Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Unlocks Framerates For Smoother Gameplay On Windows 10 (pcper.com)

Posted by msmash on from the good-news-of-the-day dept.

An anonymous user writes: Back in March, Microsoft's Phil Spencer addressed some of the concerns over the Unified Windows Platform and PC gaming. He noted that Microsoft would "plan to open up VSync off, FreeSync, and G-Sync in May" and the company would "allow modding and overlays in UWP applications" sometime further into the future. Well, it appears that Microsoft is on point with the May UWP update. According to the MS DirectX Developer Blog, a Windows 10 update being pushed out today will enable UWP to support unlocked frame rates and variable refresh rate monitors in both G-Sync and FreeSync varieties. Today's update won't automatically enable these features in UWP games like Gears of War or Quantum Break, they will still need to be updated individually by the developer. Microsoft states that Gears of War and Forza will be the first to see these changes, but there is no mention of Quantum Break here, which is a game that could DEFINITELY benefit from the love of variable refresh rate monitors.PCWorld has more details.

96 comments

  1. frosty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Slow day piss

  2. i am disapointed by zlives · · Score: 1

    "oday's update won't automatically " whats the use of win10 if not the automatically part.

    1. Re:i am disapointed by fizzer06 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Expect an eventual update that will break all versions of Office except Office 365, forcing users into a subscription mode.

    2. Re:i am disapointed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Already happening. Just fixed someone up with Office 2010, after Windows 10 tried to get Office 365 and 2016 installed -- royally messing up the default outlook.pst

    3. Re:i am disapointed by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      Just because an operating system includes driver support doesn't mean the game uses a driver feature. Windows supports VR output for games. But unless the developer actually uses the API your software doesn't magically work in VR. It'll automatically update your software, but it won't add *features* to software on its own.

      That would be like complaining "what's the point of automatic updates if they don't add XYZ feature automatically to the code!?"

    4. Re:i am disapointed by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 3, Funny

      I let Microsoft update my computer to Windows 10 but that didn't even upgrade my laserjet into a 3D printer. Lame.

    5. Re:i am disapointed by zlives · · Score: 1

      woosh....

    6. Re:i am disapointed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i am pretty sure its a 3d-brick now.

  3. Framerates is either the band's name by turkeydance · · Score: 0

    or a Pixar movie.

  4. Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    The 10 people still gaming on windows rejoiced.

    1. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Fragnet · · Score: 2

      It's more like 70 million on steam alone.

    2. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting troll. 3/10

    3. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm a little saddened by the fact that Windows 10 now outnumbers Windows 7 in steam's stats. The honest fact is, the plebs don't care about UWP, or even about forced upgrades or telemetry reporting back everything you type, speak or do. Microsoft wins again, thanks largely to the apathetic masses.

    4. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Give it some time. Sooner or later there'll be a big murder/drug case on national TV where the main evidence against the suspect will come from subpoenaed telemetry from a totally ordinary Windows 10 PC, and at that point what's being collected will be as clear as day and the apathetic masses will wake up.

    5. Re:Thanks Microsoft by LesFerg · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Pretty sure that all the optional feedback settings have been turned off, but still not sure why I should give a shit about some telemetry going back to the software management teams. What is the big deal, actually? There are far too many people using the O/S for Microsoft to be monitoring each and every one of them, it is the big picture of over-all numbers of people and applications and what works and doesn't and such, that matters to them. Why get so rabid about some telemetry?
      We need real reasons, not paranoia.

      --
      If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
    6. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      70 million EASY SUCKERS.

    7. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Incorrect.
      http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey
      The largest single category is win 10 64 bit, followed by win 7 64 bit.
      However if you add the flavors of windows 10, then add the flavors of windows 7, windows 7 flavors still edges out win 10 flavors :)
      What that means is a significant fraction of gamers either let the free MS forced upgrade to windows 10 happen without bothering to stop it, or did it on purpose because gaming and dx12.

    8. Re:Thanks Microsoft by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      Ah, so that's why it's called Windows 10!

