dynamic Update.’ 
  • Deletes the ‘C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\appraiserres.dll‘ file during the launch of vdsldr.exe in Windows 11 setup.

Risks ahead

Whereas this may seem like an easy method for users whose devices failed to meet system requirements and had to purchase new devices, they should be careful with this script as it exposes them to performance issues and an array of bugs. In addition, you risk missing critical security updates making your connection less secure.

Microsoft maintains its strong stance on devices meeting system requirements to install Windows 11.

If you must install this script, only do so on test devices.

What do you think of the script? Would you risk your device bypassing the system requirements? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

A Juggler’s Tale game review: a fine time narrated in rhyme

Posted on by Robby Bisschop

I promise you this and I hope it will amaze
In this review, I’ll rhyme in each phrase!

Why do you ask? What’s it to you?
Well in this game, the narrator does too!

A Juggler’s Tale has an interesting story to tell,
It’s about young Abby, and she’s not doing too well.

You could say it’s sad, or argue that it’s plain impolite
How this wee little lass is forced into a daily staged fight

While scripted, to the audience it’s a thrilling affair,
how such a little girl bested a bear

But the success is shortlived; at the end of each day
the ringleader grabs her and locks her away

It doesn’t take a lot to set up the plot

Then, a small miracle, it’s lovely to see,
with the help of some critters, she steals her master’s key

Our juggler escapes, as the bear plays his part
Sure it’s exciting, but it’s only the start!

At first, she wonders: “What have I done?”
But the thoughts soon vanish at the taste of freedom

The graphics are neat, it’s a visual treat

A Juggler’s Tale is gorgeous, a sight to behold
You’ll see plenty of colorful vistas as the story unfolds

But Abby’s given no rest by the puppeteer who’s ever controlling
She runs and she runs through levels full of parallax scrolling

It’s not just walking and jumping or aiming at things
When solving puzzles, you’ll make use of your strings

The gameplay evolves, there are puzzles to solve

Running from thugs who’ll rip her to shreds
Abby’s got no choice but to rely on her threads

Though there are plenty of checkpoints, it’s never too hard
I wager there’s even a chance you’ll survive it unscarred

You’ll jump, pull levers and even train your aim,
but after few hours it all starts feeling the same

Luckily for us, A Juggler’s Tale is not overlong,
Just when it threatens to grow stale, it breaks out in song

The music, while rare, is a feast for the ears
If there were just a few more tracks, it would be welcomed by cheers

As we’re carried away by a group of singing thugs
I take a moment to bring up some small bugs

Grab the tissues, because it still had some issues

Sometimes the jumping or animations felt weird
There was even a time when Abby disappeared

Alas, such is the fate of a game with console ports
but luckily we reviewers also submit reports

So relax, fear not, it’s only a scratch,
I have full faith all bugs will be fixed in a day-one patch.

Final thoughts on A Juggler’s Tale

Pros
The narration in rhyme is truly sublime
The graphics are neat, it's a visual treat
It launched in the busy month of September, yet I promise it's a game you'll always remember
Cons
Some minor bugs at the time Grab the tissues, because they still had some issues (bugs)
As a dad with no time, it has my support, but some might find it just a bit short

Final Score: 4/5

A Juggler’s Tale feels truly unique, aside from some bugs (and maybe a short playtime) there is nothing to critique. The writing is witty and delivered in rhyme, at the end of the ride you’re guaranteed a great time.

It looks stunning, it’s colorful and oozes with style, I can only conclude that this puppet show is very much worth your while.

⇒ Get A Juggler’s Tale for PC

A Juggler’s Tale is available on Windows PC, Xbox Consoles, Playstation Consoles, and Nintendo Switch. It takes around 2-3 hours to beat.

Disclaimer: Reviewed on Xbox Series X. Review copy provided by the developer.

A Juggler’s Tale: How to get all the achievements

Posted on by Robby Bisschop

A Juggler’s Tale is a narrative side-scrolling adventure, about a young puppet girl who escapes the circus and runs off in search of freedom. It’s set in a fantastic-looking world full of strings and props to make it look like a puppet show being shown to a captivated audience.

