Category: Windows

4K Video Downloader+ Review: solid program with a big weakness

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Internet users have plenty of options when it comes to the downloading of videos. From online services over browser extensions to programs.

Problem is: not all of them have the best interest of the user in mind. Some may be riddled with ads, track users, or limit downloads in one way or another.

You may be especially wary when it comes to programs to download. There are malicious programs out there that claim to be downloaders.

My favorite program is Internet Download Manager, but it is a commercial application. 4K Video Downloader+ offers an alternative. This review looks at the feature set and compares it to Internet Download Manager.

4K Video Downloader+ is the successor of 4K Video Downloader, which has been retired this year. The version has been around for some time. It is a freemium program that limits free use, but it does not contain any ads.

Let’s talk about the limitation first: you can use it to download 10 videos per day. All paid versions do away with the limits. A lifetime version is available for about $30.

Why download videos? Downloading videos offers several advantages:

  • Offline playback: watch videos, even if there is no Internet.
  • Backup: videos may get pulled or deleted, but offline copies remain.
  • Bad Internet reception: if Internet connectivity is not great, you may have a bad experience with stutters and pauses.
  • Save bandwidth: watch videos over and over again without using bandwidth.

4K Video Downloader 4K+: the features

The video downloader is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. You can start using it right after installation and do not need to create an account first. I used the Windows version exclusively for this review.

As far as features are concerned, there are plenty. You can paste video URLs into the interface or use the integrated browser to pick videos while you browse.

The app supports “all popular sites” according to the website. This includes YouTube, but also sites such as Facebook, SoundCloud, and others. The list of supported sites is relatively short and there is just one adult site supported. Limited support may not be a problem for some users, but it may be a dealbreaker for others.

The default configuration downloads video in best quality. You can modify the preference, for instance by switching to audio-only or a specific quality that you want downloaded to the local system.

Apart from the base functionality, 4K Video Downloader+ supports a few nice-to-have features.

Here are the highlights:

  • Subscribe to YouTube playlists or creators, and download new videos automatically as they are published.
  • Download entire YouTube playlists or channels.
  • 3D Video download support.
  • Support for login-protected media (by signing in).
  • Extract annotations and subtitles and download them along with YouTube videos.
  • Download dubbed audio on YouTube.

Free users are limited to downloading 10 videos per day. If that is not enough, you either have to wait a day or purchase a license to download an unlimited number of videos.

Verdict: 4K Video Downloader+ is an easy to use download app. The integrated browser makes downloading videos a breeze, as you do not have to juggle around with video URLs. Main downside is the 10 video limit for free accounts and the fairly limited list of supported sites.

Lack of site support is a deal-breaker for my use cases. Internet Download Manager supports hundreds if not thousands of video and audio sites. But, if all you need is support for a site that 4K Video Downloader+ supports, then it may be worth a try.

Now You: do you use video downloaders at all? If so, which is your favorite app or extension for the job and why?

How to add HEIC image file format support on Windows 10

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system does not support the HEIC image format natively. The same is true for Windows 11. You can check out my guide on adding HEIC and HEVC support to Windows 11, if you run that operating system.

Microsoft is offering a paid extension to add support, but there is a way to add support for free. This guide explains how to do that.

Note that this still installs an official Microsoft extension and does not rely on third-party codec packs at all.

Here is how you go about it:

  1. Open the Adguard website in a web browser.
  2. Set the first field to ProductID.
  3. Paste the following string into the second field: 9n4wgh0z6vhq
  4. Keep the third field at RP.
  5. Click on the checkmark icon on the right.
  6. Wait for the results.
  7. Right-click on “Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.2.33.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxbundle” in the results and select the save option of the browser.
  8. Pick a directory.
  9. Double-click on the file after it has been downloaded to install the extension.
  10. Click on the install button to install it.

Note: Some browsers may refuse to download the file as it is delivered via a regular (insecure) HTTP connection and not HTTPS. You may need to open the download manager of the browser and select the “Keep” option or something similar.

This depends largely on the browser, but if no file is downloaded after you have selected the save option, then this is your best bet to get the file downloaded.

Once installed, many programs are capable of opening HEIF and HEVC media files. This is true for all built-in image viewers, e.g., Photos or the preview of File Explorer, but also third-party apps such as Paint.net or Adobe Photoshop.

Nvidia releases patch for GeForce black screen issues

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Nvidia released an unscheduled hotfix driver that it says is fixing black screen issues on older generation GeForce graphics cards.

The details:

  • GeForce Hotfix display driver version 572.65 is available for 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and 11.
  • It is designed for non-RTX 5000 graphics cards.
  • The patch is only available as a direct download.