    9. Re:Thanks Microsoft by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      So what's your point? It's easier to get a blowjob from a Windows 10 user?

    10. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Lonewolf666 · · Score: 1

      Perhaps it has to do with Steam users generally not worrying much about other people having partial control over their computer?

      I'm one of those people who have refused Windows 10 so far, but I also use Steam very sparingly:
      DRM (even in a relatively benign form) and one-sided EULA terms are a reason why I only have purchased a handful of Steam games so far, with correspondingly low activity on Steam.

      In the Steam usage stats, people like me will obviously not leave a big footprint.

      --
      C - the footgun of programming languages
    11. Re:Thanks Microsoft by dottrap · · Score: 1

      UWP is only for Windows Store apps. Steam games won't get this feature.

      Remember the Tim Sweeney editorial from just 2 months ago?
      https://games.slashdot.org/sto...

    12. Re:Thanks Microsoft by amiga3D · · Score: 2

      No it wont. It'll all be done in secret courts with subpoenas that are classified.

    13. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Darinbob · · Score: 0

      It's pointless even if gaming. The frame rates are high enough that no one can see anything faster than 60fps anyway (and I seriously doubt that any but the most pedantic can see faster than 30fps). They only want the big numbers so that they can brag.

    14. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Why should they monitor each and every one of them. Come to think of it, why should they monitor even ONE of them?
      Does this mean you think it's ok if McDonald's monitors every one who eats there to ensure proper satisfaction? It's none of their damned business.

      Privacy is vital and a basic right. Don't be so quick to sell yourself for a half assed OS. If you can't see what's wrong with telemetry then you're amazingly naive. This is not some corporation that has proven itself to be responsible and trustworthy over time, they're very much the opposite. They've proven to be hostile to the consumer and openly flaunting of national laws and legal judgements. This is not paranoia, this is about protecting basic rights.

    15. Re: Thanks Microsoft by AllynM · · Score: 1

      You're kidding, right? 60 to 90 is a noticeable jump in smoothness, and many people can distinguish between 90, 120, 144, and even 165 Hz.

      --
      this sig was brought to you by the letter /.
    16. Re: Thanks Microsoft by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      They don't even show movies or television at that speed. If someone can distinguish between 144 and 165Hz I'd be wondering if they were also one of those who claim to hear the audio difference when using gold plated connectors.

    17. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Haha damn, I completely missed the 64 bit part. It's still a not-small chunk of the public that didn't care about the things I care about, and that's sobering.

    18. Re:Thanks Microsoft by cavreader · · Score: 1

      What data is actually being reported back to MS? Do you have any verifiable details on the data being transmitted? Does the transmitted data contain personal details that can be used to identify or track a specific user?

    19. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 1

      I'm a little saddened by the fact that Windows 10 now outnumbers Windows 7 in steam's stats. The honest fact is, the plebs don't care about UWP, or even about forced upgrades or telemetry reporting back everything you type, speak or do. Microsoft wins again, thanks largely to the apathetic masses.

      Surely if they did care about all those things then they probably wouldn't use Steam. It has forced updates, telemetry reporting (aka achievements), cloud saves (albeit optionally) and DRM. The apathetic masses had already spoken a long time ago.

      The gamers on Steam are not representative of the general population. They do care less about privacy and are more interested in getting the latest & greatest in hardware & software. They also want to use DirectX 12, which is a major reason to use Windows 10. Windows 10 use amongst this demographic will always be higher than the average.

    20. Re:Thanks Microsoft by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      You don't have a clue.

    21. Re: Thanks Microsoft by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      movies and tv have obvious judder. Temporal blurring helps fake it a little but it's obvious especially for people exposed to high frame rates. Another thing is input lag. Lower frame rates increase this dramatically.

    22. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Drumhellar · · Score: 1

      That's false. Anybody can install UWP apps (packages use the .appx extension), without having to enable developer mode or anything in settings. A warning pops up if the app is unsigned, which is the same with Win32 apps. Steam could use this, too. The only requirement is that they're installed the Windows way (Doing it manually requires invoking a powershell command, but Steam could do that in the background) Hell, there's the App Installer app available through the Windows store that will install apps that way just by double clicking.