The game has a quick-loading chapter select, available from the menu screen, so it should be easy to load the exact act and chapter you need.

If you’d like to learn more about the game and what we thought of it, be sure to check our review!

? Amount of achievements: 18 (3 secret)
⏲️ How long to beat: around 3 hours
? Platforms: Windows, Steam, Xbox One consoles, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Bullseye – 25G

Practice your throwing skills – left and right!

At the very start of the game, you’ll be given instructions on how to throw objects. Simply hit both targets (left and right) three times each and the Bullseye achievement should pop.

An Apple A Day… – 50G

Make sure the bear is well fed.

Keep running right and you’ll be forced into a staged fight. The game wants you to throw the apple over the bear’s head so you can grab the ringmaster’s hat, but instead of doing that, throw 8 apples straight at him. As soon as he’s consumed the 8th apple, the achievement is yours.

On to adventure

On to adventure – 100G

Finish Act I.

This is story-related and unmissable. At the end of the first act, you’ll get the 100G.

Lunchtime – 25G

Enjoy your newfound freedom.

At the start of the second act, you’ll walk by a bench overlooking some gorgeous fields. Take a break by pressing the action button near the bench and you should get the achievement. Easy, right?

Animal Friend – 50G

Free the wolf. (Secret)

You’ll encounter a wolf who’s been roped down to a pole. Simply pulling at it won’t be enough, so we need to enlist the aid of something heavier. Keep going to the right and let down the bridge. Drag the cart back to the left, over the bridge. Use the action button near the wolf when the cart’s hook is close to it and Abby will attach it.

Wait for the bridge to lift again and push the cart off the edge, cutting the wolf free in the process. Good news: by freeing him you get to ride on its back near the end of the game!

Scaredy-cat – 50G

Leave the wolf to his fate. (Secret)

Instead of freeing the wolf, simply ignore it and continue onwards. This can’t be achieved in the same run as Animal Friend but you can simply load this chapter from the menu. At least the 50G you earn will ease your conscience… somewhat.

On Dry Feet – 50G

Play through Act II without falling into the water.

This is possibly the hardest achievement in the game, but very doable if you just pay attention. You have to avoid falling in the water for the entire Act II. If you do fall in, be sure to hit the menu button and start over from the first chapter.

There are some rivers you’ll need to cross, most of them can be done simply by jumping at the last minute and there is one part where you’ll need to alternate between two wooden planks to jump on. This is required by the game to proceed, but very likely that you’ll have missed this and will need to try again in a new run.

After the double wooden board part, there is a long section in the rain and with torches, and afterwards, there will be a few more jumps, so be sure to take this nice and slow so you won’t have to start over.

The achievement should pop as soon as the chase sequence with Tonda and his thugs starts.

Upside Down – 100G

Finish Act II.

This is story-related and unmissable. At the end of the second act, you’ll get the 100G.

Childish – 50G

Play fetch with the dog until he is happy.

At the start of Act III, you’ll encounter a dog. You need to throw a stick to distract it and continue onwards. After the first stick throw, he’ll become friendly to you and if you throw it a few more times, he’ll start wagging his tail as the achievement unlocks. (Just throw it once more, he’s been such a good boy!)

Troublemaker – 25G

Really get on a villager’s nerves.

Not long after, you’ll encounter a bell. Just ring it three times and at the third chime, the achievement is yours.

Close Call – 25G

Attract the attention of the bandits three times without getting caught.

There will be a few sequences where guards shine their lanterns at you. Just get closer to the light a few times to alert them (their light should shine brighter) and then quickly run back so you won’t get caught.

It’s very likely this achievement will pop during regular gameplay, without trying to get it specifically, but if that’s not the case, simply reload this chapter from Act III.

Changing your fate – 100G

Finish Act III.

This is story-related and unmissable. At the end of the third act, you’ll get the 100G.

Riot – 50G

Riot on the stage of the fourth act.