Nvidia fixed black screen issues in the Game Ready driver 572.60 last week, but only for RTX 5000 graphics card. The hotfix fixes the issue for older video cards now as well.

The hotfix driver is available here. It makes a single change according to the release notes: “PC may boot to a black screen when connected via DisplayPort with certain monitors [5131002]”.

This update should only be installed on Windows PCs that are affected by the black screen issue. Users who do not experience black screens after booting should not install the update according to Nvidia. This hotfix driver is considered beta by Nvidia, and it may may be integrated into future GeForce drivers as a final update.

Nvidia users plagued by the black screen issues should fix it by installing the new driver. It is recommended to create a system backup before installing new drivers on Windows systems.

The GeForce Game Ready Driver 572.60 included the following changes:

  • Improved gaming experience for DLSS 4 games such as NARAKA BLADEPOINT or Monster Hunter Wilds.
  • Fixed apps stuttering on GeForce RTX 50 series cards.
  • Fixed two issues in Adobe Substance 3D.
  • Fixed black screen issues on systems with GeForce RTX 50 series cards.
  • Fixed an audio issue.
  • Fixed an image corruption issue in apps.

You can check out the full changelog here.

ThisIsNot11: another open source Windows tweaker for

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

There is certainly no shortage of tweaking tools for Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system. If I had to guess, Windows 11 is probably the Microsoft operating system with the largest number of programs of this kind ever.

Serial developer Belim has created a new tool. It is a bit difficult to keep track of all of Belim’s tools. First, because there are so many, and second, because Belim loves to change the names of his tools.

Windows 11 Tweaker: ThisIsNot11

ThisIsNot11 is a small open source tool. Designed as a follow-up tool after using the developer’s FlyBy11 tool to upgrade systems to new Windows 11 versions — even those deemed not compatible — it is quite easy to use. At the same time, it is not as feature-rich as crowd-favorite tweakers such as WinAero Tweaker.

When you run the tool after you have downloaded it, you are asked to give it quick access to the Start menu. It scans installed apps and settings, and bases its suggests on that scan. The app resembles the Windows 11 Start menu, which is intentional according to the developer.

From here on, it is just a matter of selecting tweaks to apply them. For apps, you need to check them and hit the “remove selected” button to uninstall them.

Important tweaks are included. You can use the app to disable advertisement, remove individual apps from the system, hide Copilot and other icons on the taskbar, or enable the full content menu of File Explorer.

All tweaks have a description, which helps identify what they do, especially for regular users who are new to optimizing Windows 11.

Verdict

ThisIsNot11 is a tiny less than 100 kilobyte tool to tweak Windows 11. It is an easy to use tool, which is great for less-experienced users. The app explains the tweaks that it supports well and everything is accessible on a single screen. While you do need to scroll a bit to access all tweaks, it is one of the easiest tools to use.

Part of that comes from the limited number of tweaks that it supports at this stage. If you want to quickly apply many important tweaks, it may be worth a shot. If you want the largest number of tweaks possible in a tool, you need to look elsewhere.

Now you: do you use tweaking tools for Windows? Or do you prefer to apply tweaks manually instead? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Microsoft is deprecating Windows 11’s Location History feature

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

After two months of not adding anything new to the list of deprecated features, Microsoft has added another feature to the list of features that will eventually be removed from its Windows 11 operating system.

This time, it is the Location History feature that has been put on the list by Microsoft.

Microsoft says that it is an API that was used by Cortana to “access 24 hours of device history when location was enabled”. With Cortona no longer playing a role at Microsoft, it is put to rest as well.

As far as the effect of the removal is concerned, Microsoft notes that location data will “no longer be saved locally”. Furthermore, the corresponding settings under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location will also be removed in the process.

Location History in Settings of Windows 11 24H2

The option to clear the Location history in the Settings will be removed.

As always, Microsoft does not say when it plans to remove the feature exactly. Best guess is that it could be removed as part of the 2025 feature update for Windows 11. For now though, it remains available on Windows 11 devices.

The end of Cortana

Back in 2023, Microsoft announced that it would retire the Cortana application for Windows later that year. The personal assistant Cortana was created at a time when personal assistants were en vogue. Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa were popular services back when Microsoft created its personal assistant.

Microsoft removed Cortana in Teams and other apps in the fall of 2023 and several other Cortana-related features in 2024 in favor of AI. It is rather funny that Cortana’s Windows-specific features have been more powerful than those of Microsoft’s AI Copilot.

Display the weather on the Windows taskbar (without Widgets)

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system displays the Widgets icon on the taskbar by default. It was updated recently to show weather information. If you do not use Widgets, but like the weather information, you can use a third-party alternative.

Tray Weather is an open source application for Windows to display weather information in the System Tray area.