    23. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Fragnet · · Score: 1

      I don't think Windows 10 reports back "everything you type, speak or do", no.

    24. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Kremmy · · Score: 1

      You can see the difference in the smoothness of cursor movement alone, let alone everything else.

    25. Re: Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Display a 8x8px square moving in a straight horizontal line at 28800 px/s on a 1920x1080 display at 60, 90 and 120 Hz without any motion blur. See if you can tell the difference.
      Hint: Are there 4, 6 or 8 flickering squares?

    26. Re:Thanks Microsoft by some+old+guy · · Score: 1

      You're obviously not a gamer, or not a very good one.

      --
      Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
    27. Re: Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We don't know because it's encrypted. But if you look at the stats they released, that should give you a good picture.

      The people giving the most to Windows telemetry are the gamers. You are constantly sending M$ data the whole time you are playing a game. It's quite sad.

    28. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I'm not a PvP or shooter player. But I play a lot of games.

    29. Re: Thanks Microsoft by cavreader · · Score: 1

      So in other words you have no idea what data is being sent to MS. Your "good picture" is nothing more than a wild ass guess. Sort of like the fabled "back door" hidden within Windows that allows MS to access your machine at will. If there was a backdoor why are people constantly trying to create their own? Some of these guys are damn smart and if there really was a designed backdoor in the OS someone would have found it and published the details. Do we live in a world where facts are replaced by innuendo, guesses, and out right lies? Is exaggeration and misinformation acceptable as long as it supports a pre-determined point of view or political stance?

    30. Re:Thanks Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sir obviously don't play Counterstrike. 144hz monitor with a graphics can that can push at least that many frames makes a world of difference at higher rank levels. When my frames drop below the refresh rate tearing becomes apparent and can mess with aim visualization.

      TL:DR 144hz does make a difference for competitive shooters.

    31. Re: Thanks Microsoft by Ayanami_R · · Score: 1

      You obviously haven't seen 60Hz and 144Hz side by side, or hell even 90. Once you see that smoothness, a 60Hz monitor will look janky. Go do that and get back to us.

      --
      "Science is the power of man"
  5. Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    UWP just seems like another stupid layer of bloated crap between the game and the hardware.

    1. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by gweihir · · Score: 4, Informative

      As its primary purpose is to siphon money off to MS, what do you expect? This is basically an attempt to force the console-model on any PC running Windows 10.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    2. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      Uhhh... you mean like XOrg, Win32 or Cocoa? Every OS needs a GUI layer/API to handle application execution.

      UWP also handles installation/uninstallation which if anything prevents bloat and definitely prevents installation rot.

    3. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Blue+Stone · · Score: 1

      Microsoft, still trying to leverage their monopoly to the detriment of all.

      --
      Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
    4. Re: Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except for the "force" part.

    5. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by JustNiz · · Score: 1

      For Windows PC games whats wrong with just using whatever API windows has already? (DirectX or whatever...sorry I'm a Linux dev)

    6. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      For Windows PC games whats wrong with just using whatever API windows has already?

      Doesn't work on xbox (without expensive SDK requirements) or current versions of Windows mobile or current versions of Windows on ARM devices (like tablets).

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    7. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by ljw1004 · · Score: 2

      UWP just seems like another stupid layer of bloated crap between the game and the hardware.

      That's incorrect. UWP isn't "another layer". If you write a DirectX UWP app then it goes through the same DirectX APIs as it would if you were doing a regular win32 app.

      UWP has some replacement APIs -- e.g. it removes the gdi32.dll drawing APIs from win32, replacing them with faster rendering that's more hardware-accelerated, and it bypasses the user32.dll window-managed APIs from win32 replacing them with its own model. But those things are irrelevant to games.