At the start of the fourth act, there will be a siege tower with some heavy stones. Press the action button to pick one up and run all the way back to the left, to the start of the act. Aim the stone at the piece of grass hanging to the left and throw it down. The achievement will pop and you’ll get some comments from the puppeteer who’s not too happy with your rebellious actions.

Worth a try – 25G

Annoy Tonda and the bandits.

Keep playing and you’ll come near a ballista. Simply press the action button near it and Abby will fire it at Tonda’s thugs. It won’t help you one bit, but at least it gave them a good scare. (and earning you an achievement!)

Plumber – 25G

A few more barrels than necessary….

When Abby escapes from the fisherman’s village, she will be blocked by a giant whirlpool. You can stop it by bumping a barrel into the hole, but be careful that you don’t get sucked in as well. To unlock the achievement, you’ll need to let three barrels get sucked in, so rinse and repeat.

Tip: it’s easiest to do when you angle your boat slightly, this is physics-based so use your brain.

This is how it works – 50G

Free Tonda from a thread. (Secret)

Near the end of the game, you’ll get to finally fight back! When you get to the location depicted below, grab the scythe and put it on the platform. Then pull the lever and have Abby ride the platform up (with the scythe). Grab the scythe again and walk to the edge of the platform, then press the action button to place it down.

You might need to angle the tip of the scythe up to make sure it doesn’t hit the stone platform. Once it’s in place, you can walk across. Pick it up again and walk to the left until it hooks behind Tonda’s threads. Walk to the right to cut the first thread and earn your achievement!

Triumph – 100G

Finish Act IV.

This is story-related and unmissable. At the end of the fourth act, you’ll get the 100G.

Together we are not alone – 100G

Finish Act V.

This is story-related and unmissable. At the end of the fifth act, you’ll get the 100G.

Congrats on beating the game!

That’s about it when it comes to achievements for A Juggler’s Tale. There’s 500G here that is hard to miss, but hopefully, our achievement guide has helped you get the other 50%.

If you have any other questions or you need some extra steps for completing any one of these achievements, don’t hesitate to drop a comment in the section below and we’ll make sure to help you out!

5 best lightweight email clients for low-end Windows 10/11 PCs

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

No matter if you own a business or not, having a good email client can change the overall efficiency of the provided services.

This task would normally require you to spend a few hours every day sorting through emails. Using the right email client can offer you a wide range of benefits: faster responses to your clients, easy managing and sorting of emails, the ability to track emails, etc.

All these features can streamline the process of responding to your clients’ queries by sorting emails automatically by the sender.

Because the market has a wide range of email clients on offer, it is a daunting task to find the one that suits your needs perfectly and offers a great array of useful features, especially if you need a lightweight program that will not slow down your PC.

In this article, we will explore some of the best email clients existing on the market, that barely influence the processor of your PC, while still offering you a great range of features.

Which are the best email clients that run on low spec PCs?

Mailbird

This software is an incredibly useful email tool that offers a great range of features, has a great user-friendly interface, and it’s also lightweight.

When it comes to the user interface, Mailbird offers a crisp, good-looking, and easy-to-access dashboard that gives you the power to customize every aspect of it.

You can also easily integrate your Mailbird with other apps like the Google Suite. This allows you to expand the email client’s capabilities even further.

You can easily set up keyboard shortcuts, allowing you to run commands without even touching your mouse, or dragging and dropping any element.

While using the fast-response tool incorporated in Mailbird, you can still use any other options outside of the pop-up window, making it easier than ever to sort out through long email lists and manage them accordingly.

You can categorize every email by using different label colors and names. You can create your own labels or choose one from the built-in options available.

Mailbird offers you multi-account support (IMAP, POP3), access to a very useful contact manager, and also has support for other third-party apps.

Some of the key features include:

  • Option for sending emails at a specific time or date
  • Supports an unlimited number of email accounts
  • Preview features for all your attachments
  • Professional-level support for all your problems

Mailbird

A top email client for Windows 10 with a friendly user interface and extensive integration with social media.
Free Download

eM Client

eM Client is another great lightweight email client software option that allows you to manage your email databases without too much hassle. It offers great visuals and an easy-to-understand experience.