Weather Tray shows two icons in this configuration (weather and temperature)

Good news is that it supports multiple weather providers, and one of them does not require an account or API access.

The details:

  • Weather Tray is compatible with Windows 7 and newer versions of Windows, including Windows 11.
  • Setup is a bit fiddly, but not too complicated.

You can download the latest version of the program from the project’s GitHub repository.

Windows will display a security dialog when you execute setup, because the application is not signed. Setup itself is straightforward, but it is necessary to make a few changes in the configuration and in Windows.

Lets talk about the program’s configuration first. Here you make a number of important decisions regarding the program:

  • Select OpenMeteo API under Weather Data Provider to get weather data without API requirement.
  • Make sure the set location is correct or change it.
  • Switch the measurement units, modify graph temperatures, and opacity.
  • Pick an icon for display on the taskbar. The default displays a representative icon of the weather, e.g., a sun or clouds. You can switch that to temperature or combinations.
  • Add or remove information from the icon’s tooltip. The default displays the location, current weather, and temperature only. You may add information such as air quality, wind speed, humidity, ground pressure, and more to it.
  • Change the time between updates from the 15 minute default.

Windows may not display the icon of the app by default in the system tray area. On Windows 11 for example, you need to enable it first so that it displays all the time.

Right-click on a blank space on the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings. Expand “Other system tray icons” on the page that opens and toggle Weather Tray to display it permanently.

That is as far as configurations are concerned.

Closing Words

Weather Tray may not have the prettiest icons, but it works well, is open source, and does not get in your way with other content that you may not want. It is an excellent option for Windows users who would like to display weather information on their systems.

What is your take on this? Do you use little helper apps like Weather Tray on your devices? Let us know in the comments down below.

Using “last used” as a metric for software uninstallation on Windows

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Even careful Windows users may accumulate a good number of software programs over the years. Some of these are used daily or weekly, while others may sit idly on the hard drive for months or years without any use.

It is certainly possible to use a program just once every six months or once a year, but some of these may not be needed anymore. The old web browser that you no longer use, a program that you tried and forgot to remove, or a game that you no longer play.

While you can go through the list of programs manually, you may also use the “last used” metric to find these programs easily.

Windows 11’s own list in the Settings app under Apps > Installed apps shows the install date, but not last used date. For that, you need to look elsewhere.

Using Last-Used to find old installed programs

Wise Program Uninstaller is a free program for Windows that is a popular option when it comes to the removal of applications on Windows systems. It is compatible with Windows 11 and also older versions of Windows, down to Windows XP.

It needs a moment on first run to display the installed programs. Each ist listed with its name, size and installation date. Next to that is the last used metric.

Wise Program Uninstaller may display date ranges, such as “within 1 week”, “7 month(s) ago”, or “1 year ago” there.

The last used column in Wise Program Uninstaller

A click on the last used column header sorts the data accordingly. One click displays the programs that were not used for a long time at the top. Note that the information may be missing from some apps. This is the case, for instance, when they were never run.

All that is left now is to select one or multiple apps for removal. Hit the uninstall button in the program interface afterwards and keep the settings. A System Restore Point is created in that case and a leftover scan is run after the actual removal of the applications from the Windows PC.

Note: Wise Program Uninstaller uses the default uninstaller of the selected applications. You may need to interact with them to commence the removal. You may want to save all open work before you start using the app, as automatic restarts may happen, depending on the software that you remove.

Most unused programs are not problematic, apart from them using disk space. Removing them may still be beneficial, especially if your system is low on free disk space or will be in the future.

Do you keep a keen eye on the list of installed programs on your systems? What is the program that you have not used in a long time that is still on your PC’s hard drive? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

I took Opera Software’s new browser Air for a spin

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Opera Software launched a new web browser today. Called Opera Air, it is the second specialized browser by the company after Opera GX, a browser with a strong focus on gaming.

Opera Air is in early access. Opera says that it is “the world’s first browser with mindfulness at its core” that offers a “focused, balanced, and stress-free web” when used.

First, the basics. Opera Air is based on Chromium, which means that it offers the same excellent web compatibility and performance as other browsers that are based on it, including Google Chrome.

Apart from all the browsing, which you can still do, Opera has baked in several health features into the browser. These are:

  • Mindful Breaks – short or long exercises to recharge.
  • Exercises – breathing, full body, and neck exercises as well as medition.
  • Boosts – play binaural sounds to “boost creativity, relieve stress, stay focused, and more.

The features are accessible from a small floating panel on the left side of the browser window. When you select Boost, for instance, you get to select one of the available background sounds that you may play. These use different frequencies and help users relax, improve concentration or creativity, according to Opera. You can change the volume and hit the pause or stop button at any time.