      UWP has a couple of new entry-point APIs, e.g. if you want start playing audio, you'd use one API in win32 to enumerate the audio device but a different sandbox-friendly API in UWP. But once you've gotten hold of the audio device, you use exactly the same APIs.

      UWP has new sandbox-friendly installers that are performed by the OS, rather than requiring each individual app to do the installing (and trusting that the app's installer doesn't install any system-wide rubbish).

      But all in all, no, UWP isn't an additional layer between the game and the hardware. In most cases it's actually a *thinner* layer between app and hardware than what was there before.

    8. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Xbox is a different platform. Who cares if they work the same. Xbox is a console, in a world where making games exlusive to your platform is a standard practice. So Microsoft creates yet another proprietary API which means it is utterly useless if you're not on PC or Xbox, and irrelevant to those creating platform exclusive games, and not all that important for those few game companies who want to make things portable.

      The goals of Microsoft do not overlap with the goals of their customers.

    9. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Xbox is a different platform. Who cares if they work the same.

      Developers that want to write-once, use everywhere.

      in a world where making games exlusive to your platform is a standard practice.

      This technology is not cross-platform with non-Microsoft platforms.

      The goals of Microsoft do not overlap with the goals of their customers.

      Indeed.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    10. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      But developers can not write once and use anywhere. Even if they don't want portability outside the Microsoft family, the developer may want to take advantage of the many differences between Xbox and Windows (who am I kidding, console games are designed to be dumbed down).

      Last decade I had a friend who worked in the games industry. The Xbox wasn't out yet but he said he was hoping that it would be very popular. The reasoning was that the other consoles all had onerous licensing requirements, and they had to fork over a chunk of the price to the console maker, and the hope was that Microsoft wasn't going to do this. Alas, over time it seems Microsoft is even more mesed up than Sony or Nintendo.

    11. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      But developers can not write once and use anywhere.

      They can with UWP. But you know, maybe I should rephrase to say that the effort is extremely minimal if that will make you happy.

      the developer may want to take advantage of the many differences between Xbox and Window

      Controller API is identical across all the platforms (you can essentially play the entire thing on PC using an xbox controller, touch screen), the fact they may add some branching code in release builds based on what platform you're using is of little relevence.

      Alas, over time it seems Microsoft is even more mesed up than Sony or Nintendo.

      Microsoft even set expectations for paying for online multiplayer usage, even if it was being hosted by your console on your Internet connection and now Sony has followed in their footsteps.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    12. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      Those already exist and have already existed on windows since winG on windows 3.1. Windows already has an installer manager. Personally I'm just happy with unzipping to a directory and running the executable.

    13. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      xbox games don't work well as pc games either.

    14. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by hairyfeet · · Score: 2

      Do those encrypt the folders and files from the user? UWP does so you are comparing apples and handcuffs.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    15. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      xbox games don't work well as pc games either.

      I tend to plug xbox 360 controller in which typically deals with any issues like poor keyboard and mouse support. They also usually work better due to my beefier machine.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    16. Re:Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

      So do I, but it still irks me that I have to. I mean Skyrim was basically unplayable on PC until they brought out SkyUI. I am a big PC gamer, I bought GTA V for console because it came out first, but as soon as it came out on PC I bought it again.

      --
      There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
    17. Re: Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hell yea. The Mac OS X way. No better way. Unzip -> Copy to folder -> run. Easy peasy fo sheezy.

    18. Re: Why would you ever write a game as a UWP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes you're being forced. UWP is fragmenting Windows development. Win32 won't get all the new API updates UWP will support. DirectX 13 will probably be UWP only, looking af how MS has done things in the past.

  6. UWP is not the right solution for every problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I get where Microsoft is going with UWP - It's replacing the legacy overall application framework that's been cobbled together since DOS/3.11. Every windows desktop application has a bit of baggage that's a holdover from DOS, and can in theory interact and work with legacy DOS systems (USB floppy drive? and sneakernet? Add an old DOS hard drive via a USB cable?)