Because of its seamless integration with other email clients like Gmail, Exchange, and Outlook, eM Client is one of the best software options on the market, coming in very close to the software we presented above, called Mailbird.

You can easily transfer complicated schedules from your calendar, and also add contacts from other third-party software, allowing you not to worry about your data not being compatible.

Some of the most important features of eM Client include:

  • Integrated chat app compatible with any other chat service
  • Automatically translate emails
  • Set up delayed times for sending your emails
  • PGP encryption that offers you a secure environment

It is worth noting that the free version of eM Client offers a useful set of tools that make managing your emails and easier tasks, but it is limited to only 2 email accounts.

With the Pro version, eM Client gives you access to an unlimited number of email accounts, VIP support, and also commercial licensing rights, so you can use this app for a company.

eM Client

Organize, open, and send emails from multiple clients using intuitive and secure software.
Check price Visit website

The Bat!

This is an incredibly lightweight email client that is certified to be used on Windows 10. It has no system requirements, so you can run it on any PC, no matter the hardware specifications.

This software was designed with your email security in mind, with incredibly powerful encryption capabilities.

The Bat! protects your information by using a layered encryption process, that contains multiple encryption streams. You can choose to keep all your encrypted files on your disk, or protect your PC while communicating through email with its end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

The Bat! works perfectly with any email provider that store your messages in the cloud, and offers you the option to keep all your emails stored on a local computer/ hard-drive/ USB data storage.

Beyond the 3 layers of encryption that cover your precious information, keeping the data stored on your local hard drive gives the ”attackers” no chance of reaching them remotely or locally.

One of the best features of The Bat! is the fact that the number of email accounts that can be connected through this app is unlimited (IMAP, POP, MAPI protocols).

You also get unlimited data storage capabilities, so you never have to worry about losing data, or not having any space to store it in.

By using this software, you can rest assured that your data is protected with high level, and layered encryption, and you can also use and manage multiple email accounts, from one simple and easy to understand dashboard.

Other notable features found in The Bat! include:

  • Full support for PGP, GnuPG, and S/MIME
  • Greatly useful filtering system that allows you to pre-sort your emails with ease
  • Incorporated HTML viewer
  • Image retrieval features that are easy to customize and configure to your needs
  • Built-in address book
  • Great looking templates
  • Selective message download
  • RSS Feed subscription

⇒ Get The Bat!

Mailspring

Mailspring is another great lightweight software option that allows you to manage every aspect of your email database.

This software was designed for the speed of processing, making it a viable option for the software we presented you above.

One of the few downsides of using this software is the fact that you need to create a Mailspring account in order to use the app.

Once this is done, you get access to an easy-to-understand dashboard that takes you through every step of the process. You first need to choose one of your email providers from a list – Gmail, Yahoo, etc. and then use the stored passwords from your PC to log in easily.

Here are some of the most notable features found in Mailspring:

  • Supports multiple email accounts (IMAP and Office 365)
  • Can be used with touch devices
  • Can set advanced shortcuts with custom keys
  • Incredibly fast search tool
  • Unified inbox – all your email accounts can be accessed and modified from one inbox
  • Can give you read receipts for sent emails, and also link tracking
  • Great customizable themes and layouts

One of the most useful features found in Mailspring is its incredibly powerful search engine.

Mailspring also contains a great signature editor that allows you to create and customize every aspect of your signature, to make it represent yourself or your company properly, and you can even attach images to it.

This software also automatically detects the language in which you’re writing in, and adapts the speck check features, without you needing to modify the settings manually.

The free version of the app has a great range of features, but the number of times you can use them is limited.

⇒ Get Mailspring

Sylpheed

Sylpheed is another great lightweight software option that comes with fewer features than the other options we presented in this article. But the tool still has the full range of capabilities of a modern email client.