The exercises take between four and 15 minutes to complete. Each comes with a very soothing male or female voice, and in-depth explanations. Note that only English appears to be supported for now. While Opera Air did display German text when I switched the interface language to German, the instructors were still using English for communication.

Pay attention to the installation

Opera Air installer

The installer uses a few dark patterns, which you can only avoid if you are careful. First, you need to make sure you display the installation options. If you don’t, you will end up with the following:

  • Opera as the default web browser.
  • Feature usage information is send to Opera.
  • Crash reports are send to Opera automatically.
  • Opera Air launches with the computer.

Furthermore, there is another screen, Help make Opera better, that asks for consent to gain general usage statistics, general interests based on articles a user reads in “news feed, searches, websites you visit”, and personalized content, news, and ads.

That screen has a big accept button and no “no thanks” button. You need to select “configure in settings” to avoid this.

Closing Words

Opera Software seems to have carved out a niche for itself in the browser world. After launching a browser for gamers, it is now launching a browser for Internet users who are interested in health.

This is certainly not a browser for everyone, but it could attract a certain type of user just like Opera GX has done already. If you like those, and do not want to use third-party apps or extensions that offer similar functionality, then it could be a browser that you might want to take for a test drive.

What is your take on Opera Air? Is a specialized browser like Air or GX of interest to you? Feel free to leave a comment down below to join the discussion.

NoBloatBox is another app to take care of preinstalled Windows apps in bulk

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

When you install Windows or start a PC for the first time that comes preinstalled with Windows, there is a high chance that you have dozens of apps installed already on the system before the first sign in.

Some of these apps are all-time classics, like Notepad or Calculator. Others are not liked nearly as much with some of them consider bloat.

It did not take long for clever developers to create applications designed to remove preinstalled Windows apps. O&O AppBuster is my personal favorite, but there are others.

Remove preinstalled apps with NoBloatBox

NoBloatBox is such an app. It is developed by serial developer Belim and the successor of BloatBox. It is an open source app that is designed and optimized for Windows 11, even though it runs on Windows 10 as well.

When you run the 200 Kilobyte app you may notice that it does not really do much on its own. It uses signature files, which you need to download separately from the GitHub repository. Currently, only a Windows 11 version 24H2 signature file is provided.

It lists the included apps afterwards. You may now select one, some, or even all of them for removal. A click on the remove selected button starts that process.

Apps are not necessarily listed by their name, which makes it difficult to identify specific apps. The removal happens without any user interaction.

It is highly recommended to create a system backup before running NoBloatBox or any application remover or tweaker for Windows.

Verdict

NoBloatBox is an easy to use program to remove preinstalled Windows apps. It is not as easy to use as AppBuster, but that could change in the future. It is a bit of a hassle to download the signature file. A better solution would be to always include the latest version or include an option to download it directly from the program on first start.

It is an early release on the other hand and improvements are said to come in the future. The community-powered approach of these filter lists is interesting, as it opens it up for wider use cases and ensures that the developer has time for actual development.

All in all, one to keep an eye on. For now, I will stick to AppBuster though.

Do you use app uninstallers for Windows? If so, which is your favorite and why?

Batteries

Windows 11 is getting a better battery indicator on the taskbar finally

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

When you use a mobile Windows device, you see a battery icon on the taskbar that ideally should indicate the remaining battery live before the device needs to be charged.

Problem is, this icon is so bad on Windows, that it is barely workable. To get a true reading, it is necessary to hover the mouse cursor over the icon or dive deep into the Settings or other apps.

All other major operating systems support detailed battery indicators already. Microsoft is late to the party, but work has begun to change that in the near future.

The latest Developer build of Windows 11 adds an option to enable battery percentages on the taskbar next to the battery indicator. This is how that looks like.

As you can see, Microsoft is also adding a splash of color to the icon. Each color indicates a different state of the battery:

  • Black — Regular use.
  • Yellow — Energy saver mode is enabled.
  • Green — Battery is charging.
  • Red — Battery is critically low.

The percentage next to the icon displays the load state of the battery. It is not enabled by default, which means that you need to become active and enable it to get the detailed listing.

Here is how that is done:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Select the Settings application.
  3. Go to System > Power & battery.
  4. Enable Battery percentage on the page to display the new information directly on the taskbar.

Microsoft is rolling out the feature to Windows Insiders in the Dev channel currently. Means, it will take some time before regular users will get it. It could be rolled out with the 2025 feature update for Windows 11, but Microsoft has not made such an announcement at this stage.

You can check out Microsoft’s announcement of the feature and the other changes of the release here.

What is your take on this change? If you use a mobile Windows 11 device, will you enable the new indicator once it becomes available?