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OBS is one of the most useful apps on my PC even if I've never streamed anything: It's absolutely worth installing even if you never go live
xda-developers.com/obs-is-one-of-the-most-useful-apps-on-my-pc-and-i-never-streamed-anything/

Key FactsOBS Studio Does More Than Livestreaming
5 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- Compared with Windows 11’s Snipping Tool, OBS provides detailed controls for resolution, frame rate, encoder, and output.
- The Replay Buffer continuously retains recent gameplay and saves it with a hotkey without recording entire sessions.
- Microphone and desktop audio can be recorded separately, mixed individually, and processed with filters such as noise suppression.
- OBS Studio is free, open-source, and runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS without subscription tiers.
It's free, open-source, and it never tries to gatekeep its most useful capabilities behind subscription tiers.— Samarveer, the article's author, describing OBS Studio's accessibility and licensing.
Hands-on — Xbox's brand new PC app offers BIG performance improvements: VIDEO: Today, I got a sneak peek at an early version of the Xbox PC app rebuilt ...
windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/hands-on-xboxs-brand-new-pc-app-offers-big-performance-improvements

Microsoft's new Windows 11 Taskbar Search is the tool I've always wanted: Hybrid Intelligence breaches the gap between your PC and Copilot.
xda-developers.com/microsoft-windows-11-taskbar-search-tool-ive-always-wanted/

How To Supercharge Your Windows 11 PC With This Built-In Automation Tool: Your Windows PC can automate repetitive tasks using a built-in utility that doesn't ...
engadget.com/2277240/how-to-supercharge-windows-11-pc-built-in-automation-tool-task-scheduler/

VLC was painfully slow on my Windows 11 PC until I found what was throttling it: It turns out VLC wasn't to blame at all; it was Microsoft all along
xda-developers.com/vlc-painfully-slow-windows-11-pc-change-this-setting/

Key FactsVideoLAN Links Slow VLC Launches to Defender Bug
Sep 29, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- On August 12, VideoLAN highlighted the problem and said a Defender update had quarantined VLC’s plug-in cache.
- On affected PCs, VLC sometimes took around 15 seconds to launch, according to the author.
- When the article was published, Microsoft had not released a patch for the Defender bug.
- Users can regenerate VLC’s cache and exclude the VideoLAN or VLC folder from Defender scans.
I moved away from Windows 11, but I didn't go to Linux: I never thought I'd be an Apple fan
xda-developers.com/i-moved-away-from-windows-11-but-i-didnt-go-to-linux/

Key FactsWhy the Author Prefers macOS Over Windows 11
Sep 21, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- The author does 95 percent of his work on a desktop, currently an M4 Mac Mini, and prefers macOS there.
- After setup, he finds macOS far less disruptive, while Windows 11 frequently demands sign-ins, promotions, and data requests.
- Linux lacks important programs for him: Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom do not run there, and Microsoft 365 is unsupported.
- Raycast combines app launching, clipboard history, meetings, and numerous extensions through searches or keyboard shortcuts.
Life on macOS is a peaceful one, and I can't say that about Windows 11.— The article's author, describing their experience using macOS vs Windows 11.
I gave Windows 11’s Start menu a complete overhaul with one open-source app: The Flow Launcher app changed how I use the Start menu.
xda-developers.com/gave-windows-11s-start-menu-a-complete-overhaul-with-one-open-source-app/
Key FactsAuthor uses Flow Launcher instead of Windows 11 Start menu
Sep 25, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- Flow Launcher launches apps and searches files and folders; it runs on Windows 10 and 11 normally or portably.
- Alt + Space opens the interface; the author says it finds files and apps faster than Windows Search.
- Integrating Everything extends searches across all connected drives through one unified, keyboard-focused interface.
- Its plugin store adds tools for weather, Spotify, bookmarks, and enhanced calculator functions.
6 lightweight tools I install before anything else on a new PC: You shouldn't live without these
xda-developers.com/lightweight-tools-i-install-before-anything-else-on-a-new-pc/

Linux fixed a Windows frustration I didn't know I had: I tried System76's Pop_OS Linux distro after hearing about it on the most recent episode of The Full Nerd ...
pcworld.com/article/3237919/linux-fixed-a-windows-frustration-i-didnt-know-i-had.html

Windows is testing a new way to preview Android phone notifications: Microsoft is rolling out a test of a new Phone Link experience that gives you more ...
androidauthority.com/windows-phone-link-notification-preview-3693965/

Key FactsSix Small Open-Source Alternatives for Windows 11
Aug 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: xda-developers.com
- ShareX is presented as a configurable alternative to Snipping Tool and, in version 17.1.0, requires a little over 50 MB to download and 181 MB after installation.
- Notepad++ expands basic text editing with tabs, syntax highlighting, and Markdown support, while Windows reports that it uses just over 17 MB after installation.
- Flow Launcher speeds up app launches and web searches, can be extended with plug-ins, and occupies about 200 MB after installation according to Windows.
- KDE Connect synchronizes notifications and files with smartphones, LocalSend transfers files across platforms on a local network, and VLC plays numerous media formats; their Windows downloads are about 81 MB, under 15 MB, and 43 MB respectively.
"tiny" is subjective, but I aimed to include the smallest apps I could find that still offer a great experience.— The article's author explains that the term 'tiny' is subjective and that they aimed to include the smallest apps possible that still offer a good experience.
This single launcher does the work of 6 Windows utilities, and it's better than any optimization hack
xda-developers.com/single-launcher-does-work-windows-utilities-better-than-optimization-hack/

After 30 years with Linux, here's my way of convincing Windows users to switch: After decades of using Linux, I've found that this is the best way to show ...
zdnet.com/article/how-i-convince-a-windows-user-to-try-linux/

Windows 11's Start Menu Is Getting Better...But These 3 Launchers Still Run Circles Around It
uk.pcmag.com/migrated-3765-windows-10/166012/windows-11s-start-menu-is-getting-betterbut-these-3-launchers-still-run-circles-around-it

My favorite Zorin OS settings and why you'll love them too: Like most Linux distributions, Zorin OS offers a lot, especially in terms of customization ...
zdnet.com/article/my-favorite-zorin-os-settings-and-why-youll-love-them-too/

PowerToys is getting a lightning-fast Command Palette, and it might replace the Start menu entirely
xda-developers.com/powertoys-getting-lightning-fast-command-palette-might-replace-start-menu-entirely/

I finally found a launcher that made me stop clicking the Windows Start menu: You may think the Windows 11 Start menu does its job totally fine ...
xda-developers.com/this-first-launcher-made-stop-clicking-start-menu/

I moved away from Windows 11, but I didn't go to Linux: When thinking of switching away from Windows, Linux is the main option... but macOS may just be the ...
xda-developers.com/moved-away-from-windows-11-but-didnt-go-to-linux/

6 lightweight tools I install before anything else on a new PC: Some apps are useful; others are essential. These are the ones I always install before anything ...
xda-developers.com/lightweight-tools-install-before-anything-else-new-pc/

How To Use Parallels to Run Windows on a Mac: This app gives you the full desktop PC experience on an Apple computer.
wired.com/story/how-to-use-parallels-to-run-windows-on-a-mac/

How Apple’s New Spotlight Compares to Raycast: The new Spotlight launcher tool coming to macOS this year looks and works a lot like the indie application Raycast ...
wired.com/story/how-new-macos-spotlight-compares-to-raycast/

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