Besides not having any built-in bloatware, this software has an old-school user interface that reduces the amount of processing power your computer needs even more.

Here are some of the best features of Slypheed:

  • Easy to understand UI that is constantly being improved
  • Easy keyboard shortcuts for fast processing
  • Greatly organized configuration elements – gives you easy access to customize every aspect of your software
  • Architecture built on C language
  • Great filtering and search options
  • Can easily backup, migrate and process messages
  • Stability – even if software crashes, data is still intact
  • Great spam mail control – automatically learns characteristics of spam and reacts accordingly
  • Support for POP3, IMAP4rev1, SMTP, NNTP, IPv6
  • Security features – GnuPG, SSl/TLSvl

⇒ Get Slypheed

In this article, we explored some of the best lightweight email client software solutions that cover your basic email-managing needs, and also offer a great range of other useful features.

We would love to find out which of these 5 options you chose to use. Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

After reading this article, you can find more interesting reviews and guidelines in our Email section

We also have a Software section filled with lists created by experts for every scenario.

Google Chrome gets rounded context menus to match Windows 11

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Windows 11 brought new menus and improvements but the biggest change by far is the flowing design and the curved window corners.

It’s a debatable issue whether you like them or not but they are here to stay and unless you change the interface with the old one from Windows 10, you might as well get used to it.

And we’re not the only ones in that situation. The Chromium developers stepped up and decided to adapt Google Chrome to the new design and match the browser with the new Windows 11.

In a new project from Chromium Gerrit, the title clearly suggests this move: Configure menus with rounded corners for Windows 11.

How will Google Chrome adapt to Windows 11?

The owner of the new patch, Allan Bauer already wrote the code for the awaited change in Google Chrome but it’s still an ongoing project so we don’t know exactly when it will show up in a browser update.

Allan also states in a comment posted under the project that his solution is not the prettiest solution for Windows 11 style implementation, but he was constrained by time.

However, another great news is that this implementation will also work on Windows 10 so you will be able to change it there also.

Based on a code snippet, we came to the conclusion that the feature will be disabled by default and you will have to enable it from Google Chrome’s menus.

The Windows 11 style menus will be disabled by default

How are the Google Chrome menus now and what to expect?

Although we don’t have any screenshots of the new implementation, we can still take a quick look at Chrome’s present menus and exercise our imagination a bit.

Right now, as you can see from our screenshot below, Chrome has sharp corners although the window in the new OS is curved.

Menus in Chrome have sharp edges

However, if we want to get a glimpse of how the new menus will be displayed, we should perhaps look at the ones from Microsoft Edge, already adapted to the new Windows 11 design.

As you can see from our screenshot below, Microsoft’s browser has curved corners but the curvature is not as wide as the ones of the windows.

Edge’s corners are already rounded in Windows 11

We don’t know yet if Chrome’s menus will also borrow the acrylic effect from Edge. It’s a long shot but only the finished result will tell.

The new implementation is not a huge change but it shows a clear sign for design adaptation of the apps that will populate the new OS.

It’s definitely good news for the fans of the new Windows 11 design and as it’s a reversible change, it won’t affect the others who don’t enjoy the adaptation.

What do you think about this Google Chrome design change? Leave us a line with your thoughts in the comments section below.

0x800f0950 Language Pack: How to Fix This Error Code

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Language packs play a significant role in Windows 11 and any other OS because they greatly improve the productivity of non-native English users.

However, when some of our readers switched to Windows 11, they tried to install a language pack and received the error code 0x800f0950.

All the language packs failed to install

As you can see from the screenshot, all language packs failed to install, and the message writes Sorry, we’re having trouble getting this feature installed. You can try again later. Error code: 0x800F0950.

There is no Microsoft official fix for this issue but we can say that it’s a universal error, also present in Windows 10.

We will try to help you solve this problem here but first, let’s identify some of the reasons behind this issue.

Why do I get the error code 0x800f0950 language pack in Windows 11?

Let’s keep in mind that the error appeared after switching to Windows 11 and this OS is still in its early development so anything can happen.