    UWP is a different beast. Sandboxed applications that come through a managed app store - Yeah it's tablet like but it's easy and safe for users. Bad applications can't root your system and getting new ones, updating them is easy as hell.

    Of course, conveniently, Microsoft gets a piece of the pie or has their hand in every UWP application in some manner or another.

    Trouble is UWP is tied to the shitfest that was windows 8 "Metro" and got an astoundingly bad start. It's also got serious issues. Ask any developer that wants to code something more complicated than an online photo browser or "App" that that replaces a web page for some simple service.

    Huge pain in the ass straight jacket that makes porting legacy applications near impossible.. Limited access to system resources. Interface issues that make it a complete nonstarter for any serious productivity application. And as we see now, really really really poor and forced choices for games that make it useless for anything that's not a port of a tablet/mobile game.

    1. Re:UWP is not the right solution for every problem by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      No one is ever going to get a decent game of of a app store. You're going to get simple tablet/phone like games that don't need performance.

    2. Re:UWP is not the right solution for every problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I sincerely hope SteamOS works out

    3. Re:UWP is not the right solution for every problem by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      No one is ever going to get a decent game of of a app store. You're going to get simple tablet/phone like games that don't need performance.

      I think Valve would disagree with it, considering they ran one of the very first "app stores" on the internet... and their games aren't simple ones either.

      And until recently, it actually was quite difficult ot get onto their app store.

    4. Re:UWP is not the right solution for every problem by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      That's a game store. "App" store means the mini things you get on phones and tablets, highly simplified, limited input choices, limited requirements for cpu or 3D graphics, etc. The most complicated "app" is something that would run on a basic $200 PC, whereas the topic was about how to squeeze just a bit more performance.

  7. Windows10? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck windows 10.

    Not even waiting to see if Windows 11 should also be skipped.

    Luckily I have found alternatives for everything I do; due to repeatedly making windows worse for the user as motivation from Microsoft.

    So once again thanks Microsoft, fuck windows 10.

    1. Re:Windows10? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      There will not be a Windows 11. Microsoft has said that Windows 10 is the last version ever. What this means in practice is that they will just keep modifying it over time, adding new features, removing older features that they've grown tired of supporting, changing the UI every time they want, etc. And customers must follow along, because no one is allowed to defer these updates forever. Even Windows 10 Enterprise edition is not immune, since at some point the security patches will stop coming unless you have also installed the "feature" updates. There is no more picking and choosing of updates. How this will work over time is a bit of an unknown, but I suspect users will start referring to the year to describe the version of Windows 10 (as in "remember when Windows 2016 didn't require the blood test?", or possibly "anyone remember when Windows was a thing?)).

    2. Re:Windows10? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows 10 Enterprise Edition is merely a licensing SKU - it's never been immune, and is merely Win 10 + Certain additional features licensed. Enterprise gets features / updates in the same frequency as other windows licensing SKUs.

      However, there are additional options. One also can choose the servicing frequency. Other than insider preview versions, there is the mainline release.

      There is also CB4B (Current Branch for Business) which is only available on Pro and Enterprise, and it's merely Windows 10 lagging behind the mainline W10 release by about four months.

      There's also the LTSB (Long Term Serving Branch) which is Enterprise-only. That one will be very slowly evolved and refreshed manually (annual or semi annually.) But LTSB will have a minimum feature set (e.g., LTSB doesn't have Edge browser.)

      Here for more.

    3. Re: Windows10? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "How this will work over time is a bit of an unknown"

      I'll tell you how: it's going to suck.

      As a developer why would I write for a moving target?

  8. The joy of closed source by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1, Troll

    The joy of closed source, where you have to beg and wait for a feature and even a large community of users and/or programmers have no other recourse if the answer is either no or wait forever.

    That's part of why I like the flexibility offered by open source operating systems -- even if a feature is beyond the ability of some or most of the people who want it, if someone comes along who does have the ability to implement it then it will be done.

    That's also my beef with ostensibly open source Android -- I still can't manage my phone as I see fit and I have all sorts of garbage apps that just show up by magic (Samsung Pay? Don't want. Flipboard? I keep disabling that and it keeps coming back anyway.)