However, we will outline some of the most common causes and pinpoint the main directions for the solutions.

➡ Problems with the Internet connection

The fact that the error message suggests trying again later indicates that this error can be caused by a simple connection problem.

So, it’s either you’re having an unstable Internet connection or the servers are busy in which case, before you get to any further debugging, just try to download the language packs after a few minutes.

➡ File corruption

If you tried to install the language package and it failed during the installation because of Internet connection problems, there will remain some residue files.

And if you try to install it again, these can produce corrupted files and fail to install again.

➡ The language pack is not compatible

If you downloaded the language pack from an unofficial source, it probably isn’t compatible with Windows 11.

Not even official language packs from different versions of Windows 10 are not compatible with the new OS so stick to the basic process of adding a language.

Don’t worry because our solutions below will cover these issues and after that, you will be able to install the language pack of your choice without any problems.

How can I fix the error code 0x800f0950 in Windows 11?

1. Clear the downloads in the SoftwareDistribution folder

  1. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the following path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads
  3. Next, press Ctrl + A to select all files and folders and hit the Del key or right-click any of them and select the Garbage bin icon to delete the contents.
  4. Now try to install the language pack again.

Deleting the downloads from the SoftwareDistrubution folder in Windows, as shown above, will prevent any problems when downloading the language packs so it’s worth trying.

2. Install the language pack after a clean boot

  1. Press the Windows key + R to start Run, type msconfig and press Enter or click OK to execute.
  2. Click the General tab, choose Selective startup.
  3. Uncheck the Load system services and Load startup items boxes.
  4. Next, go to the Services tab.
  5. Check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click on Disable all from the right.
  6. Click Apply and OK, then restart your PC.
  7. After the reboot, try installing a language pack.

3. Check the Windows Update service

  1. Press the Windows key + R to start Run, type services.msc and click OK or press Enter.
  2. Find the Windows Update service and double-click on it.
  3. Click on the Startup type menu and select Automatic (Delayed Start).
  4. Choose Apply, then OK and check if the problem is resolved.

This procedure should trigger the automatic updating for your OS so if there are any new updates in the pipeline, they will be downloaded and installed.

How to add a new language in Windows 11?

Now that you fixed the error 0x800f0950 that was preventing you from installing the language pack in Windows 11, let’s see how you can finally achieve your goal.

  1. Click the Search icon on the Taskbar, type language and select Language settings from the results.
  2. Now hit the Add a language button from the right.
  3. Type the name of the language in the search bar or scroll down untill you find it in the list, then click on the language and select Next.
  4. Next, select which features you want to install, check the box right below if you want to set this language as the Windows display language (all the menus and dialogues will be shown in that language), then click the Install button.
  5. The download will take some time but after that, to change the languages quickly, just press the Windows key + Space key.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you select the new language as a Windows display language, all the menus and dialogues will show in that particular language.

So, make sure that you know that language so you can read the text and eventually change it. Otherwise, it could be a prank that will remain forever on your debt.

We hope that our solutions helped you fix the error code 0x800f0950 in Windows 11 and you succeeded in installing the language pack of your choice.

You might also be interested in our guide on how to change the language settings that will help you further enjoy the available options.

If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment in the dedicated section below.

Windows 11 Taskbar Not Centered: How to Properly Align it

Posted on by Loredana Harsana

After upgrading to Windows 11 Insider preview build 22454, certain users have complained that the taskbar is no longer centered.

As with every previous build of the new operating system, people encountered many bugs and errors, but none of them were beyond repair.

Until the final version of Windows 11 comes out this October, you can follow this guide and bring the taskbar to the center as it should be.

What are the latest taskbar changes in Windows 11?

Besides its position, the taskbar suffered many changes within the new OS, but many of them were not received very well.

You can only move the taskbar to the left or keep it centered, but you can add some style to it by making it transparent.

You can also manage the Windows 11 taskbar on multiple monitors by changing the settings in the Personalization panel.