    I'm used to my computers where I know what's running on them and why and no mysterious processes exist that I can't get rid of and don't fully understand.

    Why can't I get a phone like that, too?

    --
    If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    1. Re: The joy of closed source by omnichad · · Score: 0

      I have all sorts of garbage apps that just show up by magic

      Get a Nexus phone. Just pure vanilla Android and no vendor apps or auto installed 3rd-party anything.

    2. Re: The joy of closed source by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      But if you value your life, do not get a Nexus 6, I heard they might turn against you.

    3. Re: The joy of closed source by PRMan · · Score: 1

      Yeah, you can't even share contacts with other Android users, who all can with their 3rd party extensions.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    4. Re: The joy of closed source by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      It's for those of us who don't like to share. I'm selfish about all my data. If I want someone to see something I'll cut/paste it into an e-mail. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

    5. Re: The joy of closed source by omnichad · · Score: 1

      What are you talking about? In the stock contacts app, you can share a contact via Bluetooth or Android Beam. I have Barcode Scanner installed and it actually turns the contact into a vCard QR Code.

      Or do you mean share all my contacts? If I wanted to do this, I use an app called CardDAV-Sync to pull contacts from a CardDAV server. But I don't want to do this.

      You can install apps on vanilla Android, you know. You just get to choose.

    6. Re: The joy of closed source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is not true anymore. My Nexus 5 has few dozen useless Google* apps in it forced in by OS updates. If I wanted to use Google News, Fitness, Music, Cloud print or whatever piece of crappy malware Google introduces monthly, I would have installed them manually. This was my first and last Nexus phone.

  9. So, what about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    exclusive fullscreen?

    1. Re:So, what about by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Is there still a genuine practical use for it in today's world?

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    2. Re:So, what about by Truekaiser · · Score: 1

      It is needed for game footage capture. Without it youtubers have to use an external device between the monitor and the pc with the associated lag. Or point a camera at the monitor.

    3. Re:So, what about by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      It is needed for game footage capture.

      Nah, its' not needed. I can capture it just fine regardless with borderless full screen and not have performance drop below 60fps.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
  10. It's a self-serving enhancement by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 1

    Microsoft employees just wanted to have better frame-rates while snooping on their customers^D^D^D^D^D^D^D^D^D bitches.

  11. What problem does UWP solve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Really. I see no benefit. Saying it's sand boxed means nothing given the sophistication in malware attacks recently. There's just no way it's for security or any consumer benefit.
    Maybe I'm missing something?

    1. Re:What problem does UWP solve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MS just wants to create a new application installation media, which can be obtained only from their own store where they also get 30% share of each transaction. Perhaps they will soon publish and force-push a "security update", which will remove support from current Windows installation media.

  12. reasons why they are doing this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    1- They are only doing this because the xbone is failing hard to the PS4. If they had a dominant position on consoles, we wouldnt be talking about this.
    2- Again, to give the 360 and now the xbone advantages, they crippled DirectX gamepad tech. (DirectInput - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
    3- Trying to kill Steam,but given how dirty M$ will always be, they will kill Steam and with it, multiplatform releases (OSX and more important, Linux/Steam OS).

    Might be more, but perhaps you get the idea.

    Personally, I am tired of this damn monopoly, tired of paying license for a damn OS or better yet, not trusting the OS at all (W10).

  13. Re: UWP is not the right solution for every proble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What do you think Steam is?

  14. Playing catch up with a walled garden by HalAtWork · · Score: 3, Interesting

    UWP is getting built up as fast as possible to match Win32, and when parity is achieved, UWP will have all the new API updates and Win32 will stagnate. Eventually MS will say it's not worth supporting Win32 as a development platform and will leave it to a virtual machine for compatibility. It will be deemed too insecure and out of date. UWP will be supported on more devices. Through MS's store, UWP applications have DRM containers and the Windows PC won't be as open as it used to be, allowing for community fixes and game updates like texture packs and mods. Anyway that's what it seems like.