Another aspect found on the Insider builds is the Never Combine feature in the taskbar settings that lets you keep the windows from an app ungrouped.

But those who want certain apps or websites added and pinned to the taskbar, know that it can be done with ease.

You can also hide the taskbar completely by enabling the Automatically hide that taskbar option if you prefer a more tidy look while working or browsing the web.

While there aren’t many new features Windows 11 has brought to the taskbar, here is what Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Windows + Devices had to say about its functionality:

We’ve simplified the design and user experience to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. It’s modern, fresh, clean and beautiful. From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease.

What can I do if Windows 11’s taskbar is not centered?

1. Upgrade to preview build 22458

  1. Click on the Start icon from the taskbar.Start button
  2. Select Settings.Settings Win 11
  3. Go to Windows Update option.
  4. Click on the Check for the updates button from the right pane and Windows 11 will automatically download the latest update.
  5. Restart your device.
Note icon NOTE
Because this error can be found on preview build 22454.1000, upgrading to the next one will fix the issue. If you cannot find Build 22458, click on Pause for 1 week and Resume to restart the search.

2. Downgrade to the previous build

  1. Follow the above steps until you reach to the Windows Update.
  2. Click on Advanced options.Advanced options
  3. Scroll down to select Recovery.
  4. Click on the Go back button and follow on-screen instructions to uninstall the current preview build.

3. Show all taskbar icons

  1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.taskbar settings
  2. Now toggle on all the settings to brings all the taskbar icons to the center.personalization - taskbar

4. Change alignment to the Left

  1. Once again, right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.taskbar settings
  2. Scroll down to the Taskbar behaviors and click to expand.taskbar behaviours
  3. Next to Taskbar alingment, select Left.taskbar left

Can I change the taskbar size on Windows 11?

Even though the taskbar’s functionalities are limited on Windows 11, you can still personalize it to your liking.

You can change the taskbar style by using some apps. Even more, you may modify the icons’ size by tweaking a few registry settings.

The exact measurement might vary based on your screen resolution, but you can make the taskbar small, medium, or large just by following the steps below:

  1. Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.Search
  2. Type regedit and select the Registry Editor option like in the image below.Open Registry Editor
  3. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  4. Right-click in the right window pane and select New->DWORD (32-bit) Value.New DWORD value
  5. Now right-click again on the newly created value and choose the option Rename to name it TaskbarSi.Rename to TaskbarSi
  6. Double click on TaskbarSi and choose one from the following values: 0 for small, 1 for medium, or 2 for large.Change value
  7. Click on OK, close the registry window and reboot your device for the change.

While the taskbar is a bit complex, you can quickly centrally align active windows on the PC.

What is your take on the new taskbar design and functionality? Tell us in the comments section below, and let’s start a discussion.

Discord and Opera are coming to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store, with Epic Games Store to follow

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft continues to attract big names on the Windows 11 Microsoft Store, and the latest additions include the social app Discord and the web browser Opera. The software giant also announced today that it will allow third-party storefronts on its Windows 11 Microsoft Store, and that the Epic Games Store will be coming to the Microsoft Store in the coming months.

The company previously announced that it was working to bring Amazon’s Android App Store to Windows 11, and the news of Epic Games bringing its storefront to the Microsoft Store is another big milestone. “Just like any other app, third-party storefront apps will have a product detail page that can be found via search or by browsing – so that users can easily find and install it with the same confidence as any other app in the Microsoft Store on Windows,” the company explained.

Microsoft said today that it’s looking forward to welcoming other storefronts on its new Microsoft Store going forward, and the company also reiterated that its redesigned store will also be available for Windows 10 users in the coming months. In regard to Android apps on Windows 11, a preview for Windows Insiders will be available soon as Microsoft plans to share more details about the system requirements.

As of this writing, we’re not able to find Discord or Opera on the Windows 11 Microsoft Store yet, but it shouldn’t be too long before the apps show up on the digital storefront. Yandex is another browser that’s coming to the Microsoft Store, and it will be interesting to see if Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will follow.