    --
    Twinstiq, game news
    1. Re:Playing catch up with a walled garden by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that UWP supports applications built using native WIN32, but don't let that stop you from fear-mongering your life away.

    2. Re:Playing catch up with a walled garden by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So it does, but these applications have the same problem as the other UWP applications, the DRM. And Win32 will still stagnate and eventually not be viable even in a UWP wrapping. But keep clinging onto Win32 for hope by all means.

  15. Why do modern monitors need refresh rates? by cyclomedia · · Score: 2

    CRT displays relied on phosphorous glowing for a short period after being blasted by electrons. You had to keep redrawing the screen to refresh the pixels. But modern monitors are based on LED technology - they don't need refreshing - you just turn them on and off. So why have refresh rates at all? Why doesn't the device simply send frames to the monitor as and when they are ready and the monitor just display what it's told. If I don't send a new frame for an hour the monitor should just sit there for an hour showing the same picture without any refreshing or switching or scanning or any of that.

    --
    If you don't risk failure you don't risk success.
    1. Re:Why do modern monitors need refresh rates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They don't, it's entirely a legacy of analog screens. G-Sync and FreeSync fix the issue entirely, but support for them remains small, unfortunately.

    2. Re:Why do modern monitors need refresh rates? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >If I don't send a new frame for an hour the monitor should just sit there for an hour showing the same picture without any refreshing or switching or scanning or any of that.

      I get what you're saying. It reminds me of the Adobe Acrobat pre-load icon, no one REALLY needs it to save them one second of time (lest they double clock the app & be bothered by the wait), but Adobe figures "hey why not be ready just in case? That extra second saved is needed, right guys? Guys?"

      So with LED monitors, the word 'refresh' is used out of legacy habit and promotes misunderstanding because it's not Re Freshing anything. But nevertheless some tool is needed to 'draw' the screen, so that darn refresh is constantly drawing- ready to accommodate the next change without much latency because it's already in action. Also, don't confuse modern colour LED with binary LCD that are either on or off... there's RGB considerations to calculate during a pixel's hue so the constant refresh accommodates that by being so active.

    3. Re:Why do modern monitors need refresh rates? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      So why have refresh rates at all?

      Legacy. The monitor technology changed long before methods of driving them caught up. Starting with digitising the analogue signal sent by the PC. The concept of refresh rates were firmly baked into the monitor technology and then it simply stuck with the move to digital. Unfortunately digital signalling was all about sending the required graphics to the monitor and interfaces weren't designed to be generic, i.e. data exchange was essentially limited to something similar to a low-rate I2C bus.

      Fast forward to now, DisplayPort is out and becoming popular and ... supports packet data. The key here is with the ability to send high rate data to the monitor comes the ability to adjust its refresh rate via Active Sync, part of the DP protocol. Now AMD implemented that on it's cards and called it Freesync.

      The good news ends there. NVIDIA smelling a dollar proposed a competing standard which is proprietary and requires an NVIDIA chip in the monitor to manage what they call G-Sync. Frankly I hope this dies in a fire but having lots of standards to chose from has never benefited a consumer.

    4. Re:Why do modern monitors need refresh rates? by sanf780 · · Score: 1

      DVI is linked to analog computer graphics. In the early days, DVI transferred analog signals meant for CRTs. In this digital era, DVI still has blanking regions ment for CRTs. And as HDMI is derived from DVI, so does HDMI.
      Note that both Nvidia and AMD have variable framerate solutions that require specific hardware.

  16. Thank you Microsoft! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Harry_Potter's_sock

  17. This *is* how they kill Steam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    UWP is how they kill steam. Eliminate Win32 and you eliminate everyone's Steam library. UWP is going to replace Win32, Win32 will stagnate with no API updates or security fixes.

  18. Your OS just sucks by peawormsworth · · Score: 1

    Once again Microsoft shows that paid operating systems are unethical. Limiting function and performance as they see fit.